St. Cyprians

I have just finished a small collection of Orwell's essays, 'Books v. Cigarettes', which includes the essay regarding his school days, 'Such, Such Were the Joys' (also available here). Looking up his old school, I found a website dedicated to it - and a rebuttal to his essay.

I could write something about truth, memory, history, childhood, adults and education, but i'll save my fingertips.

Mum's gone to Iceland? Heck no, she legged it with bap n burger bloke

How much of an insult it must be. Your economy has tanked, the Euro-denominated (foreign currency) loans pushed onto your citizens come home to roost, and everyone is returning their 'game overs' (Range Rovers).

Just when you need friends, that capitalist running dog and enemy of anti-globalisation protesters everywhere, BadlyMadeUpTrannieWithClownShoesBurgerAndBapMan, skips town and deserts you.

That's gotta hurt.

But it is the whales I really feel sorry for.

'If Mind Were All There Was'

On the 16th, apart form going to the Design Museum, I went to the Hayward Gallery and checked out Victor Man's 'If Mind Were All There Was'.

I wasn't so keen on the found objects, although the paintings were interesting. What piqued my interest was the 'true confession' of Giuseppe Sacchi. It reminded me of one of my early pieces of creating writing - which was dreadful - which I should return to when I resume my editing/total rewrite journey.

Scenes from Henley Last Weekend

This was Saturday morning at HBS, just after breakfast...















All shots were taken inexpertly with my Samsung i8510 phone, i.e. not with a real camera that I know how to use. The last few taken while Su gave a spider concussion.

What have I done recently?

It's all been a bit of a blur recently. I haven't slept much - well, not quality zeds. I've been busy with work, the course, fannying around...but, what have I done? Time for an inventory.

Films: '44 Inch Chest' and 'Cold Souls' at the London Film Festival, with lunch at the Marquess Tavern, accompanied by the Cistern Kid & iPod Perv, shown below.



Books: Julian Gough's 'Jude: Level One', Joseph Conrad's 'The Secret Agent' and 'Titian: nymph & Shepherd' by John & Katya Berger. Also some Penguin specials, which are excerpts of popular works, packaged as series, i.e. great ideas, great love, etc - Wilfred Thesiger's 'Across the Empty Quarter', Chekhov's 'A Russian Affair' (I think I am the country doctor in that one), with Orwell's 'Books vs. Cigarettes' next on my list, alongside Kapuscinski's 'The Other'.

I also went to the Design Museum and checked out Jan Kaplicky's buildings and Mariscal.

Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan

An amazing concert last night. Attended by Brits, Africans, Rajasthanis, Gujaratis, Punjabis...Christians, Muslims, Hindus & Sikhs. Simply, a night to remember.

Oops

A fantastic Friday night meant I had to sleep during most of Saturday, so missed Werner Herzog's turn at the Southbank.

Oh well...but I get to see the main event tonight - Rahat Ali Khan.