"Ooh-bi-doo, I wan'na be like you-who-who"

Well, I think I made the right decision to leave watching the rest of Lust for Life until today, as it did get very upsetting from where I’d left it yesterday. Even though it was mildly twisted into a Hays Code-era romantic epic, the story of a lonely, tortured soul losing the will to carry on eventually brought a tear to my eye. I mean, how could it not? Kirk Douglas won me over in the end. I’d really recommend the film, even though, thanks to religious moralists of the time, it was unable to be more frank about some of the trials and tribulations of life, such a prostitution. Why a person would ever believe that not talking about something will somehow improve it will forever baffle me. I guess it baffles us all, as our world has matured somewhat since.

Although, a backlash may be brewing, I fear.

Anyway, 1950s politics aside, I doubt there’s a better presentation of Vincent Van Gogh’s life currently available out there. It would be nice to see something more gritty, but Vincent Minnelli’s film does a damn fine job. It’s also stunningly beautiful, which I don’t think I have yet mentioned. I’d love to travel around Europe and visit the Van Gogh museum and galleries and tour his old haunts. I fear though that I may have some sort of sympathetic breakdown if I ever stood in the courtyard of the hospital at Arles.

It’s just… a concern I have. Drama, drama, drama, huh? Silly ol’ me!

I had some groceries delivered this morning. At least I think it was this morning. My concept of time is wavering somewhat. No booze was included in my order, so at least I managed that. I’ve been working my way through some takeaway leftovers throughout the day, so I’ve not started on any of what they brought. Can you believe a litre of off-brand supermarket extra virgin olive oil will now set you back £7?! That’s a 100% markup over the past two years. I’m not even sure that’s legal, but then again I have no idea how these things work. I may have to start melting olive oil spread (normally for sandwiches/toast etc.) to cook with instead.

The prospect of an olive oil famine is a truly terrifying thing indeed!

I’m now watching the original cartoon Jungle Book, which I’m enjoying quite a bit. I’m looking forward to George Sanders turning up, who was such a cook mofo. Even the actor’s suicide note was gloriously bitchy.. A class act! I actually forgot how many catchy songs were in The Jungle Book, songs good enough to slip into just being proper-good-songs, not just good-songs-from-a-movie. Know what I mean? There seems to be no UK release of the TaleSpin TV series, which is a shame. I’m not signing up to any streaming service, I can tell you that much.

You said it, daddy bear! I guess this was the late 1960s, so more modern world-views/philosophies about breaking gender stereotypes were starting to make it onto the big screen without frightened, reactionary, conservative parents having any affect. Oh I’m sure they freaked out, and still do, but logical, rational minds have just stopped listening.

For now.

Oh I believe I have FINALLY stumbled upon a standard (not 4K Ultra Super Smashing Great Plus) Blu-ray, Extended Edition, Remastered, Region 2 copy of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I heard they had recently rereleased them with an upgraded shimmer, but I just couldn’t find a boxset with the above exhausting criteria. This box includes The Hobbit films too, which I don’t hate quite as much as other people do. They’re hardly the Star Wars prequels, after all. Nothing can ever be as bad as those! So, yes, I feel a long-overdue Middle-earth marathon approaching, depending on delivery times.

I’ve found a guitar I really fancy buying. It’s a modern version of the Epiphone Casino, but these ones are denoted as “worn”, meaning there’s a low-gloss satin/matte finish to them. Satin finishes are my absolute favourite, and I can’t stop stroking them for love nor money. The one I’m after is in a “Worn Ebony” colour (I do like black guitars!). They’re not too expensive either, relatively speaking. If I’m still foaming at the mouth by Monday, then I’ll put in an order. I think I can just about fit one or two more instruments in this tiny one-bedroom hovel.

Nice, huh? You bet!

How are you liking all these images? I’m hoping that including more media in my posts doesn’t spoil your reading experience.

Right, I best get back to The Jungle Book. It’s 9 pm and I’ve just had two cups of coffee but, to be honest, I’ll probably still be awake at 4 am even without such stimulation. How can such a lazy bastard such as myself have such bad insomnia?!

Do stay in touch, darlings.

Toodles!