A Tumbler of Armagnac

Marty Pike, writer and lawyer working in human rights advocacy. Politics, international relations, writing, law, music, fatherhood, catblogging & whimsical nonsense, served with no ice, in the Sumnerhood, on the banks of Merri Creek, Victoria, Australia. Twitter @armagny Insta: @martingpike 

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Bought a navy leather bonnet jacket at Lost & Found market, Fitzroy.

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My facebook feed full of friends posting their inane non-creations all the while telling themselves the next generation will have UBI or some fantasy from another political ecosystem.

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Made a meme

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Beard trim day, hot towel & straight razor finish, Lords of the North, Thornbury.

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ivan the terrible & his son ivan / ilya repin

breaking bad, 2x13, ABQ / vince gilligan

saturn devouring his son / francisco goya

breaking bad, 5x11, confessions / vince gilligan

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Our newest family members. Otherwise known as kittens!

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Plan for ADO day: go gym, run errand, write, think about productive stuff, run for cardio in afternoon, cats to vet for vaxx, something else productive.

Actual ADO day: prolonged kitten cuddle, extended makeup older cat lap time and sitting in garden nibbling on grass stalks time, gym & errand, extended game of catch that toy mouse with kittens, supervision of kittens in close proximity to older cat (no hisses so an improvement there), make lunch talking to older cat, eat lunch outside next to older cat, sort-of-intermittently (mittenly?) read book that already has deep punctures from kittens while said mini felines do body slams on each other, cats to vet for vaxx and while there son convinces buy cat tunnel, then home for cat tunnel silliness. Give up, post about it. The end.

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Cat mug and World Cup. Naturally.

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Vale Chairman Mao the Burmese Cat. Thanks for 18 years of affection, snuggles, and unconditional love. Our hearts are broken, but we’re so grateful we had you in our lives.

From the moment you put your arms around my neck when I first picked you up, you brought your unique, ridiculously loving personality into our lives. As my Beloved said, you made our house a home. And you filled it with love as we married, got another cat, and had kids who’ve always known your purring and your warmth.

Rest my beautiful boy x

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Getting the guitar back out, need a challenge to work on. Lachrimæ pavan, or Flow My Tears, by John Dowland, c1600. It’s a beautiful old tune, slow but with a few fast little runs to break it up. I’m definitely an amateur at classical, so this may take a while. But I find with guitar, the journey itself is good for the soul. #johndowland #lachrimae #pavan #renaissance #guitar #classicalguitar #music

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‘Physical Energy’, statue in Hyde Park, London. Minutes earlier, guns rang out; commemorations for the Queen in the distance.

A strange, historic time to arrive for a holiday. London rushes about its business but with a somber, restrained overlay.

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Simply perfect music -

Bach Sarabande, solo violin by Hilary Hahn.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IF2T5Zl4FlM

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“The Giant Tabby Cat in the Boy”

Painting by my cousin Jane Giblin, present from my fam for my 50th birthday.

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Abandoned Stained Glass Train Interiors

off world rural decay

ghost owl attic

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Who says the magas won’t accept a love that dares not speak its name?

Happy Monday, enjoy your coffee.

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Survivor, by Roger McGough.

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Baths - at least their promotion via ads and TV - are kind of gendered aren’t they?

Poured my first in years this eve, deep, very warm, glass of wine, poetry podcast.

I can 100% confirm this was as relaxing as I hoped it would be.