Monday, August 30, 2021

The Pale Horse

Frankly, I was not expecting a great deal when Agatha Christie's The Pale Horse made its way to the front of the queue. After all, the novel does not feature either of my two favorite Christie characters, Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot. Another discouraging feature ( I felt) was the inclusion of witches, a séance, and things that go bump in the night. In the end, I was pleasantly surprised however.

The central character of the novel is an historian named Mark Easterbrook. The story comes together with Easterbrook as the protagonist; the story could not have worked with either Marple or Poirot. As it turns out, the murders have a more traditional cause - no spooks or ESP or anything supernatural. It's a not so simple case of poisoning. Thallium poisoning, to be precise.

Prior to this novel, I had never heard of thallium or thallium poisoning, although I've come to learn that prior to it being banned in the United States by Richard Nixon with a Presidential Executive Order in February 1972, thallium was widely used world wide as a poison for rodents. In the 1950's thallium found it's way into a number of mystery novels as a "poisoner's poison". In real life, also from the 1950's, there was an"Australian Thallium Craze" where several murderers used thallium as their poison of choice.

The Pale Horse is notable for having saved at least two lives after readers recognized the symptoms of thallium poisoning from its description in the book. In 1977, a 19-month-old infant from Qatar was suffering from a mysterious illness and brought to London. According to reports, a nurse by the name of Marsha Maitland recognized the symptoms of thallium poisoning from having read The Pale Horse  and the child was saved. In a case from Latin America, a woman had saved the life of a neighbor, also after having read the novel. I've found two different versions of the Latin American story. Wikipedia says "In 1975, Christie received a letter from a woman in Latin America who recognized the symptoms of thallium poisoning, thus saving a woman from slow poisoning by her husband". However, another source says it was the wife who was poisoning the husband. Interesting, either way.

Friday, August 27, 2021

Dog Food Run


 

When it comes to exercise, whether it's weight training or cycling, I believe one should strive to push oneself to new limits. That is the motivation behind my past two days of hard going 10 kilometer bike rides.
I'm also a firm believer in getting the proper rest. One doesn't push ones body every day without giving thought to slowing down or resting from time to time.

So today, rather than do a 10K ride for a third day in a row, I decided to do a somewhat easier run to the Gentle Paws Pet Store in Sibulan to purchase dry dog food. The total distance, back and forth would be just 5.6 kilometers - far less than my daily rides of late.
Although I had no idea when the pet store opened, I knew it would be pointless to leave out at my normal riding time of 6 AM. I decided, instead to leave the house around 7:30. That would give me time to have a caffè mocha and a couple of pieces of whole wheat toast before heading out.
Of course, the store was closed when I arrived. The cashier at Mercury Drug said she believed the pet store opens at 8:00. It was nearly that - I wouldn't have long to wait. I could sit in front of Mercury Drug.


There were two boys hanging around out front. They try making tips by placing pieces of card board on the seats of motorcycles that park in front of either the drug store or pet store. This is done to keep the hot sun off the seats, although this isn't really necessary at 8:00 in the morning. Most people will give them a peso or two.

I wanted to take a few photos of the boys, but they weren't having it.


When the pet store opened, I went inside, bought two 1 kilo packages of dry dog food and chatted with the employee for a few minutes before I headed back home.


Thursday, August 26, 2021

Advancing the Goal


 

Yesterday, I set a new goal vis-à-vis my bicycle riding. Since the beginning, I've concentrated on increasing the distance I rode every day. As I mentioned yesterday, now that 10 kilometers is a normal morning ride for me, I'd stick with the 10K and work on increasing my speed. It was the first time I had timed my ride - the result being 10 kilometers in 48 minutes for an average speed of 12.5 km/h.

I didn't set out to break a record yesterday. I rode at my usual pace - sometimes pushing myself, sometimes coasting. This morning, I wanted to push myself and see if I could improve on my earlier performance.

I could feel a difference. I rode harder and faster - pushing my limits. I knew this morning's time would be better, although I would not know just how much better until I had completed the 10K. When I had nearly arrived home, with about 1 kilometer to go, I felt I could not push myself any harder. This was going to be my best effort. When I arrived home, I was completely exhausted.

Checking the time, I saw that I had dropped 3 minutes off yesterday's ride. 45 minutes for the 10K. I beat yesterday's speed of 12.5 km/h, doing 13.3 km/h today.

I'm already thinking about tomorrow's ride. Do I continue to push myself harder this third day, or do I hold back a little to allow my body to rest?

I'll decide on that question in the morning when I go out.

Wednesday, August 25, 2021

New Goal


 

On March 20th of this year, three weeks before my 69th birthday, I purchased a bicycle. At that time, it had been about 40 years since I last rode one. On that day, I had hoped that I'd be able to ride the bicycle from the bicycle shop to my house.....no such luck. I hadn't ridden very far before I was too winded to go further.

Not one to give up, I began a daily ride along the Diversion Rd. in Sibulan. My goal was to increase the distance I traveled each ride. There were times, in the beginning, when I could not make it from our house to the end of the Diversion Road in Camanjac without stopping to catch my breath before going on.

I've slowly built up my stamina - every increasing the distance, until now, a morning ride of 10 kilometers is normal for me.

This morning, for the first time, I decided to take note of the time it took for me to ride those 10K. I made the 10K ride in about 48 minutes, making my average speed 12.5 kilometer per hour. I don't know how to evaluate that speed, all things considered. I wasn't going full bore the entire ride, but I was certainly tired at the end.

10 kilometers seems like a good daily distance for me, so I've decided that now, rather than continue to increase my distance, I will go the 10K daily and strive to increase my speed.

Saturday, August 21, 2021

The Buñao Road


 

Prior to my 10K rides (one being accidental and the second being intentional ) I had never traveled along the Buñao road, so of course I had no photographs of any business on the road to upload to Google Maps. After yesterday's ride to and from the Calabnugan Bridge , I decided to remedy that.

The sky was a bit overcast as I left out this morning, but I was hopeful it wouldn't rain. I wasn't sure if I'd be up to a 10K ride today, so I decided to turn on to the Buñao road before, rather than after going down to Gas & Go. When I had finished taking the photos along the Buñao road, I felt I could be able to make it a 10K this morning, but the sound of thunder caused me to change my mind on that. Still, I still managed an 8.6 kilometer bicycle ride.

I took six photos. Unfortunately only four of those locations were already on Google Maps - Casa Bianca, Sisig Legend, Buñao Chapel and Negros Oriental Montessori International School. There are also places shown on Google Maps which I could not locate to photograph - Tattoo Shop in Dumaguete City: 3 Dots Tattoo being one example.


 

I'm including the two photos, which I could not post to Google Maps, into this blog post.







 

Friday, August 20, 2021

Calabnugan Bridge


 

Today, I'm indulging four of my hobbies - blogging - cycling - Google Maps and photography.

Before leaving the house this morning for my daily ride, I put my camera in my sling bag - I'll be taking it with me today. My destination will be the bridge crossing the Okoy river in Barangay Calabnugan.

According to Google Maps, the distance from my house to the bridge and back is 7.2 kilometers. I want to mention that there is a slight uphill grade going there - with, of course, a slight downhill grade coming back.

When I arrived at the bridge, I took a few photos. A couple of the photos show the view from the bridge. Not only will these photos appear in this blog post, but I'll upload them to Google Maps as well.








 

Thursday, August 19, 2021

A Slightly Different Route


I wanted do an alternate route this morning for my daily bicycle ride. I haven't ridden up the Diversion Road in a while, so that would be one portion. Back in the day when I was regularly riding the Diversion Road, I would keep the front crank set in "granny gear" on the ride towards Camanjac due to the slight uphill grade. When I began making my morning ride thru Tubtubon to Gas & Go, I kept the crank set in 2nd....adding a bit of resistance. This morning, I put the crank set in 2nd for my ride up Diversion Road. This was my second time doing this along Diversion Road, and it was quite a ride.

Rather than head back along the same road, I took a left in Camanjac, and then another left along the old two lane road that runs parallel to the Diversion Road. Upon reaching the intersection at Smiles on Demand call center, I took a right to the Tubtubon Brgy. hall.

Turning around at the brgy. hall, I took the most direct route home.

It's my habit, when posting about my morning ride, to include a screen shot of the route taken from Google Maps. Due to the peculiarities of Google Maps, I've had to put today's route into 3 sections. First, from our house to the end of the Diversion Road at Rovira Drive - a distance of 2.6 kilometers. Second, from the Diversion Road at Rovira Drive to the Brgy. hall in Tubtubon - also a distance of 2.6 kilometers. Finally, from the Brgy. hall to our house - 1.6 kilometers.

The total distance for today's ride was 6.8 kilometers, slightly less than my now regular ride to Gas & Go gas station. 

 



 

Thursday, August 12, 2021

Murder at the Gallop - After the Funeral

In the early 1960's, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer produced four films featuring Miss Marple, with Margaret Rutherford playing the lead in each film. The four films are, Murder, She Said - Murder at the Gallop - Murder Most Foul - and Murder Ahoy!. These films are only loosely based on Agatha Christie's books.

Murder, She Said is said to be based on 4.50 from Paddington. I'll put that film in the queue for a later date.

I'll also address Murder Most Foul- and Murder Ahoy! later as well. Murder at the Gallop is supposed to be based on Christie's After the Funeral and as I had just finished reading that novel, I went online to OK.RU to watch the film.

I've read that Agatha Christie didn't very often care for the film adaptations of her work - I'm sure that would have been especially true with Murder at the Gallop. I knew it would be disappointing when I had discovered that the film had replaced Hercule Poirot with Miss Marple. That was a big mistake. Very little of the novel's plot remains in the movie......pretty much unrecognizable.

As if to add further insult, Margaret Rutherford was the worst Miss Marple ever to make in to the screen. I have absolutely nothing good to say about Murder at the Gallop. I'm having difficulties imagining how the other 3 films in the series can be any worse. Avoid this film like COVID.

Wednesday, August 11, 2021

Intentional 10K

After my bicycle ride Saturday, I decided to take Sunday as a rest day from cycling with the idea of starting fresh Monday. However, my plans to ride Monday and Tuesday were spoiled by rain.

Fortunately, the sky was clear this morning and there was nothing to prevent a ride. Having an unscheduled 3 day rest period, I wanted to take advantage of the rest and do a 10K ride this AM. The route I took this morning was the same as my earlier accidental 10K of July 30th.

As with my normal 7K ride, I started at my house near the Magatas Brgy. hall and rode to the Gas & Go service station on Rovira Dr. Turning around at the Gas & Go, I rode up to Buñao Rd and turned right. I took the Buñao Rd to the National Hwy., where I turned around and headed back to Capt.A Cornelia Rd. Turning right at Capt.A Cornelia Rd., I took the regular route home thru Tubtubon.

Although I didn't time the ride, I can feel safe saying that I did not break any speed records.

I'm home, and after drinking water and catching my breath, I feel that a 10K ride will soon be my regular morning routine.

Friday, August 6, 2021

Post Correction


 

In an earlier post of this morning, documenting my bicycle ride to and from Mercury Drug in Sibulan, I had included a screen shot, taken from Google Maps, of the route taken.

However, after going back to the post, I noticed an error. The route shown on Google Maps has it going down Divina Gracia St. to the National Hwy., then taking a left on the Hwy. on to Mercury Drug. I did not notice the error when I originally published the post. I had actually turned left on Nillas St. before reaching the Hwy. Consequently, the distance shown is a little longer than the one I took on that ride. The total, round trip distance was 5.6 kilometers rather than the 6.4K originally stated.

In good conscience, I couldn't let that error stand. That's the reason behind this new post.

Friday's Morning Ride


 

It's seems to me slightly ironic that I should ride my bicycle to pick up my blood pressure medication, but that it just what I did this morning when I rode to Mercury Drug in Sibulan. Exercise is supposed to help lower blood pressure, but it hasn't done that in my case.

According the Google Maps, the distance traveled there and back is 6.4 kilometers; that's certainly no record for me, but it is well above my daily goal of a minimum 5K.

When I reached the National Hwy. directly across from the drug store, I wisely dismounted and walked my bike across the highway at the crosswalk. Fortunately for me, there is a handicap rail outside the drugstore, so I was able to lock up my bicycle before going inside. As I mentioned in a post not long after I purchased this bicycle, I've had two bicycles stolen from me, and now I'm especially careful.

I returned home, none the worse for wear. As a matter of fact, I'm feeling pretty darn good now, enjoying a coffee, sitting at my pc under the AC.

Monday, August 2, 2021

A Murder is Announced

Agatha Christie's Crooked House was the last novel to make it to July's Reading List. As I noted in an earlier post, Ms. Christie had written, in the foreword to that novel, that it was one of her favorites. Although I wouldn't put it as one of my all time favorites, I did enjoy the book.

As July turned to August, I began reading Christie's A Murder is Announced. This novel is part of the Miss Marple canon and I actually enjoyed it much more than A Crooked House .

According to wikipedia, this novel was promoted as Christie's 50th book. As I write this, A Murder is Announced. will be the 46th of her books read by me. There are four previous books, under the pen name Mary Westmacott which are not available at the website I use to download her books. Had I been able to find the Mary Westmacott novels, then I'd be at #50.

Sunday, August 1, 2021

July's Reading List


 

Like my last reading list, posting the reading list for July will be, in some ways, easier than some earlier lists. As with June's list, there is only one writer to list - Agatha Christie. However, there is a noticeable difference in the number of her books read in July as compared to June. The number for July was 18 - down from the 24 read the previous month. I put the decline down to one reason - I found her "historical novel", Death Comes as the End especially tedious. I wanted to finish the novel once I had started, but it was such drudgery getting thru it that it took five days. I'm sure I could have gotten thru at least three of any of her other books in that length of time.

Be that as it may, here is the reading list for July, 2021.

Murder in the Mews
The Regatta Mystery
Parker Pyne Investigates
Murder is Easy
And Then There Were None
Sad Cypress
One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
Evil Under the Sun
N or M ?
The Body in the Library
Five Little Pigs
The Moving Finger
Towards Zero
Death Comes as the End
Sparkling Cyanide
The Hollow
Taken at the Flood
Crooked House