I like to have one cultural stimulating fix a day. Who needs substances? Well I guess a lot of people do. It is sad when there is so much other stuff about, costs less, is legal and does not harm the self or others.
However my fix cannot become an addiction, or an end in its self. I packed in 40 experiences in 28 days of which only two were inconsequential and therefore unnecessary: The League of extraordinary Gentleman and Tension at Table Rock.
There were two experiences in live theatre. The extraordinary but incomplete Lypsynch. I sent my note to LePlage via his PA and she said she will pass them to him, along with the others who have responded to the invitation. I will see the final edition if I can.
Thatcher, a musical cannot be compared yet its impact will be more lasting because it covered events which I experienced affecting my work and those for whom I once had responsibility.
There were a dozen films with only one in theatre, Dreamgirls which I enjoyed and was subsequently delighted that Jennifer Hudson got her Oscar. Does she have a Myspace site.No.
Until last year I had a Cineworld monthly unlimited film subscription, where attendance was concentrated outside of the school holidays packed with films for families and where only now and again were international films shown. Now I can go to the Tyne film theatre, and to whichever multiplex is convenient with access to three in the neighbourhood and a little further afield. I will go to more when the DVD postal club has been exhausted.
About Schmidt mattered most, I liked The Little Riders and enjoyed viewing the Cotton Club and the Kingdom of Heaven again. The Abyss had its moments.
However there were two TV experiences which were of profound value: The bad mothers handbook and a Poliakoff, Gideon's Daughter. Other films viewed were Lavender Hill Mob and Kind Hearts and Coronets both seen in theatre decades ago on first release; Onegin viewed in theatre on release and again on DVD to see if my reaction was any better. It was not Also Secret Passage.
Primeval new series is OK but where is it going? A Waking the Dead episode, dealing with ongoing Nazism and the continuing consequences for so many lives was a masterwork episode. I can watch any episode of West Wing whenever I check and one is showing and must have seen most at three times. The cross between TV and DVD was the recent discovery of Lost and I enjoyed the first five episodes of series 1 on DVD and will try and work through from this point without moving on to the current series where one recent episode created the interest.
There were three sporting experiences, one of which will live on but not of the order of Johnny Wilkinson ultimate dropped goal to win the world cup against Australia:This was his come back against Scotland is the stuff of boys own. Pity the Irish then spoilt the party, but good luck to them always. We beat Liverpool 2.1 with much good fortune. But the outstanding come back was the English One day team first against Australia, then New Zealand and then twice in succession against Australia to win the one day triangular tournament. A long way between this and the world cup, but beats the InterTo cup to be presented to Newcastle this coming Thursday. I will do a matinee at the playhouse, visit mabel and watch the match on TV.
I saw Torvil and Dean twice, once at Wembley and then in a tent at Nottingham and therefore their Ice dance celebrities competition has been a must see last season and this, but I have been unable to make up my mind who to support and who will win.
The two events which had the greatest immediate impact and will continue to do so. The first was the discovery that Gibraltar Radio was now on line. Me and Gibraltar merit's a book. But I will try and produce some work to explain in the meantime.
The second was to attend my first major live major pop rock concert since June 2003, although there were five free concerts in a local park in summer which included international artists of former days, The concert itself was highly enjoyable, but led to looking at the X factor site, discovering Myspace and the rest they say is history, or hopefully will become so. What a great new portal I have entered, it's a bit like Pan's Labyrinth though.
That rounds up the round up.
Well it does regarding cultural events, But this is a month in perspective not just cultural experience
There was no new important work creation to record. There was a reasonable continuation of set making with 137 in total with the majority divided between more than a third development and another thirs confidential. There was only four creative work sets and these were of written material, one with photographs, but the photographs are descriptive with little attempt to be creative, let alone artistic.
There were two reason why the target fell short of the ambition range or 150-200. First there was work on 100th birthday celebration albums where the creative narrative and layout was completed in January. Then there was the submission to the Secretary of State for Health for advice following completion of two Health Ombudsman reports regarding the premature and preventable death of the aunt who provided mothering in childhood.
My reading of the Old Testament was negligible as was further work in learning Spanish although I have acquired a set of CDs via the Sun ( and some of the first series of Coast from the Times where instead of obtaining one for the North East it contained a duplicate of Yorkshire to the Humber and no South East Edition.
Despite the failure to weigh myself regularly and undertake controlled exercise and abolish snacks, the weight has held between 15.4 and 15.7.
My inner life was balanced, there has been no physical life for over four years by choice, as has been my direct involvement in politics. There was almost nothing new to record under confidential which was not as sad as that might suggest. March has already entered into a new dimension.
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