Unauthorised

On a walk around Littleborough this morning, I passed this bowling green, which looked to be in pristine condition. Two of the members, standing about 15 metres apart, were lamenting that, in present circumstances, they aren't allowed on to the green.

A first listen today to the Kacey Musgraves album Golden Hour (2018).  My favourite track was Butterflies, shown here live in Austin, Texas, a city we are due to visit later this year, all being well.

One of my favourite painters is Peter Bruegel the Elder, who I intend to study in more detail as my self-administered BA progresses. His Landscape with the Fall of Icarus is notable for two things: the remarkably skilful, detailed painting of a landscape and the portrayal of human folly.

Icarus and his father Daedalus attempted to escape from the Island of Crete by flying, using wings made of feathers and wax. Icarus was warned not to fly too close to the sun but, with youthful bravado, ignored his father and fell to his death in the sea, when his wings melted. He legs are shown near the bottom right of the painting, plummeting into the water, ignored by a passing ship and people on the shore.

Icarus is not the only negligent person in the picture. A shepherd is daydreaming whilst his sheep wander.  On the ground, a wallet and sword refer to a then popular proverb: "a sword and money need careful hands."