Mary talks of "repression" by not being allowed to lose her temper even had she been so inclined.  Unfortunately I am irrepressible.  Nothing would stop me I'm afraid.  My father was a mild-mannered, kindly soul and I don't ever remember him losing his temper as I do.  I'm supposed to take after my paternal grandmother who was as children/animal mad as I am and although she was actually smaller than me, very tiny in fact, she often used to take the law into her own hands as I do. Rashly every time but managed to escape unscathed as I have so far.

She could not have possibly had any influence over me however, because she died two years before I was born.  I'm afraid in my case it appears to be nature over nurture.  My father hated confrontation and would avoid it whenever possible.  He loved animals and children and was a percussionist.  A happy soul. I did see him knock someone out once when he was a taxi driver and the passenger wouldn't pay.  He got out of the taxi to remonstrate and the 6'+ man took a swing at my dad - who promptly felled him in one! I was across the road trying to get over to him and saw it all.  I have never been so astonished in my entire life.  My father was only 5'6 and very slight but when it came to he could look after himself. Army training I suppose.  Even then he hadn't lost his temper - he was calm, cool and collected.   I never saw anything like that again.   I'm one on my own I'm afraid.

I doubt that there will be any real-life tensions between the vast majority of our dear Members. But by 'simply turning your back' I actually meant without any intention of later discussion. Something which in real life is not always the best idea. (Er, I think, but what would I know?)

My reading of Ron's message was that although, as we have seen in the past, Members are very much aware of when a familiar voice seems to have fallen silent, we should respect both their privacy and reasons for doing so.

The fact the people here have expressed concern over 'missing' Posters rather confirms the sense of community that is felt here, but ... let's not forget that they do have non-cyber lives to be getting on with. If there are difficulties there, they may not wish to share them with us.

Sometimes people just need a 'rest' from MBs.

Mort the person not the Mod
 

 

 

A brief sortie as my dongle is dormant pending being whooshed to Bangalore for delousing. I have come into the preceding argument half-way and am short of time, so would just like to endorse the Martle/ Ron caucus of considerate free speech.
I went to a brilliantly arranged exhibition at the Britiswh Museum today of American prints and woodcuts, taking the viewer pithily from post -pre raphaelite to cubism (early Pollock) in one fell swoop with the joinings palpable.
There'sa  sizeable contingent of negro artists from the edwardian era to the 30s, some of whom were employed on a Roosevelt 'Art project' (new one on me)
in the depression era. The thing is touring next year if you can't make it down.

This post gets a bit guache at this point , so you may want to cut to the chase :


While I was agog at the skill of this stuff , I noticed little quorums  of people who had made it to the 4th floor but were surreptisiously discussing the personal sagas of absent 3rd parties as such with quite a bit of prurience, not bothering much with the art. It was quite a poignant counterpoint to the vigour and plangency, and in some cases fun, of the images which thus took on some of their initial reality-check zeal. This is a London phenomenon that belies the cultural richness of the place all too often- a labrynth  of increasingly centreless villages.

...My point being:

This doesnt happen here, and I think this is because we are collectively so humane and robust, and knocks and misunderstandings aside, I'd like to urge anyone feeling a bit bruised to hang in here. Its art in the broadest sense , the art of living, raw and cooking , that's driving it so there are going to be the odd knocks and tangents?

I'll get me dongle...

I'm absolutely with you there, marbleflugel. It's a terrific exhibition and I would urge people not to miss it (even if you think it isn't the sort of thing you would be interested in: trust mf and me, you would be mistaken). More details here: http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/all_current_exhibitions/the_american_scene.aspx

It did actually occur to me when I went that it would be right up Martle's street in particular. I do urge you to go, O Green One, if you haven't been already - unless I've misunderstood, it would be just your thing  -  but obviously commended to all on 3.

And it's free.


[Edit: Oh, I;'ve just noticed that if Martle doesn't come to the mountain, the mountain is coming to Martle. It's coming to Brighton next year, as well as Nottingham and Manchester.]

  Ah, I'd always seen you as an honorary member of the Bloomsbury Group somehow, Martle. Do give Ginny, Len and Lytton my best.

I can't believe how quickly this last fortnight has gone.  We've had a lovely half-term and managed to have some fun together every day.  He goes back to school tomorrow.  I've been getting the uniform together and just the shoes to clean - but in between I've been watching Dudley Moore performing Colonel Bogey, Beethoven-style on Youtube.     Wonderful!  That man was a genius.

the wireless appendage to my laptop was attacked by a bendy bus following swiftly on the  kidney punch it gave me, but lo there is a cure for it. Meditating under a No. 53 in repose , if not in Plumstead, should take care of the other ailment.