Just, no.
Okay, look, he was 80. He's been infirm for years but still working. He's allowed to go.
But...
His menacing cackle was one of the best on the planet. That sneery smile. That wicked look behind his eyes in every role he took on.
He was an icon.
It's a bad week for celebrities. I just wish it wasn't the good ones who are going.
Rest in Power, Tim Curry. You're going home.
I was woken by a notification on the phone.
"We're playing Dolly Parton back-to-back this morning, What a loss."
It is a loss. A huge loss. And for somebody born in a one-room shack in Tennessee, she's done more for the world than almost anybody. Her Imagination Library distributed more than 300 million books to children, promoting a love of reading, is the stuff that makes me tear up. Her own father couldn't read or write - she didn't want anybody to not have the opportunity to learn just what reading and writing could bring you.
She was smart, funny and humble. She treated people as people.
The world has lost a good one.
I grew up with her. As a child of the seventies, she was everywhere - I remember her singing with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris. I remember her films of the 80s and 90s. She's always been around.
The song of the day is my favourite song of hers - it came out when I was nine.
Anyway, it's been a sad day.
Making up for it, I'm teaching my cousin how to crochet. She's been staying with me for a few nights while she attends a course here in Melbourne.
She's a bit older than me. There's lots of interesting things about her - too much to mention here. She's also the wife of an Anglican priest.
Our grandmother always said that she wasn't cut out for crochet - however, she does knit very well.
Regardless, she's sitting here on the couch trying to master this crochet thing.
After an hour of trying to use more technical terms, I tried a more novel approach.
"Strangle it. Stab it. Strangle it again. Hang it. Tie it up. Tie it up. Start again."
Very technical.
She thinks it's the best way to remember the stitches.
It's just the recipe for granny squares.
Coming out of the mouth of a vicar's wife, it's quite funny.
Remind me why middle-aged men think they own the place?
Case in point. The tram this afternoon. A 109 tram, on Collins Street. it's busy. Not hideous can't get on the tram busy, but busy enough.
There is a man, sitting on the seat next to the aisle. The seat next to him is vacant.
"Excuse me," I motion towards the seat. Two young men are sitting in the opposite two seats.
The man looks up from his phone and looks at me as if I'm something he's stepped in at the dog park.
"Excuse me," I repeat, a little more forcefully.
He doesn't move.
The two young men make some room, and I take the seat by the window - I mean, it's a vacant seat on a busy tram. The absolute audacity of me wanting to take a free seat on a busy tram next to a middle-aged. He made it known that my presence on the next seat was unwelcome.
MAAAATE! IT'S PUBLIC FUCKING TRANSPORT!
I sit in the seat. I refuse to make myself small. I can make myself small, but in this case, with this tosser, I refuse to bundle myself into a ball to make room for his arse on my side of the seat.
I don't go into knees and elbows mode, but I sit quietly.
I could do one of the following:
First night in the new gym. There were feelings of trepidation and grief. After, I remain hopeful.
One of the issues of going to the same gym for nearly 20 years is that you know where everything is, how everything works and what to expect. You also have to remember that it's not the same place.
Jay was at the old gym today as it closed its doors at midday. I said my goodbyes yesterday.
Onwards, I say.
And yes, things are different. The machines have different set ups, things are in strange places. There are few bouncy medicine balls, but heaps of dead balls. (I hate dead balls). The feel of the machines are a bit different - of course they are. The leg press bench isn't as padded, the lat pull down machine felt a bit strange. There are fewer mats. Stuff, which will work itself out with a few sessions.
It also felt busier than the old place but considering they've taken on a lot of people from the old gym, it's to be expected.
I saw a few familiar places around the place. Another trainer from the old place was showing around a client. We smiled at each other. Familiar faces are gold.
And after a 45-minute session with Cleo, I have the sense that this place will be okay. I love that they have reformer beds with inbuilt video lessons - I'd like to try Pilates but can't be bothered with the expense. I like that they have yoga at 8 pm on a Saturday morning. I like that their cardio room looks over Victoria Street.
After this session, I went two doors down to meet up with my boxing trainer, for another half an hour of punishment.
This was our third session boxing. I'm getting back into the swing of things. I love this interval training lark. Okay, after a 45-minutes of weights, it might not have been the most sensible thing to have done, but I lasted well. Sure, my arms felt like they were going to drop off at the end of the session, my legs a little wobbly, but I did it.
An hour and a half and 500 calories later, I stumbled home.
I think I'll sleep tonight.
Let me introduce you to some friends of mine.
It's interesting that Sunday Stealing put this up as this week's questions, as it was, indeed, my birthday this week.
It wasn't a 'big' birthday, but it's been a pleasant week. Lots of gentle socialising, and a bit of down time. I couldn't ask for more.
Anyway, here goes this week's questions.
First, what is your birthday (month/day)?
19 August.
Now, go to Wikipedia and list:
1) Four historic events
According to Wikipedia:
1) In 1561 Mary, Queen of Scots returned to Scotland after 13 years in France.
2) In 1944, France was liberated from Germany with the help of Allied Troops.
3) In 1960, Russia sends two dogs, Belka and Strelka into space as part of the Sputnik program.
4) In 2004, Google first lists on the NASDAQ.
2) Three births
I share my birthday with some pretty cool people:
3) Two deaths
Groucho Marx (1977) and Otto Frank, Anne Frank's father, died on 19 August.
1) One holiday or observance
Allegedly, August 19 is World Humanitarian Day. It's not a day I've ever celebrated or know about
The fourth day of birthday week saw me do something out of the ordinary. I had somebody come over to my place!
Although not a big deal, it is a big deal - as it has been impressed on me that the fact that I don't 'entertain' is a bit strange.
Okay, I don't have the set up to host a dinner party without a lot of movement, cleaning, arranging furniture and the like - but I can have people over to watch a movie.
Last night, Alice and I had a movie night. We went down the pub for dinner, then we watched The Sheep Detectives - a film I love, and Alice really wanted to see. The Sheep Detectives is on Amazon Prime.
Alice was told to bring some cow's milk for a cup of tea, because I only have almond milk in the fridge. We put the world to rights over dinner and settled in for a movie after, tucking Alice up in a blanket.
Old friends are great. They don't mind if you keep falling asleep on the couch after going boxing at lunch time.
After The Sheep Detectives, I introduced her to Ted Lasso - because she was rather taken with Ronnie and Reggie, the twin blackfaced sheep voiced by Brett Goldstein. She had not heard about Roy Kent. Alice, being from England, would LOVE Roy Kent. I LOVE Roy Kent.
