sasha and john hartson, plus john and nobby stiles

Two scary looking fellows you don't want to meet in a dark alley late at night.
It's Sasha, one of my mates who l've played football with on numerous times over the years, with John Hartson, after last weeks 'Gentlemans Evening' at Catterick / Colburn's 'Hanson Sport and Social Club' (or, as we still call it, 'The Arc'). A splendid evening for all, which also featured Nobby Stiles' son (John) in his role as compere and stand up comedian, and who was much, much better than l was expecting, although, as he said himself, nobody remembers him playing for Leeds United, it's always as Nobby's son.
Mind you, Nobby did play for Manchester United and England, and is one of the few English players to have won both the European Cup (in 1968) and World Cup (in 1966).
Sadly, Nobby has had dementia and very poor health for a while, as aging and illnesses are bastards, but l hope he and his family are not suffering.
Here's John and Nobby

And here's Nobby at a charity match in 1968, pre owning the 'Spud' look that was later used in Trainspotting. He may not look it from the photograph, but he was one mean, hard player.

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photographing lunatics with hugh diamond

At one time, the study of physiognomy was widespread, and one of the early pioneers in photography, doctor Hugh Welch Diamond, took photographs of his patients at the Women's Surrey County Lunatic Asylum between 1848 - 1858, hoping that they may be helped on the way to recovery by looking at their own photographs, realising and discussing how they presented themselves.
Of course we realise now that it is nonsense, but it was taken seriously for a long time, and let's face it, most people judge others within seconds by the way they look and present themselves (including me).
Here are some photographs of some of the ladies, and one of Mr Diamond himself.
Rather sadly, although Mr Diamond may have been a fine, upstanding example of morality, looking at some of the women, l would put good money on the fact that they would have been physically and sexually abused, probably outside in the community before entering the asylum or while they were incarcerated within it.
A cynical view?  Maybe, but a correct one in my estimation.
For more information about this, and some more photographs, go here.

Here's Mr Diamond, and below are some of the women. 

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self portraits with alzheimers - william utermohlen

I've worked with people who have developed Alzheimer's disease, and as you can imagine, it is not pleasant at all for the unfortunate individual who suffers from it.
William Utermohlen was diagnosed with it in 1995, and decided to do self portraits as it progressed, to document the way it affected himself, both in his ability to capture his own image, and his perception of that image.
The results are above.  The first self portrait is from 1967, but the rest are from 1996 to 2000.  William died in 2007.
More information can be found here.

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debbie harry photograph

Now that is what you call a promotional photograph.  Debbie Harry of Blondie looking good.  She has got a punk attitude and is also intelligent, arty and funny. She also stayed with and helped nurse Chris Stein after he became ill.  That's why nobody really dislikes her.

toodle pip.

the men (1950) - fred zinnermann

Marlon Brando's film debut, and a starling performance it is.  He plays a young soldier who is shot at, wounded, and turned into a paraplegic, which he is not happy about at all (in fact he's pretty bitter).  He eventually tries to accept his fate and re-unites with his old girlfriend (and even gets married), but still has major issues (as is to be expected).  the film used some real life paraplegics (The Men) and Brando worked with them beforehand to try and inhabit his role and do the justice. Some dated acting is present and correct, but  Brando and the other injured soldiers are great, and it's well worth a viewing, even if the ending is sudden and sentimental.

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cystic echinococcosis (hydatid cyst of the liver)

Don't watch this video if you are squeamish, as it's one of the most disgusting things l have ever seen.  It shows a liver being emptied after it had become full of Echinococcosis larvae (the round balls).  Humans accidentally eat the eggs and can become infected, and these can quickly grow inside the liver.  Urghh!
More information here.

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richard o'sullivan (and me) getting old

2009 Photo from the Daily Mail (probably the worst one they could find)

It's a bugger getting old, and sometimes it hits home what an old git you are when you remember shows or records from the past, and realise how long ago they were.  Not just that, but l recently found out that Richard O'Sullivan, who used to be Robin Tripp in Man About The House (1973), and Robin's Nest afterwards, had a stroke in 2003, and lives in the artists retirement home Brinsworth House.  He was in lots of other TV shows and films before Man About The House (including a role as  Cleopatra's brother in the 1963 film), but that is the programme l most associate him with.  I knew he had an relationship with Sally Thomsett (Jo) from the show, and was later with Tessa Wyatt (who famously made Tony Blackburn plead for her return on the radio), but l didn't know he had been ill.  Time waits for no-one and all that garbage, but l wish him well, as, although the shows don't appeal to me now, l liked them a lot when l was younger.

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a busy week and the romanzo criminale series

It's been a long and busy week with no peace for the wicked, as l have been slaving away, including all over Easter, and attending to lots of other matters.
I've been to parties (photo's at a later date) and had way too many trips to hospitals. l was there all this morning (Sunday) and am going again tomorrow morning, and probably tomorrow evening as well.
In the meantime, Kelly is now 16, Dazzer is now 40, myself and the FPO are struggling onwards towards 20, and everyone is being taken ill with hip transplants, infections, heart trouble (not mine), amputations and blood loss. This is however, other people who are ill, as l am still indestructible.

The footie has been great and then bloody awful.
United beat QPR and then City got beaten by Arsenal, thus opening up an 8 point gap, but then United lost against Wigan. Sanity has been restored with a victory over Aston Villa today, and the lead is now 5 points with five games left.

Also...
At long last l have got around to watching the first series of Romanzo Criminale (one episode after another in one block) and am now cursing myself for leaving it so long, as l really enjoyed it.
A criminal gang start from a humble kidnapping, and end up running the Rome underworld - all based on a true story.
It's Italian, subtitled, violent, slow in parts, based in the 70's, but outrageously well done.
Of course the leaders start getting more messed up as the power (and drugs) go to their heads (especially the crazed Lebanese), but that's only to be expected. I'm sure l would go the same way (as Fleetwood Mac nearly sang).
Now l have to dig out the film version and get my grubby little paws on series two.
There's always something else to do - it's neverending.

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michael j fox - always looking up

Much as l admire Michael J Fox and the way he has handled his Parkinsons, l can't say l really enjoyed this book as it was mainly about his work with his foundation, his faith, stem cell research, and the way he was/is dealing with the disease. There was a part about the end of 'Spin City' (the final episode with him in made me blub), and about the 'Tour de France', both parts that l enjoyed, but that was about it for me. He was however, really good recently in 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' when he fell out with Larry, willing to blame everything on the Parkinsons, which came as a big surprise to me as l was not even aware he was going to be in the episode. I certainly don't think l would be so positive if l got Parkinsons myself.

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