Archive Entries for 2024
Wednesday April 3, 2024
The 39 Steps
An excellent show and the good news is it is on tour so you can almost undoubtedly still catch it.
I am very fond of The 39 Steps, whether it be in book form or the films with Robert Donat, Kenneth More, or Robert Powell - and the latest BBC adaptation that I can remember starring Rupert Penry-Jones. Hence I was dead keen not to miss this tongue-in-cheek stage version, even though I spent the afternoon suppressing a persistent cough I've had for over a month (...mask, bottle of water, and boiled sweets...).
...And it did not disappoint (despite the distracting cough and worry over our enforced convenient-but-time-restricted parking right outside the theatre!). The staging was delightful and creative - and extraordinarily challenging, due to the wide ranging scenes covered in the plot: from apartment interiors, music hall theatre, train compartments, acrobatics on the train roof, crofters cottage, political meeting hall, hotel bedroom, and police station, through to the wild chases across the moors (o yes - defying expectations, it was all included) - and all taken on by four actors, playing 139 roles!
Most of the versions of the story mimic the earliest film, as it introduces a female love interest not present in Buchan's 1915 novel, (no women to be found there!), and this production is no exception. Modern tellings of the tale - when not totally rewritten - almost have to be tongue-in-cheek comedy due to the "outdated attitudes, language and cultural depictions which may cause offence today" nature of the overall chauvinistic story - even when the most gross examples of misogyny and xenophobia have been expurgated.
Posted on April 3, 2024 at 7:43 PM. Category: Art and Culture. | Comments (0)
Sunday March 31, 2024
Books in March
- A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka [Read by Siân Thomas]
My sister recommended this to me as a humorous book - and it was very funny. Thinking of it after the experience of reading it (or listening to it), it does indeed leave me with the feeling of having read a comic tale. However, during the process of reading it, I felt it was rather a sad story, covering the experiences of refugees and migrants seeking a "better" life in the UK. It was all told from the point of view of siblings whose foolish and ageing father was apparently being bullied and taken advantage of by a much younger woman; her single ambition was to achieve "right to remain" in the UK through marriage. However, none of the characters were entirely sympathetic - or entirely unsympathetic in the case of scheming Valentina, though you can't help but sigh with relief when she finally leaves.
Despite many positive reviews from readers (of which I would be one), I was a bit surprised to find that the professional reviewers were not so enamoured, criticising it for lack of character development and over-simplifying its themes. I can't say I disagree with the points they made, but I did not find their issues detracted from the presentation of the story - I'm not sure it was ever meant to be "deep" in that sense. - Down Cemetery Road by Mick Herron [Read by Julia Franklin]
In my reference to Alan Judd's novel last November I quoted him as saying Mick Herron has "....a most original and amusing take on the spy genre, nothing to do with reality, of course - as Mick well knows - but that doesn't matter...". I was a bit oblivious to the clearly unrealistic nature of the Slough House set up, as they are written with such a realistic and dramatic tone, even taking into account the occasional humorous scenes. However, this novel, (first of the Zoë Boehm series apparently), comes over as more light-hearted and generally unrealistic - though nonetheless tense and violent...
Not wishing to add a total spoiler the novel ends with the words "everything's going to be alright..." - which pleases me, (a fan of the "happy ending"), but I might have liked a bit more unnecessary prose to completely reassure me of that! - So Much Blood and Not Dead, Only Resting by Simon Brett [Read by Simon Brett]
Because of the fantastically good updated adaptations of the Charles Paris stories for BBC radio by Jeremy Front, it's hard to believe that they started life in the 1970s - So Much Blood was the second book, written in 1976. It covers a week at the Edinburgh Fringe - a very different beast from today's Fringe - where Charles is putting on a lunchtime one-man show which he has written from the poetry of Thomas Hood. He shares the theatre space and lodgings with "DUDS" (Derby University Dramatic Society), when an on-stage tragedy in rehearsal leaves him shocked and not a little suspicious that the accident was no accident at all. The descriptions of the atmosphere in Edinburgh during the Fringe in those earlier times reminded me of my stay there in the 1980s: nowhere to stay, fewer venues, terrible amateur performances - and yet also gems... and when you found one - what joy!
From 1984, Not Dead, Only Resting, as the title implies, covers a slow period for Charles, where he seeks work with a friend running a decorating business - and arriving with their paints in the "empty" flat they find a corpse...
Both stories are excellent whodunnit mystery plots, and Brett applies his usual light-hearted humour in poking fun at the acting profession. -
Dead Man's Folly by Agatha Christie [Read by Roger May]
Not my favourite Christie book so I was not too disappointed to realise it was actually an abridged version of the book (which I try to avoid). I'm not sure why I don't like the story as I think the plot is rather clever, involving an inheritance conspiracy, not unlike "A Murder is Announced". I think I'm not convinced by the initial "intuition" that makes Ariadne Oliver contact Poirot in the first place, and the drunken ferryman with his little traditional rhyme providing a key clue, (don't worry, it won't be any kind of a clue for you, the reader!).
Definitely worth a read though.
Posted on March 31, 2024 at 9:17 AM. Category: Books of the Month. | Comments (0)
Sunday March 17, 2024
Baby Jesuses
These little guys have been occupying my attention for a couple of weeks - and the pleasure of restoring them has slightly renewed my interest my seemingly abandoned porcelain doll hobby. They belong to my friend Chris; she does not have two full-blown nativity scenes, just these two figures handed, down through the family and making their appearances at Christmas. However, over the years they had become quite broken and her family were encouraging her to ditch them - but I thought they were quite lovely. Chris had attempted a repair with plaster of Paris (they are plaster figures) but it's not very workable and the result was ... well... awful.
So, initially, I had to carefully pick off all the added plaster without further damaging the original or causing more paint to flake off.
I moved on to mending the major breakages on the larger figure with Superfine Milliput - one set of fingers reattached to the hand using wooden pegs. The other fingers, which were completely missing, I moulded using air-drying clay - pegged them in place - and added more milliput. I did try cleaning, but I suspect he has some layer of varnish like an old oil painting and I could not seem to remove it - even using just water - without removing underlying paint layers, so his face and neck have remained a little discoloured.The smaller figure needed work on the (much more intricate) fingers, and the remoulding of a foot.
Then, there was a lot of sanding, painting, and blending using Seeley's body paint - which is great as a smooth covering layer but was hard to match to the original paint. I had to discipline myself to a "less is more" approach, because the figures are relatively roughly made, and in some places I found myself sanding rough areas that were part of the original casting. So - after all that, I touched up other areas using fine surface filler, acrylics, emulsion paint (his gown) and a gold roller ball pen! A true multi-media figure.
[Note that I looked up the plural of Jesus which agreed with what I thought on the matter, but the reference noted that " Jesus is rarely if ever pluralized" - however this would be a case in point...]
Posted on March 17, 2024 at 8:23 AM. Category: Crafts. | Comments (0)
Monday March 4, 2024
Dune 2
An inevitable outing to see the second part of the drama. Don't ask me about the plot, (almost felt I needed to read the book again - it's only been 50 years or so), but the visuals were amazing.
Posted on March 4, 2024 at 9:12 PM. Category: Art and Culture. | Comments (0)
Thursday February 29, 2024
Books in February
- Close to Death by Anthony Horowitz
The fifth in the perfectly splendid DI Hawthorne series. In this book, as promised in an interview I heard in 2022, Horowitz (Anthony) varies the style in his role as "Watson" recording the cases of Hawthorne, the "consulting detective".
It seems Anthony has a contractual obligation to the publishers for another book, and since, as he explains to Hawthorne, they can't just wait for another case to turn up, Anthony persuades Hawthorne that he will write about an old case which took place in Richmond in Surrey 5 years previously. However, when it comes to it, they've agreed on a case that proves somewhat unsatisfactory in many respects, not least because Hawthorne seems unwilling to reveal all the relevant information to Anthony. Consequently - despite being warned off by a number of people - Anthony goes off on his own, investigating and re-interviewing witnesses...
Again we are treated to a fictionalised but plausibly real version of Anthony's life with anecdotes and insights into an the art of writing a novel. [Plus an opportunity for him to play with the fiction he has created: "A lot of writers say that their characters talk to them but very few of them mean it literally."].
A sheer delight.
Can't wait for more.
[Again lucky enough to be given a review copy of this novel due to be published in April.] - The Night House by Jo Nesbo
This Jo Nesbo novel was quite a surprise for me (not an unpleasant one). Having only ever read his Harry Hole detective fiction previously, I was expecting a dose of conventional Scandi Noir. I suppose, to be fair it is pretty noir, and given that Jo is Norwegian, it is also Scandi; it is, however, far from conventional.
I remained unsure for most of the novel if the genre were science fiction/fantasy/horror or if we had a case of the unreliable narrator, but whatever I settled on, I was undoubtedly gripped from the opening chapter, and found it hard to put the book down thereafter. With two (or more...) major twists to the plot, and - all important for me - a most satisfactory ending, this is an excellent book. Recommended if you can cope with weird. - The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle [Read by Stephen Fry]
I have read most of the short story collections but notice, from where I left a bookmark in this last volume, I did not read all of them. So I chose to listen to ones that were new to me, and found - a surprise to me - that Doyle varied the form a little, for example, having Holmes write and narrate a story himself without Watson.
Once again Stephen Fry is an excellent narrator.
[Again I downloaded The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes from my local library, as opposed to buying the whole collection from Audible.]
Posted on February 29, 2024 at 9:15 AM. Category: Books of the Month. | Comments (0)
Cluedo 2
I missed out on Cluedo 1 but I did very much enjoy this Cluedo 2.
It's a splendidly stagey play with delightful tongue-in-cheek costumes, and apparently minimal props and scenery - but really only because of the skill of the scene changes smoothly executed by the cast almost as part of the action. Everything is colour-coded of course - with the introduction of few extra characters and a "Mr Grey".
I do have to mention that it was somewhat lacking in any real plot - but then so is the board game - and with the lovely visual interest and excellent acting, plot becomes very much an "also ran" element.
Posted on February 29, 2024 at 8:58 AM. Category: Art and Culture. | Comments (0)
Saturday February 17, 2024
Textile Sudoku
Our Guild workshop today was with Jennie Rayment - a wonderful teacher whom I would recommend unreservedly. She was extremely polished and well-organised and took us through a packed agenda, ensuring we made all our pieces ready for taking home at the end of the day ready for embellishing ("twiddling") further (if required!).
Here are a couple of examples of our completed items:
This is as far as I got with my square by the end of the lesson - all the elements are in place, so you can see how interesting it it that they turn into such delightful origami pieces once "twiddled"!
Posted on February 17, 2024 at 7:31 PM. Category: Crafts. | Comments (0)
Saturday February 3, 2024
Drop the Dead Donkey - the reawakening
We went to Richmond to see this tour of Drop the Dead Donkey, which was essentially a follow-on ("where are they now?") from the much-loved sitcom from the 1990s. It was aimed exactly at us fans of a certain age, and totally hit the mark. Great fun.
Posted on February 3, 2024 at 8:20 PM. Category: Art and Culture. | Comments (0)
Thursday February 1, 2024
Guildford
Today I met Alison in Guildford on a mission to view the available replacements for her Pfaff sewing machine, which has started to go wrong. Far from feeling the excitement of this opportunity to get something shiny and new, coming to terms with parting with the old one is very difficult. We purchased our machines at much the same time over 30 years ago and they are old friends, so I know how she feels. And even now, with the machine safely snugged into her workroom, there is a frisson of disappointment that it really offers no improvement on her old machine, and inevitably has one or two annoying quirks that she needs to get used to.
I looked at the brand new Bernina models - eye-watering prices that I could possibly afford - but I would not feel able to let go of my old (fully functioning) machine - and I really don't need two.
We lunched at the Ivy, (belated birthday celebration - though I did not stand on the chair and receive a cake with a sparkler!), and Alison gave me some wonderful sheepskin mittens that she got for me while holidaying in Norway.
Posted on February 1, 2024 at 7:28 PM. Category: Days Out. | Comments (0)
Wednesday January 31, 2024
Books in January
-
Death in a Lonely Place by Stig Abell
An excellent follow-up to Death Under a Little Sky, having accepted the premise of our hero Jake managing to live off-grid, subsisting only on his small inheritance, and without a "proper" job. Once again, Jake manages to make up for the lack of the latter by embroiling himself in uncovering a major criminal enterprise - albeit not without a considerable amount of help in the shape of a useful (though slightly bordering on criminal) neighbour, ex-colleagues in the police, slightly implausible tech wizards, and Jake's veterinarian girlfriend, Livia. [It could be argued that Livia and her daughter are more of a liability than a help but...].
The plot moves at a good pace and culminates in tense action scenes, with an unexpected twist of an ending. Once again, the descriptions of the English countryside are a delight to read, and provide a peaceful counterpoint to the sinister atmosphere and sense of anxiety which pervade the plot.
I remain less than keen on the allusions to sex in the novel - from reading the author's acknowledgements, I think he should listen to his teenage sons... Less is more. [Don't get me wrong here - there is not "a lot" of sex in the novels - just .... basically, maybe it's not romantic enough...] - The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle [Read by Stephen Fry]
I have read this collection and I'm a huge fan of the Jeremy Brett TV series, so I am well familiar with these stories. However, Stephen Fry is an excellent narrator and I chose some of my favourites to hear again.
I think my overall top story - I admit, based mainly on the TV adaptation - is The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle. The drama includes a delightful character performance by Frank Middlemass (love him), as well as that slavish attention to detail, where, for example, we see "The Pink 'Un" peeking out of the pocket of the poulterer (a betting man), even though - unlike on the written page - the referencing dialogue has been cut (not vital to the plot). In addition, the TV story is full of Christmas nostalgia, and thus there is more focus on the fate of the wrongly-arrested chimney sweep and his family - Holmes and Watson abandoning their evening meal on Christmas Eve to ensure he is released back to his wife and kids, which they do not do in the original as written. Again I salute the staging of this TV series - the sweep/wife/kids are depicted as a very ordinary working family and they do not attempt to over-glamorise them, (or the reverse!).
[I downloaded The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes from my local library, as opposed to buying the whole collection from Audible.]
Posted on January 31, 2024 at 9:16 AM. Category: Books of the Month. | Comments (0)
Wednesday January 10, 2024
Noises Off
I've seen a couple of productions of this play (plus the film) and - despite reports from others of "rolling in the aisles" I never found it very funny.
This production at Chichester, however, did indeed see me laughing out loud, and it really does need to be seen on stage - the film can never give you the same delightful live view of the backstage mayhem that ensues while the play-in-the-play continues to be delivered on cue to the imaginary audience with all cast and crew dealing with personal crises.
I did feel that some of the reviews rather missed the point in suggesting that it is a play that would appeal to an audience of "a certain age". [Although they were spot on apparently as I and most of the matinee audience were of that certain age and did seen to be enjoying it!] The play-in-the-play ("Nothing On") is a farce, and I suppose that along with the slightly slapstick humour might drive you to a conclusion about the demographic - but really it's a play about staging a play... with slapstick humour...
Anyway - splendidly staged with immaculate timing all round. The run at CFT is now over but you may be able to catch it at other venues on tour.
Posted on January 10, 2024 at 9:06 PM. Category: Art and Culture. | Comments (0)
Monday January 8, 2024
Shark Attack!
Deborah's bag from 2013 (was it really that long ago?) has been in storage for a bit and suffered the consequences - she thinks moth but probably mostly mice. Sad to see it in this state but gratifying that it was obviously well-used before being stored, and that she wants to use it again now!
I had only a tiny morsel of tweed left from that project but was able to order a new piece from The Harris Tweed Store on the Isle of Lewis, with which I replaced one entire side of the bag. The rest of the (minimal) damage I darned and reinforced with patches glued invisibly on the inside.
In case you've forgotten, this is how it looked all those years ago - and now does once again.
Posted on January 8, 2024 at 12:07 PM. Category: Crafts. | Comments (0)
Friday January 5, 2024
Christmas Jigsaw - "P"
George fits the last piece to the Mike Wilks jigsaw: "P".
Again only 1000 pieces.
Phalarope, Panda, Peacock, Pharoah, Pestle, Peach....
Posted on January 5, 2024 at 4:50 PM. Category: Staying at Home. | Comments (0)
Wednesday January 3, 2024
Order restored....
So while I was out all day shopping - a magical being came and tidied the garden...
Posted on January 3, 2024 at 6:52 PM. Category: The Garden. | Comments (0)
Tuesday January 2, 2024
Chaos in the garden
Scary goings on. (It was a bit windy).
Posted on January 2, 2024 at 2:29 PM. Category: The Garden. | Comments (0)
