Liberation!

OK, here you have, the least offensive illustration of the hell I have experienced the last 9 days!

I have renamed myself Mafaking today.

Tried to catch up on some sleep and then went to the cinema.

Saw "12 Years" tonight and since it is so thought provoking, here are a few: We are enjoying a cinematic year with two films that have changed the benchmark by which all that follows will be effected. "Gravity" has raised the bar on visual possibilities and "12" has plunged the public vicarious experience into an area of the human condition that is shameful, and which still exists on our sad planet.
To me is was a strong narrative of the resilience of the human experience and the necessity of not always standing and shouting, but using intelligence to act in a pragmatic, effective manner.
It almost bothered me that such a harrowing story should look so beautiful.
I thought that some leading characters provided adequate cypher like performances and thought it a shame that some chacterisations did not rise to the material.
I sat hoping that not too many of my fellow audience members, here in the UK, would distance themselves to the actuality of where we all stand as individuals on this subject because it took place in the 1850's in the USA.
It made me think of two great persons; one celebrated this time last year in the cinema, Abe Lincoln and of Nelson Mandela.
What great men who challenged and changed the injustice of their times with their intelligence and their pragmatism.
I would wonder whether, especially those older, more conservative members of the UK audience, agreed in their minds and hearts with the government of the UK only 30 years ago in tacit or, as recent documents have revealed, active support of the status quo in SA and apartheid.

Brilliant!

Even though I have been under the weather with the post op situation and that has meant that I have not been able to get out and about,  fantastic events still take place here at Charterhouse.  
Today we had a talk by James Roose-Evans with harp solos.  
JRE is a British theatre directorr scriptwriter, priest and writer on experimental theatre, gesture, ritual and meditation. In 1959 he founded the Hampstead Theatre Club, in London; and in 1974 the Bleddfa Centre for creativity and spirituality, in Powys. He is best known for adapting and directing the West End play, 84 Charing Cross Road.  He also adapted and directed Re Joyce.

The first year that I lived in London, studying at RADA, I found a series of theatre subject books by Studio Vista and the one on directing was by JRE.  It has inspired me ever since.
.




















The talk that James gave was a wonder; a generous treasury of exchanges and occurances over his years with some of the most fascinating of human souls. Of particular delight where his exchanges of ideas with Robert Frost, no less!
The talk was interspersed with selections of music played on a baroque harp.  Here's an example:

An extra delight was chatting with another audience member and friend of James, the director Mike Leigh. We spoke of his latest project, about to be released, Mr. Turner.  Can't wait to see as Timothy Spall plays Mr. Turner.

10 days later.....

I was very good for the first 3 months and now in January I haven't kept my promise to write something every day.  Never mind; I'll get back on the case in February.
A lot has happened so let's see....movie time!

A wonderful occasion; the Burns Night Dance of the RSSCD.  That's the Royal Society of Scottish Country Dancing to you.
Went with the beautiful Lucy:

 

In trying to look a little MacRiveraish, I inadvertently dressed as a woman would with the shoulder sash.  In touch with my femine side, am I.
On Tuesday I had an op under a general anesthetic as part of a research program into the effectiveness of the use of an MRI scan rather than invasive surgery.  Unfortunately, I had to have the full biopsy to prove the result of my scan.

What I hadn't quite realized is that the procedure involved wearing a catheter for a week!  It is painful and means I really can do anything.
The only stuff that I can manage is hobbling along to rooms here at Charterhouse to attend meetings.

This presentation was given by conservation students from a City and Guilds course on recommendations on what to do with the Great Chamber.
Here is how it looks today:

And based on the presentation, this is my suggestion:

Two....

....images.
I'm really not sure if this is the case, but there is a house about 5 minutes from Charterhouse that for me fits with the description of the residence of Ebenezer Scrooge from A Christmas Carol.

Once again, especially in the dusk as above, the imagination takes over for me and I can see that horrible old man walking down the street on his way home for his bedtime bowl of gruel.
I was seeing a dear friend today at Borough and took this shot:

Thought it was an interesting contrast...the old and new towers.
You like? Me like!

2 in 1

2 posts in 1 day!
Just watched Sherlock and I must comment.
The scene of Sherlock's staged suicide...and or not....

...was filmed around the corner from Charterhouse at St Bart's hospital.

That is all.

Strolling....

...down recent memory lane as today has been quiet and battened down.
So in no particular order:

The Haywood family having a festive drink at the Zetter Townhouse.

Last night basking in the musical delight that is Kai Hoffman and her Kool Kats upstairs at Ronnie Scott's.

There with Sis and my Kiwi pal Alecky.

Finally; once again a short Ode to my love of London.....
This shot from David Lean's fine film, Oliver Twist. (On the box today)

And this, the corner site in Clerkenwell Green, 5 minutes away from Charterhouse, the location of the bookshop that Dickens described.

Post Xmas and now...

...post New Year's Eve!
Yes, I've been bad.  Not following my aim to write everyday; but it's been a holiday!
Too much food and drink.... both stopping now!
But before they do......Xmas dinner!

Some recent treats: Open Mic at ShowOff.....Bea's Mom and Dad in attendance.

One night was Brother's film night where Alistair invites any and all to watch a film at his place.  In memory of the Great Mr O'Toole we watched "The Ruling Class"

Various occasions to get together with friends including an occasion when Sis played for a friend here at Charterhouse:

All in all a great time to be in a great place.

One last image which represents one of the reasons I love my adopted home.....ye olde London town.

Wandering back home through Shoreditch one night I realised I'd stumbled onto the site of the Curtain Theatre.  That boarded vacant lot above was the site of the Elizabethan wooden O where Shakespeare first presented many of his earlier works.

Seen the film "Shakespeare in Love"?  Well this is where that theatre stood.

In the wee hours, all alone in the dark, I fancied I could almost hear the gasps and laughter, the tears and the approval.