poliphilo: (Default)
poliphilo ([personal profile] poliphilo) wrote2009-09-11 10:51 am

Candlelight

We forget how dark it was in the past.

The lights downstairs keep shorting out- and instead of trekking down to the cellar- again- to flip the switch I lit a candle. 

As you move about with your candle you see the house in fragments. You don't see the floor; you don't see the ceiling. If there's a slug on the kitchen floor-as there so often is- too bad for both of you. The shadows of upstanding objects go wheeling past, reflective surfaces wink.   If you hold the candle in front of your eyes all you see is the flame against inky blackness. To perform a simple task- like making a cup of coffee- you need to keep repositioning your candle so it lights the relevant part of the operation.

Ailz says she's going to call the electrician and get him to fix the fault. Spoil-sport!  Nevertheless I mean to continue with the experiment.

[identity profile] craftyailz.livejournal.com 2009-09-11 12:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Only in case there is a serious - dangerous - problem with our electrics

[identity profile] poliphilo.livejournal.com 2009-09-11 01:01 pm (UTC)(link)
OK. :)

[identity profile] heatherp8.livejournal.com 2009-09-11 12:14 pm (UTC)(link)
not to mention, it's very romantic as well *wink, wink*

[identity profile] poliphilo.livejournal.com 2009-09-11 01:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes indeed. Candlelight is beautiful- and flattering.

[identity profile] halfmoon-mollie.livejournal.com 2009-09-11 12:45 pm (UTC)(link)
I used to think candles were romantic. But, I've always lived in OLD houses (the one I live in now is about 300 years old) and I'm not great at being extra careful.

Great picture, though, Tony!

[identity profile] poliphilo.livejournal.com 2009-09-11 01:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks.

I suppose one gets used to handling candles safely. The candlestick I'm using has a handle- and used to belong to my grandmother.

[identity profile] saare-snowqueen.livejournal.com 2009-09-11 01:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Nice portrait.

[identity profile] poliphilo.livejournal.com 2009-09-11 01:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks.

[identity profile] craftyailz.livejournal.com 2009-09-11 01:32 pm (UTC)(link)
And, yes, it's a very nice picture of you - a very nice picture indeed!!!!!

[identity profile] poliphilo.livejournal.com 2009-09-11 02:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Isn't it just!

So you liked it then?

[identity profile] craftyailz.livejournal.com 2009-09-11 03:08 pm (UTC)(link)
It'll do - I prefer the real thing - the candle shows up your jowls, your wrinkles, your big nose - and all your other good points too. xx

[identity profile] pondhopper.livejournal.com 2009-09-11 02:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Candlelight makes for lovely photos.
Like this one!

You get slugs in your kitchen?

[identity profile] craftyailz.livejournal.com 2009-09-11 03:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Yep - I went to get a drink one night and gathered up 17 - all one family I think - from huge great-grandpappy to the baby & put them in a bag to go outside in the morning - I fastened the bag to stop them escaping, though I did make airholes in it.

[identity profile] karenkay.livejournal.com 2009-09-11 02:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Great post, lovely photo.

[identity profile] karenkay.livejournal.com 2009-09-11 05:14 pm (UTC)(link)
It makes it far more easy to understand your witchiness.
sovay: (Lord Peter Wimsey: passion)

[personal profile] sovay 2009-09-11 04:10 pm (UTC)(link)
and instead of trekking down to the cellar- again- to flip the switch I lit a candle.

You look like Loki.

[identity profile] poliphilo.livejournal.com 2009-09-12 08:05 pm (UTC)(link)
Ha!

I picture him with a beard myself- a little beard.....
sovay: (Lord Peter Wimsey: passion)

[personal profile] sovay 2009-09-13 05:46 pm (UTC)(link)
I picture him with a beard myself- a little beard.....

I grew up on the D'Aulaires' Norse Gods and Giants; he's always clean-shaven to me.

[identity profile] poliphilo.livejournal.com 2009-09-14 09:20 am (UTC)(link)
I have in mind a picture by M.E.Winge(?)in Guerber's Myths of the Norsemen, which shows Loki chained to a rock and writhing like something out of Michelangelo.
sovay: (I Claudius)

[personal profile] sovay 2009-09-14 04:15 pm (UTC)(link)
I have in mind a picture by M.E.Winge(?)in Guerber's Myths of the Norsemen, which shows Loki chained to a rock and writhing like something out of Michelangelo.

This one?

[identity profile] zoe-1418.livejournal.com 2009-09-11 05:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Love your description and the photo too!

Ewwww, slugs!

[identity profile] poliphilo.livejournal.com 2009-09-12 08:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks.

We get so many slugs round here I've had to toughen up in my attitude towards them.

[identity profile] daisytells.livejournal.com 2009-09-11 10:30 pm (UTC)(link)
I think you are being smart not to flip the switch -- it sounds like a short circuit, very dangerous, a fire hazard.
What a wizard of a picture!

[identity profile] poliphilo.livejournal.com 2009-09-12 08:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks.

We'll be getting the electician in. I'm hoping our insurance will cover it.