Monday 18 October 2010

1945 Return to normal activity? Perhaps

I have decided to complete the second series of 10 X 101 Blogs for My Space and Google, having reached 945 and take a break for the summer while I concentrated on a confidential relationship project. Rather like when I reincarnated myself into the Marquis De Sade two, or was it three years ago, the summer project took me into new areas of experience in addition to revisiting many of the past.

I do not get angry much these days, and this time it is not a hot anger or emotional rage, but a quiet sense of being used by the powers that be. I received the annual invitation for the flu jab, noting that if I did not contact within six weeks it would assumed I was giving it a miss this year, yet another government saving ploy to move away from blanket screening or provision to self selection. On arrival I was the vaccine contained a little of that produced to combat Swine fly. I wondered why I was being told this but did not enquire why. It was only when I felt unwell a few days later and discovered that everyone else who had he jab and with won I spoke also had the reaction. Now quite being really ill but skirting around with a ticklish throat and phlegm on the chest, a sneeze and sniffle. However the impact was to reduce the energy level form 100% plus to almost zero.

I only managed to go for my early morning swim twice last week and then Saturday and today, and doing so was something of a struggle with little output activity over the rest of the day. I have made 63 visits averaging just under 48 lengths and 720 metres a visit. That is over 3000 lengths and over 45000 metres.

There have been several times over the past three months when my life appeared to be about to fundamentally change in an amazing way and for a couple of days last week, today was also to have been on such day although the prospects diminished as the last week progressed. This is one reason why I have reverted to past practice and started to write these notes.

It is also the week of the great financial statement when the Coalition announces how it proposed to tackle the flawed economic structure without creating mass unemployment, lowering reducing till further government expenditure. It is however a good time for the nation to recalibrate its position in the world, militarily, politically, economically and socially. The new Shadow Chancellor, the likeable Alan Johnson pre-empted the government position by reminding of the recent history of action and attitude between the three main political parties the UK and his approach appeared to be more measured than previously, promoting alternatives, mainly through raising taxation with the Banks foremost and hitting out at measure which are demonstrably unfair to some.

Today the President of Chile arrives to meet the Prime Minister this evening after which he has been invited to Buckingham Palace. There has been some media uncertainty about the nature of the visit which is not a state occasion but I suspect there will be considerable formality this evening as everyone who is anyone will want to be involved. It is understood he is bringing pieces of rock from thee mine laced with gold and copper as well as a copy of that famous message announcing that the 33 miners had survived the mine collapse. He covered a well trodden path in a 25 minute interview on BBC 1 during the morning. I plan to write about Chile and the rescue of the miners later in the week.

I did manage a dusting of the top floor this morning followed by a vacuuming early afternoon, but whether the rest of the house is completed is in doubt as I write. I recovered late afternoon and completed the task of the day. I watched Work and Pensions Questions followed by a Bravura performance by Michael Gove on the £7billion to be allocated for the pupil premium. Tomorrow it is Defence and Wednesday the cuts’ plan.

One reason for the delay before finishing the vacuum was the splendid homage to the 1987 Radio Days in the late 1930’s and 1940’s the Woody Allen film. From Carmen Miranda to South of the Border, Jungle Drums, Mersy dotes diddly Iva do, and of course the crooners with Frankie leading with you are but a dream and plenty of swing big bands

There was also Nostalgia with playing the third of a three CD disk of Elvis Presley hits 75 in total for £5 Hound Dog, Jailhouse Rock, Heartbreak Hotel, Tutti Frutti, Blue Suede Shoes, Blueberry Hill, Long Tall Sally, I believe, Love Me Tender, Loving You, Silent Night, Peace in the Valley, and True Love among the most well known. I listened to the first two on Saturday.

I did not take to Presley when he first came on the scene as I was still fixated on Traditional Jazz and bug Band swing. About that time I spent a couple of weeks at the home of a first cousin who was about a year younger than me. He had also left school at sixteen and was training to become a draughtsman. He owned a Presley hit long play with some of the most well known numbers. I must admit I liked the sound and bought my own copy on return. What impressed me is that I knew the words of many of the numbers and could join in, after a fashion.

Such has been my concentration on the project that I have been out of touch with much entertainment but plan a trip tot eh cinema during the week, possibly tomorrow. On the Television I have started to enjoy the X live performances now that the excruciating auditions are over. The spectacle of Anne Widdicombe attempting restrained versions of Come Dancing has attracted great audience support. Paul Daniels has never been my cup of tea so I shed no tears when he departed at the end of the second week. The surprise has been the performances of Pamela Stephenson, now a Doctor of Clinical Psychology in The USA and still married to the Comedian Billy Connolly. Others i enjoyed because of their other lives include Patsy Kensit and the Good Life Felicity Kendal. Peter Shilton is struggling but working hard. There is another season of New Tricks, Merlin and Spooks which I have been watching on the I Player There was an excellent one off homage to the Home Guard on Tyneside with Robson Green and Kevin Whately Joe Maddison’s War, with Derek Jacobi and John Woodvine. The delight was scenes from the Leas in South Shields. Marsden Rock and the inside of the Town Hall. There was an interesting new In Inspector George Gently centring on a child murderer of other children with strong echoes of Mary Bell.

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