Movie: Sunday Bloody Sunday (1971)

I was in my early twenties when this film came out and I went to see it several times. 

For a basically closeted gay person (which most of us were in 1971 - you had your friends but in that era the wrong person "finding out" could mean the loss of your job, housing or family) this movie, where being gay was simply a fact, not a source of drama, was wonderful.

I wondered if I would find the film dated after all these years but I didn't, not in the least.  But I also wonder how a young person coming to the film for the first time now would react - would they find it had any interest for them or any relation to their life.  To me there was much that was universal but I'm an old fart now and what to me is full of significance may mean nothing to the young.

I loved that this film was so very visual - so much was conveyed with no dialogue or comment.  A quick smile or a wine glass lifted slightly in a silent salute speaks volumes. 

As so often in British productions every character, no matter how short the screen time, felt real and had a narrative purpose.  No filler anywhere.

Glenda Jackson and Peter Finch.  Well, they're Glenda Jackson and Peter Finch.

I often hear that there's a difference between being aggressive and being assertive.


That somehow that means I cannot get annoyed with assertive people and their behaviour.


But you know what,

assertive people are every bit as obnoxious as aggressive people.

I have no sympathy for people who take multiple trips abroad each year and then whine about not having money.

Autumnal Equinox

Welcome Autumn.


Welcome, welcome.

I think that one valuable thing that is gone from our modern world is any sense of personal shame.

Minimalism

I have been a minimalist for many years now.  During the early months of my major downsizing of possessions there were two things that became very clear to me.


1) When you think of buying something new, before you make that purchase it is a good idea to think of how you can someday get rid of it.


2) Valuable things are much harder to get rid of than ordinary things.  If it is truly valuable you tend to feel obligated to sell it for money rather than just giving it away or tossing it.  And selling something depends on finding someone who is willing to buy it.  


There were times when I had so many things that I wanted gone that I consciously gave things, that I knew were worth a lot more than they would ever give me,  to a consignment business because my need to be rid of things was more powerful than my need to get every penny I could for them.
Once there were a few pieces of sterling silver that I simply put in a plastic bag and handed to Goodwill because I simply could not face trying to sell them and I just wanted them out of my life.

Food

Sometimes a food item you really liked is ruined because the restaurant/store/supplier decides to make it more "cheaply".


Sometimes it's ruined because they decide to make it "better".