In the final days of the year, I start to settle accounts.
Roland has pointed out that this is one of my major characteristics. When I said that surely everyone did this, he and Ross chorused "No".
Among the things I haven't completed are sorting out my car insurance after its theft back in March and David's will is still not finalised. I need to take decisions about what I am going to do about them.
However, I have now completed a thorough overhaul of this EJ. It's now been completely re-designed from day one to the present. I've read through the lot and corrected a few spelling errors here and there and added some further links to enhance the internal web of references. There's now a complete index page for all six years. I've also added a page in the opera section giving links through to all of the operas I've attended in that time and completed this year's review.
I've been catching up on stuff I've videoed over the Festive season. Best film by
far was Gattaca which I last saw in 1998.
It's one of those films which has stood the test of time well and, if anything, the
theme of genetic engineering is more pertinent now than it was then. Ethan Hawke
still looks gorgeous. Uma Thurman, Jude Law and Gore Vidal provide casting in depth.
The piece is written and directed by Andrew Niccol. He also wrote The Truman Show and is currently engaged on a piece entitled Simone. Gattaca uses science fiction to explore ideas and discuss the human spirit through the social implications of genetic engineering. The Truman Show explores the life of an insurance salesman/adjuster who discovers his entire life is actually a TV show. Simone tells the story of a film producer who decides to digitally create an actress to substitute for an actress and then has to deal with what happens when the virtual being becomes an overnight sensation that everyone thinks is a real person. Do we think that we discern some sort of ongoing pattern of interest in this man's work?
Best television of the Festive season was Lost World which used Arthur Conan Doyle's story and the dino effects from Walking with Dinosaurs to create the sort of small screen magic that would have been impossible ten years ago. A belting cast was rounded out nicely by the inclusion of Matthew Rhys as the hero, Ed Malone. The producers did change some of the story line. The most obvious was the inclusion of a woman into the expedition party and that led to a change from the the original ending with our hero, Ed Malone, forsaking his original love, Gladys, for his new mate. The ending was also made more open to allow for a sequel which I would be happy to watch.
We also liked Richard Bacon's appearance on the BBC Choice's news
review. He now inhabits Channel Four's Big Breakfast but is famous for being
sacked from Blue Peter for taking cocaine. Anyhow, whilst on this news review,
he encountered Brian from Big Brother who flirted
with him. Cutey-pie Richard announced that, whilst he was not gay, if he were, Brian
would be at the head of the list. The host, cuddly Christopher Price, averred that he
thought that young Richard was at very least bi curious. The poor lad was
mortified and his body language was what we doctors would call "a dead give away".
Elsewhere, more work has been done on the house.
Colour choice by Ross; work by David. Gradually, boxes of books in the back room will be emptied and space will be cleared so that Ross can set up shop in his own studio.
Actually Ross's advice and encouragement is necessary. If I'd seen the state of the wall after the first coat, I should have been dismayed. But Ross said it was fine and just need another couple of coats. He was right but I don't yet have that confidence when it comes to decorating. I do wish I could shake Ross of his belief that I am confident in all things. And he will say that he doesn't believe that. But he does act as though it were true.
I haven't yet settled to Ross's constant presence here. In fact, the last time he left for London at the beginning of December, I found myself thinking that I was glad to have house back to myself. Which thought may have been a little late in the day given the agreed change in circumstances.
As I discovered when I started re-reading these Journals, the areas of friction in our relationship were defined fairly early on. It goes back to tidiness and closing doors to maintain warmth in this cold weather, etc, etc. I still put a lot of it down to the fact that Ross has never lived on his own for any extended period and never had to survive solely off his own endeavours. In short, he's never learnt learn how to economise on effort like using cutlery from the washing bowl rather than taking new knives and forks from the drawer.
I also still find his essential passivity quite frustrating. I think a few well
administered slaps are what is called for.
