Saturday, January 19, 2013
Friday, January 18, 2013
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Another One Bites The Dust
The other day I saw an obituary for the actor Jon Finch. It was the first I'd heard that he'd died.
He may not be a name that you are immediately familiar with, but anyone who studied Macbeth at school or college will probably have seen Polanski's film, in which Finch starred as the murderous king.
He first invaded my teenage conscious when he starred in a Sci-Fi TV show, in which the aliens had deformed little fingers. He was a friendly invader. We all had a crush on him, especially my friend Marian, who had deformed little fingers...
In those wonderful days free from celebrity secrecy and stalking, when I looked him up in the phone book - I found him. And I phoned him. I have no idea what we talked about, but it was laid back and friendly.
From his obit I learned that he tended to choose one plum part a year to maintain his lifestyle, refusing all others. He apparently turned down the role of James Bond, which was then offered to Roger Moore. Finch would have been a much younger and dishier 007. He also turned down The Three Musketeers and John Hurt's role in Alien. But he did accept a part in Alfred Hitchcock's Frenzy.
Thus passed my first brush with celebrity, alone in his flat and almost forgotten. Sad.
He may not be a name that you are immediately familiar with, but anyone who studied Macbeth at school or college will probably have seen Polanski's film, in which Finch starred as the murderous king.
He first invaded my teenage conscious when he starred in a Sci-Fi TV show, in which the aliens had deformed little fingers. He was a friendly invader. We all had a crush on him, especially my friend Marian, who had deformed little fingers...
In those wonderful days free from celebrity secrecy and stalking, when I looked him up in the phone book - I found him. And I phoned him. I have no idea what we talked about, but it was laid back and friendly.
From his obit I learned that he tended to choose one plum part a year to maintain his lifestyle, refusing all others. He apparently turned down the role of James Bond, which was then offered to Roger Moore. Finch would have been a much younger and dishier 007. He also turned down The Three Musketeers and John Hurt's role in Alien. But he did accept a part in Alfred Hitchcock's Frenzy.
Thus passed my first brush with celebrity, alone in his flat and almost forgotten. Sad.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
The Trouble With Helicopters
Can anyone see the rationale of letting helicopters fly over the centre of a huge metropolis?
Well, I think that after today the powers-that-be might rethink that one.
At 8am, in the middle of the rush hour, a helicopter failed to see a tall crane attached to a tall building-in-progress because of mist, hit it, demolishing the arm, and crashing nearby in a busy street surrounded by railway lines, an underground station, a massive bus station and the MI5 building (that's the secret service). Miraculously only the pilot and one passer-by were killed. And for the first time ever, the crane driver was late for work, and was not in the cabin that was sliced in two.
I found a compilation video to give a flavour of the mayhem.
Well, I think that after today the powers-that-be might rethink that one.
At 8am, in the middle of the rush hour, a helicopter failed to see a tall crane attached to a tall building-in-progress because of mist, hit it, demolishing the arm, and crashing nearby in a busy street surrounded by railway lines, an underground station, a massive bus station and the MI5 building (that's the secret service). Miraculously only the pilot and one passer-by were killed. And for the first time ever, the crane driver was late for work, and was not in the cabin that was sliced in two.
I found a compilation video to give a flavour of the mayhem.
Icarus - Day 8
Bobby is so naive about the psychiatric process - I mean, didn't he teach us about transference?
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Monday, January 14, 2013
A Fond Farewell
On a bleak day to match the occasion, wet and bitterly cold, today we laid Alex to rest.
His mother had arranged a humanist ceremony, with songs to rock to - she had us bopping in the aisles, "shakin' that ass", as some of Alex's favourite songs were played, finishing up with a tear-jerking "You'll Never Walk Alone", the anthem of Alex's beloved Liverpool Football Club. Even the dog was there.
Afterwards there was a party at the hall where Alex's 18th birthday party was held in 2011.
Tears and smiles mingled as we remembered the boy who affected so many lives without ever moving from his wheelchair.
It was a privilege to be a part of his life.
His mother had arranged a humanist ceremony, with songs to rock to - she had us bopping in the aisles, "shakin' that ass", as some of Alex's favourite songs were played, finishing up with a tear-jerking "You'll Never Walk Alone", the anthem of Alex's beloved Liverpool Football Club. Even the dog was there.
Afterwards there was a party at the hall where Alex's 18th birthday party was held in 2011.
Tears and smiles mingled as we remembered the boy who affected so many lives without ever moving from his wheelchair.
It was a privilege to be a part of his life.
