Easy Retirement

Injury Time, The Tiger's Wife and Before I Go To Sleep

2012-01-27T09:20:00.000-08:00

I had previously read two novels by Beryl Bainbridge, only one of which (An Awfully Big Adventure) I enjoyed. The one book of hers that I really wanted to read was Injury Time. It is a very short novel that turns out to be a comedy thriller. Edward and Binny (his mistress) are throwing a dinner party for one of Edwards' work colleagues called Simpson and his wife. Not all goes to plan and later they have some unwelcome visitors. It is a light read, but the author is a great writer, and the story gathers pace through to a traumatic conclusion.

I was full of hope for The Tiger's Wife. It won this year's Orange Prize when my best loved "Goon Squad" never made the shortlist. It turns out to be the most boring novel I have ever read. So much so that after the first third, I had to skip the passages involving the interminable reminiscences of stories from the past. Whilst the book keeps to the present, and a story about Natalia, a young doctor, visiting orphanages after the Balkans conflict, it was just about tolerable. But her remembering stories from her grandfather who had recently died, not only disrupt the narrative, but in themselves are tedious fantasy. I was very glad when I came to the end.

The first novel from S J Watson, Before I Go To Sleep, is brilliant. It is described as a crime thriller, but over halfway through, we do not even know if there has been a crime. Christine wakes up every morning with no memory and every day she has to piece together who she is and what has happened in her life. To say any more about this highly original concept would spoil the story. I can only say that it is an unsettling but thrilling book as we join Christine in her search for the truth of her situation. OK, there are the occasional instances that stretch the imagination, but there were times that I read late into the night to find out just a little more. No wonder it is number one in the paperback chart.

Margin Call, War Horse and Coriolanus

2012-01-27T08:33:00.000-08:00

There are so many good movies out at the moment that I am going twice a week. And sometimes a small film pops up that I find far superior to those with big budgets. Margin Call is one of those. It is written and directed by J. C. Chandor, his first ever feature film. It certainly will not be his last. He previously worked on commercials and documentaries and wrote and directed one short movie. His taut screenplay is amazing, well plotted, excellent dialogue and filled with tension. I am so pleased it has been nominated for an Oscar. And I think he should win it. The movie takes place in just over 24 hours at an investment bank in Manhattan, teetering on the brink of the financial crisis. The cast are top notch. Kevin Spacey, Stanley Tucci and Paul Bettany are first rate, but even they cannot match up to Jeremy Irons as the boss. Best thing he has done for years. Even Demi Moore puts in a performance of which I never thought she was capable.

I find it difficult to say what I thought about War Horse. It is not a bad movie, but knowing how the play on which it is based was so successful, I was somewhat disappointed. The first section set on a farm at the edge of Dartmoor is fairly tedious. I just don't think director Steven Speilberg knew how to present a period English story. We were then off to war, but in no time the central character (Joey the horse) is in the hands of a French family. I had just imagined we would see how Joey fitted into the British war effort, but no. Most of his war experiences are on the other side. There is then a passage which does not involve Joey at all. All a bit unsatisfactory. I have to say that the movie looks and sounds very good, and there are the odd standout performances. Why Emily Watson has not been nominated for an Oscar, I really don't know. Her performance is superior to that Of Meryl Streeps' Iron Lady. Just a shame she was only there at the beginning.

I was so looking forward to seeing Coriolanus, one of the few Shakespeare dramas I have never seen. And if the movie is anything to go by, it works better on the big screen than it would in the theatre. The modern setting also works really well. The battles scenes invoke modern street warfare as well as any recent movie. I had no idea of the plot, and it turns out to be a superb story of politics and military power full of intrigue. Ralph Fiennes has to be congratulated for his performance in the title role and as a first time director. John Logan has done a fine job to edit the long play into a solid screenplay. Fiennes did seem a little wooden at times, but Coriolanus is just a magnificent soldier and General but not at all articulate and unwavering in his ideology that the people should be subservient to the military. Vanessa Redgrave as his mother is terrific, but the best acting for me was from Brian Cox as Menenius. Another Oscar worthy performance.

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows and The Iron Lady

2012-01-18T02:03:00.000-08:00

Although Tom Cruise is beginning to show his age, he is still able to impress with some of the spectacular stunts on offer in the new Mission Impossible. The fourth outing for Tom and his crew is as good an action thriller as can be found these days. Only let down by a weak last half hour, it is elevated above it's predecessors by the contribution from Simon Pegg who has never been better. Well directed by Brad Bird, for sheer rollercoaster entertainment, it does not get much better than this.

Alison came with me to see the latest Sherlock Holmes adventure, having really liked the first with Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law. But be both came away somewhat disappointed despite the almost universal positive reviews for this sequel. Neither of us thought A Game of Shadows as good as the original. There seemed to be too much repetition and it was all too obvious. OK, it was quite fun in parts, and Stephen Fry is brilliant as Mycroft. Guy Ritchie directs with his usual verve, he is just let down by a silly plot and a flimsy screenplay. If there is a third, I might avoid.

Despite Oscar worthy performances from Meryl Streep and, particularly Jim Broadbent, I found The Iron Lady to be wholly unengaging. Probably not surprising when the director was Phillida Lloyd of "Mama Mia" fame. I had nothing against the central device of showing Margaret Thatcher as she is now, suffering with dementia with her memories shown in flashback. But the scenes at her home between the history are far too numerous and far too long. So we only get glimpses of her past which is overwhelmed by her present decline. There were glimpses of the movie it could have been. Alexandra Roach is terrific as the young Maggie, setting out so young to become an MP. And there are hints at how Thatcher's standing up to a hugely male dominated House of Commons led to her dominant personality as Prime Minister. So we are left with Jim Broadbent's wonderfully humorous Dennis to show that if he loved her, then that said the most. I wonder if Harvey Weinstein had any imput as a distributor? Maybe not.

My Mother - Dorothy Roberts

2012-01-17T04:27:00.000-08:00

Mum was born at 1 Johnson Street, Rotherham on 16th April 1923. Her parents were Ralph William Askew (see posting 2/11/2009)and Edith Agnes Askew (see posting 4/2/2011) formerly Leather. Johnson Street was the home of Edith's parents, George Robert(Bob)Leather and Hannah Elizabeth Leather formerly Boler. Mum had two brothers, Donald and Geoffrey and a sister Iris.

Mum's father is recorded on her birth certificate as a General Labourer. After the first world war he worked as a coal miner (following in the footsteps of his father George Askew) until he broke his back down the pit. With the £200 in compensation, he invested in two shops. The photograph below shows Ralph and daughter Iris outside his shop in Cambridge Street, over which the family made their home.

However, the shop went bust. Apparently Ralph gave away leather when he saw children without any shoes. During this time, his wife Edith had a baker's shop in Barley Terrace. Apart from getting up at extremely early hours to bake barm cakes (they used to sell out before noon) she suffered from the flour getting on her chest and had to give it up.

Ralph then became a postman, then a bus conductor and finally, according to his death certificate,a brassworks valve tester. Could this have been for Effingham Brassworks where his father worked, having been brought from Northwich in Cheshire by the owner Mr George Gummer to play football for Rotherham Town.Ralph died in 1945 aged 49. His wife Edith remarried to Harry Frost.

Mum was very bright at school. She won a scholarship to the grammar school, without which her parents could never have afforded to send her. Even so, mum attending Rotherham High School for Girls would have still had an impact on the family finances with the uniform, gym kit etc.

But when she reached 15 or 16, Mum had to leave school and find a job. First at Boots and then at the local council offices where she worked for a senior officer. This turned out to be quite fortuitous for the family. After losing the two shops, they had been found a council house in a very poor neighbourhood. Other children would be seen eating bread and lard in the street. Ralph and his family may never have been well off, but the children were well brought up, had good manners and eat proper meals. So when another council house became available at 58 Wordsworth Drive (when an old lady died), their names were on the list and Mum's boss helped secure the move. It must have helped that mum did babysitting for him.

The house on Wordswoth Drive was reasonably new in the "Wembley" design, and in a great position just across the road from Herringthorpe Playing Fields. The year was 1939. While Mum worked at the council offices, she learnt to be a comptometer operator. My Aunt Iris (who supplied most of the information above) said that she was sent to Germany to learn how to use the new machine and became the first in Rotherham to operate it. But when she actually went to Germany is a mystery.

Mum was also a Sunday School teacher, possibly at the Methodist Church.

Coming Up Next - The Story Of My Mother and Father

2012-01-16T04:29:00.000-08:00

Over the last couple of years, I have periodically been writing up everything I can remember about mum and dad. I found a basic desktop publishing feature in Microsoft Word which let me include photos etc, but I now want to put it on the internet. So what better place than my blog.

These articles will start with their individual early lives and continue with my memories of their life together with their three boys. The great thing about publishing these stories on a blog is that they can be edited and extended when I remember something new. So here we go.

Five years of retirement - Five years of my blog

2012-01-14T08:25:00.000-08:00

The first five years of retirement have gone so fast. Each year has been special in it's own way. This year, for example, brought our exciting trip to America, combining Michael and Sara's wedding celebrations with a holiday taking in Boston and Cape Cod as well as out three nights in New York. My mother's family history has been an ongoing project, and I made quite a few discoveries. The background to the Askews and Cuthbertsons are described on this blog. Now that I have gone as far as I can with father's family, I successfully managed to create web pages with the help of FileZilla (a File Transfer Protocol) and courtesy of free web pages from Google and Ancestry.

The garden has taken on a new dimension this year. Planting in the new borders, created the year before, has meant I now have far more perennials than before. Not all in the right place, so some transplanting in the Spring will be called for. Book Club has continued despite the cancellation of the course at Tring school, and now meets every two months at The Bell in Aston Clinton. Tramping the footpaths of the Chiltern Hills and swimming every week still keeps me reasonably fit. Long may it continue.

Book Club - A Visit from the Goon Squad and Snowdrops

2012-01-10T03:40:00.000-08:00

When I recommended "A Visit from the Goon Squad" by Jennifer Egan to the last meeting of my Book Club, I did not imagine for a moment that it would be chosen as one of the next books for the club to read. It is quite a complex book so I it was with some trepidation that I waited last night for the verdict. It was hung jury, split down the middle. Some, like me, thought it to be a challenging, original but satisfying read. The others were mightily unimpressed or gave up early on. I just think that it is an amazing piece of very modern fiction and, as I said in a previous posting, one of the best books I have read for a long time. When I revisited it last week, I realised that not only does it switch between the first and third person, but we also get one chapter in the second person, one as a magazine article and one as a diary in PowerPoint. Although in one way a collection of short stories (each has it's own title), there is always a link with overlapping characters (there were so many of them), albeit at different times in their lives. And the final chapter whizzes off to the future. Fantastic.

"Snowdrops" by A.D. Miller is very different. Told in the first person as letter to his wife to be, Nicholas comes clean about his time as a lawyer in Moscow, and his involvement with not one but two pieces of corruption. The first is bearable. It's about his firm acting for their banking client in a new oil terminal in Siberia. The other is not. Nick becomes entangled with two girls ("cousins"), particularly the seductive Masha, who are persuading their ancient "aunt" Tatiana to move from her apartment in Moscow to a brand new one on the edge of the countryside. He should have known better. The second half of the book I found almost too painful to read, I actually wanted to rush through it to get it over. I guess from that aspect it was well written. It did reach the Man Booker shortlist. Miller had spent some considerable time in Russia as a journalist and it shows. His descriptions of the city are detailed but enjoyable. It was just when Nick's mother comes to visit that it becomes too much of an obvious device to show off his knowledge of St Petersburg. In the end I found the plot a little too fanciful. The banks relying on a single surveyor's report, and Nick not taking the many opportunities to untangle himself from Masha. But the promise of the week in Odessa was always too much.

Another Earth. Hugo and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

2012-01-05T05:13:00.000-08:00

Always on the look out for a decent sci fi drama, I took myself off to Milton Keynes to see the (very) low budget movie "Another Earth". Almost not worth the journey. A disastrous car accident leaves the perpetrator (Brit Marling who co-wrote the screenplay with first time director Mike Cahill) in prison and the victim without his family. How the two come together is the basis of an intriguing story, set against the discovery of a parallel planet Earth that comes nearer and nearer. However, the film becomes pretty slow and tiresome at certain points, and is not helped by the naive acting of newcomer Marling. The sci fi element is only a sideshow, with only some radio communications to tell us what is going on. Until the last seconds of the movie that do, at least, give us a brilliant conclusion.

When Martin Scorsese was thinking how to make a movie about George Melies, one of the earliest pioneers of moving pictures, and found he ended up selling toys in a Paris railway station, he must have thought this would be a marvellous place to set his new film. And he was right. Based on the illustrated novel by Brian Selznick "The Invention of Hugo Cabret", Scorsese knew he could build a fantastic set, bring in some wonderful characters who inhabit the station, and film it all in 3D. So unlike a normal Scorsese thriller. But what a beautiful movie he has created. The story revolves around the boy played by Asa Butterfield who lives a clandestine existence in the station's clock tower. He is surrounded by a fabulous cast of British actors. Ben Kingsley as Melies, Helen McCrory as his wife, Baron Sacha Cohen, Emily Mortimer, Richard Griffiths, Frances De La Tour, Christopher Lee (never been better) Jude Law and Ray Winstone are all terrific. But for me, it is the one American who steals the show. Chloe Moretz as Melies' adopted daughter is just so charismatic for one so young. The opening sequence of the movie is worth the price of admission on it's own, and the technical expertise throughout is top drawer. Some critics were less impressed with the last part which delves into the early works of Melies, but the story is actually about him and I think we are very lucky to have Scorsese show us how movies actually started.

Having seen the original Swedish version, and not being impressed with Daniel Craig in the trailer, I was not going to see "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" until I watched Film 2011. Both Claudia and Danny gave it great reviews, as had all the press. Now I see why. This was a brilliant piece of cinema from David Fincher. Despite the running time of two and a half hours, there were times when the pace was relentless, and the editing fierce, as if he was trying to cram everything in. There were obviously scenes I recognised from the original, but overall I have to say that it was superior. Much of the movie takes place on an island where members of the same family inhabit various luxurious properties, and this was far better, and obviously more expensively filmed than the original. The complex plot was easier to understand without subtitles and the whole story seemed to be more coherent. Daniel Craig was actually pretty good, as was Roony Mara in the title role. And like "Hugo" it was the British acting contingent that gave the movie so much class. Christopher Plummer, Steven Berkoff, Joely Richardson and Geraldine James were all terrific. Steve Zallian did a great job adapting the book for the film, but the greatest credit still goes to director David Fincher. Top man.

Black Mirror Trilogy

2012-01-03T04:45:00.000-08:00

Charlie Brooker's "Black Mirror" comprised three new dramas on Channel 4 that explored how new technology might have progressed in years to come. They were all highly original, very disturbing and uncompromising in their portrayal of a unpleasant future. The first in the series called "The National Anthem" gave the Prime Minister, played effectively as usual by Rory Kinnear, an impossible dilemma as the release of the kidnapped young female royal (the ransom demand shown on YouTube) depended on his submitting to public humiliation on television. This was all about the power of the Internet and social networking. There were serious flaws with the plot. Family would normally always come first as the Prime Minister would regret at the end. But this did not spoil what was a powerful and upsetting drama.

"Fifteen Million Credits" envisages the concept of the "X-Factor" gone mad. Our future selves gain credits in ways including getting fit on an exercise bike. Fifteen million gets you performing on the top TV talent show "Hot Spot", complete with judges even more awful than their present day counterparts, including Rupert Everett as sleazy Judge Hope. Bing, very well played by Daniel Kaluuya, is our tragic hero who uses his spot to have a rant against what the programme stands for. But the story goes into overdrive when he starts gathering credits all over again so as to donate them them to the object of his love, Jessica Findlay Brown (from "Downton Abbey"). But her performance on the show does not go as planned. The visual effects are stunning for such a small film. Huge credit must go to all those involved.

The final part of the trilogy is "The Entire History of You", written this time by Jesse Armstrong. Technology has advanced to the stage where you can store all your memories on a hard drive implanted in your brain. These can be played, rewound frozen etc. Just like Sky Plus. When a young lawyer suspects his wife of having an affair, the constant replaying of his memories finally drives him mad. Not the best of the three, but still a dizzying prediction of what the future has in store. But as one character demonstrates, you can always go without.

Alan Clark Diaries, The Looking Glass War and The Silent Land

2011-12-16T03:57:00.000-08:00

I wanted to read a political autobiography for a change, and last year I settled on the well received "Alan Clark Diaries". These are not memoirs. They are exactly as recorded in his diaries from 1983 to 1991. I think that is why I only read them in chunks. Every couple of months I would read another year's worth. They start with the Conservatives sweeping election victory of June 1983. Clark had been an MP since 1974 and was rewarded that month with his first ministerial post in Margaret Thatcher's government. Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of Employment was not what Clark had in mind, and his first forays as a very junior minister are pretty funny. In February 1986 he is made Minister for Trade, not in the cabinet but almost. He throws himself into his new elevated role and, being such a extrovert, copes well with all the travelling and conferences abroad, and continues in this position when the conservatives are re-elected in 1987.

In July 1989, he almost achieves his main ambition (the army was a lifetime passion) and is appointed Minister of State at Defence. But not as Secretary of State as the following conversation with the Prime Minister describes:
"Alan, I want you to go to Defence........ As Minister of State".
"Who is going to be Secretary of State?"
"Well, don't tell anyone, because it hasn't been released yet, but Tom (King) is coming back from Ireland to do it."
"I'm sorry Prime Minister, but I can't work with Tom. I went through all that when I was at DE, I can't do it again. He's too ghastly."
"I know what you mean, but he is much better now."
"I just can't do it, I'm afraid."
"Alan, you've always wanted to go to Defence. I've stood out to get you this job (uh?). You can't let me down by refusing."
"Oh, all right Prime Minister, thank you very much."
"Right then, that's settled." Oh dear! What a feeble resistance.

The year of 1990 takes up a huge chunk of the book, particularly the downfall of Margaret Thatcher. The book ends in early 1991 (he keeps his position at Defence) as Clark is inducted into the Privy Council. The book itself gives a highly entertaining insight into the workings of government. It is probably the next best thing to shadowing a minister of state, particularly in his dealings with the civil service. The writer is often outspoken, rude and lecherous. But at the same time witty, friendly and clever. Glad I persevered.

John Le Carre's "The Looking Glass War" is the last but one on his early novels that I missed first time round. It follows his acclaimed "The Spy Who Came In From The Cold", and for me is a superior story. "The Department" (which we take to mean the military intelligence department of the Ministry of Defence) is in decline. "The Circus" (that we take to mean MI6, the intelligence department of the Foreign Office) is in the ascendancy. The head of the Department wants one more big operation to underline it's credibility. But it is now in no shape to be effective and the mission is doomed from the start. The novel is very effective at describing the protagonists as they try to resurrect their wartime expertise, all to no avail. One of Le Carre's best.

"The Silent Land" is a shortish novel set in a ski resort in the French Pyrenees. It only has two characters. Zoe and Jake are caught in an avalanche one early morning. They struggle back to the village, only to find it completely deserted. What happens next is a supernatural story of a couple trying to make sense of their isolation. Well written by Graham Joyce, this is an undemanding, yet gripping story of a relationship tested by an unusual experience.

Askew, Ascough or Ayscough

2011-12-07T05:56:00.000-08:00

Here we go again. I had found the family of James Ascough on the 1851 and 1861 census, so I was searching for his birth on familysearch.org. There the IGI is now available online instead of having to trawl through CD's at the library as I have done in the past. I found James' christening on 27th March 1808 in Toynton All Saints, the adjacent village to Toynton St Peter where he was on the later census. But his surname was recorded as Ayscough, with his parents named as John and Elizabeth Ayscough. I also found the christening records of James' siblings Mary (25th January 1807 in Toynton St Peter) and William, christened on the same day as James. So they could be twins, or they were just christened together.

I then found the christening of their father John Ayscough on 4th November 1781 in Toynton St Peter with his parents recorded as John and Mary Ayscough. John was christened with the surname Ascough on 20th October 1758 in Toynton St Peter. His parents were Thomas and Susanah Ascough. They had five children: Mary, Thomas, John, Elizabeth and Edward. All were christened Ascough except for Elizabeth whose surname was Askew. And they were all christened in Toynton St Peter from 1754 to 1760 except for Edward in Toynton All Saints in 1764. And it is in the churchyard of Toynton All Saints that John, christened in 1758, is buried in 1844 having gained the grand old age of 85, and his son John, christened in 1781, is also buried this time in 1846. All courtesy of the National Burial Index. The photo below is of the church of Toynton All Saints..

That is it as far as my searches go on the IGI. What is interesting is how the surname has changed over the years. From Ascough or Askew to Ayscough in the eighteenth century, to Ascough again when those recording the census in the mid nineteenth century wrote down the name, and finally to Askew when George's birth was registered in 1852. And that generations of the same family worked in agriculture, the only employment available in the wilds of Lincolnshire.

The five generations from Toynton are Thomas Ascough born around 1735, his son John christened 20th October 1758, his son John christened 4th November 1781, his son James christened 27th March 1808 and his son George born 27th December 1852.

Above is the church of Toynton St Peter.

The Debt, Take Shelter and My Week With Marilyn

2011-12-06T04:29:00.000-08:00

Struggling to find a decent film locally a couple of weeks ago, I took myself off to "Senior Screen", the cut price Wednesday morning showing for us oldies. I thought "The Debt" was a strange choice, but the cinema was packed with lots of us hoping for a rare, decent thriller. What we got was a slightly unsatisfying plot, that felt it must be based on a true story, but wasn't. The action alternates between 1997 where three ex Mossad agents reflect on their mission in 1966. The reflective and stilted drama of the later scenes seem to sit uneasily with the excitement of their capturing of "the surgeon of Birkenau". It doesn't help that Helen Mirren, Tom Wilkinson and Ciaran Hands (though all very good) look nothing like the actors who play their parts in 1966. Jessica Chastain is excellent as Mirren's younger self, and surely could have been made to look 30 years older. The suspense as the mission unfolds is quite something, but all to soon we are back to 1997. There the big twist leaves us with a gripping finale. If only Chastain had been in the final scenes, it might have been the wonderful film it was trying to be.

A movie that tries to be intelligent and original, "Take Shelter" is a decent enough attempt, but a punchier and more dynamic direction could have made it so much better. We never really know if the hallucinations suffered by Michael Shannon in the lead role are real, imagined or prophetic. But the drama plays out very well as Shannon worries he has inherited his mother's schizophrenia. The look and feel of the movie created by director Jeff Nichols is superb. But the highlight for me was Jessica Chastain as the beleaguered wife. The same actress who was so good in "The Debt" and as Celia Foote in last month's "The Help". Within the space of a few weeks, she has established herself as a brilliant performer, especially as you would not think it was the same woman in any of the three movies.

Although "My Week With Marilyn" had moderate reviews, I thought it was an excellent film. First I have to mention the screenplay by Adrian Hodges from the memoir by Colin Clark. I thought it struck just the right tone, with plenty of great quips and one liners along the way. Michelle Williams is quite staggering as a sympathetic Marilyn and Kenneth Branagh does justice to Laurence Olivier's starstruck but bullying co-star and director of the production of "The Prince and the Showgirl". Their off screen trauma is probably reflected in the finished movie of 1956. The period setting is good to look at and ably filmed by director Simon Curtis, whether inside Pinewood Studios or when it follows Marilyn outside. There are a number of quite wonderful cameos from a host of British acting talent. Even the three Americans who accompany Marilyn are Brits; Dougray Scott (unrecognisable as Arthur Miller), Zoe Wanamaker and Dominic Cooper are all very good. Judi Dench steals every scene in which she appears as Dame Sybil Thordike, closely followed by Toby Jones, Derek Jacobi, Simon Russell Beale and Michael Kitchen. We were, perhaps, a little distracted by the short appearance of so many classy actors. Shame about Emma Watson. But Eddie Redmayne does well as the 23 year old Colin Clark, who has wangled a postion as third director, and around whose "week" the story is told. Not quite in the same class as "The King's Speech" or "Made in Dagenham", but very, very close.

Askew or Ascough

2011-12-05T04:56:00.000-08:00

Or Ayscough, Ainscough or Ainscow etc. All a derivation of the locational name of Aiskew in the North Riding of Yorkshire. My mother's maiden name is Askew. But when I came to searching the census records for her great grandfather, I could not find a single entry. I knew mum's grandfather George Askew was born in Toynton St Peter in the wilds of Lincolnshire in 1852, and that his parents were James and Lucy Askew. But there was no sign of them on any census record.

I took a chance and e-mailed the Lincolnshire Family History Society to see if they could recommend a researcher that would look at some parish records. I was amazed to receive a lengthy reply from Ruth with lots of suggestions. The main one was "I don't think there is a surname in the county which will come with more spelling variations". Ruth had actually found James and Lucy Ascough on the 1851 Census. When I found the same entry, they already had five children. They were also there on the 1861 census, this time with two more children, one of whom was George Ascough.

Toynton St Peter is a tiny village, about 15 miles west of Skegness. James Askew (my great great grandfather) was also born there in 1808. On his son George's birth certificate (which states the surname as Askew) he is recorded as an agricultural labourer, not surprising really. All his older sons had the same occupation. Two were born in Thorpe St Peter, half way to where James' wife Lucy was born in nearby Wainfleet St Mary in 1816.

It was George who made the move to work in the coalfields of Rotherham. But he is 28 years old before I found him on the 1881 census married to Jane and with two very young children. So I guess he moved there just after he was 20. There is no record on the 1871 census of him or any of his parents or siblings. One or both of George's parents may have died. Or the spelling of the surname has defeated me once again.

The Seymours Film Script

2011-12-05T02:52:00.000-08:00

When I was looking to publish my family history on the web, I found that Google provided free webspace. So this also seemed to the obvious place to publish my film script. The screenplay of "The Seymours" can now be found at:

https://sites.google.com/site/theseymoursfilmscript

It also contains the following summary:

One of the most dynamic and important periods in Tudor history falls between 1547 and 1549, the first three years after the death of Henry V111.

This is the story of two brothers, uncles of the boy king Edward V1. The elder is Edward Seymour, a clever and ambitious man who seizes the position of Lord Protector. His brother Thomas Seymour is lazy but highly jealous of Edward’s power. He marries the dowager Queen Katherine and becomes romantically entangled with the young Princess Elizabeth. His increasingly devious and erratic behavior, in an attempt to gain power, leads to a tragic conclusion for himself, and ultimately his brother.

Edward Seymour is initially highly successful in his role of Protector. His popularity is secured when he leads the army to a great victory over the Scots at Pinkie. He gains the support of the Council and Parliament to make major reforms. The repeals of the harsh laws on treason and heresy are followed by religious and social changes. Censorship is relaxed and religious debate allowed. It was going too well.

The country was not ready for such freedom. And Edward Seymour, now the Duke of Somerset, had become obsessed with making all the decisions himself and fails to heed the advice of his closest associates. His building of Somerset House also causes controversy. These factors result in a combustible mix leading to insurrection throughout the country culminating in Kett’s Rebellion.

Edward’s position had already been weakened when his brother is executed for treason and rivals take the opportunity to bring about the Protector’s downfall. This is a story of rivalry, scandal, intrigue and treason. This time it is not the regent who is at centre stage, but the men and women around him. It is about the search for power in the vacuum created when a child is King.

131 Songs - Numbers 129,130 and 131

2011-12-01T05:33:00.000-08:00

In the end, there were three more Mark Knopler songs I wanted to include. "Romeo and Juliet" by Dire Straits (Number 36) was never going to be enough.

Number 129 - Telegraph Road by Dire Straits

In all the three Mark Knopfler concerts I saw at The Royal Albert Hall in 2005, 2008 and 2010, this was the stand out song. The band play it note perfect to the recording including the long instrumental sections. Outstanding.

Number 130 - The Last Laugh by Mark Knopfler

I wanted to pick one track from his six solo albums. I nearly went for "5:15 am" from the "Shargri-La" album or "Piper To The End" from his latest CD "Get Lucky" , but the reason I chose this one from "Sailing to Philadelphia" is the duet with Van Morrison. I had thought about including one of Van Morrison's own songs, but here his voice has never sounded better.

Number 131 - Brothers in Arms by Dire Straits

This song never fails to effect me no matter how many times I hear it played. It was always going to be my final choice. And it will always remind me of the Dire Straits concert at Woburn in June 1992. You could say I was a fan.

My 131 Songs started with Lonnie Donegan and fittingly finish with an artist who recorded "Donegan's Gone". My musical tastes have changed over the years, but my liking for a folk/country/rock mix is still going strong. Thanks to Lonnie.

The Really Big Chorus - Messiah From Scratch

2011-11-28T04:52:00.000-08:00

The Really Big Chorus is made up from members of choral societies from all over the UK and from abroad. Anyone can sing, just pay for your seat, bring the score, and join over 3,000 others at a sold out Royal Albert Hall last night. Alison was joined in the altos (in red tops) by our niece Emily. Her parents joined me in the audience who took up the other 1,000 plus seats. Handel's Messiah is a wonderful piece of choral music and Alison had joined Wendover Choral Society when they performed it two years ago. But this was a different experience completely.

The Really Big Chorus is really loud. But what is even more amazing is the separation of the voices in such a huge space. Sopranos on the left, altos on the right and tenors and bass in the middle swept around the auditorium in unamplified magical stereo. The orchestra and organ were excellent, and so were the soloists, all marshalled by conductor Brian Kay. What would Handel have thought about so many wanting to come together from all over Europe to sing his Messiah?

Elkie Brooks at The Stables

2011-11-28T04:23:00.000-08:00

It was Alison who really wanted to see Elkie Brooks, so a concert at The Stables in Milton Keynes was not to be missed. And what a great evening it turned out to be. An intimate 400 seat venue was perfect, and being in the fourth row at the side was superb. And boy can she still sing. Elkie may be my age but she sounds as good as she ever did, belting out all her most popular songs together with some great blues numbers. An interval after an hour on stage, and then back for the final 45 minutes of a great show. Her six piece band were very good, especially a highly talented sax player. I had just wished she had saved "Don't Cry Out Loud" for the end. It sent shivers down my spine.

Slaughterhouse 5, The Dead Zone and The News Where You Are

2011-11-25T09:58:00.000-08:00

I had been meaning to read "Slaughterhouse 5" ever since it was highly recommended by Alison's sister Anne. I think I have her to thank for finding Kate Atkinson amongst others. However this novel was not to my taste. It wasn't so much the subject matter; the infamous fire bombing of Dresden is only a small part of the book, and is dealt with in quite a sensitive way. The main character is saved by virtue of being locked in a place that gives the book it's title. What I found really hard was the writing. It seemed very ordinary with lots of American slang. Well it was written in 1969. The main character, Billy, has few redeeming features. He believes that he time travels and this seems at complete odds with the main worthy concept of the novel which is the absurdity of war. And why does the author have to torture the reader by regularly dropping in "So it goes". I never want to read these words ever again.

When I watched a discussion on "The Review Show" on BBC2 about Stephen King's new novel "11.22.63", and heard what a good writer he is, I searched on Amazon for a non horror novel I might try. Having never read a single book of his, and also having been recommended by Linda at Book Club to try one, I plumped for his 1979 novel "The Dead Zone". I have to say that it was a gripping tale, and boy can King tell a story. But for me, plot, excitement, character and action was all we got. And for me that is never enough. In comparison with the something like "A Visit From The Goon Squad", by another American author, it just does not have the subtlety and literacy of the books I normally read. All the way through I thought it read like a film script. So when I finished the book, I went looking for one, and what did I find? A film by one of my favourite directors, David Cronenberg, with Christopher Walken and Martin Sheen. A DVD was £2.20 on EBay and is now waiting for me to play it. I can actually see why Stephen King is so popular. And maybe one day I will try him again. For now I will stick with books like the next one.

"The News Where You Are" is the latest novel from Catherine O'Flynne. We read her first novel "What Was Lost" for book club and it gained universal approval (see posting 6th September). Her new book is not quite up to the standard of her first, but that is not to say that it was not again a lovely read. It contains all the trade marks of her style, witty and profound.Again it is based in Birmingham where the main character, Frank Allcroft, presents the evening local news programme. He is haunted by the memories of his more successful predecessor who has been killed in a car accident. Or was it accidental? All set to a vividly described urban landscape of the second city. The author conjures up some wonderful characters, possibly just too many jumps between them. But a story that gives you a nice glow with just a hint of mystery. Probably too much of a contemplation of getting old for me.

131 Songs - Numbers 127 and 128

2011-11-25T08:34:00.000-08:00

Number 127 - Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me by Elton John

I thought I may run out of songs before I considered one from Elton John. However, listening to some of his early stuff, it reminded me of an LP I had in the seventies. The songs on "Greatest Hits" now seem pretty old hat; except for one. "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" (composed by Elton and Bernie Tapin) still sounds as good today as it did all those years ago. Invariably it was, in those days, through some headphones when there was nothing I wanted to watch on TV. One of those LP's that was played to death, but one track that still lives for me.

Number 128 - The Air That I Breathe by The Hollies

I have no idea how I came to miss this track. Written by the British songwriting duo Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood, it first appeared on the former's 1972 album "It Never Rains In Southern California" ("it pours, man it pours"). But it was the version by The Hollies that gained most success, reaching Number 2 in the UK. An absolutely stunning performance of a great song.

Robin Van Persie

2011-11-22T03:51:00.000-08:00

It's safe to say that Arsenal are not my favourite team. But I have stuck with Robin Van Persie in my fantasy football team for the last few years. And after a quiet start, he has again come up trumps, especially when I made him captain which double his points. Before Game Week 8, I was struggling around the 1.2 million mark, out of 2.5 million teams. But as soon as Robin started scoring (in the last five games he has scored 2,2,3,1 and 2 goals), I have steadily made my way to the top 252,000. In these last five games, Van Persie has scored 132 points , 44% of my total points for these games! So after Game Week 12, I'm only 18 points and 109,000 places behind Alison. All thanks to VP. Can he keep it going?

PS - 28th November 2011

The answer is ...... No! This week Robin didn't score, or provide an assist, or get a bonus, even playing Fulham at home. The rest of my team played so poorly (including Balotelli with minus points after being sent off having come on as a substitute) that my total for the week was a pathetic 24 points. That put me in 2.56 millionth position out of a total of 2.64 million players. So given that there will be many that are not playing any more, being in the bottom 80,000 for the week is worse than a lot of those, and worse than I have done in the the three years playing the Fantasy League. so I am now back to 423,000 overall and massively behind Alison in 135,000 place. It just serves me right for gloating. Some big transfers are required this week.

The Killing II

2011-11-21T10:01:00.000-08:00

Hurrah. "The Killing" (or rather "Forbrydelsen" which better translates to "The Crime") is back with a new series on BBC Four. I don't always agree with AA Gill's television reviews in The Sunday Times, but he put into words exactly how I felt about the first episode on Saturday:
"The Worst bit was waiting for it to start. Would it be the same? ...... (Would) they want to give it twists and new directions.........So Phew, tak. The first few minutes were a great, huge cathartic relief, a reassurance that it was all going to be allright. The haven't changed a thing. "

Like me he likes the "convoluted confusion... the politics....everyone's a suspect and, most important, Sarah Lund is still the buttoned-down, wound up, taciturn piece of Nordic ice-hotness in a scratch hair shirt" (the jumper did change for Episode 1 to the (blood) red garment in both pictures - (the one above courtesy of MEESON,HITANDRUNMEDIA.COM in the Sunday Times). And of course Denmark "is still a strangely featureless flat land full of strangely featureless flat people".

We agree about the foreign language giving a disturbing sound, and how the film is shot with "an awkward and disconcerting mixture of disengaged exterior observation and intensely fraught interior claustrophobia, but with good chairs". Gill doesn't mention the music. Fortunately exactly the same melancholy melody as before. If anyone at film school wanted an exam question to compare Scandinavian crime drama with American, they should look no further than how Series 1 was remade in the USA. Everything discussed above was missing. Chalk and cheese.

Jenna, Lena Marlin and Alison Krauss with Union Station

2011-11-21T09:11:00.000-08:00

I have only bought a couple of CD's in the last six months, very unusual for me. Perhaps the following reviews explain why.

After finding her album "Brother" had so many good songs, I finally sent for her first and only other CD "Barefoot and Eager". Not up to the standard of "Brother" and more a mixture of covers with few original songs. But an easy listen and her version of "Wish You Were Here" is quite something.

I actually received Lena Marlin's "Twist The Truth" for Christmas, being her latest CD from 2009. I love her other three albums, so on first listening this was quite a disappointment, and that was probably why I didn't review it previously. However I played it in the car last week and was surprised how I enjoyed it. It actually has one stand out track that matches any of her best work. "Story of a Life" is unmistakeably a Lena composition.

Somehow I missed the release of "Paper Airplane", the latest from Alison Krauss and Union Station, so I only had time to play it a couple of times before their concert that heavily featured these songs. I have to say that, again on first play, this is not their best album. The songs are all OK, but they just seems like rehashes of everything they have done before. The instrumental accompaniment is again first class, but nothing that stands out. In a way, it is nice to have something new from Alison and the band, but it seems like they just went through the motions. It has generally received rave reviews, so I will have to listen a few more times before I can make a final judgement.

In Time, Johnny English Reborn and Tower Heist

2011-11-17T03:27:00.000-08:00

The concept of "In Time" was better than the fulfilment, but there are not enough good sci fi movies around so this one would have to do. In some ways it is a one trick pony, although the basic idea was a pretty brilliant one. Andrew Niccol, famous for writing "The Truman Show" and "Gattaca" has come up with another imaginative story. He has a pretty decent budget and the action looks great on the screen. The first half is quite good, but the movie descends into some awfully predictable car chases towards the end. Justin Timberlake still cannot act and is therefore unconvincing in the lead role. And Amanda Seyfried is almost unrecognisable in her wig.

I would have normally given "Johnny English Reborn" a miss, but Alison wanted to go, and as this would double her visits to the cinema this year to two, I could hardly refuse. In the end it was a reasonably jolly film. There were plenty of references to old Bond movies, and the action sequences were OK. I think that Rowan Atkinson is past his sell by date, but why would he refuse such a big pay day. And the attendances have been staggeringly high. At least Alison's next trip will be for the new Sherlock Holmes feature.

I had no great expectations for "Tower Heist" as I would normally avoid anything with Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy in two of the main roles. However I was pleasantly surprised. This comedy caper did have quite a few laughs and some big twists and suspense moments towards the end. There is a long build up to the robbery and this worked quite well. Ben Stiller was OK, and Eddie Murphy was not in it for very long. Alan Alda, Casey Affleck and Mathew Broderick and the rest of the cast all did their bit. The direction by Brett Ratner catered to a mainstream audience, but he has done a lot of these movies before. I guess he repeated the formula for "21" and others before that. As a piece of frivolous entertainment, it worked fine.

Alison Krauss and Union Station at the Royal Festival Hall

2011-11-15T03:24:00.000-08:00

How fortunate for us that at the end of a long summer tour criss crossing the USA (including a stop at the Hyannis big tent on Cape Cod, long after we had left), Alison Krauss and Union Station came to the UK. Four sold out nights at the 3000 seater Royal Festival Hall shows just how popular they have become. They played a non stop two hour set of songs from their new album "Paper Airplane" intermingled with some old favourites. The band was on top form and Alison's voice was quite splendid. I was also surprised at how good is Dan Tyminski's singing live. When they sing together, they complement each other so well.

Jerry Douglas gave the others a break with a brilliant solo, and two more musicians on piano and percussion came on for some of the numbers. The encore was even better when Alison and the band gathered around one microphone for five quiet numbers (including "When You Say Nothing At All" and finishing with a superb "There Must Be A Reason") with very little accompaniment. Fantastic. The only downside was that the sight lines are not the best at the Royal Festival Hall, and they missed out "Doesn't Have To Be This Way" and "Let Me Touch You For A While". But we did get "I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow". Thanks Dan.

The Garden in November

2011-11-14T04:46:00.000-08:00

We have ariived at the middle of November and we have not had a frost. So there are some perennials that are still flowering. The roses continue to bloom and we have taken the odd cutting to display inside.

However without a frost, the autumn colours have not been at their best. Although the Silver Birch in the back garden has never looked better.

The hand that first held mine, The Elephant to Hollywood and One Good Turn

2011-11-09T02:22:00.000-08:00

Having already read, and been impressed by, Maggie O'Farrell's "After You'd Gone", it was obvious that her Costa award winning "The hand that first held mine" would be right up my street. and it certainly was. It alternates between two stories, one set in the modern day, and the other in the 1950's. The first follows the life of Ted and Elina with their new baby and the second centres on young Lexie who leaves her Devon home for life in London. This seems the far more successful of the two, but the stories have a connection which gradually unfolds. O'Farrell is a terrific writer. Her prose is eloquent and interesting which has produced a highly emotional and dramatic novel.

I read very few autobiographies, I think the last one was Richard Attenborough's. And after reading Michael Caine's "The Elephant to Hollywood", I wont be in a hurry to read another. Not that there were not lots of interesting stories, but that the writing was so poor. Nearly every page had something like (and I opened the book at random here) "... I became good friends with ...". How many friends can one man have? Well I suppose quite a few when you are Michael Caine. I was hoping that there would have been more about the restaurants he owned, but there was not much at all. I guess most people would only want to hear about his movie career.

Back to some brilliant writing with Kate Atkinson's "One Good Turn". There is something clever or witty in nearly every sentence. Again I opened the book at random and immediately found "Martin managed to give him the slip while he was entrenched in negotiations over his hat". It is just her choice of words that I love. It is the second of her novels that includes the private detective Jackson Brodie. But the great thing is he only appears for about one fifth of the book and he does no paid private detecting. It is how Kate Atkinson combines a thriller with dramatic family stories that is so wonderful. Not quite the best of her four Jackson Brodie novels ("When Will There Be Good News" is still my favourite - Jackson is hardly in it) but better than anyone else could write.

Book Club - Any Human Heart

2011-11-08T04:06:00.000-08:00

It had been on my to read list for sometime, so I was really glad when Linda recommended "Any Human Heart" by William Boyd. But when I found that this long, 500 page, book was written as a journal, I was not initially impressed. However it turns out to be a terrific piece of fiction. Logan Mountstuart starts his journal at the end of 1923 in his last year at his private school and follows his life from his time at Oxford University (Jesus College) to his working life, wartime and up until his death at a good old age. His entries are sometimes haphazard with gaps at certain times, but it makes for fascinating reading as it follows the main events of the twentieth century.

Logan's life is one of ups and downs, sometimes too much so, but otherwise it would not have been the great story it is. He becomes a writer, but although he is published, he never makes use of his talents. He is an attractive and charismatic man, but a pretty immoral one. He is married three times (once very happily but tragically) and has numerous affairs. He visits many countries for various reasons and during the second world war has the best of times and the worst of times.

One of the main themes of the book is that Logan meets many significant real life characters: Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, Ian Fleming, Viginia Woolf, Evenlyn Waugh and Jackson Pollock to name but a few. But it is his (surreal) relationship with the Duke and Duchess of Windsor which is most dramatic, especially the period in the Bahamas. Sometimes the feeling of unreality creeps through, but it is nonetheless highly entertaining. I read the last 100 pages in one go, something very rare for me. But that says something for the brilliant novel it is.

We Need To Talk About Kevin and The Help

2011-11-07T04:11:00.000-08:00

After recently seeing "One Day", two more films adapted from books that I have enjoyed. "We Need To Talk About Kevin" is based on the book by Lionel Shriver where Kevin's mother Eva writes letters to her "estranged" husband Franklin. Were they always written so that Eva could get them published one day I now ask myself? The film takes a more narrative construction but still uses Eva as the centre of the story. It is directed by Lynne Ramsay, her first for nearly ten years. It is a bold and brilliant interpretation of what is a harrowing tale. The editing of real time and flashbacks (especially at the start) is sometimes too quick, but it gives the film the sense of disturbance it needs. Awful things happen, but the director never makes them unbearable. The visual flair of the movie is extraordinary. You do not fail to miss the most ordinary objects that are coloured red. The performances are wonderful and so is the casting. You just knew that Tilda Swinton would be so right as Eva, and she was. The music is haunting. Lynne Ramsay has somehow tapped her Scottish routes by including three early recordings of American folk songs by her countryman Lonnie Donegan. I could not believe it when the first came on. The original score is by Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood. This was a very well made film in all respects. And the end is still as devastating as it was in the book.

We had read "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett for Book Club last year, and I really enjoyed it. The movie very faithfully followed the book's narrative and it was pleasure to be reminded how it was such a great story. The photography of the deep south is absolutely gorgeous, the costumes, lighting and sets should all get Oscar nominations. The ensemble acting is first class. Emma Stone comes of age in the lead role of sparky Skeeter Phelan, but it is Viola Davis as the maid Aibileen who steals the show. Another Oscar nomination a certainty. Yes, it does get a bit sentimental at times, and it is a bit long, but it never felt less than engrossing, and the crucial incident that colours the last half hour seems even better on film than it did in the book.

My City

2011-11-04T04:48:00.000-07:00

Ignoring the pretty ordinary reviews, I entered the Almeida Theatre full of anticipation to see "My City" the first play written (and directed) by Stephen Poliakoff for twelve years. In that time he has created some of the best films for television ever shown. My fantastic box set of DVDs include "Shooting the Past", "Perfect Strangers", "The Lost Prince", "Friends and Crocodiles" (my favourite) and "Gideon's Daughter". Any of these would have made a good feature film at the cinema, but like his latest movie "Glorious 39", there is limited appeal. So he made a series of films for television which have won great acclaim, including his latest excellent productions "Joe's Palace" and "Capturing Mary". I just love everything of his I have seen.

So it was a big disappointment that "My City" was such a let down. The problem was that there was such little plot. Poliakoff has always been good on narrative, but here all we have is basically a collection of stories and memories. The action takes place over one night, when two twenty somethings meet their old headmistress and two of her colleagues who are all now retired. The story of how they inspired their pupils unfolds over the course of the night. There are periodic flashbacks to school assemblies (an exciting device to start with) as head Miss Lambert (very well plated by Tracey Ullman) Mr Minken (a brilliant David Troughton) and Miss Summers (Sorcha Cusack) address the children (the audience) and tell stories that stay with them for ever. Yes, it is like being taken to the past in a particularly interesting assembly, but we are not children any more, and we need something more inspirational and emotional from a play than that.

The two ex pupils are in fact very well acted by Tom Riley and Sian Brooke, and when they cross examine their old teachers, the old Poliakoff sparks start to fly, but this is all too rare. The dialogue is always good, but that is what you expect from this writer. But in the end it is a pretty flat affair. I guess my memory of the play will also be tarnished by the journey home. Two hours and ten minutes was not funny. The Holloway Road was blocked and turning round to find the way I came in via the A40 was a disaster. First I got lost and ended up nearly going over the river. Found my way to the Aldwych and all was fine. But the A40 had night roadworks and the jams going into one lane were awful. I would have been better off joining Miss Lambert on one of her nightly walks around the city.

131 Songs Numbers 124,125 and 126

2011-11-04T03:56:00.000-07:00

Number 124 - Next Time You Fall In Love by Reva Rice and Greg Ellis

The next three songs are unlike anything that has gone before. They start with one from a musical, Starlight Express. I had thought to include songs from "Tell Me On A Sunday" which I think is the best thing written by Andrew Lloyd Webber, and the lyrics by Don Black are also excellent. However, if I wanted a really cheesy number, I looked no further than "Starlight Express". My chosen track wasn't even in the original 1984 production. When new songs were added in 1992, Don Black again found the right lyrics to suit Lloyd Webber's syrupy melody. It always makes me smile, so that must be a good thing.

We Sail The Ocean Blue by Gilbert and Sullivan

There was no way I would not have a song from G&S, there are so many to choose from, and "HMS Pinafore" is my favourite of all their light operas. I almost chose "Now Give Three Cheers", but the song that starts the whole thing off never fails to stir.

Ernie by Benny Hill

I was wondering what my favourite comedy song would be. A Flanders and Swann? The Goon's "Ying Tong Song"? However there is only one real contender for me. "Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)" to give it's full title, is not only performed by Bennie Hill, but he wrote it too. His inspiration came from his time as a milkman in Hampshire. It became the Christmas number one in 1971. Even David Cameron chose it as one of his eight Desert Island Discs. Says it all.

A Day in Stratford

2011-10-31T05:49:00.000-07:00

When Alison told me she was going to meet her sister in Stratford (as her husband was taking her there with their daughter for a short break to celebrate Anne's 50th) I could not let the opportunity pass. We took the park and ride which proved quick and very economical. The weather was perfect, with clear blue skies for most of the day.

We started off with a walk over the pedestrian bridge to the other side of the river. The landscaping around the canal basin is very tasteful. We had coffee and cake sitting outside the theatre on the river side before heading for Shakespeare's Birthplace where I had never been before (see photo below). Well worth a visit. After an unexpected shower, we found Hathaway Tea Rooms for a late afternoon snack. The building is from 1610 and has recently been refurbished. A pleasant end to a very nice day.

131 Songs - Numbers 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, and 123

2011-10-28T04:52:00.000-07:00

Number 116 - Nothing Else Matters by Lucie Silvas

This list of some of my favourite female singer songwriters starts with three great waltzes. I just cannot believe Lucie Silvas has not been more successful. She has two fabulous albums, "Breathe In" and "The Same Side", but was dropped by her record label after the second had poor sales. She apparently has recorded some new songs, so here's hoping for their release soon and some live shows.

Number 117 - Through The Dark by KT Tunstall

After her first excellent album "Eye to the Telescope" (from which my chosen song is taken) and then the not quite as good but quite reasonable "Drastic Fantastic", I did not even bother with her latest disappointing "Tiger Suit". What we want is more songs like the sublime "Through the Dark".

Number 118 - Freeze by Honey Ryder

Honey Ryder are Lindsay O'Mahoney and Martyn Shone. Their only album "Rising Up" is an absolute belter. I have chosen "Freeze" but there are other great tracks too. They are working on a new album, so I hope we do not have long to wait.

Number 119 - Poison Prince by Amy McDonald

This was a hard choice. There are so many good songs on her two albums "This is the Life" and "A Curious Thing". Her uptempo numbers are particularly good and "Poison Prince" is one of those. It never ceases to thrill. I also posted a review (31st October 2010) when I saw her live in Cambridge.

Number 120 - Hometown Glory by Adele

There has been enough said about Adele so it doesn't need me to say how brilliant she is. I try not to play her two albums "19" and "21" too much so they stay fresh when I hear them. "Hometown Glory" (from her first album) is remarkable for the combination of the song, Adele's voice and the piano of Neil Cowley. Superb.

Number 121 - Again Today by Brandi Carlile

I was so disappointed when Brandi cancelled her tour here when we had the ash cloud as I was so looking forward tom seeing one of my favourite singers. Like the last two artists, there are two competing albums for my choice, "The Story and "Give up the Ghost". Her self titled debut album is also pretty good. I nearly chose "Before it Breaks" from her latest album or the title track from "The Story" (with the crashing chords that put Coldplay in their place). But "Again Today" from the same album is just so wonderful, it gets me every time.

Number 122 - Take My Hand by Dido

It was hard to pick a Dido song as there is not one that stands out. But I love her albums ("No Angel", "Life for Rent" and "Safe Trip Home" so much, I had to find one track for this list. And from her first album I found that "Take My Hand" is actually a classic.

Number 123 - The Cheapest Key by Kathleen Edwards

Of all the songs she could have chosen for her set on Monday, the one I was really looking forward to was "The Cheapest Key" from her latest and best album "Asking For Flowers", although "Failer" and "Back to Me" also have some very good tracks. But it just didn't happen. I guess it needs her full band to give it the big impact it certainly has.

Midnight in Paris, Real Steel and Contagion

2011-10-28T02:52:00.000-07:00

I have never been a great Woody Allen fan, but his "Midnight in Paris" had received mainly good reviews ("a return to form" etc). I found it pretty lightweight, but are all his movies the same? It did have a certain je ne sais quois (get it?), the scenes of Paris being quite beautiful as expected. The mix of time travel and the introduction of many characters who inhabited Paris in the past (Ernest Hemingway, Scott Fitzgerald, Cole Porter, Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali to name the most prominent) was interesting, but reminded me too much of the book I have just read ("Any Human Heart"). The scenes where Owen Wilson (seemed to struggle with his lead role) meets Rachel McAdam's family I found embarrassingly amateurish. However, it was mostly an entertaining 90 minutes.

It wasn't even half term and Aylesbury Odeon had little to offer. "Real Steel" was one of those movies that seemed quite enticing on the trailer, but ended up a very poor affair. It could have been so much better, but a clumsy script and ridiculous characters made for a very disappointing movie.

I was looking for a a much more tense thriller than "Contagion" delivered. It had all the hallmarks of a documentary with too much switching between all the organisations looking to contain or cure the virus and the people who are effected. But director Steven Soderbergh and his all star cast have produced something that is clever and watchable. Marion Cotillard produces the best performance, but like the other stars, is on the screen all too briefly. A slick and informative thriller that sort of peters out at the end. But overall a quite enjoyable film.

Kathleen Edwards and Bon Iver at Hammersmith Apollo

2011-10-26T02:20:00.000-07:00

This was the first time I went to a concert specifically to see the support act. I do like all three of Kathleen Edwards' albums and seeing her perform live seemed like a chance too good to miss, even though only as the support. Her performance, with the accompaniment of only two other guitarists and no percussion did nothing for the vast expanses of the Apollo, was not helped by the background noise of a thousand people talking loudly throughout the set. So her plaintive, and often quiet, songs were not really suitable for the venue. Things were better when rocking through her uptempo pieces. Her 45 minute performance felt too short, but the audience were all there to see the main act. One positive feature from her set was what I presume were songs from her new album due out in January. They were all great, so looking forward to that.

I had listened to bits of Bon Iver's latest album on Spotify, and thought it was not really my kind of music. I made up my mind to listen to a couple of numbers but ended up staying over an hour. This is one band who are obviously brilliant live. Nine musicians including two drummers can really make some noise. And when they go into mainstream mode (which is less than half the time) they produce a powerful and awesome sound. If only their songs were all like that. But overall, I was very impressed.

131 Songs - Numbers 114 and 115

2011-10-19T03:42:00.000-07:00

Number 114 - Loch Lomond Live by Runrig

I just love recorded live albums. From The Beatles Live at the BBC" to Jackson Browne's "Running on Empty" and Dire Straits "Alchemy" and "On The Night", there are so many I will have to make a list sometime. But I have to admit that the only reason I bought the CD "Once in a Lifetime - Runrig Live" was for the one track. "Loch Lomond" is transformed from a light Scottish ballad to something raw, powerful and uplifting. It is the one time I wish I was Scottish. When I listen to the rest of the album, I'm glad I'm not.

Number 115 - It Must Have Been Love by Roxette

The only full length live version I can find is my own tape recording of a Wembley concert by Roxette, transmitted on BBC radio. I have had the tape for years, and I must get someone to put it on to CD. It is somewhat spoilt by the lazy audience participation for the chorus they are expected to sing, but it gives it a spontaneous quality not found on normal released albums. I did buy Roxette's "Tourism", but this track has only a short live intro before reverting to an acoustic studio version. The song itself, written by Per Gessle and sung by Marie Fredriksson, is a run of the mill power ballad. But somehow I regularly dig out the tape to play.

Kate and Isabel Hoyland

2011-10-19T01:57:00.000-07:00

Kate and Isabel Hoyland were born in Sheffield in 1869 and 1872. Their parents were Charles Hoyland (see "Three Generations of Brush Manufacturers" posted on 23/2/2009) and Hannah Selina ne Wynne. They had one brother, Charles Haywood Hoyland (my great grandfather) and one sister Hannah (see "Hannah Mayor" posted on 10/8/2009). Kate and Isabel never married and were able to live comfortably from the proceeds of their father's business. They were still living with their parents when they were in their twenties, according to the 1901 census. This was at Norwood House in Dore outside Sheffield.

After their father died in 1905, Kate moved to Surrey and at the 1911 census was living at Burghley Road in Wimbledon. She had visitors there on the day of the census including Hoyland nephews Charles (17) and Stanley (5) and niece Louise (16). Amazingly, Isabel was then living on Busheywood Road in Dore. Was this the same house that Mum and Dad moved to with John and I sometime around 1947/8? I guess it was soon after 1911 that Isabel left Sheffield to join Kate in Surrey. When we moved to London in the 1950's, we were told they were living in Esher. It was during our time in London that we used to meet our great great aunts when they treated John and I (with parents in tow) at Christmas to tea and a show in the West End. I can remember a production of Toad of Toad Hall, and possibly A Midsummer Night's Dream. At this time the sisters were in their eighties and still going strong. It seems that they both died in 1960. Kate had reached the ripe old age of 90 and Isabel was not far behind.

The Homecoming

2011-10-17T02:06:00.000-07:00

I haven't seen as many plays by Harold Pinter as I would have liked. "The Caretaker", "Old Times" (twice - you would not think it was the same play), "The Dumb Waiter" and the totally brilliant "No Man's Land", and that is all. So when a new production comes on, I make sure I book tickets early. It was just not possible to get into London to see "Betrayal", but "The Homecoming" by the RSC at Stratford was too good to miss.

This is not an easy play to watch, especially if you know nothing of the plot. Even the critics argue about what it all means. It is a dark family drama inhabited by unpleasant characters, who are mostly unpleasant to each other (just like "Eastenders"), so fun it is not. Pinter never revealed the meaning of any of his plays, so it is up to the director, and the audience, to come up with their own interpretation. You cannot take anything anyone says for granted, you have to make your own mind up what is true and what is a lie.

The director, David Farr, has brought in Justin Salinger for his RSC debut as Teddy, and very good he is too. They worked together at the Lyric Theatre's 50th anniversary production of Pinter's "The Birthday Party". Apparently the author left Justin a phone message to say that his performance had changed his view of the play, and Justin has never erased the message. All the cast are terrific, and it is the acting that makes it such a wonderful performance. Nicholas Woodeson shines as the bad tempered father Max, he reminded me a little of Bob Hoskins. Jonathon Slinger and Aislin McGuckin (who played Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in the play I saw a few weeks ago) were much better in this. David Farr has produced something special, if I had one small concern it was the pauses that litter a Pinter play. There were very few. But that may have made it better.

131 Songs - Numbers 111, 112 and 113

2011-10-17T02:04:00.000-07:00

Number 111 - The Scientist by Coldplay

One of the few modern male bands that I like. In fact, I will have to see them live sometime. The magic thing about this brilliant song is the way the instrumental builds through the piece. It starts with a quiet organ before being joined by acoustic guitar and piano, and later electric guitar and drums. It is when the guitar crashes into the final instrumental that it really gets me every time. I love their breakthrough album "A Rush of Blood to the Head" from which this track is taken, but "X&Y" that features "Fix You" is even better. I have to say that Chris Martin has always been very generous the way all the songwriting credits go to the whole band. How often can we say that about others.

Number 112 - Bohemian Like You by The Dandy Warhols

I have no idea who The Dandy Warhols are, but I have always loved this song.

Number 113 - When the Stars go Blue by Ryan Adams

I will look for recommendations of songs in many places: the radio, amazon, newspapers and magazines. But I have my son Michael to thank for finding Ryan Adams. I started of with his album "Gold" as I guess many newcomers would. It may be his classic album, and certainly my chosen song is here, along with other great tracks. But the other three albums of his in my collection are also very good, all in different ways. "Cardinology", the last of these, is fresh and exhilarating. And I am really looking forward to hearing his latest, and very well received, album "Ashes and Fire". On my Christmas list?

Jane Eyre, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Drive

2011-10-05T05:46:00.000-07:00

The common dominator of these three wildy different but highly worthy movies is that they all take their time. There are slow, sometimes silent, moody passages where the director wants to create atmosphere. I have to say that there is the odd occasion when you want to yell "just get on with it", but by and large they work OK.

My main reason for wanting to see "Jane Eyre" is that earlier this year I went to see a play in Oxford called "Bronte" (see posting 6th April). It was about the three sisters and one brother and whose house on the moors was echoed in Charlotte's book. It was interesting to see some of her experiences used for the story. There have been many films and TV productions of "Jane Eyre" but somehow I must have missed anything recent, so it all felt pretty new. The two leads made the film. Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender are excellent. They are well supported by Judy Dench and particularly Jamie Bell as St John Rivers. The script is fine but the direction of Cary Fukunada is nothing special. Haddon Hall is the wonderful setting for Thornfield House, the third time it has been used for a "Jane Eyre" production. The costumes are what you would expect from a superior British period piece, and the music is also terrific. In the hands of another director, this could have been a superb movie.

Another film based on a well loved book. John Le Carre is my favourite author (although I do prefer is later work), and the seven episode 1979 TV series of "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" with Alec Guiness as George Smiley is a masterpiece. So how did it work, condensing the story into a two hour movie? Well Connie Sachs, played by Kathy Burke, has, I think, one scene? She is such an integral part of the book, it did leave me a little flat, and that was my overall impression. That is not to say it was disappointing. The casting was about the best you can get. Gary Oldman is spot on for Smiley as is the rest of the cast. The most impressive character for me was Mark Strong as Jim Prideaux. He was absolutely brilliant. The direction of Tomas Alfredson (the man responsible for the superb "Let The Right One In") really captured the atmosphere of post war England and the shabby world of espionage with all it's lies and devious plotting. Worth seeing.

As I watched the first half of "Drive", I wondered why it had an 18 certificate. There was nothing to trouble the censor there. But then the violence all kicks off, and pretty graphic it is too. Ryan Gosling plays the driver without any other name. He is monosyllabic and has no social skills. He is very good at one thing and that is cars, whether behind the wheel or under the bonnet. At night he moonlights as a getaway driver, and the opening sequence is absolutely fabulous. In the day he does odd stints as a driver in movies. He makes contact with a lonely mother ( Carey Mulligan) and her son who are neighbours on the same floor of their apartment building. They start what seems a platonic relationship, he husband is in jail, and it seems that for the first time in his life, the driver has found something more than cars. It is only when the husband returns that things start to go wrong. So we have what is an interesting story, but the uncommunicative nature of our hero does nothing to ease the sense of melancholia. That is until a bungled robbery results in the bloodthirsty second half, full of tension and drama. Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan are both very good. The direction of Nicolas Winding Refn is amazing. The car chases are few, but they are so well done. His photography of Los Angeles is wonderful and the pace of the film is just right. And the visual flair is there for all to see. Just be careful if you don't like violence.

The Betrayal, Sister and A Visit from the Goon Squad

2011-09-30T04:11:00.000-07:00

The last three books I read were all excellent. The first was The Betrayal by Helen Dunmore that was long listed for the Man Booker prize, and should at least have made the shortlist. It is set in 1952 in Leningrad, where the siege during the war still haunts the city. But Moscow is oblivious to what the powers that be see as an embarrassment. Stalin's harsh regime holds sway and it's effects are told in the story of Andrei and Anna. A young hospital doctor and his wife, a nursery schoolteacher, are caught up accidentally with a high powered security chief and his ill son. The story is gripping and the writing is powerful and bewitching. The writer has published eleven novels including A Spell of Winter that won the Orange Prize, and in this latest book she is on top of her game. It is a sequel to the critically well received The Siege which I now wish I had read first.

Crime fiction is not usually my thing, but Rosamund Lupton's Sister is a classy piece of literature. The story is told by Beatrice who returns from New York as her sister is missing. Has she taken her own life as the police believe, or was she murdered. Beatrice thinks so but is in a minority of one. Her quest to find the truth becomes one of increasing danger, with the biggest twist at the end of any book I have read for years. This was one book I found very hard to put down.

The three books have all been by women writers and have all been terrific. But the last stands head and shoulders above the others. It is the best book I have read for a long time. I wasn't put off by the title. A Visit from the Goon Squad must be a reference to time (as in "time is a gooner") and it is time that plays a big part in the book. Each chapter tells a story from the point of view of a different character. They all connect in some way, and at times it is at first hard to know how. But the author does not keep you guessing for long, and the smallest clue will give you all the information you need. The main thread of the book is the music industry (which was what interested me in the first place), so we have Bennie, a producer, Sasha his assistant, someone in PR, a journalist and other family or friends. And each chapter can take place at a different time, even in the future. It sounds like a highly complex novel but somehow it works really well. The writing is excellent and no wonder it won the 2011 Pulitzer Prize For Fiction. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

One Man, Two Guvnors

2011-09-29T04:57:00.000-07:00

I am still reeling from last night's performance of One Man, Two Guvnors at The Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury. This National Theatre production, superbly directed by the genius who is Nicholas Hytner and starring James Corden, is bar far the funniest thing I have ever seen on stage. In fact I had to concentrate on not laughing because my head hurt from a succession of hilarious turns. This is a highly original presentation based on an Italian farce, but imbued with the comic stupidity and coarseness that is British humour.

It all starts with a skiffle group (James Corden's character it turns out has been sacked from one such band) on stage, playing original material by Grant Olding, for ten minutes as the audience take their seats. I say skiffle, because the percussionist plays a washboard (not even as well as I could in the old days), but an electric guitar was never skiffle, and where was the banjo? Apart from that, they were really very good. Music plays a big part in the play. On occasions, between scenes, the curtain is drawn and the band come back on, and later are replaced by members of the cast who at various times perform a turn. James Corden on xylophone and the two black members of the cast with their calypso are highlights. As I say, highly original.

The play itself is part farce, part stand up (James again), part audience participation. And given the complications of the plot, you would think it very strange. But in some miraculous way, it works superbly. James Corden, who I never really liked before, turns out to be a fantastic comedy actor and stand up comedian as the bumbling minder Francis Henshall. His interaction with the audience had me in fits of laughter, in fact I cannot remember the last time I laughed so much. The last half hour of the long one hour forty minutes first half, is non stop laughing. The whole of the cast are larger than life and ham it up splendidly. I especially liked Oliver Chris as the ex public school twit Stanley Stubbers who also happens to be a murderer. And somehow newcomer Tom Edden is brilliant as the 87 year old decrepit and abused waiter Alfie, the male equivalent of Mrs Overall from Acorn Antiques.

The final plaudits must go to Richard Bean for his adaptation of Carlo Goldoni's The Servant of Two Masters. Thank goodness that this is a theatre going experience that will tour for years and years, so all the people who will hear about it can see it for themselves, and I can go again.

Another Holiday in Cornwall

2011-09-26T11:20:00.000-07:00

This was the tenth year in succession that we have had a weeks holiday in Cornwall. Every year we stay at Port Quin, previously at Doyden, but for the last two years at a cottage called Lacombe (that can be found on the National Trust cottages website) near the tiny harbour. It is the white building on the far left, and was used in the TV series "Poldark". We arrived on Thursday to wonderful weather and the photo above is taken as we had time for a walk along the cliffs towards Port Isaac.

The next day was equally fine and we took the walk we usually do along the coastal path to Pentire Point. Here are great views of Polzeath, and a good place to eat our lunch.

The tide was coming back in as we reached Lundy Bay on our return, so we could not venture too far along the beach. We were out for over five hours, so pretty tired when we arrived back at the cottage.

However, it was such a lovely late afternoon, we drove the short way to Port Isaac for a slow stroll around the harbour.

The next day was pretty windy with showers and the sea kayaking we had planned was cancelled. Alison had a run whilst I drove to Polzeath to look at the waves and buy a newspaper. So it was good to have a rest after the previous day's long walk. We headed into Wadebridge for lunch but some heavy showers persuaded us back to the cottage for the afternoon.

The next day was even windier but sunny, and we made our way to Padstow. We had a great walk up to the monument and along the cliffs where we had a superb view of the windsurfers making use of the conditions. The walk back along the beach was equally spectacular. Lunch of sausage and chips at The Quayside cafe and a stroll around the shops.

The forecast for Monday was not very promising, and as we headed towards Helston on the day we explore somewhere new, the rain was unrelenting. We were very quiet in the car. However as we arrived at the town, the rain had stopped. Nothing much to see in Helston, so after a cafe stop for tea and cherry cake, we headed to the National Seal Sanctuary at Gweek that was not far away. When we arrived it wasn't long before the sun came out and a beautiful day began. We were amazed just how many seals were there, all having been rescued because of injury or abandonment. Last year 49 pups had been rescued, looked after and released back into the wild. On our visit we saw a week old abandoned pup called Murray in their hospital.

The older seals (Common, Fur and Gray Seals) are in separate spacious tanks and are amazing. There are also penguins, otters and sea lions. Alison helped to feed them.

We were there over three hours, it is such a wonderful place in a magnificent setting by the estuary. It was now such a nice day that we headed down the Lizard Peninsula to have a look at Kynance Cove, again somewhere new for us, and very impressive it is too.

The National Trust look after the area with car parks and a tearoom where we were just in time to have a cup of tea sitting at a table overlooking the bay. Quite incredible.

It was raining when we woke the next day, and it didn't stop until we went to bed that night. It was only light in the morning so we took the short drive to Polzeath for a superb session of bodyboarding. The waves had never been better. After a shower and change back at the cottage, it was time for lunch at our usual cafe in Wadebridge. The rain became heavier in the afternoon, but we did not have long to rest before we were off to have dinner at Fifteen at Watergate Bay. A table by the window overlooking the beach meant that we had great views of the crashing waves. The meal was fabulous, the best ever tasting menu.

The following morning was sunny, but still slightly cool as it had been all week, so we still went on our planned visit to The Lost Gardens of Heligan. We never tire of going there, and the tea room is splendid.

On our last day we usually head straight home after packing the car. But Thursday looked to be such a nice day we decided to make up for the day we missed where Alison runs from the cottage to Rock and takes the ferry to Padstow. I have driven there and hired a bike to cycle down the Camel Trail to Wadebridge and back.

We then meet at the car park, I have most of the fish and chips at The Quayside cafe, and then we walk up to the monument (again), some last bits of shopping before heading home. Once again a thoroughly enjoyable week.

Family History Website

2011-09-26T04:02:00.000-07:00

In the end it was pretty straightforward. My brilliant family history software (Family Historian 4) has a special programme to save all my data to a folder especially for a website. It also had instructions (not very clear) about how to download an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) and suggestions on recommended free web space. The FTP is Filezilla, and what an excellent piece of kit it turned out to be. But first I had to set up my webspace on RootsWeb freepages which is part of Ancestry. The link is http://freepages.family.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~davidbbroberts.

So I was all set to go, and the transfer went really well. After a couple of days I could access my web space but I was very disappointed that it was not searchable. I tried for days searching for individuals but to no avail and I went off on holiday wondering what I could do next.

I need not have worried. As soon as I was back home, my first search on Google ( and every other search since) brings up any family member who has at least two Christian names with the link to my web space. That is just fantastic. All the individuals are on my father's side of the family. My next project will be to do the same for mother's ancestors.

I have also created some web space on Google Sites where I am starting to place some family history documents. The link is https://sites.google.com/site/dbbrobertsfamilyhistory. The two sites work so well together.

Final Destination 5, The Skin I Live In and One Day

2011-09-13T03:25:00.000-07:00

At last we come to the end of the summer movies which are either fantasy, superhero or gross out comedy. "Final Destination 5" fits none of these categories, but is still aimed at the end of the holidaying teens. It is basically the same old story, but the filming in 3D works spectacularly well on occasion. The set piece bridge disaster is a revelation, and quite the best use of 3D I have seen to date. Otherwise a diverting but unmemorable movie.

Amazing that the best film I have seen this year happens to be a subtitled Spanish melodrama. None of the critics use this description for "The Skin I Live In", preferring physcological thriller or a soap opera horror. "The exageration of plot and character to appeal to the emotion" as melodrama is defined, suits this brilliant movie, although certainly it mixes all the other ingredients to make one superb pot. The credit all goes to the director Pedro Almodovar. He also co-writes the screenplay loosely based on a French novella. One lasting impression is how suptuous the film looks. The lighting of the gorgeous sets produces something special on the big screen, the costumes, sound and music are all excellent. There are jumps in time that are well done and go to give us the one huge twist well before the awesome ending. Antonio Banderous is great as the barmy but brilliant surgeon and the rest of a fairly small cast are equally good. It will take something special to beat this to the best foreign movie oscar.

Having read the book of "One Day", I was nervous as to how such a rich study of two peoples' relationship over sixteen years would translate to the big screen. The first half hour proved my fears were well founded. After skipping a few years after the predictable opening, I felt it hardly captured the feel of the platonic friendship. It did not help that the longer scenes were quite boring as they included too much of Emma's "boyfriend" Ian and Dexter's decline into booze and drugs. And Ann Hathaway's occasional attempt at a Yorkshire accent was quite offputting. Apart from that, she is very good, as is Jim Sturgess as Dexter. After seeing him in "Heartless" and on the trailers, I thought he was no way the right actor for the role. But he grew into the part really well. Things pick up halfway through. Dexter's downfall, and becoming nicer as a result, is well complemented by Emma's maturing character. Why the wedding they attend had to be situated in central London rather than Somerset I dont know, but their scene together sets up a much better final third. The last few scenes are brilliant. The director follows the device in the book to bring in the second half of Chapter One set in 1988 at the end. And it makes far more impact in the movie, as time jumping sometimes does. So I left with a warm feeling, something I had not expected early on.

131 Songs - Numbers 105, 106, 107, 108, 109 and 110

2011-09-13T03:23:00.000-07:00

Number 105 - Solo by Sandy Denny

The only British singer on this section of some of my favourite female songwriters who combine folk, country and modern popular music to give each their distinctive style. Sandy Denny joined Fairport Convention in 1968 and recorded three albums with them, including their most successful "Liege and Lief". She left the band soon after to pursue a solo career and concentrate on writing her own songs. In fact, her most famous composition "Who Knows where the Time Goes" (my second favourite of her songs) was first recorded with The Strawbs in 1967. Sandy recorded four solo studio albums before her death in 1978, however the live album "Gold Dust" from the end of 1977 is truly superb. It is from this CD that I have chosen "Solo" which originally opened her third solo album "Like An Old Fashioned Walz".

Number 106 - Learning How To Live by Lucinda Williams

Everything I wanted to say about this song is on my posting of 16th March 2007 (where have the last four years gone). It is the third track on the album "West" which I believe is even better than "Car Wheels On A Gravel Road". From this earlier CD, I almost chose "Cant Let Go" for one of my favourite cover versions. But I will stick with one her own songs for this list.

Number 107 - I Take My Chances by Mary Chapin Carpenter

My huge collection of Mary Chapin Carpenter CD's are hardly played these days, just on the "country" side of country for my taste these days. But rummaging through them, I knew it was about time to give them another play, and mostly I was not disappointed. In particular, the first album of hers that I bought ("Come On Come On") still stands as her best ever. It even has a track called "Passionate Kisses" penned by ... Lucinda Williams. And from this album also comes my chosen track. Like many of her recordings, it is distinctly jolly. And there are just not enough of those songs around these days.

Number 108 - Shawn Colvin - Get Out Of This House

I have to admit that I only own a greatest hits album of Shawn Colvin. She has , though, a big link with the previous artist, Mary Chapin Carpenter. She actually wrote the title track of "Come On Come On" as well as other songs she gave to her. And Mary returned the favour. I have ignored perhaps her most well known song "Sunny Came Home" from her breakthrough album "A Few Small Repairs" and instead gone for "Get Out Of This House". Just one terrific song.

Number 109 - Wall In Your Heart by Shelby Lynne

The three albums in my collection from Shelby Lynne are probably her most popular. "I Am Shelby Lynne" released in 1999 won her a Grammy Award for best new artist. And "Identity Crisis" is her stripped down and most personal set where she plays all the guitar parts and produced the recording herself. But I first heard her on the radio with the track "Killin' Kind" from the even better follow up album "Love, Shelby". This is one great series of country soul songs. "Wall In Your Heart" is co written by the prolific producer Glen Ballard who also produced the album. A fabulous combination.

Number 110 - You Do by Aimee Mann

The last in this section of American crossover singer songwriters is one class act. "You Do" is from my favourite album of hers "Bachelor No 2 or, the last remains of the dodo" from 2000, although "Lost in Space" from 2002 runs it close. It is from that year that Aimee appears on "The West Wing" episode called "College Kids" where she sings the James Taylor song "Shed a Little Light" at the "Rock the Vote" concert. It was only last week that we caught up with this particular episode, and never having seen Aimee perform before, that was just a knockout. And what a way to end this group of favourites.

Book Club - What Was Lost and Great House

2011-09-06T04:22:00.000-07:00

The only problem with "What Was Lost" is that it was over too quickly. Catherine O'Flynn's debut novel is so very enjoyable. From the first page where the "bus driver was keeping the bus at a steady 15mph, braking at every green light until it turned red", her storytelling is quite magical. I was led to believe that the central character was Kate, a ten year old part time sleuth, who keeps watch at a new Birmingham shopping mall in 1984. Not always the most diligent detective "useful drill though, he caught us sleeping" and her still childlike tendency to keep swivelling her office chair on the lino "tried to keep a tight rein on this habit", O'Flynn captures her personality right on the button. Although a sense of impending danger is inescapable.

But by page 68, we have travelled forward to 2003 and Kate is no longer around. Instead we follow Lisa, the assistant manager of a record store, and Kurt a security guard as they go about their dreary working lives in the revamped Greenoaks shopping centre. These are two wonderful characters, especially Lisa whose brother Adrian we met in 1984. Lisa deals with with one stupid shop assistant in such a mature way that you can only wonder at her maturity.

But the star of this mystery story is Greenoaks itself. Built on industrial wasteland that Adrian had made his playground, the author portrays a wonderful atmosphere that is down to both the workers and customers of the complex. She writes with a style that is funny, witty and unpretentious. Just very readable and a great mystery story, what more could you ask.

If only Nicole Krauss had learnt the skill of brevity. Her complex and literate book "Great House" is possibly the most tangled and confusing novel I have read for a long time. I liked the idea of the story being told by four separate characters (well five actually, but that is what I mean) at different times and in different places and this is challenging enough without being so oblique. We eventually find out who the narrators are talking to, except for the fourth. Is Isabel just talking to us? And I like a book with jumps in time and place, but it needs to be consistent and sometimes we wonder where we are. Especially if you read it over a couple of weeks. So put all these together and you have a really challenging book. It is certainly not without merit, and there are many passages that will stay with me. The writing is sophisticated, compulsive and at times very instructive.

To illustrate my concerns, I have to refer to a letter written by Lea to Isabel in the last of the four sections that make up Part One. This is a most valuable piece of information about this particular story, but in my view should have waited until the end of the book which is when it was written. It almost gives too much away. And then by the time you read Part Two, you have forgotten what it said. The link between the four stories is a huge old desk that belonged to the father of one of the main characters before it was stolen, along with all his furniture, in 1944. Although it never appears in the second story which seems like it it is from another book. There are passages where our narrators recall memories, but these are sometimes too long, boring and detract from the narrative. It seems like the book is really a memoir or a confession. But just as you become frustrated, there appears a gripping passage.

Ultimately I felt a little let down that what could have been a superb novel ended up being too clever for it's own good. It was complicated enough without trying to be even more obscure. I will try to read it again, this time not having to unravel what is going on, and missing out "True Kindness". The explanation of this part's title not for the faint hearted. One reviewer said it was like a pack of cards that the author had dropped and picked up in the wrong order. I just think she left some on the floor.

Waterperry

2011-09-06T02:21:00.000-07:00

It was such a beautiful day on Friday, perhaps the last in the mid twenties of the summer, that we made a visit to Waterperry, something we had been planning all summer and never quite getting there. We had not been for a couple of years, so it was probably our last chance.

The gardens looked spectacular in the late summer sunshine. It was actually quite nice to find a bench in some shade.

We ended our visit with tea and cake at the cafe, and luckily found a table outside under a tree.

Postings on my family history

2011-09-05T06:20:00.000-07:00

I thought it might be a good idea to list all those articles I have posted on the Roberts family history. Here they are:

2/7/2008     Jacob Roberts

27/8/2008   Three Generations of Cutlers

1/12/2008   The 1937 Family Tree - Charles Augustus Roberts

27/1/2009    Louisa Maria Brooks

23/2/2009    Three Generations of Brush Manufacturers

24/3/2009     Eric S Roberts

22/6/2009     A Visit to Sheffield

10/8/2009     Hannah Mayor

11/8/2009     Edith Wynne Mathison

14/8/2009     Vincent Littlewood Roberts MA MD

25/8/2009     The Shearwood Sisters

25/1/2010     Roberts Family Tree

1/2/2010       Derek Finch Roberts

3/2/2010       Charles Hoyland and Hannah Selina Wynne

3/2/2010       William James Gibson Boyd and Ellen Cundy

11/7/2010     William Boyd of Berwickshire and Hull

16/8/2010     George Boyd of Stichill

17/11/2010    John Shearwood Roberts

22/11/2010    Newfield Hall (residence of JSR)

19/10/2011    Kate and Isabel Hoyland

Macbeth at The Royal Shakespeare Theatre

2011-08-25T05:56:00.000-07:00

This was my first visit to the newly reopened Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford. I do like the new auditorium, so like the temporary Courtyard Theatre, but much more glamorous. First of all I have to say that Jonathon Slinger is not an obvious choice for the lead role. He seemed more suited to roles like Peter the Pardoner in "A Knight's Tale". And I cannot wait to see him in Pinter's "The Homecoming". But he is a mighty fine actor, having played a number of leading roles for the RSC. And he makes a vivid interpretation of Macbeth's descent into madness. Although I preferred Aislin McGuckin as a rampant Lady Macbeth.

Michael Boyd is a great director, but somehow I left the play feeling a little uneasy. The first half was brilliant. And the introduction to the second half, which repeats the closing scene of the first with one huge difference, is inspired. But from there on it fell just a little flat. Maybe it could just not keep up with what went before.

The new stage is fabulous. The ceiling is cavernous and things descend with great theatricality. Apparently there is seven metres depth under the stage, and this also has a part to play. The lighting (except for the number of low slung awful fluorescent tubes that are used far too much)and acoustics are top notch. The money has been well spent.

SPOILER ALERT

I found the use of children in place of the three witches a step too far from the original text. No cauldron in site, but a hugely dramatic entrance for the children as they descend from a huge height, motionless on meathooks. But why play Seyton as the Porter??? What should be one of the the funniest scenes in the whole of Shakespeare as the Porter, as he appears drunk. I suddenly remembered a production of Macbeth at the Nottingham Playhouse some forty years ago, when Barry Rutter was absolutely hilarious as the Porter. It is still a vivid memory. But in this production, Seyton appears as a suicide bomber, added to which he even has an Irish accent. I found this tasteless in the extreme. I'm all for pushing boundaries in Shakespeare, but this was just not funny. The opposite of what the scene is all about.

The Royal Shakespeare Theatre transformed

2011-08-25T05:15:00.000-07:00

My visit to Stratford last night to see Macbeth was the first since the Royal Shakespeare Theatre had been transformed. And very impressive it is. I was amazed how well the bits that had been retained from the old theatre work with the brand new cutting edge architecture. The following photos show some example of this. The new glazed main entrance links the wall of the old entrances with the brand new Tower. Above the the doors on the left of the new main entrance, the old stone "Balcony" signs have been retained.

The exterior wall of the old entrance and public areas now opens out to the new ground floor bar and cafe areas. The refurbished windows on the right of the photo below are those to the massively improved, and now beautiful staircase to the circle and upper circle.

It is only the outside wall that has been retained, the inside face of which is still visible from the cafe. Note the line of the old staircase. A projected slide show plays on the wall. I think that the scruffy remnants of the old wall with the perfect new balcony above somehow works incredibly well. This must have been a brave decision that to me pays off brilliantly.

From the top of the Tower, the old brick flytower remains alongside a sparkling new metal roof to the auditorium.

The link to the Swan Theatre brings together a complete complex of theatres, backstage areas and public spaces. The tower of The Swan compliments the flytower of the main theatre, and the new grey metal roofs match that above The Swan auditorium.

All in all, this is now, in my opinion, the most wonderful theatre I have ever been to. I don't think it would have been the same if, as was suggested at the time, the whole of the old theatre had been demolished. The essence of the original is still there. Even inside, the ground floor bar feels like the old entrance. And the old brickwork that made the proscenium arch is still there. When someone decides to use the old teak floor from the stage of the 1932 theatre and puts it in the new foyer, that is class.

131 Songs - Numbers 103 and 104

2011-08-25T03:04:00.000-07:00

Number 103 - bones and a name by Nina Gordon

Not my favourite Nina Gordon track, although it is still good to listen to all her songs. But what makes this recording is the drum roll towards the end. There is a quiet section in the middle when the drumming starts, getting louder as it crashes at the end of the sequence. The drumming in Chuck Berry's "Peggy Sue" (see song number 7 on my list) used to be my favourite, but this beat from Joey Waronker tops the lot.

Number 104 - the times comes by Nina Gordon

This track follows the one above on her album "bleeding heart graffiti", (the lack of capitals is all Nina) and this is the only time two consecutive songs make my list. For me, this is her stand out track, as I mentioned in my posting of 1st September 2009. Two years have gone by, and I haven't changed my mind.

Captain America, Super 8 and Rise of The Planet of the Apes

2011-08-25T02:48:00.000-07:00

Three typical summer blockbusters started with "Captain America", a superhero movie I would normally avoid. But what intrigued me most was that the story was set in 1941, and it was the sets that made the movie for me. Especially those for New York which were actually filmed in Manchester and Liverpool. There was quite a decent plot as to how Steve Rogers, hardly adequately played by Chris Evans, becomes Captain America, but as usual, the climatic action scenes are the same boring stuff.

I had been looking forward to "Super 8", and I have to say that, apart from the ending (again) it was a pretty good movie. Small town America in 1979 harks back to early movies of Steven Spielberg, children, bikes and all. Even Jurassic Park is referenced late on. JJ Abrams knows how to make a dramatically exciting film, and the cast of unknown youngsters do not let him down. The exterior set of the town is excellent and used to full effect. Enjoyable and fun.

What can they do with digtal FX technology these days. "The Rise of The Planet of the Apes" portrays the apes in an extraordinary way, so much so that we really empathise with their plight. There is always a feeling that the story behind their gaining of intelligence is somewhat contrived, but if you put that out of your mind, this is a well constructed movie that is entertaining and sleek. The production values are high, and Robert Wyatt's direction moves the story on nicely. Although nice is not a word that describes some of the human characters. Even lead James Franco must take a fair share of the blame.

Quainton Hill Walk

2011-08-23T04:00:00.000-07:00

Monday was a beautiful sunny day, and the final test match against India was petering out to a draw, so I drove to the village of Quainton to start a brand new walk. I had always been interested to see the hills to the north east of Aylesbury that are visible from the Chiltern escarpment.
I downloaded a couple of routes from the web that both started from Quainton. I parked as suggested by the village green, not far from the ancient cross and the famous windmill.

The route took me through the village and very pretty it was, ending up at the impressive church.

I followed the path out of the village and up Quainton Hill. At the top there is a mast which signifies the highest point.

I had in fact missed the actual footpath so instead of following the instructed route, I headed off in the direction of North Marston. The rolling green pastures reminded me of downland, and their open nature gave some great views across to the Chiltern ridge.

There were also great views across the valley to Waddesdon.

The only problem in losing the route, was that I came back the same way.

"Circle Us"

2011-08-23T01:31:00.000-07:00

I cant believe we are already half way through Series 5 of "Dexter", or that I am still watching it. Episode 7 (that introduces Johnny Lee Miller as the new villain Jordan Chase) was a classic. Credit must go to writer Scott Buck, especially the closing words from Dexter's thoughts about Lumen ("what kind of ..... name is that" says the awful Stan Liddy) played by Julia Stiles.

"Sometimes partners find us, and as much as we try to push them away, they work their way into our lives regardless - until we finally realise how much we need them".

As long as the writing keeps to this standard I will keep watching.

A Wobble Cured

2011-08-20T08:07:00.000-07:00

My bike, now over twenty years old, developed an ever increasing and disturbing wobble at the front, particularly freewheeling downhill. The net was not very helpful, as it seemed there could be many causes of the "the death wobble". It was Alison's brother who correctly (as it turned out) diagnosed a tyre problem. Well I had had mine from when the bike was new, and the rear certainly looked frayed.

I finally telephoned Buckingham Bikes in Aylesbury and booked it in for Thursday last week. What I had not counted on, given that I would ride the bike to the centre of Aylesbury, was the rain forecast for that day. Fortunately, it was only spots of rain that I encountered having set off at 8.30am. However, the bike shop didn't open until 10am that day, so there was time for coffee and cake in M&S.

I was assured by the assistant that the tyres would be the problem, and I agreed for them to put on new ones. So it was off to the bus station to catch the Number 50 back to Weston Turville, the first time I used the bus from Aylesbury, and the first time to use my bus pass. Only a twenty minute journey, and a ten minute walk and I was back home watching the rain belt down.

A phone call from Buckingham Bikes that early evening to tell me it was ready to collect, so the next morning it was back to the bus stop. The bus was late, but I had a nice chat with the three other villagers waiting there. It was a beautiful sunny day and I arrived in town to pick up the bike, still unsure whether changing tyres had cured the wobble. I was told that the rear tyre was bulging where it was splitting (fortunate I suppose that it did not collapse on my way in the previous morning) and that was the cause. They were right. After a minor detour to take the bike back to have the handlebar readjusted as I had no front brakes, I rode home in the sunshine.

The tyres they had recommended were a road tyre for MTB's which would be fine for trails, canal paths etc. The Schwalbe City Jet (yes, it is considerably faster than the knobbly tyres of a mountain bike) has 55 positive reviews on one website and 17 on Amazon. So I am very pleased with the result. And very interesting journeys to and from Aylesbury over the two days.

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, Our Kind of Traitor and The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet

2011-08-16T03:00:00.000-07:00

One of only a couple of John Le Carre novels not in my collection was his third and breakthrough book of 1963 "The Spy Who Came in from the Cold". I had read it all those years ago, so I thought it was about time I had another look. It is a really good read, but being steeped as it is in post war communist Europe, a far cry from the present day, it is all about an era where the British Secret Service were immersed in a battle with their enemies in East Germany. So it is a little dated. Unlike his earlier second novel "A Murder of Quality" that is not, and which I preferred. "The Spy..." has a terrific plot and occasionally verges on nerve wracking excitement, unusual in any book in my experience. But again, I prefer character, and whilst Leamas, around whom the story is told, is a wonderful creation, ultimately plot wins through.

I actually read another couple of books before I started the latest from Le Carre. "Our Kind of Traitor" had received great reviews ("return of the master" was the headline in The Times), so I was really looking forward to reading it. So it was a little disappointing that we were back heavily to the secret service after the last few books had them on the periphery. The first third is absolutely brilliant, set as it is in Antigua as our two young lovers meet an awesome Russian and his incredible family. But too soon MI6 are involved. It is, however, a powerful story and the tension builds to a great climax. This time we do have a wealth of superb characters, good and bad. The Times review says that the author writes in "a sort of pluperfect (past perfect in English) conditional third person". Not sure about that, but he certainly writes in the third person, but from the pint of view of a number of characters. It is a masterly way of writing.

Why did I pick a huge book (546 pages) about Dejima, a man made island off the coast of Japan, set in the eighteenth century? Well it did have great reviews, and I had not read anything by the acclaimed author David Mitchell. And it seemed different from my usual fiction. And it certainly was. I found the writing turgid with very little story. The first part is far too full of facts about the structure and inhabitants of the mainly Dutch trading outpost. And there is no story, until a quarter way through it picks up dramatically, only for one third through on page 198, the main character, the Jacob of the title, DISAPPEARS. For the whole of the middle section, we are transported to the mainland for a completely different story. That is when I gave up. Whipping through the book, we are suddenly on board an English naval frigate. Eventually on page 426 Jacob reappears, and the final section is a gripping finale. So if the novel had been half the length it was, I might have been a lot more positive about my opinion. As it is I shall not be reading anything else by this writer.

A Day at Whipsnade Zoo

2011-08-16T02:03:00.000-07:00

Alison's sister Anne and her daughter Emily came to visit for a couple of days last week. The main thing they wanted to do while they stayed with us, was a visit to Whipsnade Zoo. So despite the threat of early showers last Thursday, we had heard that it would brighten in the afternoon. We did pay the extra charge to take the car in, rather than parking outside, and this proved to be a good decision.

We actually spent six hours in the park and saw just about all the animals. Highlights included watching the the bears being fed, the giraffes, cheetahs, meerkats, rhino and sealions close up, and the elephant demonstration. Dissapointments were the penguins (there were hardly any there) and the tigers who were asleep.

But the best of all was when we were walking towards the lion enclosure when ahead we saw the elephants out for their afteroon stroll and ahd stopped near some trees. We were able to get really close, with very few people around.

This was not far from the lions, and the presence of the elephants brought the wild cats out of their slumber.

The weather was as predicted. We dodged the showers, the heaviest of which we missed by having lunch in the car, and after 2pm we were treated to some nice sunshine. An excellent day.

Red Riding Hood, HP7 Part 2 and Arthur

2011-08-05T05:16:00.000-07:00

It's the holiday season, so I struggle to find a movie this time of year. "Red Riding Hood" was on Senior Screen (£3.50 on a Wednesday morning) so I gave it a go. It reminded me very much of 1960's Hammer Horrors, and about just as scary (i.e. not). There is always a village (this one was beautifully constructed), the inn, the dark forest and a damsel in distress. This time it's Amanda Seyfried and she is by far the best thing about the movie, apart from the set. These movies always dig up an old classical actor or two. This time it's Julie Christie and Gary Oldman who try hard with a script that was doomed to fail. Catherine Hardwicke does her best directing what could have been a good story, but fails miserably with the rest of the cast.

It was only a few months ago that I took Zoe to see "Harry Potter 7 Part 1", so for her birthday it was off to see the final film in the series. It turned out to be a reasonable action movie, although it did lack some of the "magic" of the earlier films that were firmly based at Hogworts. No lessons for our teenage trio this time, and very little for Hermione to demonstrate her superior brain power. But it did give the opportunity to reprise the cream of British acting talent, and even one notable new member. Kelly McDonald turns up as the ghost of Helena Ravenclaw. And it was good to see John Hurt's Olivander at the beginning. David Yates keeps the action on track, and the ending replicates the book. Thank goodness.

It was panned by the critics, but on another blank week, ("Beginners" was not even on during the day at Wycombe) "Arthur" was the best I could do, on Senior Screen again. So despite not being a fan of Russell Brand, I was pleasantly surprised. But then I was never a great fan of Dudley Moore in the original. If anything, Brand is less manic and certainly less slapstick. The strength of the movie is the screenplay. This is by the British writer Peter Baynham. He wrote "I'm Alan Partridge " for five years and the same silly, dry humour shines through. Maybe not to everyone's taste. The movie looks terrific and the costumes, lighting etc are all great. Stir in some more Brits, Helen Mirren and Geraldine James, and it cannot fail. Except that it does depend on the lead role. I would say that Russell Brand almost pulls it off, but then I cannot think of anyone who could have done it better.

All's Well That Ends Well at the Globe Theatre

2011-07-21T06:15:00.000-07:00

It had been nearly three months since I had been to the theatre ("The Knot of the Heart" at The Almeida) and I was beginning to have serious withdrawal symptoms. I had never seen "All's Well That Ends Well" so on Tuesday I took myself off to the Globe. Alison has given up on the theatre ever since enduring (her word) Ian McKellen's fascist "Richard III". But the seats at the Oxford New Theatre are really to blame.

My brilliant "Essential Shakespeare Handbook" calls it "one of Shakespeare's problem plays". It is rarely performed, although after this production, maybe that will change. It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening. The acting was generally first class and almost entirely clearly spoken. So us virgins (and the early instruction from James Garnon's wonderful Parolles on the subject is very funny) to the play can understand what is going on. It was Janie Dee's performance as the Countess of Roussillon that I really wanted to see, having enjoyed her roles in some of the Alan Ayckbourn comedies. I was not disappointed. Whenever she appeared, she dominated the stage. I have to congratulate director John Dove for bringing out the best from the text and the actors. The only downside for me was the slightly turgid plot involving the trick played on Parolles. But that apart, all I can say is "Bravo".

Just a note about the weather. Whilst we lucky ones in the seats were quite warm , given the forecast of a chilly evening, those in the pit had to cope with two hefty showers in the first half hour. Well done those in the cast who forsook the shelter of their canopy to show solidarity with that part of the audience who got wet.

Twenty Years in Watermill Way

2011-07-20T02:23:00.000-07:00

This month twenty years ago, we moved to our house in Watermill Way. This anniversary is quite special to me, as before now I had never in my life lived in the same house for more than six years. So you could call this home.
The first photo is from twenty years ago. Note the tiny tree in the front lawn. It grew to be huge and had to be cut down a good few years ago.

The House now has replacement windows, and a border with tall shrubs that now divides what was previously a shared lawn.

I had to start the back garden from scratch, not having touched it the first summer.

It has improved steadily over the years.

Another Day in Oxford

2011-07-16T04:30:00.000-07:00

I had been waiting for Alison to finish work for the summer so that we could both go on another day out to Oxford, but her latest contract just goes on and on. So on Tuesday,as the forecast was for a dry but cloudy day, I set off on my own. An early start as I wanted to make sure I obtained a ticket for a tour of the Bodleian Library. There are only four tours a day and numbers are limited to 13 for each tour. There was only one person waiting when I arrived just before 9am, and he seemed to take all the places for the two afternoon tours. But I bought mine for the one at 11.30am.

I had planned on looking round Oxford Castle, but as this didn't open until 10am, I had time to find it, then settle down for breakfast at Costa Coffee. Tea and a bacon roll went down very well. However, once at the castle, it seemed to be something Alison would enjoy, and might take more than the hour I had free. So instead I walked back and paid to go up Carfax Tower.

The 99 steps means that at the top there are good views over the city.

Back along Broad Street, I found a plaque on the wall of Balliol College which I had never seen before.

Thomas Cranmer was Archbishop of Canterbury during the reign of Edward VI, and so my study of the three years 1547 to 1549 meant he was always of huge interest to me. So to find the spot (the cross in the road) where he was burnt at the stake in 1556 was quite something.

I had not realised that the memorial on St Giles was also in tribute to the three martyrs.

It was time for the tour and had been directed through the main entrance of the Bodleian on Catte Street where I had bought my ticket.

We sat on benches on the ground floor of the library which was The Divinity School where the first examinations (all oral) were held. It is "a masterpiece of Gothic architecture" and the ceiling is famous for the 455 bosses.

Our tour guide told us a lot about the origins of the library before taking us into Convocation House, a meeting place for the university.

A short stop at Chancellor's Court, then up to the main library (Duke Humfrey's Library) on the first floor. Photography is not allowed, but I have to say it is very impressive. There is a clip on YouTube.

After the tour, I took the advice to visit the exhibition on the Making of the King James Bible. The guide does make reference to the First Prayer Book of Edward V1 (Thomas Cranmer's great work) which established English as the language of the liturgy. But it was not on display.

I had hoped to go in The Sheldonian Theatre that had been open to visitors in the morning, but it was now closed. Whilst I was passing Balliol College earlier, I noticed that it was open to the public. As I had not looked round this college before, (last time we went round Merton College) so I wandered back up Broad Street and paid my £2 entry. They even have a guide book, and that was a big help.

It was gone 1.30pm and the Ashmolean Museum was my last stop. Unfortunately their cafe was short on sandwiches, so it was the Costa Coffee at the top of Waterstones for lunch.

The main reason for wanting to visit the Ashmolean was to see the newly built museum that opened last year.

The inside is nothing like the old main entrance. It is an ultra modern building on five floors, a stunning piece of architecture.

On the top floor was an exhibition about ancient Greece, where there was a charge. It was worth it just to see how to exhibit in a modern space.

So that was my day. I caught the bus back to the park and ride at Thornhill and I was home just before 4pm. Exhausted but what a good day.

So for next time: Oxford Castle, The Sheldonian Theatre and Magdalen College. There is so much to see.

Book Club - Fasting Feasting by Anita Desai and Started Early, Took My Dog by Kate Atkinson

2011-07-13T03:45:00.000-07:00

There were only three of us at Book Club this time, but nevertheless we had a good exchange of views. "Fasting Feasting" is about two dysfunctional families. The story of the Indian family in the first two thirds of the book centres on one of the daughters, Una. She is not a clever girl, unlike her sister. She loves school but is a poor student, the opposite of Aruna. Una is clumsy, dizzy and much put upon by her parents who are described as MamaPapa as if they are sole entity. The writing is gentle and lyrical, and the family conflicts are well drawn. There some upsetting passages particularly involved Anamika, the beautiful and bright cousin whose marriage is a disaster. Una wants to belong and the visits of an aunt, Mira-masi only go to give her ambitions beyond what is possible. "Una had never been more unsupervised or happier in her life". The final part of the novel moves to America and Una's brother Arun who stays with an equally dysfunctional family while studying at university. The comparisons of the two families is amazing, and Arun's difficulties living in what to him is an alien environment makes for a very interesting final section.

I just love the writing of Kate Atkinson, so I was so looking forward to reading her latest Jackson Brodie novel "Started Early , Took my Dog". And was as good as ever. Not quite as brilliant as her previous "When Will There Be Good News", but still an excellent read. Kate's writing is punchy, with clipped sentences, clever and very witty. I knew we were in for a treat with the first paragraph:
"Leeds: 'Motorway City of theSeventies'. A proud slogan. No irony intended. Gaslight flickering on some streets. Life in a northern town".
This is a very entertaining book. The author seems to write in little anecdotes, as if she was relating a story over dinner and each time adding a brilliant punchline at the end. About the dog Jackson acquires and in the pet shop "the small four legged sailor uniform that was hanging behind the counter, complete with jaunty little hat". And about Jackson again "Looking for a fresh start. Somewhere there was a place for him. All he had to do was find it". The mention of Betty's Tea Rooms got me thinking about the one we visited in Harrogate. But apparently this was only the original and they have now spread to York, Ilkley and North Allerton and Harrogate now has two. Jackson has been to all of them "all part of the male impulse to collect". The settings of Leeds and Whitby were all too familiar. I love the way she writes in the third person but from the point of view of one of the four main characters. There is something eerie when she switches from one to another. If I have one criticism, there is sometimes too much plot. I guess that is why my favourite parts concern Tilly (Matilda Squires) an aging actress, suffering from the beginnings of dementia, who has only a very tenuous connection with the main plot, but whose wonderful story is not the crime fiction of the central theme. At the end, there did seem to be three or four mysteries that were never resolved. Maybe they are for the next book, or I missed something. But they did not detract from what is a highly enjoyable book.

Bridesmaids, Larry Crowne and Transformers 3

2011-07-13T02:57:00.000-07:00

What possessed me to go and see "Bridesmaids". I blame the reviews that were almost universally good. The first twenty on Rotten Tomatoes were all glowing. I should have known better. it is a long time since I walked out of a movie, but this came the closest after the first ten minutes. I just cannot stand these gross out American comedies. The sad part is, that there is a good sweet romcom hiding underneath. The relationship of lead Kristen Wigg and that of bit part player Chris O'Dowd was the best thing about the film. But it was the appearance of the always splendid Rose Byrne as the horrible, spoilt one that kept me watching through all the rubbish. And the late revelation about her job by the huge Megan put the top hat on the awful ensemble. What is wrong with me?

And it was the reviews that nearly stopped me from going to see movie of the year "Larry Crowne". The critics have all massively missed the point. When The Times gives it a grudging one star you know this is true. This is the most tongue in cheek romcom to come out of America for years. I didn't think they did such things, and all the critics obviously didnt think so too. so let's start with the names of the leads - Larry Crowne and Mercedes Tainot. Doesn't that tell you something? This movie is pure feelgood escapism. Nothing is remotely real. How can an aging redundant retail worker team up with an ultra cool scooter gang/ There you go. It is not supposed to be real. Take "Star Trek's" George Takei as the hot shot professor Dr Matsutani. That's right. Must be best supporting actor. OK, the film is cheesy to the point of being a gooey brie, but hey, I love brie. And there is so much feelgood stuff poured in that it nearly overflows. I had high hopes as soon as ELO's "Hold on Tight" played over the opening credits. They also play "Calling America" over the final credits. Great stuff. With tracks from Tom Petty, the soundtrack is spot on. There is a nice role for Brit Gugu Mbatha as Talia. She started her acting career in Holby, Spooks and Dr Who before some American TV. I have saved the two lead till last. Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts just look as if they are having the most enormous fun and it shows. Tom does a reasonable job of directing, but that was easy. But it is the writing of Tom and Nia Vardalos ("My Big Fat Greek Wedding" - do these movies do better in the UK than the USA?) that stands out. When Tom and Julia wave to the audience at the end, I bet the critics didn't wave back. Guess if I did.

I must stop going to see movies like "Transformers 3". Like "Bridemaids" there is a decent story hiding underneath. And the first hour is not at all bad. There is quite a lot of plot so you actually have to concentrate on what is going on. But then it is all downhill with the CGI battles at the end as tiresome as ever.

Scott and Bailey

2011-07-06T02:03:00.000-07:00

This week saw the sixth and final episode of the fairly average but always watchable crime drama "Scott and Bailey". It did something which too many British cop series don't do and that was to engage with the characters instead of being all plot. It was created by Surrane Jones (centre) who plays DC Rachel Bailey and is famous for her time in Coronation Street. She is ably supported by the always good Lesley Sharp (left) as DC Janet Scott. But for me, the standout performance was from Amelia Bullmore (right) as their brilliant boss DCI Gill Murray. Her television career started in 1993 in "Cracker" and she has been very busy since then, recently in "Ashes to Ashes" and "Twenty Twelve". In this new series she was just fantastic.

The writer was Sally Wainwright, always known in this house for her great screenplay for "At Home with the Braithwaites". And I have to mention the director of the final episode Ben Caron. The final scene in the pub was a fabulous close up across the bar of the two shattered DC's who are then joined by their equally hurt DCI and then the mesmorised DS. You could cut the tension with a knife. Best bit of TV for ages.

Kathleen Edwards, Amanda Marshall, Lucy Kaplansky, Caitlin Rose, The Chapin Sisters, Lissie, Nerina Pallot and Adele

2011-07-05T03:36:00.000-07:00

Ever since I listened to Kathleen Edwards' (who comes from Canada) latest album "Asking For Flowers", it was only a matter of time until I bought her two earlier recordings "Failer" and "Back To Me". And whilst these are not quite up to the brilliance of the new one, they were still worth the investment. Her music is typically the mix of country and folk that so dominates my music collection these days. There are so many great tracks on all three albums, she is a really special singer and songwriter.

It was only when the self titled album from Amanda Marshall (another Canadian) arrived did I realise most of the songs are cover versions. And worthy as most of these are, I would have liked to hear more of her own compositions. But there is one big surprise here of a song she wrote. "Sittin' On Top Of The World" is the title song from the album by LeeAnn Rimes. Of the other two songs she wrote, "Dark Horse" is another great track. The album was recorded in 1995, and although she made two more in 1999 and 2001, there is nothing there to compare with her first. Shame.

Lucy Kaplansky was born in Chicago and moved to New York when she was eighteen. Her music is very much folk based. Two of the covers on her latest album "Over The Hills" are by June Carter ("Ring of Fire") and Julie Miller, which shows the kind of artists that have influenced her style. But it is her own compositions that shine through. Her opening track, appropriately called "Manhattan Moon" has a distinct sound of Nanci Griffith about it. No bad thing. Of her five other albums, I might try "The Red Thread". Will give it a listen first.

Following her fairly ordinary EP "Dead Flowers", the debut album from Catlin Rose is a much better offering. Altogether more indie/alt-country rock than folk, her slightly unusual songs are well worth repeat listening. Four of the ten tracks are covers, which leaves a good selection of her own songs to enjoy. She has a great voice, and her backing musicians make for a great album.

I was definitely in two minds whether to buy a Chapin Sisters CD after listening to excerpts on the net. But having gone for their 2008 album "Lake Bottom" I was not disappointed. Although the early tracks are just reasonable, the final two are quite magical and worth the investment on their own. The Chapin Sisters are Abigail Chapin, Lily Chapin and Jessica Craven. Lily is to the fore (writing and singing) on track ten "Bird Song" and Abigail on the final track "I Hate The Moon". These are so outstanding that their latest album "Two" (Jessica only adds some vocals) has just arrived.

After being knocked out by Lissie's album "Catching a Tiger" (my posting of 13th August 2010), I now have her earlier EP "why you runnin". Not quite in the same class as her latest recording but classy just the same. She is doing four nights in Norway in August. Why not here?

Somehow I missed posting a review of Nerina Pallot's album "fires". It may have been that on first listen it did nothing for me. However it does get better the more I play it. Her music is modern indie pop, not something that I usually listen to. But her songs on this album work really well. Like many others, I then went for her earlier and debut album "dear frustrated superstar". Again not to the standard of "fires" but still worth a listen, although it is still early days.

Everything that has been said about Adele is true. She is just a phenomenon. Although I prefer her first album "19" (see posting of 7th March 2008), her latest "21" is quite extraordinary. It obviously appeals to all generations as she has a huge young audience through to oldies like me. My favourite tracks are again those that feature the piano of the brilliant Neil Cowley, "Turning Tables and "Take It All". His accompaniment on "Make You Feel My Love" and "Hometown Glory" from "19" are still preferable, if only he had played on "Someone Like You", it may have beaten the lot. But I guess as Dan Wilson co-wrote this other stand out track, he had to play on it

131 Songs Numbers 96 to 102

2011-06-28T02:53:00.000-07:00

These are seven of my favourite cover versions.

Number 96 - Absolutely Sweet Marie by Jason and The Scorchers

They are not really a punk band, but this cover of Bob Dylans song from his 1966 album Blonde on Blonde is a great punk version of not one of Bob's strongest tunes. I found it on an album of Bob Dylan covers called "The Songs of Bob Dylan" and this is the stand out track. Recorded by the band as a bonus track on their otherwise self penned album "Fervor", at the time it was said to be a ground breaking cover. Because it is such an original, but obvious, take on this song. Isn't YouTube great? First time I have seen what the band looks like.

Number 97 - Promised Land by Johnny Allan

I first heard the Johnny Allan version when it was played regularly on Terry Wogan's breakfast show in the late seventies and eighties and has always been one of my favourites. Originally composed and recorded by Chuck Berry on his 1964 album "St Louis to Liverpool", Allan's Cajun version was released in the UK in 1974. To own his recording, I had to buy an album called "Alligator Stomp". This is a collection of Cajun and zydeco music originating from Louisiana, the latter famous for Clifton Chenier who is referenced on Paul Simon's album "Graceland". Again, thanks to YouTube, I can see Johnny for the very first time. The live recording on the excerpt from Jools Holland's "Walking to New Orleans" is brilliant.

Number 98 - Always On My Mind by The Pet Shop Boys

Originally recorded by Brenda Lee in 1972, this song was written by Johnny Christopher, Mark James and Wayne Carson Thomson. Her version was not successful, but it was soon picked up the same year by Elvis to become one of his standards. I have to admit (not being a great Elvis fan) that this is a terrific recording. But not as good as that by The Pet Shop Boys. In 1987, on a TV programme to honour the tenth anniversary of the death of Elvis, they presented their version of his classic. It was so well received that they released it as a single, and it became the Christmas number one for that year. In 2004, The Daily Telegraph had it as number two of the top fifty cover versions of all time. Agreed.

Number 99 - The Day Before You came by Blancmange

When I first heard this on the radio, I didn't know it was an Abba song. Now I have heard the original, the cover still sounds better. The song was recorded by Abba in 1982 during their last ever session in the studio. Blancmange's version did slightly better in the charts when it was released two years later. It is the vocal of Neil Arthur and the rhythmic synth of Stephen Luscombe that makes their recording so originally poignant. The lyrics are some of the best in popular music, but only Arthur captures the the mood so well.

Number 100 - Put the Message in the Box by Gina Villalobos

After leaving Mike Scott's Waterboys, Karl Wallinger formed World Party and released their first album in 1986. It was on their second album "Goodbye Jumbo" that they included "Put the Message in the Box". But it is the track from the album "Rock "N" Roll Pony" by Gina Villalobos that I found this wonderful cover version. All the other tracks on the album are written by Gina, but I have to say that the cover is the stand out song. Just superb.

Number 101 - This Old Skin by The Beautiful South

Although I love listening to all their earlier material, I just feel that the Paul Heaton penned songs lack a certain emotional punch that would take them straight into my 131 songs. But on "Golddiggas Headnodders and Pholk Songs", an album of covers by The Beautiful South comes the terrific "This Old Skin". Composed by Bobby Cristiansand and Barry Klein of the band The Heppelbaums, (fictional characters in fact, the song was actually written by Paul Heaton and Dave Rotheray - so not really a cover), it has a fabulously amusing country folk sound, not least for the additional vocals of Chip Taylor. Check out "The Heppelbaums" on YouTube with Paul in a wonderful blond wig.

Number 102 - Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall by Brian Ferry

Written by Bob Dylan in the summer of 1962 and recorded for his second album "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan", it appeared on "These Foolish Things", a 1973 album of covers by Bryan Ferry. This was his first solo effort after Roxy Music disbanded. But it is no surprise that what gives this track something special is the guitar of Phil Manzanera, who was also lead guitarist with Roxy Music. It sounds just like a track from this group's recordings.

Win Win, Hereafter and X-Men First Class

2011-06-22T03:57:00.000-07:00

A family drama about a boy's wrestling team hardly begins to describe this brilliant movie. In fact this description almost put me off going to see it. But the reviews for Win Win were very good and I can now understand why. Not only was the screenplay sublime, but each scene seemed perfect in their length and pace. For example, any scene that included some wrestling ( and there were not that many) was perfect in duration. The editing was so good and the direction by Tom McCarthy was superb. Paul Giamatti and Amy Ryan as the parents were outstanding and newcomer Alex Shaffer as teenager Kyle was too. I will never forget the scene when Amy Ryan shows Kyle her "JBJ" tattoo. And I have to mention the terrific soundtrack. It's a long time since I stayed in my seat for the whole of a song over the closing credits, but "Think You Can Wait" by The National had me pinned down from the first chord. It also credits the participation of Sharon Van Etten whose short CD "Epic" is a small treasure. All in all it's win win all round.

There are times when it is well worth it to disregard the critics, and Hereafter falls into that category. OK, I did find the inclusion of two recent disasters somewhat distasteful, and there was something slightly tacky about the portrayal of the afterlife. But there are few enough dramas that we can get sniffy about any silliness in the plot. So we have a good script by Peter Morgan, and an interesting story that alternates successfully between locations in France, London and San Francisco. Clint Eastwood does a good job as director and the acting, led by Matt Damon, is generally fine. But what stood out for me, and a reason to see the movie if no other, was the locations ( and the film was shot almost entirely on location) and their photography. There were three London locations that are now on my list to visit: Alexandra Palace (never been since it was restored), the Dickens Museum on Doughty Street and Leadenhall Market in the city ( also used as Diagon Ally in the HP movies). This was the third time recently that I have caught up with films I had missed by going to the cheap Senior Screen on Wednesday mornings. After True Grit and Never Let Me Go, I enjoyed Hereafter more than the other two.

I normally now steer well clear of superhero movies, but the reviews for X-Men First Class were encouraging. It was quiet amazing to see the British domination of this Hollywood blockbuster. Not only do we have Mathew Vaughn doing a great job as director, but the two leading characters are played by James McEvoy and the always excellent Michael Fassbender. (I think it was his inclusion that persuaded me to go). The script was pretty good and the back stories of Professor Charles Xavier and Eric Lehnsherr (Magneto) worked well. The action scenes in the early part of the movie were not too long, it was just a shame that the drawn out ending let down what was otherwise an enjoyable treat.

Michael and Sara's Wedding Celebration

2011-06-10T05:00:00.000-07:00

First of all, it was not the official wedding, that happened a while back. But this was the celebration of their marriage. It took the form of a short ceremony followed by the reception. The ceremony was performed beautifully, Sara and Michael repeated their vows in front of all their family and friends before taking to the floor for the first dance.

The event took place at reBar, which is in the Dumbo district of Brooklyn (Down Under The Manhattan Bridge Overpass). It was only fifteen minutes walk from our hotel, so despite Alison's high heels, we set off in the warm early evening sun. Approaching our destination, we wondered if we were in the right place, the locality is somewhat effected by the deafening noise of the traffic going over the bridge. But the venue is great, no wonder Michael and Sara chose it. It had been closed to the public and accommodated the eighty or so guests easily. http://rebarnyc.com

It was great to meet Sara's family, these are her two aunts, grandmother and mother. They were all so friendly.

And this is father Rich with my family.

The food was great. Not only the buffet, but all the nibbles brought round by the waiters. But the real memorable part was the desert, little pots of something scrumptious, particularly the vanilla one. There was also a free bar. Looking back, I now realise that the glasses of wine were huge.

There was lots of dancing, Alison and I took to the floor when we heard "Arthur's Theme" (If you get caught between the moon and New York City etc). But I had to leave her with Michael for Meat Loaf.

It was a jolly good party in a great venue. We all took home little boxes of chocolate, but Michael, where was the cake?

Boston, Cape Cod and New York

2011-06-08T03:58:00.000-07:00

When Michael and Sara invited us to their wedding in New York, we decided to make it a holiday on the east coast. The plan was to fly to Boston, spend two nights there, then hire a car and drive down to Cape Cod with five nights in Hyannis. We would then drive back to Boston and catch a train to New York for our final three nights. We booked our hotels and splashed out on Virgin Premium Economy flights. Alison had actually worked over the Easter holiday and this paid for the upgrade.

So on Friday 20th May, a car picked us up from home and took us to Heathrow for an afternoon flight to Boston. We arrived there early evening and we were at our hotel in no time, no wait at immigration and a short taxi ride. Fifty minutes from leaving the plane to checking in at the Boston Omni Parker House Hotel. All in time for a stroll around the vicinity, and we were immediately impressed by what is a beautiful city.

The next day we arranged to meet Michael and Sara who were co-incidentally in town for the meeting of Michael's Boston Red Sox and Sara's Chicago Cubs, the first time these baseball teams had played each other since 1918! We headed for the harbour and it wasn't long before we met them as we were walking back down Long Wharf.

The day was sunny but chilly as we looked for somewhere to have a drink and a chat. We found a cafe and sat outside in the sun. I had a Sam Adams lager which was new to me and very acceptable. Alison and Sara visited a Christmas shop while Michael and I finished our drinks. This was all around Quincy Market where the next photo was taken.

We had originally planned on going in Boston's famous Aquarium, but the day was too nice go inside, so we plumped to explore some of the city. On Michael's advice, we headed for North End which is the Italian district. The route took us up Hanover Street, Salem Street and Hall Street. On the first of these stands Mike's Pastry, the biggest selection of cakes and deserts that Alison and I had ever seen. There were some lovely buildings in this neighbourhood and we took our time strolling around the streets. Paul Revere Mall was a highlight. We ended up at Copps Hill Terrace with views over to Bunker Hill and the USS Constitution.

We headed back along Commercial Street and around the many wharfs on Harbor Walk, from Battery Wharf to Commercial Wharf. By this time it was time for a late lunch and we were very grateful to get a table in the busy Tia's Cafe next to Christopher Columbus Park. Michael had only a t-shirt, so he had to borrow my jacket as it was decidedly cold sitting in the shade. But the lunch was very nice.

In the afternoon we strolled back along Long Wharf before deciding to walk back to our hotel via State Street and Beacon Hill and Boston Common where we took in Massachusetts State House. We said goodbye to Michael and Sara and had a rest back at the hotel. For dinner, we thought that the area around nearby Quincy Market seemed a likely place and we there we found a terrific Mexican restaurant - Zuma Tex Mex Grill. Bustly and relaxed, just what we were looking for.

On the Sunday morning we had arranged for a hire car to be delivered to the hotel. This turned out to be an expensive luxury ($713.47), but it did save a lot of time and hassle. We were driving down to Cape Cod and using it to tour the area before bringing it back on the following Friday. We wanted to stop at Plymouth on our way down, and we found the centre quite easily, parking on the seafront near the replica of the Mayflower.

Not only was it quite cloudy that day, but it was bitterly cold on the coast. We did enjoy walking around the town, but we definitely needed a hot drink. We will be eternally grateful to find the Water Street Cafe where we had a good lunch and thawed out. There were a couple of other places where might have stopped, but Sandwich did not seem to have a centre, so we carried on to Hyannis to find our hotel where we were staying for five nights. We were so pleased we had chosen the Anchor Inn. Despite being a two storey motel, it is superbly appointed, and our room was perfect. We overlooked the harbour from our balcony.

We had time for a walk around before making our way to Spankys Clam Shack next to the harbour for dinner. Another busy, noisy and unpretentious restaurant, it reminded us of Crabby Bills in St Petes Beach. Really good seafood, we had swordfish and shrimp dishes.

The breakfasts at the hotel were excellent. They were buffet style with a great selection. On Monday morning, Alison had an early run, the weather was slightly less cold, but still chill and cloudy. We walked down Main Street in Hyannis where there is plenty to see, shops, churches, schools, banks etc. We were actually looking for a beanie hat for me as if we went out on a boat, I would need something. Nothing in Hyannis, so we drove to Cape Cod Mall on the highway outside the town. Nothing there, but at least we were warm inside, and we had the best panini ever at the Casual Gourmet Express at the food court.

It was mid afternoon, and we bravely returned to Hyannis to catch the 4.15pm Harbor Cruise. It is just a one hour trip around the bay and takes in views of Hyannisport and the Kennedy homes. The Prudence is a 1911 coastal steamer and we did not have a lot of company. It didn't seem too cold after all, but we did take advantage of the cabin on the way back.

We had seen an Olive Garden restaurant on the highway, and had always liked the food when we eat there during our holidays in Orlando. So we had dinner there, lots of lovely pasta.

We started out tour of the cape in earnest on Tuesday, driving down to Falmouth. A very pretty coastal town with a pretty main street. We found it was a long walk to the harbour, lots of boats but the dockside was mostly inaccessible. The walk back through some smart holiday homes was interesting. A welcome coffee stop before driving to Woods Hole. There is no parking at this harbour for the ferry to Martha's Vineyard, and as it was pretty misty we only stooped for 15 minutes.

We had a nice drive to Chatham. It was getting a little brighter as we parked up and had a stroll around the town. We found we could drive to the seafront and park overlooking a beach and sand dunes. What we had not expected was to have pointed out a colony of perhaps 300 or so seals resting on the sandbank in the near distance. This is actually a 12 mile long permanent sandbank called Nauset Beach which is just offshore on the east coast of the cape. Fortunately Alison had brought the binoculars and we could see them moving around.

We had time for a walk on the beach before driving a short distance and finding a wonderful little harbour called Chatham Fish Pier. Fairly deserted in the late afternoon, but the sun was appearing at last and it was quite something. Fishing and coastguard boats to inspect, a walk along the beach to a wooden pier, Chatham was a real highlight of the holiday.

Back to Hyannis and dinner at The Black Cat where I had superbly fresh fried fish and chips. This is a great place to eat. The day had been a lot less cold, and getting brighter all the time.

We had planned Wednesday for our trip to the very end of the cape and Provincetown. In the morning we were greeted with lovely sunshine and blue skies. The drive down was pleasant enough and we parked for free at the museum, only a very short walk from the centre. Provincetown is a quaint, old harbour town, great to walk around in the sun.

We found a cafe on the main square and sat outside. As soon as we arrived we booked for the 3 hour plus whale watching cruise and this was due to leave at 12.30. The cafe warmed up a panini and wrapped it in foil for our lunch on the boat. Whale watching was something Alison had been looking forward to ever since we thought about going to Cape Cod, and it was on the advice of the hotel that we picked Provincetown as it was nearer to Stellwagen Bank where the whales hang out. It was a large boat that took us out, and being such a beautiful day, it was fairly crowded, but OK.

We must have been going over an hour when we saw our first whales, two Finbacks which are apparently the second largest of all animals on earth. These two were pretty big. We got quite close and for me, the best bit was when they arched their backs as they dived deep and disappeared for a while. The boat kept still as we waited for them to reappear, which luckily they did. After a while the boat started off again, and although time was getting on, we did eventually find a pair of Humpback Whales. Alison had taken over the camera and took lots of photos. Her favourite part was when the whales were blowing and caught this picture.

We were passed the allotted time and the boat headed back and we arrived at the harbour at 4pm. A wonderful experience. Just time to look around the shops, but I missed going up the tower of the monument as it was just closing. We drove back to Hyannis after a great day, and went back to the Olive Garden for dinner.

Thursday started bright and warm. Having found out how to park and ride for the ferry to Martha's Vineyard, we drove to Falmouth and picked up the coach to take us to Woods Hole. Here we bought our tickets and had time for a stroll around the small town. The ferry to the Vineyard was 45 minutes and we relaxed on deck. We were very impressed with Oak Bluffs, a very pretty main street and harbour. We bought coffee and cake to go from the Gourmet Cafe and Bakery and sat on a bench in a small square.

Walking further up the main street we looked through a gap and saw what we knew were some of the gingerbread cottages we had heard about. It was extraordinary, there was nobody about and here we were walking around this whole area of brightly painted timber cottages. There were so many to see and we took lots of photographs.

We found they went all down to the sea front and then wound back towards the centre. We came across the Tabernacle of Martha's Vineyard Camp Meeting Association. One of the cottages had turned into a museum and gift shop. It was deserted and the lady behind the counter was a mine of information, having spent the summers of her childhood in one of the homes. She explained how Methodists started to gather at Oak Bluffs over the summer and in 1835 set up tents on Trinity Park. Over time families turned these into more permanent structures as summer homes and a whole community was born. There are still over 300 cottages standing today. Quite amazing.

We finished up at the harbour where we (yes, it was me) decided to walk to Vineyard Haven, where we could catch a ferry back, only a couple of miles on the map. Our (my) one mistake of the holiday. it was a heavy tramp along roads and took an hour. We should definitely have caught the bus. The ferry left at 5pm, and there was not much to see at Vineyard Haven, so we had a rest on the boat. However, it was overall a splendid day, bright, occasional sun and warm. Back to The Black Cat for a terrific dinner.

On Friday morning we had time for a little shopping on Hyannis Main Street ( a t-shirt for me and cap for Alison from Wings) posted some cards at the Post Office, and left at 9.40 to drive back to Boston. Somehow we missed the turn for the airport, but found our way back onto the highway and then the airport complex, found a petrol station, filled the car with petrol (avoiding the $80 surcharge by the hire company). Had to wait in a queue to complete the paperwork at Dollar before they gave us a lift to the airport terminal. Here we caught the Silverline bus transfer (it has it's own dedicated tunnel to South Station) to catch the Amtrak train to New York. It left on time at 1.40pm, but what should have been 4 hour 20 minute journey became nearly six hours due to persistent engine breakdowns along the way. However, we did get to see many coastal towns along the way: Providence, New Haven, Bridgeport and New London. There were just so many boats. All the harbours were teeming with them. We arrived at Penn Station in New York at 7.15pm and took a taxi to the hotel in Brooklyn. Alison was amazed at how fast taxis drive in the city, I think we reached 75mph down Broadway. We had time to check in and unpack at the Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge before going out to search for a late dinner. We found the Mexacali down Court Street. It had been good weather for our journey and the evening was warm in New York.

Saturday started off sunny, and we found a Starbucks nearby for breakfast. We took the subway to Times Square, where we joined the throngs wandering around.

We then headed up 6th Avenue and ended up at the Rockefeller Center. Alison had maintained that

she didn't want to go to the top of a high building, but once there, she changed her mind, and we bought our tickets for Top of the Rock. Going up in the fast lift is always a great experience, 67 floors in a flash, and a light show in the lift shaft thrown in. We both loved the views from the top and spent some time taking in the sights.

The most amazing thing happened up there. We actually met my daughter, her husband and daughter. Quite incredible, totally unplanned as we had not expected to have gone to the top. We had a great time chatting and taking photos. They were on their way out, but we stayed another half hour before meeting them for lunch at the bottom.

We said goodbye after lunch and walked back down 5th Avenue and 42nd Street. It was here we passed an ASICS shop (all running kit) and I encouraged Alison to have a look round. We found an ASICS NY running top for her, how cool is that?

We took the subway back to the hotel, it had been a very warm and sunny day, about 28C. Just time to freshen up and change before meeting Michael and Sara and her parents. We all took the subway to Michael and Sara's apartment in Brooklyn for a tour and quick drink before going out to dinner at a quaint restaurant nearby. The food was fabulous, wonderful Red Snapper. I had never had Octopus before and I have to say that it was very nice. Michael and Sara were going on to meet friends at the bar in Manhattan where they met, and we were also invited. Another subway ride, and it was good to meet some of those over for the wedding. We didn't stay that long, getting back to the Marriot about 11.30.

Sunday was sunny again and even warmer. After breakfast we walked through Brooklyn Heights to the Esplanade with great views over the river to Manhattan's financial district, the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty in the distance.

We walked to Clark Street and took the short subway ride to Wall Street. There were lots of tourists around, but the place looked great in the sunshine.

We strolled down Broadway towards City Hall and the Woolworth Building and had a rest in the park. Here we took the subway to Union Square where we had lunch at yet another Starbucks. We then had to go on a search to find Paragon Sporting Goods. When Alison saw the women's running section she was in heaven. Rails after rail of running kit. Three tops, a hat and a pair of running shoes for her and a shirt for me.

The square itself was very busy, a Chinese Market and a rapper, but we didn't stay long. It was a hot day, about 32C. We had time for a rest before getting changed for the wedding. That will be another posting.

We had most of Sunday to ourselves as our return flight was not until the evening. We checked out and left our baggage at the hotel. We had a superb room, and it was so quiet. We slept really well. Back on the subway from Borough Hall. The advice on the Internet about the Metrocard did not explain how easy they were to top up, and we had hardly anything left after the last journey. We arrived in Central Park to hot sunshine. We had all morning to stroll around, keeping mainly in the shade.

We actually ended up at the reservoir, so I guess we must have seen nearly all of the southern half of the park. Alison wanted to do some shopping, and the hotel had suggested the mall at Atlantic Terminal. It was fairly close to the hotel where we had to pick up our luggage, so that was our final destination. We found an Applebees for a late lunch and a Bath and Bodyworks for some things to take home. But they nearly made one of the suitcases over the weight limit, 22 out of 23kg.

We left the hotel by car at 4.30pm and avoided the lengthy queus at the Virgin check-in as we were straight through on our Premium Economy ticket. A six hour flight home made for an earlier than expected arrival at Heathrow. I watched a movie on the plane. "The American" had reasonable reviews, but I was not dissapointed to have missed it at the cinema. The same can be said for "Animal Kingdom" on the way out.

There are so may memories of what was an amazing adventure over the eleven days in America. Everything was perfect. OK, the weather started off cold on Cape Cod, but we didn't have any rain during the day, and after a couple of days on the cape, we saw a lot of sun. The three hotels were excellent. Boston's was a little noisy, but what a superb position. Our room overlooked Old City Hall and King's Chapel. The Anchor Inn in Hyannis was special. Right next to the quiet part of the harbour. No tea making facilities in the rooms, but in the nearby lounge a machine made tea or coffee on demand any time of day or night. We could make a decaff coffee when we got back from dinner. The Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge was very smart, a high room was very quiet with nobody next door.

Alison loved Boston, and I have to say it was a very nice city. We would definitely go back, if only to buy up Mike's Pastry. Cape Cod was great, not at all busy just before the tourist season started in earnest. And we saw everything we had planned, except possibly some beaches on the east coast. There is nowhere like New York. Alison and Zoe were not particularly looking forward to visiting the city, but they were knocked out as usual. The subway was great, and we used it so much. I enjoyed working out the routes and even found the right C line on the last day back to Fulton Street for Atlantic Terminal.

But we were there for a wedding and that comes next.

Trespass, Gentlemen and Players and After You'd Gone

2011-06-05T10:47:00.000-07:00

I love the writing of Rose Tremain that it sometimes doesn't matter that the story is a little lightweight as it is here. The setting of rural southern France is quite evocative, beautifully described and well compared with affluent London. The five main characters are middle aged so, although that I could relate to, the story of their colliding lives seemed a little trite. Anthony Verey leaves London to stay with his sister and her lady friend. But he is a pretty pathetic character given that he is a wealthy antiques dealer. And the two women are not much better. More interesting are another brother and sister, estranged in houses on the same plot of land. Their story is fascinating. Not a lot happens, but what does is told with great style and emotion. Trespass is an enjoyable read.

Gentlemen and Players is a highly original novel by Joanne Harris. The setting of an old boy's grammar school and the eruption of a long harboured grudge appealed to me. What we have is a black comedy, told in alternate chapters by two highly engaging characters. Roy Straitley is nearing retirement, but his wit and experience are legendary. We are happy in his warm and funny company. The new teacher is Chris Keane, but he tells his story with growing malice. The other teachers and pupils are well described, but I could have done with a who's-who list beside me. As the story unfolds with twists and turns of the plot (both current and in the past), the story darkens to it's gripping climax. And I couldn't wait to see what happens at the end.

I was going to buy Maggie O'Farrell's well received latest book "The Hand That First Held Mine", but browsing in Waterstone's I came across her first novel "after you'd gone", and I thought it might be a light read for the holiday. In the end it turns out to be an absorbing modern day tale of families and relationships that are far from comfortable. Alice Raikes is in a coma, having stepped out in front of a car following a journey to see her sisters in Edinburgh that sees her back on the train to London almost immediately after meeting them. The answers to this big mystery unfold with gripping panache and terrific writing. How can a debut novel be so good?

Hanna, Attack the Block and Never Let Me Go

2011-06-05T09:55:00.000-07:00

Mix a young female Jason Bourne with a fairytale thriller, put on a soundtrack by the Chemical Brothers, and you have Hanna, an original take on the action assassin genre. But it is all a bit of a mess. Joe Wright is a clever director, and many of the scenes work well. But taken together they defie logic. It would have helped to have the basis of the plot explained aroung halfway instead of waiting until the silly ending. Saoirse Ronan is excellent as Hanna, as are Olivia Williams and Jason Flemyng as the hippie parents who take her under their wing. But what is Tom Hollander doing as one of the villains. He must have been instructed to camp it up.

After watching the trailers for Attack the Block, I couldn't wait to see the movie. The concept of aliens landing on a South London housing estate was just too good to be true. The leader of a teenage gang of hoodies unwittingly kills a young alien. Big mistake. It's not long before the hideous creature's friends are up for revenge. This makes for a brilliant comedy horror from writer-director Joe Cornish. He has a good ear for the slang of our "heroes", and this is well delivered by the young cast. OK, the limitations of the budget makes for a low key spectacle, but the film is none the worse for that. Jodie Whittaker and Nick Frost bring a clever adult counterpoint to the exuberance of the boys. There are a few distinctly irresponsible actions from the gang, but in the end this is a fantasy and they are included for a reason. In my view, a movie that is even better than Shaun of the Dead, and that is saying something. One last memory, the exterior photography of the the lit tower block seeming like a gigantic spacecraft was fabulous.

I had to see Never Let Me Go. One of my favourite books by Kazuo Ishiguro and a story that I knew would be so difficult to replicate on screen. And I have to say that I felt director Mark Romanek failed to find the essence of the novel, but that was probably to be expected. It is quite a harrowing story, and this certainly comes out in the movie. But there is a feeling of happiness and friendship in the book that is missing here. So all we are left with at the end is the sadness of the character's predicament, and the horror of what put them there. I also felt the times at Hailsham and The Cottages were rushed to spend longer with the final section. The acting is very good, Carey Mulligan excellent as our narrator (why do I love narrators in books but can't stand the concept on film), and she is well supported by Keira Knightley and Andrew Garfield.

Olympic Tickets

2011-06-05T08:43:00.000-07:00

When I checked my bank statement online, I knew straightaway that we had been successful for just one of the Olympic events that we had applied for. It was for two tickets to the very first session of Athletics on Saturday morning 4th August 2012 at the Olympic Stadium. Hopefully, Jessica Ennis will be competing in the first two disciplines of the Heptathlon.

But what is even better is that we will be there when the athletics starts and we have the tickets we wanted, the middle of the five prices, instead of being in the cheapest seats for an evening session. I didnt get anything for the cycling or gymnastics and Alison was unsuccessful in all her applications. But next year we are on our way to the Olympic Park and the stadium. That is as good as we would have wished for.

Manchester City win the FA Cup

2011-05-17T03:37:00.000-07:00

After thirty five years, the team that Alison has supported all her life has won a trophy. There have been many ups and downs during that time. We have seen them relegated to the third tier of English football, joined the away supporters behind the goal at Oxford United's old ground, and been regularly humbled by lower league opposition in various cup competitions. But that is all at an end. Qualification for the Champions League and winning the FA Cup all in the same week. Extraordinary.

On Friday, Alison was thrilled when she came back from swimming to see balloons in City blue outside the front door. The internet is just brilliant when you need to buy something so specific. And there are a few left for next time.

Water for Elephants, Thor and True Grit

2011-05-15T11:07:00.000-07:00

For the first time for ages, I went to see a movie on the day of it's opening, before any reviews here had been published. "Water for Elephants" is an interesting story, but it may have been better to read the book instead. Yes, there were some spectacular sets, depression era America has never looked so good. An early scene when the big top is erected is superb. But the romance between Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon never catches alight. There would always have been awkwardness in a relationship between a younger man and an older woman, but it does not make for easy viewing. Christoph Waltz's portrayal of the husband with a sinister side would have been great if he had not totally reprised his role from "Inglourious Basterds". I had thought a romantic melodrama would have been right up my street, so why it it feel so dull?

The reviews of "Thor" had been mixed, but I went expecting more, given the director was Kenneth Branagh. I should know by now that superhero movies nearly always disappoint. There was just too much CGI and not enough story. It starts off fine, as Thor is banished to earth for being far too cocky. But ultimately the final battle scenes are prolonged and boring. I should know by now.

I had to see "True Grit", mainly because of rave reviews and Oscar nominations, and apparently back to form for the Coen brothers. But somehow I had forgotten that this was a western. And I don't like westerns. So no matter how much there is to recommend, and there is a lot, for me it is just another western. The best thing about the film is the cinematography. Roger Deakins deservedly won the BAFTA (but only nominated for the Oscar) for the sweeping landscapes. They might have looked even better on celluloid instead of digital.

Book Club - Room by Emma Donoghue and Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse

2011-05-15T09:15:00.000-07:00

These two novels are why I go to book club. I would never have read them otherwise, and both were good choices. "Room" was nominated for the Booker prize, and is narrated by five year old Jack. The author, Emma Donoghue, admits it was inspired by the Joseph Spritzel case but it was in thinking about how she and her young son might cope in similar circumstances that brought about this story. There are only hints early on as to how mother and son arrived in their predicament, and this makes for a fascinating but unsettling introduction. The middle section changes completely into a thrilling action piece which is quite shattering. I was unprepared for the last half of the book, and again found it quite provocative as Jack and Ma have different problems to overcome. But all through, the writing and storytelling were very good, surprisingly so given what could have been a bland and awkward tale.

I have never read anything by Kate Mosse. "Labyrinth" and "Sepulchre" are long historical novels that are definitely not my thing. But I was interested in a short novel based in the south of France between the wars and telling the story of Freddie, still grieving for his brother, as he tours the foothills of the Pyrenees. The author knows the location intimately and it shows. The description of one village that Freddie arrives at after his car breaks down is as good as it gets. The whole story has a great atmosphere and a tantalising twist. Good stuff.

Revenge of the Giant Face

2011-05-04T03:59:00.000-07:00

The beginning of Chapter Five "Revenge of the Giant Face" subtitled "Night of NATION'S PRIDE Premier" from Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds" is definitely my favourite five minutes on film. The first chords of David Bowie's "Cat People" over the captions is only the start. As his vocal comes in, the beautiful Melanie Laurent as Shosanna Dreyfus leans seductively by the fabulous huge circular window of her cinema, contemplating the terrible revenge she has organised for that night. It is only on repeat viewings that I now see the startling editing which comes next. Four times we gradually get closer to Shosanna, as each shot melts into the other. This is film making at it's peak.

I mentioned on a previous posting (11th August 2010) about how Shosanna initially applies rouge as warpaint during the ultra close up as she applies her make up. The song ends as she dons hat and veil and makes her way to the balcony where she watches all her victims gather. (Melanie Laurent was absolutely brilliant in this film, warranting awards and nominations for best actress from a number of film societies.) I cannot think of a more dramatic sequence from any movie. Perhaps one from "The Godfather" comes close.

Limitless, Source Code and Fast Five

2011-05-04T03:58:00.000-07:00

Instantly forgettable, but quite reasonable entertainment at the time, "Limitless" is a decent enough thriller that keeps up a high pace throughout. I agreed with Mark Kermode that normally you would avoid any film with Bradley Cooper, but here he finds just the right vehicle for his unwarranted ego. The drug he takes allows him to race through writing his unstarted novel and take on Wall Street, before the expected side effects have him being chased by NYPD and some Russian mafioso. All spoilt by some very poor digital cinematography.

I had high hopes for "Source Code". And whilst it did provide some good moments, overall it was a bit of a let down. Jake Gyllenhaal was very good, but the scenes on the train got a little too repetitive for me, and it came something of a relief as we finally hit solid ground. But there was enough to keep me interested throughout, watching as gradually our hero gets to grip with the problem he has to solve. Well directed by Duncan Jones with a good supporting cast including Michelle Monaghan and Vera Farmiga, excellent in the first role I have seen her in since "Up in the Air".

It has been hard over the last few weeks to find anything worth the visit to the cinema, all thanks to a prolonged Easter break. So you can tell how I was scraping the barrel in going to see "Fast and Furious Five". It did have some reasonable reviews, and I have to say it was not all fights and car chases. If there was one reason to see the movie on the big screen, it is for the photography of Rio. That was always worth looking at.

Trespass, A Murder of Quality and Solar

2011-04-27T10:15:00.000-07:00

"Trespass" is the latest novel by Rose Tremain. Not quite in the same class as her brilliant "The Road Home" or "Sacred Country", but better than "Music and Silence". It tells the story of sixty four year old Anthony Verey who is visiting his sister Veronica and her friend Kitty at their home in rural France, and how their world collides with an elderly French brother and sister. The book has a great feeling of the landscape and the stifling heat of the south of that country. The characters are well drawn and I liked how their childhood still had an impact on their later lives.. There is no rush, but at the same time always interesting. A good story, the usual great writing and some twists along the way. Well worth the read.

Once I had read John Le Carre's first novel "Call For The Dead", that introduced George Smiley, I had always planned to read his second book "A Murder of Quality". Again this is quite a short novel, but once again with a terrific plot as George travels to Carne School, an old and formidable institution, to unravel an unexplained death. Although in his early days as a novelist, this is typically a superb story from this author. A terrific plot, great setting and wonderful characters. Le Carre writes with such style and panache that it really brought back memories of school. "Gloom and cold. The cold was crisp and sharp as flint. It cut the faces of the boys as they moved slowly from the deserted playing fields after the school match. It pierced their black topcoats and turned their stiff, pointed collars into icy rings round their necks." His third novel was my introduction to this author donkeys years ago. But I shall revisit "The Spy Who Came In from the Cold" in a couple of months time. Can't wait.

A new Ian McEwan novel is always highly anticipated, and with great reviews, I was so looking forward to reading "Solar". So it was somewhat disappointing that this time he has written a fairly turgid story. It seemed far more challenging than normal. Lots of words I did not know, and some twists on some I did ("effortfully"?). Perhaps it should have been written in the first person, as the main character fills every sentence. But what an obnoxious character is the aging Nobel prizewinning physicist Michael Beard. His only redeeming feature is that he was once brilliant, now less so. Otherwise a womanising overweight drunk. It may have seemed clever for McEwan to conjure up a comic character as some have said, but to me he was just pathetic. Like "The Social Network" I just did not want to spend time in his company. The intellectual passages (and there are far too many) about the physics of climate change and photosynthesis was way beyond my understanding ("Quantum coherence is key to the efficiency, you see, with the system sampling all the energy pathways at once."). Is McEwan trying to show off? His last five novels are so beautifully accessible, this was really strange. The two words describing the novel on the front cover are "Savagely Funny....". I didn't laugh once.

131 Songs - Numbers 92, 93, 94 and 95

2011-04-27T03:19:00.000-07:00

Number 92 - You'll See by Madonna
This section is about singers, not songwriters. So it is pretty short. There is just one Madonna album that both Alison and I love, and that is Something To Remember. A collection of great ballads, sung superbly and with great backing tracks. OK, Madonna is partly credited with writing the song, But I guess it was producer David Foster who really takes the credit.

Number 93 - Walk Away by Matt Monroe

Of all the great crooners, my favourite has to be Matt Monroe. For me, his voice imparts far more subtlety and emotion than Sinatra or all the other great singers. Terence Edward Parsons was born in 1930 and achieved fame in the 1960's, just at the time that british rock bands were taking off. He was a great friend of his first producer, George Martin, and "Portrait of my Love" reached number 3 in 1960, before Martin had even heard of The Beatles. My second favourite Matt Monroe song "Softly as I Leave You" followed in 1962 and the title song "From Russia With Love" the following year.

In 1964 he came second in the Eurovision Song Contest. But it was the sixth placed Austrian entry "Warum Nur Warum" that caught his ear. Matt's manager Don Black wrote the English lyrics and it became a hit, and my choice, "Walk Away". It is less powerful than, say, Sinatra's "My Way", but is sung in that typically understated and soft delivery that I prefer.

In 1964 he sang the title song to "Born Free" and the following year "Days Like These" for the opening scene to "The Italian Job". Matt toured extensively: 24,000 fans watched him in Manila in 1966 and he made fourteen tours of Australia. I didnt appreciate him at the height of his success, but now I certainly do.

Number 94 - Let There Be Love by Nat King Cole with George Shearing

Not one of my favourite singers, but this track is just awesome. The piano intro by Battersea born George Shearing is worth it's place alone. I dont think that the song alone is anything special, but the combination of Nat's voice and the George Shearing Quintet does hit the spot. It is an old standard, written by Ian Grant and Lionel Rand and published in 1940. The Nat King Cole version was released in 1961 and was a hit in the UK. There is an album featuring Nat and George, but nothing there matches this wonderful piece.

Number 95 - Lost by Michael Buble

I have to confess that I do not own a Michael Buble recording. So this is another one off. From his third album of mainly standards "Call Me Irresponsible", this song is writen by Michael with Jann Arden and Alan Chang. To me , this is a modern classic. And much better than his other new material such as "Everything" and "I just havent met you yet".

The Knot of the Heart

2011-04-20T02:31:00.000-07:00

For the first of two tickets courtesy of my Almeida Friends Gift Membership, kindly supplied at Christmas by Michael and Sara, I chose this brand new play by David Eldridge. He wrote it especially for Lisa Dillon after having a conversation with her, and when she mentioned a role "not defined by it's relationship to a man". And this script is certainly not. It is about addiction, and this time centred on a middle class family from ...... Islington.

Lucy (Lisa Dillon) has been thrown out of a promising career at the BBC when caught taking heroin. Only later we understand why she has become addicted. She is staying with her widowed mother (Margot Leicester) and visited by her cold sister (Abigail Cruttenden). Her drug habit does not get better, and the story follows her downward spiral and attempts at recovery. The writing is sharp and incisive. In fact the whole experience is intelligent and riveting. The production has received excellent reviews (pick of theatre choice in this weeks Sunday Times) and is destined for awards, for the writer and the leading actress.

The four other members of the cast are equally terrific. The solitary man, Kieran Bew, plays all the male parts, I can remember at least five. The direction by Michael Attenborough, the artistic director of the Almeida, is top drawer, and the set is one of the best I have seen. The modern steel framed glass walls that move around on the revolving stage to reveal multiple sets are just brilliant.

Aylesbury RFC make the play offs

2011-04-19T06:15:00.000-07:00

On Saturday Aylesbury played Wootton Bassett for second place in the Southern Counties North League at home. For the winners, a certain play off spot would be a huge incentive. A good crowd watched the game at the Weston Turville ground. A bright and mild day but a rock hard pitch would see a number of interruptions for, thankfully, minor injuries.

After a hard fought game, with the visitors having most of the possession and territorial advantage, it was the cutting thrust, defence and kicking at goal that Aylesbury came out on top 31-10. On the 7th May I have heard they play a team from Bath, Oldfield Old Boys, second in Southern Counties South, for a place in the South West (East) League.

PS In the play off final, Aylesbury came up against a very strong team from the West Country, and were beaten very easily. Although they were also missing some key players after a tour abroad arranged before they knew this match was due to take place.

The Joy of Statistics

2011-04-12T01:24:00.000-07:00

BBC Four is becoming an excellent channel for documentaries. After Michael Cockerell's terrific three part series "Secrets of Whitehall", comes this highly educational presentation from Professor Hans Rosling. It made me feel as if I had missed my vocation and that a career in statistics would have been right up my street. But I guess a job in the civil service is where I would have ended up and that is not a nice thought.

However, the Swedish professor's programme was the next best thing. He was so passionate and articulate about his subject. His example of deaths on British roads having been unbelievably consistent year on year, with the same proportion of men and women, the former two and a half times as likely to die. His explanation of correlation was very interesting and he made it really simple to understand. We need more programmes like this to keep my brain learning new stuff.

Les Miserables

2011-04-11T02:10:00.000-07:00

When Alison received a Ticketmaster voucher from our neighbours after looking after their cats for over two weeks, we chose to go again to see "Les Miserables". The first time was in May 1991, so almost twenty years ago. A change of venue, but still the same magic. It is a pity that you cannot see the orchestra from the stalls, but we both had a great view despite the shallow rake of the seating. The cast was excellent, Alison particularly liked Norm Lewis as Javert. A very enjoyable evening.

Two Cathedrals

2011-04-06T03:59:00.000-07:00

Someone wrote "the finest five minutes at the end of the finest hour of the finest season of the finest Television show ever made". Not quite, but I can understand why someone would think so. I said to Alison after watching the last three episodes of season two of "The West Wing", that it is something to do with having invested your time and concentration over 44 episodes, that when something brilliant happens, it is more emotional than anything a film, a play or a book can produce. And this is what happened on Saturday evening.

The last five minutes is quite something. From CJ shouting "I can only take fourteen or fifteen questions at once" to a soaking wet President ignoring the rain when you have lost one of your oldest and closest friends, all set to "Brothers in Arms". Not the most appropriate song as it was written about the Falklands War, but a massively emotional piece of music for this superb conclusion.

PS My favourite series ending is still "Ashes to Ashes" as my posting of 30th March 2008.

Bronte at the Oxford Playhouse

2011-04-06T03:30:00.000-07:00

I am always on the lookout for a new play. This one was written by Polly Teale in 2005. She is now the joint artistic director of the production company Shared Experience. The other one is Nancy Meckler who directs "Bronte". She has a long history of directing in the theatre including spells at the RSC.

The concept of "Bronte" is very interesting. How to tell the story of the three sisters (and one brother) who lived together in isolation on the Yorkshire Moors who against all expectation produced some of the greatest literature in history. They inspired each other with a collective energy, through their appreciation of books and their anger at the conditions of the world outside.

The relatively short scenes are punctuated by visitations of characters from their growing imaginations. Mrs Rochester haunts Charlotte as does Cathy with Emily. The first half seemed a little pondorous, but the second became a wonderful piece of theatre. Charlotte becomes a celebrity after the publication of "Jane Eyre". The more reclusive Emily realises that her more dangerous "Wuthering Heights" might not be to everyone's taste in the nineteenth century.

The only disappointment for me was the acting. It may have been that Shared Experience is now the resident comapny at the Oxford Playhouse, and therefore this production is in it's early stages. And on a Monday, the theatre was not full. The production company also wants to give opportunities to up and coming actors. It was just that the one experienced actor, Stephen Finegold who plays the children's clerical father, does shine in comparison. However, a memorable and well produced play. The next production from Shared Experience is the premiere of a new play about the life of Mary Shelley and how she came to write "Frankenstein". I shall definitely book for that.

One other thing. The programme was brilliant. An interview with the writer, a long article about the Brontes ( the father had changed their surname from Brunty to Bronte in homage to Nelson who was created the Duke of Bronte after his victory in Sicily, explaining how the children gave their characters such evocative names), and a synopsis of the Bronte novels. And that was just the first half. Essential and worthwhile reading before the play started.

The Adjustment Bureau, Fair Game and The Lincoln Lawyer

2011-04-01T05:21:00.000-07:00

Three good Hollywood thrillers. Sometimes you have to wait ages for one, and then they all come at once. And with "Limitless" and "Source Code" to come over the next two weeks, I'm making the most of it before the summer blockbusters arrive.

The premise in "The Adjustment Bureau" is quite frankly pretty silly. But it makes for a pleasantly diverting couple of hours watching Matt Damon and Emily Blunt (who are both very good) try to make their relationship work against the wishes of the adjusters. Well scripted by George Nolfi (taking on the same successful format from his screenplays for "The Bourne Ultimatum" and "The Sentinel") and reworking the original story by Philip K Dick. This is also Nolfi's first attempt at directing and it certainly promises much for the future. There is also a lovely cameo from Terence Stamp. How old is he now?

I'm not a big fan of real life stories, but "Fair Game" worked really well as a political thriller. But then I had little idea of what happened to Valerie Plane and her husband Joe Wilson when the formers cover as a CIA agent was blown. So I guess that was why there was enough to make me quite angry about how the Bush administration lied about WMD even more then Blair did. Naomi Watts held the film together with her fine performance as Valerie, but the same cannot be said for the miscast Sean Penn as Wilson. Jez and John Butterworth have written a terrific screenplay, although director Doug Liman did not really do it justice. Well worth seeing.

Until I saw the movie, I could not quite understand why a standard legal thriller such as "The Lincoln Lawyer" had attracted such good reviews. It turns out that we have a terrific plot, an exciting story well scripted by John Romano from the novel by Michael Connelly, good direction from Brad Furman and most surprisingly, great acting from Mathew McConaughey as the sharp lawyer Mickey Haller. And I never thought I would ever say that. He is well supported from a cast that includes William H Macy and Ryan Phillipe. Plenty of twists as the plot unfolds, and limited violence does the movie credit. The courtroom scenes are not too long and mainly confined to the last third of the film. On the strength of this, I would not be surprised to see a couple more Mickey Haller movies, hopefully with Mathew McConaughey!

131 Songs - Numbers 89, 90 and 91

2011-04-01T05:17:00.000-07:00

Number 89 - Missing by Everything But The Girl

There are certain albums that Alison and I both like that we play when we want to relax at home. And the same artists get played again and again. That is why the next three songs are on my list. Everything But The Girl are one of our favourites and we have a choice of seven of their CD's. There are some great tracks on "Idlewild", but I think that 1994's "Amplified Heart" is the best of their albums. "We Walk The Same Line" and "25th December" are great back to back tracks near the end, but I have gone for "Missing". And it is a collaboration, words by Tracey Thorn and music by Ben Watt. They married in 2009 after 28 years as a couple and now have three children. Maybe that is why there has been no new material since 1999. Although their two albums after "Amplified Heart" went electronic and are not in our collection.

Number 90 - Wild Child by Enya

I have to admit, I would never play Enya on my own. But with a gin and tonic and a bowl of crisps on a Friday evening at 6pm on the dot, Alison must have chosen one of Enya's CD's too many times to count. And she does write some lovely, sombre songs. The most obvious choice would have been "Orinoco Flow" from her classic "Watermark" album, but my choice is this equally haunting track from her 2000 album "a day without rain".

Number 91 - Why Can't We Live Together by Sade

This is not a 6pm Friday album. More like late evening fare. But this is one of my all time favourite songs. It really should be in the covers section to follow as it is a composition by Timmy Thomas. The introduction instrumental on this track is quite something. The drummer on the recording is Paul Cooke and he used to be part of the "Sade" band. But having left the group in 1984, he is no longer credited on the earlier LP or our new CD as having been in the band. It carefully says "Sade are", which means now (on it's 1984 release), not then (at the recording). He is just on the "thanks" list with other session musicians. It must have been an acrimonious parting.

Book Club - One Day and Gone for Good

2011-03-16T02:58:00.000-07:00

I wonder why nobody had thought of the idea before. On 15th July 1988, Emma and Dexter meet on the night of their graduation from Edinburgh University. The book then describes what happens to them on the same day for the next twenty years. An extremely smart device and some great writing makes for a captivating novel. I had read "One Day" by David Nichols three months or so before the Book Club meeting, so it was interesting looking back on the story. The structure seemed very interesting, there was one year that was only about Emma, and another when it was just Dexter. And the last few years really gathers momentum as the pace builds up. Because the book is all about two characters, we really get to know them, their flaws especially. Once Emma says to Dexter "I love you so much, I probably always will. I just don't like you anymore." Everyone there on Tuesday enjoyed reading this book, a very contemporary novel.

I cannot say the same for "Gone for Good" by Harlan Coben. Apparently he is a very popular American writer of crime fiction, and his latest novel "Caught" has posters all over the place. I think it is just the majority of us don't go for this type of thriller. That is not to say it wasn't interesting to read something of this genre. For me, there were just too many twists to be convincing. And there was no way you could have worked out what was going to happen. Because the plot was far too implausible, I found it very manipulative with twists for the sake of twists. There were too many characters, and as Hilary pointed out, you could not get into or sympathise with any of them. There were some short clips in the first part of the book where an unknown woman is in trouble. This time we could work out for ourselves who she was and this was far better. Just a shame the rest was far too unpredictable.

The Cuthbertsons of Northumberland

2011-03-11T04:05:00.000-08:00

Jane Cuthbertson, a great grandmother on my mother's side, was the wife of George Askew. She was born in Jarrow, County Durham on 30th November 1856. Since I found her birth certificate, I had always thought the Cuthbertsons were from Durham, especially when I found her father Thomas was born in Easington which is also in that county. But as my searches became deeper, especially the Census information from 1841 to 1901, I found that the family actually came from Northumberland. And from the north of the county in what is Berwickshire, halfway between Alnwick and Berwick itself.

Thomas' father was James Cuthbertson (my great great great grandfather) and he was born in Ancroft, Northumberland (closer to Berwick) in 1809. He married Isabella who was born in 1808 in Lucker, Northumberland in the Parish of Bamburgh (famous for it's castle). James was a master joiner and probably met Isabella on his travels for work. They set up home in the tiny hamlet of Easington in the parish of Belford in Northumberland. It was here that their first son Thomas was born in 1833.

However, finding work in such a rural community must have been hard, and by the time their second child (Mary) was born in 1835, James and Isabella had moved to Hartlepool in Durham. Their children Margaret, George and Ellen were born there in 1838, 1840 and 1845. At the 1841 Census the family was living at Gate Street North in Hartlepool. But after ten years or so, they moved back to Easington. They were certainly there in 1847 and 1850 when their last two children, James and Isabella were born. And the 1851, 61, 71 and 81 Census records the family living in the same tiny village.

By 1851, their eldest child Thomas (my great great grandfather) was 18 years old and an apprentice Joiner working with his father, but during the next few years he met and married Eleanor who came from Lowick, again maybe through his travels for work. However Thomas decided to move back, first to Jarrow (where Jane my great grandmother was born) and then to Hartlepool where Thomas had grown up. It was there that their children James and Charles were born.

But back to James and Isabella. By the 1871 Census, they were both 61 years old. And three of their children were still living at home. Margaret was 33, George 31 and James 24, the two men presumably both joiners. Ten years later James at 70 was still a joiner and employer, and Margaret was still living there, working as an agricultural labourer. James died sometime between 1881 and 1891, but Isabella (at 82) and daughter Margaret still lived in Easington in 1891, 45 years after they moved back there. The Census of that year records they were living on their own means, which means that James must have done pretty well at his job.

The nearest town to Easington is Belford. In 1879 it is described as both a township and union town and head of the county court district. It grew during the time the Cuthbertsons lived in the nearby village to 1,226 in 1851, although Easington maybe had half a dozen houses. Belford has the Anglican church of St Mary but also had three Presbyterian churches. West Street was founded in 1771, became a Church of Scotland in 1849 and closed in 1902. Erskine Street was founded in 1777 and continues to this day having become Erskine United Reformed Church in 1972. And St Columba which was formed in 1849 (from congregation that had left West Street when it had changed to Church of Scotland) but closed in 1893. All three Presbyterian and the one Anglican were in existence during the time James and Isabella were close by. So my next task is to determine which, if any, they may have attended. All the records are at Berwick-Upon-Tweed Record Office, so I shall be contacting them shortly.

The map above shows Ancroft in the north where James was born, Lucker in the south where Isabella was born, Easington and Belford where Thomas was born and Lowick between Belford and Ancroft where Eleanor was born.

The Year of the Flood, Nocturnes and Case Histories

2011-03-11T02:48:00.000-08:00

It's a long time since I last read a Margaret Attwood novel. I really enjoyed "The Handmaid's Tale", "Cat's Eye", the Booker prizewinning "The Blind Assassin" and "Oryx and Crake". There are overtones of the last of these in her new novel "The Year of the Flood". Again set in the future in a post apocalyptic (the waterless flood of the title) north America, this is a story of survival. The author describes various groups who now eke out an existence from what is left, particularly "God's Gardeners" where at some time our two heroines have joined. But now they are on their own. This is a story with Attwood's normal flair for writing combined with the pace and twists of a thriller. An exceptional read.

"Nocturnes" is the first book from Kazuo Ishiguro since "Never Let Me Go" published in 2005. And this time only a very small book of five short stories. But what stories they are. Each on a theme of music and night time, they are dazzling pieces of writing. From Venice to London, to the Malvern Hills, a Hollywood hotel and an Italian piazza. The penultimate story, which is the title of the book, is just perfect.

I have started to catch up on everything written by Kate Atkinson, because all three of her novels that I have read so far are some of the most enjoyable books I have ever read. And her "Case Histories" is no exception. Her writing is always sharp, witty and vivid combined with intricate plots and flowing narrative. This book is part mystery, part family drama and part crime investigation. Jackson Brodie is the former police inspector turned private detective who is swept up by the characters whose three cases land on his plate. A moving, sad, funny and enthralling story.
P S There are seven American country/folk singers whose songs Jackson plays during the story. All female. And guess what? Yes, they are all in my collection. Allison Moorer, Trisha Yearwood, Emmy Lou Harris, Lucinda Williams, Gillian Welch, Lee Ann Womack and at the end, The Dixie Chicks. As Jackson says "why is my taste getting more and more depressive?"

Paul, The Fighter and Unknown

2011-03-08T02:20:00.000-08:00

"Tired, lazy and trite", "dull, formulaic,disappointing" - just a few of the criticisms, not on Rotten Tomatoes, but taken from Neil Fox's review in the local paper. I guess when you are starting out as a critic, it seems cool to bash something as mainstream as the new movie from Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. But "Paul" is an enjoyable and funny piece. Although, as Danny Lee (from Film 2011) suggested, there was something a little strange about our two heros combining their talents with director Greg Mottola and Seth Rogan, the voice of Paul. You just wonder how much imput these two had. It was like "Hot Fuzz" meets "Superbad", as Simon and Nick may have pandered to the American audience. But no real harm done. It was a clever device to have the alien arriving on earth many years ago and this explained how he looked, after I had originally groaned at his unoriginal appearance. There were lots of references to other sci fi movies for us followers to enjoy, some more obvious than others, particularly the ending. But why does it need the 157 visual effects artists listed on the credits? Tell me, please.

David O.Russell has done a great job directing a boxing story that could have been so mediocre. Instead, he has given his excellent cast on "The Fighter" free reign to conjure up some wonderful characters, particularly Oscar winning Christian Bale and Melissa Leo. Although their performances are occasionally a little over the top, the film would otherwise have been somewhat boring. They contrast well with dour lead Mark Whalberg and the excellent Amy Adams in her best performance to date. The writing is strong and apparently reflects the true story of boxer Micky Ward, although his Irish background is never mentioned. The ending seemed far too upbeat for such a gritty drama, and I had to remind myself that this was a true story. Otherwise it did seem far too good to be true.

"Unknown" is a vehicle for new action man Liam Neeson. After his hard man role in the violent thriller "Taken", he now takes on a seemingly more upright persona as American biochemist Dr Martin Harris. And we swop Paris for Berlin, although it has not enhanced it's reputation in my eyes as one of the cities I would like to visit. "Unknown" is a standard thriller as Neeson tries to piece together why someone has taken his identity and others are out to kill him. Obviously all becomes apparent, with a huge twist, towards the end. There are some reasonable set pieces where the tension builds, but the fights and car chases are nothing new. It was good to see January Jones at last (as Neeson's wife) after hearing about her in "Mad Men" and Diane Kruger fits the bill perfectly as his saviour. Frank Langella also adds his weight in a neat cameo performance. Direction, sound and cinematography all go to make a decent movie. It was nice to see something made on real film, the previous two having been made on digital. And it showed.

131 Songs - Numbers 85, 86, 87, and 88

2011-03-02T03:04:00.000-08:00

Before I dive into my favourite cover versions, I wanted to list four of my favourite female singers who have been important to me over the last twenty years.

Number 85 - Late Night Grand Hotel by Nanci Griffith

Nancy used to be my number one favourite singer songwriter. I first came across her listening to Terry Wogan's early morning radio show. Her self penned albums from the 1980's are absolute classics. As is the 1991 album from which my selection is the title song. However, those albums which followed are nowhere near as good, and that is probably why I listen to them so rarely. And the early albums are now alongside similar classics from twenty plus years ago. I do not own her short debut album (not one song on there that I wanted), but the following sixteen are probably more than any other artist in my collection. Listening to excerpts from her last three albums have not been encouraging. But from 1995 to 2001, I went to see five Nanci Griffith concerts. The second of those at The Royal Albert Hall was absolutely top drawer. I think that sometimes you grow out of an artist. A few of my female country singers are now far too country for my taste. But I shall always go back to Nanci's classics, and think of my early morning drives to site
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Number 86 - This Girl Is Taking Bets by Thea Gilmore

Anyone who knows me would have always expected Thea to be on the list. And this time I have to thank Johnny Walker for playing this song on his early evening show. So eight albums later, (I passed on her debut album and her Christmas collection) her stand out track is still the same. That is not to say there is nothing else to enjoy on these recordings. In fact, some of her latest releases have garnered critical acclaim. So why no real success? I think that you have to go back to her wonderful 2003 album Avalanche for her strongest set of songs. She has always written great words, but I feel that she has yet to repeat the melodies she attached on her earlier work, and these have become a little repetitive. But the two concerts I attended at The Stables in Milton Keynes were full of energy and well received. I have just noticed she has a live album out, so this is now on order.

Number 87 - Doesn't Have To Be This Way - by Alison Krauss and Union Station

Pushing top spot in my list of favourite singers is Alison Krauss. She released her first album at the age of sixteen in 1987, already with Union Station as her backing band. She had earlier joined the band as fiddle player at the invitation of their then leader John Pennel. I don't have any of her early recordings, but there is a very good compilation of songs from 1987 to 1994 called "Now That I've Found You". It includes new material with the title track being my introduction to her music. I have all the albums she has recorded since, from "So Long So Wrong" in 1997 (which includes the fabulous "There is a Reason"), "Forget About It" and it's stand out title track in 1999, "New Favourite" in 2001 to "Lonely Runs Both Ways in 2004 from which my selection is taken. Her music just gets better and better.

Her only album since 2004 has been the collaboration with Robert Plant in 2007 on the critically acclaimed, but to me very ordinary album "Raising Sand". So it's been a long time to wait for a new solo album, (as always with Union Station) but "Paper Airplane" is due in April. And hopefully a tour. Whilst on the subject of the band, their instrumental tracks can be outstanding. There are also the occasional vocals from Dan Tyminski or Ron Block. The 2002 live album includes the brilliant "I am a Man of Constant Sorrow", Dan having sung the George Clooney part in the film "O Brother Where Art Though". Alison and Dan had contributed other songs for the soundtrack. Finally I have to mention Jerry Douglas who joined the band in 1998. The greatest Dobro player in the world. Just listen to his contribution on my chosen song, only surpassed by Alison's own haunting violin solo. The song itself is written by Robert Lee Castleman who has contributed another three for this album, together with the 2002 Grammy Award winning "The Lucky One", "Forget About It" and "Let Me Touch You For A While". All recorded by Alison Krauss and Union Station.

Number 88 - Building a Mystery by Sarah McLachlan

Sarah just creeps ahead of Alison Krauss as my favourite female singer, mainly because she writes nearly all her own material, unlike Alison. Again it was thanks to Radio 2 for playing her single "Sweet Surrender" from her classic 1997 album"Surfacing" that I first became a fan. This album (from which is taken my chosen song) and it's predecessor from 1994 "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy" are the best she has made, and I never tire of playing them in their entirety. An earlier album "Solace" from 1991 also has some great tracks. I have also bought all every album from then on (except Wintersong) and whilst pretty good, have never quite reached the dizzy heights of those earlier classics.

In 2004, Sarah toured the UK, and I could not make up my mind whether to see her at The Royal Albert Hall or Cambridge Corn Exchange a week later. In the end I went to both, and I was so glad I did. They were excellent concerts. Her live album "Mirrorball" is possibly my favourite live album, but then Thea's is only on order. It was hard to choose one track. "Angel" will be the favourite of a lot of her fans, and "Sweet Surrender" is also on the album "Surfacing" from which my choice is taken. All in all, one superb recording.

The Oscars

2011-02-28T05:06:00.000-08:00

Although The King's Speech triumphed at The Oscars, even Tom Hooper unexpectedly winning best director, it was not my favourite movie of the year. In fact I disagreed with all the following categories. These are my favourites:

Best Film - Inception

Best Director - Christopher Nolan for Inception

Best Actor - James Franco for 127 Hours

Best Actress - Noomi Rapache for The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (and the trilogy)

Best Supporting Actor - Geoffrey Rush for The King's Speech

Best Supporting Actress - Helena Bonham Carter for The King's Speech

Having just been to see The Fighter, I nearly changed my mind and joined the Academy's choice of Christian Bale and Melissa Leo for the last two categories. Their performances were just a little over the top to get my vote.

A New Arrival

2011-02-25T02:44:00.000-08:00

This is our new cat. We have not quite settled on a name, but Archie is favourite at the moment. He came from a retired couple in the village where he was upset by their new dog. He is a quite nervous at the moment but is settling in really well. Maggie spits at him, but they avoid each other most of the time.

The Cabinet War Rooms and The Churchill Museum

2011-02-24T04:08:00.000-08:00

I would not usually venture into London during half term week, but Alison's sister Anne and her daughter Emily were staying with us and wanted to visit the capital for the day. They (and Alison) plumped for St Pauls Cathedral, but as the two of us went there two years ago, I went with them on the train and made a detour to Westminster to visit The Cabinet War Rooms which were on my list of places in London that I wanted to see.

Just down Horse Guards Road, the entrance is tucked away from the street. But once inside, there is lots to see, and down the first corridor is the War Cabinet Room. All the rooms, and there are lots of them, have been restored to exactly how they were during wartime, and mighty impressive they are. From telephone and broadcasting rooms, to private rooms for senior officials and officers, kitchens, conference rooms, Churchill's own bedroom and my particular favourite, the Map Room as the photo below. The audio tour was very good, narrated by Geoffrey Whitehead, instantly recognisable from his playing the father in law to Martin Clunes' Reggie Perrin.

The fairly new Churchill Museum is situated in one huge area half way round. The displays are very modern looking and include exhibits from Winston's childhood up to when he died. His time as Prime Minister during the war is obviously a large part of the museum. I loved the map which showed all his numerous journeys abroad during wartime.

The only disappointment was that the cafe was too small and the queue too long. But as I still has some time before meeting the others, I found a kiosk on my walk around St James' Park (that is over the road from the Cabinet War Rooms) and grabbed a welcome hot chocolate. I avoided anything to eat, as we were all going for afternoon tea, Anne had two for one vouchers.

I met everyone back at St Pauls and we made our way to the Bloomsbury Raddison Hotel just off Tottenham Court Road. We sat in the very nice lounge for sandwiches and cakes, which ended up being quite filling. It was soon time to make our way home and the quick train from Marylebone. The forecast had been for rain, but I was the only one to get wet, and that was from the car park to the station in the morning. A cloudy, chilly day, but a very enjoyable one.

Great British Railway Journeys - The West Highland Line to Mallaig

2011-02-17T04:03:00.000-08:00

Michael Portillo's BBC2 series "Great British Railway Journeys" came to an end this week. It was such a nice half hour programme to watch in the early evening before dinner. The latest trip was around the west of Scotland and the last episode of all was from Fort William to the port of Mallaig. This was part of the West Highland Line that was voted the world's greatest rail journey in an independent travel magazine. This final stretch of the line goes over the world's first concrete viaduct at Glenfinnan where Michael is filmed with his head stuck out of the window. It is also notable for the Harry Potter movies where the Hogwarts Express is on it's way north.

But it will be for ever in our memory as we watched it from the road on our way last summer from Fort William to Mallaig where we caught the ferry to The Isle of Skye. Michael Portillo was filmed at the end of the last programme on the same ferry after a short visit to Mallaig itself. We missed the first ferry and therefore had time to wander around the harbour on what was a lovely sunny day. We managed to have a leisurely lunch before a crossing that was so beautiful in the sunshine. We were very lucky.

The Killing

2011-02-16T02:49:00.001-08:00

Following the Swedish crime dramas "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" trilogy and the "Wallander" series, comes the Danish 20 part police investigation into one murder called "Forbrydelsen" or "The Killing". It is slow, sombre, bleak, moving, powerful and brilliant. I only caught up with it following a couple of reviews in the press, and have watched the first four episodes on the BBC iPlayer before recording the latest episodes on BBC4.

The story revolves not only around the police investigation, led by the terrific Sofie Grabol as detective Sarah Lund, but also the effects on the dead girl's family and the politicians involved. Each episode covers one of the consecutive days, a bit like "24" but one day instead of one hour. Fortunately two episodes are shown back to back, so we only have to wait ten weeks for the resolution. Currently my favourite TV, having ditched "True Blood", "Boardwalk Empire" (after one episode), "Outcasts" (after twenty minutes), "The Promise" and "Mad Dogs". These are dramas that I watched with anticipation, but ultimately gave up. Thank heavens for "The West Wing".

Morning Glory, Brighton Rock and Black Swan

2011-02-11T04:10:00.000-08:00

I just loved "Morning Glory". It was such an entertaining movie. With Harrison Ford being so grumpy you just had to laugh, and he was ably supported by Diane Keaton as his co anchor to be on the morning show "Daybreak", not to be confused with the Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakly disaster vehicle of the same name. But the star of the film is Rachel McAdams. Her performance reminds me of a couple of hyper females I have known, but she brings such an endearing quality to the role that just bowled me over. Not an Oscar nominated performance, but she would get my vote for the knockout stardust she spreads throughout. Wonderful.

There was much to enjoy in "Brighton Rock". Rowan Joffe has transported the book and original movie from the 1930's to 1964 and this works really well. Although having been at college in Brighton during the same year, I may be biased. It certainly seems brighter and more colourful than I can remember, but this is probably down to the cinematography as the film looks so good on the screen. I have to admit never having read the book by Graham Greene or having watched the 1947 movie. But this meant I was able to see a gripping story unfold. However I was just not convinced by Sam Riley in the lead role as Pinkie. The character had, for me, a menacing reputation that Riley fell far short of delivering. He certainly looked the part, but his monosyllabic voice and one dimensional acting never lifted the movie to the heights I expected. This was a shame as the other actors were superb. Andrea Riseborough was brilliant as Rose, and Helen Mirren, John Hurt and Andy Serkis were terrific. The original movie changed the ending of the book, and the remake kept the same change. Having read about the book's finale, I would have much preferred they had kept to Greene's. Instead what we got was so unreal and contrived, I think it let us down.

I was so looking forward to "Black Swan", a psychodrama with a splash of horror thrown in, and Natalie Portman up for an Oscar. But what a strange movie. For once I had to agree with Danny Leigh (co-presenter of Film 2011). There was just something that did not seem coherent with the script. Claudia Winkleman, the main presenter, said you just have to go with the flow, and to a degree I understood what she meant. I think for me, the hallucinations that Nina experiences when she tries to let the black swan into her fragile state of mind come far too late in the movie. The earlier manifestations to her hands and feet are quite gruesome, but director Darren Aronofsky misses more real horrors of her eating disorders, obsessive training and absence of any real relationships. However Natalie Portman does present an outstanding portrait of a ballerina on the edge. She is hardly ever off camera, but that leaves little room to explore the other characters, who come and go too quickly. That said, the movie is gripping in a manipulative way, and for me, the scenes of actual ballet performance make up for any disappointment with the plot.

The Life of Riley

2011-02-11T03:51:00.001-08:00

It was sometime since I had seen an Alan Ayckbourn comedy, so when his latest play "The Life of Riley" came to visit Oxford, I grabbed the opportunity to go with Zoe. And what an enjoyable evening we had. It is about a man called George Riley who finds out he is dying. But the trick is we never see George. His life is dissected by the three couples who perform on stage, typically for Ayckbourne in three gardens and a farmyard.

The actors are the same from the original Scarborough production and good they are too. Led by a very funny Lisa Goddard, they mostly bring a warm and comical edge to their characters. Except for the cool Simeon and Monica, the latter played by Laura Howard who is known forever in our house as the Cully, the daughter of John Nettles in thirteen series of Midsomer Murders. "What are you doing here Cully" as she unexpectedly turns up after a long absence.

There are some dark moments, but these are designed to contrast with the humour that had me chuckling along all through. Vintage Ayckbourn.

Edith Agnes Leather 1901 - 1986

2011-02-04T08:38:00.000-08:00

My maternal grandmother, Edith Agnes Leather was born on the 4th August 1901 in Rotherham. Her father was George Robert Leather who had moved to Rotherham from Castle Northwich in Cheshire to play football for Rotherham Town, more of him later. He married Hannah Elizabeth Boler in 1892. They had seven children of whom Edith was the fourth. I can only remember one of Edith's siblings, her younger sister Nellie. When John and I used to stay with Edith (Nanan to us), we would always make a visit to Auntie Nellie (actually our great aunt). She had married a Mr Clifford and we would often see their son Peter from whom I have a note about our mutual footballer ancestor.

Nanan lived in Rotherham all her life. She married Ralph William Askew on the 1st August 1921, and their life together is recorded in my posting about Ralph of 2nd November 2009. He died on 13th April 1945, so I cannot remember him. Just a few years later Edith married again to Harry Frost. He is in the photograph above with Nanan and Mum. He had lost an arm in a mining accident and I remember very well the false limb he would attach when we went out. He had a son Douglas from his first marriage who lived at home, along with Nanan's sons Geoff and Donald when John and I used to stay for a week over the summer holidays. All three sons worked shifts at the Tinsley steel works, so there was a lot of coming and going. I'm not sure now where there was room for all of us. I think John and I used to sleep in Nanan's bed, so where they slept is anyone's guess. I know they had a very loud clock in their bedroom as it stopped me getting off to sleep, but probably only for the first couple of nights.

I have written more about our times there in recollections of my early life. Enough to say here that Nanan was very generous, and patient on those many occasions when John and I would fall out. She was a wonderful cook. We were extremely well fed on our visits. A cooked English breakfast and superb dinners. Her Yorkshire puddings were fantastic. Hard to say if they were better than Mum's, but memorable nonetheless.

Nanan had lived at 58 Wordsworth Drive in Rotherham for as long as I can remember. We continued to make the occasional trip there when we were older, and Nanan sometimes came to visit us in Braintree. By this time all her children had married and so it was just her and Harry until he died sometime in the 1960's. Nanan died on 24th March 1986. She had outlived mum which was always a source of sadness for her. I went with Dad and Margaret to her funeral, but we did not stay afterwards.