Miss Garnet's Angel, Machines Like Me and Platform Seven

Venice has never seemed so enticing as the book is set well before the influx of cruise ships and mobile phones. It seems a lot less crowded. Tourists yes, but they never get in the way. Miss Julia Garnet, spinster and retiring teacher, is a wonderful character in the hands of this great writer, and the characters she meets on a prolonged break are all interesting, especially Monsignore Giuseppe, the small ugly but brilliant priest who becomes a friend later in the book. When Julia is embarrassed about an early encounter that disturbs her heart, he tells he "The heart is a breeder of embarrassment. But we are all of us imbeciles in this area, that you can rely on".

Wound into Miss Garnet's "adventures" are extracts from The Book of Tobit, part of what is called the Apocrypha. These are ancient stories from before the old testament, if I got that right. Whilst I found these boring at first, they gradually take on an exciting significance to the story. Miss Garnet's early visit to the priest explains the origins of the Chiesa Dell' Angelo Raffaele, the small plague church that is so integral to the plot. But it is Charles Cutforth (he and his wife Cynthia also become friends) asks "How much of that is bullshit", to which the Monsignore replies "One should never dismiss bullshit, Carlo. The greatest truths lie in improbable stories. Look at the Gospels!".

So whenever the Monsignore appears, he is witty as well as clever. "You could have knocked me down with a feather from the wing of the Holy Ghost". He ends up being a miracle of fiction. This is an emotional book written with intelligent prose. Well researched and unforgettable.

After his last two easy reads ("The Children Act" and "Nutshell") Ian McEwan ventures into the murky world of artificial intelligence and robotics. At times his prose simulates the intellectual background found in Adam, "the first truly viable manufactured human". His owner is Charlie, in love with Miranda who occupies the upstairs flat, and who, together, embark on life with their new friend. But Adam is learning all the time, complications are bound to follow.

McEwan takes advantage of Adam's progress as he pontificates on many of life's mysteries. At one point Adam describes at length the end of literature when "the marriage of men and women to machines is complete......we'll inhabit a community of minds to which we have immediate access".

However, it's Miranda's secret (the cause of her earlier reticence and distance to Charlie), at last unveiled in one superb chapter, that takes the story to a new level. But can we trust that Adam's love for Miranda will keep her safe?

I have never known a book where I loved so much but hated the rest. For me, this is a book of two halves, starting and finishing as a superb fantasy drama, the middle third turns out to be something quite nasty. I just cannot handle the psychological abuse that our narrator, Lisa Evans, endures in the middle third. Most of that I skipped.

But when the author tales us on journeys around Peterborough and gives us lots of philosophy about life, she is at her best. There are even witticisms at times: "How alluring a supermarket seems when you haven't been in one for ages" and "A good marriage is all about judicial timing when it comes to the announcement of unwelcome information". Then about men she tells us "how sweet and baffling they were, how it was fine as long as you remembered that some of them had a limited range of emotions. It was all about managing your expectations ....... not asking too much of them or expecting one of them to be everything".

Somehow I didn't recognise the centre of Peterborough, even though I lived nearby for five years. But that was over forty years ago! I'm not sure if I ever went near the station where much of the book is set. Anyway, half of the book I loved and the other half I hated. It was just about worth it for the last part where the author wraps it up with some more lovely stuff. Why couldn't it be all like that?

The Films of Pedro Almodovar- Part 2

The following films are on a box set of DVD's called The Pedro Almodovar Collection. They are better than his early movies, but only the odd one shows real promise.

From 1989 comes Tie Me Up Tie Me Down starring a very young Antonio Banderos. One of Almodovar's favourite actors, this was already their fifth collaboration. (They come full circle thirty years later with Pain and Glory, my favourite film of last year. Nominated for best international film and best actor at the Oscars, it won lots of other awards). But the star of the film is Victoria Abril. Although partly a romantic comedy, it veers into uncomfortable territory with it's depiction of abuse. It would never be made that way today.The story has too many faults, but the cinematography is a step up, possibly with a bigger budget.

Another young actor, this time Javier Bardem. His co-star in Live Flesh  from 1997 is Francesca Neri and there is a supporting role for a young Penelope Cruz. Nothing memorable about the film except for Bardem confined to a wheelchair.

All About My Mother in 1999 was the big breakthrough for Pedro Almodovar. It was a huge leap forward in both his writing and direction. There is a wonderful performance from lead actress Cecilia Roth and good support from Marisa Paredes and, again, Penelope Cruz. The ensemble acting of the actresses was top drawer. The film won best international film at the Oscars, and also at the BAFTA's where it also won best director and nominated for best screenplay. Barcelona looked great the music was lovely and it was quite emotional. It's one of those films that if you just go with it, you get the reward. I just wish I had seen it at the cinema.

Looking at a clip from the Oscars of 2000, Almodovar must have known he had won when Antonio Banderos and Penelope Cruz came on to present the nominations for Best International Film.

There seem to be always controversial parts of an Almodovar movie, not least in 2002's Talk to Her. I skipped the part on bullfighting. Although it was integral to the story, another device would have been much better. Again the ensemble acting is first rate. The director now knows how to get the actors to relate to each other. There is a small role for Chus Lampreave towards the end that is pure genius. quite a sensitive story, but one of the leads (Javier Camara) is so creepy. I wasn't surprised  what happens to him at the end. It is quite a sad film.

Bad Education from 2004 is definitely not my type of film despite a wonderful performance by Gael Garcia Bernal. Here he plays both brothers with panache. And he who went on to star in The Motorcycle Diaries and Babel amongst many others. Playing opposite is Fele Martinez as a young film director, and as this is supposedly autobiographical, we must assume this is a young Pedro. But he is actually telling the story of Ignacio and Juan, the brothers. Again the ensemble acting is great. It is one of those movies you wonder for the first half just where it is going. But it is all to set up for the wonderful second. A tiny part for Leonor Watling who last appeared in a coma in Talk To Her. Almodovar does like casting actors more than once.

The Nile Hotel Incident

Whilst the Cairo of 2011 is not the most hospitable or attractive place in the world, it does give director Tarik Saleh a wonderful backdrop to this captivating thriller. Shot entirely on location, the dirty urban landscape is always watchable. There is one amazing moment of contrast when the film visits a rich enclave that has massive security and manicured gardens.

The death of a glamorous night club singer brings in Noredin (a perfect role for the superb Mares Mares) to investigate. But he is soon involved with police and political figures way out of his league. Corruption and cover ups are typical of this classic film noir. There are lots of references to other more famous movies of this type.

Always in the background is the political upheaval of the time that leads to the Tahrir Square demonstrations that provide the climax to this powerful thriller.  It deservedly won the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize (Drama) at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.

Acanthus and Powdery Mildew

Acanthus are always at risk of developing powdery mildew. In fact they are the first plant listed on the RHS website that is in danger of attracting this fungal disease. This only occurred on the plant above after the flower heads were developing, and there were so many this year that I resisted the option of chopping down to ground level.

Apparently the answer is to provide a good mulch in the spring and to remove the bottom layer of leaves to allow air to circulate. Overhead watering in mid morning in dry weather may help.

The Concrete Container Revived

These first two photos were from an earlier posting about the removal of the holly tree.

I found the concrete container hidden away under the bushes at the end of the side patio. I must have had it more than twenty years, and it always looked ugly. But maybe it always needed painting. I found some masonry paint online and two coats were enough for a brand new look. Hopefully the shrub I planted (Sarcococca Winter Gem) will reach it's predicted 1.5 meters in height.

The Films of Pedro Almodovar - Part 1

One of my favourite directors is Pedro Almodovar. I thought it might be interesting to watch some of his early work I had not seen. On the Studio Canal DVD The Almodovar Collection are the following movies.

Dark Habits is from 1983 and typical of the director's early work. Interesting but slightly amateurish. His writing could be called experimental. The first we see of Carmen Maura and Marisa Paredes.

Carmen Maura takes the lead role in some sort of black comedy. What have I Done To Deserve This from 1984 is no better than the first.

Law Of Desire (1987) is remarkable only for  an early role for a young Antonio Banderas. Carmen Maura again appears. Typical of Almodovar's sense of fun.

Carmen Maura and Antonio Banderas are here again in something more interesting. Women On the Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown (1988) is a farce that is humorous without exactly being funny.

In 1993's Kika, I think Almodovar was trying too hard to be satirical. Mixed with the odd sordid episode, it didn't work for me. Veronica Forque and Victoria Abril try their best.

Finally, and at last, Almodovar is writing with some panache. There is little story to The Flower Of My Secret (1995), but a nice romantic drama starring Marisa Parades. There is promise here of a brighter future for the director.

First coffee out after lockdown

The last time we had a coffee or meal out together was the middle of March. So today, after our four mile run up and down the hills of Wendover Woods, we sat outside the new cafe social distancing in place. My first time at a cafe for nearly four months. The weather was cloudy, so no need to find shade. There are so many tables outside including a whole new batch on the grass below.

We wondered if we would see anyone we knew, but the two we did meet were quite unexpected. Dick had only just arrived back from nine months in Spain. The run was fine. Lovely and cool under the trees. If only it was just less hilly.

Experiments in the Garden

I was horrified when I followed the instructions from Monty Don on Gardner's World and cut down all the old flowering spikes from the Delphinium Pacific Giant. Apparently it would regrow and possibly flower again. He said to leave on the foliage, but this was only on those spikes I removed. So for over a week it looked dead. But then this week there are signs of new growth  coming up from the ground. Hurrah!

Into July and the Delphinium is growing back with a vengeance.

Below is the Astrantia Roma as it was in May.

After it had flowered,  I cut back all the old stems as the photo below. Already there is regrowth, looking fresh and healthy. For future reference, I covered the base with compost as a new mulch.

It didn't take long before the new growth started.

Into July and there is even the signs of a new flower.

Below is the Viburnum.

When Pat Kernan came to look at taking down some trees, I asked him to take out the Viburnum bush as the leaves had been destroyed by a blight. However on his advice I tried a pyrethrin based spray to deter the beetle that is eating the leaves. And low and behold there are already new leaves sprouting at the top.  Apparently spring is the best time to spray, so that is on my list.

One of the perennials I thought could be better with the "Chelsea Chop" in May was the Achillea above. So I tried cutting the one at the front of the photo above, now towered over by the one I didn't touch.

Then the Asters.

The Asters above have never flowered that well, so this year I have left a patch as the top photo and chopped those at the bottom. They flower late summer, so that will be interesting.

The flowers on the Astrantia Snowdrop below only faded at the end of July, so now this has been chopped to the ground. Watch this space.

Tring Book Club: The Soldier's Return by Melvyn Bragg

It is 1946 and Sam is back from the Burma Campaign of the second world war. Post war England is richly described by the author, although the story itself is a bit by numbers. It reminded me of one of those kitchen sink dramas of the 1950's, important that it reflected the times, but the hardship of those days does not make an entertaining read. Lots of domestic stuff ( at times unremitting drudge) but very little plot. Or is it that my own father returned from Burma and the story is too close to home?

The pot is completely linear, with very small episodes when Sam remembers his experiences in Burma. I thought these would be far more important, but they are very short. at one point Sam is in a pub, sitting on his own in a corner with his pint, but nothing about what is going on in his head. This is typical of the prose that is easy to read, but of little literary merit.

The characters are all a bit one dimensional, all except Sam's wife Ellen. Almost too good to be true, the story is always at it's best when she is in it. The opposite goes for their boy Joe. His passages are mostly depressing. Which is a shame, as although I was a few years younger than Joe at the time, and lived with my parents at the house of my grandmother, there was a warmth that never came across in the book. Then at Joe's age, I still remember the smell of my father's uniform hanging in the wardrobe, and the cap he still kept. Yes, there was an outside lavatory with cut up newspaper for loo roll.

I just felt that Melvyn Bragg wanted desperately wanted to tell the story of a returning soldier, and the struggle he would have with his family and friends. It's just that this didn't make an interesting book, important though it was to describe the times.

This is what I wrote a few years ago about my father:

Before World War 2, my father was a trainee manager at Davy’s, a grocer in Sheffield. That is probably why, at the beginning of the war, he joined the Royal Army Service Corp. We know he was in Egypt in 1939. He is mentioned in a letter from his grandfather, Vincent, to another grandson, Basil Buchanan, dated 4th February 1940: "........... the third grandson went out to Egypt two and half months ago. He is in the Army Service Corps. I had a letter from him the other day and he is quite happy". From his stories, he seemed to spend most of his time racing around Egypt on a motorbike delivering supplies.

I guess the happiness did not last, as Dad contracted malaria, asthma or a disease caused by the heat. He had to be shipped home, but had to wait in various places for the first boat going west. This is how he came to be marooned in South Africa. Apparently, he had to wait some time for a boat, but enjoyed his time there immensely, being well looked after by the locals.

Back in England, the army was desperate to find more officers. I do not believe that Dad sought a commission (he was quite happy as a Private or Corporal in the RASC) but his background made him an ideal candidate. He always said (according to my brother Paul) that it was because he knew how to hold a knife and fork properly.

So off he went to Dunbar in Scotland for officer training (OCTU). This made a big impression on him. He was destined for the infantry (The York and Lancaster Regiment). It may have been around this time that he learnt how to use a rifle. He could always remember the instructions on how to load and fire, and as I remember he was an excellent shot.

So, Dad joined the Second Battalion of the York and Lancaster Regiment as a Lieutenant and was posted with them around March of 1944 to India on their way to Burma. This was the Burma Campaign that took place from January to November 1944. Apparently, Dad had made strong representations to join another battalion going to France, as he knew that another trip to the sub-continent would result in the same illness as last time. But the army had no flexibility, so off he went to India and onto Burma.

Dad had married my mother in December 1943, and was away when I was born in December 1944. He arrived back around the July of 1945, eight months after the end of the Burma Campaign, so somehow, he survived the fighting. How much of that was down to contracting that illness again, I do not know. But he was away for sixteen months.

On his return, he lived with my mother at her parents who rented a house in Rotherham. I know it had an outside toilet (with torn up newspaper for toilet roll) as that was how it was when we visited as children. He went back to work at Davy’s, resulting in an extremely long journey there and back every day. Eventually they secured their own home in Totley on the outskirts of Sheffield, which is where I started school.