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| Philip Lardner - The world is a looking glass... |  |
 "The world is a looking glass, and gives back to every man the reflection of his own face. Frown at it, and it will in turn look sourly upon you; laugh at it and with it, and it is a jolly kind companion; and so let all young persons take their choice." - W. M. Thackeray, Vanity Fair. Welcome to this webpage. I live in Renfrewshire, Scotland in the United Kingdom. My joy is my young family. When not occupied by the daily grind I paint watercolours (nowhere near as often as I would like) and sometimes even publish them - why not check them out at www.tholos.co.uk ? I also (and mostly without success) try to find the time to write stories and develop my entrepreneurial ideas; who knows, maybe one day I'll get my act together and actually finish a book or take an idea to the market? Ranulph Fiennes, in his book 'Mind over matter' reflects on the motivation to pursue goals beyond the daily obstacles, quoting Scott from 1910 before his quest for the South Pole: "I seem to hold something in reserve that makes for success and yet see no worthy field for it." I was given that book by a dear friend at Christmas 1993, and I'm still seeking to exorcise similar frustrations (although I hope my own journey doesn't end in a lonely one-way walk in the snow!). Some time ago I thought political service was where my destiny was headed, and this web domain (as some visitors may well know) was originally set up for that purpose - but the Good Lord in his wisdom decided that was not for me. So here I am now, happier for sure - one became five for a time of wonder, but four it was to be, one plus three. A minor miracle and I thank Him for everything (and her for the rest). Who knows what the future may hold. As Glen Campbell sang Jimmy Webb's lyrics so well: 'You might as well smile, ain't no tears gonna drown the rain.' Similarly, in Khayyam's Rubaiyat: "The moving Finger writes; and, having writ, Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line, Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it." "'T is all a Chequer-board of Nights and Days Where Destiny with Men for Pieces plays: Hither and thither moves, and mates, and slays, And one by one back in the Closet lays." I am eternally thankful for those who have been part of my experience of life so far, and hope, DV, that there may be more yet to come. "AWAKE! for Morning in the Bowl of Night Has flung the Stone that puts the Stars to Flight: And Lo! the Hunter of the East has caught The Sultan's Turret in a Noose of Light..." Thank you for visiting. I can be contacted via the Tholos website link above. May God be with you.  __________________________________________  _____________________________________ __  ________________________________________ |
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