It's traditional for the elderly to impart some of their experience, insight and wisdom. At the age of 36, this probably shows quite how far I have to go... :)
In the arts, it's much easier to be nasty than to be nice.
Just because I can write, it doesn't make me a writer.
There's usually time for another drink.
The only one of my top five movies I can name with unshakeable certainty is Mary Poppins. Does this mean it's my favourite film?
Exercise rarely feels as bad as you feared it would.
Maureen Lipman was wrong. Sometimes you should just shut up.
Pop is not just business, it's art.
It might have sounded profound, but you were probably just drunk at the time.
There's nothing quite like the stage.
Most people say they care about the environment far more than they're actually prepared to do enough about it. Me included.
Saying yes can be scary. I still haven't worked out how to get it right.
I far prefer female vocalists to male ones.
I'm a romantic at heart - which could be why I'm so reluctant to risk it.
It's difficult not to let people down. But try not to make a habit of it.
Smiles make you feel better, especially if they're your own.
You never truly know how loved you are. There's always that little bit more hiding down the back of the sofa.
Yellow cars are surprisingly few and far between. Appreciate them when you can. Sometimes they come with two legs rather than four wheels.
Stressful situations exist for sure, but how you react to them is up to you.
Life without the familiar can be more frightening than death.
What's the point of having money if you can't share it around? A lesson for individuals and governments alike.
If Jed Bartlett had really been President, we'd still be in this mess.
Fiction is more likely to make me cry than real life. Should this be cause for concern?
Politics is broken. But was it ever really working?
Whatever you think you know today, in five years you'll realise just how naive you were. This never changes.
I'm quite happy to be proved wrong.
Showing posts with label birthday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label birthday. Show all posts
20.5.08
18.6.07
Baby shower
Welcome to the world Luca Sam Wilding, one week old today.
Dearest Luca,
I'd like to think that at some point in the distant future, should the technology still exist in this primitive form, you'll search for your name and find this message. If so, hello from 2007 and a few random thoughts brought about by your arrival in the world.
Firstly, know that your birth was one of the happiest days ever, not just for your mum and dad, but for all your uncles, aunties, grandparents, greats grandparents, great uncles, great aunties, and even some people you've probably never met.
You may have heard this previously, but while we were waiting for you there was some controversy about your name.
I realise you think of yourself as Luca, and indeed that's what your birth certificate says but as far as all your uncles are concerned, your true name is Thor. We almost had your daddy on board but, sensible man that he is, he gave into your mother.
Indomitable woman, that one. Little firecracker. Goes with the hair. Not fierce, as such, but definitely not one to be crossed. Remember that when you're weighing up just how much you can get away with.
In spite of the disagreement over your name, your folks are two of my favourite people in the world and you should listen to them because they are kind, clever, sensitive, wise and fun.
On your father's side, at least, you've become part of one of the most wonderful, loving, intelligent families in existence.
It was my honour and pleasure to grow up with Auntie Frances, Uncle Joseph and your father, and to have your grandmother as a second mummy, even though my own family was (and still is) perfectly wonderful and all I could hope for. You'll doubtless have heard stories by the time you read this - some of them, hopefully, about What the Dragon.
And your Uncle Hugh, well, he's a very dear friend, and I'm sure he'll teach you all the things your parents don't want you to know.
I'm afraid I don't know your mummy's family terribly well, but they helped make her who she is, and that should speak for itself.
I also think it's important for you to know just a few of the people with whom you share your birthday.
Ben Jonson
Julia Margaret Cameron
John Constable
Max Shreck
Jackie Stewart
Vince Lombardi
Jacques Cousteau
Hugh Laurie
and (my personal favourite) Gene Wilder
(Had you been born exactly one calendar month later, you would have shared your birthday with Suzanne Vega. If, by some small wonder, you've got any appreciation for the music of the 1980s, you may come to find this as funny and ironic as I - and presumably your parents - do).
Most of these names will probably mean nothing to you at first, but hopefully you'll want to find out. They're all important or significant in their own way. I could provide links to them all for you, but that would make it too easy. :)
Because if there's one thing I hope to teach you, it's this: keep asking questions, and only stop when you get an answer you understand and accept. Then find something else to ask about. It's the best way for you to learn and a good way of making other people respect you.
And before I sign off please join me in welcoming another little person to the world, a Swedish girl by the name of Astrid Barrett, born to some other friends of mine just a couple of weeks before you. Maybe the two of you will never meet, or maybe you'll fall in love. Please understand that I'm projecting a couple of decades into the future here, and her father won't appreciate me saying this, but I'm sure you could do much worse. :)
Finally, whatever life holds, Luca, please know that you are, always have been and always will be loved.
Forever,
Your Uncle Ben
Dearest Luca,
I'd like to think that at some point in the distant future, should the technology still exist in this primitive form, you'll search for your name and find this message. If so, hello from 2007 and a few random thoughts brought about by your arrival in the world.
Firstly, know that your birth was one of the happiest days ever, not just for your mum and dad, but for all your uncles, aunties, grandparents, greats grandparents, great uncles, great aunties, and even some people you've probably never met.
You may have heard this previously, but while we were waiting for you there was some controversy about your name.
I realise you think of yourself as Luca, and indeed that's what your birth certificate says but as far as all your uncles are concerned, your true name is Thor. We almost had your daddy on board but, sensible man that he is, he gave into your mother.
Indomitable woman, that one. Little firecracker. Goes with the hair. Not fierce, as such, but definitely not one to be crossed. Remember that when you're weighing up just how much you can get away with.
In spite of the disagreement over your name, your folks are two of my favourite people in the world and you should listen to them because they are kind, clever, sensitive, wise and fun.
On your father's side, at least, you've become part of one of the most wonderful, loving, intelligent families in existence.
It was my honour and pleasure to grow up with Auntie Frances, Uncle Joseph and your father, and to have your grandmother as a second mummy, even though my own family was (and still is) perfectly wonderful and all I could hope for. You'll doubtless have heard stories by the time you read this - some of them, hopefully, about What the Dragon.
And your Uncle Hugh, well, he's a very dear friend, and I'm sure he'll teach you all the things your parents don't want you to know.
I'm afraid I don't know your mummy's family terribly well, but they helped make her who she is, and that should speak for itself.
I also think it's important for you to know just a few of the people with whom you share your birthday.
Ben Jonson
Julia Margaret Cameron
John Constable
Max Shreck
Jackie Stewart
Vince Lombardi
Jacques Cousteau
Hugh Laurie
and (my personal favourite) Gene Wilder
(Had you been born exactly one calendar month later, you would have shared your birthday with Suzanne Vega. If, by some small wonder, you've got any appreciation for the music of the 1980s, you may come to find this as funny and ironic as I - and presumably your parents - do).
Most of these names will probably mean nothing to you at first, but hopefully you'll want to find out. They're all important or significant in their own way. I could provide links to them all for you, but that would make it too easy. :)
Because if there's one thing I hope to teach you, it's this: keep asking questions, and only stop when you get an answer you understand and accept. Then find something else to ask about. It's the best way for you to learn and a good way of making other people respect you.
And before I sign off please join me in welcoming another little person to the world, a Swedish girl by the name of Astrid Barrett, born to some other friends of mine just a couple of weeks before you. Maybe the two of you will never meet, or maybe you'll fall in love. Please understand that I'm projecting a couple of decades into the future here, and her father won't appreciate me saying this, but I'm sure you could do much worse. :)
Finally, whatever life holds, Luca, please know that you are, always have been and always will be loved.
Forever,
Your Uncle Ben
20.5.07
Turning Japanese
More on my swiftly developing career as the BBC News website's voice of east Asia. In much demand (or possibly just available) following the critically acclaimed performances of "Thai lorry driver" and the classic "Second Japanese panda fan", as well as a misguided turn as "Filipino karaoke enthusiast" I'm in danger of becoming typecast, having just completed the role of "Japanese paramedic". This is my second son of Nippon in a row. I suppose it's a problem all successful artistes face, yet there are so many more countries to which I have still to lend my voice.
This time the links should work.
Oh, and happy birthday Busta, Bronson and Cher...
This time the links should work.
Oh, and happy birthday Busta, Bronson and Cher...
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