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Red Writing
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Watched "When Harry Met Sally" last night and although a little dated and a little schmaltzy I still rate it as one of my favourite films. Perhaps it's because I get older every time I see it, but I seem to find another poignant line in it every time. Christmas is nearly upon us and it only remains for me to say: This is a time for being with loved ones, for taking a well earned break. It is also a time of sadness because no matter how much you try, there will always be some friends and family who cannot be with you. But in amongst the mixed feelings it is a time to think about what you have achieved over the past year and then put the past behind you. It's a time for moving on, living and working towards your dreams. I wish all my friends, family and readers, from the bottom of my heart a very happy Christmas and all the best for 2003, may all the things you have ever wished for, be a little closer to ahieving. The shortlist for the Creative Scotland Awards includes; architect, Malcolm Fraser, artist Ian Hamilton Finlay, writers Alasdair Gray and Bernard MacLaverty, the jazz pianist Brian Kellock and the artist and promoter Richard Demarco and about another 15 people competing for ten £30,000 prizes to be announced on the 5th March 2003. All very deserving contenders - however, I did notice my name was rather conspicuous by it's absence ;-) 'Tis the season to be jolly and last night I started to feel very slightly seasonal. A beautiful carol service in St Giles Cathedral was enough to remind me that Christmas is not about spending lots of money, getting drunk and worrying about what you haven't managed to do before Christmas morning. It was about enjoying hearing beautiful voices and seeing the happy faces of the young people who were participating. It was about remembering why we celebrate Christmas. The evening was later made even nicer by the decision to put up the Christmas tree which has been sitting in the unbuilt porch for a day or so. SO and I decided to put it up ourselves, thereby avoiding the arguments of who would put which decorations where, and who couldn't reach to put the star on the top. I did feel a little bit guilty that we had denied SED and SYD the opportunity to help but spending a little quality time with grown-up company, a glass of port, twinking tree lights and festive music playing in the background was a wonderful way to end the evening. Sometimes a little pressure goes a long way. However, I agree that the recent Edinburgh Council fiasco is a perfect example of "how political correctness can spread unchecked if unelected officials are left in charge. Perhaps they really need some intelligent policy decision makers in the council, that's the kind who have common sense! It's Sunday and my spirits have been uplifted by watching a wonderful church service on TV with lots of happy people, singing, smiling and worshiping. I'd like to be part of that, so now I have a new quest to find somewhere near me where I can join in with the happy people and regain my faith in all things good. But just as I feel uplifted, the reality of a sick society encroaches. It is so sad that the spirit of Christmas is marred by a small minority. Edinburgh parents now have to have permission to photograph or film their children in school shows - if one parent objects, no-one is allowed to film. Watching school nativity plays is part of being a parent and it is sad that the council feel so pressurised that they have had to introduce these measures. Do we have to forgo the innocent pleasures of parental pride just because of a few paedophiles? Is this recent ban really necessary? Why do parents have to miss out on a chance of recording their own child's personal history? There are always tapes for sale at these events if someone was of the mind to, they can easily buy a copy. Perhaps we should just bring our children up in little greenhouses until they are of an age to fend for themselves. Let's rob them of all the chances of developing into well-adjusted human beings by making their parents so paranoid they aren't allowed to be involved in anything members of the public might want to watch. Does this mean we should ban all children from all sports and forms of entertainment? While they are at it, why not ban children from walking in the streets until they are at least 16. How crazy has this world got? It is time we stopped the dreadful way society is going and got back to some basic trust and honesty. Please let our children be children and let their parents feel able to enjoy the fact that they are parents without having to worry that every thing they do might be watched by paedophiles. Christmas is meant to be the season of goodwill and peace, with many analogies to innocence.....let's try to keep it that way. I've just watched the final of 'Fame Academy' and through the tears (see last Friday's post) I watched David Sneddon from Paisley win. I think it's a fantastic achievement for this little buddy and I was really delighted for him. Last week I wanted Sinead to win but having watched tonight's show, I did think David had the edge and deserved to win. Now I know many people think these shows are all a huge, dreadful hype, dreamt up by record and tv companies who are looking for ways to persuade us to part with money etc but there is something really nice about a little lad from Scotland winning a competition like this. (It is a little sad that Naomi had to leave for him to come into the academy - something my niece was disappointed about as N was an old school friend from Melrose) . I watched as my kids debated who they thought was better and it was really interesting to hear their different opinions. Trying to instill in them that whoever won had achieved a lot and that they should be happy for their success didn't go down too well at the end when one wanted Sinead to win and was disappointed. Personally I thought the last four were all very talented and I hope they all go on to have successful singing careers. Lemar has a fantastic 'soul' voice, Ainslie is a great performer, Sinead's voice has that gutsy feel that I can only aspire to, but when it came down to the last, I think David has all of these things. Not only that, he's a good song writer, plays the piano well and - although I'm probably old enough to be his mother - I have to admit that he's really quite cute. I've watched him over the last 10 weeks and he has learned a lot and developed his talent. It was nice to see. It's a lesson to everyone that no matter how big your dreams are you have to go for them. I can't abide the British mentality that knocks people who are talented or who do well. If you don't try to live up to what you aspire to be, or be what you know inside you can be, you will never get there. I hope that feeling will stay with me for a few days at least. We are all what we can be and if you don't give it your best shot, you'll never know.... I am in a bit of a rut today. Well for the past wee while I suppose. It's probably just a Christmas rut - the one we all get into occassionally - where you have too much to do and keep putting it off. The more you put things off the worse the anxiety gets about getting anything done and the worse that gets the less capable you are of thinking straight about how to start any of the things you need to do. While you are sitting wasting time worrying about how you haven't done any of the things you have to do, another ten things need doing and the whole thing snowballs. I am at this very moment sitting at the frozen core of a very big snowball, which is gathering speed, getting heavier and heavier, making me dizzier and dizzier. Perhaps if I roll far enough, I'll roll obliviously into spring and melt. Congratulations to Keith Tyson from Cumbria, who has won this year'sTurner prize. Silly game - Hunt the haggis Well done to Edinburgh's fire-fighters, for keeping the devastating blaze under control. So glad they were not on strike! For the past couple of months, my home has been a building site at the back and a building site at the front with a steady trail of mud, cement and general grime joining one to the other. So to brighten the place up I am going to employ a small team to make snowflakes for Christmas. If you hate the snow, why not try out one of the other things on the multimedia activities fun and games page.  What Type Of Retro Gal Are You? brought to you by Quizilla You are the classy pin-up! You are everything sophisticated and refined about the entire era. You exude class and dignity I could say, it's not my fault! I have children. The key to that is in the punctuation. I don't mean it's not my fault I have children. I'm not that naive and yes I do love my children. What I really mean is.....it's not really my fault that I watch so much of the terrible soaps and teen type tv channels......it's because I have children and I opt for an easy life. So, I have to admit that I have become an avid fan of "Fame Academy", Embarrasing I know, but along with the academy, we tend to watch every other singing type, competitive TV show and something very strange happens when I watch things like this. Perhaps it's the frustrated karaoke singer in me, or the fact that ever since I was old enough to string my first doe, rae, me together (in perfect pitch, I hasten to add) I have always secretly been a singing diva. The only problem was that I have never had the courage to sing in front of anyone (that and having confident older siblings who said they were fantastic, so I never even tried to compete) so not many people have heard the strength of my Barbra Striesand apart from my unappreciative family (occasionally I get a positive response - or a challenge to go on "Start in their Eyes" but no - don't worry, you won't be seeing me there.......too shy!!) Anyway, I digress. What happens, when I hear something good, is that I get goosebumps all over and tears start to pour down my face. It can be extremely embarrasing but is a perfect indicator of who gives the best performance. If they don't make me cry, they are not good enough. For weeks I have shouted at the TV, eyes streaming, nose resembling Karl Malden, when they vote out the wrong person and congratulate them when they get the right one. Tonight the last four were up for the public vote. Sinead, Ainsley, David and Lemar. I didn't cry at all during their solo performances. I just offer a balanced critical opinion of the strengths and weaknesses of each to my groaning co-watchers. I thought I was actually going to get through a whole programme without the magic trick of pulling my handkerchief from my sleeve and dabbing my eyes without anyone else noticing. Don't get me wrong, I thought they were all brilliant, especially Ainsley who sang a great version of U2's "With or Without you" - it almost reduced me to tears and definitely made me want to listen to U2 again tonight (another late night LP session I fear) but there was no, tear inducing star performance. The guest star was Ronan Keating, who was singing a duet with Sinead - one of his own hits, not one I know really well so forgive me if I get the title wrong but according to my SYD I think it was "If tomorrow never comes". There I was listening to him, thinking...yes, I vaguely know this when Sinead started singing.....and then it happened....tears, streaming down my face. She was wonderful. The whole duet was wonderful and I was reminded of a question I had heard on the radio this morning......"I wonder what the Christmas number one will be?" ....well, for me, that should be it........a money spinner if ever I heard one and a really nice song. So, now you all know how truly sad I am, but there was chemistry between them in that duet and if I were Ronan I'd be looking at the video and thanking Sinead for re-launching my career. Good on you girl and good luck next week. For those interested in instant messaging (or perhaps it's more for the sceptics!) read this article. It's about time the teen image was shed and messaging was considered a more serious form of communication. Perhaps this is the beginning.... No Santa is not a bigot. Santa is a very nice person. Santa brings you what you ask for. Santa gives what is requested. Santa is genrous beyond requirements. Isn't that the sign of a nice person? Maybe there are lots of different Santas? Belief is a wonderful thing. The Saltire Award for the best book in Scotland went to Janice Galloway for Clara. Another for the Christmas list..... There is something very satisfying about buying a complete room! Yesterday, I bought a complete shower room - everything! The shower, shower door, wc, basin, taps and all the tiles - including nice little border tiles. Do you know how many tiles there are in the world? There are tiles of every single colour, size, texture, shape. So many tiles. How to choose? Close eyes and point! I don't want to look at another tile until my shower room is finished (well at least until I have to choose the kitchen tiles - perhaps I'll turn anti-clockwise for that). But I have to admit, I do like it and it was nice getting everything at once. Greedy, but nice. Today I want to buy another room. Perhaps i'll just settle for all the flooring first. This is getting expensive. Now I know why I will have to give only hugs and homemade cakes for Christmas (see below). Off to bake before the next round of vulgar, self-indulgent expenditure... |
