Wednesday 20 July 2022

Quotes and what a scorcher

We've just come back from a lovely few days camping with friends near St Just in Penwith, and my what a scorcher! I was more concerned with how the dogs would cope than us, but luckily there was a good breeze the whole time, and some shade, so we survived. Though I have realised I don't cope well with this level of heat. I felt utterly flattened, but we had a brilliant time with our friends and some good walks and a swim and enjoyed it so much we're going to do it again next month.

The other day I came across this - "The trouble with words is that you never know whose mouths they've been in." Dennis Potter, dramatist (1935-1994)

And I thought, isn't that clever? I'd love to be able to trot out things like that on the spur of the moment. Usually I find I think of sparkling, witty things to say at 3 in the morning which isn't of much use to anyone, though I suppose they can be stored for later use.

Oscar Wilde was, of course, the master of wit and put downs. What is it that makes someone like that I wonder? Presumably there's something in our brains that determines the sort of person we become, but it has to derive from being surrounded by people who appreciate that kind of humour. Or does it?

On the rare occasion that I do think of the right thing to say at the right moment, I get great satisfaction. Of course, when we're writing, we can plan those moments which makes it easier for us, and more pleasurable for the reader.

On that note, I am off to look over a short story I wrote last week for my new website as a teaser for my novel, to be published later this year. Exciting or what?

I will leave you with another picture of our trip away, this time at Cape Cornwall.

4 comments:

ADDY said...

It certainly was a scorcher, wasn't it? I felt sorry for the animals with their fur coats and saw a lot of daft people walking their dogs midday in blazing sunshine and on hot pavements. I would have given anything for a sea breeze last week!

kjsutcliffe said...

I'm one of 'those' that can have witty repartee (but three days after the event...!) My brain does not work that fast or store clever come backs - hey ho 😆

Flowerpot said...

Addy - it's extraordinary that people don't think how painful it must be for dogs to walk on scorching pavements in that weather!

Flowerpot said...

KJ - how lovely to meet you. I quite agree. It's so difficult to think of quick comebacks when needed, isn't it?!