Footnotes to a Conversation, November 6, 2023
“The singlest biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” – George Bernard Shaw
Greetings from Fakenham, a market town in North Norfolk. I’ve lots to share as it’s been two weeks since the last Footnotes to a Conversation.
Sophie Pemberton
Sophie Pemberton and Emily Carr were born only two years apart in Victoria. They attended the same church, and both showed early signs of artistic talent. One went on to become world-famous; the other has been overlooked. Pemberton studied art and won awards in both England and France. She pushed social and cultural boundaries but was also held back by illness, family expectations, and married life. But she never quit painting and over 70 of her works are currently on display at the Greater Victoria Art Gallery. I admire her determination, grit, and artistic ability (fabulous portraits where the eyes speak volumes). [Art Gallery of Greater Victoria]
Reminders of a Bygone Age
“Ghost signs are typically hand-painted advertising signs or old shop signs from the late 19th or early to mid-20th centuries preserved on buildings that have since changed use … They are haunting reminders of a bygone age, some so faded the writing can hardly be deciphered, others still vivid reminders of the colour and variety that high streets once had.” Historic England plans to create a map using the ghost sign images submitted by the public. [The Guardian]
The ghost signs from many Canadian cities can be found online. Here are just a few: St. John, Saskatoon, Vancouver, and Winnipeg.
Words to Make You Smile
Did you have cacklefarts or bags of mystery for breakfast today? And would you be delighted or offended to be called a pigsney? Susie Dent shares 10 words to make you smile. [Why Now]
Playful or Aggressive?
Cats have nearly 300 facial expressions, while humans only have 44 and dogs a mere 27. “Over the course of a year, researchers recorded a total of 276 distinct facial expressions used among a colony of 50 cats living at a cat cafe in Los Angeles. The felines' faces ranged from playful to aggressive and everything in between.” [Live Science]
Sandwiches of History
Sandwiches are ubiquitous and have been for a very long time. But what we put in our sandwiches can vary tremendously from a 1909 filling of popcorn, cayenne pepper, sardines, ketchup and parmesan to a 1946 goblin sandwich composed of toasted chopped Brazil nuts, devilled ham, avocado, and Worcestershire sauce, served in a doughnut. Barry Enderwick has recreated more than 700 sandwich recipes from 200 BC to the present – some he really liked, others not so much. [The Guardian]
Footnotes to a Conversation is a weekly Monday feature covering an assortment of topics that I’ve come across in the preceding week – books, art, travel, food, and whatever else strikes my fancy. I also post occasional articles on other dates, including frequent book reviews and travel tales.
If you share my love of nature, check out EcoFriendly West, an online publication encouraging environmental initiatives in Western Canada, and Nature Companion, a free nature app for Canada’s four western provinces.