As I stood in the
garden at half past five this morning shivering as the puppies "did
their thing" I found myself wondering. As they are getting older they
are quite capable of going into the garden on their own to tiddle. Why do they
insist that I go with them? They aren't happy if I don't go with them; if I
don't, they both come back to find me.
After what seemed to be an age, eventually they both found the
exact spot on which to tiddle, and I took them up to bother “er indoors TM”
, then
made toast.
After
yesterday's debacle of Netflix's "Physical 100" I've started
re-watching "Downton Abbey". The mansion that was used for Downton Abbey is
the same one that was used for Totleigh Towers in the 1990s version of "Jeeves
and Wooster", and I keep expecting to see Hugh Lawrie bumbling round
the corner to utter a chirpy "What-ho". And I'd forgotten just
what a nasty bunch most of the servants in Downton Abbey were.
I
also found myself wondering just how long shows like this will work. Who has
servants these days? How can anyone relate to that lifestyle? And... the main
thread of the show's plot is much the same as that in another favourite of
mine; “Price and Prejudice”, and is based on an antiquated
law
that has long since died. Basically the problem faced by the denizens of
Downton Abbey (and by those of Longbourne in “Pride and Prejudice”) is
that the ownership of the mansion, stately home or palace follows the male line
of inheritance. If the owner of such a property dies with no sons, then the
whole lot goes to the oldest and closest male cousin; no matter how distant. And
so if the male owner dies with no direct male descendants, his wife and
daughters may well find themselves homeless, or dependent on the charity of a
very distant relative. This is rather laughable in today's society but was a
serious consideration back in the day.
With
this in mind, look at Shakespeare's
plays, the plots of many of which hinge on an understanding of the society of
the times (which is why so few people understand what the Bard was on about).
Or look at Chaucer wittering on about nun's priests. (What's one of those?)
I can remember in Latin classes at school having to have several lessons in
ancient history before any of the stories of Virgil or Pliny made any sense at
all.
For
fiction to work, it has to be in a setting to which you can relate, and most
people can only relate to the society in which they live. Look at how the
society portrayed in the original Star Trek (made in the 1960s) is so
different to that of the new Treks (made far more recently) as the
societies making the shows changed.
Once
I'd scraped the ice from my car I set off up Brookfield Road, and took a little
diversion to cap some jewels (it's a Munzee thing) before heading up the
motorway to work. As I drove the pundits on the radio were interviewing Ozzy
Osbourne who said he was stopping touring due to health issues, but said that a
ballet inspired by Black Sabbath is in production. Heavy metal ballet, eh?
And
apparently John Cleese is bringing back Fawlty
Towers.
I wonder how it will pan out? I'm reminded of how Red Dwarf was brought
back
after a hiatus of many years when on 13 April 2009 I wrote “…I was vaguely
disappointed. I can’t help but think that over eight seasons, the whole premise
of the show had been done to death. Last night’s special was obviously just
trying to milk more money out of a tired formula. Whilst it was watchable, it reminded me of the latest movie version of
the Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy. “Red
Dwarf – Back To Earth” was OK, but I’d seen it all before. There
was nothing new or original about the thing - it was just yet another tired
re-make.”
Am
I being cynical in thinking that a Fawlty Towers re-boot will just be more of
the same?
There
was also a lot of talk about how Microsoft are launching their AI... everyone
has one these days. Would I want one? I'm quite happy with Alexa.
I
got to work and did my thing... from a seated position. The new shoes are far
better than the old ones, but my feet were still very painful. I think I might
be developing flat feet so I've sent to Amazon
to get orthotic insoles for the new shoes. Alexa says they will arrive
tomorrow.
“er indoors TM” boiled up a very good bit of
dinner which we scoffed whilst watching “Ghosts” and drinking a rather grim
bottle of “Cotes du Rhone”. Not that I’ve much experience (!) but
you have to go a long way to beat the Sainsbury’s cheapo wines…
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