I have always been receptive to following the connective threads the universe presents to us all. The trick is to remain open-minded and avoid forcing them into a personal construct. That never, ever works. With the ridiculously powerful tool that is the internet, following the bread crumbs is easier and literally at your fingertips. AND curiouser and curiouser. We are all familiar with the rabbit holes of all rabbit holes, where entire evenings are swallowed up and the information trail goes on forever, beckoning you to worlds unknown. So, here’s where the odd, slightly naughty phrase that titles this post presented to me…
The phrase popped up in a podcast while walking the track at the Y earlier this week and it made me laugh out loud, frightening the lady in the Taylor Swift sweatshirt who was about to pass me. The podcaster in my earpiece was using it to make a point about the lack of critical thinking in today’s society. Specifically that too many things are judged on small bites of information and not considered with any semblance of due diligence or research. In other words, we use the wrong tools. We take the easier route, and (more often than not) end up with distorted information.
The podcast I’m referring to is new to me and I highly recommend it. It’s called The Blindboy podcast and is hosted by an Irish stand-up comic/musician/writer/social commentator. He wears a plastic grocery bag over his head in public and has one of those soft, whispery voices that, coupled with his lovely Cork accent, can put you into a trancelike state if you’re not careful. He’s also neuro-diverse, recently diagnosed with autism, and his utterly singular thought process is mesmerizing. And inspiring. His podcast influenced this post (besides the funny title) in that it weaves together seemingly opposite subjects, observations and culture into extremely thought-provoking stories. I highly suggest you give it a listen - but make sure you listen to an entire episode, or you’ll miss his point.
So, after my workout, still pondering the thought of eating cornflakes with my arse, I returned home and searched for the phrase online (as you do), and ended up on a site explaining English and Irish slang, which is, of course, the most delightfully peculiar phraseology yet invented. I found nothing there about breakfast cereal, but there were so many others to chuckle over. One in particular stood out immediately and that was “tiddly-wink” which stirred fond memories, having often played a game of that name in the triple-decker apartment of my three dear great-aunts, Ida, Ethel and Gertrude, who were British to the core (two of them were born there), and introduced me to strong tea, lemon curd tarts and Devonshire cream, among other things.
Turns out, the Tiddly Winks originated in England and was named for the small pubs that were only licensed to sell beer and cider. AND, the game is still around and being played competitively…AND has it’s own vast vocabulary which includes a scoring play called a “John Lennon Memorial Shot” (a simultaneous boondocks and squop, of course). Who knew?!
Tiddley Winks - 1894 - William Somerville Shanks
It doesn’t stop there. It turns out that one of the most famous paintings by any Scottish artist was a picture of young girls playing, you guessed it, Tiddley Winks. I had never before heard of Mr. Shanks, but viewing his intricate work on the clothing and fabrics in the above painting, I’ll be sure and give him a longer look. And maybe see if I can dig up a Tiddley Winks set somewhere (of course I can - you can even find vintage lard cans online these days). I can start a full contact league.
One More Thing…
I am in search of art studio space in the greater New Bedford/Fall River area. I would be interested in either private or shared space and need only about 160-200 sq. feet. Good light would be nice, but not a deal breaker. My primary reason for looking outside my home studio is to join an active, vibrant artistic community. Any thoughts can be directed to me at rannswann@gmail.com
Pax Vobiscum.