A Conference in Valletta

A nice break from normality - the Juann Mamo (he's a Maltese author) conference next Saturday; I get to speak about science and technology in his book Ulied in Nanna Venut fl-Amerka (the sons of Grandmother Venut in America), which is a very Rablesian comic-serious social commentary on Maltese emigration around 1930. The poster: 

and the website: Juann Mamo

Shanghai ferry

This is one of the ferries in Shanghai, pictured with the Communication Tower - the Oriental Pearl Tower, to give it its proper name. The difference in styles between the ferry and the tower is typical of Shanghai, a town of high contrast. This photo was taken from the Bund, the most famous river-front in China,

And here's part of the Bund itself - river 'bank' and Customs House shown below... 

It's not Venice, but Shanghai is an incredible city glittering with architecture. 

These photos didn't come out too badly, even though I didn't have an aeroplane fixed to my camera, which is my usual prerequisite for good photography. Long story, needs another blog entry. 

Brightly greenful?

An explanation is due.

The name of my blog comes from the brief leaflet supplied with a gift I received when I was in Shanghai. This is an exquisite little porcelain bowl of a type called Longquan blue-green, or Longquan Celadon. The text of the leaflet is exhaustive in its explanation of the name and provenance. and descriptions of the process of manufacture and the material itself are included: the latter is described as being brightly greenful. 

Here is a brightly greenful tree in the temple of Confucius, Shanghai. 

 

Last Post

This is for anyone who reads this blog the wrong way round, or is travelling in the opposite direction to me time-wise. For all others, this is the last post from the opposite and currently unbound end of the blog. 

A photo from my hotel room in Shanghai: 

This was taken a week ago.

I am now back home in Malta in the midst of roiling cats.