Not tonight

 I can't face screens tonight. 

I spent a full eight hours in video creation mode - head down, bum, up recording and editing instructional videos. 

Another string to my bow? Yes. 

Exhausting and draining. Yes. 

So, for tonight, we will leave it at that - and I will go back to my book. 

I've got to do it all again tomorrow. 

Today's song: 

Is that the three?

I'm hoping that's the three as I'm not sure I can handle much more. 

Celebrity deaths come in threes. 

First, Neale Daniher. Then Anthony Head. Now, this morning, Richard Collyer. 

If I was still participating in that most questionable of games, Death Watch, a game which an old, cynical journalist, I will admit that Neale Daniher and Richard Collyer would probably be mentioned. 

For those not aware of the Death Watch concept, the more cynical of journos make a list at the start of the year. A list of the great and good who they think may kick the bucket in the preceding calendar year. This is not a list made out of spite or malice. It's just your predictions of who you think may shrug the mortal coil. The death needs to be noted in at least two major papers. We're not talking about your 103-year-old uncle, or your nana. These are the passings of notable people whose names you know. 

If I'm being honest, if was to make such a list, Neale Daniher and Richard Collyer would possibly be on there. Great men. Their amazing works have contributed to society. Their memories are a blessing, their works will continue. And they are no longer suffering. Daniher was given the Motor Neurone diagnosis over ten years ago. The normal life expectancy for MND is two years. Collyer's aggressive brain cancer was treated, and he was given some more time. Both will be remembered for their fighting spirits and generous ways. Can you ask for more than that?

The third passing, Anthony Head, is just very sad. He's been on our television screens for decades. Rupert Giles in Buffy. Uther Pendragon in Merlin. Rupert Manion in Ted Lasso. He played a mean Frankenfurter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show. His performances were always nuanced. He got the best out of any performance he gave. And by all accounts, he was the nicest, kindest and most generous of colleagues, friends and performers.

It's never easy when one of your celebrity crushes goes by the way. Anthony Head was one of mine.

I'm hoping that's it for the while. That's the three celebrities gone.

And sure, they killed off a favourite character on Rivals the other night - it's not the same. 

I'm also not sure Donald Trump will be around for much longer - he looks awful - and possibly the global response to him no longer being around might be met with something different to the sadness and reverence I'm feeling at the moment. 

Today's song: 

Movie Review: The Christophers

 Movie Number 23 of 2026

Movie: The Christophers

The Cinema: Village Cinemas - The Rivoli

Runtime: One hour 40 minutes

Stars: 4.5

Of course, I was going to love this. It has the hallmarks of something I'd love - an English film, about art, set in London, directed by Steven Soderburgh, with a fantastic cast. 

This had me spellbound. I'm not sure if it was Michaela Coel's cheekbones, or the slightly barking plot or the slightly shaky camerawork in places, but to me, this was gold. It's a dark comedy in many ways - but not overly so. I loved it. It hit the spot well good. 

The action takes place in London, where Laurie (Michaela Coel) an art restorer and occasional forger, is approached by Sallie (Jessica Gunning) and Barnaby (James Corden) to go into their father's place and 'finish' a last set of his paintings. Their father, Julian (Ian McKellen) is dying. He's also irascible, painful, rather funny, and as it turns out, Laurie's nemesis. You see, Julian is a famous artist. He's also known for being a bastard. Sallie and Barnaby want Laurie to finish these painting so they will have an inheritance. 

The movie shows the ins and outs of Laurie and Julian's relationship. It's a game of cat and mouse as Laurie tries to wheedle her way into Julian's world but also wrangles with the ethics of what the terrible twosome wants her to do. Added on top of this, her reasons for hating Julian are very relevant. You also want to find out just who Christopher is and why these paintings are such a source of pain for Julian. 

Directed by Steven Soderbergh, most of the film is set in Julian's dreadfully messy apartment. The warren like nature of the space us juxtaposed with the twists and turns of the story.

Both Michaela Coel and Ian McKellen are superb in this as the talented student and the established artist. It's tender, spit take funny in places and thought provoking. I mean in the scheme of things, what is art? What makes something art? And why are some things far more valuable than others. (I loved Julian's line "This will hang with the worst paintings of all time, along with dogs playing poker, velvet Elvis, and most of Warhol.")

This is definitely worth a look. You don't have to be an art lover to enjoy this thought-provoking, interesting film. 

Today's song: 

Sunday Stealing: Questions you aren't used to

I'm just back from a lovely night out with my friend Alice. 

I'll do these quickly because I'd like them out of the way. 

Questions, as always, come from Sunday Stealing. 

1. What celebrity would you never want to meet? 

Donald Trump. Nuff said. 

2. What do you label yourself as?

Kind. 

3. You can only have one sandwich for the rest of your life. You have every sandwich-making ingredient known to man at your disposal. What sandwich do you make? 

A Rueben Sandwich,just like Izzy makes them at my favourite deli in Caulfield. They must be toasted and warm and there must be no shirking on the sauerkraut or Russian dressing. 

4. An angel provides you with a lifetime supply of the alcoholic beverage of your choice. What's it gonna be?

Gin. If I am to be specific, make that Never Never Triple Juniper Gin. Smoother than a babie's bum that stuff. 

5. Have you ever built a snowman?

Ah, no, there isn't much snow in Melbourne (though we do have some great snowfields here. I haven't seen snow in Australia since I went on a ski camp in 1994. 

6. If you could ask your future self a question, what would it be?

Is there anybody out there for me? (I know, daft and stupid at my age. )

7. Have you ever baked your own birthday cake?

I think I have. Again, one of the joys of being single. I've definitely bought my own birthday cake - more than once. 

8. Which are cooler: dinosaurs or dragons?

Dragons. Always dragons. I'm part Welsh. It has to be dragons. 

9. What do you like about babies?

They smell good and they are ultimately untapped, un-fucked-up potential. How cool is that?

10. You discover a beautiful island upon which you may build your own society. What's the first rule you put in place? 

You must be kind. If you're found to be willingly unkind, that's you done.

Today's song: 

Dev Card: Love Languages (Part 2)

 It's a bit sad that I had to go away for a day and think about this. 

Last night I drew a Dev Card, having no inspiration to write. It says,:

What are your love languages for giving a receiving love?

These five love languages describe ways people give and receive love

• Words of affirmation
• Quality time
• Physical touch
• Acts of service 
• Receiving gifts

Write some new love languages and list the ways you show and feel love. 

I still feel like a fraud writing this, however, after mulling this over for the day, here's what I came up with. 

If I want to show love, I will make you something. I'm always making things. I need to be creative to survive, but if I actually set out to make you something, you know that I care for you. I'm already making a blanket for Blarney for Christmas - I normally make her cats little blankets each year for their beds, replacing them annually, as by Christmas each year, they're pretty manky. 

I love knitting or crocheting things. I've always wanted to have a partner who I could make jumpers for. I think that would be bloody marvelous.  

I also love to cook for people, not that I do that often. A small act of service. 

There's something in me that tries to visit people in hospital or send a text to see how they are doing if I know things are a bit amiss. 

These are small things. 

I'm told I'm kind to a fault. I don't think kindness can ever be a fault. 

Oh, and I will recommend you films and books and music with a huge smile on my face. 

As for receiving love. 

Well:

• Cuddle me
• Feed me
• Let me play with your kitten or puppy (friends know how happy this makes me
• Talk to me
• Take me to an art gallery or museum or some sort of interesting installation. 
• Watch a sunrise or sunset with me
• Ply me with beer (or gin)
• Or, if it's going round, give me a puff of your wacky backy - just a puff. 

See, Pandora - that wasn't so hard...

Back to Blarney's blanket. 

Today's song: 

Dev Card: Love Languages

 After a day when the video file I was working on corrupted after a couple of detailed hours of work. Rather than having a hissy fit, I got on with the work of recreating the video. So, I've been sitting staring at a computer for most of the day and I really cannot be asked to sit down in front of one again. Besides, the cat is asleep on my office chair.

So I’ve pulled this Dev Card And it’s asking me what my love languages are. 

Love languages?

I do not have a bloody clue. 

As somebody who lives a fairly solitary life I don’t know if I can answer that question without thinking about it a lot more.. 

so, I’m going to dwell on this for a bit more, and leave it for another time, when I’ve thought about this a bit more. I really have no idea how to answer this question.

And I can move the cat off of my office chair and then go to bed.

Today's song:

Who new?

Working from home makes it easier to get to a 5 pm dentist appointment? And then it makes it easier to go to the gym an hour and a half later. It's even better when you know that you aren't going to be walking home in the cold and the rain m (or waiting for an uber) but rather collecting your car from the rock star car park outside the surgery. 

It's a pity I need to go into the office tomorrow - getting my eyebrows done after work. A necessary evil. 

And who knew that cooking lunch would put you in a manic earworm afternoon. It's an earworm nobody in Australia seems to know. I mean, this is like the best football song in the world, and yes, there is a part of me that absolutely believes that I'm British, and I love English footy songs... but have you any idea how bad it is when you go around singing "Vindaloo" all afternoon? 

Lunch was yummy. I don't make a bad chicken vindaloo. I just wish it didn't come with a song. And I wish I had a Peshwari naan to go with it. Thankfully Coles has basmati rice and mango chutney. 

Vindaloo... vindaloo... vindaloo, vindaloo, nah nah...

The English really do the best football songs. 

The song of the day is that song. 

Today's song: