Square Eyes

A delicate beautiful begonia from my hanging basket outside the front door

I'm not a big TV viewer to be honest, but I've been glues to a bits of the Olympic coverage this last week and was privileged to see Super Saturday (4th August) when TeamGB won a sack load of medals. Today is becoming Super Sunday with more golds so we now have a super weekend.

The BBC have done famously with their coverage which has been very professional with great anchor-people and passionate commentators particularly those on their exceptional radio coverage. The news bulletins have been a bit repetitive with summaries of the Olympics which we don't need but no complaints really.

The real stars are the competitors, win or lose, they have trained hard for four years, sometimes every day in some disciplines for one event. For some, a once in their lifetime event, so well done to them, they all deserve a medal.

In between a bit of sport (and England are playing South Africa in the cricket too) I've been a domestic help this last week. My t'other half has done her back in - quite serious this time with complete bed rest ordered for a few days so it's been all pumps to the hand. I write this as I've finished ironing shirts for next week! I'm not very good at it to be honest, but the result is passable.

Our garage is empty now awaiting the builder who arrives at 8 am tomorrow so we have a few weeks of mess to content with because our 'back room' is being converted after that so no respite. I didn't realise how much stuff you accumulate and store because you think you might need it or keep it for sentimental reasons.  Needless to say, the recycling tip has been busy this week with a lot of junk. With reduced space once the conversion is done, there is less room to store anything, so it gives us an excuse for keeping the place tidy and getting rid of stuff we don't need - or perhaps better still - the lesson is: don't get it in the first place!

My grandfather was a hoarder - his shed was full of useless junk which he said 'might come in useful one day,' but it never did.

Chat soon

Ta-ra.

Was it a Cracker for You?

I hope you have all had a pleasant and relaxing Christmas if you celebrate it and if not - the season's greetings. 

The festivities are all but done here bar the shouting for the New Year and that will come and go without celebration as it has done for many a long year in this household. It's just a date. Christmas has been fine, quiet and familified (is there such a word?) Dinner was good and the cracker jokes perennially poor. The fact that they are so groaningly poor is a laugh in itself. Is that irony? The company was excellent and television switched off while we all played card and board games. 

I don't watch much television, but those who do watch it have said that the season's offerings have been poor. I was very disappointed in David Jason's new offering The Royal Bodyguard on BBC TV. It was very predictable and the simplistic script was not conducive to showing Jason's talent. Ray's of light came in the guise of Morecambe and Wise Christmas show repeats but, why oh why is it that shows that are 40 years old (1971 and 1976) are providing us with entertainment and a genuine laugh?
 

I've had a sort of lethargy where the Internet is concerned hence why my blog has been sparsely populated - I'm trying to spend less time on-line (and spend less on line too!) With having just the Bank Holidays off work and working the rest of the time, life has been quiet and routine. The weather has been dull and unimaginative for the time of year. A friend, Bryan Moiser once said as a tag line for his blog (and I paraphrase) "If there ain't anything worth saying, don't say it." So rather than fill this blog with fill-in, I haven't said it. Even the camera has been solemnly resting in its black case - no scene to capture.

I suppose that's left more time for reflection. The BBC, in their usual style look back at the people we have lost in 2011 and their excellent slide show is well worth watching. 9 minutes of education on who has passed this year from the world of entertainment and my God, have we lost some talent: 

Singer Amy Winehouse, actor extraordinary Pete Postlethwaite, composer John Barry (007), Sir Jimmy Savile, Dame Elizabeth Taylor, director Ken Russell, writer John Sullivan (Only Fools and Horses), comedy writer David Croft (Hi-de-Hi, Are you Being Served & Dad's Army), Peter Falk (Columbo), forces sweetheart, actress Jane Russell, singer Billie Jo Spears, actress and comedienne Janet Brown, one of my favourite actors Edward Hardwicke (Dr Watson to Jeremy Brett's Sherlock), actress Susannah York and many more.

These people have been, at some stage in our homes through the magic of television or radio and we see or hear them or in some cases see or hear the result of their talents (in the case of the magnificently talented writers). They will be sadly missed not only by their families but by the public. A generation of people slowly disappearing.

I've seen a couple of films lately which were ok too but which I have not felt the energy to review - perhaps I have that SAD (I don't think so) but short days - going to work in the dark and coming home in the dark doesn't help does it? Energy levels are dramatically low.

Sherlock Holmes, A Game of Shadows (12A) was a good piece of escapism and after a slow start, was quite enjoyable. It's difficult not to like Robert Downey Jnr. Antonio Banderas as Puss - in - Boots (put a dramatic pause after 'Puss'), a spin off from Shrek and rated PG, was also fun and undemanding.

Shall I have New Year's resolutions or not? That is the question. Mostly, I've kept to them in the past, most famously for losing weight and for ramping up my spiritual work. Not sure whether or not to go for it this year.

By the way, here's a question for Google. Why doesn't the spell checker for this blog recognise the word 'blog?' More Irony?

Chat soon

Ta-ra

For you, the war is over...

A little remembered fact was posted on the BBC history site today and it's about a special moment in the life of a Japanese man.

On the 24th January 1972, Shoichi Yokoi, a Corporal in the Imperial Japanese Army during World War Two was found fishing on a river in Guam, army issue rifle in his hand. Whilst he realised that the war was probably over, he was too frightened to give himself up. Indeed, amazingly, Yokoi wasn't alone. Two years later in 1974 a Japanese Imperial Army Lieutenant, Hiroo Onoda was arrested in the Philippines on the island of Lubang and had refused to stop fighting his continuing WWii battle until he received orders from Japan.

On the face of it, these are funny stories until you think about their wasted lives and what makes it worse, it would seem that the Lieutenant killed local people right up until 1974 when he was captured.

I have a real feeling about this year for me. I think this year will be a year of small changes and opportunities. In what direction, I don't know, I just feel that positivity and optimism that's hard to put my finger on exactly.

Writing this blog means so much to me, I can't describe it. Reading other people's blogs is also a pleasure and it's opening up my perspectives on life - there are some really good people out there - you know who you are.

I have already chatted with a couple of friends about resurrecting the paranormal investigation group I once helped run on a personal and private basis - what I mean by that is it wasn't a group open to the public to join and I already have a firm offer of a lovely old building to check out.

My son is applying for jobs and I'm sure one will present itself with his hard work in making applications. For the first time this year, I am having three holidays (I've never even had more than one in a year before): a week at a college in Essex doing psychic work, a week in Portugal (never been there) and a fly/fly holiday to America visiting Las Vegas and San Francisco. I'm fitter now than I've been for donkey's years and feel there are opportunities that will open that I've never explored because I was never happy that I could physically cope - stupid things like walking up hill or for any distance. My glass is still half full and I am so grateful to be in this mindset.

Yesterday, by an odd contrast was my very, very rare miserable and quiet day, but I've got it out of my system now.

I was chatting to an elderly relative the other day on the phone and he was clearly in a reflective mood. This was what he told me: "I've had two bypass surgeries, a hip replacement, new knees, fought prostate cancer and diabetes and I'm half blind. I can't hear anything quieter than a jet engine, take 40 different medications that make me dizzy, winded and subject to blackouts. I have bouts with dementia I'm told, have poor circulation and I can hardly feel my hands and feet anymore. I can't remember if I'm 89 or 98, have lost all my friends. But, thank God, I still have my driving licence."

Never had an accident - caused thousands!

Chat soon

Ta-ra

Comic Relief sings...

Comic Relief is upon us once more and they have produced yet another classic song (Barry) Islands in the Sun with Ruth Jones and the clever and funny Rob Brydon of Gavin and Stacey fame. Although nothing can beat the Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers version, this is a treat and well supported by Robin Gibb in the video and Tom Jones who plays along with some comic style. It's a bit like the Mamma Mia film, not brilliantly sung, but who cares - it's a laugh.

Charity is important to most people who perhaps give a quid on Poppy Day, do something daft for Children in Need or donate for the privilege of being heartily entertained on the Beeb for an evening of fun for Comic Relief, and to prove it: before the show on Friday 13th March 2009, Comic Relief has raised over £35M for UK and African good causes.

For the last seven years, the Comic Relief song has been number one in the charts. How many comic songs can you name (there were some pop songs too)? I struggled, but cheated to list them here for you...

• 2008 - 'I'm gonna be (500 miles)' - The Proclaimers, Brian Potter and Andy Pipkin;
• 2005 - 'Is this the way to Amarillo' - Tony Christie and Peter Kay;
• 1994 - Absolutely Fabulous' - Pet Shop Boys, Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley;
• 1992 - 'I want to be elected' - Smear Campaign, Bruce Dickinson, Angus Deyton, Rowan Atkinson;
• 1991 - 'The Stonk' - Hale and Pace backed by David Gilmour and Brian May;
• 1989 - 'Help' - Bananarama and Lanananeeneenoonoo - French and Saunders with Kathy Burke;
• 1987 - 'Rockin' Round the Christmas Tree - Mel Smith and Kim Wilde;
• 1986 - 'Living Doll' with Cliff Richard and the cast of The Young Ones.

Let's not forget why we give to charity because behind the facade presented to persuade us from parting with our cash, there is the serious business of saving life or making the quality of life more bearable for disadvantaged and vulnerable people around the world. What else can we do in our everyday lives to bring the world into peace, make less opportunity for war and provide comfort for those who have just a tiny fraction of what we have and enjoy without thinking too much about. Individually we can't put the world to rights and to think we can is delusional. But the efforts of celebrities who entertain and the hundreds of thousands who will work to raise funds is very worthwhile and I salute them all.

Have a great Comic Relief Day

Chat soon

Ta-ra