Spotlight on Teatre Grec Piglet

Looking through some old pics I found this one of Piglet in Barcelona in 2015 when we visited the Teatre Grec amphitheatre. In fact, it's not very old. It was built in 1929 for the Barcelona International Exposition. It fell out of use for a while but these days it is the focal point of the summer GREC Festival. The place was completely empty on the crisp December day we visited. Piglet was thus able to be the focal point of the photo!

Vale Raymond Briggs

The books of Raymond Briggs, who died yesterday at the age of 88, have always taken pride of place on the bookshelves of my home. Although most obituaries will probably identify him first and foremost as the author of "The Snowman", my heart was captured by "Fungus the Bogeyman". Thus it was that I dragged my 6-year-old sibling to the Puffin Exhibition, to stand in a queue to say hello to Mr Briggs and get my copy signed.

Somehow, the books that followed really expressed my youthful perspective on the world, particularly during the Cold War when there seemed to be a real prospect of nuclear disaster. "Where the Wind Blows" was utterly depressing and terrifying, but made total sense:

and his drawings for "The Tin-Pot Foreign General and the Old Iron Woman", about the Falklands War, had large and powerful illustrations, including possibly the most pornographic depiction of Margaret Thatcher I've ever seen!

The work of Raymond Briggs has always been part of my life, and I hope always will be. I am grateful for his talent, and sorry for his passing. May he rest in peace. 

NB The Times notes that:

"He never had children and showed no sign of even liking them. When he was considered for the role of children's laureate he turned it down and left the job to Quentin Blake. "I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole," he said. "I don't want to go to schools and give talks on children's books. I don't actually know anything much about children. I try to avoid them whenever possible."

Guardian obit.

BBC obit.

The Times obit.

Tributes from the Independent.

 

Summer Joy

Just found this happy happy photo taken on holiday in Cornwall with friends a few years ago and wanted to share the joy. Hoping you may find something to smile about today!

Hopelessly Devoted to Dame Olivia

 

This news makes me really sad. As always, this is not a person I've ever met, but her music has been a part of my life for nearly 50 years. Dame Olivia Newton-John has died of cancer at the age of 73. Her voice and songs will continue to soothe my soul, but those who knew and loved her have lost their dear one. I am sad for them. I am sad she died relatively young. I am sad she won't sing any new songs. And I am grateful for the joy she has given me. May she rest in peace.

Her life in pictures from the Guardian.

Guardian obit. & here.

BBC obit.

Daily Mail report (cribbed from Chloe Lattanzi's Insta)

More from the Mail!

Link to the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre.