Chinese Water Torture

I slipped in that we'd been to China.  And so had, for a week.  Hardly the grand tour, but Shanghai and Hangzhou were our two ports of call.  I'd say we saw a teeny, tiny, tiny slivver of the country and its culture, but it was absolutely entrancing.  And exhausting.  And it rained a bit.  And its a long way.  It was a fabulous week, entertaining and educational in equal measure.  I took a record-breaking 2000 pictures, which is ridiculous.  So here's a few, without a word of explanation:

Bike ride

In preparation for a cycle ride to Amsterdam, after my ride to Paris last year, I went on a long ride.  It's called London Revolutions, and is literally that... a ride around London.  200 miles in two days with a night spent in a tent at Ascot Racecourse.

I wasn't particularly fit after a week in Shanghai and not doing as much cycling as I ought before that...but hey ho, it made for a better challenge.  I discovered that Surrey has many hills, some of them steep, but it also has some very pretty villages.  The latter was nice, the former were a real challenge...for the first time ever I actually got off and pushed for a hundred yards.  That depressed me until the next day when I saw many people get off and push up most of the hills, whilst I stayed on.

I didn't enjoy the first day all that much, but loved the second, and certainly came into my own when finishing through the London traffic.

I also discovered my sports tracker doesn't work with my new phone which was disappointing as I like to record these things.

Not many photos either

Slip sliding away

We continue with our eclectic social life.  Last week we went to The Chambers of Flavour... a pop-up dining experience.  It was created under the arches in near Hoxton Station as a series of 'experience' rooms. You entered sitting in a low-slung wooden trolley which was hauled through a short tunnel to an elaborately decorated room...and after each course you shuffled into a new experience...we started in a forest, moved to the home of a crash test dummy, the dining hall of a mad aristocrat and finally to the interior of an aircraft.  I may have missed one course.  The food by the Art of Dining was fabulous, the entertainment by a series of actors, fabulous.  A great night which ended by exiting the 'machine' down a 20' slide...not done that for a few decades! Sadly photography of the experience was banned, so here's a picture of the toilets instead!

We headed down to Plymouth to see The Cat's production which was being put on at the Theatre Royal...she was assistant Director, and this part of a competition created by the National.  There are 500 entrants given one of eight plays to put on...the top twelve get to perform at the National itself.  The Cat's play was all about the traumas of adolescence, and there was a lot of paint being thrown around.  Stunningly performed by a bunch of teenagers, we have our fingers crossed.  We stayed in a grand place called Boringden Hall, which has the honour of playing host to Elizabeth 1st as well as Drake, Raleigh, and all those dubious sea-dogs that helped create our sea-faring reputation.  We got to sleep in a four-poster

The next day we visited some of my oldest and dearest friends who moved south-west many years ago.  They will soon be celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary...it hardly seems possible.

We spent Sunday at the London Marathon watching another of our friends wear themselves out...she did incredibly well with a time of 4.28 hours.  It's become an annual ritual, and its great fun amongst the crowds chasing our runners around

The 23rd was spent at the cinema watching the live broadcast of the 400th birthday party of our greatest bard.  More a focus on how he has influenced future generations of song, dance and writing than the great man's works, it was fun, but perhaps wouldn't get five stars from me...

100 not out

A while back we watched a great social history programme called the Secret History of Our Streets...you can watch a clip here or here

More recently, we watched a follow-up series called The Secret History of my Family which traced the family fortunes of the poor and destitute and their wealthy benefactors, which you can see here  - my favourite is the Gadbury sisters, one of whose descendents still lives in central London, one who was deported to Australia, a chronically class-ridden society, and the third went to Tasmania which achieved equality by dint of pretty everyone being a criminal - her decendents became respctively Premier and Attorney General.  That's real social mobility in action

Illness in Cyprus meant that Grandma in Cyprus couldn't attend something she'd been really looking forward to for the last few years.  This is quite a disappointment for her, but with Grandpa in Cyprus recovering from his heart operation, there was no way he could be left alone.  There had been a bit of a plan to secretly buy her a flight ticket which provoked much discussion between my brother and I but eventually common sense prevailed and it didn't happen.

So instead The Boy and I went along to Great Uncle Jack's birthday party.  He's 100.  That's not quite as unique as it might have been a few years ago, but still quite an achievement.  More importantly, he's still bright as a button....much sharper than many half his age.

So it was a great family reunion, and as the family tree had been worked on, we discovered there was an Australian branch.  That's really quite exciting indeed...it made me think of the Gadbury sisters above...although our ancestor emigrated by choice, and worked for the Royal Mint creating Australia's first coins.

Camera roll

I realise I'm on a bit of a roll at the moment.  I think I've found a new enthusiasm, based mainly on nothing much at all.  Earlier this year, I started using a different social media channel called ello.  It's really just a space for people to post images and words which inspire.  For me it's like being a kid and going into a sweet shop...there's so much there.  Anyway, and I'm not sure if this will work, if you'd like to see the pictures I posted (you will recognise some of them) look here 

Joining Ello is I am told by invitation only (that may be just hype), so if you do want to sign up to yet another social media outlet, just let me know

What's Up Pussy Cat?

So a very fond farewell to my mother's beautiful cat, Goldie, who was run over and killed at the weekend.  He was always an adventurous soul, and that had resulted in him losing the use of one of his front legs when he was a very small kitten.  A year later he had flourished, with a hobble that didn't hold him back and remained as mischievous as ever.  Strangely, he touched our hearts more than you would expect.

No April fools

Just a short post.

The other night the following three things were done:

The Cat's Mother's Brother (UP) recited off-by heart the 430 or so lines of TS Elliot's Wasteland.  It takes about 35 minutes uninterrupted; it was performed beautifully

We listened to a new CD - the opera Duke D'Albe by Donizetti.  Donizetti never finished it, so the first two acts have been completed by The Cat's Mother's other brother

The Cat's Mother's sister and her husband (The Muffins) were getting drunk with a bishop.  I daren't say which one, but a real bishop he is nonetheless

This is quite a family, isn't it?

This weekend...April 2nd in fact, was my first birthday this year.  Like the Queen, this year I have two.  On Saturday I was 20,000 days old.  You may do the maths to work out just how old that is...but I can tell you 20,000 days and 20,000 nights sometimes feels a lot.  Fourteen of us went out first to a karaoke bar before heading on to a themed pop-up immersive dining experience.  The food was delicious.  The theme was '1980's Office Party.  We all had a jolly good time, but I have to add that I couldn't do any of the things I did at the '80's office parties I went to, because now I'm quite respectable....

Ooooh another post!

So there was a point about two weeks ago when my mother was in one hospital in Cyprus, my step-father was in another in Nicosia....and I was in one in North London.  My poor brother, running round in ever decreasing circles trying to keep everyone happy!  Anyway, I was fortunately not in for long...I was just being patched up after being knocked off my cycle (again).  The driver of a car had suddenly felt the need for a KFC and turned left when I was in the cycle lane.  I went  straight over the handle bars....I remember seeing the pavement looming up towards me.  Fortunately I survived with cuts, bruises and aches and pains which were treated in A&E at Whipps Cross - a hospital that is in 'Special Measures'...why I don't know because my experience of them has always been very good. The driver's insurance will pay for my damaged clothing, and a new helmet as the old one has a nice dent in it (it's hard to see in the picture, but trust me it's there).  I'm still cycling, but surprisingly (to me at least) it's with significantly less confidence.  That's a worry as I have a 200 mile cycle round London coming up, and then 400 miles to Amsterdam in June....

Aside from medical things life has rolled on.  We went to dinner with friends who had managed to get to stay at Grayson Perry's House for Essex.  If you don't know about it, I quote "The whole building is in effect the story of an imaginary woman, Julie, an Essex Everywoman whose biography I have written in a long poem and provides a social history of Essex since the war. She was born in Canvey Island on the day of the great flood in 1953, moved to Basildon new town later in the 50s, then married and lived in a Thatcherite Barretty home. After she had brought up her kids she went back to uni where she met her second man and then lived in Colchester before moving to Wrabness on the north Essex coast where the house is. I call the building the Taj Mahal on the River Stour, which might be overdoing it slightly, but in the story it has been built by her second husband for his dead wife and all the imagery, inside and out, relates to her life."  Poor Julie was knocked over and killed by a motorcycle delivering curry.  The place is fabulous and fantastical.

The spring edition

Like many good publications, I've moved from a daily edition, to a weekly, to a monthly, to a quarterly...no doubt that means this will be the last post until 2022! Some people know me on Facebook, and recently I've been taking up more time with another social media outlet called ello.  I think you can find me here https://ello.co/notabene  do give it a go, as it's full of nice pictures!

Health has been the pressing concern of 2016.  The Cat's Mother's mother was in hospital in January for an op to remove a growth.  Amazingly she's bounced back and is the life and soul of the party again, whilst the rest of us are flagging.

Overseas, Grandpa in Cyprus finally got admitted to Nicosia General Hospital to have his aorta replaced with a plastic one.  Apart from the obvious concerns this has caused, it brought up a whole load of logistical ones too.  Fortunately he got through the operation well, although has subsequently had to have a week back in the hospital because of an infection.  In truth, he is not a good patient, and he has tried the patience of friends, family and hospital staff.  I flew over for a week to help the process at the beginning, and it was a good job I did otherwise it would have been a disaster...the admissions process appeared to be a matter of wandering around the hospital until you find the surgeon's secretary who will issue a slip which you then take to a reception desk before being pointed in the direction of the records department who will then give you your files to take up to the ward...there was more, but i can't bear to think about it!

Mum and I stayed for a couple of days in Nicosia to be close during the operation....it's about an hour or more away from 'home', and she no longer drives. We had time to kill during the days, but I can't say that I would recommend it as a holiday destination, although we did find one quite nice museum. After he had successfully got through the operation and was on the road to (painful) recovery I headed back to England.  My brother arrived as I left...our flights crossed in the skies above Cyprus.  He had said he would stay for 10 days,  and spent that time running around helping out, and taking mum backwards and forwards to the hospital.  After a week, the patient came home so there was a lot to be done to look after him, so it was disappointing that he had to be re-admitted to Nicosia the day before Kevin was due to return home.  That evening it all got too much for Grandma and she collapsed...fortunately it turned out to be 'only' exhasution and stress...we had initially feared a stroke.  She was admitted to the local hospital.  So Kevin had to cancel his plans, and has spent a further week over there than he expected.  Mum returned home after a couple of days, and Grandpa returned the day before yesterday.

We are hoping for a more straightforward path to recovery now.

I think my brother has been an absolute saint, putting aside his homelife to care for them in Cyprus...I have never been more in awe of him.

But the whole thing leaves many questions as yet unanswered.  It's hard enough when parents live down the road when they get older...a five hour flight away makes the situation impossibly difficult.  Kevin (in particular and I) have stepped up to the mark...but I can't help but feel that Grandpa's fanily have been woefully lacking.  We were able to jump this time, but it isn't something that can be assumed in future...that isn't good, nor does it make us feel good or confident.  Grandma and Grandpa need to carefully consider implications for the future - there are going to be many weeks ahead when they are dependent on friends, and who knows beyond that whether that is reasonable?  Perhaps some home help would make all the difference, and that is something they will need to look at.  There are more questions, but perhaps this is not the place to ask, let alone answer them.

That's entertainment

A while ago, The Cat's Mother and I started talking about going to see bands for no better reason that the next time they play may be their last.  It was one of the reasons we went to see Fleetwood Mac last year.  Another one of those bands were The Eagles who we saw about 15 months ago.  They were fabulous...performance perfect at the O2, albeit in a very corporate environment, with announcements that people should refrain from taking pictures or videos...lesser bands might have suggested that this was so the audience wouldn't miss the experience because their face was presses up against a mobile phone screen...but here you couldn't help but feel the heavy hands of the copyright lawyers pressing down.  Anyway, as I said it was a great concert to go to...and whilst we can pat ourselves on the back for getting to see The Eagles then, I'd have preferred it if Glenn Frey hadn't died.  I had a lively discussion just after the concert with the Rock Critic who I share an office with and who had thought the concert was rubbish because of the 'corporate feel'...I'm not sure how he feels now. 

Funnily enough he and I had a conversation about David Bowie a couple of weeks ago - he'd published some details about the new album ahead of time, not realising the information had been given 'off the record' and as a result he was in deep trouble with the record company...so all in all Mr Bowie's death was poorly timed for our Rock Critic. 

We didn't even think about David Bowie as someone to go and see (not that he was touring) because he hadn't occurred to us that he should be on our list.  I guess it was the shock that someone in what appeared to be their prime was in fact fully aware they were dying.  I was never a fan, but can certainly appreciate his incredible talents, and his position as a cultural icon.

As for Lemmy...well a great talent...The Boy and I saw him supporting the Foo Fighters in Hyde Park a few years ago.  He was most apologetic for playing anything other than Ace of Spades, and quite endearing for that.

So that's my links with deceases rock stars...we all feel a need to do that these days don't we?

We've been to plenty of entertainments over the last few weeks...you wouldn't expect anything else, would you?

Last night 'As You Like It' at the National, which is as good a performance as you'll ever see...in fact better.  The production was dazzling, the performances unimpeachable.  Best of all the words were spoken without that usual shoutiness that many actors feel the need to do when they're playing Shakepeare.

On Saturday we went to see The Hangmen.  It contains the most shocking scene I have ever witnessed in a theatre...the whole audience gasped as a man was hanged in front of them.  It is true too say that good theatre is unrivalled, and this was beyond good.  I'm hopeless with names, but it's written by the same guy that wrote In Bruges and Seven Psychopaths, and manages the same galloways (sic) humour...you catch yourself laughing when in fact you should be shocked and horrified.  Fantastic set and absolutely fabulous.

Did I mention we went to see Guys and Dolls...that old musical.  Again, an absolute treat...with real actors putting in terrific performances...and still singing brilliantly.  I pick out Jamie Parker as my favourite, although there were plenty to choose from.  A musical with substance and style.

Our biggest disappointment has been Les Liaisons Dangereuse, which had Dominic West playing what appeared to be a plummy Englishman rather a louche, conniving, venal Frenchman.  Anyway we hated it.  The Cat's Mother wanted to leave at half time...I insisted on staying, as much as anything to satisfy my curiosity.  Everyone seemed to be stumbling over their words...I guess they must have known them, so it must have been a Directorial thing...but really it was awful.

We had a thoroughly entertaining evening with Sir Anthony Sher talking about his life and work.  I had no idea he was South Africa.  I won't hold that against him...he seemed a lovely fellow, very interesting...and with a talent for drawing as well.  He was happy to chat afterwards which was nice.

Rocky Horror?  The New Year's treat in Brighton.  What can you say really?  It's a pantomime, and the production values reflected that...it was delightful fun, but rubbish at the same time.  I enjoyed it a lot more than The Cat's Mother.

I nearly forgot, we also saw a play called Harliquinade, starring and Directed by Kenneth Brannagh.  We came out slightly lost for words.  You couldn't criticise the production values, or the performances.  But.  Yes, but...the play itself should have stayed back in the 1950s when it was written and set.  Talk about of its time, it certainly was.  Poor choice on our part, but let's not deny Mr Brannagh's comic timing...he was very good indeed.

I went to a talk by Iain Sinclair who goes for very long walks and then writes books about them.  This one was about walking round the London Overground Line (best known by Londoners as the Ginger Line).  It was held at the London Transport Museum, and I expected it to be a talk attended by trainspotters alone.  I couldn't have been more wrong.  What I'd failed to take into account is that he writes quite insightfully about the social impact of the line, so it was full of people who care about society, and how political and commercial decisions impact on the general populace.  It was right up my street, even if I didn't agree with him on all points...best of all though he writes in a very careful, clever almost lyrical way, and speaks in the same way.  An unexpectedly delightful evening.

December and January

Well I guess a lot's happened, aand fortunately in some cases not happened in the last one month and five days.

On the serious front The Cat's Mother's Mother has been in hospital for a serious operation from which she is happily recovering quickly.  It was planned and she and Mr Cat's Mother's Mother had known it was coming for a couple of months, but sensibly told us only on Boxing Day.  That was thoughtful as it meant that the Christmas celebrations had gone ahead without any worries.  Speaking of which Christmas was terrific...a large gathering at home, and the new kitchen proved its value as we cooked turkey and all the trimmings and tidied away with no problems.

Out in Cyprus, Grandad in Cyprus has been facing the challenges of getting the Cypriot version of the NHS to deal with what has turned out to be a serious heart issue.  Hopefully he will be operated on in the next two-three weeks, but I suspect it may take a little more pushing.  Apart from the worry that this sort of thing brings (for everyone involved, let alone the patient), there is the added dimension of distance...hard to know when to drop everything and travel there when there is immense uncertainty over timing.  It has left my brother and I more worried than ever....we cannot simply go there, and find that in fact it would be more sensible to have delayed.  But on the other hand, that doesn't stop us fretting.  Fortunately we can fret together over the phone.

The Boy's nanny (i.e. the lovely lady who looked after him when he was younger) is suffering from cancer, but putting a brave face on it.  She's not old at all, and has a heart of gold, so it seems completely unfair.  We popped over to see her just before Christmas and hopefully cheered her along.

On lighter notes, the Madonna concert we saw was the weakest of theree gigs we did in December.  best was the Mumfords, and a close second was the Stereophonics.  Both were fun, exciting, musical, involving and done with passion.  Both rekindled my interest in their music, which I guess is the whole idea.

Happily The Boy was home for Christmas, for the first time in three years.  He arrived home from Edinburgh on the 17th, flew off to Norway on the 18th, before returning again on the 23rd to help eith the Christmas preparations.  It was an absolute delight to have both him and The Cat home together, and the success of Christmas was in no small part due to their presence. Of course, he didn't stay long...shipping off to Kitzbuhel on the 27th to resume his part-time ski-instructing.  There is such a big secret about his time in Kitzbuhel this year that I can't tell, other than to say that he must be unbelievably well thought of by his employers to have been asked to do what he did.  Proud Dad is a massive, massive, massive understatement.

And into the New Year...2016 looks like being an exciting year on the work front, a happy year on the home front and a challenging one on the health front.