Some Quiet Time.

Dear Readers,

More, MORE - That sounds like something from Charles Dickens, 'Oliver Twist' to be precise. Will only jokes keep you happy? Well sorry, we are all joked out for the moment. Time for a bit of reading and culture.

Oscar Wilde, one of our favourites.

We had written quite a long commentary - to follow the photo above - about more of our experiences, verbal exchanges with our various hosts & and things learned while in Ukraine (1999 / 2000).  After lengthy consideration and rumination while staring at the words on the screen we decided to abort and delete. It was too much like a historical and political treatise much of which many would possibly disagree and the rest not care to read in, what is after all, a fun guys and dolls magazine.

Fyodor Ivanovich Tyutchev sums it up quite well in his poem Silentium.

Speak not, lie hidden, and conceal

the way you dream, the things you feel.

Deep in your spirit let them rise

akin to stars in crystal skies

that set before the night is blurred:

delight in them and speak no word.

How can a heart expression find?

How should another know your mind?

Will he discern what quickens you?

A thought, once uttered, is untrue.

Dimmed is the fountainhead when stirred:

drink at the source and speak no word.

Live in your inner self alone

within your soul a world has grown,

the magic of veiled thoughts that might

be blinded by the outer light,

drowned in the noise of day, unheard...

take in their song and speak no word.

So it is back to a little light (& dark) humour with some quotes:

Ivan Turgenev

"So long as one's just dreaming about what to do, one can soar like an eagle and move mountains, it seems, but as soon as one starts doing it one gets worn out and tired." 

"Nothing is worse and more hurtful than a happiness that comes too late. It can give no pleasure, yet it deprives you of that most precious of rights - the right to swear and curse at your fate!"

"Women... can't live with 'em... can't shoot 'em."

 Anton Chekhov

If you are afraid of loneliness, do not marry.

Joseph Stalin

Death is the solution to all problems, No Man - No problem.

Yakov Smirnoff

In Russia we had two TV channels. Channel One was Propaganda. Channel two consisted of a KGB officer telling you: "Turn back at once to channel one".

Homosexuality in Russia is a crime and the punishment is seven years in prison, locked up with other men. There is a three year waiting list.

And something from Robyn Williams.

"You see, the problem is that God gives men a brain and a penis and only enough blood to run one at a time".

Hugs and Kisses

Dolltime