ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL (8 - 10 JUNE 2007)
The older I get the faster these annual events come around. Granddaughter Jessie is at the IW Festival this year. She has gone with her father. They have thoroughly enjoyed the music and the atmosphere to date. The weather has been wonderful, too.
Yesterday (9th June) the Red Arrows did a marvellous display for them which was unlisted, lasted half an hour and included sketching out in the sky the shape of a bow and of a heart with an arrow through it. Jess will leave early tonight because she has to be back at school tomorrow. Sadly she will miss the top-of-the-bill Rolling Stones.
When told she said: "Who?"
Perhaps it won't be that much of a miss after all.
DIRTY DALI: A PRIVATE VIEW (Channel 4)
I was left wondering whether art critic Brian Sewell, reflecting back to his early twenties, did not get to know the outrageous genius Salvador Dali just a little too well. Whatever: it is unlikely that anyone else alive knew the man in quite the same way. Forthright as ever, Sewell pulled no punches. Dali was a sexual deviant, a poseur and an egomaniac. He was also, at his best, one of the greatest artists in the world and undoubtedly the most famous of the surrealists.
This was a fresh insight into the real world of a world famous personality. It is doubtful that Salvador Domingo Felipe Jacinto Dali i Domenech (1904 - 1989) will ever again be subjected to so sensitive a scrutiny.
But it was in the main a kindly study and I think he would have loved every minute of it.
Of course he would.
It was about him.
PAUL MERTON IN CHINA. (Five)
Had Paul Merton been left to ask tactful questions of his Chinese hosts, to comment sensibly on the replies he was given and to behave in an adult fashion throughout, this could have been every bit as good as the Victoria Wood series Victoria's Empire. But all too often he was prevailed upon (presumably by his producers) to act the silly ass Englishman.
Pity, because he is obviously a pleasant and astute observer with a lively curiosity.
He deserved better and so did we.
DIANA: THE WITNESSES IN THE TUNNEL (CHANNEL 4)
As common sense foretold, there was no conspiracy, no hard-on-the-heels posse of paparazzi, no secret service assassins. There was a swerve to avoid a slow moving car, a loss of control at speed and a collision with a pillar. It was an accident.
Now can we please leave this poor young woman and those who died with her to rest in peace?
ESTONIA v ENGLAND (BBC1)
"Nil - three to England," I said to the cat Shadow. "Good ol' Becks!"
"So now he'll play the equivalent of First Division football in America, eh?" he replied. "That will be like playing permanently against the likes of Estonia and they hadn't scored in their last seven matches. No, his international career was kicked out from under his feet when England were dumped from the World Cup. This comeback won't last too long if McClaren has anything to do with it."
"Got nobody to replace him though, have they?" I said.
"When did that matter? He pulled the manager out of a hole again this time and he'll be thanked in the same way he was thanked last time. First opportunity he'll be dropped. You see."
"I never reckoned you to be such a pessimist."
"Oh I'm not, mate, but I am a realist."
I hope he's wrong this time.
He seldom is, though.
YOU CAN CHOOSE YOUR FRIENDS (ITV1)
This strange piece of fluff, billed as a comedy drama, starred Julia McKenzie and Anton Rogers with Robert Daws, Claire Skinner, Rebecca Front and Gordon Kennedy in strong support.
My Leader and I sat through it together and when it was over she said: "Just as well it was a one-off. If it had been a pilot I'd not bother to watch the series."
Too right, Mrs. Lady, I thought: too darned right.
AND, LASTLY, AN E-MAIL THAT GAVE ME A SMILE
(Forwarded by our friend Jan Bennett)
Council tax re-evaluers want to charge us more if we live in a nice area.
That ought to mean discounts for those of us who live in rough areas.
We have a huge council house in our street. The extended family is run by a grumpy old woman with a pack of fierce dogs. Her car isn't taxed or insured, and doesn't even have a number plate, but the police still do nothing. Her bad tempered old man is famous for upsetting foreigners with racist comments. A shopkeeper blames him for ordering the murder of his son and his son's girlfriend, but nothing has been proved yet. All their kids have broken marriages except the youngest, who everyone thought was gay.Two grandsons are meant to be in the Army but are always seen out in nightclubs. The family's odd antics are always in the papers.
They are out of control. ..
Honestly - who'd live near Windsor Castle?
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