Alan Bennet, Dog Fleas and Jazz

It is November the 1st and, as promised, here I am writing the monthly blog for The Walsham Penners.

The past few weeks have flown by in a haze, not unlike the fuzz experienced the morning after a 1940s, Pimms party many, many, years ago! (If you hate me and I'm not reading the signs, simply pour me a glass of this Satan's blood and I'll get the message!)

It is a pity however that this particular haze wasn't initiated through an overload of jazz, or the joviality of a social function-purely through the necessities of being a working mother, in a new job, who recently completed a form where she had to tick the next 'age-range' box along! It may relieve  you to know, however, that as the wrinkles and girth of my thighs increases, so too does my cynicism! I do actually think I am the off-spring of Hilary, in Alan Bennett's 'The Old Country', a play I was fortunate to see at The Maddermartket Theatre recently. (Nice lead in, Hayey, I hear you say!)

This, I'm shame-faced to say, is the first Alan Bennett play I have ever seen, and WOW what an initiation. The days of The Cold War, defectors and double agents may be resigned to history and James Bond, but the issues of treachery and deception are ever relevant, whether on a global scale or in the close quarters of home! The debates that this play could give rise to are numerous: Englishness, the British social system/state, materialism, capitalism versus spiritual wealth, minimalism, family versus the individual....discussions too numerous to debate here, but any comments on these are most welcome! Anyway, I'd thoroughly recommend seeing this play if you get the chance, the bombasting, cynical wit  and black humour was, quite frankly... 'right up my street'! I love you, Alan!

The month may have been fraught with snot, projectile vomit, paint sliding from my bathroom walls, and dog fleas, but it hasn't been entirely without success either! Two of our fabulous members recently entered the 'Norwich Theatre's Ghost Story Comp' (both entries were brilliant!) and I'm ecstatic to announce that Bob came 2nd!!!!! This was his first short story entry, so huge congratulations to him!! I'm hoping that both Bob and Patsy will post their entries below for you all to enjoy. Comments greatly appreciated.

I made the huge mistake earlier this month of writing a short story for a competition entry (months in advance)waiting, and waiting, for the deadline to approach so that I could email my creation, only to find, 24 hours before closing, that it was postal entries only!!!!! Please don't fall into my trap and CHECK THE FINE PRINT!!! (Not quite sure why I waited??? Some befuddled logic I'm sure!!)

I'd like to sign off by warning you that we are working on our group anthology which will (hopefully) be published sometime in the new year! Yes, you may queue outside our meeting room to ensure you get a copy!

Please leave me some comments on anything I've said, or post here if there's anything you'd like to share-please...I'm so lonely!!!

H xxxx

The Impossible State

 

Have just finished reading an intriguing book entiled The Impossible State by Victor Cha. Prior to reading this book, I knew next to nothing about North Korea apart from the usual media treatment of the country which inevitably portrays the country in a bad light.

 

Victor Cha is the former Director for Asian Affairs at the National Security Council. During his role as an adviser he spent some time in Pyongyang so is in a very good position to comment on that country. He treats the subject objectively giving us both the good and bad points.

 

Of course there are plenty of bad points, such as the political prisoners, low wages, and no real individual thought process. Everybody is expected to treat the leaders of the country ( the Kim Dynasty) with the utmost reverence. It is fair to say that who ever the leader is, is worshiped like a god.

 

Obviously the fact that North korea possess nuclear weapons makes it a state that other countries tread very carefuly around, and allows it to get away with it's digressions. Victor Cha argues that the only way to stop this cycle of threat and appeasement, is for unification of the two countries. A costly. but ultimeately necessary excercise.

 

Victor Cha states that given the oppertunity the Korean people would flourish , once the politics have gone.

 

I enjoyed reading the book, which gave a fascinating and objective view of a little known state.