As seasoned followers of The St Ivean know, Ephraim appeared frequently on earlier blogs, dispensing opinion, knowledge, advice, folklore and myth for the price of a pint or two. So this fount of all wisdom has been invited back to answer any questions you care to put to him. His mailbox will soon be full - so get your questions in soon.
From: A St Ivean
St Ives, Cornwall
Dear Ephraim
When I tie my shoe laces on a particular pair of shoes, I'm sure I do it in exactly the same way with both shoes. Why, then, do the laces of the right shoe always eventually unravel and rarely the left shoe? (In case it's relevant, I'm right-handed).
An unusual question which I passed on to the Guardian newspaper's Notes & Queries feature. A reader suggested this explanation:
I expect if you're right-handed, you're also right-footed, and lead with your right leg when walking, kicking, etc. I bet it gets a fair bit more action than your left and forces the laces apart.
Ross, Manchester
I hope this helps with your question. I'll keep you informed of any other explanations.
Thank you for contacting The St Ivean.
Showing posts with label Ask Ephraim. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ask Ephraim. Show all posts
Tuesday, 25 March 2008
Tuesday, 11 March 2008
Ask Ephraim
From: 'A Local'
St Ives, Cornwall
Dear Ephraim
Is St Ives too posh?
This is a question exercising many people who dearly love our town. I recently met an acquaintance who has lived for many years in St Ives and is now leaving - to live in Honduras - exactly for that reason. "It's too posh," she says with feeling.
In the early 90's a rather eccentric guide to secondhand bookshops, drif's guide declared that, "Most of the people in St Ives are working class tourists" and that "the best view of St Ives is from the train as you leave".
This view was shared by Martin Gayford in a Spectator article in 2003. Gayford argued that a battle between the locals and the artists in the town led by Patrick Heron had been won by the latter. Locals had wanted a swimming pool; the artists wanted the Tate. (Of course, St Ives got both).
So the transformation of St Ives from a playground for working class tourists and a miasma of elderly chip-fat to one of smart restaurants began with the Tate and has continued - now we have the Bernard Leach Museum to cater for the Japanese posh.
I'm thinking of moving to Honduras.
Thank you for contacting The St Ivean.
St Ives, Cornwall
Dear Ephraim
Is St Ives too posh?
This is a question exercising many people who dearly love our town. I recently met an acquaintance who has lived for many years in St Ives and is now leaving - to live in Honduras - exactly for that reason. "It's too posh," she says with feeling.
In the early 90's a rather eccentric guide to secondhand bookshops, drif's guide declared that, "Most of the people in St Ives are working class tourists" and that "the best view of St Ives is from the train as you leave".
This view was shared by Martin Gayford in a Spectator article in 2003. Gayford argued that a battle between the locals and the artists in the town led by Patrick Heron had been won by the latter. Locals had wanted a swimming pool; the artists wanted the Tate. (Of course, St Ives got both).
Well, we know what happened in St Ives. A new Tate was built, and it more or less transformed the image and economy of the town and even the whole area of West Cornwall. When I went to the opening of the gallery in 1993, St Ives was a run-down and depressing resort. A miasma of elderly chip-fat hung over the place; fewer and fewer holidaymakers came. Now, there is a choice of smart restaurants. Numbers of visitors to the new Tate started off by exceeding expectations, and have carried on doing so. It is improbable that a local swimming pool, however useful, could have had this effect.
So the transformation of St Ives from a playground for working class tourists and a miasma of elderly chip-fat to one of smart restaurants began with the Tate and has continued - now we have the Bernard Leach Museum to cater for the Japanese posh.
I'm thinking of moving to Honduras.
Thank you for contacting The St Ivean.
Monday, 3 March 2008
Ask Ephraim
As seasoned followers of The St Ivean know, Ephraim appeared frequently on earlier blogs, dispensing opinion, knowledge, advice, folklore and myth for the price of a pint or two. So this fount of all wisdom has been invited back to answer any questions you care to put to him. His mailbox will soon be full - so get your questions in soon.
From: Name and Address Supplied,
St Ives, Cornwall
Dear Ephraim
What do you think of a traffic plan for St Ives?
That would be a good idea.
Thank you for contacting The St Ivean.
From: Name and Address Supplied,
St Ives, Cornwall
Dear Ephraim
What do you think of a traffic plan for St Ives?
That would be a good idea.
Thank you for contacting The St Ivean.
Monday, 18 February 2008
Ask Ephraim
As seasoned followers of The St Ivean know, Ephraim appeared frequently on earlier blogs, dispensing opinion, knowledge, advice, folklore and myth for the price of a pint or two. So this fount of all wisdom has been invited back to answer any questions you care to put to him. His mailbox will soon be full - so get your questions in soon.
From: Name and Address Supplied,
St Ives, Cornwall
Dear Ephraim
Do you agree with the proposal to build a park- and - ride at St Erth?
As I don't live at St Erth, I think it's an excellent idea.
Thank you for contacting The St Ivean.
From: Name and Address Supplied,
St Ives, Cornwall
Dear Ephraim
Do you agree with the proposal to build a park- and - ride at St Erth?
As I don't live at St Erth, I think it's an excellent idea.
Thank you for contacting The St Ivean.
Sunday, 10 February 2008
Ask Ephraim
As seasoned followers of The St Ivean know, Ephraim appeared frequently on earlier blogs, dispensing opinion, knowledge, advice, folklore and myth for the price of a pint or two. So this fount of all wisdom has been invited back to answer any questions you care to put to him. His mailbox will soon be full - so get your questions in soon.
From: Edna Wybert (Mrs.)
St Ives, Cornwall
What's St Ives Town Council for?
Oh, Edna, that's a stinker! If I'd known the questions were going to be so hard I would have thought twice about agreeing to write these posts.
Now, if you had been asking about St Ives in Cambridgeshire, you could go to that Town Council's excellent website for an answer. Years ago, The St Ivean suggested our St Ives should have a site but the idea was turned down. Perhaps The St Ivean should try again. But I'll attempt an answer to your challenging query.
Not long ago the Council did have a reputation. For instance, it won The St Ivean's Moaner of the Year Award 2003. Of course, some of the councillors who made a major contribution to that success - Cllr Beck in particular - have moved on... but these days Cllr Isaacs does his best.
As eminent local resident Stargazey commented at the time:
... I don't think we should be surprised that our council is totally ineffective. It is, after all, just a committee of people of very limited intelligence (and seemingly no common sense or concern for preserving the quintessential character of the town) who have sought public office with the express intention of furthering their own business interests ("I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine").
It's possible that times are changing, especially since a large number of Greens won seats on the Council. But the short answer to your question, Edna, is that I have no idea what St Ives Town Council is for. However, from today I shall be monitoring the Council's performance in an attempt to find an answer and reporting back to The St Ivean.
I hope this helps. Perhaps, though, there isn't an answer at all. As Herr Wittgenstein once famously remarked: Woven man nicht sprechen kann, daruber muss man schweigen.[Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent.]
Thank you for contacting The St Ivean.
From: Edna Wybert (Mrs.)
St Ives, Cornwall
What's St Ives Town Council for?
Oh, Edna, that's a stinker! If I'd known the questions were going to be so hard I would have thought twice about agreeing to write these posts.
Now, if you had been asking about St Ives in Cambridgeshire, you could go to that Town Council's excellent website for an answer. Years ago, The St Ivean suggested our St Ives should have a site but the idea was turned down. Perhaps The St Ivean should try again. But I'll attempt an answer to your challenging query.
Not long ago the Council did have a reputation. For instance, it won The St Ivean's Moaner of the Year Award 2003. Of course, some of the councillors who made a major contribution to that success - Cllr Beck in particular - have moved on... but these days Cllr Isaacs does his best.
As eminent local resident Stargazey commented at the time:
... I don't think we should be surprised that our council is totally ineffective. It is, after all, just a committee of people of very limited intelligence (and seemingly no common sense or concern for preserving the quintessential character of the town) who have sought public office with the express intention of furthering their own business interests ("I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine").
It's possible that times are changing, especially since a large number of Greens won seats on the Council. But the short answer to your question, Edna, is that I have no idea what St Ives Town Council is for. However, from today I shall be monitoring the Council's performance in an attempt to find an answer and reporting back to The St Ivean.
I hope this helps. Perhaps, though, there isn't an answer at all. As Herr Wittgenstein once famously remarked: Woven man nicht sprechen kann, daruber muss man schweigen.[Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent.]
Thank you for contacting The St Ivean.
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