I need this

- Jessie J

Dear Dottie~

I'll miss your presence but will take heart that you will be doing what heals yours.

I would imagine that whether writing a book or composing a work there may be a temptation to make it fit some sort of need involving others.

I'm not trying to lecture or give advice on something I know little, just suggest you play your heart within the discipline of a structure that you respect and hear the expression as notation. What happens after that is not as important.

I hope that makes some sort of sense - probably not important anyway, you are wise enough to do what is needed.

The Hallelujah, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult is almost exactly what I'd like to share, and have been saving.

Croix

Thank you Croix 😊

I think your "filling a need involving others" is a valid point. I think that happens a lot in composition. Writing for yourself or writing for others...the big question.

I just want- need- an emotional outlet. Like Sam Smith singing about "doing it for the love" and not for the money in Money on my mind. I compose for myself first and foremost...for the love of the craft if that makes any sense...

Ah the legendary conductor. Thank you for sharing a piece of yourself. Hallelujah sounds close to your heart so thank you sharing. I'll have to look it up. I haven't heard the London Philharmonic Orchestra's version yet.

I'll miss you too....I'm not really in a great headspace...and music has always helped me in the past so music cave time. Just keep being you...I keep running into your growing fan club here on BB haha. Joking aside, the fact that you're so respected and adored by many is a testimony to your kindness, sensitivity and intelligence.

Dottie xxx

Dear Moon et al.~

I'm just recovering from Breakfast on Pluto (it had a couple of unexpected triggers relating to 'the troubles' though a pretty good movie despite that).

I think I remember you talking about drumming. Can you explain what happens?

Croix

Hi Croix....re drumming - a group get together at various times, including early evening on the full Moon.....they are Djembe Drums, originating from West Africa....Djembe means "everyone gather together in peace" I believe. everyone welcome to try out the drums there...apparently easily learned in one lesson....it is a rope-tuned skin covered goblet drum..played with bare hands ( bigger than a bongo drum)...supposed to relieve stress and tension...the rhythm etc.

people can just go and listen if they like.

I'd go to the Full Moon one of course, if it was well and truly after the sun went down...but it's sort of earlier in the evening and I don't want people to see me.

I haven't joined the group because I'm afraid people watching will point and laugh at me "Oh, look there's Moon S.....sitting there drumming, doesn't she look stupid!".

Dear Moon et al.~

Thanks for the explanation though I'm a little disappointing you are not going to give it a go - you could always wear cool shades so the paparazzi would not recognize you :) Could make a change from bowling.

How are you traveling now?

Croix

...Hi Croix....re my recent distressing problem - I've been given both extremes of advice i.e. "Don't Give Up" and "Let it Go". polar opposite attitudes - what to do, toss a coin?

the "let it go" came (from a place of love) from my son who I think was concerned I would drive myself crazy and collapse into a breakdown, if I didn't take a break from the "battlefield".

the "don't give up" from older siblings (again from a place of love) who hate injustice with a passion, as I do with their protective instincts towards me kicking in big time. *********************

I might have told you I went along to the "bowls club" last week even though I was feeling as low and sad as I ever thought possible....just to escape for a couple of hours and drink in the energy, vibe, and safety. the feeling of "home". I felt better driving home so must have been the right decision. Going again over the weekend and again next week to find out more about a Big Game coming up.

Perhaps I'll make some enquiries about the Drummers, if there's anyone I know already involved- it'd give me "someone to go with". I might get carried away though and end up drumming myself into a frenzy...want to keep going once the session stops!!!

Dear Moon et al.~

That's one of the things when alternatives appear evenly balanced, so no advice, although I must admit If I'm in that situation I may well do nothing, then the situation can change and hopefully my choice made for me.

I do hope the forthcoming 'big game' had something for you on the team, you sound so much happier every time you are in contact with them.

Seeing if there is anyone to go with sounds a pretty good idea, drumming could be a marvelous distraction, even if you don't reach the 'frenzy' stage:)

On another matter entirely have you ever seen any rep or live theater? I used to go a lot when younger in Sydney, studied drama for a little while. Do you have a favorite play or production? I enjoyed contemporary like 'The One Day of the Year'. 'Summer of the 17th Doll' and more way out like 'The Rise and Fall of Arturo Ui'.

Take care Moon

Croix

Oh Croix...have I "seen" any theatre?......you know I have!

Just a wild guess :) And I am interested in your likes and dislikes in that area.

-C

Good morning Croix - to answer your question as best I can - ( feel free to read between the lines)

I have no "dislikes" in the type of theatre I like watching - a few of the big musical shows that spring to mind include Les Miserables,The King And I, Mary Poppins.

Neil Simon is a brilliant playwright, up there with Noel Coward, Harold Pinter, Oscar Wilde. I also love Neil Simon's movie scripts some of which came from his plays - - Only When I Laugh, California Suite, Odd Couple, Goodbye Girl, Chapter Two etc - he has exceptional one-liners.

I recall when as a very young person doing the "overseas" trip in London - where you could see in person onstage, well-known British TV stars from all the sit-coms you'd watched - one matinee show, sitting close to the stage I was blown away to see right in front of me - the likes of Richard Briers (Monarch of the Glen,TheGood Life) Penelope Keith (Good Life,To the Manor Born) stars from the Carry On movies etc - fabulous stuff. No one can do comedy quite like the British!

And I like theatre of the absurd, farce - how about you?

Dear Moon~

Les Miserables is great, but to sad for me nowadays. I could not watch it again.

Yes Neil Simon is amazing, from Sgt Bilko to The Odd Couple and more. I really thought the latter was great, but then I like Matthau and Lemon anyway. Jack Lemon did a pretty good job in a more serious film, 12 Angry Men, adapted from the play be Reginald Rose, about jurors arguing over a murder. It was made previously in an even better incarnation starring Henry Fonda. A typical one-scene play, but amazing drama. Probably one of the best ever.

You must have had a marvelous time in London with all those household names. did you ever see Sydney James?

With theater of the absurd I think my favorite is Samuel Beckett, particularly his Waiting for Godot, then there's Tom Stoppard who wrote Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, however he had a much broader talent writing scripts for movies like The Russia House and others.

The trouble is that every one reminds me of another, I could rabbit on for ages:)

Thanks Moon

Croix

hi croix

im all good,doing well ad keeping busy.

Do you see much theatre these days?

No I didn't see Syd James in anything.

Dear Moon et al.~

I have a soft spot for Sid James - I first saw him in Hell Drivers and the last time with Hattie Jacques in Carry on Mstron.

No I'm afraid if I see two or three productions a year I'm ahead. I live nowadays in a rural setting with no entertainment without a pretty long drive. That would mean accommodation afterwards, not that easy.

I make an effort for the ballet plus sometimes my son kicks in for a birthday present, so not all gloom.

Unfortunately most things have to be on DVD, which does not really work for stage productions unless they are specially adapted - such as 12 Angry Men above. For example Rosencrantz and Guildenstern simply does not work in the small screen, but to be fair I did see the Yoshi Tosa set production which is hard for anything to compare to.

Mind you it's hard to predict what will survive transplant. Denholm Elliott does an excellent job of Dylan Thomas' A Child's Christmas in Wales.

As for farce, how about The Importance of being Ernest?

Croix (who wishes he lived off-Broadway)

I am very familiar with "Earnest" but wouldn't exactly classify it as a "farce". Written in 1895 and still thoroughly entertaining audiences today! (a woman should never be too accurate about her age - it looks so calculating!)

Have you seen the relatively new movie...Me Before You? about the active vibrant adventurous guy who ended up in a wheelchair and can't bear his life any more.

Watched it on DVD recently and quite blown away..it's wonderful. Delicately handled and superbly acted. Surprised to see Aussie actor Stephen Peacock in it, complete with Aussie accent.....I would recommend it.

It's been a while since I contributed to this thread Croix, so I thought today might fit the bill.

Firstly, I've just written on my thread Getting to Know You and forgot to mention your name; I'm sorry. You have afterall posted many times on there; omitting your name wasn't on purpose I assure you.

This thread is doing fabulously; it's a credit to you. Music, theatre and movies are a fave pastime for many, me included. Respite from annoying thoughts or triggers never goes astray.

I'm sure you're missing Dottie who's supported us both for many months. It seems she won't be returning which ails me as it must for you. Sending warm thoughts your way...

Moon; I've also watched 'Me Before You'; at first I thought it was an adaptation of the French film 'The Intouchables', but was an independent thought provoking film in its own right. I loved it!

Having a background in Disabilities, I found both films captured the essence of life without mobility or control in one's life. They represented very different aspects of care givers, family and relationships, though similar in ways as well.

How lucky are we to have our legs?

Cheers...

Sara xo

Dear Sara~

You are right, I miss Dottie too. Please don't worry about not mentioning my name, all is fine. The warm thoughts are particularly welcome at the moment. I'll talk more later

Croix

Always warm thoughts coming from me too Croix, if you need them just now.

I think I need to play some Beatles but haven't got any. My son was huge fan and has wonderful collection of original old LPs..so I haven't any left to play. Hey Jude and John Lennon's "Woman" are my favourites. Eleanor Rigby is good too, it was written about a specific lady called Eleanor Rigby did you know that?

And Dear Prudence, refers to Mia Farrow's sister, who joined them on a stay with the Maharaji in India back in the Hippie Days of the 60s. She wouldn't come out of her room so one of them wrote Dear Prudence and sang it outside her door trying to coax her out.

Paul is doing an Australian tour in December....wonder how much the tickets cost.

Dear Sara~

Sorry, I just was not up to replying then even though I was glad you posted.

Yes Dottie's absence leaves a gap, and sadly I'm not altogether sure she has left because she is in a good place. I certainly gained immensely and I'm sure you feel much the same. I do think it was very much mutual support, and hope our contact gave her a little ease and security when she needed it.

I looked at what you said to Moon about those two movies, both thought provoking in their way. I never watched Me Before You as the reviews indicated the main character dies and I did not want to watch that. I will watch The Intouchables if I get the chance.

I must confess any film dealing with quads does ,as you'd know, pretty things up so much that it feels a little unrealistic to me, dealing as I do with such matters regularly. Another that glosses over the same matters is The Bone Collector with Denzil Washington, otherwise a pretty good detective story.

Moon~ You warm thoughts are a blessing too. I know life is hard, it makes them that much more meaningful.

Woman is a lovely gentle romantic song, I particularly like it too. As For Ernest, farce or not it's truly great. I like you quote (very suitable of course) and also my favorite from there which is Lady Bracknell saying

To lose one parent, Mr. Worthing, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness.

That December tour starts at $175 Melbourne & Perth and $250 Sydney, all going up to $800. Out of my league :-/.

No I had no idea Eleanor Rigby - or Father Mackenzie either - where anything other than names made up at random for lonely people. You certainly know a great many out of the public's eye type facts :). Who was she?

Croix

Hello Croix

A couple of years ago a book came out about how, where, why all the Beatles songs were written, thought up, discussed...very comprehensive, what and who they referred to etc...fascinating if you're a Beatles freak (I got it for my son for his birthday)

I could be wrong here, but I think Eleanor Rigby was either a name picked randomly , on the headstone of a lonely grave somewhere - or it was actually the name of a lady who, in the old days, used to do Church duties just as the song says . I wouldn't be surprised if Father McKenzie existed also.

more trivia? George Harrison's song "Something" (in the way she moves....) he wrote for his then wife, Patti Boyd. She went onto marry Eric Clapton. John Lennon's"Beautiful Boy" was written for his son with Yoko Ono, Sean Lennon......and Paul's Hey Jude, was for John's other son Julian,who was dealing with a broken romance and needed cheering up.

P.S. I am very familiar with Lady B's lines,of which there are many. That one you quoted always gets a laugh!!

Hey Croix......we can't all be stars! I once fell in love with the lighting man!

(read your comment on my thread) hoping things are getting better for you whatever the battle was/is. I myself am sick of struggling to smile and not immerse myself in a tub of sadness - but the hole left is SO DEEP and I cannot fill it! BUT..I digress...."and now I'll have a nice cup of tea and some of those cucumber sandwiches".

(No point in having a contest....I think I'd win....BUT....I could be mistaken)

Dear Moon et al.~

Why cucumber sandwiches? Why such reckless extravagance in one so young?

Well I presume young - must be to bowl :) If you don't regard Ernest as farce can you give me a ferinstance that is?

With smiles I do believe they work in two directions. If one plasters on a smile the effects can work inwards - dunno why but seems to work a bit at least for me. Playing a sort of ping-pong match with quotes is cheering, though I had to push myself to start with.

I think you are doing a pretty good job of keeping out of that tub. It will get better.

BTW I'm glad you clarified your words relating to dropping things in Thread Killer - and no I'm not going to be gulled into saying more:)

I'm afraid there was no room for high jinks in the lighting booth where I was, just me, the script and umpteen levers - and I was a much less substantial walrus in those days too.

Croix

I totally understand your reluctance to watch 'Me Before You'. A little insensitive me thinks; apologies. :-/

How's things going on that front anyway? Hope all's reasonably well. Please give him my best (smile) :)

'The Intouchables' is funny, heart warming and different. Subtitles yes; glamorising disability yes, but it's a good bit of fun at times, so I'm forgiving of its unrealistic arena.

Take care;

Miles of smiles...

Sara xo

Dear Sara et al.~

Sorry about the delay, been away. No apologies please,I saw the shorts at the movies and checked it in spoilers before viewing as a matter of course. It looked quite entertaining and I would have seen it anyway apart from that ending.

I'll look out for a copy of Intouchables, sounds interesting.

The gentleman in question is fine, ta for asking. You need to update -probably klms of smiles now:)

Croix

Hi my old mate Croix....they were playing Blue Moon on car radio this morning and I thought of the movie Blue Jasmine with Cate Blanchett.. another Woody Allen film. You've probably seen it...she was great in it as a nervous wreck! reminded me of another Woody one I picked up solely to see what Vanessa Paradis was like....she's French, was Johnny Depp's first wife, mother of his kids. Its called American Gigolo....not really my type of film but wanted to see this Vanessa.

Turned out a quirky tale (like all Woodys) he is in it also...plus Liev Schreiber .Vanessa was lovely with husky voice and charming gap in her teeth......American Gigolo........(careful Woody your neuroses are showing) what else is new?

Dear Moon et al.~

Woody Allen is not one of my favorites, basically because I think he has a pessimistic view of life, people tend to be unlovely in his movies. I prefer mostly happy feel-good nowadays (I changed, used to appreciate real life).

American Gigolo is written up with a more hopeful ending, and it's not one I've seen, so I'll look out for it - I try for secondhand a lot. I've been a bit occupied and have not seen much in the way of movies recently except Wonder Woman, enjoyable fun.

I have been re-watching a Joss Whedon series caled Dollhouse, which has the premise character and memory are downloadable. Trendy, slick and interesting.

I don't think you mentioned what you thought was an example of a farce?

Croix

Ok Croix, you're probably right....OK Earnest can be a farce - I think of it more of a "classic" piece of satire for the times in which it was written and performed.....still setting theatres alight with joy today.

I think of something like Noises Off for farce...people in impossibly ridiculous situations, unbelievably hectic, mistaken identity, endless confusion and running in and out of doors and up stairs....frantic, exaggerated....but I am no expert.

Yes you are probably right again..Woody is pessimistic and all his characters are"un lovely". funny that, I've seen some of his characters that I rather warmed to....e.g. in Hannah and Her sisters...never mind. I am pessimistic and unlovely myself at the moment so he can put me in a film if he wants.....

You prefer "happy feel good"movies at the moment? I can't name one just now that has that effect on me. Don't identify with them at all. Which ones do you mean?

Croix you haven't sent me any feel-good movies yet!

What are some feel-good movies I could watch just now? You know how much I need to feel good just now....

Dear Moon~

Yes I course I should, here is a small mix - not sure what genre or decade you prefer

Big Fish
Last Orders
Lion
Reach for the Sky
To Sir with Love
True Grit
Where Eagles Dare

I'm watching the stage version of that farce you mentioned - though it does lose something on the tiny screen but better than the Michael Cain version I think.

Croix

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