Many years ago, I used to know and consult this poem for inspiration

As did I, Jack, and still do.  Reading it again has left me in a happy, calm and positive frame of mind - which was surely the intention of the words.  Now if only I  had kept that old poster I would put it back on my bedroom wall for daily inspiration. 

“I said to Heart, “How goes it?” Heart replied: “Right as a Ribstone Pippin!” But it lied.”

  Hilaire Belloc

The False Heart" presents a concise critique of human nature, particularly the tendency for words and actions to mask true feelings. The speaker confronts Heart, only to be met with a deliberately deceptive response. The fruit imagery in "Pippin" could symbolize the heart's sweet exterior hiding a bitter interior.

Compared to the author's more complex works, this poem's simplicity and brevity reinforce its impact. It encapsulates a universal human experience in a few lines, echoing the themes of deception and self-delusion found in Romantic and Victorian literature.

The poem's compact structure and use of colloquial language make it both memorable and relatable, transcending the limitations of its time period. By addressing a fundamental aspect of human nature, "The False Heart" remains relevant and evocative today.

Couldn't have put it better myself.  Short, simple and concise. Bit like me! 

I think I'd like to be involved in your poetry group, Jack!  I don't know a great deal about poetry but have studied it a bit at evening classes.  Will search out my old notes and hopefully will be able to make some sort of contribution.  I'm not sure whether it is always necessary or desirable to delve too deeply into meanings but will be interested to see the forthcoming observations.  Just so long as I don't have to listen to poetry being read out loud (cringey) I am happy to read and discuss it, same with books.  I have studied and translated Chaucer's The Nun's Priest's Tale at length - very helpful, I know!!   

Have you told your poor long suffering hubby about your plans for the spare bedroom?     

Not yet, Pen. It might be the straw that breaks the camel's back after all his work on the kitchen and bathroom!  In any event, I have recently decided that the colour on our sitting room walls needs changing so that might have to be his next task.  I like painting but he doesn't trust to me to a good enough job as I'm apparently a bit slapdash in my approach!  Surely not?  Anyway, that will keep him occupied until it's fine enough to overhaul the garden which looks like a builder's yard at the moment!  I'm hoping for a small arbour where I can sit and admire my horticultural skills (zero at present but I'm planning to stuff a few plants in the garden and hopefully they will do their thing without much expertise on my part).

I was just about to say that I couldn't see it, Jack, and then he turned!  Very clever!

Have you watched Stephen Fry presenting Jeopardy?  The jury's still out for me.  I can't decide if I like it or not.  I find some of the contestants quite irritating.

I have, Pen and surprisingly I am like you.  Can't decide whether I like it or not.  Thought it was pretty dire at first and even though I like Stephen Fry, I didn't think he was quite right as host - not a patch on his QI presenting.  A recent contestant (boy/girl) really irritated me to the point where I was rooting for him/her to lose!  I think the first series has ended now and it will be interesting to see whether there will be a second one.

Re my knickers - M & S - naturally!

Not long until tea time now.  You'd best get your skates on if you're to stand any chance of scraping the bottom of the dish.  

Oh Linda once again you have made me roar with laughter!! It would be a great pity to spoil the aesthetic appearance of your lovely new bookcase with hubby's books   

Once upon a time we had 2 Nat Wests, Barclays, Lloyds, HSBC, Abbey National, TSB, Halifax and Nationwide in Bletchley.  Now we have just Lloyds and Nationwide.  The Halifax where I worked for nearly 30 years closed recently. As you rightly say it's down to on-line banking.  Some of the buildings are just standing empty.

I have an oldish Hotpoint washing machine.  I did consult Ms Google about your problem.  Unsure if it's any help.  The first thing I found was that the child lock might be activated.  The second thing I found was an instruction on how to reset the machine.
Unplug your Bosch washing machine from the wall and press and hold the on/off button for 5 seconds.  Then plug the washing machine back in and turn it on.  Select the 'reset' option from the menu and follow the on-screen instructions.
Another website said the start button is held down for too short or too long!! The optimum time is to press it for one to two seconds!  The last thing I found was an instruction to unplug the washing machine for 30 minutes and then turn it back on.

Have no idea if any of this will help Linda.  Worth a try as you've nowt to lose.

Hope your bookcase is looking pristine 

Hi Pen

Bookcase is looking lovely and have relegated hubby's books to the bottom shelf so they're not staring you in the face!  I tried to suggest that he keeps his books upstairs but he didn't seem to go much on that idea.  I will just have to keep my gaze at eye level!

We don't have a bank at all in our town now and have just learned that the two nearest to us are going to close.  I think the Post Office is taking on a lot of the bank's business - at least we still have a Post Office, for the moment.  Oh, and of course we do have a Harry Potter shop! Why??  Some extremely tenuous link apparently. Don't ask me, I'm not a Potter nerd.

Thank you so much for your endeavours to find a solution to my washing machine problem.  I think we may have tried switching off at wall etc but will certainly try again and see if it produces any results.  We  have looked through the manual and can make head nor tail of the damned thing.  Our old machine worked perfectly until it packed up!  Oh well, at least I don't have Christine's vibration problem!

Enjoy your sunny Sunday.