2010 — 14 October: Thursday
Happy birthday to me. Since it seems I can no longer rely on getting a card from Christa1 I shall substitute one that I sent to her a few years ago. Its sentiments (click the pic) are entirely reversible:
Felix was a great favourite from her childhood (I preferred Bonzo the dog myself).
Bells further metamorphosed into Waterstone's, of course. It's been many months since I last shopped in Eastleigh; maybe it's time for a little expotition there. But not before some breakfast on this grey day.
Snapshot of the...
... local economy. It's not looking too good, Boo-Boo. The Swan Centre is neat and tidy, but far from bustling. Still, I picked up the next issue of "The Word". I had to move on to that temple of Mammon known as Asda for the more serious acquisitions. That emporium remains as bustling today as I recall it being back in 1981 when it was merely the Carrefour hypermarket. It occurs to me, I've lived here for just over half my life. Boggling. Where the hell does it go? And why can't Christa be here to share it with me, dammit?
Whoever invented the concept of "elevenses" hit on a very Good Thing. By contrast, whoever invented the virus that's now afflicting my chum Mike has put paid to tonight's intended birthday bean feast. We're going to postpone it for a few days. It's 11:45 and there's almost a hint of sunshine though I note it's a mere 18C in here. Were the heating on it would be on but I've opted for the extra layer approach instead. And it seems that if your household spends 10% on heating it's officially in "fuel poverty". I've some way to go yet. Besides, I can always burn a few books2 — if I had a fireplace...
There's a comment on a BBC feature that I find myself nodding my head in agreement with as I read it:
The reason we got into this mess is because the electorate don't like hearing bad news and apparently prefer to be lied to. Honest politicians who try to confront difficult realities are generally hounded out of office (if they even get that far). We end up being ruled by people who excel in delivering sugar-coated palliatives, merely digging us deeper into the mess. It would be refreshing to see a government ignore its constituents on many of these issues.
"You lied to me, Leo."
"I'm a politician, Ainsley. It's what I do."
I suppose another possibility is that half the population (by definition) is below average intelligence and/or education. And that average is awesomely low... which might just have some form of deleterious effect on our risk-assessing and economic decision-making prowess as a society. Recall Cyril Kornbluth's story "The marching morons", written the year I was born.
Sounds good to me
Chris was telling me yesterday that he doesn't share my attitude or approach to hi-fi and, indeed, he prefers the sound of his Sony TV and its associated surround system. Each to his own, of course. Maybe it was my (several) years as a hi-fi and record reviewer in the mid-1970s that fueled my interest in the endless quest for decent sound. I suggest he doesn't bother to read this item, which will however very likely be of considerable interest to people lucky enough to have chosen life with an Oppo Blu-ray player.
Lunch having been lunched (nice healthy salmon salad) and Mr Postie having called, the final flurry of vaguely-birthday-treat related goodies has entered the building:
- Coraline
from a story by Neil Gaiman, and the director of "Nightmare before Christmas" - Where the Wild Things are
I wonder how many times I read this to Peter? - Gormenghast
Having read this 40 years ago, and passed my Penguin Modern Classics trio of paperbacks over to Gill when a one-volume edition came out in 1983, it's time to renew my acquaintance with Doctor Prunesquallor, Flay, Steerpike and company - Cemetery Junction
As watched last Friday evening - Being Human
I caught bits and pieces of this - House, #6
Gill and Chris persuaded me this has gone from strength to strength. Christa saw the first three seasons with me. And Asda's Blu-ray price seemed good value
Staples have cancelled the three extra invoices they sent me during their forlorn attempts to deliver the remaining unbroken bookcases. I have yet to pack up all the bits and have them carted away. I may even get a refund in the end, I suppose. It's 15:08 and I need my next infusion of tea.
Doesn't this just make you want to pop your cork?
The Government Hospitality Advisory Committee on the Purchase of Wines will also be abolished, but ministers are considering whether another body should continue its work.
I noted the arrival (back in June) of the "real" Walter/Wendy Carlos soundtrack album to Kubrick's film A Clockwork Orange. My artwork scanning and database shuffling would probably go a little faster had I not just stopped to listen to it again. It's 18:40 and I've now confirmed tomorrow's lunch date with (I hope, a virus-free) Iris. Time for my evening meal, I think.
In later (good) news
It's been a slightly wobbly day — perhaps inevitably — as I think back over a long series of previous, happier, birthdays. But this evening I've had a couple of cheering phone calls. Peter says he'll be here quite early on Saturday as he's made a dentist's appointment, plus he intends to "tear the dining room apart" to search out the sewing machine's power lead and controller. This may be just the incentive I need to reclaim that chaotic space.3 I'm also invited to spend Christmas with my favourite pair of cousins in Birmingham. Here's hoping the weather is a bit gentler than last year :-)