The Beans’ bean #5

There is something really lovely, very calming and wonderfully middle class about sitting in the sun with your typewriter, crisping up because along with being so very middle class, I also am translucently white. I’m aware it wasn’t really the day for it, but I have done it many times.

It’s also amazing how many people are giving away typewriters. I managed to get three in the space of a month. Where else in the world would you be able to get three of absolutely anything for free? You would struggle to get three free samples in supermarkets – assuming they still do that, I’ve not seen them do that in a while in fact.

It seems that somewhere in the hipster’s repertoire, they missed out old fashion methods of letter/poetry/miscellaneous writing that had both gorgeous character and warm and a great amount of noise (depending on what one you get and if it is properly manual or sort of electronic)

There is something absolutely glorious about the typewriter and what’s wonderful, especially if you don’t trust technology is that the only way to properly destroy it is to throw it off of a cliff or down a flight of stairs or run over it although I’m not sure about that last one, I’m pretty sure the car would get royally smashed up. But the glory of them is how robust and timeless they are, everything about them is wonderful from the weight of each key press to the stamp of the font as each hammer strikes the paper.

If you also happen to work somewhere that has an unlimited supply of plain paper, it costs practically nothing at all- unless the ribbon runs out, but nothing lasts forever. Which is why last Xmas I gave away a pile of poems by hiding them around the city in various locations with a bunch of picture clues. Did it work? I have almost no clue at all. Was it worth it? Absolutely

Poetry, art, all of that is not just for people with a big amount of money and an even bigger head- it’s for everyone and anyone at all. Your bank balance shouldn’t dictate your ability to express yourself. To long has a culture of elitism been carted around in the art world. Did free art need to be a treasure hunt? Well sometimes you need to get your inner child involved and let them lead and let’s be honest, walking is good for you.

I have proof of at least one person finding one and taking it home to enjoy, eat or whatever people do with free mid tier art. As for the rest, I hope they didn’t get rounded up and put in a bin somewhere.

I understand on re-reading it makes sense but it’s all over the place- welcome to my life and I hope the sofas are comfy. I did write it when very tired. Can I edit it? I don’t wanna.

Take care and as always, thanks for the support.