I’ve been re-watching Person Of Interest, which if you haven’t seen it, why the blazes not? This previous fortnight has been absolutely bonkers- I’ve only survived it by direct divine intervention. I was telling my nephew that I feel just like Root in POI, only without the MP5, the RPG, or the interesting psychiatric conditions. It’s been pretty weird, being in a calm zone right in the eye of storm, with the world going mad around you, and the voice ( or THE VOICE) telling you, ‘do this, don’t do that, stop etc’ It’s epic, it’s never happened on this scale before; it’s exactly like being plugged into a mainline grid, where the grid is linked directly to eternity. Absolutely unbelievable, but the upshot is, two weeks later, I feel like God’s just wrapped me in some super-strong bubble wrap, and I’m golden.

Today, I’m showcasing two new exhibitors at 100% Design. First up, Ini Archibong who showed some really nice furniture and lighting:

Very nice, not so? Love those lights. Then there’s James Shaw who’s into using experimental materials and techniques. I particularly like his ‘Plastic Baroque’ table (extreme right):

I know how hard these guys must have worked to get this far; trying to get AlaraApothecary going has been a major slog, but perseverance is almost everything in creating anything new. Still, I do sometimes muse upon W.C Fields’ excellent aphorism:

‘If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Then quit. There’s no point in being a damn fool about it.’ 🙂 He kills me. In the same curmudgeonesque spirit (yes, that is a word. I just made it up), I leave you with Mr Nash:

To A Small Boy Standing On My Shoes While I Am Wearing Them

Let’s straighten this out, my little man,
And reach an agreement if we can.
I entered your door as an honored guest.
My shoes are shined and my trousers are pressed,
And I won’t stretch out and read you the funnies
And I won’t pretend that we’re Easter bunnies.
If you must get somebody down on the floor,
What in the hell are your parents for?
I do not like the things that you say
And I hate the games that you want to play.
No matter how frightfully hard you try,
We’ve little in common, you and I.
The interest I take in my neighbor’s nursery
Would have to grow, to be even cursory,
And I would that performing sons and nephews
Were carted away with the daily refuse,
And I hold that frolicsome daughters and nieces
Are ample excuse for breaking leases.
You may take a sock at your daddy’s tummy
Or climb all over your doting mummy,
But keep your attentions to me in check,
Or, sonny boy, I will wring your neck.                                                                                                                                                                               A happier man today I’d be
Had someone wrung it ahead of me.

Good ole Uncle Ogden. Perhaps not the first choice for babysitting duties 🙂 Have a lovely week.