Tomorrow, When God Was a Rabbit and Faith Fox

 

An interesting concept, Paula is awake in the early hours contemplating what she and her husband will tell their sixteen year old twins in the morning. So that is it. It's as if Paula is already talking to her children in her head. About their history and all they need to know. Obviously something big and dramatic, especially for her husband Mike: "He'll need all he can muster tomorrow".

What is also interesting for me was that Mike was born a month after me, his dad (like mine) was away in the war in 1945. Mike and Paula met at Sussex University at the time I was at Brighton College of Advanced Technology (now Brighton University). We might have brushed past each other at a Saturday night gig, maybe that appearance of Dave Bowie and The Buzz. Mike and Paula "shared rented basement in Earls Court". Mine was a top floor attic in Chiswick.

I actually enjoyed how we were kept in the dark about the big secret, the prose is as brilliant as ever and the monologue format worked really well. However, I felt the story ran out of steam towards the end when a contrived memory of near disaster seemed out of context. So it actually outstayed it's welcome, unlike the perfection of "Mothering Sunday".

Despite my love for Sarah Winman novels, I was going to give this book a miss as I thought it was about a six-year-old girl. However, I actually preferred that first part of the book to the older Ellie. Our narrator is an even older Eleanor Maud, looking back on the events of her life. She was born in 1968 and the first part takes place around 1975 and the second twenty years later. It is the family that is of most interest. Nancy is Ellie's father's younger sister and a minor film star. Her story is wonderful.

There is a lot of humour in the story. In particular, a few pages about a nativity play (that I nearly skipped), reading it late one night I had to stifle my laughter on a number of occasions. Ellie has a best friend, the erratic Jenny Penny who one day cuts off all communication. Only to re-appear, but not in person, when Ellie is an adult. Lost then found. For a first novel this is quite outstanding. Full of rich and witty prose.

 I really wished I had kept a note of all the characters as they appear in this book. I remembered most, but lost track of Madeliene and Puffy, Pammie and Giles. At times, the alternating stories of the multiple characters and places left me dizzy. The book could also have done with being a third shorter than it's tightly packed four hundred pages.

But then Jane Gardam's writing is always first class. Chapter 21 begins: "Suppose yourself a gargoyle or perhaps a bird, or a very small photographer hanging in the basket of a very small balloon up in the vaulted shadows of the roof of the great hall of Farnham Castle on the occasion of the reception of for the Seton-Fairly wedding." Lots more, then "Stay up there in the rafters for comfort ...... or if you must swoop down" and so on. Seven hundred guests but no food?

Some of the dialogue is outstanding. Thomasina and Madeliene in a cafe escaping the wedding and getting something to eat. Thomasina loves her garden, "in dungarees, then tight pants, then jeans, then floppy trousers as the years rolled by". She opens them twice a year for National Gardens. I loved some of the other characters, eleven-year-old Philip brings some light relief, as do Faith's grandparents Toots and Dolly. On their own, they would have made for a better book. More important characters less so.

Cheltenham Literary Festival

 

When I found that two of my favourite authors were appearing at the Cheltenham Literary Festival, one on the Friday night (Elizabeth Strout) and the other on the Saturday morning (Ian McEwan) I had to go.  I then found out that there was a large festival site situated at Montpelier Gardens. These were originally laid out in the early part of the nineteenth century to complement the Pump Room for the new Spa. For the next two weeks they are home to the Festival complex.

I arrived at the Travelodge on a late Friday afternoon and set out for town centre at dusk ready for the first event at 8.30pm. Not at the Festival site but at the Town Hall. But first I had to find somewhere to park. All the advice was that Cheltenham was a nightmare for parking and park and ride was to be preferred. But I had my plans about where the car parks were situated and took a risk. What happened next was totally opposite to the advice. As my hotel was on the other side of town, my first idea was to turn left at The Lansdown and take it from there. But I found myself on the old regency Lansdown Cescent where there were was stacks of empty spaces with meter parking that was never advertised. These cost £0.97 on Friday and £1.55 on Saturday. They must be a well kept secret, or no-one drives in from this side of town.

The top photo shows how close this is to Montpelier Gardens, only ten minutes walk away. 

So it was dusk as I arrived at the Festival site. My first plan was to find somewhere to eat. The stalls outside did not look inviting. 

However, inside the Feast Cafe there was a good choice. 

I went for the Oriental Noodles with sweet and sour sauce. I have to say it was delicious and just what I wanted. After exploring the other venues (different to the Hay Festival that was all under one roof) I was off to the Town Hall. This part of Cheltenham is very impressive. Lots of high class restaurants, all very busy, including Brasserie Blanc.

Then a big disappointment when arriving at the Town Hall (below) I found that Elizabeth Strout had cancelled after apparently having a bad fall. She actually appeared in London two days before so I guess that was right. So back to the Travelodge early to watch the end of England Lionesses beat the USA at a full Wembley Stadium.

Saturday morning was bright, cold and sunny. I was at Montpelier Gardens early for to explore in daylight. Then to The Times and Sunday Times Forum for Ian McEwan. The biggest of the temporary venues that looked exactly the same as where I saw Maggie O'Farrell and Rose Tremain at Hay. 

The venue was packed for this popular author and he answered questions about his new mammoth tome Lessons. The story of one man's life that, he told us, that was only a quarter based on himself. I was impressed that McEwan is now seventy four and able to express himself so clearly. 

The proceedings were, however, interrupted by a medical emergency that put the interview back fifteen minutes. One question was about what writer originally inspired McEwan to write and the answer was Franz Kafka. Heard the name but never read anything. I now know that McEwan's latest very short novella in paperback ,The Cockroach, was a tribute to Kafka's Metamorphosis. I will try them back to back.

On leaving the venue I encountered a huge queue of mainly children waiting to go in The Garden Theatre, finding later is was about Harry Potter. But no JK. Another queue to get in Waterstones so I headed back to the car and home. I was impressed by Cheltenham, although petrol was 10p a litre more expensive than at home. And I had no idea that GCHQ was in a suburb as I passed it on the way in. Might be worth another visit sometime.

Nightcall by London Grammar

 

The latest trailer for the Ridley TV series (starring Adrian Dunbar) features a song from the wonderful London Grammar. It is a track on their album If You Wait. I need to hear some tracks from their latest album Californian Soil to see if it will go on my Christmas list.

The cast from Ridley is shown below.

Don't Worry Darling - The Soundtrack

 

I am indebted to the website soundtracki.com for the following list of songs from the movie Don't Worry Darling. The trouble with tunefind.com is that there are some songs played twice in the movie that only get one mention on their listing whereas soundtracki not only describes the scene from the film (which tunefind does not) but when the track appears twice we are told where in both cases. For example Peggy Lee sings "Where or When" for two seconds in the film and one minute and fifty five seconds as the first end credits song.

However, soundtracki splits their list between songs on the official album and those that are not. I have tried to consolidate these into one definitive list, but because there are two lists there is some difficulty finding the right order in which they appear in the film. Scene descriptions etc are all on the soundtracki website.

The Right Time by Ray Charles (or Night Time is the Right Time as the song is listed twice on soundtracki)

Bang Bang by Dizzy Gillespie

Where or When by Peggy Lee and  the Benny Goodman Trio

Comin’ Home Baby by Mel Tormé

Oogum Boogum Song by Brenton Wood

You Belong to Me by Jo Stafford

5-10-15 Hours by Ruth Brown

Tears on My Pillow by Little Anthony & The Imperials

Twilight Time by The Platters

Sh-Boom by The Chords

Who's Sorry Now by Connie Francis

To Know Him is to Love Him by The Teddy Bears

Little Girl Don't You Understand by Bobby Freeman

The End of the World by Skeeter Davis

Need Your Love So Bad  by Little Willie John

Sleep Walk by Santo & Johnny 

Sleep Walk by Konye Global 

You Belong To Me by Helen Foster and the Rovers

Poor Little Fool by Ricky Nelson

Sing Sing Sing by James Horner

Purple Wall by Red Prisock

Mambo Boogie by Johnny Otis

Desafinado by Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd

You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To by Ruth Brown

The End of the World by Skeeter Davis

Someone To Watch Over Me by Ella Fitzgerald

So I'm not at all sure if these tracks are in exactly the right order. I might have missed a couple of instrumentals, and even soundtracki have a few songs listed without a scene description. But this is the best I can do.

What made the film for me were the tracks from my youth, particularly Connie Francis, The Platters, Ricky Nelson, Skeeter Davis and of course, Ella. And others that were familiar even not knowing the artist. 

Sh-Boom by The Chords - End Credits Song for Don't Worry Darling

 

I needed confirmation that Sh-Boom by The Chords was actually the song over the end credits as I was preparing to leave a showing of Don't Worry Darling. Tunefind lists the song but has no scene descriptions for the movie. However, I have found a new website called soundtracki.com and it confirms that as well as thirteen seconds early in the film, it also has one minute and fifty eight seconds as the second credits song (the first being Peggy Lee's Where or When. I have an LP of hers but The Chords are new to me. Even though I knew this 1954 song so well.) 

Sh-Boom is quite appropriate for the film's ending as I actually thought it was called "Life Could Be A Dream" which I find is an alternative title that says it all. So Tunefind is no longer my point of reference for film music. I will post later about the full soundtrack to Don't Worry Darling, filled as it is by mostly songs from the fifties. (Right up my street).Thank goodness only one from Harry Styles. Sorry to that band of teenage girls who probably were there for more. But they did see him dance. I found it as embarrassing as it was probably meant to be.

A note on 1941's Where or When. Tunefind tells us that is by The Benny Goodman Trio, but that is because we first hear two seconds of instrumental early in the film. So they miss the end credits where one minute and fifty five seconds (according to soundtracki.com) brings in Peggy Lee for the vocal.

Windsong at Morwenstow

 

The apartments called Morwenstow sit high above the cliff tops overlooking St Ives. The photo below is taken from the harbour in St Ives and Morwenstow is the second building along from the the trees on the left.

The photo above is taken from the apartment where we stayed called Windsong. The beach on the far left is Porthminster which can be seen better below.

We were on the next to highest floor so the views are spectacular. Like these one morning.

And at night.

There is tiny place off the main bedroom with a seat that overlooks the bay.  We took turns to read a book and take in the view.

Holiday in St Ives

 

When we visited Alison's sister and her husband in St Ives two years ago, we were impressed with their modern rented apartment in a block high up above the coastline with great views across to the town's headland. So this year we booked a similar apartment called Windsong in Morwenstow for a week late in September. It is a fifteen minute walk downhill (and obviously uphill back) to the centre of St Ives, but the views are worth it. 

FRIDAY 23RD SEPTEMBER

We left at 9.45am on the Friday (quite early for us). We reached the beautiful National Trust property of  Lanhydrock at 2.15pm, Alison having driven the whole way. The roads were fine and no hold ups. We sat outside the cafe for a nice lunch and then a circular walk from the parterre to the paths high above the rear of the house. Having stretched our legs, we left at 3.45pm for the last leg to St Ives. However, we had a delay of half an hour in the roadworks where the A30 dual carriageway is being completed. We arrived at 5.20pm to a lovely sunny late afternoon. Driving time five and a half hours plus an hour and a half stop at Lanhydrock and half an hour's delay on the A30. The view from our apartment was worth the long drive.

SATURDAY 24TH SEPTEMBER

We awoke to light  rain on Saturday morning but it cleared as we arose. It turned into a beautiful morning as we started our walk down to the town. We went straight onto the first stretch of sand which is Porthminster beach. The tide was out so we were able to walk on the sand all the way to the harbour in St Ives and right up to all the boats that were beached at high tide.

Up onto the coastal path and up onto the headland above. We sat on benches and walls in the lovely sunshine. We followed the path down to Porthmear beach. At the far end we climbed back onto the pavement and made our way past The Tate and along  the streets of St Ives. It started to rain and we ducked into one tiny cafe for a late light lunch whereupon the rain stopped. We walked along the front, back in sunshine, and up the path back to Morwenstow. In the late afternoon Alison donned her wetsuit to try the waves while I read my book. 

In the evening we found a table at Harbour Fish and Chips. For me, accompanied by a lovely pint of Sharp's award winning Offshore Cornish Lager. We needed a torch for our way back up the hill. Apart from that short shower, the day had been mainly sunny, some cloud later and 16C. 

SUNDAY 25TH SEPTEMBER

Another sunny morning for our drive to Godrevy Point. We parked at the furthest National Trust car park (free for us members plus a toilet block) at the far end of the headland. After watching the seals at Mutton Cove, 

we walked along the path towards Portreath. Past Kynance Cove and onto The Knarocks. 

My legs were starting to object so we headed back and had lunch at the car park. Once more the tide was out so we took the steps down to the beach at Godrevy Rocks where the boulders were covered in mussels. 

Again we could walk along all the beaches to Peter's Point. Lots of surfers with two beach guard vehicles.

There was one place where there was an outfall where we had to remove shoes and socks. We started back along the dunes but soon gave up and went along the beach instead. We crossed a bridge and picked up the path near the road back to the car park. A brilliant day. Watched an England v Pakistan T20 before walking into St Ives for dinner at Caffe Pasta and Pizzeria. This time we walked back next to the well lit main road, The sunny day turned cloudy at the end, but there was no wind and a pleasant 16C.

MONDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER

I was a little tired after the previous two days so had a quiet morning while Alison went exploring in St Ives. i managed three film reviews and some other updates on this Blog as well as reading in the window. Alison brought back pulled pork and ciabatta rolls for lunch. In the afternoon we drove to Tesco car park for better reception for a previously arranged call on my mobile from the surgery. We had time for a late afternoon walk into St Ives and a tour of many of their galleries which were very quiet by this time. We had dinner with the England v Germany Nations League match. It had been mainly cloudy with only odd spots of rain and 15C.

TUESDAY 27TH SEPTEMBER

The rain started just after 9.00 am and didn't let up, mostly very heavy. I was glad I had my laptop and was able to write up the holiday so far. As well as completing a Samurai Sudoku. Then at 4.30 pm the rain stopped so we grabbed our coats and headed for Carbis Bay, the opposite way down the coast path from that to St Ives centre. The cliff path followed the railway until we crossed a bridge and headed down to the beach. We passed the Carbis Bay Hotel where they held the G7.

We walked on the sand of what is a fairly small beach, remembering the photos of the G7 leaders taking a photo opportunity in the same place. We were back by 6pm, just in time before the rain started once again to rain all night. 

WEDNESDAY 28TH SEPTEMBER

A bright start to the day and we headed for Penzance and that huge car park next to the harbour. Also there was the bus station and  Alison had the bright idea of taking the short bus ride  to Mousehole. Somewhere she had never been before and if I had been, it was too long ago to remember. A very pretty place and a lovely harbour.

We walked along a deserted sea wall, sheltering under the umbrella for a series of short sharp showers every time the sun came out. We had our flask of coffee where the sea wall comes to an end.

The showers gave up and we had a nice wander around the back roads and the odd gallery. We took the bus back to Penzance and got off at the back of the town to walk back down the old high street to the harbour. We had a look at the newish shopping centre that seemed quite vibrant when we last visited Penzance in 2008 when we walked the way to St Michael's Mount (was that really fourteen years ago?) but now most of the shops were closed. On our way back we called in at Sainsbury's for provisions and petrol. I watched yet another England v Pakistan T20 and sat reading in that super alcove overlooking the bay while Alison went for a walk into St Ives. A Mixture of cloud and sun with those funny short showers only in the middle of the day. 15C.

THURSDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER

After some sorting and packing, we walked into St Ives and had a lovely walk along the front, lots of stops including sitting on benches around the harbour. We had a late lunch at The Seafood Cafe (45 Fore Street) where we both had the very nice fish pie. We then walked to the end of the harbour wall where the waves were great in the lively breeze. 

A final tour of the shops brought some very nice purchases until it was time to get back to the apartment to do the final packing for an early start. The forecast had been for heavy rain and strong winds on Friday and we wanted to beat it home.

FRIDAY 3OTH SEPTEMBER

We left at 8.15am and beat the rain. But only just.