On the Town

[poliphilo]

Ruth (she's our sister in law) wanted to buy Ailz a ring for her birthday. I went along as artistic advisor. We visited all the jewelery shops in the Manchester Craft Centre.

I approve of chaste design and all that, but when the money's on the table I go for colour. There was a square ring with a tiny stone set in one corner that had us intrigued, but what we finally settled for was a silver ring with three clear blue stones- each stone a different intensity of blue- lovely.

We went for a curry in the evening (who wants a curry? Me, me, me!) and about halfway through the meal I came to the realization that repeatedly filling your mouth with dollops of stuff that burns is an odd way of having fun.

We were given a table right next to the fish tank. That was nice. But here's a thing; several of the fish had nostrils. Now what's all that about? Can anyone explain to me why a fish would need nostrils?

Comments

[jackiejj.livejournal.com]

I don't know why fish need nostrils, but I do know that this entire post has me smiling, a fine way to begin my day.

I'm glad you went along as "artistic advisor" (that was when I first began to smile), and that Ailz has a beautiful new ring (and three shades of blue sounds lovely).

"...dollops of stuff that burns is an odd way of having fun"--

so true! Did you have Pop Rocks in England? Frightening and tantalizing fizzy candy that sizzled in your mouth and throat! There were urban legends about five-year-olds who choked by irresponsibly eating the entire bag at once.

It was like a drug trip: once in your mouth, you were forced to ride it out.

[thewayupward.livejournal.com]

That is a filthy lie about the five-year-olds! We used to eat Pop Rocks all the time in class under our desks and when the teacher walked in we'd have to hide the evidence by eating it. So we'd pour the whole packet into our mouths and then suffer happily. No ill effects whatsoever! Except for a week or so you can't taste things so well because your tongue is a little sore. Ah, childhood.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Thanks, :)

No, pop rocks are new to me. The nearest thing when I was a kid was the Barret's Sherbert Fountain. You got this tube of fizzy dust (sugar and baking soda I think) and you were supposed to suck it up through a "straw" made of liquorice. The trouble was the straw got bunged up after a suck or two and you had find other ways of getting at your sherbert. I was crazy for those things.

[ibid.livejournal.com]

I prefer the sherbert dips with the lollies. I was delighted when I found a shop which still sell them!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I think the lollies came in after my time, but, yes, they are a distinct improvement

[thewayupward.livejournal.com]

I Googled it (don't you love Google? It's like the Internet oracle. Nobody with a computer is allowed to ask questions any more) and apparently, the fish need their nostrils to smell. I am not kidding. Google it, keywords 'fish nostrils'. It's an embarrassing and childish thing to be typing into a search engine but it's got to be done. I promise I won't tell anybody.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Well, if Google says fish possess a sense of smell it must be true!

[mtl.livejournal.com]

A nice day, and a beautiful ring!

Thank you for this posting!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I wish I had your skill and could take a picture of the ring that would do it justice.

[mtl.livejournal.com]

Take a picture and show us!