Wensworth jotting down a few observations on
his Note-Book, at riverside Bårgeaux

Tidinges from sunny Bargo

Dear exploratory fellowes,

hearty greetings by Paddlewick & Yours Truly from the heart of the quaint historickal centre of the township of Bargo. Despite the promising name, few establishments of dubious but desirable pleasures have presented their facades to us; instead, turned away by the famed Culinary Palace of Molluscian Delightes, the setting sun finds us sipping beer - or, in P's case, the juice of Eve's fruit - on the riverside.

Illustrated accompaniments will follow as soon as my good Jeeves manages to finish with his furious scribblings.

Wensworth, FHMSSE

Good points on the previous entry, old chap.
I would almost want to suggest a separate, but almost equal "Territorial Points" system. They would / could perhaps count as a 'bonus' to the motherland, or 1/2 point, or just a Territorial Point.

So, in practice, we could file various ambiguous locations under this system, and they would be recognized as such.

A Territory could be a place that is a) geographically far from the 'Mainland', and/or b) culturally rather different. Thus even the Åland Islands could be counted as a Finnish Territory Point for, say, an American gentleman visiting. Likeways Guam, or Puerto Rico, would be bonuses 'added' to one's U.S. point...

What say ye?

Ta ta!
Paddlewick

Let's make a rule

Dear explorer colleagues!
Every now and then the question arises, what, exactly, does constitute a so-called "country point"? I.e, when does a person have the bragging rights to say they have 'been' to a certain country?
Let's discuss and make our Society rule for once & all. Please voice your comments and thoughts below.

Some issues:
- if a person travels through a (narrow piece) of country, without leaving the coach or train, that shouldn't be a point
- if a person leaves the train station or airport for a couple of hours about the town, does that count? How about walking both sides of a int'l border?
- how about territories that are quite different from the ruling entity? For example, would Puerto Rico be considered simply another trip to the good ol' U.S? Or Greenland or Reunion Island Denmark & France, respectively? Or should territories like this get at least 1/2 point?

Other issues?
Let's try to solve this, and see who has the biggest bragging rights!

Yours truly,
Paddlewick, esq.

Wensworth reports

Dear Gentlemen, and dear, dear regrettably few Gentleladies of the Society;

In the interests of maintaining the hallowed traditions of the SS&E, your wayward fellow retroactively reports of his recent visit to the charming, rustic, and most historickal realm of Slovenia.

As each and one of us certainly knows, once in a while one hits a blue note, a brown study, and any number of other curiously colored abstractions; to put it shortly, one realizes that one's stay in one place has exceeded all reasonable expectations, one requires the fresh breeze of the far oceans, the gentle zephyrs of unseen mountains, one must stir from one's stagnation, air one's hide, shake off the gathered dust in order to acquire renewed appreciation of one's surroundings.

Often this may be the case even without the unwelcome attentions of the various leech and pest nattering of the trifling expenses one has incurred and whose expunction one has sensibly postponed to relieve the poor noggin of undue stress.

Thus it happens that yours truly arose one fine morning, and, after Jeeves' blessed pick-me-up'er, decided that the far reaches of Slovenia were where one would feel at peace of mind. I bade J pack up the old portmanteau, trusted myself to the care of the local expeditory service, and proceeded to stave off the pursuing melancholies with remedial g&t therapy.


Now, Slovenia is one of those places where, no doubt, Odysseys flitted with his fleet feet to get away from it all, Aristoteles retreated to from his poison-supping proclivities, and any number of huns, nuns, and barbarians passed through on their way from A to B. It is one of those places a bit to the side of all the hectic activities of war, peace, and whatnot. It fairly exudes the aroma of historickal retreatfulness. This is noted by many, and they proceed to follow tradition, and to occupy one's intended lodging. Yours truly was flabbergasted to learn that one's prime spots were all taken, veritably packed like tins of herrings, some of the unfortunate ones brimming over and falling out of the windows. Trusty J did manage to secure accommodation in some seedy hovel on the edges of Ljubljana, but this was decidedly not the grand entré, the majestick hawk-like descent onto the unsuspecting society, one might have intended.



Still, one must take these things as they come. Compensating any hardships, all this Presence by the Masses was greeted by the locals with merriment and festivity; streets were filled with bands on stands, performing local and exotick song and dance, beer flowed freely, the heart-warming chatter of the multitudes lounging about on warm summer evenings along canal and cafe assaulted the ear like the surf of the sea (when said does this in the pleasant, mostly swooshing way, not the pounding surf of doom variety). The old section of Ljubljana is endearingly cobbly and somewhat wobbly, the old buildings secrete puddles of hospitable charm, and the castle mount commands with dominating presence the riverside establishments and venues. Most rues of the unfortunate arrival were absolutely wiped away.

(Your reportatory narrator finds it necessary to fade out for the while. I shall fade like the wind, but will present for your enjoyment a picture J scratched up while YT was enjoying the more cultural aspects of the night life. J says he was considered quite the little artist in his youthful years, dabbing pigment here and there to considerable adoration of the teacher-kind.)

Live sine-curvacious musick

These two Finnish gentlemen performed last week here in the Colonies. The experience was rather interesting. I like it when the sonique base (as opposed to the architectural base) rattles my rib-cage... But let's see what others are saying:

Q: Can you describe your music?
Pan Sonic: Compare it to a food. If our music was a food it would be well done Japanese sushi, raw fish. That's how we would like our music to be, very simple and pure. We are also trying to avoid using too much production which is comparable to using spices and preparing the food. Sushi is quite similar to our music, just raw fish and a little rice.

Or:
Seeing Pan Sonic perform live has never been a letdown for me. Sometimes it's noisier, sometimes it's more ambient, but it's always loud and intense. The Mercury Lounge show was a top performance, a study in contrast between utter brutality and perfect calm -- brutal in the sense of a near-intolerably loud barrage of essentially pure noise (I still don't know how people go to Pan Sonic shows and seem surprised at the decibels!), but calming because if you yield yourself, there's nothing quite like letting your mind and body wallow in the sound. (Micah Stupac)

And on a different note: the first female space tourist!

Ta ta
P-wick

Hoax of the day

Some cheeky bastards have the nerve! Is nothing sacred anymore? An institution such as the British Museum deserves better ;) Where is this Mr. Banksy, and why has Scotland Yard taken him in already (for some in-depth 'questoning)??


Pfft.
Pwick

Flight of Fancy

One evening last week I met with two other ex-patriates in order to sample and savour excellent single malt whiskies. Naturally we went to my favourite single malt whiskey proprietor, Keen's in Mid-Towne Manhattan. This watering hole has a long tradition of entertaining the most distinguished clientele. Unfortunately modern anti-smoking laws prohibit a gentleman from lighting up his favourite clay-pipe to accompany and enhance the whiskey. But nonetheless, the whiskey was good. All 3 of us chose the Whiskey Flight, a sampling of 4 whiskeys. By a stroke of luck, our goode bartender decided to replace the 10-yr Springbank with a 34-yr version, for the same price! Which was nice. After the whiskey was imbibed & enjoyed properly, my compatriots decided to have a round of beer, while I opted for a soothing Port. Although I usually don't hold the Sandeman Estate in the highest regard, I must complement their 2000 LBV! Should you find a bottle at your purveyor, I highly recommend purchasing one for the cool evenings by the fireplace.
That's all for now; perhaps Wensworth will entertain us next with some tales from the Adriatic?!

Ta,
Paddlewick, whiskey connoseur

One night after imbibing

Poetry underground :)

citius, altius, fortius

Gentlemen, the age of supersonique travel is getting nigh. This could considerably shorten my travel time between the Olde and New Worlds!

P-wick

Furry Lobsters!

Albino hairy monster from the Deep!
Could this lead to water-proof mittens?

Rooibos tea with soy milk recommended

Oh, another cosy yet a little dull winter evening spent at my humble quarters in the village of Kallio. Suffering from slight insomnia, my greatest delights ( in particular now that my beloved television has passed away - I knew it was coming, but aye, these things always seem to come as a surprise in the end. Perhaps I shall get a cat instead - or finally finish my thesis...) remain a nice cup of Rooibos tea with just a hint of soy milk and a rather gothic view of the Church from my window that I've become so familiar with during the past year. Good for the soul this shall be? Well, friends and strangers alike, I certainly hope so. Good and kind spirits are what we all need at these difficult times!

So, I would like to thank dear Walther for the magnificent time I had during my wee visit to the New Yorke! I must say I was so impressed and had the most cracking time ever - especially after that little ennui with my stomach had been overcome. Great city, great company, what more can a modest lady like myself wish for!

Yours Truly,

Lady Anna Poppins

P.S. For Health and Safety, remember to wash yer hands Carefully before you have yer daily Tea!

Proper hydration

Greetings, Paddlewick & Wensworth here reporting from the 'Centre of the World', a.k.a. 'Kuopijon torj ja Mualiman Napa' in local parlance. Here we can be seen enjoying our afternoon tea with a sip of Cognac. Proper hydration & warmth are essential when traveling in the Nordic Winter Wunderlands!

In other news of Exploration:
Steve Fossett, Esq, recently managed to circumnavigate the globe in one of his flying contraptions. Crazy or not, we salute you. Well done, sir, well done!

Up the Hudson

This past Weekend, also know as a holy-day weekend here in the Colonies, it being the weekend following the traditional late-November Thanksging Day, I and two friends embarked on a jaunt 'up-state', more specifically following the River Hudson north so as to visit a few local vineyards in the region. Early morn we met at a Mid-Town garage to fetch our rental carriage. Our route took us through Manhattan and The Bronx, then past Sleepy Hollow & Pleasantville. We crossed the River at Tappen Zee Bridge. Once on the West Sai'id (as the natives here say), we did not stop until the towne by the name of New Paltz. The town was small and charming in an All-Americana way. Soon outside we found our first and best Vineyard, the Adler Winery. The jolly proprietor kept us well entertained, informed & imbibed! The establisment holds place in a two-century olde barn. His wines are small-batch, hand-crafted and natural ingredients only. He derailed against the Modern Californian wine Industry for using sneaky shortcuts in producing mass-produced wine for the plebeians, who often know not better. Anyway, we bought a few bottles, and plan to return next Spring/Summer when they host Cajun and Pasta parties on the premises.


Inside the Barn


A kettle of Tea for the weary Journey-man

Our newt two destinations were not worth mentioning. The terrain, however, is somewhat foresty up there. Some light snow & ice covered the ground. The fall foliage was over, so the landscape was rather bare & brown.


A whimsical down-spout at Whiteridge

Our last place was the oldest vineyard in these United States. The compund was rather charming. They had an impressive variety of wines, as they also represent some neighbour vineyards. The definite find here was the 100% fermented honey, also known as Ethiopian Honey Wine. I promptly purchased a few bottles for future use & gifts.
After all this, it was the time for us to head back to the City. After such an oenophilial journey, all I could do was crack open a bottle of Adler's Blackcurrant Kir and enjoy a good book...
That's all for now; keep on sipping and experimenting fine beverages!
Paddlewick

Mysterious Isle #2

Last Week-end I once again took out my trusty pedal-cyckle, and headed north to the Townes of Astoria and Isle of Roosevelt, that not-so-distant-at-all neighbourhood of New Yorke. While it is so close, indeed very few have a reason to stop & ponder this small island. WHile the Underground has a stop there, and a cable-car (i.e. a Gondola) carries people high above the East River, this an Isle mostly known for her few inhabitants. It used to house the more unsavory folkes of the society: the insane and the lepers. This is literally still visible on the isle, as some romantic Gothique ruins still grace the southern tip. Otherwise the isle still is roughly half a hospital/elder-care neighbourhood. For about 30-40 years common folk has also lived around here, and currently the NY housing boom has resulted in more apartments to be built, and no wonder: the views are magnifique, and the area very quiet. There are few cars, as the only way in is over a small bridge from Queens-side (visible in one of the attached photographs). This was the bridge I also rode over. In the near future, I predict, this Isle will be as dence as her big sister, Manhattan.


The former Insane Asylum at the Souther tip. Moody,I'll say!!

It appears I have trouble sending the other Photograph through (damn pigeons acting all uppity again), so I shall try again later. For now, good night & Godspeed!

P-wick

A Moist Apple!

As I was soon to discover, the climate at the shores of the new World would prove to be somewhat moist. To my surprise even the sweet treats I brought here from the other side of the pond have spontaneously reacted to the vast humidity they have been exposed to.

The always knowledgeable Wensworth shared with us his insight, that the phenomena is trivially explained due to the high level of ammonium chloride concentrations found in these tasteful treats.

My humble accouterment proved to be embarrassingly inadequate for such an humid climate. After all, an experienced explorer should never underestimate the perils that Mother Nature may have waiting for the unprepared adventurous soul. Many a street I has forced to wade through with mere sandals for protection.

I would have expected such humid conditions in the backwaters of Her Majesty's colonies in the far East about the equator, but certainly not here. If one is familiar with geography, one knows that this colony formerly known as New Amsterdam lies on the same latitude as Rome!

Did not the good citizens of ancient Rome wear sandals comfortably all year long? Everyone - from peasants to the most distinguished members of the aristocracy! How was I to know the error of my ways!

Fortunately I would soon find resolution, as I was able to locate a local cobbler's shop that could offer suitable footwear for a gentleman's delicate feet, and could thus continue the exploration of the colonies in comfort.

The Isle contained such wonders! Paradoxally, it was the wonders from the Old World that erected the most profound sensations. Particularly I must eulogize the excellent collections found in the Metropolitan Museum. One can not help wonder thought, how such an vast and impressive collection of notable artwork and such expert pieces of craftsmanships from the Old Words has been cumulated into these fairly young settings.

I was also about to discover a new kind of musical colonial musical trend called Jazz! Compliments to the nice fellows from the Roboto Music consort. Such on outcry, that this emerging form of splendid artistic culture is so seriously undervalued in the colonies.

I observed the natives engaging in a particularly peculiar past time activity called "Whacky Sack". According to my findings, this activity involves highly dexterous movements with the object of keeping a small airborne ball from touching the ground with delicate touches with
different body parts, with the exception of ones hands.

I found the game not that dissimilar to the ritualistic game practiced by the ancient Inca priests, with the exception, that the winner of this colonial game is not required to deign to decapitation to please the gods.

If I may be so bold as to ask Paddlewick to provide such an intriguing artifact to add to my collections?

That is all for now! Hoping ol' P-wick a safe journey back home for the holidays!

Maj. Coastnail

To the 5th Borough!

I am here to-day to tell of the mysterious and distant borough, the Island of Staten! On a clear day, the Island can be glimpsed from the southernmost tip of Manhattan, just past Our Lady of Liberty. A ferry scurries across the waters, carrying workers and investors every half-hour. It was on a sunny Sunday afternoon that I took my trusty pedal-cyckle onboard and headed to the oft-neglected fifth Borough.
The ferry let me ashore at the northern tip of the Is. The town, and the docks, are very unassuming (the docks are big & busy, but nothing to write homebound about). I got in the saddle and started pedalling south along the shore, my goal being the famous Verrazzano bridge. As I was leisurely riding along, I observed the surroundings. One thought was topmost in my mind: this is not part of New York! For the feeling is quite pequliar and non-NYC-like: it is more open, buildings are low, it is hillier, etc etc. In fact, it felt like your average lower-middle-class, industrious, almost-ugly American port city. There were houses with picket fences, plenty of petroleum stations, &c, &c.
Soon I got to the Bridge. The gounds right beneath it are old military establishment, part of the bases set up to protect the Harbour of New York. Now it was open to the public. Some old un-used fortifications remain. I rode around and took a few seguerrographs.
After the Olde Fort, I ventured further south, for my map showed a 'South Shore Boardwalk' nearby. Indeed there was a raised boardwalk, starting quite suddenly, and going on about a mile-and-a-half. It was somewhat like the famous one on Coney Is, but without all the weird, queer & gay entertainment. In fact, one could see the well-known 'Parachute Drop' of Coney Island Boardwalk across the straight! Anyway, I enjoyed the surf & sun for a while, amongst the few families there. Then it was time to turn back and return to civilization.
Below are some of the seguerrographs:

A derelict play-house


The bridge


A torpedo shack that met an unfortunate end


Deeper and deeper into the ruins...

That's it for now. Next time... perhaps New Jersey?!
Ta ta!
P-wick

How rude!

Rumor has it that good old P. was sorely slighted by the stout guardians of a certain hob-nobby Manhattan establishment.
While we quite understand that even the modern gentleman must make some compromises when venturing into the colonies, let this teach us humility in the face of adversity. Naturally a chap must represent himself with all the character &al. he can muster, but never, never head into the urban verve & swerve without the valet and the garderobe! After all, merely a quick pop in the back of the limousine and the eagle eye of the trusty jeeves would have seen P. safely through the gauntlet of Kerberos... es. Kerberosi. Or is it Kerberi? These formidable but regrettably untoward gentlemen, as it were.

-- Ww, HMSFSE

The Society for Science & Exploration

From the members of the High Tundra Expedition of the Society, I wish to extend the warmest of grat. & greet. to P., our most excellent host on the recent excursion. Our lamentable lack of reportage must not be construed as a pronouncement of any kind; it has been our demanding task to entertain, dine & wine certain eminences of the Far Reaches, and while we stoutly face the duty and keep shirking to the abs. minimum, it does tend to drain the juices out of the old coconut. Thus, conspicuous lack of wordy goodness in the Log.

Our Education in the Arts & Sciences of the Metropolis was fruitful indeed. From the Appreciation of Semi-Abandoned Architecture to Exotick Foods of the Orient, from the rough-and-tumble, but ultimately quite bloodless Flying-Disk battles of the natives to the Tasting of Wines from the Land of the Rising Sun, we have been able to collect precious worldly influences that perfectly fit the image of the modern, cultured gentleman. Mjr. W seemed to be particularly impressed by the melodic emissions of the Jazz performance we stumbled upon, and by the comfortable little mansion & collection of mementos by the Park.

While our Eastern European headquarters are more suitable, in clime and atmosphere, for sombre recollections and morose Russian Arts, we expect to be able to toast a few W&S, G&T, &c, &c, in fond remembrance of the Occasion once P-wick's scheduled exchange expedition launches on the Holidays.

Wensworth, HMSOSE

1st Annual Society Get-together

I recently had the pleasure to host Esq's Wensworth & Coastnail at my humble adobe here in the Colonies. W has been my guest before, but this was C's first time in New York. Good times were had by all, plenty of exploration (the Met, Central Park, B'lyn &c, &c) was conducted. Also some social studies, i.e. social anthropology was carried out by obsewrving the locals and their habits. I am sure W & C will raport their findings later on.
During the visit an un-official Society Ball was also arranged, which nobody left with a dry throat or empty stomach!
More parties shall be arranged later, perhaps at a different continent? Time shall tell! Meanwhile, keep on exploring & experimenting!
P-wick