Horses for cushion covers

Horses for courses. This expression originated in England, in 1898 at the latest [1]. It means, of course (pun intended) we should stick to what we know, and do, best. Adjunctively, what’s suitable for one person or situation may be unsuitable for another. The news cycle – that insidious and pervasive modern invention – has moved on, leaving the Queensland floods in its wake (pun intended). For the mass communications media have neither soul nor conscience. But, fortunately, some members of our society do. Artists come readily to mind. As a group, artists tend to be sensitive to the human condition and its exigencies. So it’s unsurprising they’ve rallied into action to assist flood-affected Queenslanders. Also that darling Kate’s among them.. Using the finest quality wool, Kate has crocheted a superb cushion cover (or ersatz beanie – modelled by darling Brendon for the photograph) which she’s auctioning on her Foxs Lane blog [2, 3, 4, 5]. The bidding procedure’s here [6]. Bidding closes at 9 a.m. next Monday. The idea’s that the highest bidder donates the bid to the Premier’s Flood Relief Appeal [7] (it’s a tax deduction too) after which Kate will post the prize. It’s a win-win-win-win situation: A win for the flood victims, the auction winner, our society at large; and not least Kate – who’s produced an item of artistic beauty whist helping the flood aftermath effort in the best way she knows. A true ‘horse for course’ contribution. Yet another reason I’m proud to be her dad. So proud.

farmdoc's blog post number 632

I’m a man of medicine and science. But I often wish I was an artist. Because artists have a special – right brain – way of perceiving things. They’re creative and innovative. And I’m not. So when I come across a piece of art I think’s truly outstanding, I’m envious. Really envious. Like now. Have a look at this article about the work of photographer Carl Warner and his team of five model makers, who made London ‘foodscapes’ from 26 types of fruit and vegetables. The London Eye (pictured) has green beans as spokes, and its pods are carefully crafted from baby cherry tomatoes. You can also see radishes, runner beans, rhubarb and lemon. This series of foodscapes took three weeks of work to painstakingly build up and glue the component pieces of fruit and veg. The project was commissioned to promote healthy eating as well as art. A representative of the Good Food channel, which commissioned the work, said the images were incredible. She said these stunning images that have quite literally transformed the London skyline with good food, prove that fun with food in a creative and light-hearted way is the way forward. Sounds to me like a marketing pitch, but I don’t deny that the images are stunning. Well done, Mr Warner. The world’s so much the better for right brain people like you.