Remember

I'd have had him if I'd spotted him.

He's wayward and slapdash and over-credulous, but always good to read. I was really sad when he died - and the manner of his death, a stroke leaving him unable to speak for about a year beforehand, was terrible. He was a lovely speaker.

I have just read a biography of Robert Graves in which he is listed as a lecturer in the school Graves set up of Deya. It says there that he was gullible, but that no one minded because he was such a nice bloke.

His own autobiography, Dreaming to Some Purpose is worth reading.

His work also shows how carelessly journalists can go about their work: I  have read a review of one of his books in which it is said that a character only ever cleans himself by rubbing against a stone wall, where the reference really is to Diogenes, the ancient Greek who lived in a barrel, and yes, was supposed to rub against stone walls in lieu of washing. There are others, including Lynn Barber saying how he used a glass-bottomed mug to spy of the panties of the Japanese schoolgirls he was teaching, where he was really trying to get them to stop them flashing him, not to see them - a version of the glasses with mirrors thing that teachers were supposed to have.

Sorry, gone on a bit: but I liked him.

Robert Fordyce Aickman (27 June 1914 – 26 February 1981) was an English conservationist and writer of fiction and non fiction. As a conservationist, he is notable for co-founding the Inland Waterways Association, a group which has preserved from destruction and restored England's inland canal system. As a writer, he is best known for his supernatural fiction, which he described as "strange stories".

The writer of his obituary in The Times, as quoted by Mike Ashley, said, "... his most outstanding and lasting achievement was as a writer of what he himself like to call 'strange tales.' He brought to these his immense knowledge of the occult, psychological insights and a richness of background and characterisation which rank his stories with those of M.R. James and Walter de la Mare."

With Elizabeth Jane Howard:




If you see one of his collections, grab it: his stories are great.

Oh! So that's where you wander off to...

Clarissa Theresa Philomena Aileen Mary Josephine Agnes Elsie Trilby Louise Esmerelda Dickson Wright (24 June 1947 – 15 March 2014) was an English celebrity chef, television personality, writer, businesswoman, and former barrister.[ (She claimed to be the youngest person to be called to the Bar at the time). She was best known as one of the Two Fat Ladies, with Jennifer Paterson, in the television cooking programme. She was an accredited cricket umpire and one of only two women to become a Guild Butcher.

Born Joan Mildred Summerfield in Brixton, London, the only child of variety performers Norman Field (né Summerfield) and Nina Norre, she started her theatrical career in 1931 as a dancer. She used the stage name Jean Carr when she appeared as a chorus girl in the Windmill Theatre in London. She signed to Gainsborough Pictures during the Second World War. The turning point in her career came when she was given a dramatic part in 1945 film Fanny by Gaslight. She appeared in several British films during the 1940s and 1950s before turning to television probably best remembered for her role as Queen Elizabeth I in the TV historical adventure series Sir Francis Drake (TV series) filmed in 1961-62.

As a child, my son wanted to watch Sinbad,Jason and Titans almost on a daily basis. Therefore I have seen each countless times. I can see the attraction though...😄

I love Clash of the Titans and Jason and the Argonauts. I have them on dvd but even watch them every time they are on tv, which usually is every Christmas.