Obviously if I talk about mingling with the criminal classes, you, gentle reader, will merely assume I have added sinecurists, usurers and jurists to my list of patrons. But in this case I mean I have been mingling with genuine criminals.To be fair, to be a criminal in Port Naain is not perhaps as degraded … More Meeting with the criminal classes
What on earth do you do with industrious incompetents who expect your gratitude even as they spread chaos and destruction in their wake? Here at the Shrine of Aea in Her Aspect as the Personification of Tempered Enthusiasm, we have been lucky. We were discussing our good fortune over a late night glass and came … More As my pen softly weeps
There is a discussion, I suppose it has rumbled on for some time, as to what is the correct collective noun for poets. In all candour, I feel that there is no group less deserving of a collective noun, but still my opinion carries little weight in these matters. Some have suggested, ‘a usage of … More A carouse of poets
People have commented that I haven’t mentioned Istri. Was this an intentional oversight on my part? Of course not, it’s just that Istri has always been there. Istri dances. She has done so for as long as anybody can remember. Every morning, early, she appears on the Old Esplanade and dances her dance. I remember … More The wonder of the dance
It was with some sadness that we heard of the passing of the Most Venerated Jaster Gruel. He was somebody we had always had considerable sympathy for. When I first met him he was a middle aged priest with a delightful sense of humour and immense enthusiasm. He had a passion for helping people. He … More Perfect confidence
There is much to be said about the endless round of inspections, the limitless oversight, the constant querying of petty detail, that we have to endure here in the Shrine of Aea in Her Aspect as the Personification of Tempered Enthusiasm. But trust me when I say that this is not the place for a … More An inspector calls
One of the advantages of a life of penury is that your conscience is unlikely to complain when you finally manage to put food on the table. A conscience that finally has its mouth full is strangely muted. Thus my conscience is remarkably flexible in certain areas. There was the case of the missing brisket. … More The prickings of conscience
At the Shrine of Aea in Her Aspect as the Personification of Tempered Enthusiasm we work hard at maintaining the correct relationship with our superiors in the order. Ideally those in authority who have little to do with us will regard us fondly. This is easily arranged. Those who like preaching are invited to preach, … More Knowing your place
It has to be admitted that after a particularly hard day, people may not necessarily be at their best. Also people chose many different ways to relax. I suppose it’s lucky we’re not all the same. I’m also well aware that we shouldn’t be judgemental in these things. Still I am of the school that … More A Rough Day
“A lecherous sunrise flaunted itself over a flatulent sea, ripping the obsidian bodice of night asunder with its rapacious fingers of gold, thus exposing her dusky bosom to the dawn’s ogling stare.” Thus I declaimed those famed words of Stud Uval, one of the greatest poets and writers ever to dwell in Port Naain. For … More Anthropodermic bibliopegy
Tallis Steelyard 