Apples and....

Awoke to a beautiful morning.

It could have been early spring. Despite the chill, there was a scrum of scrapping sparrows and tits over the early buds of my willows, the genteel cooing a pair of wood pigeons courting on the windowsill, and in the distance, the usual mournful "good morning" of a car alarm.

Everything was bathed in the most beautiful pale pink light. I was so spellbound I forgot to take a picture. Sorry. First order of the day, over 'Builders Tea' was to get an article for Apple to bed before my Two Bears and Stupid The Dog grumble awake.

Apple is my baby. In some countries, such as Spain, there is a tradition of cheap or free politico/religious or just plain odd leaflets, some quite scholarly, most compiled with a feverent abandon, all biased. They're available over-the-counter, under-the-counter, from road side stalls - if you know what to ask for.

The idea is to influence someone, randomly, somewhere with an opinion, or keep "the faithful' up to date with the latest banter and extol them to toe the line.

I first came across them during the unrest in France while on a business trip in the Seventies.

Politically, at the time, they were taken very seriously of course. Though aware of why that was (it WAS the seventies), I loved the subversiveness, the crankiness, the pure Naughtiness of those little gems. I was gifted others by travelling hippy friends - even those who wouldn't be seen dead talking to 'a suit'.

And so, Apple was born. The name? Ah, y'see, there was this bloke called Adam, and he had this missus, and, well, y'know....... Not that it's religious. Usually.

Distributed anonymously, I'm wary of where 'she' goes, but I don't care who reads it. She's light hearted, but serious, sarcastic, but gently, and funded and written by just the one, and the opinions of one. I have no plans to make it available on-line. That would defeat the object.

My proudest movement was finding her drawing-pinned, tattered and well thumbed to the noticeboard of a major British cathedral. Joined by some sisters a couple of years later.

If I had a plea, it would be this. If you love to write, then do so, and get it out there, just for the joy of doing so. Do as many you can afford and the postage you can afford - it's up to you whether you want to be anonymous.

The idea is to be polite, courteous, infrequent (say, every 3-4 months?) only one copy per person per issue, and most of all, legal. Forget about copyright, though keep a copy until you get bored doing so.

Why is Apple a she? Ask any bloke what his car is called.......... :)