Artificial Colours

It does not look much on the photograph. Less charitable readers may well conclude that I have made a fuss about nothing. Yet this marble place mat is stained, not dirty (top left corner to middle). Having enjoyed an Indian takeaway one evening and leaving the clearing up and wiping down for the following morning, some of the food was allowed to spill on the place mat and left there. Somehow, it stained the stone, so that it will not wipe away; it has penetrated the marble.

Although there is a salutary lesson here for those of us inclined to leave cleaning up for another day, I was thoughtful about what that deep-dyed food was capable of doing to my belly. If marble it could stain, my innards and intestines, being organic, would hardly fare much better. The bright red curry might have been appealing to the eye but its artificial colours are unlikely to bestow any major health benefits.

Beware of absorbing that which is false and harmful. It might appear to be colourful and cheery, but if it did no good to others, it will surely do no good to you.