cheese-grater noses

[freckles_and_doubt]

I'm becoming increasingly more enamoured of Farscape as this season (the fourth) progresses. Just at the point where I'm about to get all annoyed at someone's incomprehensible behaviour (usually Crichton's), there's a sudden twist and everything falls into place. Some interesting writing here, although it's a bit patchy at times. Commandant Grayza is narking me off, she's such a howling femme-fatale stereotype. Also, I do wish there weren't so many gross-out bits in so many episodes. I don't enjoy having to suppress a gag reflex when I'm watching TV: we've had to institute a "Farscape Only After Supper" rule. Slimy bits, so done.

While I'm in the regressive favourite-kiddielit mode after yesterday: does anyone else cherish memories of a kids' book called Bottersnikes and Gumbles? It's written by an Australian author, and features the ongoing war between Bottersnikes, lazy, sadistic monsters with cheese-grater noses who live in junk heaps, and Gumbles, which are soft, giggly, shapeless creatures. The Bottersnikes were always capturing the Gumbles and squishing them into jam tins. I vividly remember borrowing the book from a classmate when I was about nine years old: his name was Clive and he had, if I remember rightly, a horrible crush on me. Ten minutes on teh internets this morning has revealed that I've never subsequently found a copy of the book because the damned thing is out of print. I could buy the complete collection off Amazon Marketplace for £114, which seems a bit steep for childhood nostalgia. Phooey. We need a reprint, stat.

How sweet! This afternoon's Nigerian scam comes from "MR.SY MAILCK DODO" and starts with the cheery salutation "Hello, Dear!"

Last Night I Dreamed: wolverine_nun gave me a long necklace of rather lovely smoky quartz beads which were either (a) mined in her garden, or (b) crystallised out of melons that were grown in her garden. I also spent a lot of time trying desperately to have a series of cat pictures framed so I could use them in a tut. (Memo to self: collect w-n's birthday present from the framers this evening.) Later I snuck around trying to get into the wooden hut in the snow-bound forest, so that I could download all the incriminating information from the inhabitant's camera. (Memo to self: watch less X-files).

Comments

[origamitiger.livejournal.com]

I wonder if I have a copy at home....
I will ask my brother to keep an eye out for you.
Otherwise, contact http://www.sybersbooks.com.au/ and tell them Catherine "Henry" Currie sent you to them.

[confluence.myopenid.com (from livejournal.com)]

Yesssss! I remember this book, because of the pictures.

Have you seen "Coup by Clam" yet? That was just gratuitous, srsly.

[extemporanea.livejournal.com]

Yup, that would be the episode that caused me actually to gag while not eating anything. Gratuitous doesn't even begin to cover it.

I remember the book because the ongoing war is such a beautiful clash of opposites, I think. Besides, bottersnike. Lovely word.

[(Anonymous)]

Let me know if you'd like me to ask my Australian friend to keep an eye out for the books in used bookstores or whatnot. She was able to track down a book of Norman Lindsay cat drawings for me!

Cheers,
Dayle/Rhieinwen

[extemporanea.livejournal.com]

Norman Lindsay who did The Magic Pudding? I adore that book, love the artwork, I didn't know he did cats. Cool. (Memo to self, since I seem to be in this retro kiddi-lit mood, must do Magic Pudding next...) I wouldn't worry about bothering your Australian friend, I can probably track down a reprint copy on Amazon, eventually.

[(Anonymous)]

Also known as the Norman Lindsay from Sirens. (So I know him as a deliciously naughty man who somehow also did children's books, whereas you have the opposite view! LOL)

Cheers, Dayle

Gumbles

[first-fallen.livejournal.com]

They look remarkably like small pandas.

Re: Gumbles

[extemporanea.livejournal.com]

I actually thought of you while I was posting that pic... I thought "first-fallen will think they look like pandas!" My edition of the book had them white all over and rather shapeless.

Re: Gumbles

[first-fallen.livejournal.com]

Pfft, obviously I'm too predictable. Next I'll be seeing the Virgin Panda in my low-GI toast!

[wolverine-nun.livejournal.com]

I saw some rather lovely smoky quartz beads in Woodhead's today. I ran my fingers through them and didn't notice any traces of melon.