Wednesday 5 October 2011

Prolepsis, and other words

He doesn't actually start speaking for another 15 minutes, min, but 'The World At One' and other sources reliably, proleptically inform me that amongst other things, Cameron is going to say words to the effect of 'There is light at the end of the tunnel, and my path leads there', and also that  'We can turn the ship around.'  And that we don't need to pay off the Mastercard after all.

I'm a bit confused now, because not having a visual imagination I can't quite construct the metaphorical imagery being called for here.  So, there's this tunnel we're in, right, with more than one path through it?  And there's this light at the end of it?  And it's wide enough to turn a ship around in?  Oh well, I'm sure it'll all be clear by teatime.  But, my credit card bill, £29.02 (Waterstones and Spotify, since you ask) is due in three days' time.  Am I meant to pay it off, or not, or seek independent financial advice?  Come on, Dave, help me. 

Turning to far more important matters, today is the centenary of the birth of Brian O'Nolan, aka Flann O'Brien, aka Myles na Gcopaleen.  I shall speedread 'The Third Policeman' this evening to mark the occasion.  Here's Gerald Scarfe's cover illustration.

3 comments:

  1. I think I understand what he's saying. We (not you or me but the rest of them) should pay off our credit cards but we should also spend more on stuff to boost the economy. And we mustn't ask for more money by way of wages & pensions to do it with. We mustn't have a riot & just take the stuff - that doesn't help (though reconstruction of burnt out shops does give a boost).
    No, it seems we are being told we must simply take the money: rob the banks to get the money to buy the stuff to boost the growth to stabilise the banks to give the markets confidence to take the pressure off the governments.
    Just don't put the balaclavas & shotguns on your credit card.
    Flawless?

    Or maybe back the ship out of the tunnel?

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  2. I've given up listening to the news and my life has taken on a brighter hue.

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  3. When DC said he knew how tough things were, I turned my attention to other things. Has anyone else noticed how Michael Gove not only bears an uncanny resemblance to the Duke of Kent (in a certain light), but he actually applauds like him too.

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