tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3121093.post-54527602001-09-03T11:40:00.000Z2001-09-03T11:40:40.556ZI awake early having had a strange dream involving me being chased by a giant prawn. I am on a bicycle with a basket on the front and, in that basket, are three of my specimen jars containing Adeltrout, and my two sons, Lionel and Jonah. I can understand why specimen jars might feature in my dream, but have no idea where the giant prawn comes in. I don't even like them. <br />I mention my dream to Hermione over a breakfast of sausages and eggs. She can't explain the prawn either, but suggests that it might have something to do with the images of our previous night's fun being projected onto a surreal backdrop. Maybe. <br />After breakfast, I read for an hour in the garden - Humbold's Exotica Lograrithmica again. Hermione comes out with a sandwich box and says I had better get going to my class. I have enrolled to do a beginner's course in Microsoft Access in the town. I think it will be useful to catalogue my collection. <br />I walk to the Mumford Farnsworth College of Further Education and take my place in front of a computer in Room B16 along with 10 other people. Our tutor turns out to be an extremely attractive middle-aged lady called Fiona. She wears a crisp white blouse that rustles nicely against her to my great satisfaction. I am going to enjoy this once a week eight-week course. We continue learning the rudiments of the programme until 4pm. During our break for lunch Fiona asks why I want to learn about Access. I tell her it's for my collection and she laughs like a horse. And I mean like a horse. I don't think I have ever heard a laugh like it. Almost disturbing. <br />After the class I walk home, pausing for a while in the park to sit on a bench. I watch as some children throw stones at the ducks, which sensibly move off into the centre of the pond out of harm's way. I can't abide cruelty, yet recall with some guilt my own sadistic childhood torture sessions with insects. Never animals or birds, but insects, yes. In fact, perhaps I still do torture insects. If I am taking a sample in an outdoor location and an insect enters the specimen jar during the period of exposure, it stays there. I have to watch as it starves to death. <br />Home and a team of pork chop, potatoes and carrots. In the evening I play a game of Scrabble with Hermione. I pick up 17 points for the word 'prawn'. We laugh. Later while Hermione watches the television, I continue with Humbold. To bed thinking about the rustling of Fiona's blouse. I hope for a crustacea-free night. <br /> <br /> <br />Arthur http://www.blogger.com/profile/07162731140733237533noreply@blogger.com