Post 416. SOMETHING OTHER THAN ME.

THAT WILL BE TELEVISION.

AFTER A LIGHT MUSICAL STORY.

A little anecdote from one of my seven sisters-in-law, Jean Butler.
Some years ago Jean went to see Barry Douglas play Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No.2 (probably at Portsmouth Guildhall). She had always been saddened by the second movement and on this occasion, at a particularly moving moment, gave way to a huge sob.

When his highly successful performance came to an end maestro Douglas stood to rapturous applause and said something along the lines of: "Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for being such a wonderful audience, and I would particularly like to thank the lady around row three who made her feelings felt so clearly..."
Jean went home still blushing but very very happy.
TELEVISION.

We watched Sue Perkins' Big American Road Trip (Channel 4), an excellent two-parter in which the comedian drove a campervan across Colorado and California: awesome scenery and a wealth of experienced van dwellers with fascinating background stories to tell.
We thoroughly enjoyed every loo-hole-digging moment of it, though the revelation by one traveller that you have to do all your posts on the net by video now, because nobody reads any more, was somewhat sobering news for an old keyboard blogger to absorb. Ah well.

To end on a really happy note:

SAVE THE CINEMA.(Sky)
We watched this unashamedly fictional retelling of a true story (great cast includes: Samantha Morton, Jonathan Pryce, Tom Felton, Adeel Akhtar, Erin Richards) and thought it was Brit/film stuff in the feel-good tradition of Hear My Song (1991) and The Full Monty (1997).

Whatever the reviews, we loved it.

All the best for next - the shortest - month. 

Post 415. FIRST CAME THE SOMEWHAT INVASIVE INTERVIEW.

THEN ENDOSCOPY (GASTROSCOPY AND COLONOSCOPY).

THEN CAME MRI  AND, A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, CT.
Then, following another and again somewhat invasive interview, confirmation of what any health wise reader may have surmised: cancer has caught up with me. In the top and tail examinations the top was fine but the tail disclosed an unwelcome growth on the bowel that will, barring any change in arrangements, now be treated by radio therapy at a hospital in Southampton. My GP surgery has rung today to book me in for a blood test early in February, so nobody is letting the grass grow under their feet.
I am too sane to be a hero (most of the heroes I met in my army days were, at least slightly, unhinged), but from the outset of it all I realized that a small degree of fatalism had to be adopted. The majority of my old pals are long dead and gone and, at ninety one, I can't go on forever.
Come what may, though, I am blessed with the love and support of Mo and our family and have experienced only kindness and efficiency from the health professionals I have so far met.
And that's it for now.
Back before the month ends with something other than me.
Watch out for newly unfettered cyclists.         

Post 414. HARRY POTTER WAS BACK.

 STILL MAGIC.

AFTER TWENTY YEARS.
The first eleven pictured on the Harry Potter/Cast list to be found on Google turned up at Leavesden for this lovely reunion documentary. The twelfth picture is of the late, sadly missed, Alan Rickman (best anti-hero anywhere in fiction). 
Director of the first two films, The Philosopher's (Sorcerer's in America) Stone and The Chamber of Secrets, Chris Columbus, was there and was clearly much liked and respected by his, originally very young, team of actors.
Most of the youngsters - now adult and worldly - appeared in person to charm us again.
It was still magic. After twenty years.
Shame the author J.K. Rowling wasn't there.
When all is said and done, without her there would have been no Harry Potter.
And I don't care what any detractor says, I like her.
THAT'S IT FOR NOW.
Tomorrow I shall prepare for, and on Wednesday I shall undergo, a couple of somewhat invasive top and tail examinations at our local hospital

BACK, I HOPE, BEFORE THE MONTH IS OUT.