Morecambe and Wise

One of Britain's most loved double-acts, Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEmZwcOIFjc

Genevieve

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AndSwYyE3vE

Raffaello Baldassare Castigilione's Dictum

In his Book of the Courtier (1528), Baldassare Castigilione describes wit, sprezzatura, and apparent effortlessness in any endeavour, as ‘’a certain nonchalance, so as to conceal all art and make whatever one does or says appear to be without effort and almost without any thought about it.’’

Mrs T's Table

There will be a great deal of loved-her-eulogy and hated-her-diatribe about Mrs T over the next few days but here is a unique titbit (apparently, it's 'tidbit' in the USA). Margaret Thatcher was the pupil of Peter Rowland in his tax chambers at 2 Temple Gardens, in the Inner Temple. Almost by chance, I now possess various books that belonged to him and two things that Mrs T would certainly remember: a framed print of the mural in the Palace of Westminster of The Plucking of the Red Rose and the White Rose in Inner Temple Gardens, by Henry Arthur Payne (depicting the start of the War of The Roses, as supposed by Shakespeare):

- and an ornate, mahogany pedestal table at which Mrs T (remembered by Rowland as 'bossy') must have worked. The table is in storage in England, so no picture, I am afraid.

Hail to thee, Blithe Spirit!

If you have not seen this film, then might I recommend it?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOXvI5XHeMM

Bob Champion and Aldaniti

The jockey had just recovered from cancer and the horse was supposed to have been crocked...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfeveHOqUMI

About Turn

I think that I can justify yet another change of mind over this blog on the basis that only Beta-brains can never admit that they are wrong. Moreover, since I have control over what is or is not published here (including comments) and that the place is, to that extent, 'hog-free', I will post when I feel like it. But no more contributions to forum boards, where (inter alios), drunks, boors, hogs and weirdos creep in the undergrowth.

To be going on with, here is a jolly little number from Zarah Leander:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWuDlyJyCq4&feature=endscreen&NR=1