I listen to Radio 4 most mornings.
I know that to many of you, it might sound as useful as using The Guardian as a fly swat, but I live in my own little galaxy and I’ll protect it however I see fit.
In the last newsletter, I had promised to summarise the last year and make predictions for this, but much of last year was so spectacularly forgettable, I couldn’t remember it and I felt best not rake over the tea leaves; worse still, not to stare too deeply into the bottom of the cup for inspiration for this year, for I fear it doth not runneth over!
It is the best of times and the worst of times, as someone recently said to me about their sojourn in Washington, that it was the age of wisdom and the age of foolishness, and yet we do seem to make life considerably more complicated for ourselves than it really needs to be.
I am a simple soul and easily pleased, so much passing me by in life’s fast lane. Sensitive as well, a bit of an old softy, and as I walked along Regent’s Canal on Wednesday morning; I listened to ‘Soul Music’; a series on Radio 4 about the emotional impact on a group of people, of a particular piece of music.
Wednesday’s piece of music was Smile.
As I wandered along by the water and into Regent’s Park, a piece of music once again reduced me to tears. The story of how a melody written by Charlie Chaplin became a gloriously sentimental song, and how it was remembered by each member of the group.
I will dedicate this to my good friend Susan, who sadly lost her wonderful, long-time companion on the same Wednesday morning. As once with Marie; Susan joins me for breakfast at The Wolseley from time to time, and smiles sympathetically at my ridiculously, extravagant life.
We’ll have breakfast soon, and when what is past, is past, we’ll smile again.
A Saturday afternoon regular; Perseus, recently reduced the entire shop to apoplexy, as he complained about the ‘burn’ in his side-abs, after a particularly vigorous workout in the gym. Side-abs I enquired? Yes, side-abs he insisted, flexing his bulging biceps, looking even more like the shape of a Dorito, of whom he is a dear friend (Yes… I know ‘a friend of Dorito’, let’s not go there Toto!). He then pointed at his pectorals… They learn nothing at school these days…
Studying astronomy is not anatomy, or astrology… Oh Perseus, son of Zeus, hide thy heavenly body, the blood wolf moon is in the ascendancy, and the Gorgon Medusa must be slain…
Such treachery as befell Lady Sarah, when cousin Abigail drugged her. Sarah was dragged behind her charging steed only to survive to become a branded ambassador for Nike, such was the neatness of the scar, a product placement tour-de-force, like ‘An American Werewolf in London’ and Adidas!
The Sale continues for a little longer and there are still a few bargains to be had, but we now are starting to receive the new made to measure cloths and swatches for Spring and Summer, early bird and all that!
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