Hello! Thought I might check in. Hope you’re all doing well. Can’t say I have a great deal to report but, well, do I really ever? Hmmm, I’ll let you be the judge of that. I shall just start typing and see what I come out with.
Believe it or not, I’ve ran out of booze. Shocker! But it’s ok, I managed to get another grocery delivery slot for this coming Thursday, so I’ll be back being well lubricated from then on. I’m hoping this delivery dude isn’t as intense as the last one. I understand the drill now, sort of, so fingers crossed it won’t get confrontational again. I keep ordering more than my usual amount of booze because I’m concerned I won’t be able to get my hands on some closer to my birthday next month. I guess I shouldn’t worry about it, as I seem to be doing alright. I might even reduce the amount I’ve put on this week’s order. I’m sure I’ll find some more within a few weeks.
On the hobby front, while I’m still lacking interest in music, I have gotten my nose stuck back into classic literature these past couple of weeks. I’ve managed to finish importing that box of Shakespeare performances and put them onto my MP3 player. I’ve been doing about five plays each night, with three discs a piece. It was a pain in the bum, but I’m finding my “hard work” to have been well worth it. The only problem with these recordings is that they’re lacking any stage directions so, while I’m getting some very good performances, I generally have no idea who is who and where is where. But that’s ok, I usually have to read the synopsis on Wikipedia before delving into each play anyway. I do struggle to pick up on what’s going on just by listening to Shakespeare’s work. Reading his plays as printed in the folio is a little easier, as you can pace yourself. Regardless of this issue, I was really amazed that I genuinely laughed at a Shakespeare joke for the first time in my life. It was this bit in As You Like It:
JAQUES
I thank it. More, I pr'ythee, more. I can suck melancholy out of a song, as a weasel sucks eggs. More, I pr'ythee, more.
AMIENS
My voice is ragged; I know I cannot please you.
JAQUES
I do not desire you to please me; I do desire you to sing.
I was all like "Hey, that was a joke! And it was funny!!". I guess it had to happen some time. I wonder whether it plays out as a comedy moment in other screen/audio adaptations.
The best retelling of any of Shakespeare's canon is, of course, Russ Abbot’s “Do the Richard the Third” musical sketch. I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say it’s the crowning achievement of Western culture, and should be preserved in a museum somewhere. Behold:
I’ve also restarted my Audible membership, as I felt I’d backed off for long enough. I spent my first credit on Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales. I know I can get free recordings of these waaay out of copyright works, but having tried listening to the amateur performances of the dedicated Librivox folk, I’m appreciating the training of professional actors who are actually being directed by someone. I don’t mind paying money for the privilege of not being distracted by the incoherent rantings of a bunch of crazy motherfuckers. Bless their cotton socks. They do put a lot of effort in.
I’ve also been looking into the writings of one of Shakespeare’s contemporaries – Ben Jonson. I’ve only been able to find the amusingly disastrous Librivox recordings of his plays, but it’ll do for now. Maybe they’ll release a Jonson boxset similar to the Shakespeare one I bought. The latter wasn’t the ONLY playwright around at that time, you know. Sheesh! Some people, huh?!
I did initially spend my first Audible credit on another of Dorsey Armstrong’s lecture series about the middle ages, but I was concerned that The Medieval World may tread too much of the same territory as Turning Points in Medieval History. Luckily, Audible have a swap system for if you’re not satisfied with what you’ve spent your credit on. I do like Dr Armstrong’s lectures though, so next month I may invest in one that promises to be a bit different - either one on King Arthur or one on the Black Death. Although, erm, reading about a major historical pandemic might not be great at this moment in time. I shall have a think!
Movie-wise, I’ve been trying to work my way through 1986’s Lady Jane, starring an adorably fresh-faced Helena Bonham Carter and Cary Elwes. It’s a historical piece about the short reign of the titular Lady Jane Grey, also known as "the Nine Days' Queen", who was executed by Mary I, also known as “Bloody Mary”, also known as “Queen Bitch of the Universe”. The last one was by me, but whatever. Lady Jane is proving to be somewhat of a struggle, as it is very much the work of a stage director with very little interest in the art of cinema. Methinks a textbook would prove to be more exciting and visual. However, it does have the inimitable Patrick Stewart in it, who is always a joy to watch. I mean, he’s the same in everything, but what else do you want?! IT’S PATRICK-BLOODY-STEWART! But, yes, I’m hoping things will liven up the deeper into the film I get. It is rather odd that the film sort-of restarts after half an hour. Not literally, but we get a second round of introductions to the same characters and multiple blasts of exposition. I wonder if they shot two openings and then decided to just chuck them both in. Who knows.
In other news, the pubs aren’t back open yet, so I’m still missing my weekly venture out into civilisation. I’m generally fine without it, but I do like to remind myself now and again why I prefer to stay in. I haven’t been on any more walks with that woman that helped me with my shopping the other week, so I’m guessing my personality worked its usual charm. Sigh.
My old gaming buddy has been back in touch though, as he’s apparently fallen out with my replacement. I think my gaming buddy will be back on his old console within a week or so for a chat. I’m not sure how I feel about being someone’s consolation prize, but I’ll take it. I can’t really be too fussy at this point in my life. Well, I can, and I am, but whatever. It's fine. He's actually very sweet. Coincidentally, while he was texting me about his friendship crisis, I was on the phone to my ex trying to talk her down from her weekly anxiety ledge. Counselling two people at once isn’t the easiest thing in the world to accomplish, I must say. How come nobody contacts me for weeks and then – boom! – all of a sudden I’m rushed off my feet. Crazy days. Oh well, I do enjoy the attention, and I’m very flattered that people find me easy-ish to talk to. Who’d-a-thunk-it?
Right, what next? Oh, I definitely need to take a trip to the recycling bins downstairs, as my living room is cardboard city at the moment. It hasn’t built up like this in quite a while. I’ll probably find a few homeless people making a home in there somewhere. Stranger things have happened.
Well, folks, I think that’s all for now. I best go find… I dunno… something to do. With any luck, I’ll have more to report in my next post. That’ll be nice, won’t it?
Ok, less of that, you.
Do stay in touch, darlings.
Toodles!
Sunday, 26 April 2020
Thursday, 16 April 2020
Supply and demand
There are two things that, generally speaking, I really do not enjoy, these are: mass public melodrama and social trends. These dislikes are possibly irrational and triggered by my clinical depression, so bear with me while I maniacally vent spleen. Now, I know that what is going on right now does not technically constitute a social trend, but it FEELS like one. It has all the irritating hallmarks, so that is where my brain is filing it. The melodrama, I assume, I am mercifully avoiding, having removed myself from social media last year. I'm glad that people are taking positive action and not just wallowing in misery about it all; in fact, there's a real "Dunkirk spirit" taking hold, which is encouraging. However, a mildly creepy commercialisation and a sort-of “pandemic chic” has arisen and is seeping through to me, no matter how much I attempt to shut the world out. At the risk of sounding like a hypocrite by having a rant myself, all this is giving a lot of people the opportunity to make speeches, usually by email. Each day, I have to wade through paragraph after paragraph of pontificating bollocks that’s merely a regurgitation of what we already know, just to get to the point of what the sender (retailers, service providers etc.) is messaging their customers about. Sigh. But it’s ok, I’ve been managing to get my hands on some booze.
Which leads us to…
I’ve managed to get my hands on some booze! LOADS OF IT! It’s nearly all gone now, but it sure has sped up the last couple of weeks. Last Wednesday, that woman who works at my local pub and I went for a walk to the local shops together. Don't worry, we were both safely enclosed in our own lead-lined, 12-feet in diameter social distancing exercise balls. You know, like guinea pigs have. I was getting really anxious about dealing with the public, especially with my visual impairment and my obvious inability to read instructional signage outside shopfronts. And they are out there. It was the first time I’d been out in a few weeks and we had a lovely chat. She even helped me carry my beer home – all 24 cans of it! I think I’m probably eligible for some obnoxious lads’ mag award for having an attractive woman carry a crate of lager home for me. But I wouldn’t accept it, of course. I’m not that kind of guy. While in the shop, I did keep forgetting to stay within the black lines that the staff had laid out on the floor for customers, but nobody freaked out. It was a surprisingly drama-free experience. Once we got back to mine, I said I’d take over all the carrying duties outside the building, as my flat’s in too much of a messy state for people to come in and, erm, experience. Which is the truth, although I think she would have been happy to come all the way up. I don’t think she likes me in THAT way, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like her. Anyway, I think she has a boyfriend, so I’m happy to wait for her to make any moves in that direction. I’m a pretty passive fella.
The next four days passed by in a boozy blur, believe it or not. My memory starts to return around Sunday. This was quite a good day, actually, as I finally managed to get a grocery delivery slot! It genuinely felt like I’d won the lottery. I didn’t panic buy, but I did have a backlog of things I desperately needed. I usually spend about £60, but this week I spent double that. Odd really, as there really wasn’t anything out of the ordinary that turned up. I’m blaming my general household needs. Still, it’s been really great having some fresh food in the flat and some of my favourite snacks (most importantly: Cofresh’s Balti Cashews, which I heartily recommend!). The delivery guy was a little aggressive with his social distancing anxiety. I wasn’t sure what the drill was, so he kept shouting “Stay back!”. I was all like “Yeah... ok, dude... I’m cool”. He even mentioned that his wife had cancer, like to guilt-trip me or something. I didn’t think that was necessary. I was so glad when he left. He’d made me really anxious. See? This is why I hate all this – not for the fear of catching something and dying, but having to deal with society differently, which I’m not great at even on a good day. Especially having to deal with a society that’s reveling in melodrama (faux or otherwise) which, having experienced it ad nauseum on social media, I’m now fighting to avoid “off the grid” and at my very front door.
And this weekly clapping thing can get lost. Sheep, the lot of them.
Please be patient with me, I need to get all this frustration out. Growing up in a military family has left me feeling, well, rather disconnected from society. I struggle with empathy, sometimes.
Oh, I forgot to mention, the day after I went on that platonic walk, those three cases of beer turned up from that online supplier, so I had EVEN MORE booze to work through! Woohoo! So, yes, that’s definitely kept me busy. I best not have any tonight, as I really need to pick up my medication tomorrow. Why does it always run out just before the weekend?! Alas!
Actually, I have noticed that, since these new antidepressants have kicked in, my noisy neighbours haven’t been bothering me as much. One of them actually shouted down the stairwell to the other today to get them to turn their music down but, I dunno, it’s just not been getting to me. I’m seeing that as a positive change. I mean, why not? Still, that did make me laugh earlier.
Oh, I watched the 1987 biopic Prick Up Your Ears the other day. It’s directed by Stephen Frears and stars Gary Oldman and Alfred Molina as romantically entangled but sort-of-competing writers. I wanted this for my “movies about creativity” collection, but it also fits neatly into my LGBT collection. Hmmm, I’ll decide later where to slip it in. Most importantly, the film also stars Julie Walters and Vanessa Redgrave – two of my favourite people in the universe ever. Redgrave is actually a lot like that woman I went for a walk with last week, so you can see why I’m smitten. Prick Up Your Ears actually has some minor similarities to Withnail & I, which was released the same year. Both films are about two creative types of differing skill and potential living together, with one being very flamboyant and self-doubting, while the other is more sedate and quietly self-confident. Obviously, the homoeroticism in Withnail & I is purely subtext, while in Prick Up Your Ears it is text. I recommend a double bill, perhaps a triple, if anyone can think of a third film with similar themes. That can be your homework for this week, lovers.
Righty, I best go, as I’ve got a curry on the hob. Homemade, of course! Yay! I haven’t had to order a takeaway for “fresh” food in a week and a half! Amazing!
Anyway, I hope you are all keeping well and succeeding in not tearing your hair out with boredom.
Do stay in touch, darlings.
Toodles!
Which leads us to…
I’ve managed to get my hands on some booze! LOADS OF IT! It’s nearly all gone now, but it sure has sped up the last couple of weeks. Last Wednesday, that woman who works at my local pub and I went for a walk to the local shops together. Don't worry, we were both safely enclosed in our own lead-lined, 12-feet in diameter social distancing exercise balls. You know, like guinea pigs have. I was getting really anxious about dealing with the public, especially with my visual impairment and my obvious inability to read instructional signage outside shopfronts. And they are out there. It was the first time I’d been out in a few weeks and we had a lovely chat. She even helped me carry my beer home – all 24 cans of it! I think I’m probably eligible for some obnoxious lads’ mag award for having an attractive woman carry a crate of lager home for me. But I wouldn’t accept it, of course. I’m not that kind of guy. While in the shop, I did keep forgetting to stay within the black lines that the staff had laid out on the floor for customers, but nobody freaked out. It was a surprisingly drama-free experience. Once we got back to mine, I said I’d take over all the carrying duties outside the building, as my flat’s in too much of a messy state for people to come in and, erm, experience. Which is the truth, although I think she would have been happy to come all the way up. I don’t think she likes me in THAT way, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like her. Anyway, I think she has a boyfriend, so I’m happy to wait for her to make any moves in that direction. I’m a pretty passive fella.
The next four days passed by in a boozy blur, believe it or not. My memory starts to return around Sunday. This was quite a good day, actually, as I finally managed to get a grocery delivery slot! It genuinely felt like I’d won the lottery. I didn’t panic buy, but I did have a backlog of things I desperately needed. I usually spend about £60, but this week I spent double that. Odd really, as there really wasn’t anything out of the ordinary that turned up. I’m blaming my general household needs. Still, it’s been really great having some fresh food in the flat and some of my favourite snacks (most importantly: Cofresh’s Balti Cashews, which I heartily recommend!). The delivery guy was a little aggressive with his social distancing anxiety. I wasn’t sure what the drill was, so he kept shouting “Stay back!”. I was all like “Yeah... ok, dude... I’m cool”. He even mentioned that his wife had cancer, like to guilt-trip me or something. I didn’t think that was necessary. I was so glad when he left. He’d made me really anxious. See? This is why I hate all this – not for the fear of catching something and dying, but having to deal with society differently, which I’m not great at even on a good day. Especially having to deal with a society that’s reveling in melodrama (faux or otherwise) which, having experienced it ad nauseum on social media, I’m now fighting to avoid “off the grid” and at my very front door.
And this weekly clapping thing can get lost. Sheep, the lot of them.
Please be patient with me, I need to get all this frustration out. Growing up in a military family has left me feeling, well, rather disconnected from society. I struggle with empathy, sometimes.
Oh, I forgot to mention, the day after I went on that platonic walk, those three cases of beer turned up from that online supplier, so I had EVEN MORE booze to work through! Woohoo! So, yes, that’s definitely kept me busy. I best not have any tonight, as I really need to pick up my medication tomorrow. Why does it always run out just before the weekend?! Alas!
Actually, I have noticed that, since these new antidepressants have kicked in, my noisy neighbours haven’t been bothering me as much. One of them actually shouted down the stairwell to the other today to get them to turn their music down but, I dunno, it’s just not been getting to me. I’m seeing that as a positive change. I mean, why not? Still, that did make me laugh earlier.
Oh, I watched the 1987 biopic Prick Up Your Ears the other day. It’s directed by Stephen Frears and stars Gary Oldman and Alfred Molina as romantically entangled but sort-of-competing writers. I wanted this for my “movies about creativity” collection, but it also fits neatly into my LGBT collection. Hmmm, I’ll decide later where to slip it in. Most importantly, the film also stars Julie Walters and Vanessa Redgrave – two of my favourite people in the universe ever. Redgrave is actually a lot like that woman I went for a walk with last week, so you can see why I’m smitten. Prick Up Your Ears actually has some minor similarities to Withnail & I, which was released the same year. Both films are about two creative types of differing skill and potential living together, with one being very flamboyant and self-doubting, while the other is more sedate and quietly self-confident. Obviously, the homoeroticism in Withnail & I is purely subtext, while in Prick Up Your Ears it is text. I recommend a double bill, perhaps a triple, if anyone can think of a third film with similar themes. That can be your homework for this week, lovers.
Righty, I best go, as I’ve got a curry on the hob. Homemade, of course! Yay! I haven’t had to order a takeaway for “fresh” food in a week and a half! Amazing!
Anyway, I hope you are all keeping well and succeeding in not tearing your hair out with boredom.
Do stay in touch, darlings.
Toodles!
Sunday, 5 April 2020
Another day, another nothing
Big news! I’m considering turning my refrigerator off. Exciting, huh?! The thing is, all that’s in there at the moment are some condiment sauces and half a tub of margarine. I’m sure it’s chewing up a lot of electricity, and my meter credit is now down to £23. It generally equates to about £1 a day, give or take. I’ll probably be okay for another couple of weeks, but I’m sure I’ll start getting anxious about it soon. I’ll have to actually go out to get a credit top-up, but I’m really not keen to go into any shops at the moment. I’m not fused about catching anything, it’s just not knowing how I’m supposed to act when I’m in there is what’s getting me worked up. I just want things back to normal. If I do turn off my fridge, then I won’t be able to store takeaway leftovers (should I order enough for a few days, as usual). Hmmm, is it worth it? Three day old pizza is pretty good eating. I’ll have a think.
Maybe all this will be over by the time my meter dries up and the lights go out. Or I’ll find I can survive on just cold water baths and staring out the window at nothing for entertainment. Sounds fun.
I managed to put an order in a for a few cases of beer earlier today. I was quite surprised I was able to. I don’t know why I was so surprised, as beer is hardly an essential. Well, maybe for some. The cases are from a place I’ve ordered from before (who do mixed bottle gift boxes). I ordered three. I’m wondering whether to drink them once they arrive or wait until my birthday next month. It’s a big round number, so I should celebrate. I guess I could order more cases should these arrive quick enough.
I made a curry yesterday out of tinned vegetables and meat. Very posh. It’s kinda what I do anyway, so it was no big change. I ran out of rice last week though, so I had it with pasta. It actually wasn’t too bad. There’s something in rice that makes me happy though, so running out is very bothersome. I need my fix! Today I stirred in a tin of new potatoes as I heated it up. It was fine. Rice would have been better. Just saying.
I watched a couple of films directed by Karel Reisz and lensed by Freddie Francis this week – The French Lieutenant’s Woman and Saturday Night and Sunday Morning. They’re both films I’ve been meaning to catch for years but, for some reason, have just never gotten around to it. Freddie Francis is my favourite cinematographer, having worked on The Elephant Man, Dune and Cape Fear, so I was keen to check out more of his work. He seems to like creating layers of similar colours, which gives a pastel-quality to his scenes. He was quite a genius.
The French Lieutenant’s Woman is rather an oddity, as it jumps back and forth through time from the Victorian era to modern day, where Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons play actors working on a film version of the Victorian scenes. It’s a rather pointless device, to be honest. I think they did it to fit in the multiple endings that the source material has, but they could have done it a better way. The film Clue did it best, I’d say. Regardless, The French Lieutenant’s Woman is a very moving study of depression, a subject which is close to my heart. Streep’s character is in a very confused state throughout most of the film, and just wants to isolate herself in order to recover. I can relate to this. She emotionally wounds people, but not on purpose. Depression creates so much doubt in one’s mind, and can make the sufferer see the world not for what it really is. Sometimes people around them inadvertently get caught up in that. It’s really nobody’s fault. Just the illnesses.
Saturday Night and Sunday Morning was very interesting. It’s fascinating seeing English life as it was sixty years ago. I think it’s a film that helped kick-off the British new wave, adding grit to motion pictures, rather than the soft fantasy world of films from and before the 1950s. Albert Finney is very compelling as the loutish main character, although his loud line delivery gets a bit irritating after a while. Rachel Roberts gives a very moving performance as the married woman Finney’s character is having an affair with. I nearly teared up myself as she broke down while confiding she was pregnant. I need to check out more British films from this period. Let me know if you have any recommendations!
The rest of that bulk Amazon order I put in hasn’t even been dispatched yet. Apparently they’re prioritising essential items, which is fine. I wonder which will come first – my beer cases or box of DVDs. We shall see.
I’m still doing a lot of solo video gaming at the moment, although I did have a catch-up session with my once-a-week gaming buddy. I’ve been venturing into playing with randoms on certain titles, with mixed results. Still, it’s nice to have some company, even if they never turn their mic on.
I’ve started fantasy house hunting again, which is a nice bit of escapism. I looked for houses around Lyme Regis last night, which is a town on the south coast. It was featured prominently in The French Lieutenant’s Woman and looked rather pleasant. I didn’t find much though. I’m searching for properties under the assumption that I’ll win the lottery next week so, basically, plenty of bedrooms and a big garden are a must! I’m sure I’ll be packing my bags by the end of the week. Just when I’ll be able to actually move is another thing. Your guess is as good as mine.
Well, I must dash. I have a whole lot of nothing to be getting on with. Hopefully I’ll be writing my next post from the bottom of a bottle. Good times.
Do stay in touch, darlings.
Toodles!
Maybe all this will be over by the time my meter dries up and the lights go out. Or I’ll find I can survive on just cold water baths and staring out the window at nothing for entertainment. Sounds fun.
I managed to put an order in a for a few cases of beer earlier today. I was quite surprised I was able to. I don’t know why I was so surprised, as beer is hardly an essential. Well, maybe for some. The cases are from a place I’ve ordered from before (who do mixed bottle gift boxes). I ordered three. I’m wondering whether to drink them once they arrive or wait until my birthday next month. It’s a big round number, so I should celebrate. I guess I could order more cases should these arrive quick enough.
I made a curry yesterday out of tinned vegetables and meat. Very posh. It’s kinda what I do anyway, so it was no big change. I ran out of rice last week though, so I had it with pasta. It actually wasn’t too bad. There’s something in rice that makes me happy though, so running out is very bothersome. I need my fix! Today I stirred in a tin of new potatoes as I heated it up. It was fine. Rice would have been better. Just saying.
I watched a couple of films directed by Karel Reisz and lensed by Freddie Francis this week – The French Lieutenant’s Woman and Saturday Night and Sunday Morning. They’re both films I’ve been meaning to catch for years but, for some reason, have just never gotten around to it. Freddie Francis is my favourite cinematographer, having worked on The Elephant Man, Dune and Cape Fear, so I was keen to check out more of his work. He seems to like creating layers of similar colours, which gives a pastel-quality to his scenes. He was quite a genius.
The French Lieutenant’s Woman is rather an oddity, as it jumps back and forth through time from the Victorian era to modern day, where Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons play actors working on a film version of the Victorian scenes. It’s a rather pointless device, to be honest. I think they did it to fit in the multiple endings that the source material has, but they could have done it a better way. The film Clue did it best, I’d say. Regardless, The French Lieutenant’s Woman is a very moving study of depression, a subject which is close to my heart. Streep’s character is in a very confused state throughout most of the film, and just wants to isolate herself in order to recover. I can relate to this. She emotionally wounds people, but not on purpose. Depression creates so much doubt in one’s mind, and can make the sufferer see the world not for what it really is. Sometimes people around them inadvertently get caught up in that. It’s really nobody’s fault. Just the illnesses.
Saturday Night and Sunday Morning was very interesting. It’s fascinating seeing English life as it was sixty years ago. I think it’s a film that helped kick-off the British new wave, adding grit to motion pictures, rather than the soft fantasy world of films from and before the 1950s. Albert Finney is very compelling as the loutish main character, although his loud line delivery gets a bit irritating after a while. Rachel Roberts gives a very moving performance as the married woman Finney’s character is having an affair with. I nearly teared up myself as she broke down while confiding she was pregnant. I need to check out more British films from this period. Let me know if you have any recommendations!
The rest of that bulk Amazon order I put in hasn’t even been dispatched yet. Apparently they’re prioritising essential items, which is fine. I wonder which will come first – my beer cases or box of DVDs. We shall see.
I’m still doing a lot of solo video gaming at the moment, although I did have a catch-up session with my once-a-week gaming buddy. I’ve been venturing into playing with randoms on certain titles, with mixed results. Still, it’s nice to have some company, even if they never turn their mic on.
I’ve started fantasy house hunting again, which is a nice bit of escapism. I looked for houses around Lyme Regis last night, which is a town on the south coast. It was featured prominently in The French Lieutenant’s Woman and looked rather pleasant. I didn’t find much though. I’m searching for properties under the assumption that I’ll win the lottery next week so, basically, plenty of bedrooms and a big garden are a must! I’m sure I’ll be packing my bags by the end of the week. Just when I’ll be able to actually move is another thing. Your guess is as good as mine.
Well, I must dash. I have a whole lot of nothing to be getting on with. Hopefully I’ll be writing my next post from the bottom of a bottle. Good times.
Do stay in touch, darlings.
Toodles!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)