Newsletter December 2006

Xmas is nearly here and the Arts Clinic has been doing some rather unusual seasonal counselling –

I have been thinking about my favourite music and books this year. There have been some great works from women that I have enjoyed: music from Camille, Madeleine Peyroux, Lili Allan, a great come back album from Francoise Hardy "Tant De Belle Choses", and the fantastic TV debut of Leona on X Factor. I am soooo tired of young women dressed like hookers, thrusting their front bottoms, gyrating their back bottoms, and humping the camera whilst yodelling incoherently at me and I am well relieved to find some genuine talent at last. Leona is a dream of an artist; she has the vocal ability, singing technique, emotive capacity, and stage presence of someone way beyond her current experience and years. I am constantly amazed by her performances. I love the way her bottom lip wobbles when she hits those soft dark notes. This is real feminine sensuality not the fake sexual promises that have become de rigueur nowadays. My best reads have been from women too: ‘Suite Francaise’ by Irene Nemirovsky and ‘Virgin Earth’ by Philippa Gregory.

A few chaps have given me pleasure this year – Bob Dylan with ‘Modern Times’ (why is that man so damn sexy?) and Yusuf - Cat Stevens with ‘An Other Cup’ his voice is so warm and loving, just like the man.

My Man Of The Year has to be Kofi Annan, the outgoing UN Secretary General. In a recent interview he stated that he believed that the situation in Iraq was much worse than the civil wars in other Middle East areas. He agreed with the Iraqis who thought that their lives were worse than before the 2003 illegal invasion. UN officials estimate nearly 200 people are killed every day in Iraq. We will miss having a man of such integrity as Kofu Annan in this pivotal world position.

My two Not Favourite Men remain President Bush and King Bliar, who met to admit what we have known all along – that their pre-emptive war policy is not working. Perhaps if they had tried listening first…..

But there is some hope for those who yearn for Peas on Earth this Xmas. An unusual initiative caught my attention:
http://www.globalorgasm.org/

This is something everybody can do, either as a couple, in a group or on your own and really feel they have made a positive contribution!

But the girls still have the edge for me in 2006. The ones who have given me most joy are my beautiful granddaughters Ella and Dilys Mae and their lovely mums, Alice and Grace. I wish them and all the other ladies in the world so much happiness, courage, strength of mind, wisdom, fortitude, integrity, patience and compassion… They will certainly need it in the future. Let’s hear it for the girls!

And to bring in the New Year

Spot the 60’s celebrities at the famous London nightclub, The Ad Lib –

Keith Richard, Anita Pallenburg, Brian Jones, George Harrison, Jeff Beck, Patti Boyd, Scott Walker, Mr and Mrs Ringo Starr, Alan Price, John Lennon, Eric Burden, Keith Moon, Charlie Watts, Mick Jagger, Marianne Faithful, P J Proby, Zoot Money, Georgie Fame, Paul McCartney, and Mystery Girl…..