22-04-3
Finally read Claire Tomalin's "Katherine Mansfield a secret life" 1987
It has the piece "Leves Amores" [typescript handed to CT by the son of Vere Bartrick-Baker]
Leves Amores starts "I can never forget the Thistle Hotel.."
the text is here;
Leves Amores

KM may have brushed shoulders with Grandad there.

Auntie Pat says
"Dad once said to me that you never feel old inside - he still thought of himself as the cocky 19yr old setting off from Port Chambers (in his case to the fleshpots of Ponsonby Road in the 1900"s) when he started work"

I dont understand the Ponsonby Rd reference - did Grandad work in Auckland? But I believe He drank at the Thistle late in his life, when the shades of KM may have faded.

Unfortunately the 26 minute short film of the Thistle made by Ishtar films (date?) has been queerly reviewed as
"A lovely short film about two free-spirited women in early 20th century San Francisco."
the Thistle



Some scenes I would like to see in a KM film:

1915 Katherine cuts her hair short disguised as a soldier, visits Carco in the trenches in France

Spring Cornwall 1916 High Tregerthen Katherine and DHL in a dinghy singing "Row Row Row your Boat"

1917 Spring Asheham Virginia and Katherine walked on the downs, observing thistledown, butterflies and many aeroplanes overhead

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Gloomy thoughts as we move into a new dark age. The Museum and Library left to burn in Baghdad, while the oil ministry is protected - as oddly is the psychiatric hospital (pace Michel Foucault).

I find solace in explanation in John Ralston Saul's Voltaire's Bastards description of Ignatious Loyola, Paris 1535, hearing that the Inquisition has noticed his "Exercises" he proceeds directly to their offices and insists they examine his book.
The inquisitor says that is not necessry, IL insists they read it immediately, The inquisitor reads it and says it presnets no problem, but please leave a copy, which leaves it hanging over IL's head.. IL insists they officially clear him, goes and brings a notary, gets a signed document from the Inquisition clearing him . Thus begins the age of reason.

Sayyid Qutb:
"Even the Western world realizes that Western civilization is unable to present any healthy values for the guidance of mankind. It knows that it does not possess anything which will satisfy its own conscience and justify its existence..."

.....understand the imperfections, injustices and moral poverty of jahiliyya


Didnt Happen (yet?)
February 26, 2003 No.7
The train of death is on its way. Its riders are steadfast. Nothing will stop them or turn them back, Allah willing, from the goal: neither the bushes of the enemy nor his weeds, neither his reptiles [nor] his lizards will stop its progress."
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