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Thank you, my friends - as Desmond Carrington might say. As in previous years, I am touched by your thoughtful messages.
My silence here till Jean-Amadou Tigana's birthday is not down to forgetfulness or indifference, nor even a cunning plan to pay tribute to Tigana's role in crafting that late goal in 1984. Seven days ago I was struck by a debilitating illness, a bout of some kind of influenza perhaps; and perhaps it is only today that I can claim to be on the sliproad approaching the highway to recovery. Alas, not only did I miss out on the possible fun of such a rare bout of hot weather, but even Bloomsday was wiped out for me.
Possible positive side-effects of this:
- for the last 2 days I have been able to sit in front of Wimbledon live and not feel guilty that I was not doing anything more useful (though in truth few games have held my attention so far; the blessed return of Barry Davies, commentating on Andrew Murray like he'd never Retired, has been the main thrill);
- simultaneously, getting over halfway through David Thomson's The Whole Equation without feeling that I ought to be reading a more purposeful book (perhaps it is DT, aptly with his ambivalence to the screen, who has prevented my attention landing more squarely on the tennis);
- as I have barely eaten anything for the the last few days, I am fondly hoping that I will emerge from the experience thinner. Goodness knows, too, when I last went this long without alcohol or coffee. You see, this could all be the basis of a healthier life.
I will probably have to abandon it as soon as possible.
That is an unusually good picture of Lloyd Cole upthread - someone should send it to him: it might cheer him up.
Monkey: yes, that was a fine morning in Dalkey. I remember eating some kind of nouvelle cuisine banana split - truly, the fruit of the Celtic Tiger - outside while you looked on in doubt, and we discussed (what else?) geezers while the same folk in Edwardian dress came and went down the road.
I heard yesterday that Clijsters will never recover the feeling in her wrist! So, she has gone to Great Ormond Street to give something back - for the kiddies, la. Heart of gold.
Madchen's photo deserves special mention: I don't think I have ever seen the authentic pine fox till now.
Thank you all again.
― the pinefox, Thursday, 23 June 2005 09:12 (eighteen years ago) link
eleven months pass...
I received a present three days ago, PF, and the language in it immediately provoked the memory of two people I know who would gladly drown, thrashing, in the sumptuous stuffiness of its elocution -
Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland, by Samuel Johnson - and I will lend it to you later on. Happy birthday!
― Tracey Hand (tracerhand), Tuesday, 20 June 2006 13:45 (seventeen years ago) link