Upon the Heath

I still get a lot of kick from listening to "A Tale of Two Cities" from Mr Hudson & the Library. The last track "Upon the Heath" comes to my mind this early morning (2:20AM). I like the word "heath", its a word that means an expanse of level land. The only heath that I've heard of is of course the one in London--Hampstead heath. When I read the Griffin & Sabine trilogy this afternoon I think Sabine mentioned visiting Hampstead Heath. Tried looking at some pictures of the place through the internet and it seems pretty nice.

I wish I could be typing this while lying on a heath somewhere, heck why not Hampstead.

In Manila there aren't much parks or grassy spaces open to the public. Also, there is an appalling absence of descent public libraries--sorry I just had to bring this up. The ones that are any good--the academic ones--don't give borrowing privileges to people outside the academe. So I pine. One of the dream libraries I want to visit religiously is the one at Cambridge University and the one at Yale. I don't know if this is correct but I've read somewhere that university libraries abroad, especially the big and prestigious institutions, remain open 24 hours. This blows my mind, how awesome would that be like? I mean I've never stayed in the UP library after 6pm (though the Gen. Reference section is open till 12AM) but being a student and hanging out in the library for schoolwork and stuff with no limit? How obscenely inviting. I love libraries because they hold a lot of things that supplement any theme imaginable. Yes, there's always the internet but I like the process of searchinng through shelves and running an index finger through spines of books. I swear if ever get to own a flat or house of my own--one room would be shelves of books from floor to ceiling. Just like the ones you see in old English homes. I love libraries cause it is a stimulating environment for me. I get a lot of thinking done in hours inside. I love the suppression of raptures while you read a very interesting book and it is especially more poignant inside a library.

--Back to the word "heath" it also brings into mind another favorite word of mine, "heathen" from what I know it means pagan. Is the word a derivative of heath? When I think of heathen I conjure up ancient fertility dolls and monolithic structures to mind. Couple these with the word "heath" and I recall a scene from Polanski's Macbeth. I also like the word "bedlam"--not asylum but a state of chaos and confusion but that's another post.

Oh, think I'd better get some sleep. Thinking of going to work tomorrow even if it's a holiday--don't like to be getting back on thurs. swamped with work though HAL 3's a pretty big incentive I have to say.

Later.