Mazeltov Ellen White!

During the first half of the England Women's World Cup Qualifier vs Latvia tonight, striker Ellen White scored to become the all-time leading goalscorer for the Lionesses. 

She was rather thrilled to break this record. The second half is about to start - who knows how many more White may score tonight. In any case, congratulations & celebrations!

 

Don't Cry For Me Charlie Austin!

Derby fans booed QPR star Charlie Austin tonight when he was substituted, perhaps because he celebrated the R's equaliser by miming crocodile tears in recollection of Rangers' iconic play-off victory back in 2014. Once again they landed a killer blow in the final minute to claim victory when Andre Gray blasted the ball into the net to make it 2-1 and take 3rd place in the division on goal difference over Coventry City.  

Clearly a Chanukah miracle. COYRS!

A Chanukiah for Chanukah

This may have been our first Chanukah in Wembley, and this photo is evidence that we actually have used that particular chanukiah. In latter years my mother felt it was too messy and so we got into the habit of using a different one, and that was that. I don't know much else about its story, except that it was made by Leonard Baskin, and that the Lockshin family has a sibling candelabra. It is my favourite chanukiah, and I'm delighted to say it now lives with us. During the pandemic, I have to admit that it has moonlighted as a mask stand, but now the festival is upon us we may focus on its original purpose.

My father looks so happy in this photograph. He used to tell me that this is the darkest time of the year, so we bring light into the world, increasing it each night, to persuade the sun to come back. And each year, back it comes! Even if the story of the miracle of the oil turns out to be a myth, that doesn't stop us from making its essence a reality. We must bring light into the world.  Even if we don't know how long the light we've lit will last, we still must light it.

Chag Chanukah* sameach!

Happy Chanukah to all who celebrate this festival of light, and for all our festivals of light!

* my spelling of choice and upbringing. I read today that someone has counted at least 16 versions. That's apart from the original Hebrew of course.

 

Golly Moses (& Gloryosky) That's Why I'm So Sad

Just heard the news that Stephen Sondheim has died. I feel sad. Others more expert than I will eulogise him. I have loved his work, and it's been with me most of my life. It first caught my ear with Gee Officer Krupke from West Side Story. For me, of course, it was mostly the words (Viz a Little Priest). Am now listening to Into the Woods, and later I think I will singalong to Side by Side by Sondheim.

When someone so eminent dies, the fans have their body of work to enjoy, as they always did. And since Sondheim was 91, there is an almost full spectrum. We are certainly sad that there will be no more, but it's not the same as knowing him.  Of course, the deepest loss is for his family and friends. My condolences to them all. 

I do, however, have one memory to share. In the days when I did theatre photocalls, I was at the Into the Woods shoot. We stood in the front rows of the stalls to take our pictures of the scenes they offered us. Then we packed up our stuff and went back out into the world. I was chatting to someone as I walked up the aisle.  We passed a chap sitting in the back, and I smiled at him. He smiled back, the most charming and brilliant smile. I can still see it in my mind. As we left the theatre my colleague said to me, "do you know who that was?!" So, I am proud to say that I exchanged smiles with Stephen Sondheim. May he rest in peace.

The Guardian obituary.

from the Daily Mail.

Don McLean's Dreidel

 

When I was a kid, American Pie by Don McLean was my favourite song. I could sing all the words. When karaoke came to town I knew just which tune I would name for my turn. Unfortunately, American Pie is over 8 minutes long, and not in a key suited to my voice. So the first time I did karaoke with my friends, it did not go well. In fact, the MC just turned it off in the middle, and asked the next person to step forward. I was mortified. But I learned my lesson. Nowadays I will choose either Me & Julio Down by the Schoolyard, or Karma Chameleon (especially good choice if I am tired or tipsy as basically you only have to sing two words!).

Nu, today on FB a friend referred to a vinyl compilation of hits from the 1970's, and on it I saw a track listing for a song by Don McLean called Dreidel. The lyrics may be found here. It is almost Chanukah, and apparently the author of Vincent also wrote a Chanukah song. Ish. If you're interested in knowing more, I offer the YouTube link of a live performance. Now it's off to find some chocolate coins with innocuous patterns on the foil.

Good Nigel Bad Nigel

Some time ago whilst channel-surfing on Italian TV, I noticed a sports announcer who, to me, was clearly the baby brother of the UK celebrity Nigel Farage. We had no idea of his name, and thus dubbed him "Good Nigel" (we are all entitled to our opinions, and one of mine is that Farage, at least in his public persona, for reasons ranging from his admiration of Enoch Powell and founding of the UKIP party to antisemitic comments he has made, is someone whose beliefs and politics are bad for the UK).

The other day L informed me that the channel, Italia Uno, was revamping its programming. Apparently Good Nigel's show has been dropped from the schedule. I am sorry, and hope he reappears soon in another journalistic forum. Good Nigel has often cheered me up during these pandemic days.

NB this news and a bit of research for this post encouraged me to find out his real name, which is Angiolo Radice. And he seems to have made the headlines in the past for a comment about Mister Conte that he made when he thought his mike had been turned off. Oooooops!

Defender of Modena

The other day I was doing a bit of procrastinating, i.e., family genealogy research when I should've been doing something less interesting, and wrote a message to a SIG asking for advice. One of the responses I received was from a person who, before listing myriad articles they had written that were all unavailable to me, introduced themselves thus:

"Hello Mr F ...

Having consulted your blog, I presume that you mean that you are located in Modena, Italy, and not Modena, New York or Modena, Missouri, both in the United States of America. However, it would have been helpful if you would have indicated which; it is always best to think globally."

After thanking him politely for his response, I could not help but add a PS:

With a territory inhabited since the Iron Age, as a place defended by the father of Julius Caesar's assassin Brutus against a siege by Pompey, with a cathedral whose foundation stone was laid in 1099, and whose university was founded in 1175; not to mention being the home of balsamic vinegar, Luciano Pavarotti and Ferrari, do forgive me if I consider that Modena in Italy would come to mind first from a global perspective rather than the Modenas of NY, WI, IL, PA, UT, MO or the Eastern Cape of South Africa.

It was the exhortation to think globally that pushed me over the edge. I am a proud Modenese!

It's Not Banter It Is Racist

Hot on the heels of the resignation of the chairman of Yorkshire County Cricket Club following the investigation of racist behaviour at the club, this morning's football news headlines include video footage of West Ham supporters verbally abusing a Chasidic Jew on a flight to Belgium before a European cup-tie. 

There is a song about circumcision that is often chanted by so-called fans of teams playing against Tottenham, a team considered to have a particularly large fan-base in the Jewish community. The video today shows a man dressed in traditional Chasidic fashion making his way down the aisle of an airplane. The song can be heard as he passes by men who are singing it. Many are smiling and laughing, and some appear to be filming the incident. There is no reason to think this man is a fan of any football team, including Spurs. He is clearly being targeted for being a Jew. Some may say this singing is typical football banter. Even if you think that, rather than it being inherently racist, in this moment it was clearly a racist act.

A few years ago I was on a Metropolitan Line train around 2 pm on a Saturday. The carriage was full of West Ham fans on their way to a match. That was the first time I heard the song. On the one hand, it sounded innocuous - a bunch of grown men singing, "we'll be running round Tottenham with our willies hanging out, singing I've got a foreskin I've got a foreskin you ain't!" But typing these words cannot share the menace in those voices, nor the mean hard looks on their faces as they belted out their chorus of hate. Opposite me, a parent with a child sporting a Hammers replica shirt put a protective arm around their loved one. It was scary.

A spokesperson for the club has stated, "West Ham United is appalled by the contents of the video circulating on social media and condemn the behaviour of the individuals involved." They said that if they identify individuals involved, they will receive an indefinite ban from the club. Meanwhile, the video appears to have been removed from Twitter.

The Queen's Budgerigars

 

There are rather a lot of stories at the moment about Queen Elizabeth II being put on light duties and ordered to rest. Is this a sign of the beginning of the end of an era? There are very few people currently alive who predate the Queen (who turned 95 earlier this year), and it feels strange if not impossible to even imagine a world in which she is no longer present. 

Of all that I've read so far, the comment that stands out for me is by Hugo Vickers, as noted in the Guardian today by Caroline Davies. Davies writes that the Covid pandemic has forced the Queen to turn to less tiring virtual engagements, and quotes the Royal historian as saying "she has taken to Zoom like a prawn into aspic."

If that doesn't whet your appetite, Vickers continues to share a positive perspective, telling us that the Queen's life at Windsor is, "easier than Buckingham Palace. She can operate from there perfectly well and she has got space to get some fresh air. And she has got her budgerigars there. I haven't seen them, but I have heard them. There's even a budgerigar keeper. And I think she really enjoys spending some time with them."

Thank goodness for budgies, eh?!