is the name given to an affliction of unfortunate practitioners of natural magic, prestidigitation or the manipulation of one or more objects, as juggling is also known. At least from the time of Egypt's middle kingdom (that's around the time when the Pyramids were built, and way before Stonehenge was thought of) people have entertained others with this subtle art; indeed, there is a small statue from that era showing someone performing the extremely difficult "knee catch".
But non practitioners will know little of their great travails and continual frustration as they attempt to perfect the tricks of their trade. Circus skills are every bit as hard to master as an oboe or piano. The musician fears the bum note: jugglers dread the equally humiliating drop.
I have now reached the stage in my preparations where I do repeated "run-throughs" of my modest, 3 minute routine. I've always said to myself I would settle for 2 or 3 drops, but this afternoon I was dropping more like 20 times, leading to some sort of desperate anguish which could only be expressed with a sustained, agonised scream. Only the cats heard, and they made themselves scarce. For my part, I resumed my practice with a slightly lighter spirit.
Later I remind myself that my audience, which could number anything up to a hundred 4-12 year-olds will, with any luck, never even have
seen juggling before. Please be the will of Allah...
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