Posts by David Haywood
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Julian, Charlotte, and Judi:
Thanks for the kind words, people. You've certainly given me something to think about. I'm currently working (with glacial speed) on a book about energy -- but frankly, it's pretty boring, even to me. The universe may well have run out of energy (or 'exergy', to be technically correct) by the time I finish. A collected 'Southerly' sounds like much more fun, and able to be produced in bite-sized chunks as Bob-the-baby permits.
Now that I've had Judi's coffee-squirting-out-of-her-nose endorsement I feel that anything's possible.
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James Francis wrote:
Are you going to publish your stories? You should do.
From your comment I can tell you're not a publisher, James! No, I hadn't thought of putting them in book form, although it strikes me as not a bad idea -- in fact, I would be quite keen on it.
But I can't see a publisher being interested in such a thing, alas...
Kyle Matthews wrote:
I think we need to hear more about your grandfather...
I shall do my best to oblige, young Kyle...
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Danielle wrote:
query: your grandfather *really* chose to read Orwell's Homage to Catalonia to six-week-old you?
Although present, I have no personal recollection of the incident myself. The story has been told and re-told so many times that I don't think I would swear to the minor details (although the major details are certainly correct). Knowing my grandfather, however, if it wasn't 'Homage to Catalonia' then it was something equally (or even less) appropriate for a sleeping six-week-old.
It should be noted that I am delving back into my ten-year-old's memory of the story as related by my grandmother -- perhaps not the most reliable source (my memory, that is, not my grandmother). My father has already emailed me to clarify one point:
> The assailant did not go easily, a large chase around
> the neighbourhood took place before he was subdued, made
> even more difficult by the fact that his wrists were
> bigger than the handcuffs.Incidentally, my uncle's version of the story is well worth seeing. He does all the characters -- almost a one-man play. I remember falling off my chair with laughter as a ten-year-old.
P.S. For those English readers, you will be relieved to know that the new neighbours turned out to be Dutch, not English.
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Thanks or putting your back-catalogue up on PA, Keith. I've just been enjoying a pleasant read back through them all -- lovely work, by the way...
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Craig Ranapia wrote:
To get back on topic, I've had it solemnly explained to me that Brief Encounter is just more proof of the homosexual agenda to undermine respect for the family, marriage and all that other good stuff.
Yes, that's the crazed theory that I had in mind when I wrote this (or one of the crazed theories, at any rate). I was trying to find out where I'd read it. I thought it was held up for ridicule in one of the Coward bios, but I can't find it anywhere. Or did LRB or someone do an essay on Coward where it was mentioned?
Did any of your explainers cite their sources?
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anjum rahman wrote:
were you also trying to win the award for the longest header?
Hadn't occurred to me, but that's not a bad idea, dude! Maybe we should have internal PA awards for longest header, most ungrammatical sentence, most distasteful imagery involving a Volvo, etc. Russell?
Don Christie wrote:
I was looking for more of that Brief Encounter film, David, and found this scene. Seems...apt
Brilliant! Isn't Enfield such a fantastic mimic?
Steve Curtis wrote:
Would be great to weave in the SIS...
Now there's an intriguing thought!
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Very nice to see you back, Jolisa. A child in hospital seems like a pretty good excuse to me (in fact, just a child, full stop).
As always, I really enjoyed your book reviews. Someone should give you an award for them...
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Emma Hart wrote:
And oddly, all the time I spent just yesterday reading about Vita Sackville-West and Violet Keppel, not once did I picture two Volvos crashing together. That won't be not happening again.
Yeah, sorry about the Volvo gag, Emma. Right up until the last moment, I was wondering if it might be in dubious taste, and whether I should leave it out. But then I decided that it was an important artistic statement. Kind of like making a sculpture of Jeffrey Archer out of excrement (except that I quite like Woolf, Sackville-West, and Volvos).
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Danielle wrote:
Please let Rachmaninoff be playing in the background of this scene. It is, isn't it?
Hell, yes! Piano Concerto #2. I had it in my first draft but didn't think anyone would get it. Oh, lovely PA readers, how mistaken I was to underestimate you.
Jennifer says I should point the young folk (i.e. those whose movie viewing careers began after 1945) to this scene in the movie:
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Thanks for the kind words, people! Glad to know that -- somewhere out there -- there are those who share my sense of humour.
Eddie Clark wrote:
... "Absolute Power: the Master Builder Edition."
This is pure genius, Eddie! Incidentally, I've often thought that Ibsen would be an ideal candidate for the television programme 'Changing Rooms'. Along the lines of 'A Doll's House' changes rooms with 'Master Builder'. I bet it would be compelling viewing.
Craig Ranapia wrote:
Blasphemy!...
Yes, it is, isn't it? I just couldn't help myself.
Andrew Smith wrote:
I wonder why this blog site is getting so 'exercised' about Ian's book. Let it be. If it's rubbish, then it will self-destruct anyway.
I'm not so much exercised as amused, Andrew. Metaphorically speaking, when someone as pompous as Ian Wishart goes around wearing a sign that says 'kick me', my satirist's right foot start to itch. Again, I just couldn't help myself.