PUBLICATION - YEAH !!!

Okay, so it's not my novel or another short story, but publication of a Letter to the Editor in a national newspaper (The Guardian) is pretty darn good.

Before my sixtieth birthday in March, I half joked about doing something outrageous like liposuction on my wine and chocolate bulge, plus a tasteful little tattoo on my arm or the base of my spine.

Both John and Lou were horrified by these suggestions, though, and in truth, I had decided that I couldn't be bothered doing either. However, an article in last Saturday's Guardian Week-end colour magazine re-enforced the surgery decision most conclusively.

Because there was a long section in the magazine, entitled 'The Price of Beauty,' about plastic surgery, which was accompanied by the most gruesome photographs of the realities of plastic surgery, particularly the one showing an operation for a tummy tuck, which looked like a cow being hacked into pieces.

So, I wrote a brief letter to The Guardian about this. And okay, I had been thinking of having liposuction rather than a tummy tuck and I've already started losing weight by eating less fat, but the opportunity was too good to miss.

So, you can imagine my delight when I saw, this morning, that my letter had been printed on the letters to the editor page of today's Guardian colour mag.

So, I can now say that I've already been published in 2009!

Well, you have to grasp at straws in the publishing industry.

Lou has been telling her friends about the letter under the general heading of: "My mum's so middle class!"

By the way, I've had another rejection from an agent, this time from Creative Authors, and yes, they kept the paper clip.

THE PROCESS OF WRITING A NOVEL - THE MAGGIE KNUTSON WAY

There are no rules on how to prepare for writing a novel and I steer clear of books advising the sure-fire way of writing a best seller, because, sadly, there isn't a sure-fire way. In fact, there are so many how-to books and magazines about writing that you can spend all your time reading them and not actually writing a thing.

I subscribe to only two magazines: Mslexia, which I can't praise highly enough. It comes out quarterly so I can usually manage to read it all before the next issue; and Writing Magazine, which comes out monthly. I personally don't think it's as good as Mslexia but it's a good standby until I receive my next Mslexia copy.

Now that I'm not teaching (hurrah!), I have time to structure my day as I wish. I tend to write in the morning and evening, so I'm free during the afternoon to harness Archie up into the back of the car, drive to River Park Leisure Centre for a swim, have a snack lunch as I'm changing (home-made fruit smoothies are my favourite), put a fair amount of slap on, chat to every-one and any-one, take the short drive to one of my favourite pubs for a coffee and fag (usually The Black Boy which has a sun-trap of an enclosed garden) and then walk the dog along the Water Meadows. And it's whilst I'm having my coffee etc, that I read my writing magazines.

It's a great way to spend a day and I'm so thankful that I can do it. I don't think I've yet recovered from the stress and strain of teaching but I'm getting there.

For my first novel - Cyprus Blues - I did detailed character studies for my four main characters - Kate, Ellie, Tony and Jack - but didn't bother with the rest.

However, inspired by the television American dramas 'The Wire', 'Homicide' and 'The Corner', where all characters, even if they play only a minor role, are wonderfully rounded and life-like, I am now doing mini- character studies of all my minor characters, as well as the more detailed ones of the main players in Winchester Blues.

And in the process of doing this, I'm getting so many ideas for how I write the novel that I think that it's time well spent, particularly as I plan to to write more detective novels set in Winchester with many of the characters introduced in this first of the (hopefully) series.

In fact, by really thinking about all characters, how they look, their personalities, their strengths and weaknesses, their personal situations and so on, I feel that the book will more or less write itself, based on these character studies.

The temptation, of course, is to try and put too much detail in so these studies are mainly for my benefit in understanding my characters and what they will do and how they will react.

What works for me, is basing my characters on combinations of people I know, being careful not to make the character too closely like the person. It's more of a rough guide for me, really.

The general advice is not to try to totally recreate someone you know because it can limit your writing and I normally agree with this.

However, the one exception in Winchester Blues is Frances Charlton, one of the deputy-heads, and I do this unashamedly because she was a real person - my mum, Frances Charlton, who was a real deputy-head and the best there was. When thinking of creating this deputy-head character, I just couldn't get round my mum, who was better than any-one I could actually make up. Her personality and teaching style were so perfect for what I wanted that it seemed ridiculous not to use her.

I guess, in a way, it's a tribute to her and because she really was exceptional at her job, I decided to use her real name.

She's not around to object but I think she'd be pleased with her portrayal. And anyway, the delicious thing about 'rules' is that you don't always have to stick to them.

I was having difficulty with three of my characters, though:

I just couldn't picture Diane and Christine, two of the three secretaries, until I realised that I was seeing them as being very similiar. So when I envisaged them looking very different and with different personalities, ages and backgrounds, then they became real to me and I could see that they could have an ongoing story within the novel, even though it will only be a small part.

and

The second deputy-head, Tom Patterson, was also giving me problems. I just couldn't picture him in my mind although I knew what his personality and role in the novel was going to be. And then, a week ago, whilst walking Archie, I saw this guy with two kids on bikes and he looked so distinctive that I slowed down to take a better look, hopefully not looking too obvious.

He was tanned, with short hair and that authoritative way of walking that soldiers often have and immediately I could envisage Tom. He will look slightly different but I'm making him ex-army and that will make even more sense of his personality. This guy was really quite dishy in an understated way (as opposed, for example, to the obvious good looks of some-one like Brad Pitt) and that's just how I want Tom to be like.

And finally, in this brief insight into Maggie Knutson's approach to writing, I want to mention another piece of general advice given to writers, which is that there should be nothing in your novel that does not move the plot forward or is not actually relevant to the plot. However, inspired by David Simon, ( the creator of 'The Wire', 'The Corner' and 'Homicide'), I'm more inclined now to introduce small story-lines that aren't crucial the plot but crucial to character development.

Several episodes, for example, in the first season of 'Homicide' are almost exclusively building up character and nothing much happens but because of these episodes, when something important happens, you understand where they're coming from in terms of their actions and reactions. And it means that you see them firstly as individual people and then as detectives. Thus, less chance of creating stereotypes.

If I can achieve just a fraction of what David Simon achieves, then I shall be well pleased. To me, he is an absolute genius and would-be writers would do well to watch his work and absorb his meticulous methods of creating and presenting a story.

FOILED AGAIN !!!

With renewed confidence with the shorter introductory letter and new opening of Cyprus Blues, I sent the first three chapters to two new agencies, found in The Writers' and Artists' Yearbook 2009, having first checked on their websites that they were still considering new writers.

So it was with dismay that by return of post, my manuscript came back from Rupert Crew Limited, telling me that they had closed their books.

Why didn't they have this information on their website? It is costly sending off manuscripts and time wasting if websites are not up to date.

In future, I shall actually phone up an agency first and not rely on their websites.

But at least they didn't keep the paper clip.

CRAZY OR WHAT?

Like everyone else, I waited in the LONG, SLOW queue at Winchester's main post-office today: to send off a short story and sample chapters of Cyprus Blues and I also wanted the new pamphlet of the revised postage prices.

BUT they didn't have any. Apparently, they were allocated 30, which went in half-an-hour, and staff were advised to tell customers to get the details online. So they have a product but won't give easily accessible details of price.

CRAZY OR WHAT?

Don't they want to have a business?

Whoever's bright idea this was should be sacked without a whacking great pay-off.

I'm getting impatient with management inefficiency and government incompetence.

WE NEED A THRIVING POST OFFICE IN THIS COUNTRY !!!

POLLY AND THE BILLETS DOUX

On Monday, Polly and the Billets Doux released their first ever single - Follow My Feet! - taken from their impending CD - Fiction, Half-Truths and Downright lies.

And to mark the occasion, they played a live gig at the HMV store in Winchester. I had forgotten just how good this band is. The acoustics in the place were not brilliant but the group sounded pretty damn good. Polly has just the most beautiful voice and she's a born performer. A delight to listen to.

John videoed the performance, which you can find here



And I took some photos from my coveted position leaning against the counter, as close to the door as I could get. It wasn't a great place to take photos from and I can't yet download them because I can't read the written instructions John wrote down for me (I am such a computer illiterate.) But I'll add them here once I've 'mastered' this complicated procedure. NOW DONE !

Those of us who waited patiently for the group to set up, which was at least half-an-hour, had to contend with people popping in at the last minute and standing right in front of us and thus blocking the exit. So there was a constant battle to move them, by the staff, because of health and safety regulations.

And, of course, I made my feelings known too: "I've been standing here for over half an hour to get a good view and you try and plonk yourself right in front of me," sort of thing and I wasn't taking "fuck you" for an answer.

Lots of copies of the single were sold and rumour has it that Taylor Swift, the American musician making a name for herself in the music industry, popped in to have a look-see-listen.

So, ALL IN ALL AN EXCITING AFTERNOON.

LOU AND THE WIRE

Lou was home for a few days last week. On Wednesday evening we all watched the 1st and 2nd episodes of Season One of The Wire. She then watched episode three on her computer and, the next day, took the rest of Season One plus all of Season Two.

By 1.30am this morning, she had finished the whole lot!

"I watched it back to back," she confessed. "It just gets so addictive."

Exactly.

THE WIRE FATIGUE? NEVER !!!

Lou has come to visit for a few days and while we walking Archie (dog) by The Water Meadows, I gave Lou a very brief run down of The Wire because we were going to watch the very first episode of Season One in the evening, just to see if she liked it.

And she did.

So, we then watched episode two and she definitely wants to take the box set home with her, which is a pig because it was brilliant watching the first two episodes again and seeing how clever the whole production over five seasons is...it's truely awesome.

And Lou found it very easy to follow, unlike me the first time, so it just goes to show what a dim-wit I am. However, in my defense, Lou did actually study television at university, whereas I didn't! I'm learning about it watching The Wire (over and over again). And loving every minute of it. It's given me so many ideas for my own writing that I'm terming the whole watching The Wire thing as educational.

And Lou is under strict instructions to finish the box set as soon as possible, so John and I can watch all of Season One again - for educational purposes...

POSSIBLY MY LAST POST ABOUT THE WIRE BUT I DOUBT IT !!!

I tell you with a heavy heart that I watched the VERY LAST episode of The Wire on Friday (Good Friday). I had been putting it off as long as I could because I didn't want to finish it but my burning desire to know what happened, hoping so much that Marlo would get his come-comeuppance, triumphed.

This was Season Five and, for me, the least successful of the seasons because:-

* I knew this was the very last season and I guess I was hoping for some happy endings - as if !!!

* I was very uncomfortable with the main plot concerning Jimmy McNulty and Lester - it just felt all wrong and I knew that everything would unravel but again, I so wanted good to triumph over evil and this is The Wire, after all. There are some personal triumphs but overall the ending is bleak

* Instead of 13 episodes, there were only 10 so it was, perhaps, a little compressed

However, don't think that I shan't watch it again because I shall! Only next time, I'll pick up quite a lot of what just flew past me on Friday and at least I won't have all that happy-end expectation.

The Wire still is, in my opinion, the best TV I've ever seen and it's going to be a very hard act to follow. I've ordered the box sets of The Corner and the drama set in Iraq, both HBO productions, and it shall be very interesting to see what Martin Scorsese produces for HBO. But at the moment I've got The Wire fatigue and I need to watch something like Mamma Mia just for some light relief. But there's no way that I'm going to watch The First Lady Detective on BBC because it's just too twee.

I REMEMBER TAPES live at The Railway Inn Thursday 16th April

The Winchester Indie/Rock group, I Remember Tapes, are playing at The Railway Inn, Winchester, on Thursday 16th April.

This is to debut their new CD and tickets cost a mere £4 or £3 with a flier.

The daftnotstupid team were hoping to record this performance but are unable to do so because of prior commitments.

The lead singer, Tom, is my hairdresser at The New Midas Hair, Tanning and Beauty Salon so I hope the evening is a great hit.

If you manage to get to the gig and want to write about it, leave a message on this blog.

All the best, Tom.

Check:
the I Remember Tapes website
the New Midas website

AMSTERDAM APRIL 2nd - 4th 2009

Meet 'Claire' or was it 'Sheila' or 'Olga' or 'Heidi'? It's difficult to remember names when you're nearing the dreg ends of a bottle of rose wine.

Whatever her name, she certainly needs serious make-up lessons.

I've decided that I'm going to call 'her' 'Vicky Pollard in a good mood'.

Vicky was out with 'her' dad, soon to be dad-in-law, plus friends, on a special 'hen night' and if they all managed to return home to Nottingham in one piece, the wedding is in a couple of weeks time. So, good luck for that and guys, if you can send me a wedding photo, I'll attempt to put it on this blog. But please give Vicky a make-up session beforehand!

This, by the way, is Amsterdam and a very fine city it is too with its myriad of canals, over 1000 bridges (which makes it hellish difficult if you get lost), fascinating tall houses lining the canals and a joie de vie which makes it a very fun city.

This was my birthday present: three nights in Amsterdam and John and I had an absolute ball.

FIRST MORNING/AFTERNOON

We got up at 4.30 (!) on Thursday morning for a 6.50 Flybe flight from Southampton Aiport, which has to be one of the most user friendly airport in the country.

And after we had arrived at our hotel and left our bags (it was too early to actually check in) we hit the city running, so to speak. Things just kept happening!

* went to our favourite hat shop, The English Hatter, and bought a panama hat for me (for Morocco). I've already got a selection of their stetsons.

* had coffee at a smashing canal-side cafe - Kafe Kaldi - which serves excellent coffee (and hot chocolate with cream), cookies to die for, incredible loose coffee which is a delight to sniff even before drinking, an array of coffee machines, special heat-resistant mugs and glasses (I'm already hooked on the ones we bought), and a wide choice of tea-pots and coffee pot. We already have quite a range of their goods in our kitchen from previous visits and now have even more!

John sitting outside Kafe Kaldi



* I then left John to his own devices and walked (about 20 mins) to the local Leisure Centre for a swim. It's been revamped since I was last there and it's a swimmers paradise - two pools with lots of lane swimming (one pool and obviously my favourite, has beautifully warm water and a jacuzzi-effect blast of water coming out of one of the walls) and not a whiff of chlorine. The water is disinfected with the latest technology, the name of which I cannot remember...yes, I can - ozone treatment. You can tell the difference - it's much, much better than chlorine, which stinks and stings!

* Walked back to meet John outside our designated meeting point (a bakery) and promptly twisted my ankle on the awkward pavement (most of the pavements in Amsterdam are narrow and awkward) because a bicycle was propped up against a wall.


Work in progress so don't expect total accuracy or photos where a photo should be.


The bakery, me and the offending bicycle.

Now this does bring me onto my main criticism of Amsterdam: there are too many bl...y bikes. It's a bicycle nightmare. They come at you from every which way and you have to be focused all the time because they don't take prisoners. This does, of course, mean that most people look very fit and tanned, and it's certainly the best way to travel as well as eco-friendly but it's really nerve-wracking for pedestrians. We are definitely at the bottom of the pecking order in Amsterdam.

* Limped along to the hole-in-the-wall chip shop with John to buy chips with mayonnaise. (I'm telling you guys, the Dutch certainly know how to cook chips.)

* Limped to one of the squares to eat our lunch on a bench. As we ate, we talked:

Me: If I sat here all afternoon and shot at passing cyclists, how many do you think I'd get?
John: Not enough

Me: How many benches do you reckon there are in Amsterdam?
John: Not enough

THE ACCIDENT IN THE TAXI

* Decided we needed to go to a supermarket for essentials like water, chocolate, wine and an anti-inflammatory gel for my ankle. So, because I was finding walking difficult, we found a taxi at a taxi rank, got in and were talking to driver about our destination, when we all felt a strong push moving us backwards. The car parked (illegally) in front of us had reversed into us and the driver was trying to drive away.

Our driver got out of the taxi and there then followed a heated discussion, the car driver denying what he had done, and eventually he just shrugged his shoulders and drove off without giving any details and leaving our taxi with dents at the front. And since it was a very smart Mercedes taxi, it was obviously going to cost a lot to fix. John and I know this only too well, both having old Mercedes. Fabulous cars to drive and admire but hellish expensive to repair.

So, we got to the supermarket through heavy traffic, bought our goodies and then all three of us set off to the Police Station so our driver could report the incident and use us as witnesses. John and I sat in the taxi, enjoying the opportunity of watching Amsterdam life from a stationery position, whilst the taxi driver went inside. Eventually, policeman Bruce came out with our driver and took a statement. Bruce is very young, very charming and fluent in English. So all in all quite a fascinating time.

Our driver then returned us to our hotel and it was only then that we checked in and went to our room to unpack!

Just to finish off this story, our taxi driver, Reda, brought us another form to fill in the next day for his insurance company and it would seem that they will cover the cost of the repairs. And when we left Amsterdam on Saturday, Reda took us to the airport, so I really think it was a case of "All's well that ends well." Plus, the long sit in the taxi rested my ankle wonderfully and it was fine the next day.



This is where the incident took place

THE HOTEL



* Paulo and me outside Hotel Hegra

Our hotel was just what we needed - small, inexpensive, clean and welcoming, set on a canal and central to the city. I can thoroughly recommend it, despite the incredibly steep and narrow stairs, which all these old houses have and which makes setting off from and returning to the room an adventure in itself.

Paulo was one of the guys working there and it was fun to take some photos together. Paulo is a ballet dancer by profession, as you can see in the next photo, where we took up our ballet positions, and very friendly, like most of the Dutch people we met.

Check out the Hotel Hegra on its website:- http://www.hotelhegra.nl/index.htm



And so our brief stay in Amsterdam progressed at a similar pace. We certainly hadn't come for a rest and yet, strangely, now I'm home I feel invigorated. But I haven't quite finished with my report because there are a few places that I want to mention because they're worth looking up if you ever go to Amsterdam. (And no, no-one is giving me commission to show-case these places!)

LALOLI

This is a jewellery shop that John discovered a few years ago. It's run by two sisters who make most of the jewellery and it's really funky, funny stuff. Below is a photograph of me wearing the tulip broach and circular ear-rings which we bought this trip and below that is a photo of one of the sisters, Sandra, and me outside the shop.





I also have a collection of really cute animal badges bought over several years from the shop and at some stage I'll photograph them and put the pictures on this post so you can see how cute they are. And here they now are:-



penguin



giraffe



tortoise



frog



tulip



all purchases are individually presented in attractive gift boxes

Visit the Laloli website at:
http://www.nlstreets.nl/EN/shop/atelier-laloli--art-amsterdam/

LUDEN RESTAURANT AND BRASSERIE



It was having supper here on Friday night that we spotted and 'shot' Vicky and friends and I include this restaurant because the food was excellent and we had a lovely chat with one of the waitresses who, we discovered, is Moroccan and loves Gnaoua music. John played her one of his recordings on his i-pod and the whole thing was just very special. Any reminder of Morocco rates highly for us. She left before I could get her name but she knows who she is and I wish her well.
htt
Check their menu at:

ZEPPOS RESTAURANT



Outside Zeppos Restaurant with the waitress, Claire.


We happened upon this restaurant, down a little street, and had a superb lunch. I had a Croque Madame, which is, basically, cheese on toast with a fried egg on top but very tasty all the same. It was very peaceful sitting away from all the hustle and noise so that's why I'm recommending it, plus the quality of the food and the service.

Check their website: http://www.10best.com/Amsterdam,Netherlands/Restaurants/French/97565/Kapitein_Zeppos_Amsterdam/

THE STAMP SHOP



This fascinating shop sells everything you need for stamping (i.e. creative work). I bought a couple of stamps and a colour pad here well over ten years ago and still use them - their condition is still pretty good. And now I've got some more!

THE COFFEE SHOP



If you want a cup of coffee in Amsterdam, don't go to a coffee shop or you'll get a big surprise. Coffee shops are for selling cannabis, which is legal in Holland. This shop is one of many. But don't try lighting up an ordinary fag inside because that's illegal!?

THE PEDESTRIAN AREA



There are lots of shops here and no cyclists but crowds of people so you can't walk at your own pace. I much prefer walking by the canals where there are an abundance of small, interesting shops and beautiful architecture to enjoy...it would be perfect if it wasn't for those darn cyclists. (And like many British cyclists, they ride down the wrong way on one way streets, jump traffic lights and ride on pavements, too)



And finally, the CANAL TRIP. All these photos were taken on our one hour trip, which really is a must for any visitors to Amsterdam. What made this trip so special was that the driver cradled one of his 'customers', a fractious baby, in his arms towards the end of the trip and sounded the hooter several times, which fascinated the baby into silence. Sadly, I don't have a photo of that but these are pretty good and give you a flavour of canal life in Amsterdam.
















By the way, did I mention that the weather was glorious? Well, it was, as you can see from the last photograph. The Thursday and Friday were beautifully sunny and warm and Amsterdam, which, apparently, had had dull, cloudy and cold weather for most of the year, just blossomed, with people sitting outside enjoying the sun. Sheer bliss!

GREAT NEWS ABOUT THE WIRE !!!

BBC 2 are to screen The Wire (I presume Season One) starting next Monday evening (March 30th) at 11.20. Do give it a try and let me know what you think of it. But don't forget, you've got to give it a fair run as it can very much be an acquired taste.

But I'm so pleased that someone in the BBC thought it was good enough enough to screen.

Power to intelligent thinking!

BEING SIXTY !!!

drinking champagne through a straw





Lou and me and presents



my favourite position - horizontal



champagne bottle on left counter



contents of containers - water - honest

It's my birthday today and I'm the staggering age of sixty, which sounds far worse than it is. Didn't you know? Sixty is the new forty!

I've had a few wobbles in the last few weeks because this really is a difficult age to assimilate, mainly because pension decisions force you to face your own mortality.

Do you defer payment of the state pension, for example? And do you top up your fund to take into account any missing years of National Insurance contributions?

I've worked it out that it would take about twenty years before any top up would actually mean that I break even, given the thousands of pounds I'd have to pay now. So I ain't going to bother.

If being 60 means more days like today, then I'm all for it. I did a Pilates class this morning then had a swim then went to town to have my hair done. And while I was there, I was asked if I'd like to have their special offer of a manicure for £10 whilst having my hair done. Now this really was a no-brainer for me because I love being pampered, so there I was, having my hair and nails done, discussing suitable tattoos for some of my characters in my next novel - Winchester Blues. Pure bliss.

And then, of course, I had to have my feet done, too, just to balance things up.

The only down side was that I had intended to go to The Body Shop afterwards to get my free birthday gift and take advantage of their 20% off offer but I forgot. Lack of memory, sadly, is one of the downsides of getting older!

And then, because I'd promised him earlier, I had to take the dog for a walk when really I fancied a bit of a lie-down (another age thing).

However, since the Turkish army and air-force tried to get me in 1974 and, luckily for me, failed, I reckon that every day since then is an added bonus. Just wished I'd realised this earlier. But I've had such a full life - both good and bad things - I can really say that I've lived life to the full. And reaching sixty is a great achievement.

So, don't be frightened of sixty. I reckon that all those who reach this age are very lucky indeed. The news today has been full of the death of the beautiful and talented actress, Natasha Richardson, aged just 45, and poor, hapless Jade Goody is only 27. So seize life with both hands because you never know when it's going to end.

Now there speaks a person of wisdom. (It's an age thing!).

So, respect. That's what I want. Respect! And if anyone calls me grandma or expects me to behave like a geriatric, they can take a running jump.

By the way, I'm on the champagne at the moment and my hairdresser suggested I try drinking it through a straw so I'm off now to do just that.

Peace and good-will to all.

Maggie xxx

RED RIDING - A WHOLE LOAD OF HORSE MANURE

Like the American Series The Wire (just can't stop mentioning it!), the new British television drama series, Red Riding, has received a lot of publicity. For example, the Guardian television critic has been waxing lyrical about it. Here are just a few quotes:-

"Grown up noir, there's unlikely to be a better British TV drama all year"

"...utterly mesmerising..."

So, on that basis, I watched the first two hour episode of the trilogy. Apparently, it's based on the four novels written by David Pearce, set in Yorkshire during the seventies and eighties, highlighting widespread corruption in all walks of life, particularly the police. I have never read these novels and, having seen this first episode, have no intention of doing so, my reasons being as follows:-

1. It is slow and tedious with a large splattering of gratuitous sex and violence.

2. It's one dimensional. Shot in brownish colours to give a sense of history and decay, it stereotypifies the police, the baddies and the corruption. It's like a scruffy cardboard cutout.

3. There's nothing subtle or three dimensional. No character development, which is essential for good drama. Plus, no particularly likable characters so I didn't care one way or another what happened to them. And Sean Bean was so hammy as a corrupt murderous businessman that it was cringe-making.

4. The ending is so improbable and with so many anomalies that it's just not credible. Any dramatic impact is totally lost.

I don't blame the actors, many of whom are seasoned thespians, including Sean Bean, David Morrissey and Warren Clarke. I blame the script writers and the director and, probably David Pearce's original novels. Given my enthusiasms for The Wire, which is as brutal and hard-hitting as they come, I'm not adverse to such dramas. What I am adverse to is unrelenting bleakness that does not show or explain or provide any kind of balance.

Am I going to watch the next two episodes? As far as I'm concerned, life is too short. It's good in a way because it confirms my praise for The Wire, where there is just as bleak a scenario, probably even more so, but presented in such a thoroughly rounded way that you have sympathy for the drug-dealers and killers and understand why they are as they are. There is also much humour in The Wire and a sense of a shared humanity which is totally absent in Red Riding.

So, despite the fact that I have a degree in English and Education and all, the most appropriate way I can think of to describe this drama and my contempt for it is that it's a TOTAL LOAD OF HORSE MANURE.

IF YOU DISAGREE LEAVE A COMMENT, EXPLAINING WHY.

P.S.Am totally chuffed because Amazon asked me to write a commentary about The Wire Season Four on their website, which I did with great gusto. It should be up soon. I'm sure this is just standard procedure but I'm chuffed all the same. They probably had no idea what enthusiasm they had tapped into!

THE WIRE - AGAIN!

Hard to believe that initially I wasn't too keen on the American drama series, The Wire, (see previous blog for clarification). Well, the daftnotstupid team (John and myself) have just finished the box set of Season Four (from Amazon) and it was so tremendous that I want to watch it all over again, now.

There are still plenty of characters from previous seasons, who are now like old friends - goodies and baddies alike - but there are lots of new ones, too (as in all the seasons). Quite a number die on the way because this is a brutal portrayal of life in the slums/ghettos of Baltimore and I'm sad when they do get the chop (well, most of them) but then the new characters become like friends, too, and I get so involved in their lives that I'm actually in mourning that we've finished Season Four and that there's only one more season to go because there is absolutely nothing on television that gets so under your skin as this drama series. For me, there is nothing that shows the human condition as ruthlessly or as thoroughly as The Wire and I feel I'm learning more about people/drugs/gangs/poverty and the massive underclass in America (no doubt the same in the UK) /the police and politics watching this than any documentary.

The acting is so terrific that I don't see the characters as actors but as real people. Character development is utterly believable, the plot deceptively tightly structured, and there is a mid-boggling scale, range and diversity of stories in each season which inter-link more vastly than the imagination can take in at one go.

The structure of The Wire reminds me very much of JB Priestley's classic play, An Inspector Calls, because seemingly insignificant events can ultimately have such damaging consequences that it quite takes your breath away. And you just don't see it coming. As a writer, I know only too well how difficult it is to do that. In fact, if I could write just as fractionally well as Ed Burns and George Pelecanos, I would be a very happy bunny.

The emphasis of Season Four is the education system, plus the usual politics in local government and the police force, and it's the education part that has so engaged me, having once been a teacher.

The main plot centres around Four young black boys - Richard, Namon, Dukie and Randy - all of whom have horrendous home backgrounds and learn barely a thing from the state system of education, which is geared towards useless testing (ring any bells?), has a staggering inability to provide for the needs of its pupils, and is vastly under- resourced, although the need to help lift these children out of their dismal backgrounds and poverty of hope or any sense of meaningful achievement is immense.

Our four boys start off as reasonably innocent (as innocent as you can be living in a drug/gang environment) and their initial pranks are more typical teenage stuff than anything else. But by the end of the series, they are all in serious trouble, one of them, for example, having become a hardened killer, and it's not really of their own making or deserved. It's a consequence of living in a ghetto where the authorities are mainly incapable of stepping in and giving valuable support. In fact, it's heartbreaking, and I keep thinking about these kids and how their lives are in such a mess and what will happen to them in Season Five, if they do re-appear. I have to keep telling myself that it's just a television drama but so much resonates with my own teaching experience in an Educational Priority Area in Sunderland, where I constantly had to balance maintaining some kind of law in the classroom with a need to accept the kids as they were and to show understanding rather than being judgmental.

In Season One, I was horrified at what seemed to be a total lack of interest by the police in solving/preventing crime but now I know that it's the system that makes effective policing so difficult, in particular, policing based on positive stats rather than effective policing and protection, and that the police have, quite rightly, become cynical. But there are a few genuinely talented and dedicated officers, politicians, teachers, ex-offenders and church ministers who can make a difference, and their efforts, even if they face enormous difficulties and have only limited success, give the show little glimmers of hope, contrary to the "there's no room for hope in this show" claim of one of the writers/producers.

And you very much get the sense that the writers/producers are doing more than producing an enthralling show - they're deliberately highlighting the plight of this forgotten underclass in America. It's not just the drama that shows this, but also the commentaries available during some of the episodes and the special ones at the end, where they talk with passion about wanting to be as authentic as possible in their description of how people live in Baltimore. Many of those involved in the show, both behind the camera and in front, have worked in Baltimore in the police/education departments, as crime reporters or have, themselves, been drug dealers, even killers, so they are drawing from a vast range of experience.

They have only made five seasons, each with roughly a dozen episodes, so when we've watched Season Five, which I'm getting from Lou for my birthday soon, it'll be time to start watching them all over again.

We're now half way through re-watching Season Four and it's incredible how much new we're picking up (this is where the brilliance of the structure comes in), that we missed first time round. I'd say that that's very good value for money. But it's such a pity that The Wire was not put out on main time television in either America or Britain and so it didn't receive the coverage that it deserves. Or that it has not been recognised in any television awards. Apparently, a lot of viewers in America don't like The Wire. I can understand it if they couldn't get past the first three episodes of Season One (see my previous blog) because it is very challenging television. However, there have been plenty of suggestions that the main reason is that people don't want to acknowledge that the kind of problems portrayed in The Wire actually exist. And all I can say to that is SHAME ON YOU ! If we don't acknowledge problems, then we don't do anything to rectify them. What kind of a humanity are we if we allow children from deprived areas to stay right down in the cesspit of life?

In my opinion, The Wire is even better that some of the big hitting American dramas such as The Sopranos, Damages, ER or 24.

And finally, my own wish is that every self-righteous, judgmental, smug citizen who would automatically dismiss those involved in the seedier side of life in Baltimore as shown in The Wire, should be forced to watch this show to see that there is good and bad in everyone, whether on the right side of the law or the wrong side, and that for many, many people they have no choice but to do what is necessary in order to survive. And that those of us who are fortunate not to have been born into a life of abject poverty should not judge those who haven't. "There but for the grace of God," is a good motto to remember.

THE WIRE

Having read reviews about The Wire (American Detective T.V. Drama set in Baltimore) and about how it was an enormously popular cult show and how brilliant it was or 'you'll either love it or hate it', I decided to get a copy of the first season from Amazon.

From what I'd already read about it, I knew that it was going to be very different from regular cop shows, but I had no idea just how different.

So, I watched the first three episodes whilst John was abroad on business and took an instant dislike to it.

Firstly, I made the mistake of reading the summary on offer before each episode, losing the element of surprise. But, on the other hand, it did give me a clue as to what was going on because without it, I wouldn't have known what the hell was going on and who was who.

There were mainly five problems for me:-

1. I could hardly understand what people were saying because of the Baltimore slang used or general mumbling of lines.

2. The language I mainly understood was the pretty extreme swearing, which seemed to constitute much of the dialogue, and it seemed far too crude, even for me.

3. There were too many characters introduced very quickly and I got confused as to who was who.

4. This is not a nice world that's being portrayed. Apparently, one of the producers/editors said: "There's no room for hope on my show," and boy do you get that impression almost immediately, even if you don't understand what's being said. You have the Baltimore police, who are often corrupt or incompetent, and the few really efficient, dedicated, honest police, who are often pushed onto the sidelines and have to fight hard to get the resources they need. And then there are the politicians, who appear to be motivated by self-promotion. So what's new there, you might ask. It's just that it reaches right to the top and they don't give a damn about their actual constituents. Okay, so what's new there. And then you have the 'baddies' - the drug dealers - who are ruthless and violent. so, it's hardly a feel good show!!!

5. There are lots of short scenes - up to a hundred or so per episode - so it was difficult for me to follow and keep track. I'd still be wondering what the last scene was about and there would be another scene and then another so what I got was a misty idea of what was going on, unlike say The Bill which is pretty obvious, unless you fall asleep (a cheap crack, I know, because I do enjoy The Bill, but you'll see what I mean if you watch The Wire).

However, it's saving grace for me and what prompted me to give it a second chance was the character D'Angelo, the nephew of one of the drug gangs' bosses, Avon Barksdale, whose amazingly charismatic lieutenant, Stringer Bell, has an incredible presence on screen (appreciated after I realised who he was). But there was something I particularly liked about D'Angelo: a depth of character and a certain dignity of demeanor and vulnerability.

So, when John returned home, we started watching it together only this time, it wasn't new or too difficult for me to understand (John, of course, took to it immediately) and I started to 'get it'. The different characters became clearer to me and I began to see that they, too, had depth, with their own idiosyncrasies and noticeable differences and personalities. And I could also see that seemingly irrelevant scenes actually had a purpose. So I started to appreciate both the characterization and the intricate structure of each episode and also to appreciate what an adventurous series this in many ways: the brutal honesty in showing how life can actually be for both the police and drug dealers and also the way each scene is filmed, so carefully crafted. Apparently each scene is meticulously story-boarded. And I also learnt that I didn't need to understand everything, as long as got the gist. Sometimes, we stop the DVD just to clarify events with each other, but that's getting rarer now that we're into Season 3!

Yes, I got well and truly hooked and I'm so glad that I persevered and it's certainly the characters who make this show. Most, if they're not bumped off, progress into the next series so they become familiar friends - some likable, some not - whether they're police or drug dealers and some things that are left unresolved in the previous season are picked up in the next. It's also fascinating watching police procedures, particularly in setting up and using a 'wire' (phone tap), which is central to each series.

Dominic West is excellent as the maverick, alcoholic cop, central to each story, and I'm particularly fond of Bubbles, the hapless informant, and Omar, who steals drugs and money from drug dealers.

And I was particularly chuffed with Season Two, where the emphasis shifted to the port trade and trade unions, because several of the drug/crime bosses spoke in Greek, particularly when they were swearing and I could actually understand them!

But there doesn't seem so much swearing now or perhaps I'm getting used to it.

You have to really concentrate when watching this show but that's okay. So much television is banal and stupid and so a programme that doesn't treat its audience as complete idiots is most welcome. And I would say that, for me (and Barack Obama), this is the best television that there is. I can't praise it highly enough.

But, I wouldn't like to live in Baltimore!!!

Ki-mani Marley: NO WOMAN NO CRY

If you're new to this blog site and want to understand this latest post (which I hope you do), you need to scroll down to my post about The Essaouira Gnawa and World Music Festival 2008.

For regular readers, you may be wondering why yet again I'm writing about Ki-Mani Marley's rendition of this song at the festival.

The truth is that John gave me a CD of his recording of the Ki-Mani's performance (taken from the famous balcony) and I've been playing it none stop in my car and loving it more each time I play it.

And in particular, this track - "No Woman No Cry" - gives me goosebumps every time I hear it. And it's all to do with audience participation. At the beginning of the song, the audience cheer (and it was an enormous audience) but when they realise that it's this particular song, one of his dad's best, they roar with approval and it's just fantastic. And then we all sang along without him and then he joined in. And the more I hear it, the happier I am, and I can be driving along the M3 singing my heart out and reliving that fantastic evening and that fantastic festival.

You really get that 'roar' effect more clearly on just an auditory CD but it's certainly discernible on John's daftnotstupid You Tube site. You also get the visual effect of Ki-Mani Marley's energy and the dancing of the audience (although John's camera work is a little shaky at times).

So, I implore you to watch/listen to this track, especially exciting if you put the volume on high and I defy you not to feel uplifted.

And since John has shown me, just as I write, how to include a direct link on my blogs, all you need to do is click here and hey presto, you're on the actual track. If you don't do this, you're missing a treat! ENJOY !!!

John says: If you want to sing along, take a look at this site which has the words, and an embedded clip.

Christmas 2008 and the ongoing battle between Hedonism and Humility

THIS BLOG HAS TAKEN FOREVER BUT IS NOW FINISHED AND MUCH AIDED BY THE OCCASIONAL GLASS OF FESTIVE WINE

And, of course, hedonism usually wins by a clear margin for 99.999% of us.In the Old Testament, God describes the Israelites as a 'stiff-necked and stubborn people' so many times that he's obviously making an important point. And I think it's true for all of us. Now, God doesn't actually use the term self-centred to describe us but I do, because the truth is that most of us are self-centred, self-serving, consumed with our own needs to a greater or lesser degree (apart from people like Mother Theresa, although I bet that she occasionally put herself first).

Christians are reminded time and time again that they need to 'die to self'and to do things God's way rather than our own, but it's a very difficult thing to do because, let's face it, it's human nature. I've been attempting for a number of years to 'die to self' and I haven't even chipped away at the tip of the iceberg. I describe myself as a 'work in progress', just like most of my writing .

But before you think I'm wearing a sack-cloth, smothered in ashes and in a state of fasting as atonement, let me say that I'm most certainly not. I'm just acknowledging that, and I'm repeating myself here, it's human nature to put ourselves first far more than is good for us or the rest of mankind, and I'm the first to put my hand up and declare: 'Yes, I'm like that.' We all are. And that's one of the reasons why Jesus Christ was born in the first place - to save us from ourselves because we're not very good at doing it for ourselves.

For anyone who has read all of my blogs, it's no secret that I have been a Christian for nearly twenty years and am eternally grateful to be so.

So, as a Christian, this is supposed to be 'my time of the year' and yet I just haven't been feeling excited about the Christmas Story during the long, slow, monotonous build up to Xmas, which started in SEPTEMBER !!!, until I heard the interview with the Archbishop of Canterbury on this morning's BBC Radio 4's Today programme. Not only did I agree with what he had to say about the world's financial crisis but also it got me really thinking about the Xmas story.

Basically, what he argued was that this financial crisis is a real opportunity for us to re-examine the way we live. He maintained that the Government's borrow and spend solution to our financial problems was not the right way to tackle the situation. We should think, instead, of what we need rather than than what we want and that this over-reliance on financial wealth, consumerism and speculation using the Stock Exchange ultimately does not aid a healthy, caring society. When pressed on this for details, he laughingly said that for him to give precise financial advice was 'suicidal madness', which I thought was a great expression to use, but the suggestion was there that there is an alternative and far more rewarding approach. And I think that that's true: spending our way out of financial recession is just repeating the same materialist mistakes which got us into this mess in the first place.

Clive James repeated this idea in his hilarious ten minute slot on Sunday on Radio 4 at 8.50: 'A Point of View'. Making and selling goods is one thing, but making money just from money (note this, all you bankers, hedge fund managers etc,) can only lead to disaster. (That was the serious bit of his talk after nearly ten minutes describing how difficult he found wrapping presents, bribes to a daughter to do it for him, and his delight in finding a service that actually wraps presents badly to avoid suspicion from family members, well used to his inept wrapping skills using not quite enough paper or ribbon.)

And, and this is my thought now, borrowing for material goods when we can't afford them is poor budgeting. But unfortunately, in introducing student loans some time ago, the Government has given a clear message to young people that it's okay to go into debt. Ugh???

And this borrowing, spending culture leads onto my Christmas theme. I've felt for a long time now that we certainly are too hedonistic when it comes to Xmas. In fact, it can turn your stomach seeing trolleys piled high with food at super-markets and hear just how much parents spend on their children. I think we have spoilt our children, me included, to think that they can have everything they want. And often this means that we just give them what they want, without them having to do anything, which, in turn, means that they don't learn how to save and plan and actually earn what it is that they want. And the Archbishop of Canterbury would say, anyway, that 'what they want' should be replaced by 'what they need.'

Of course, there are many countries where large swathes of the population don't even have what they need, making the hedonism of Xmas even more unpalatable, and this highlights the enormous imbalances between the western world and third world countries. Although there is poverty in the UK, it pales into insignificance when compared to a country such as Zimbabwe, which is an international disgrace.

Robert Mugabe, a defeated politician who clings onto an illegal presidency, seems to have no care for his people, who are dying at alarming rates because of lack of food and clean water, cholera and other diseases whilst most of the hospitals and clinics are now closed. This man, who struts around like a peacock, living a life of luxury, and using the race card in a way that reveals that it is he who is the racist, is probably the best example in the world of the disastrous effects of hedonism.

Why don't the African countries in the area open their eyes to the fact that he is no longer the great saviour of Zimbabwe, the freedom fighter who liberated his people, but is now a cruel dictator, guilty of war crimes against his own people? South Africa et al should do what is right and proper and apply pressure on him to leave office peacefully because he won't take any notice of 'colonial white people'. Certainly, the longer they condone his presidency, then the greater is their betrayal of the African people.

And so, from a false saviour to the real thing: the Christmas Story.

Jesus, in fact, was probably not born on December 25th or even at this time of the year. (Most recent thinking is that he was probably born in April and that The Star of Bethlehem was actually Jupiter). Christians just hijacked the pagan celebration of the sun in December. As the days of winter became darker, the pagans were fearful that their sun-god had deserted them and so they devised celebrations to woo him back, which actually occurred naturally near the end of December. I don't mind Christians hijacking celebrations and making them into their own or reclaiming symbols like rainbows and angels, which have been hijacked by new agers, but it means that Xmas is a very artificial celebration, rather like the Queen's official birthday. So, trying to conjure up some special magic of the wonder of Christ's birth on Christmas Day, is something I find difficult to do.

However, the story of Christ's birth is a brilliant one - any writer would give their right arm to re-create a story as good as this one, with so many twists and turns, a seemingly tragic defeat and then, three days later, a wonderful victory. But if you unravel the details, then a different picture comes into focus, far starker than the simple nativity scene that we present to children. I'm not knocking that at all - I love to see the manger scene - the crib, Mary and Joseph, the angels, the shepherds, the Wise Men. It's stunning and beautiful and totally right as a clear and simple representation. Forget the fact that the Wise men came much later, probably two years later. The crib scene is symbolic of it all.

But, for us adults, and, more pertinently, the present financial crisis, if we examine the early life of Jesus Christ, it's not the totally happy or comfortable scene that represents it. Because:-

a. Jesus's parents were unmarried at the time of his 'conception', which was more than sufficient reason for Joseph to ditch Mary, since she was supposed to be a virgin. He must have been a very special man to accept the excuse that the pregnancy of his fiance had been the result of Divine Intervention.

b. They were a very poor, very humble family - not the background that you would expect for a King.

c. They had to travel away from their home to Bethlehem for the consensus whilst Mary was heavily pregnant, risky with modern transport and even more so on a donkey on rough, unmade roads.

d. There was no comfortable room for them to stay in but a basic stable, which would have been uncomfortable, unhygienic and very smelly.

e. News of Jesus's birth enraged King Herod so much that he ordered the wholesale slaughter of all infants, thinking that this would include his rival, not realising that it was quite a different King who had been born; a King who had not come to rule but to sacrifice himself. It was only Joseph's dream warning of this slaughter, which prompted the family to escape to Egypt.

f. This meant that Mary, Joseph and Jesus were refugees in a foreign country.


I had hoped to have this blog finished well before Xmas but I've had flu and regretfully drifted into a total sleep-do-nothing fest. It's now Boxing Day and this is the first time I'm even wanted to go on my computer. So, I hope that what I write now makes sense. (If it ever did when sans-flu.)


g. Once back in Nazareth, Joseph died at some stage, we don't know when, so Mary was head of a one-parent family.


Now, what I find so relevant about the early experiences of Jesus Christ, was that they were both tough and dangerous. The joyful manger scene was short lived, to be replaced by persecution and difficulties. It's what I call 'the bitter-sweet' nature of life. Jesus had to live with this tension all his life and certainly at his death. But yet, he still enjoyed life and that's a wonderful example to us all and why I'm not wearing sack-cloth etc.

For we live with this tension, too. There will always be problems in our lives, no matter who we are, whether we are rich, well-off or poor, no matter what our age, gender, religion, culture or sexual persuasion. And even if everything is hunky-dory most of the time, then knowing that people are being killed, starved, enslaved and devastated by man-made atrocities or natural disasters in many parts of the world, leave an uneasy feeling for most people. The secret is to find the balance, like Jesus, within this 'bitter-sweet' existence: living as fulfilling a life as possible without being complacent and to do what we can to help as much as we can. We are certainly not asked to carry the world's problems on our shoulders, thankfully. That's Jesus's job.

And this 'bitter-sweet' tension is no more keenly felt on Xmas Day in this country. It should be a day of celebration, not only for the birth of Jesus but also enjoying the closeness of not just family and friends but also in acknowledging strangers to whom it is perfectly acceptable to greet on Xmas Day. But for many, Xmas Day is a nightmare to be endured: the pressures of providing too much food, too much drink, too many presents, everything being perfect, takes its toll on all those who are hosting the day (I should know - I've done it often enough. Xmas lunch is notoriously the most difficult meal to prepare because there's so much of it, all needing different cooking times. Luckily, John became the master of such planning, with a military precision that is a sight to behold, but even so, whilst your guests are getting merrier and louder, you, the providers, are reduced to semi-exhaustion in a hot, steamy kitchen.)

And then there are the family tensions, which often come to the surface with the emotion of the occasion and the surplus of alcohol; people who don't have family nearby or have no family at all; those who are homeless, in debt, have lost their job or about to lose their job, and so on and so on.

I guess that I'm making two points here. Firstly, the Xmas we celebrate in this country often has little to do with the birth of Jesus and, secondly, it is dreaded by many people. So, something's wrong. Big time.

And we seem to have forgotten that Jesus had a particular affinity to all those scorned by society: the poor, prostitutes, those who are ill, the homeless, those whose lives are in danger. And during the three years of his ministry, Jesus accepted and enjoyed the company of society's outcasts as well as those with money. In other words, not only did he come for everyone, rich and poor alike, but he was especially drawn to the unfortunates in life and although he did, on occasions, say: 'Go and sin no more' he often did not.

He came, as he said,'to save not to condemn'. And I'm just wondering here just how much the Christian Churches or Western Governments totally embrace that kind of message. My own church does a lot of work abroad, particularly in Africa, so I know that good work is being done. And St Martins in The Field, that famous church in the centre of London, does incredible work helping homeless people learn new skills, finding accommodation and jobs, and hopefully, will have raised a significant amount of cash after their Xmas appeal on Radio 4.

I acknowledge that sometimes church leaders speak out about Zimbabwe, Iraq, the direction the government is taking in this financial crisis etc. But, only too often we hear the condemning, dogmatic side of the church. Look no further than the Pope's recent condemnation of homosexuality, likening it to the destruction of our world due to global warming. These are people he is talking about!

I certainly don't remember, anywhere in the gospels, Jesus condemning whole swaves of people to eternal damnation because they were gay. Perhaps I missed that part and someone from the clergy could leave a message on this blog, quoting the relevant chapter and verse. Or the role of women in the church. I think that it's essential to re-examine our interpretations of the Bible from time to time to sort out what is valid today and what reflects cultural thinking of the time. For example, slaves were accepted in Jesus's era but we now legislate against it because slavery is disgusting. That is an abomination, I would say

So, back to Xmas. I'm definitely not saying that we shouldn't have fun. Jesus loved having a good time, eating and drinking and enjoying the company of friends and so should we. And giving and receiving presents at Xmas time can be a lot of fun but what I'm suggesting here is that we should tone down the expense and the hype and remember all those who are far worse off than us and actually do something positive. For example, Oxfam have a scheme called Unwrapped (oxfamaunwrapped.com) where you can donate animals, clean water supplies etc to families in third world countries and I'm going to do that next year and probably in January. Why wait until Xmas 2009?

And perhaps this looming recession will make us think about what is really important in life and that helping each other is far more rewarding than anything else. And we're already seeing it: electricians forsaking their own Christmas's to restore power to homes in Lancashire. This economic crisis is yet another 'wake up call', like 9/11, 7/11, the Boxing Day tsunami. Are we going to listen to it ? I really, really hope so.

And so to our Xmas here. I had originally intended to write about my childhood memories of Xmas, which give me great pleasure, and not this serious 'essay' about hedonism versus humility, but I guess my own 'bitter-sweet' thoughts on Xmas just hijacked the blog and I'm glad that it did so because, in my own mind, I've put a number of things into perspective.

Since I was 15, Xmas has always been a difficult occasion for me because my dad died just after Xmas in 1964 and since then, some pretty horrible things have happened to me around this time of the year. So, like it or not, with the excitement and plans come some pretty horrible memories. Some people can switch off from these things but I can't.

However, I have had some great Xmases in between the awful ones and this year has been notably enjoyable despite all our plans going array.

Morocco was not an option this year (now that's a fantastic way to spend Xmas) so originally John and I were going to have a very low-key day, taking the dog for a walk on Sandbanks beach and chilling out in the evening. But on a recent visit to Glastonbury to see John's new-found sister, she invited us to her Xmas do and we jumped at the chance. I adore everyone in our new found family - they are such amazing fun - and the thought of a large family Xmas with people I actually like gave me much pleasurable anticipation.

We booked a room for the night in a nearby hotel and stocked up on goodies for the meal - Xmas pud, creams, chocolates, cheeses and wine. And then I got this bl.... flu and was confined to bed. So we decided that John would go to the party because he had half the meal and I would be sleeping anyway and I stayed at home. I've never, ever spent Xmas alone before and to be honest, I really enjoyed myself. I slept all the day (getting up briefly to watch the Queen's speech) and then rolled out of bed to have a tele fest: Doctor Who, EastEnders, Strictly Come Dancing, Wallace and Gromit, and the fabulous Royal Family Xmas dinner, where, of course, everything went wrong but nobody minded and they ending up with a sing-song.

As someone famous said (was it Woody Allen or John Lennon?): life is what happens while you're busy making plans.

But the most enjoyable part of Xmas was listening, snuggled up in bed, of course, to the King's College Festival of Carols on Radio 4 at 3pm on Xmas Eve. And then the magic of Xmas and the miracle of Jesus flooded the room and I felt very, very content

It is now New Year's Day (I don't think I've ever spent so long on one blog but what the heck. I've enjoyed writing it and perhaps I've banished those nasty Xmas ghosts. And I'm certainly looking forward to next Xmas because I've definitely not had enough turkey.

So, all that's left to wish you all a Happy New Year and may you feel a sense of peace and the strength to tackle whatever is ahead.

Anniversary of John Lennon's Death

I heard the news today, oh boy... Yes, I heard on radio 4 - the Eddie Mayer Sunday Broadcasting House programme - that tomorrow is the anniversary of the death (murder) of John Lennon and it reminded me of how I first heard that news all those years ago.

Both Lou,who was about six, and I had bad colds and were in no fit state to go outside, where there was heavy snow and biting North East winds, so had stayed at home. This meant that Lou had not gone to her primary school not far from our home and I had not walked to my school where I was an English teacher. We both hated being off school (strange but true) so to cheer ourselves up, we were making Xmas tree decorations at the kitchen table, which was littered with coloured card, glue, glitter, cotton wool and felt tip pens.

This was in our little terraced single storey house in South Hylton, near Sunderland. It was a traditional North-East house: small garden at the front with a fence separating it from the road, or, in our case, the rough ground that was great for the kids to play on, bedroom at the front, hall way leading to small sitting room with a gas fire, smaller bedroom leading off the sitting room, long, narrow kitchen beyond the sitting room then a lobby with a cupboard and finally the bathroom. And at the back, down a fight of stairs, was a useless piece of grass (because it never got any sunshine.) That's where I kept my motor-bike until it got nicked, which was probably a very good thing because a. with me in control, I probably put my life in danger every time I rode it and b. I was forced to walk to work and very quickly lost half a stone in weight and c. it meant my mother could breath easy again.

The kitchen was definitely the warmest room in winter, the other rooms being very cold because we had no central heating but it was the first house I had ever bought and I loved it dearly. I had decorated it throughout, kept it very tidy and clean (to my mother's surprise!) and even, when I could afford it, had a phone installed!

This house cost the princely sum of £7,250 and I was lucky enough to get a 25 year mortgage with the council, which cost me £60 per month, because I was an employee. This was in the days when mortgages were not easy to get and your eyes may temporarily water at the thought of such low prices.

So, Lou and I were keeping warm in the kitchen, making these decorations and listening to Radio One when the news came on that John Lennon had been shot dead outside his block of flats in New York.

First I felt shock and then disbelief and then a sickening realization that the world had changed, yet again, for the worse,and that our lives would, in some way, be different. He was such a talented writer and musician and he had died so needlessly: shot by a guy who merely wanted fame. Sick. Very sick.

The Beatles were the most influential music group in my life became they burst upon the scene with such enthusiasm and excitement and it was just wonderful to be a teenager at the time. We could identify with these four dishy guys who came from ordinary backgrounds whose music was just fantastic. Still sounds good today, too. Classics. Most of the snogging parties I went to as a teenager had the Beatles songs playing loudly as an accompaniment. Wonderful, wonderful memories.

A couple of months ago, John and I were watching a late night music programme featuring a guitarist (whose name I can't remember) who played a solo instrumental version of 'I heard the news today...' and it was absolutely sensational. Inspired by this, I intend to get the sheet music so I can learn the lyrics and sing them in the bath and on the beach (with no-one else around.)

Who knows how John Lennon's music would have developed had he still been alive. But we were deprived of that on that awful day so many years ago.

For me, I will always remember that day.I no longer teach any more (yeah!) and Lou is now a teacher herself, the decorations lasted for years until they fell apart but that day will always remain an important part of my history.

There have been other days, too, that I still remember clearly because the events that happened on that day touched me greatly: the day we could have had a nuclear war over the Cuban Missile Crisis, the day John F. Kennedy was shot dead, the day Elvis Presley died, the day Natalie Wood died, the day Turkey invaded Cyprus, the day Princess Diana died, the day Paula Yates died, 9/11, 7/7, the Boxing Day tsunami. All terrible days.

But on a lighter note, I know exactly what I was doing on the day that Charles and Diana got married because I painted my back yard door green (my little terraced house in South Hylton), rushed in to watch Diana get out of her coach (couldn't believe how crumpled her dress was) and in the evening went to a very early Xmas party and met John. And reader, I married him...

P.S. If you have a special memory of some momentous day, write about it on this blog (under comments).

Ky-Mani Marley song 'No Woman No Cry'

John has just posted Ky-Mani's live performance of 'No Woman No Cry' at the 2008 Essaouira World Music and Gnawa Festival on his You Tube site youtube.com/daftnot stupid. Have a dekka because it's pretty cool.

P.S. Over the Xmas holidays I plan to learn how to provide direct links on my blog so it should make life easier for anyone wishing to switch over.