avant-Blog
On Sweet Sixteen (30 v 21)
Watched, by pure chance, a 1983 sitcom called /Sweet Sixteen/. The report is that one season aired, and was not renewed because of low audience. It is sharply written, with subtle character psychology and crisp dialogues. Premise is a couple aged respectively 41 and 25. Appears that in the 80s Britain wasn't ready for woman-older-than-man... Penelope Keith and Christopher Villiers are superb. Pity it was in advance of its time, more series would have been great.
On E. Poots (14 v 21)
Apparently a Poots is a Kashmiri tunic or gown. So I'm calling him Mr Edwin Tunic Or Gown, from now on.
On to-do-list (11 v 21)
5 pages. With vaccination advancing, must get head round getting on with all the things blocked or slowed by Covid. Did a full To Do list. Result, 5 pages. And that's before breaking down the huge tasks into sub-tasks. That's .. 5 pages. At least now I know why I feel tired...
On Jenni Murray’s A History of the World in 21 Women (10 v 21)
Very impressed by Jenni Murray's /A History of the World in 21 Women/. Her call-out of Robert Schumann's saying he was 'disturbed' by his wife not having enough time to compose (as well as nursing him, having eight children, supporting them all with her performances...) is clear :
"Not disturbed enough, though, to take on his share of the childcare and the housework and the endless performances she gave to keep the family finances afloat. And there you have it. Two great composers living in the same household but only one of them faced with that ‘tyranny of choice’".
(Murray, Jenni. /A History of the World in 21 Women/. One world Publications. Kindle Edition).
On “Northern Ireland’s £9.4bn subvention and the cost of Irish unity” (/IT/ 2/5/21).
Yes. No rush, people.
Does it seem that many in NI wanted to remain British when Ireland became independent, seeing themselves as more prosperous? And that the so-called "conversation" about unity (though who is actually having it?) arises because the opposite is now the case? Wish you all well, as also the other regions of Britain which have been milked for political power, then under-managed and resourced. But more interested in seeing smaller class sizes in schools here, better protection for abused persons, support for cleaner energy use, etc.
If all classes were 10-12 students (1-2-1 for some children) with support teachers always available for illness etc replacement, free books and materials - think of the money we would save in coping with unemployment, people being under-classed, and its consequences - reduced delinquency, crime, prison and justice costs, support for victims of crime, loss of ideas and potential for progress. wasted lives.
That's just the resources gain - then there's the better society we would have. Hey, who knew ideals and pragmatics go hand in hand, if forward planning happens? Not politicians thinking in three-year periods. But if the electorate makes it clear these goods are what we want and will continue to want? Vote, everyone, and tell your reps what you are voting for.
Ok, have just finished correcting proofs, so want the world to get /better/.
On post-vaccine cheerful musings (2 v 21)
Feeling ropy after first vaccine (NB not whinging, v relieved) – trying to rest while reading about Venice - aaah Venice! - and inventing new versions of the Bellini. We know the Rossini (Prosecco and strawberry puree or liqueur) and the Puccini (mandarin juice) and the Tintoretto (pomegranate juice). How about:
The Rosalba (Carriera, 18th c painter): (Prosecco and Chambord wild raspberry liqueur, or raspberry puree)?
The Monteverdi (Prosecco and St Germain elderflower liqueur)?
The Caterina (Cornaro, Venetian queen of Cyprus and arts patron): Prosecco and Amaretto)?
Another, invented by Kate Brown: Artemisia (prosecco and Averna).
On Covid deaths (16 iv 21)
Covid deaths per million:
Ireland: 975.
Britain: 1,899. (Highest. Difficult to understand any British grandstanding re Covid)
France: 1,470.66
US: 1,715.03
Canada: 624.7
New Zealand: 5.29
On reinvigorating drinks while writing, when too much tea has been taken. (10 ii 21)
AR has invented the "Cosmopolitine" (or "White Knight" aka "It's My Own Invention"): 1/3 cranberry juice, 1/3 lime juice, 1/3 sparkling water (or soda water or tonic if preferred). Good for working. when have had enough tea.
On good English (9 ii 21)
Dear media people and scriptwriters, Could adjectives for something being good go beyond the over-used "amazing" and "incredible"? Could sentences not end quite so often in "as well"? Thanks. PS So grateful if I could never hear “comfy” again. (It’s “comfortable”).
On Cara O’Sullivan (RIP) (26 i 21)
Cara O'Sullivan RIP. A great artist, a much-beloved person, as shown in the tributes to her singing, and her great kindness, at her benefit concerts.
On wrong Irish accents in the media
I am a fan of BBC radio 4 - but could they please stop, whenever there is an Irish character in a play, having them speak with a thick brogue? There are many Irish accents, as there are British. There's no excuse for using just one of them: there are recordings of W.B. Yeats and G.B. Shaw speaking, and a variety of Irish voices have spoken on the BBC - Anthony Clare, Frank Kennedy, Fiona Shaw, Henry Kelly, Dara O Briain, Marian Keyes, etc.
On travel spreading Covid (21 i 21)
"Nearly half of visitors failed to meet travel protocol. (Harry McGee)
Almost half of passengers arriving into Ireland in December and early January who were contacted by telephone to confirm their place of residence either failed or refused to do so." (/IT/ 20.1.21). It is reported that 30 000 people commute daily from NI to work in Ireland. If only we had been able to close our borders like NZ...
On adding affront to jeopardy (12 i 21)
Do we /have/ to put up with Covid 19 fear AND people saying "impacted", transitively, when they mean "affected".?
We see where the illiteracy ends up, with the online photos of US domestic terrorists carrying banners which read "Stop the Steel" and "Stop Electric Collage".
On saving the ballot boxes (7 i 21)
Watching the joint US Houses count of electoral votes. Thanks, apparently, to today's attempted coup, objections to votes are falling down. Well done, the staffer who rescued the chests of votes when the Capitol was invaded.
On bad “period” drama (27 xii 20)
Finally worked out how it is possible to enjoy the buildings, gardens, ethnic diversity, some dance scenes, and clothes. of /Bridgerton/, without having to endure the godawfulness - vulgar, cringe-making pretentions to "period" language and customs, all in another universe from accuracy. (“She shall trade up“). 1, Put the speed at 1 1/2, except for watching the odd dance scene; 2, pause to look at a garden or room; 3, keep the sound off. Still embarrassing to be watching such tripe plot, and knowing how godawful (tried to find another word) the dialogue is, but at least it's a lot shorter. Just don't let these people near Jane Austen....
On Lara Marlowe on Notre-Dame-de-Paris
Lara Marlowe's excellent article on Notre Dame : https://www.irishtimes.com/.../rebuilding-notre-dame-is... reminds us of the power of culture. Victor Hugo's novel influenced the preservation of the cathedral in the past, and his influence today has attracted much of the funding for restoration. Comparably, poets and painters, including French, influenced the preservation of Niagara Falls from private capitalist exploitation, and its opening to the public as one of the wonders of the modern world. (It also generates electricity. Culture likes win-win). History tells the known facts, literature and the arts tell the truth, and inspire the hope that saves the future.
On the Toy Show (28 xi 20)
Watched the RTE Toy Show for the first time since my children grew up. Ryan Tubridy seems really kind to children. The team's efforts to spread joy and fun for children in this horrid year; the diversity and inclusiveness; the Irish goods highlighted - much to admire. The children were wonderful.
On the first woman Irish University President (24 xi 20)
Congratulations to Prof Kerstin Mey, first woman University President in Ireland, Arts graduate, who states that education is a public good and should be collectively funded. Know nothing else about her, love her already!
On The Den (22 xi 20)
Watching /The Den/, it feels almost as if life is normal again :)