Thursday, February 2, 2012

Earth

Once when Smile came to Cornwall, we went to St Agnes with Brian, Roger and Tim. We went to the Driftwood pub and then walked along the cliffs there. I'm sure Freddie was there too. And we found a cave down from the beach and sang inside it, and did this 5 of 6 part harmony of Earth which was Tim's song. Then we walked up on the headland and the whole place was completely covered in glow worms. It was amazing. The sky was so clear and every star was out, and of course Brian, because of his expertise in astronomy, could name them all. He named all the individual stars and constellations...

Sue Johnstone, excerpt from Rupert White's book, Queen in Cornwall

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Mirrors

They were all there for one reason. If you were attentive enough, you could capture momentary glimpses of them posing, smudging, adjusting themselves. They did so in the vast hall of gilded mirrors that were somehow reminiscent of the opulent halls of Versailles. They did look beautiful, with their tightly fitted tails, bespoke top hats and brass-topped wooden canes. The men opened their snuff boxes and secretly admired the women, dancing feverishly in their silk night dresses, the cream-coloured folds undulating in the dim candle-light. I could only look at their reflection in the mirror, for I was too embarrassed to partake in such decadent revelry.

Madam suddenly piped up, "I want to go home."

Flashes at the Café Royal, London