As any rebel biblical scholar will tell you, the angels that appear in the Bible are not depicted in ‘human form with wings’ - in fact they’re not really described at all. Which is a bit of a waste of good collateral if you think about it - I’ve not read much Bible in my time, but from what I do know, nobody seemed to be particularly keen on going into detail. So far as I know, there are no days on which it was very windy, instances in which somebody fell over and cut their knee, nobody ever goes shopping or sits under a tree to read a book with a ham baguette. Facts, facts, facts - it’s all about the facts.
And yet, if you feel the need to ever dig about, there’s a whole “thing” out in the world about biblically correct angels. I am taking them at their word that they are indeed described as I have heard because it makes great art. (I think I’m right in saying that Michelangelo created the human-style angel as you would interpret it today… well, I know I am).
An image search on your favourite engine should pull up sketches etc and there’s some good YouTube documentaries around too, but this week I found an artist who has gone the extra mile. His name is Jonas Pfeiffer and well… here’s an hour long video of his artistic creations which are pretty cool - an hour is a long time, so I would maybe skip through it unless you genuinely don’t have anything else to do.
If you’re liking that, he has an online gallery here too where there’s some different creations. Now I look at it again, it might be a store front where you can buy them as NFTs… so you can stick that back in a locker 10,000 leagues under the sea forever and a day.
Meanwhile, back on planet earth, the small boats saga continues. Check out this pic of a recent festival - Up Helly Aa - in Shetland where Vikings appear to have taken over the whole island.
If you fast forward this video to about 1.22 (hours, not minutes), you can watch as the Vikings set fire to the boat. Shetland huh… the only place in the UK where you can get away with simply tossing a burning torch in the vague direction of a boat, over other people’s heads without a care in the world.
I can’t even have a fire in the garden of some leaves without the police coming round.
If you fancy your chances next year, you can find them here.
Despite the obvious reasons for liking this video (I mean, check out that car, check out those boots and damn I’ve got to get myself a coat like that), this is great song.
You’ve all heard of Boleskine House? Of course you have. The classy 13th century estate on the bank of Loch Ness that was once owned by infamous magician Aleister Crowley (paid £2000 for it apparently - more than twice its market value) and later by the equally infamous Jimmy Page.
Well, if you keep up with such things, back in 2015, it went up in flames rendering it inhospitable to both demons and badgers alike, but it 2019 it went back on the market, was bought in 2020 and is now under the care of a charitable trust who are setting about rebuilding it.
I did a drive-by once (yes, it was a very long drive-by now you come to mention it) and it was beautiful, even seen from the road. If you happen to stop outside the gates, the layout goes: Loch Ness, Cemetery, Your Car, Boleskine House. Couldn't get a bacon sandwich for love nor money though.
Anyway, the rebuild sounds like a labour of love. You can read more about it here at their official site where you can also throw some money in the kitty if you’re of a mind. Personally, I’m thinking I need somebody at the top of this insane ladder to come on the podcast and explain.
Appendix: I don’t know who this guy is but he does a pretty decent quick and superficial wander around in which you can see the things I’ve mentioned with a good camera. There’s dozens of sensationalising videos around if you’re of a mind.
Further Appendix: I once thought if I ever won the Euromillions Lottery (note to self - must buy a ticket to be in with a chance), that I would buy Boleskine House - cool history aside, it really is unbelievable up there. But in the real world, what I’d really do is buy this one. The mighty Plas Teg:
Bigger. Spookier. It needs me. Plus, I could be at my Mum’s house in about 10 minutes where you (well, I) can always get a decent bacon sandwich. You have to think far, far ahead of your lottery win to make sure you don’t make silly mistakes.
There were going to be five things worth sharing but I decided the last one wasn't worth sharing at all in the end. Expectation can be a real bitch sometimes huh.
Here’s a very early Felix The Cat cartoon to ease your disappointment.
100 years old and still knocking it out of the park for me.
Felix the Cat is pure genius: who needs words??
Agree about the motor- made for cruising the back roads.