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Update.
I was given a clean(ish) bill of health by the
consultant at the Royal Free last week. He assured me
that the complaints from which I suffered were totally
age-related and not indicative of any more serious problem
requiring intervention. That's of the "good news, bad news"
variety. I mean: how the hell do you avoid getting
older?
Cameron -v- Corbyn.
10 Rounds.
Recently, having to go to
hospital for in-patient treatment of uncertain duration, I
packed a travel bag with clothing, toiletries, and medicinal
necessaries, and then added a book plucked at random from my
shelves, thinking that the uncertainty of its contents (as
it was protected by an opaque paper cover) would help
relieve the boredom of incarceration.
It turned out to be a volume
in the Sportsman's Book Club, originally published in 1938, entitled
Shake Hands and Come Out Fighting by L.A.G. Strong.
I had purchased it second hand many years ago simply because
the author was a novelist whose work I really enjoyed at the
time. But I had never read it. My feelings about
boxing are ambivalent. On the one hand I have always
enjoyed a contest between skilful boxers, ever since the
days, more than seventy years ago, when I used to listen to
fights broadcast on our old family wireless set, in the
company of my father, a keen follower of the sport.
On the other hand I deplore any type of
activity that encourages the baser instincts and involves
any form of mental or physical cruelty. Nevertheless I
can see the merit in having a well-protected outlet for
aggression, and I accept that there are more serious
injuries in other forms of sport than in boxing.
And I was interested in a proposition of
Strong's that perhaps this
release of aggression may be of benefit. It then occurred to
me that this might be put to good practical use, if
the people who control the destiny of the rest of humanity
can be persuaded to engage in a boxing match between
themselves rather than involve others in settling their
disputes.
So . . . how about 10 rounds in the "square
ring", David Cameron and Jeremy Corbyn? (You may
replace those names with others of your choosing.
[Trump and Clinton?] Could make an interesting parlour
game.)
Health Champion Project
My membership is now official and a number
of activities have been planned for the coming weeks, on
which I shall report in these columns. Not because I
am boastful of my own participation, but because I am
hopeful that the project may extend to other geographical
areas, and the support of others is valuable.
Friends old and new . . .
and family.
Utter, absolute heartache at the death
of a dear friend's daughter. This was not
altogether unexpected and I'm respecting the family's wish
not to divulge too much at this stage. But I have
introduced it here because it involves an inexplicable (to
me - a noted sceptical secularist) experience. I awoke
at 3.20 am and visited the bathroom. This is a fairly
normal thing for me. What was not normal was my
inability to return to sleep because my mind was engaged in
composing a eulogy to my friend's daughter. She died at
around 3.30 am. I am not concerned with any theories
as to why this should have happened, but pass it on simply
for interest.
Metaphors and Matzo Balls.
[Click to enlarge]
The book is with the printers! I
expect it to be available via Amazon in the next week or
two. Price is projected at US$12.00 or (approximately)
£8.00. ISBN numbers are
ISBN10-1523823674
and
ISBN13- 9781523823673
To the readers of this blog, may peace
and joy be with you
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