WTF-Beta

Lovely piece, thank you

I'm keenly awaiting next year's trip.
Makes the news worth watching

You don't own a pair of shoes?

At a small funeral last week (she was a month short of 103), everyone was showing respect in dark clothing; and all men wore ties. Yet noticed I was the only one wearing leather shoes (Hugo Boss).
Guessing cheaper synthetic uppers with rubber soles must account for over 90% of the shoe market.
And trainers now 90% of footwear. This modern way is not only due to prices from asian production, it's much about fashion and style.
My son in law has Nike trainers costing £700, the price of a pair of shoes handmade by elves in Nottingham.

Looking on Amazon that's an interesting book you authored. MrsA likes knitting squares for patchwork and will love it (a forthcoming anniversary gift).

Here's her craft/knitting books, which again I can't imagine on kindle

Talking to a brother in law last week, we realised we are often the only people in a collar shirt (when not at work).
I went to a busy local food festival last weekend and everyone else was in t-shirts.

I need to make a list of places to see in Japan when we visit our daughter there

I reckon a kindle could work for novels and autobiographical works, humorous works and travel guides.

But some subjects almost demand a quality paper with colour photographs, or b&w illustrations.

E.g. Netsuke, art, crafts

Or gardening books to dip into for ideas and information

Thank you wtg, yes.
Like it a lot, could move in, but immediately remove most of the central lampshades.
And those three orbs above the kitchen island 🤪 (very Dr Who or Mysterons or something like that).

Or for roughly the same price in the Cotswolds here,
https://search.savills.com/property-detail/gblhralac240195

Wtg, I can't view the link .

Here's a nice little place in the country
(Daniel, plenty of space for your piano)
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2575-Weeks-Hill-Rd-Stowe-VT-05672/227731501_zpid/

The Steps of Montmatre is a lovely shot, and yet it may be the least interesting!

At my work the university library had a few shelves of photography 'coffee table' books within an extensive art book collection. Among them, the works of Beaton, Bresson, Adams, Capa, Ray, Mapelthorpe, Leibovitz, Bailey, and I remember Brassai too.

Ansel Adams was my favourite at the time, yet modern digital medium format makes his art photography easy-ish.
I now best love the old street scene photographs, a la Brassai, capturing a moment in b&w. A cafe, things like a smokey jazz joint, or life on a farm pre-tractor.

It works well

When house hunting have you factored in a suitable room?
A room with door to isolate and in which you can put one or two dehumidifiers for maintenance.
With an area/wall that is well lit but not in direct sunlight, and has power sockets.

Unconstrained, Stuart & Sons full size are probably the best if you have £200k and a room/house large enough to accommodate its qualities.

However we compromise.
We set a reasonable price and have a reasonable sized home space; then you may combine those factors with the quality & longevity of an instrument that would enable you to learn to grade 8, and suddenly 'best piano' is a very different tool.

Probably something like Yamaha U3. New they are £10k, a little used in excellent condition maybe £5k. Or the smaller U1 about £8k new...

Regarding European pianos, they are all pricey; Bechstein, Bluthner and Bosendorfer are first class. Grotrian and Sauter follow close.
Steinway prices are ridiculous, £60k for an upright?
Are they made better than Bechstein?
Do they sound nicer than a Bluthner?

My advice, first sample Yamaha & Kawai and hopefully you will enjoy their sound and find a size that suits.

I'd love to see a photo of a bear in your back garden !

Same problem for farmers in UK, we are the worst hit 1st World Economy apparently.
The daily cost of agricultural pink diesel is ruinous.

My parents joined a book club, and the folio society book club, and an art prints club. But each for only a couple of years. I think it was part of their being/becoming middle class, continuing education in the 1960-80's. Had a full set of Winston's autobiography, set of Encyclopaedia Brittanica for us to refer to.

We've never bothered, I guess as we were given the education. And we'd rather get exactly what we want, despite the large range offered last time I saw a book club advertised.
I used to 'borrow' audio books free from the local library.

Lovely shade of green. If cut how long will they last in a vase?

Beautiful day here

Looking N/N.W over golden fields of oil-seed-rape, from Kirk Merrington

And N/NE with Durham Cathedral Towers just visible above the centre of the white building