1708 An amazing cricket day and Ballykissangel

I awoke sufficiently early to attend to several activities before settling down to divide my day between watching Durham at Somerset and undertaking some work at the computer or photographing completed sets.

In contrast to yesterday the morning was bright and temperature reasonable. After washing up and washing me, and completing my notes on Helen Keller and the fictional Esther Costello I made my way to Jarrow, to visit Wilkinson’s to see if they had any of black coloured set volumes which I need for the completed MySpace and Google not writing. This was a success with five bought as well as two more red and three bluish.

On the way I discovered that work on the second Tyne Tunnel has commenced creating additional problems on reaching the present entrance area which has to be negotiated before be able to take the road into Jarrow centre and Morrison’s Car Park. The work should be completed during 2012. The second tunnel similar to that on Merseyside has become essential but how effective it will depend on improvements to the approach roads and to the paying of Toll facilities at the North Tyneside end or start depending on which way you are travelling.

On my return journey I forgot to position myself at one junction with the consequence of then having to take a different route which brought me one end of Fredericke Street where the former Plessey Factory and then site of the replacement electronics factory and which once employed over 2000 people has been cleared in an attempt to rejuvenate the area. By coincidence I had written about the factory and the shopping street in December 2007 and only last night transferred the writing from MySpace to Google. I found the connection between the mistake and the recent work interesting.

On return the first interest was the news of those selected for the Test Matches against the West Indies at Lords and then Durham followed by three one day matches where the side for this is to be announced later as well as for the World 20 20 competition. Michael Vaughan former Captain and a centrally contracted player, as is Steve Harmison have not been included. However Graham Onions has been selected for his first cap in the 12 and is likely to play with two spinners in the selection. This means he will not be travelling to Brighton for the Sussex game but Steve will. Liam Plunkett will be available to take his place after appearing for England against the West Indies Touring side.

There was an extraordinary change in the county game with new Batsman Mustard joining not Blenkenstein and struggling to get any runs as Somerset had sharpened up considerably over the previous day. The immediate task was to increase the total to over four hundred runs to gain the final and fifth batting point. I misunderstood the situation yesterday in that it is only possible to gain 3 bowling points making a total of 8 bonus, with four for a draw and 12 for a win.

The uncertainty about Durham position was reinforced when Mustard was run out for 4 and the score had changed from 284 for 3 to 382 for 7 and where the run rate had halved. Then Ian Thorp added 32 in 53 balls with Blenkenstein steadfastly moving towards 150. Young pace bowler Mitchell Claydon also showed competence with the bat and he and Blenkenstein moved the score forward quickly once more with Claydon 38 in 33 ball and Blenkenstein looking at 175. He was out at 181 with Steve Harmison 10. The total had reached 543. Today their Captain said it had been the right decision to put Durham into bat and the outcome would have been different if the four or five catches had not been dropped.
The task facing the Durham bowlers was to take the ten Somerset wickets before they reached a total of 393, thus making them bat for a second time in succession. Given that Somerset had scored over 600 runs in their last game on a similar wicket this might prove a difficult task although it was to be hoped that Harmison would set out to show that the selectors had been wrong to overlook him and Onions that they had been right to choose him.

What happened next was beyond anyone’s wildest dreams as Durham on of their greatest days bowing against one of the strongest batting sides in the country on a batting sympathetic wicket.

When the score was 12 Onions clean bowled a surprised Marcus Trescothick and then Captain Justin Langer one fo the great opening batsmen of all time seemed to have the situation under control although the other opener Suppiah looked as if he was finding the pace of Durham’s openers a challenge. Then for Somerset the sky fell in. Suppiah was caught and bowled by Onions for 12. Hildreth who had scored 303 runs in the first championship match of the season was out leg before wicket also to Onions and the score was 39 for 3. Only one run later de Bruyn was caught behind by wicket keeper Mustard of the bowling of Steve Harmison for 0). Only nine runs later Nieswetter was caught Thorp off Onions for 0. Then Thorp replacing Harmison had his finest ever spell bowing Trego caught Di Venuto for 4, and bowling Banks for 2 and Stiff for 0. It was 66 for nine with Captain Langer standing bemused and helpless at the other end having scored half the total. Onions got his sixth wicket when Captain Smith caught Willoughby for 0 and Somerset were all out for 69 giving Durham record lead of 474.

The bowing figures were

Graham Onions 14.2 overs 4 maidens 31 runs and 6 wickets

Graham Thorp 6 overs 2 maidens 5 runs and 3 wickets

And Steve Harmison 8 overs 2 maidens 29 runs and 1 wickets.

Sky’s commentary team were universally ecstatic advocates of quality pace bowling and Sky had a memorable television event after the boring and disappointing Test draws over the Winter in India and the West Indies. Durham’s reputation was considerably strengthened and the Sky team were speculating that only Notts might be in competition with them for the Championship this season

It was not to be expected that the rout would continue as Smith continued with the bowlers who had ended the first innings. However the batsmen had found new resolve and determined not to repeat the humiliation and the bowlers had understandable lost some of their fire. Somerset ended the day 83 for 1 with Claydon getting the wicket of Suppiah but Trescothick and Hildreth looking strong. However Hildreth was dropped and one possibility two LBW decisions were not given when they should probably making up for two dodgy decisions which contributed to the Somerset batting debacle earlier. Such days rarely come and joy was to be able to watch rather than listen or read about later.

I enjoyed using pat of the chicken from Sunday to make a Korma curry dish on Monday and yesterday used the remainder for a stir-fry. To day I had the rest of the stir fry and Thai sauce for lunch and then two salmon fishcakes with cold baked beans for the evening meal. There were fresh strawberries for lunch bough from green grocers in Jarrow where I purchased four giant plums the largest I have ever seen. Grapes, bananas and melon have provided fruit over the week so far. I have discovered some thin salt and pepper crackers which are enjoyable on their own or with anchovies, for a snack this afternoon, or with a slice of salami previously.

I missed the third series of Ballykissangel when it was first produced, upset with the departure of the two leading characters. The third series has been that much more enjoyable because my expectations were so low. It was an effective recreation introducing several new characters while retaining the strengths of some of the originals.

The first was the arrival of the son (Sean Dillon played by Lorcan Cranitch ) of a deceased man hated for having created his wealth and built up his farming land at the expense of his neighbours. There were several notable episodes in which he featured with the arrival of his daughter Emma, when he makes his peace with his neighbour (Eamon Byrne- Birdie Sweeney) Birdie was given his nickname as a child because of his ability to mimic birds. Growing up in a poor family of ten he did not turn to acting until in his 50’s. He had 8 children all of whom are now said to live in Philadelphia. The son of his brother also arrives to create a second teenage interest Danny- Colin Farrell who has since had a developing major career in films and TV, culminating with his award winning appearance in In Bruges one of the funniest films of many a year, black, clever and beautifully shot in the City which I have visited. He establishes a relationship with Emma.

Other memorable episodes are when the town forgives him for the his father’s past actions after a tree partially destroys his home and they rally to make the house habitable again.
He establishes a relationship with Niamh the daughter of Brian Quigley after she has married dull and respectable Policeman Ambrose and borne his child. Hit by the death of her close friend Assumpta Fitzgerald she finds the stability of marriage and the demands of motherhood are not for her because of a sense of having missed out on life and the world. When Ambrose dies having discovered the blossoming relationship with Eamon Byrne, she is consumed with guilt and resentment.

The new priest plays a less significant role than before and in contrast to his worldly predecessor has been cloistered in a Monastery for a decade. As the idealist he is counterpoint for Father MacAnally who schemes and enjoys the good life playing golf and drinking whisky, but also is wise and compassionate. He was in his sixties when appearing in 52 of 58 episodes of the series and has continued working into his late seventies. One interesting note is that both the curate priests appeared in the series Father Ted which was religiously watched by my birth and care mothers.

The arrival of the curate priest’s sister provides a friend for Niamh and then for a fiesty relationship with the man who rescues her when the balloon in which she is travelling with Brian Quigley crashes into the sea. For a time it looked as if there would be a relationship with the older Brian who is her kind of strong and adventurous man, As tenant of Padraig for time and who operated the garage she break his heart as well as fancying Eamon Byrne. She is the free spirit running amok in what appears to be a tranquil and traditional Irish community.

The shock of the series is when school master Brendan has a fling with the vet Sioban and they have a child, eventually marrying and living together. We also learn that Kathleen of the village shop who plays the church organ and disapproves of all things modern and of change meets her beau of twenty five years ago and who before going to London to make his fortune, with money given by Kathleen promised to call for her to join him when he was established, but never did.

Brian Quigley continues in his role as the local wheeler dealer acquiring the golf course but shows compassion and understanding when his daughter begins the extra marital relationship and when her husband dies. He also shows hidden talents in the care of her son. The local Doctor is the star of one programme as the winner of the annual horse race on the sands. He appears in 38 of the 58 episodes.

Only two characters appear in every episode and surprisingly this is the pair of self employed workers mainly for Brian Quigley, Donal and Liam. In the latest episode they discover a hurriedly discarded crate of stolen best caviar selling for £80 a tin which they give to the cat before being told what they have. As usual the scheme to sell the find falls apart.

Two established film and TV actors also make appearances. James Nesbitt appeared as the estranged husband of Assumpta Fitzgerald, before making his name in Cold Feet and Murphy’s Law. James Ellis plays the eccentric Uncle Minto in 4 episodes. James had some 50 mainly TV credit shows and series which he has continued

It was a good day but two in a row is not expected

1707 Helen Keller and Nicholas Monserrat's Esther Costello

Tucked away at the end of the free film channel on Sky TV is Simply Movies, a channel which shows quality films produced during my childhood and when a young man. Although I have an increasing number of number of cinema and TV DVD’s waiting to be viewed and which I am look forward with enthusiasm. I delay whenever I come across a gem of a film from a bygone age, especially those with a story which is of concern or priority interest to me.

Such was that of Ester Costello, a film which I have no recollection of seeing before but which combines three issues of profound significance. The film is based on a novel by Nicholas Monserrat, the author of the Cruel Sea.

I was much affected by this World War Two account of a small naval ship whose function it was to try and guard merchant convoys as they crossed the Atlantic and in addition to seeing the film several times over the years I also acquired a copy of the book. I was aware the Nicholas Monserrat had written several books about the war and the navy including Three Corvettes, HMS Marlborough will enter harbour, The Ship that died of shame (also made into a film) and HM Frigate. I knew nothing about the Life of Mr Monserrat 1910 to 1979 or that he had written this important book, albeit a melodrama, The Esther Costello Story..

Monserrat was educated at Winchester College and Trinity College Cambridge which suggests a family upbringing of some wealth and culture. However after deciding not to take up law, his original career intention, he became a freelance writer for newspapers to support himself while completing four novels and a play within five years until the outbreak of the second World War. Nor can I discover information about how be became a pacifist. He has written two autobiographical works which I assume cover his early years and his reasons for rejecting violence. At first he joined the ambulance brigade but then joined the Royal Naval Reserve and then took a commission serving on ships such as the corvettes designed to try and protect the merchant convoys. By the end of the war he had become the Commander of a Frigate. With a love of the sea, from sailing in his youth, he could have continued with a naval career, but in 1946 he resigned his commission and joined the diplomatic service with postings to South Africa and Canada. Then in 1959 after the success of some of his books he became a full time writer living in Guernsey and then the Gozo, Islands of Malta.

I can well understand why his work, the Esther Costello story created such a fuss when it was first released, especially in the USA and that the Helen Keller Foundation attempted to have the book banned and considered suing (according to Wikipedia). This was not surprising given the potential damage the film could have caused, setting back those working for organisations to assist in the care and treatment of the blind, the deaf and deaf blind. I can also understand that the similarity with aspects of the Helen Keller story could have been initially misinterpreted to suggest that author was saying something about the campaigning and fund raising aspects of her subsequent life. Then on considering the film, and the I presume the novel further it would have been appreciated that any similarities were just a commercial coat peg upon which to tell a very different story.

Helen Keller was born in 1880 and was a normal child of a well connected Southern family in the USA whose father had been a Confederate officer and her mother a cousin of Robert E Lee and whose father was a Confederate General. She could have expected a good life from such a background until illness struck her which at the time was not described as meningitis or scarlet fever. She became blind and deaf. She appears to have been about five years of age and would therefore have memory of the visual and sound, a most cruel and traumatic form of disability for both child and for her parents to bear.

I was brought up in a family environment which included an aunt who became deaf, blind, mute and eventually bedridden from meningitis in childhood. And later through my professional and managerial work I had responsibilities and contact with adults who were blind, (visually handicapped and then visual disabilities) terminology which society came to recognise were more acceptable terms, and the deaf, (hearing disabilities) for the same reason and which are also more accurate as it is rare for individuals to live in complete darkness for example. I also grew up knowing that I was different from others, although in my instance the potential disability was nothing like as horrifying, and was became the drive to achieve something with my life more than existing and surviving.

In the true story by good fortune the daughter of the cook, also a child decided that she would learn to communicate with Helen and helped her to learn some sixty signs which enabled her to communicate with the family.

At this point I want to begin the story of the film in which Joan Crawford plays a middle class city based separated married woman with no children who goes on a Family History trip to Ireland and is persuaded by the parish priest to visit the home of Esther Costello who she finds living in poverty with her grandmother after her mother perished in a storm which destroyed part of their home. The priest has worked out that since the break up of her marriage, the character played by Joan is living in a void and searching for something which has brought her to Ireland. He is able to tell her that medical opinion is that the disabilities were caused by the trauma of witnessing the death of her mother and that the experience prevents her from dealing with psychological causes of her condition.

Against her better judgement Joan is persuaded to take responsibility for the girl although at first she sees herself as providing the funds to take the girl to the best doctors and to provide for her upbringing. It is only after Harley Street Doctors confirm the Irish diagnosis that she decided that Esther should attend the best education and training establishment in the USA. It is at this point, given the rest of fictitious story that alarm bells would have sounded by all those concerned with Helen Keller and her story because there is reference to the Helen Keller and what was achieved by one to one teaching In the film this is undertaken by Joan Crawford under professional guidance

In the real life story of Helen Keller, her mother arranged for her daughter accompanied by her father to see the leading specialist and this led to being referred to the same establishment which had been successful with a child which Charles Dickens had written about and which had been read by Helen’s mother. This was the Perkins Institute for the Blind and it was the decision of the school’s Director to ask a former student, visually impaired and only twenty years of age, Anne Sullivan, to provide one to one tuition. Their relationship lasted for 49 years, later as governess and then as companion.

The method used involved touching the lips and throat, and finger spelling on the palm of the hand. It was only later that she learnt to read Braille, not just in English, but also French, German, Latin and Greek. Together the two were at the Perkins Institute for six years and then to New York two attend schools for Deaf, before turning to Massachusetts where Helen attended an establishment for young ladies and then in 1900 Radcliffe College and in 1904, aged 24 years. Helen became the first deaf and blind person to commence work for a Batchelor of Arts degree. This has to be put into the perspective of very few young women receiving higher education at that time, anywhere in the world compared to the number of men. Given the impact Helen had during her life it is fitting that tribute is given to Anne Sullivan who married in 1905 but maintained her companionship with Helen after her health became to deteriorate. In 1914 another young woman was hired to keep house who had not been trained communicate or had experience of working for the visually disabled. However she is said to have settled also became her secretary and remained companion. Anne Sullivan died in 1936 and Helen and Polly Thomson moved to Connecticut where they lived together for over two decades. Polly then had stroke in 1957 and died three years later in 1960. When Polly had a stroke Helen arranged for a nurse Winnie Corbally to care for her and she in turn stayed with Helen until her death in 1968.

In the film of Esther Costello very little is made of training after the opening sequences although she is also shown to have abilities which her disabilities and social position had masked. Very early on because of the interest of a journalist Joan needed little persuasion to use the child to promote interest and attention to the plight of others in a similar situation. From the outset Esther is portrayed as a willing subject who enjoys participating in the fun raising and public education mass presentations which have the appearance of a revivalist service and the herself as a circus novelty and freak. Joan as the substitute mother appears to have never hesitated or debated with the professionals the impact of this upon such a young girl.

This is where the film deviates significantly from the reality of the life Helen Keller which could explain why lawyers decided that legal action would not be successful.

In real life while Helen also campaigned on behalf of those with disabilities, but as an adult and where her main interests were political and social. She became a suffragist, a pacifist, she supported birth control and was fervent socialist being a member of the Socialist Party and supporting its candidate in his campaigns for the American Presidency. She help found the American Civil Liberties Union and founded an international organisation devoted to research in vision, health and nutrition. As a consequence of her work and interests she became an International celebrity, known to USA Presidents and to personalities in a wide range of fields, including Charlie Chaplin, Mark Twain and Alexander Graham Bell. She published twelve books.

I saw the film the Miracle Worker, and other films, including a Disney version either failed to mention or skipped over her commitment to socialism and social idealism, as well as her view of spirituality and religion about which she also wrote at length. Although this clearly was the intention of the book by Nicolas Monserrat Helen would have been very unpopular in the era of Senator McCarthy and anti communism which developed in the USA after the end of World War 2. There would have been many interests, some secretive wishing to discredit, one of the leading spokesperson on behalf of disability in the world.

The Story of Esther Costello is at one level a much more one dimensional feature in order to make a point of the danger that people with severe disabilities can be exploited to their detriment, and that funds raised at spectacular and emotion charged events can be diverted to the interests of others, together with the vulnerability of the disabled to criminal sexual violence as well as sexual exploitation which has been a feature of training establishments, especially those employing the visually disabled. This has been a secretive and dark aspect of specialist establishments in the UK and why I fully supported the approach of integration, not just among all forms of disability, but with the able bodied. I was fortunate to work for a local authority which had one of the best multipurpose centres in the UK, and where I was once the registered publican after a bar was incorporated and which because of suitability of the available space was located next to the chapel and where to the delight of the Bishop of Durham one Sunday morning he enjoyed a pint after taking the service.

Later a magnificent all sing and dancing centre which also provided a range of activities for the elderly was built in another part of the authority and not be outdone a third community helped raise the funds to provide a centre for those with disability to participate in social activities with the able bodied. Given the authority was then one of the smallest in terms of population size in England and Wales the choice and nature of facilities was unique. Nevertheless the local voluntary organisation for the visually disabled resisted involvement in part of the Borough preferring their own facility.

In the film, because of the publicity surrounding the success of Esther being able to communicate, the separated husband reappears and soon takes over responsibility for the exploitation of public interest in Esther and does a deal with someone who acts more as an Impresario than the chief executive of a charitable foundation. The role of the husband is played by the text book Latin Lover Rossano Brazzi. He and his henchman ignore pleas by Joan and Esther that the tours are too much with Rossano exploiting that Joan had remained in love with him despite his departure five years before. When Joan insists that they will give up the circus when the present worldwide tour ends and they return home, so that Esther can go to college, Rossano and his henchman plot to persuade Joan to change her mind. However Rossano has become more interested in the attractive sixteen year old than he has been about the money and lifestyle they are enjoying.

When he learns that his wife is away for the evening and he has the cover of taking a flight to Scotland where the tour ends, he returns to the hotel and rapes the girl before making the journey. When his wife she returns and finds Esther in distress she discovers one of her husband cuff link in the bed she work out what has occurred and takes a hand gun to meet him at the airport the following day. Although not shown it is understood that she kills him and then herself although their deaths are reported as a car accident on their way from the airport.

Early on in the film a young reporter takes an interested and as Esther develops into a young woman he falls in love with her and is hostile when his editor expresses concern at the money being raised and the lack of accountability. The reporter offers to investigate in order to prove his boss wrong and then finds the position is as bad as suggested. The two travel to London to expose the situation as a major event is scheduled to take place the following day. However before setting off to meet her husband at the airport Joan has arranged for the journalist to call at 3pm and we later learn she has also arranged for the Irish priest who introduced her to Esther to either fly over or call as he it had been arranged for him to attend the London event beforehand. The journalist expresses his horror at the way he believes the couple have exploited Esther for their own ends and Joan already intent on what she plans, does not attempt to explain that she has been ignorant of what has happened but fuels his concern by adding that things are far worse than he could have realised.

Given what has happened to her and the news that the woman who rescued her and became a substitute mother has been killed along with her husband, Esther is understandably hesitant about appearing at the show, especially as the shock of the rape has brought back her sight and speech as quickly as it was taken away. The film ends as she make her way towards the auditorium where she is now able to speak.

This 1957 Columbia released film was nominated for a Golden Globe I suspect because of the issues raised and the performance of Joan Crawford. I am not being unfair to Joan in saying as he was never part of the Hollywood glamour set, but she always delivered fine performances and in this film she brilliantly communicates the horror, grief and betrayal at what happens to Esther for the second time of her life and her feelings of guilt at allowing her emotions to have prevented her realising what was going on in terms of the funds raised and her husband’s criminal interest in her ward.

Nicolas Monserrat wrote two books about his life, the first a decade after the writing of Esther and the second a further decade later, so one of these might explain why he choose to switched from writing about the Navy and the sea, or Africa and the then colonies, what seems an unusual story for him and set primarily in the USA, especially as it was sandwiched between his wartime novels with the Cruel Sea earlier and the Ship that Died of Shame seven years after.

I will leave to another occasion further discussion of some of the issues raised in the film, and that a distinction has to be made between those charitable organisations, often religious led where those raising the funds live similar lives to those they are trying to help, from the professional organisations which have the same kind of executive and administrative and professional structure as their public sector colleagues, are remunerated to the same extent but have significantly less accountability.

A very different film on the same channel is If only you could Cook and 1935 piece of whimsy, the USA expression is screwball comedy, featuring Jean Arthur, one of the great actress of the Hollywood Golden era. Jean Arthur was born in 1900 and appeared in over 80 full length films as well as being an outstanding theatre actress. She is known for her appearances in the Mr Smith Goes to Washington and Me Deeds goes to Town as well as The Plainsman, Only Angels have Wings, The Devil and Miss Jones, The Talk of the Town, A Foreign Affair and in 1953, her only film photographed in Colour, Shane. She also appeared in two Dr Fu Manchu tales! In the late 1960’s she taught drama at what became Vassar college where one of her students was Meryl Streep. Her first marriage was annulled after it lasted one day. Later she married a producer which lasted for 17 years. She had no children.

In this silly film she plays an educated young woman searching the newspaper for work at the time of great depression. Herbert Marshall heads a corporation making cars and when his latest designs are rejected by the board as being too adventurous for the times, he walks off in a huff and joins Jean on the Park Bench. Mistaking him for someone also out of work and looking for job they come across a residential position for a cook and a Butler. She can cook and passes a sauce making test at thee interview with flying colours. I mention this because in the only review discovered the opposite is stated that she had to fake the cooking to get the job which suggests the reviewer was paying insufficient attention to the work. The Herbert Marshall character also takes his role as Butler seriously, returning to his home to study the work of his own man servant.
Given this was a Pre Second World War film, when Hollywood tried to pretend that sex even between married couples did not exist so they were frequently filmed in bedroom situations with twin beds how the couple cope with being married for their employers is part of the whimsy which many will find funny, ha ha

The situation quickly becomes farcical when they discover their employer is the head of a criminal gang and one of his henchmen is suspicious of their new Butler and finds out who he is and that he is due to get married, without knowing that this was to have been a marriage of convenience and that he is disenchanted with the idea and the way his life has developed. There are several twists, including the arrest of Jean Arthur and the kidnapping of Herbert Marshall before his wedding can take place. The outcome is a happy ever after relationship between the two.

1250 Fame and Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy

Although I did not have an early evening sleep that I can remember and went to bed at a reasonable hour for me I could not sleep because of thinking about outstanding matters particularly the premature and preventable death of my aunt. It is out of my hands but I need to try and work out what my reaction will be to as many of the possible outcomes

I decided I was not going to sleep and got up and played some chess against the computer to take my mind off the subject. Since finding the game and deciding on achieving 101 games I have played about 1000 games but the statistics have not been recorded on screen for two reasons. First I did not commence to record all games until after the first 150 were completed and now in a misguided effort to switch between levels I successful obliterated all the records games of levels one and three but at least I can register now that on level three I played 242 games of which 205 were won,26 were drawn and significantly an atrocious and unacceptable number of 11 loses. At level two I am still showing 519 games played of which 482 were won, 32 drawn and only 5 lost.

I have worked slowly including cleaning the front room and hallway. Food as so far comprised a ham omelette and smoked salmon on toast with lashings of lemon. I have listened to football and the less said and slept and have commenced the sorting out of accumulated work with ten sets registered. I have watched the last part of Firefox with Clint Eastwood yet again and I had a preliminary look at the Radio Times for the next two weeks and the plethora of films and programmes I want to see all at the same time depending on mood and inclination, and will celebrate this Saturday of Christmas with a lager. I was about to have a Pizza or some fish cakes with beans when I remembered the Tex Mex purchased yesterday at Lydl with 24 pieces of garlic mushrooms, spices potato wedges, chicken wings and onion rings and it was best cooked from frozen for under 30mins and was yum yummy yum yum. However coupled with central heating surround warmth and the three tenors original with I have been there Luciano Pavarotti Torna Surriento but hope to go to Grenada Jose Carreras, El Lucevan E Stelle from Tosca Pacido Domingo: such power such beauty, such intensity, such gloriousness. This performance, the first at the tome oft eh World cup in that magical setting in Rome was dedicated to Pavarotti. Carreras is appearing at the Sage in February. It could be my only ever chance to hear a great tenor live. Tomorrow I will decide.

I then watched the film version of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, I have not read the Douglas Adams books. I never tired of re-watching the six half hour episodes TV series for they contain a splendid mixture of absurdity, the kind of wry humour which makes me laugh and a good story. I remember being tired when I watched the film in theatre which explains why I could not remember opening aspects of the film which was slanted towards the American and British audience which is a polite way of saying that the essentially British humour was dumped down. The great theosophical question which is at the root of the book and TV series is the meaning and purpose of life which involves the deep thought computer taking several billion years to consider the answer as 42 and then spend another odd billion years working out what the ultimate question should be and for this the human race is created by mice to live on earth and do the thinking. Unfortunately the Vogons to work for the President of the Universe over look the importance of the earth in this respect and demolish it as part of the creation of a new space superhighway. Although the plans were a available on a nearby planet system had earthlings found out how to space travel earlier, a bit like planning systems for new by-passes in the UK although since the Adams books everyone has become more sophisticated about the process although the planners and those making the applications have also become more clever at achieving their objective

The question I have is whether it was just accidental that the Home Secretary is to put to Parliament that the police should have the power to detain terrorist suspects for 42 days rather an the present 28 or the originally proposed 90 which was so heavily defeated on the last occasion it was put to Parliament. Was this a civil servant or political inspired moment of inspirational madness by someone who did not know the significance of 42? Or is it deliberate? Or a coincidence? The rational pick a different period of days would have been 45, half the original 90 but my money is on a civil servant who whispered at a briefing meeting who go for a 50% increase from four to six weeks and it was only when the politician or civil servant went home and told their teenage children of their bright idea or suggestion which a minister had taken up that they learnt of the Douglas Adams books, TV series and films. The film ends in such a way to have provided a sequel as Arthur Dent decided not to go back to the recreated earth back to its original condition just before the moment of its demolition in a new location, i.e. the one we presently know, thus explaining why many of believe we have experienced the same situation before, we have.

It was also a second, third , fourth , fifth, probably tenth viewing of Fame with Ms Cara who went on to have success with Flashdance. The success of the film is that for once is conveys the reality of a four year course combining performance arts and basic education with something of the reality of what happens afterwards, for every 50000 perhaps 500 making some kind of living with perhaps 50 a good living and 5 international success and wealth. The film also communicates that to be able to give any kind of performance which will be recognised one has to know the self. If you are not prepared to work very hard, to give of yourself without inhibition and to fail, regardless of your talent, then forget it and going into banking and stocks and shares, or learn to sell rice to the Chinese. I am not sure what Ms Cara gas done and for the others who did their post Fame international tour. Where are they know?

I listened to part of a brief Five Live chat about the latest alleged rape at a footballers party, this time the Man U Christmas Party. Opne caller explained that those arranging the party cancassed leading stores for beautiful young girls to willing to go and be photographed at such events which are notorious for getting drunk, perhaps some drugs and some sex. Self confident girls will know how to deal with such situations just as the Debs developed a simple code to pass on such he is a NSIT Not safe in a taxi. Both sides should expect casulties on and off the field of play. The office Christmas Party held on Friday or Monday si another such occasion, At the age of sixteen I was taken to the pub which Nestled into the seven story building which now houses the Ramdom House publishing company and was given several gin and oranges. I the felt distinctly unwell and was put in a darkened room where at one point although in no fit state other than to hope my head would stop spinning I was kissed by a married woman old enough to be my mother. On the way home I was sick in the toilets of a railway station and stayed so long trying to recover that I received a note under the door offering me some fun. It was the only time that I experienced a handover although not the only time that I became sick drunk. When at Ruskin I was invited to a dinner party of a private dining group of post graduate university staff who did not have a college. Each was expected to bring an interesting guts and my memory was of one who played jazz piano and who used ro runa few girls in Soho. I was expected to say what it was like to have gone to prison. It weas a great feat wih different wines after each course and afterwards I watched the others play billiards at the top of Nuffield tower. I was staying in digs arranged by the college with a lady who had been a female scout at Lady Margaret Hall and who knew every inch of her spotless cottage type terrace dwelling. I had once entertained a female friend to tea in my room when she was out, although the young lady called unexpectedly, we were on the same committee trying to persuade the Labour party not to join in the capitalist European community, and afterwards my lady quizzed about having a young lady in my room, not because of the possible immorality but because she had noticed the stiletto heel marks on the lino up to the first floor. I had told her about the dinner party invite and she had agreed not to lock up on ten understanding that I did so. I just about made it to the room before bringing up the excellent meal in the basin unable to reach the toilet in time, then spending time slowly getting rid with water. I got the same kindly disapproving look on both occasion. I can only recall being really drunk as opposed to merry on one subsequently occasion. It is good to sin now and again but only if you are able to write about it and publish.

1249 Five Film Day. Raiders of the South Seas, Higher Grond, Magic in the Wtaer, The Undefeated and the Great St Trinian Train Robbery.

I am back to wanting to write about the trivia of my experience before trying to write something of significance for me and could therefore begin this piece different ways. Now for example I should abandon writing anything an go out for a brisk walk in the cold blue sun shinning morning of the day before Christmas eve. I thought I needed to go for a walk to buy some sauce to make a dish for Monday with the half of chicken breast from the roast for today. I then checked and discovered that I had a bottle of a concoction for pasta which will do with some rice if I decide that Christmas Eve should be a practical kind of day the foresight to buy a second bottle of a concoction intended for pasta. I shall stay in and do some work and thinking while watching the Great St Trinian's Train Robbery.

This film is being shown by clever programme planners who know that a new St Trinian's film is being released at the cinema? Who are these films aimed for, especially this latest to contribution to our individual betterment and understanding of the importance of all girl residential schools, their staff and their problems? The first films were vehicles for Margaret Rutherford and Joyce Grenfell about delinquent girls with parents who cannot be bothered to bring up their children or care what they do or who looks after them. An entirely appropriate subject for Christmas consideration in any year. I know I am being a spoil sport.

The opening of the mid 1960's film features a gang of train robbers stashing two and half million under the floor boards of a derelict building and then switches to the Ministry of Education where the civil servants are applauding the arrival a Labour Government because it will mean the abolition of all private schools especially St Trinian's. However they have not bargained for a Minister who has a special relationship with the former head of the school who has turned to a more tradition occupation shall we say. He insists on a giving the school a second chance new labour type of grant for £80000 circ 1966 prices, several millions today. Even in those days there are baby doll bedtime wear and gym slips so one wonders what present cinematic inflation will lead to! Alas I am likely to be departed before the new one will appear on the small screen. Time for lunch with seasonal quality over quantity. Some smoked salmon and Italian ham with some sauce included in the purchased pack.

I did not expect to experience such a good night after sleeping through the Hitchhikers guide and staying up to just before 3am, There was one waking in darkness and then again around 7,30 feeling awake again but I decided a Sunday lie in which worked as it was just before 9 am when I awoke again feeling fresh and ready for work

Ho Ho Ho I decided this was the day to begin to win 101 games of chess against the computer. This is rather like running 100 yards in under 10 seconds or 100 metres in under 9. You did it once, you still know how to run, but you forget the concentrated effort you put it to do it for the first time. I must remember never to use the reset button on the Chess game because it seems to reset every level so that this morning I commenced with a blank series although on the bright side this means no draws and no losses to remind me that once I was good enough to lay and win without losing or drawing games along the way. I like to look back and reflect but I am not sure nostalgia is good for the soul.

Back to St Trinian's after the opening frisson the film became a traditional cops robbers experience plus Trinian's girls involving trains. It also has a 1960's offensive racist moment about having a Pakistan English accent. The girls get the reward money, the baddies get caught and the teachers go back to their former occupations and the government Minister his come uppance. The film features Frankie Howard and a young George Cole long before the Minder Days.

The afternoon fare was a New Zealand wartime boy's adventure film Raiders of the South Seas. The story concerns community attitudes towards an Italian treasure hunter off the coast of New Zealand as World War 2 breaks out. His craft is fitted with an imaginative Captain Nemo type auto pilot which enables him to sail the craft on his own as well as undertake diving operations. The community are supportive towards the Mayor whose son has joined up and fighting in North Africa. However he is the baddie and a ruthless one at that for when the young people become suspicious of his smuggling activities to fuel the black market he is the force behind a witch hunt against the Italian which leads to being prepared to kill the young people when they attempt to thwart his attempt to tranship the merchandise. The outcome is inevitable and includes the essential ingredient of a parent who does not listen and adventuresome young people become the heroes. Oh for Enid Blyton and the famous Five or Biggles. I could switch off the telly and listen to the Leone Lewis LP.]

I then watched the first part of Higher Ground. I liked John Denver's music and he used a greater part of his life to promote environmental issues in the US and abroad. His documentary about Alaska was influential but I am not sure about the 1988 film Higher Ground which was a pilot for a TV series. Although he appeared in several films singing and playing his guitar he was no actor and this a conventional story of someone driven into illegal activity who pays the price leaving a wife and son. John is the man to bring justice and perhaps marital and fatherly solace. However I then remembered that the Newcastle Derby game was on TV but should have stuck with the film although the game reminded of the wise decision not to invest £500 in a season ticket and experience disappointment after disappointment. Even though the Sunderland offering has also been a disappointment I have faith in Roy making it and big Sam not. Boxing Day could be a humiliation though.

This is rapidly become a family film day with Magic in the Water which featured a creature, bit of a whale, bit of a dolphin wit a kind heart, and this time the baddies are dumpers of toxic waste and this time the dad who is a psychiatrist who is trying to write a book on vacation and cannot get passed the full stop after writing the words chapter 1 until he starts to find himself as a child again, gets in touch with his children and with the creature from the deep.

The final film of the day was The Undefeated with the great man himself who they called the Duke, John Wayne as an ex Yankee Colonel turning to wild horse collecting for the army whose agents want only 500 and the 3000 available, offering only two thirds of the market price. He chooses to sell the herd instead to the Mexican President whose army is about to rebel at his dependence on the French. Wayne then encounters a Confederate Colonel played by Rock Hudson with a moustache who for some reason I confuse with Gregory Peck and who is also seeking to do a deal with the Mexican President to allow his men and their families have a new start and guerrilla opportunities against the new United States and men such as John Wayne. There is a young love sub plot (just to rub in how racist were the southerners) involving the daughter of the Dixieland colonel and the adopted Indian son of Wayne the new American, and the two enemies are drawn together a series of developments which sees various battles against renegades and the French. However the Colonels their men and their families are forced to return home empty handed but the richer for the experience to the benefit of their new nation.

There were then several competing interests with top of the list of films Pans Labyrinth and two and half hour version of Vanity Fair. I settled for some work and occasional looking at another of the 30th Anniversary Antique Roadshows and the lasts episode of the Queen at work although the programme concentrated on the Royal Firm with interviews with the three sons and daughter, the children of Prince Charles and Diana, the Duke and other relatives. The programme was very effective in its contention that we get value for money although the aim is for excellence rather than an economy model. I tried to work out the number of combined visits to organisations and plaque openings carried out by the Royal Firm and believe it is of the order of 5 to 7 a day between 1500 and 2000 a year which created a difficulty for the Lord Lieutenant of Yorkshire who admitted to one of the visiting Royals that their sister had come the previous day. Based on the series a good case was made but the gulf between the careful modernization according to changing times and the average yob on the street is wider than ever. Spare a thought this Christmas for the Lord Lieutenants of your nation and all those expensive hats.

No so young Leon the winner of the X factor who we followed through his week after being the victor in what some are claiming to be a fixed vote, I can see if one wanted a winner with a good story and potential rather than a winner who came across as too professional and destined to make it regardless of the competition. Surely they would not dare try it on with the public paying voting system after all the fuss earlier in the year. The same was said about political party donations. That one has gone quiet as well. The instant adoration of young Scottish females for Leon was incredible. And he continues to come across as a decent young guy who will look after his mum and family and not go down the Amy Winehouse route. But then he will sound like Michael Bubble and not Amy Winehouse and there is a difference.

For several years when my enthusiasm for British Football waned I became interested in American Football, their national game along with Baseball and basket ball. I supported two teams such is my way, the San Francisco 49's and the Washington redskins and I have the shirts and made trips to watch pre seasons games at Wembley. Continuing my support through to the attempt to create a British and European league based on out of season and former American game stars. This resulted in a few Brits making it over there, I mention this because I stayed up to watch the Washington game against Minnesota but went to bed before the second quarter ended but with my team was 16.0 up and had a score denied over a coach appeal. Now if in our national game we could lodge appeals against scored goals on the basis of a managers appeal as there is now in cricket, that would be interesting.

This continued to be a good food day and I enjoyed half chicken crown with trimmings and divided the remaining roast spuds between today and Christmas Day It is time to remember a supper of cold meats sent from Gib before midnight mass at which the community turned up in standing room only numbers. I have been trying to avoid writing about Christmas because I will upset others as well as myself if I do.

1248 A political Review and consideration of Intelligence

During Thursday I heard part of an interview about the changing standard of intelligence. The well argued thesis is that there are a number of factors which create individual and collective intelligence of which the inherited physiological is but one. For example the home of two parents who are actively mentally will stimulate their only child more than where the parents are not bright or when the child is one of several. This will seem common sense than anything revelatory or profound. The interviewer posed the question is intelligence the same or similar to common sense, alas no said the wise man being questioned. Can it be said that an intelligent man has common sense when he is involved with his six, seventh or eighth divorce or goes to prison for a criminal act with harms others? The wide man suggested, but I may not have remembered the conversation accurately that common sense is more about the ability to lead a balance life within a social context. I question the "within social context" if this in what was meant. I live an unbalanced life with the norms of my society but achieve a balance for me through creativity out of degrees of chaos and abnormality. This is sensible, common sense and intelligent of me

On one hand the depressing fact was mentioned that the ability to reason and conceptualise at speed peaks in youth and around the mid fifties tends to go into steady decline, but this can be countered to an extent my maintaining mental discipline and the programme gave the example of one man who complained that his ability to think eight moves ahead at chess had deteriorated to about four but after his death his brain was found to be speckled with Alzheimer's which indicated that although the disease has an inevitability, its worse features can be delayed, thus confirming the capacity of the mind to have some control over matter. This means that I could lose a lot of my fat, prolong my life if I have the will. I have the will but the will to work and accomplish work projects is greater at present that that to lose weight and between the evening meal and when I go to bed I often work for several hours but am also tired so I need energy pick ups and working at a desk means additional food without physical exercise.

The reason for the interview was research which explained that the overall measured intelligence of the population was continuing to rise. If one takes the mean of 100, the argument is not that some races are intrinsically lower or higher than others, but the national rating reflects the extent they have moved from an agricultural economy to an industrial and then from an industrial to an intellectual. Because our economy is now dependent on the manufacturing skills and industrial hard work of others we have to use our ingenuity and non manual skills to maintain and develop our economy and achieve improvements in the standards of living. There was a fascinating example of this shown on a TV news magazine programme recently when it was revealed that the scampi which we catch of the Scottish coast makes a 17000 return sea journey before it is available to us in the supermarket. This is because we prefer to have the scampi had shelled and sorted and this can be done significantly cheaper across the globe, creating hundred of jobs in a poor economy, than the machine process of the fish in the UK, What happens is that the fish is harvested, packed for the long sea voyage from Grangemouth and then returned for processing for supermarket distribution. Understandable someone asked about the energy efficiency of this and it was established that the effect of the sea voyages was significantly less that the machine use to peel and grade. Thus the process had become environmental friendly as well as benefiting employment and consumer preferences.

There was also a fascinating programme over the career of Dave Cameron and his un-revealed backers to do to the Conservative Party was Tony Blair did for the Labour Party. The programme used a group of spin doctors and PR men with Party loyalties to give their perception on the his cycle of fortune misfortune and potential triumph with gaining the Witney Oxford seat after the incumbent defected to Labour, and then winning the leadership battle. There was the initial success as he took on Blair at his own game with the great line about you are the man who had a future and I am now that man. And then after Brown's accession and a series of disaster's enabled him to communicate gravitas and being in command things went badly with the media reaction to his going to Africa during the biblical flooding, and the alienation of sections of his party with the decision to make grammar schools his Clause 4, there was a real threat to his leadership being mounted as the polls suggested that if Brown called an immediate General Election the Conservatives would not make the impact to ensure a subsequent victory, let alone achieve the miracle for an immediate return to office after three terms of opposition.

Then Brown seemed to panic with the trip to Iraq to signal the bringing the troops home while the war in Afghanistan intensified and Cameron had the master stroke of the conference with his own speech and the announcement on inheritance tax. While the political commentators loved it all and the sections of the press sense Labour was in trouble of their own making Brown shot into his own goal mouth in what could prove the fatal moment of a match which is now in extra time before what could become a penalty shoot out

I have become boring over the disaster of contemplating a snap General Election in the context of a recent mandate from the people, who knew Blair would not complete the term in office, and with a healthy majority in the House of Commons, amazing unity within the Parliamentary Party, based on opinion polling, unless it was to present an overall shift in policy which required a fresh mandate or a singular issue such as the new European Treaty that is not a new Constitution. The decision to lead the troops up the hill and then down again may have been recoverable in terms of integrity and maintaining the image of a man of strength but then there was the misfortune upon misfortune of the mistakes of others with Northern Rock, the employment in security of illegal immigrants, the loss of computer disks, then the matter of political party donations and now it is open season on anything going wrong by anyone blamed on his government and his Premiership.

However all is not lost as Michael Portillo suggested the government has time to recover, the Conservatives time to make mistakes or for new scandals to come to light, and for the old guard to topple Dave if he does not win the next General Election. Sadly none of this has anything to do with principles or substantive policy differences. One problem with a population that is increasing its collective intelligence is that while it may be influenced by advertising when it comes to soap powders and soap TV serials and shows such a s the X factor, it has become more and more sceptical and cynical about professional politicians and what they promise and say when things turn out differently as they always do. After the disclosures about fixing TV phone in competitions, could it be that X Factor voting will be proved top have been a scam, and if so what about the Big Brother House and all the others

1247 Y Tu Maria Tambien, Goodbye Paradise and Fredericke Street South Shields

A good title for this piece is fishy tales of Fredricke Street. When I arrived to work in South Shields Fredericke Street was a thriving mixture of local shops, second-hand stores and specialist enterprises. Now half the buildings at the southern end of this long street perhaps with 100 business opportunities have become vacant and the buildings themselves showing every symptom of dereliction. At the northern end there is the post office, some public houses and some take aways to serve a lower income community of rented accommodation inhabited by Muslims who worship at a Mosque where Mohamed Ali had a marriage ceremony with a few days of the visit of Queen Elizabeth to mark her year on the throne. The reason for the decay has been the closure of the Plessey Factory then its reopening by another hi tech firm, then its gradually reduction of staffing through a management out to its present demise, and the rebuilding of part of the area with lower income home ownership with cars to use Asa at Shields or Morrison's at Jarrow.

(I am writing this against a background of Broadway to Bob Fosse musical theatre choreographer who died in 1987 at the comparatively early age of sixty Pyjama Game. Damn Yankees, Big Spender from Sweet Charity and my favourite where I watch the film version once a year Cabaret which he directed but was not involved with the stage production. He was involved with Chicago but had died before the film version. He was also responsible for Kiss me Kate on screen, Lenny and all that Jazz. An early musical involvement was The Bells are ringing (for me and my gal).

At the northern end of Fredericke was the Green Street L shaped area of post war development of look alike shops with flat above and which recently have an a make over and anew lease of life, although the transfusion of a mini supermarket was necessary which involved demolition of one side of Green Street to accommodate the building and car park. The advertising of the Lidl store which opened in mid December has been intensive. Lidl goes in for special offer weeks of everything from kitchen equipment to back to school and office equipment at exceptional discount price. However my interest was not in the special offer low cost staple food fare but their low cost special offer of luxury items especially fish and cured meats.

Tonight I purchased a pack of four Sea Bream for 6.49 and four sea vase at 6.99 with two packs of 200 grams of smoked salmon each 1.69. Tonight I commenced to enjoy the thick cut slices with a twist of lemon on crackers. The Italian ham slices are also excellent value but the great surprise was to find that they had a stock of Spanish Turron at 1.49 where both my British and Spanish suppliers charge around £4 for the same slab. I shall stock up for a year or two. Commencing the first Thursday of January there is to be a sale of office supplies and my eye fixed on photographic paper.

The smoked salmon was delicious in what became a fishy day as with a cup of tea on returning home I had a carton of shell on prawns and then later a defrosted bass which had been the only fish planned for the day. The main purpose of the afternoon shopping was to collect my suit from the dry cleaners after not remembering where I had put the ticket for several hours. I managed a little work but late evening was given over to two films. I have not seen Ray Barrett the Australian actor for at least ten years, the last occasion was an Aussi film which had a wild aspect but more than that I cannot remember. My first cultural encounter with Ray was when he came over the UK but again what for? This evening he was in an Australian Graham Greenish Raymond Chandler offering with a good script in which he provided the thoughtful commentary on the events of an attempted coup for commercial interests.

Then I did some research the first shock is that Ray is now 80 12 years my senior and the film Goodbye Paradise is some 20 years old and the second is that he had a role in Emergency Ward 10 as well appearing in everything that was popular during the late 50's, 60's and early 70's, Dixon of Dock Green, Thunderbirds, Dr Who, Till death do us part, Play of the month and armchair theatre. However I knew most for the over 100 appearances in the series The Troubleshooters 1965-1972 in which appeared with Geoffrey Keen and Brian Latham. And the wild film, well it was for 1976, Don's Party. Despite his age he continues to act, mostly on TV but he has a part in a major film due for release in 2008 Australia which stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman. Good on you Ray, I mourned the fact that you went home after making your name in the UK.

The second film is a Spanish Mexican rites of passage film featuring the relationship between two young upper class Mexican teens around 17 18 before going to university and their holiday adventure with a newly wed in law whose wedding party they attend along with the President Y Tu Mama Tambien. At one level this is well trodden story as the teenagers vie for the attention and affection of the older girl whose husband has admitted an act of infidelity while away on a conference, as they head for an idyllic beach. What they do not know, nor did the husband when he phoned his admission, is that the young woman has just been told she has an incurable disease. The relationship between the young men changes when she gives herself to one of them but even when she decides to balance up it is too late and the final scene is reminiscent of so many other films, usually about college life, where a group become close but they go their separate ways, never to recapture past moments of collective harmony and shared visions and sometimes shared loves.

There is also a is a reminder that everything has its season and it is wise to accept this is so and not attempt to journey back or stay fixed at any point within one's time span, in Goodbye Paradise as Ray says goodbye to his young companion and settle for being an ex was somebody once.

1246 The Last Armoured Train, Black Eagle and The Good Cop

Wednesday has been a solid work day with almost all Christmas cards completed, several with (for me brief letters. One trip to post these later afternoon was also used to buy some fruit and some inexpensive still bottled water, some prawns, and fresh veg. Early evening seems to be a good time for although it is the week before Christmas there is no indication of the customary rush which used to be experienced in greater London and Sunderland Morrison's. The task should be completed in the morning followed by an important afternoon trip and then I can try and relax. There have been two Myspace new friends whose profile and work merits relaxed attention and the ending of seasonal greetings. There are also all those missed birthdays. My equilibrium has been disrupted but do I need want equilibrium any more?

Part of the reason for believing there will be a relaxed few days is the confidence that both the matter which has lasted five years and the more recent concerns re the bank appear to be addressed in such a way that progress has and will continue to be made, hopefully with at least the bank situation being sorted by New Year. I dare not become hopefully about an early resolution of the actual circumstances of the misadventure of the premature and preventable death of my aunt. What is of different concern is the issue of attempted cover up and involving who and at what level?

I have stayed up, half watching cold war meets kung fu nonsense because it was set in Malta, the land of my fathers, so to speak, It is called Black Eagle, after a form of Kung Fu and a vehicle for its exponent Ken Tami. It is a familiar tail of F1 spy plane secret electronics coming down in neutral waters and both sides risking all in clandestine operations to recover the equipment with the Russians, mob handed, and the USA only a magnificent trio involving a priest and multilingual female specialist operator who has to also become a child minder for the sons of the Japanese Kung fu multi talented assassin and recovery man. There is a kind of pretend relationship between the two which is never taken beyond a hint.

Slightly better was a re-showing of the Good Cop in which in keeping with the American mythology of the genre there are two levels of Mafia murdering thieving and gangster, the ones who have codes of honour and gangster integrity recognise that police are only doing their job that is those who cannot be bribed along with the majority of the US justice system from Judges to prison guards and then there are the really bad guards who do the same but have no honour and in this instance it is the brother of the traditional Mafia terrorist. There is also a Marta Hari high class whore who has a soft spot for the good op who gets himself in prison for contempt in order to find out which the various levels of villains is responsible for shooting up his hi fi system. May have the title wrong as research to find out how critics reacted produced One Good Cop and Copland and Good Cop Bad Cop all with different storylines.

I did not expect to find out anything out about what was presented as true story the Russian film The Last Armoured Train. There have been the last Train Home films, Across Canada From Madrid, From Gun Hill and simply the Last Train, also El Ultimo Tren, which does not need to be translated However I was soon on the trail and discovered that the film was originally shown in 2006 as four part series each of 52 mins and is regarded by those interested in Russian cinema as part of the recent new wave with new interest in World War 2 much as in the US and UK we have flocked to Saving Private Ryan or the series Band of Brothers. The core of this film are the characters who successfully and against all manner of odds get the train through to where German army has encircle a Russian army during the first month of the war and the group, with help, enable an honourable retreat. Each of the principal characters has a back story which makes them unlikely to become heroes and heroines Given that this is a film from contemporary Russia it had all the hall marks of the kind of one sided heroic struggle of the people against everyone else which used to be the feature of Stalin culture, in which individual lives are recognised as indispensable for the great good and in the great scheme of things, however having said this the film does not attempt to portray the commanders as soulless and ruthless and the principal characters do not give their lives up willingly, but have a mature understanding of the reality of a war which has only commenced. The leader of the group reacts to the embrace of his new lover at the end of the film, you are alive, with well for the next few days.

I also discovered that there was such a train called the Hurbran used in the Slovakian uprising against the German army in 1944 and as in this film it had too take refuge for a time . The Polish Army also had such a last train at the commencement of World War 2 which had been used in the Polish Soviet War of 1919/21 when they had built 15 new ones after losing 8. This famous survivor was captured when Germany invasion of Poland, and was inspected by Hitler and much photographed. Another armoured train features in a site by Henry Louis Gomez set on "uncovering the truth from the propaganda and dimming memories" of an incident during the last days of the Baptista regime in Cuba. This is the armoured train of Santa Clara. Another article claimed that the Soviet Armoured Trains used in the Great War were used as rear guard weapons because the Germans were better trained. Had I not been so busy I might well have decided to pursue the role of armoured train in World War Two, or its importance in World War 1, something which I cannot recall has ever been a feature of films or documentaries before now. I thought the correct spelling was armoured and then changed when the articles were all under armoured and then changed back when using spell checker,

Wikipedia lists all the armoured train information known for Poland, Russia, Japan Slovakia, Iran, Croatia and France, In 1942 GB used an armoured train for an advance into Siam in an attempt to resist the Japanese advance in Malaya and closer to home an armoured train was used on the Romney Hythe railway as part of coastal defences in WW2.

1706 Somerset versus Durham at Taunton

The morning was wet and cold and not at all cricketing weather and the forecast for Taunton in Somerset, as everywhere else, suggested heavy rain around 3 in the afternoon. The match was interesting because Somerset had a strong batting side, especially at home whereas the Durham strength has become its bowlers, especially with Steve Harmison playing for the team.

Sky had decided not to have the usual match preface and we joined the coverage as Durham opened the batting at 11 am, having been put in by Somerset. Although the pitch was being described as ideal for bowlers with some grass and overcast conditions, Somerset started without the kind of attacking field which the decision to bat second indicated. This puzzled the TV commentary especially when all four pace bowlers failed to impress

My eyesight depends on strong lens and with the speed of bowlers seeing the ball from a stand or even at the boundary edge is a problem for me, so watching the close up on TV for a County game is something of a luxury.

I have never visited the Somerset ground and which is in the process of development. This morning a new stand was opened which includes several tiers of what I presumed were hospitality boxes and a new purpose designed Player’s Pavilion is under construction. I must say that the new stand is the most unattractive. There also appeared to be a dearth of spectators, surprising given the performance of the county last season and the visit of the current champions.

Later the commentators explained that although the tiers above the stand looked like hospitality boxes they were retirement flats with balconies overlooking the playing areas. It was also evident that spectators were not yet being allowed into the new stand which stretches one side of ground and which has been created to provide for the increased attendance as Somerset are hosting the Women’s 20 20 World Cup this summer. With the new stand the capacity has reached 10000, still poor by grounds now holding test matches but with the potential to increase to 15000 with additional temporary seating. It also emerged that the present chairman of the English Test and County Cricket Board is the former chairman of the Somerset Club. Wheels within wheels. The problem is that Somerset’s cricketing square has been the most placid. In the first championship game also held at the ground the visitors also batted first and scored 500 runs but Somerset then scored 672 for 4 with one player getting 303 runs before the retirement. Needless to add the match ended in a draw.

For this match the wicket was tinged with green and with early morning, early season, dampness it was expected that a good pace attack might gain early wickets. This may have been the reasoning behind the decision to ask Durham to bat first when the toss was won, fearing what the Durham bowlers might have been able to achieve.

However it was a great risk given, as I have reported that all Durham’s batsmen have been performing well and this is how it worked out during the first hour and a half. Somerset without Andrew Caddick and two others of their main bowlers are not fit, failed to make effective use of the new ball and Di Venuto carried on from where he left off against Yorkshire with his 140 as he raced to another 50, looking all set for a century before he fell to a good ball which swung in so that a stroke became necessary but with insufficient time to control, he gave a catch to first slip, who failed to hold but managed to direct towards an alert Marcus Trescothick. He made 53 and Stoneman who had taken his time was joined by Captain Will Smith.

Last season in the day night Pro 40 game I has watched Marcus Trescothick score a magnificent quick time 124. The championship game at Durham had been disappointing with Somerset batting first and scoring 352 and then Durham were all out for 100 less. Somerset declared at 192, setting Durham 300 but give them inadequate time and the match was drawn. Their South African overseas batsman Zander De Bruyn amd 120 and Hildreth scored 100 runs in his two innings. Trescothick managed only 60 runs in his two. Di Venuto 40 and 42 Stoneman 53 and 1, Blenkenstein 21 and 50 and Plunket were the main Durham Scorers. Ian Blackwell then with Somerset only managed 46 but took 3 wickets. In the return match at Taunton captain Justin Langer, an Australian former Test Player scored 31 and 109 Dr Bruyn 76 in one innings while Di Venuto 135, Blenkenstein 62 and Chanderpaul 93. In a rain affected game Somerset had only managed 224 runs to the Durham 400. These personal performances had a bearing on what happened on this first day.

Whatever Somerset’s 39 year old Captain had say over the lunch break, his team returned to the square with new found resolve and accuracy and Durham quickly lost Smith for 7 and Stoneman for 38. And indeed the position could have become concerning as three good chances were put down. However former Captain Blenkenstein and Graham Muchall got their heads down and raised the total by a hundred runs by teatime with both completing half centuries.

In the background lunchtime chat reference was made that the selectors are meeting today to chose the team for the first test with Harmison and Onions in contention and Plunkett has already been selected for the A side which plays against West Indies at Derby on Thursday. Plunkett’s involvement to led Matthew Claydon taking his place in an otherwise changed side from that which played against Yorkshire. Matthew although born in Australia and played cricket there is not regarded as an overseas player because his parents hold British passports. In the same way Venuto qualified as an European player because of Italian background although his experience was also in Australia.

The Sky commentators were full of praise for Durham‘s achievement last season in winning the Championship and for their approach this year in which they could have selected an additional overseas player but have decided to give county players and others from the UK the opportunity to play in the opening four day games. Obviously if several players are selected for England in addition to Paul Collingwood and with the conclusion of the Indian 20 20 league competition in South Africa, it is also possible they are waiting to see how things go before offering a contract for the rest of the season. There was a special feature in which all the main bowlers were given their opportunity to talk about their approach and enthusiasm for playing for Durham which the commentary team said was a model which other clubs should emulate, in terms of bringing forward local players.

Another aspect in the way pitches have developed in the UK. There has been deliberate policy to create wickets which lasted for four or five days for the championship and Tests because of commercial considerations. This has however resulted in boring draws which in the medium term could turn the public away given the commercial success the 20 20 format and with the World competition being held in the UK as well as the IPL and other tournaments taking place around the world. One development designed to ensure players also concentrate on the four day game is that the ECB has raised the end of season prize money five fold. Whereas last season Durham Players shared £70000 between them and the club was given £30000, this year on offer is £350000 and £15000. This could account for the Yorkshire approach, that given the vagaries of the weather, gaining a draw and first innings bonus points could make the difference in winning the championship or coming second or third.

The third wicket stand between Blenkenstein and Graham Muchall was ended at 285 with Graham out for 68. The Ina Blackwell joined Blenkenstein at the crease to rapturous applause from the home side spectators which had grown during the morning as the weather forecast of heavy rain proved false and a sun tan lotion and ice creams were a requirement for the afternoon as well as morning.

Again Sky provided insight into why Ian had left Somerset towards suddenly at the end of the season after being with them for six years. Ian appeared in excellent form and raced to 50 in 50 balls and together with Blenkenstein who reached his century after tea, they looked as if the would continue until the close of play. Then Ian made a mistake and to the delight of the home team, but not their spectators he was out for 50. Night watchman Graham Onions then was out for 0 and the day closed with Durham 372 for six and with the prospect of reaching 400 and five bonus batting points. However with rain forecast especially for Thursday it may be necessary for Durham to declare and test their bowlers against Somerset’s batting strength if they are to have any prospect of winning. If as expected Harmison and Onions are recalled to the Test squad then this will be added incentive for them both to perform well in this match. Tomorrow is going to be an important day.

1705 Evelyn Waugh's Sword of Honour and Daniel Craig

Yesterday I had an unexpected treat. There are 15 films in the wonderful Daily Mail War Movie Collection with several, the most outstanding films of the post second World War period. There was one which I thought I had not seen before as I failed to immediately recognise the title, The Sword of Honour.

As soon as it opened I realised this was the outstanding BBC shown dramatization of the three novels by Evelyn Waugh, Men at Arms 1952, Officers and Gentleman 1955 and Unconditional Surrender 1961 (The end of the Battle in the USA) and which was based on his actual experience, however loosely. Given that I continue to regard the 13 part television series of his work Brideshead Revisited as the greatest TV production of its kind ever made, I am surprised with myself for not having acquired any of his other works, especially as early on I became a fan of C P Snow and Anthony Powell and have the majority of their novels. I would like to remedy this situation but suspect time has run out.

The three novels are said to have been fully covered in this 2001 adaptation which lasts over three hours and I have no recollection if I saw the 1967 version with Edward Woodward, although it was the kind of programme I would not have missed. Waugh’s style is to portray the reality of the middle and upper classes with a humorous wit but he is also a very serious writer as I discussed after noting my experience of Brideshead on acquiring the series on DVD.

The idealistic hero of the three works is Guy Crouchbank, upper class with his father with whom he has a good relationship, struggling to maintain the family home and estate. They are both strong practicing Catholics although Waugh himself was a convert, a non unusual occurrence for middle and upper class Englishmen and women who find the reality of life very different from the idealism of their youth. Waugh maintained his respect for English culture and traditions, possessed a strong masculine approach to social order and government and hated what happened after the second World War and would have probably become a revolutionary and he lived to experience something of the changes from 1960’s. He died in 1966 at the age of 62. He was therefore in his mid thirties when the Second World commenced and the first book chronicles his experience of getting a commission and his first expedition adventure to North Africa. The book also coves the failure of his first marriage to someone who needed the excitement of new relationships.

The character in the book is Guy Crouchbank whose wife has married again someone part of the social circle of public school, Oxbridge University, London scene and country house parties, the Gentleman’s club in Pall Mall and the army. In real life because Waugh converted to Catholicism after his marriage he was able to gain an annulment and he remained married to his second wife for the rest of his life with seven children, and with one son Aubron also becoming an internationally known journalist and writer. It is noteworthy that Evelyn’s second wife was a cousin of his first.

In the book he attempts to seduce his divorced wife when he returns for a decade in Italy but she rejects him and then has an affair, one of several, with a charlatan hero who fathers her child. Pregnant, she turns to Guy who inherited his father’s (played by Leslie Phillips) wealth and estate and they remarry. When she is killed in a bombing raid the final scene of the film is his return from the war to get to know and bring up his son.

How far Waugh’s experience of the army is portrayed in the books and films I cannot say but almost none of the fellow and senior officers come out well.

There are two official hero’s in the books and film The first is a press office creation during the period when something was desperately needed to raise public moral. Crouchbank has joined the new Commando brigade after coming home in disgrace from the North African mission, and he nominates Trimmer McTavish, a man who has spent his war to date keeping out of danger and chasing the ladies. He takes up with Guy‘s, former wife when he remeets her again when on leave and we learn that he had been her lover when a steward on an Atlantic liner. The press orientated mission is to go with a small group and blow up a tower on a poorly defended island of the French coast. By mistake they are bought off the French coast by the submarine and there is no tower and only enemy is a French peasant woman with a shot gun. The sergeant with the group has the sense to blow up the railway line before they leave and this is represented as having affected important German transport links with McTavish made into a national hero and used to raise funds by promoting the sale of war bonds. When Guy’s wife falls on hard times she is taken in by the press officer and his wife and he forces her to establish an affair with McTavish if she wants to keep her free board and lodgings. When McTavish is sent on a six month raising campaign to the USA and Virginia finds herself pregnant, she openly admits to using Guy to get out of the situation.

While Guy has no illusions about he manufactured hero McTavish he is fully taken in by someone he believes is a true hero Ivor Clair who is young, handsome and full member of the upper classes. It is only in the last third that Guy realises that the man its not as honourable as he seems as he has disobeyed the order to surrender on Crete and escape to Egypt where he is having an affair with the wife of the Commanding officer and also learns that his original gallantry award was obtained under false pretences.

Covering up military mistakes and individual misdeeds is a great theme of the books as well as the incompetence of the hierarchy. I understand that in the first book Guy who just about managed to get a commission in a ill thought of fictitious corps called he Halberdiers spends a great deal of his time getting on and off trains and ships that go nowhere. When training with Halberdiers he encounters one fellow officer who is equipped with a vast expensive kit for every possible climate and terrain and which includes a portable toilet called the thunder box, coveted by the Commanding officer when he sees it and which is blown up in in tussle between the two over ownership. When they are stopped from the first mission from North Africa Guy agrees to lead a raiding party to capture something although against orders. However Guy gets sent home when he smuggles alcohol to a fellow officer who has become sick and is under treatment in sick bay from an alleged tropical disease from his work in Africa. Guy is told that the man died as consequence of this gesture because he suffered from liver disease.

As a consequence of this he is taken from the front line and made responsible for training until able to join the commandos and after training is posted to Egypt and then Crete before the Island is abandoned. Here because the commanding officer has an accident and breaks a leg while in transit, the unit is led by a rule clinging petty Hitler who lacks commonsense and panic freezes in adversity. Played by Robert Daws, Major Hound, nicknamed Fido is murdered by a Sgt who later with Guy survives an open boat which they take to escape from becoming a prisoner of war on Crete and land in North Africa. Later the same Sgt becomes the commanding officer of a parachute training camp to which Guy is sent and who spends his time hiding in his office from Guy. He has been keeping a diary of his adventures which he publishes as a novel when the war is over.

It is in the final book and section of the film that Waugh switches from lampooning to the very serious as Guy is sent as a one man military mission to Croatia prior to the formation of Communist Yugoslavia. The communist partisans are portrayed as dedicated and effective but also ruthless and he risks the wrath of both his hierarchy and the fledgling state by taking the part of 100 Jewish refugees from the camps. He is successful in getting all but a couple free to travel to a transit camp in allied controlled Italy en route to Palestine. The couple includes a cultured English speaking Italian Jewess whose husband becomes essential to the state because he is an electrician and can keep the allied supplied power station generators functioning. Later they are found guilty of treason and executed on the fictitious grounds of having capitalist propaganda, which includes a magazine provide by Guy when he visits to say goodbye. When Guy protests that the allied command took no action to save the couple he is reminded of overall priorities and the bigger picture. It is the justification which has been used by capitalists governments to justify their deals with fascists and communists states and dictatorships ever since democracy was developed in the USA and Britain.

In the first version of the series Guy has children by second wife who are disinherited by Trimmer’s son because he has been registered as Guy’s. In the published edition but not the film he married the daughter of another old Catholic families but they have no children not to complicate the succession. One of the points of the book is a conversation which Guy has with his father before his death in which his father explains that regardless of the pain and suffering, the disappoints and failures of life, the essence of being a Catholic is the saving of souls, and this is the inspiration for his decision to marry his former wife and bring up the child by a man he despises as his own.

Oddly the film does not explain its title, in that in the third book “a splendid ceremonials word is made at the King’s command,” to be presented to the Soviet Union in recognition of the sacrifices that he Soviet people made in the war against the Nazis.. In reality this was a sword commissioned by the King commemorating the battle of Stalingrad, It was put on display in Westminster Abbey and people queues to look at it. It sums up Waugh’s view that Guy is not impressed or with Stalin and is not tempted to join in the party held for the event and give sup the opportunity to enjoy luxury food for lunch on his 40th birthday.

Guy Crouchbank is played by the excellent actor Daniel Craig who has become more internationally known through taking over the role of James Bond. I especially enjoyed his performance in the TV series Our Friends in the North and also the films the Road to Perdition and Munich. His wide range of roles includes Lara Croft Tomb Raider, a Kid at King Arthur’s Court and the Golden Compass.