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Saturday, April 2, 2011

BLIMEY-HASN’T THAT GONE QUICK (happy anniversary)

Serendipity-
or how to make a
positive out of a negative.philosophers
April 2nd a year ago, I started this Blog “The Parrish Lantern” because I realised that I had the correct mixture of wisdom and high ideal the world was waiting for, that I contained within my person the high octane mix of erudition & humility needed for this crusade, that without my sage words, the literary world was heading down the Niagara Falls without a barrel………………ERhhhhhhmmm, hummm (embarrassed coughing), sorry about that---- I’ll start again, April 2nd a year ago, I started this Blog “The Parrish Lantern because I was BORED yep truly, deeply, BORED, I was recovering from a bike accident, which had involved surgery on my knee (6 months off work). I was  reading, an enormous amount of books of all natures, including a lot of detective tales, ( a phase I go through once in a while) because they take no effort, when I came across a new detective book, “ The Savage Detectives” by Roberto Bolano. You can imagine my surprise when on starting it,  I discovered it’s true nature. Well I wanted to find out more & whilst searching, hunting, tracking down information about this fantastic new author (to me) I discovered blogging and the book blogs. So on this day a year ago I posted my very first missive, predominantly to set out my intentions..
 What it says on the tin

Hopefully when I find my way round, this will be a place to discuss the books we like, music that soundtracks our lives & that glass of fine malt that rounds of a fine evening. So to start this with my list of the moment it’s subject to change as part of life's discovery process & my mood.

Books of the moment are or have been a journey through the works of Haruki Murakami, at the moment “what I talk about when I talk about running” &”The making of Scotch Whisky” by John R.Hume & Michael S. Thomas.

Music I am listening to Is Tom Waits & Scott Walker.

Ardbeg 17yr old is my favourite Whisky all though  I am willing to have my mind changed by trying any others I find or am advised upon.

thanks for now.

Parrish.

Now, around a hundred posts later and what has changed? Well, apart from my detective phase has passed (again) my reading has expanded, I’m again reading on a scale I used to in my younger days. I’ve discovered loads of fantastic blogs and made a few friends, also although I’ve retained the right (in my cantankerous obstinate way), to post on my favourite music, whisky etc. this has faded to a certain extent, with books taking the prominent place. I have read more literature from around the world, as I become more aware of what’s out there (thanks to those blogs that specialise in this)  and as I’ve grown more comfortable in this role, one of my first loves -  Poetry has increased it’s role on the blog, with posts on specific books, and my picking of a particular poet/poem once a month under the banner

  pomes  ALL SIZES 

But the mission statement is the same, as the idea here is to create a virtual private club with this statement on the sign……….                     

bookshelf porn             A club for the discussion of our obsessions

I want this to be a place that when you join, you can express  your own likes. This is where we can exchange ideas on Authors, Artists & Whisky. So please feel free to join & add your own thoughts. As a polite introduction to a new idea, whether its a book, some music or malt whisky is always welcome.

 

So this is the first anniversary for “The Parrish Lantern” & hopefully will be the first of many.

Now  back to the subtitle, Serendipity – how to make a positive out of a negative, well that’s easy to answer, and I will do it in the form of a Big Hearty thanks to all those that have supported this blog, from those who’ve been there from the early days, to those who follow now.

32 comments:

  1. here here to many more ,love your blog been great getting to know you ,all the best stu

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  2. Thanks Stu, as you know I'm an avid follower Of winston & his master/friend.
    On a different(ish) note have picked up W.G. Sebalds - Unrecounted.

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  3. Congratulations! Looking forward to many more posts:)

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  4. Happy anniversary! I lift my glass of whisky (let's just pretend) for the occasion!

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  5. Hello Sakura, thank you & I will try not to disappoint.

    Hi Em, & in honour of your french origins, I will reciprocate with a glass of Châteauneuf du Pape my favourite wine (as it's a special occasion).

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  6. Congratulation on one year! We must have started about the same time as mine is coming up on a year this week as well. You have a great blog and I look forward to reading it well into the future.

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  7. Hear, hear! Amazing how you channeled that boredom into a year-long toast to great books. Look forward to more celebration. - And I like the rekindled interest on poetry!

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  8. Congratulations on your first blogiversary, Gary! You've covered a lot of territory with your reviews. Cheers to another great year of books and blogging and whiskey:)

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  9. @gina: Thanks Gina, the glass is full of the good malt.

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  10. @Rise: Thanks Rise, Boredom has a lot to answer for. I have always loved poetry, have something like about a 100 + books on the subject (and growing) so I'm guessing as I've got more comfortable in the blogging medium more of my personality & thus more poetry would arise, but am glad you like it.

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  11. @petekarnas: Thanks Pete, only a year for you, blimey you must have hit the ground running, yours was one of the 1st I followed & presumed you'd been around ages. Congrats on your anniversary, will look out for celebrations.

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  12. Congratulation :)
    It's nice to have known you :)

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  13. Congratulations!! I hope that you continue to blog for many years to come :-)

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  14. @Novroz: Thanks, & I hope to continue doing so {:~)

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  15. @farmlanebooks: Thanks Jackie, will keep seeking inspiration from your book selection ( Light Boxes arrived yesterday)

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  16. Happy Anniversary to you and your blog, Parrish! So nice to run across another site like those of Rise and Stu that reviews gobs of international fiction and not just American and British novelists like so many others in the blogosphere. Cheers!

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  17. Thanks Richard, there are more international readers than one realises, so hopefully the words getting out, that there are great books from all corners of this planet of ours.

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  18. Congrats! I never realise how long people've been blogging. Everyone (except those with 12 followers) seems to have been around for a long time.

    It's my first blogoversary in 2 weeks' time!

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  19. Hi Judith, Thanks, to be honest it was a last minute realisation that it was a year ago. hence just a rambling celebration instead of a concise review. I know what you mean about not knowing, I must have been following Pete (what you read) from day one, & thought he'd been doing this a long time. Will watch out for your celebration.

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  20. Wow! That was quick, but probably all the quicker because I only met you in July through the JLC4. I don't get around much, as you can see. :) You've really developed a wonderful blog, I love learning about what you're reading as we enjoy so many of the same authors.

    Did I tell you I bought a new bike? It's a Cannondale, one of the better made American ones, and I'm hoping to ride my fanny off come Spring. Which is always a bit late in Illinois. Love bicycling, love reading, love blogging...

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  21. Hi Bellezza grazie. Yes I thoroughly enjoyed Jlc4 & learned of a load if to me new writers. A known Cannondales, lovely quality end bikes, some real beauties in their line, so enjoy. And thanks again for your support & friendship.
    Ps. Hurray its national poetry month in the usa
    will be doing something for it soon.

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  22. Congrats and many many more. I enjoy your blog. Keep it up (especially the poetry) and thank you.

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  23. Hi Kinna, Thank you, & yes I do hope to feature more poetry , if you have a particular favourite poet please introduce me to them, so I can learn more & hopefully post about them.

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  24. Stumbled in here after the malt ran out, why is the whisky always gone? I'm Scottish, so I know a good malt m'dear!

    Happy anniversary - or is that Blogiversary? I'm not sure.

    Look forward to reading more!

    Lady A x

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  25. Why Thank you my Lady, & curse those empty bottles. I see you're an admirer of poetry, so hopefully you'll like the ones that will featured here.
    Ps. What's your Malt(S)?

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  26. Happy blogiversary!! I hope you'll be around blogging for many more years too! :)

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  27. Usually Glenfiddich and Irn Bru (I know it's a travesty, but it's Irn Bru!)

    Although I must add that I prefer a good brandy :)

    Lady A x

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  28. Hi Tanabata, Thanks & I hope to see you around this world of ours.

    Hi Antimony, used to be a brandy man, now prefer a good Malt, preferably from Islay. Irn Bru isn't that Highland milk.

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  29. congratulations on your blog anniversary!

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  30. Congratulations on your blogiversary! I've truly enjoyed getting to know you over the past several months.

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  31. Crafty Green Poet, Thanks for the Congrats & hope you'll enjoy the poetry here & please recommend any that I can post on.

    Hi Patrick, Thanks & and as you can imagine I raised a few glasses of malt (Smokey Joe) and feelings reciprocated concerning getting to know, nice to know we're an active minority.
    Ps: what's with the Blackbriar press ?.

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  32. Happy anniversary! I'm happy you joined the world of blogging.

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Welcome & a big hearty thanks for your comment. If I don't reply straight away, it means you've stumped me, left me dumb-founded! In fact utterly mumchance & discombobulated, but I will be back!
By Jiminy, I'll be Back!
Thanks, Parrish.