Friday 26 June 2020

Il mio sogno.... Una vita senza la Responsibalità !


Perché sono un uomo coraggioso non ho paura di denaro; e perché non credo a una vita dopo la morte, i miei sogni sono completamente materialistici. Mi piacerrebbe avere una montagna di soldi, e allora non farei nient'altro che giocare. Giocerei la mattina, il pomeriggio e la sera, e quando sarei stanco di giocare in Inghilterra, andrei a giocare in Italia, o in Francia, il paese non è importante, la cosa importante è di giocare. E poi comprerei uno specchio per guardarmi, perché il migliore spettacolo del mondo da guardare è quello di un uomo ricco. I poveri debbono contentarsi della menzogna delle loro fantasie per sentirsi liberi. Ma i sogni dei ricchi sono reali, veramente reali. Naturalmente c'è chi direbbe che la vita non è un gioco, ma una cosa seria, e che senza la responsibalità la vita è soltanto una conchiglia vuota, e una personna senza la responsibalità un'ombro che non ha forma né sostenza. Ma essere ricco è potar vivere senza la responsibalità. La responsibalità è la sorte dei poveri. La sorte dei ricchi è di giocare, e se il mio sogno si realizzasse, prenderei la decisione eroica di vivere senza la responsibalità, e di giocare tutti i giorni. 


Tuesday 5 May 2020

Il dolce far niente - The sweet pleasure of doing nothing.


Ripe was the drowsy hour;
The blissful cloud of summer-indolence 
Benumbed my eyes....
(John Keats)


Dolce Far Niente (Sweet Idleness)
or a Pompeian Fishpont (1904)
by John William Godward 

Celebrating 'Il dolce far niente', the sweet, delicious pleasure of indolence. 




Dolce Far Niente  (1877)
by Auguste Toulmouche 



Wednesday 15 January 2020

The Mysterious Episode of the Royal Poodle's Broken Foot - a spoof





Television Newsroom. PRESENTER on air.

PRESENTER:  We have Breaking News just come in. That's Breaking News just come in. It is reported that one of the Royal Poodles has broken its foot. This is Breaking News just come in. One of the Royal Poodles has broken its foot. That's one of the Royal Poodles has broken its foot. We're going straight over to our Royal Correspondent outside the Royal Palace. Clive, what can you tell us?

CLIVE:  Good morning, Michelle. All I can tell you is that one of the Royal Poodles has broken its foot. We don't know when it happened...

PRESENTER: Now that's what I wanted to ask you? Do we know when it happened? 

CLIVE: No, we don't know when it happened. All we know for the moment is that one of the Royal Poodles has broken its foot. 

PRESENTER: Clive, our Royal Correspondent, thank you for the moment. And now I'm joined in the studio by the former editor of a leading fashion magazine. Melissa, what's your take on this Breaking News that one of the Royal Poodles has broken its foot? 

MELISSA:  So, first can I extend my heartfelt sympathies to the Monarch. So, it must be heartbreaking that one of her beloved poodles has broken its foot. So, of course she does have six hundred and twenty seven poodles... 

PRESENTER:  Now that's what I wanted to ask you. How many poodles does the Monarch have? 

MELISSA:  So, how many poodles does the Monarch have?  So, she has six hundred and twenty seven poodles. Absolutely!  So, but of course we don't know which one of the six hundred and twenty seven has broken its foot.

PRESENTER:  I'd just like to point to viewers watching at home that the poodle on your screens is not the Royal Poodle that has broken its foot. Because that's what we're discussing, the Breaking News that one of the Royal Poodles has broken its foot. Clive, our Royal Correspondent outside the Royal Palace, any developments your end?

CLIVE:  No, nothing new here, Michelle. There are no signals at all coming out of the Palace...

PRESENTER:  That's what I wanted to ask you. Are there any signals at all coming out of the Palace? 

CLIVE: No, there are no signals at all coming out of the Palace. In fact, there have been no developments at all since the Breaking News that one of the Royal Poodles has broken its foot. 

PRESENTER:  Thank you, Clive. That's Clive our Royal Correspondent with the news that there is no news from the Royal Palace. Melissa, former editor of a leading fashion magazine here in the studio with us, what will be going through the mind of the Monarch right now?

MELISSA:  So, what will be going through the mind of the Monarch right now? So, well of course she will be utterly distraught and deeply concerned that one of her beloved poodles has broken its foot. Absolutely! So, but the Monarch is also immensely practical and I'm certain that the Royal Poodle will be receiving the best possible care from the Royal Vet. 

PRESENTER:  Now that's what I wanted to ask you. Will the Royal Poodle be receiving the best possible care from the Royal Vet?

MELISSA:  So, will the Royal Poodle will be receiving the best possible care from the Royal Vet? Absolutely! 

PRESENTER:  I'd just like to say to viewers watching at home that the picture on your screens of a dog lying on a vet's table is not the Royal Poodle that has broken its foot. And neither is the dog that you see on your screen a poodle. I just want to make that absolutely clear before you start contacting us. (Suddenly excited) Oh, I'm told that our Royal Correspondent outside the Royal Palace has some news for us. Clive, what's the news?

CLIVE:   Well the news I'm hearing is that the Royal Poodle has been examined by the Royal Vet and it is confirmed that the Royal Poodle's foot has not been broken after all. So that's confirmation that the foot of the Royal Poodle has not been broken. 

PRESENTER:  Clive, that's wonderful news! Melissa, what's your reaction to the news that the Royal Poodle has not broken its foot after all? 

MELISSA:  So, what's my reaction to the news that the Royal Poodle has not broken its foot after all? So, this is really fantastic news! Absolutely!  So, I'm sure the Monarch will be thrilled, and, of course, greatly relieved. 

PRESENTER:  This is what I wanted to ask you. Will the Monarch be thrilled, and, of course, greatly relieved that the Royal Poodle has not broken its foot? 

MELISSA: So, will the Monarch be thrilled, and, of course, greatly relieved that the Royal Poodle has not broken its foot? Absolutely!  

PRESENTER:  Thank you, Melissa. And now let's turn to the report from the United Nations that the effects of global warming have been grossly underestimated and that human life on the planet will be extinct in one week's time. Joining us from Parliament is the Secretary of State for the Environment.  Good morning, Secretary of State, thank you being with us. Before we discuss this U.N. report, what's your reaction to the Breaking News that the Royal Poodle's foot was not broken?  

SECRETARY:  Good morning, Michelle. Well, of course, this is fantastic news, and I'm sure that the Monarch and her extended family will be enormously relieved. Going forward I am sure that going forward everyone going forward will do all that they can going forward to prevent such an event from occurring again going forward. Now as for the alarming report on the demise of the human race in the next seven days, if I could just say....

PRESENTER:  We only have a second left. If you could...

SECRETARY:  Well I just want to assure everyone that the Government....

PRESENTER:  Sorry, Secretary of State, I'll have to cut you off, we're right out of time. We have just time to go to our Royal Correspondent outside of the Royal Palace. Clive, what's happening your end? 

CLIVE:  I'm still standing here in front of the Royal Palace, and I can see straight down the Royal Avenue, which is where we believe the Royal Car carrying the Royal Poodle accompanied by the Royal Poodle Handler will drive down, before passing through the Palace Gates and into the Royal Palace. But there is no sign at the moment of the Royal Car. 

PRESENTER:  That's what I wanted to ask you. Is there any sign at the moment of the Royal Car?

CLIVE:  No, I can confirm there's no sign at the  moment of the Royal Car.

PRESENTER:  Thank you, Clive. And thank you to my guest in the studio, the former editor of a leading fashion magazine. 

MELISSA:  So. Thank you. Absolutely! 


       
Theme music over PRESENTER shuffling some papers and MELISSA looking a little lost.



ENDS 





Tuesday 31 December 2019

Ramon Casas - Decadent Young Woman after the Ball


Decadent Young Woman after the Ball
by Ramon Casas 




O, how the beautiful lady in the black dress had danced! Gayly tripping the night fantastic, until Phoebus in golden mantle clad had scaled the wall of the glittering east, and it was the hour to bid her sad 'Adieux'. 

Exhausted now she lies on her sumptuous divan dreaming of the ball and how she had dazzled all with her charm and her dance melodious. 




But her joy at the ball was tinged with her sadness at leaving. And is this not so with us all? Who among us has felt not the sorrow of parting? 

But for the lady in the black dress there will be more balls voluptuous! And more dawns collapsed on her divan in an ecstatic and decadent bliss. 




Sunday 22 December 2019

The Doctor's Appointment




Doctor's surgery. DOCTOR, male, at his desk. Makes an announcement  on speaker)


DOCTOR: Mr Gerald Jones,  Room 6. (Puts down microphone) Right, now I must try and avoid the use of any bad language with Mr Jones. He is a patient, after all, and I'm far too liberal in my use of obscenities. But it isn't easy! The fact is that I find I can express myself comfortably if I use bad language. It's just how I am. But I must try nonetheless to more restrained in my choice of words. (At that moment the surgery door opened and PATIENT, Mr Jones came in.) Ah, Mr er... Please come in, take a seat.

PATIENT: Thank you, doctor.  

DOCTOR: So what's the fucking problem? 

PATIENT: It's my toe, doctor. 

DOCTOR: Your toe? What's wrong with your fucking toe?

PATIENT: I think it could be an ingrowing toenail. 

DOCTOR: Well let's have a look at your toe. (Examines toe) Yes, it's a fucking ingrown toenail all right.

PATIENT: So what can be done, doctor? 

DOCTOR: We'll have to cut it off.

PATIENT: (startled) Cut my toe off?

DOCTOR: No, no, not your fucking toe. Just the fucking bit of the nail that's growing inwards. 

PATIENT: Thank goodness for that! For a moment you had me worried, doctor. 

DOCTOR: So does it hurt?

PATIENT: It does when I knock it. .

DOCTOR: I'll bet it fucking does! Anyway, I'll make you a hospital appointment and we'll get the fucking thing sorted.

PATIENT: How long will it take, doctor, to have the operation? 

DOCTOR: That's a fucking good question. It's difficult to fucking say. You'll just have to patient. That's why you're called fucking patients, after all, eh? (Laughs aloud at his joke) So anyway, you'll hear from us as soon as possible. Now I  can't be fucking fairer than that. 

PATIENT: OK. Thanks a lot, doctor. You've been very helpful. 

DOCTOR: No fucking problem. 

     PATIENT walks to the door, hits his toe on the wall.

PATIENT: Ooh, my toe! (He hops around the room screaming.)

     NURSE comes running in.

NURSE: What's all the fucking noise? 

DOCTOR: Mr er... has hit his fucking toe on the wall. 

NURSE: Come on, I'll help you out. Hold on to my fucking arm.


     NURSE helps PATIENT out of the surgery. 

DOCTOR: (alone - to himself) Well I didn't do very good there. My resolution to no longer use had language didn't get past the first hurdle. I really must try harder. Who's the next patient? Let me see. Reverend Williams. Well, it should be easy to restrain my impulses with a man of the church. (Makes announcement on speaker.) Reverend Williams,  Room 6, please.  (Puts down microphone) Now stay calm. Just relax. Remember what you have to do. (The door opens and REVEREND Williams comes in.) Ah, Reverend, please take a seat. First of all may I apologise for failing to attend church in recent months. Purely a lapse I assure you. Perhaps you'll permit me to make a donation to the fund for the maintenance of the tower. Shall we say twenty pounds? 

REVEREND: Fuck off! Do something about my fucking arthritis, you fucking quack! 

DOCTOR: Right... well if you'd er... care to lie on your back on the trolley and tell me exactly what the fucking problem is and I'll give you a good fucking examination. Now I can't be fucking fairer than that. Well fucking can I?

     (DOCTOR examines REVEREND with professional acumen and at ease with himself. )



ENDS

Sunday 29 September 2019

John Keats - his autograph in his edition of Shakespeare


Autograph of John Keats in his volume of
Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories,
& Tragedies

John Keats by Joseph Severn
1821