On location with Amy, Vijay and Vikram

Sneak preview for Tamil film fans from location shooting of Thaandavam.

On location in London filming Thaandavam – Amy Jackson, director AL Vijay and Vikram.

It may not be as lavish as Cleopatra – but there they are – Manx-born Amy Jackson on a Thames-side bench with Tamil star Vikram. That’s film director AL Vijay in the middle, speaking quietly to them. (He always speaks quietly.)

If you look very very carefully, you might be able to tell that Amy has

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Invitations are not always welcome

Some invitations are more welcome than others.

One lump or two?

Some of these may be familiar.

* Just step forward sir and raise your arms out either side

Change (Never doubt…)

The best statement on change I’ve seen was on Santa Monica beach in California.

No. It wasn’t this…

Even Marilyn Monroe did the beach towel dance getting changed on the beach.

It was this…

Bread and Wellies

For your entertainment and enlightenment, check these out.

1. The Adventures of an Unfit Mother.

It’s up for a big British blogging award. It’s great fun – lighthearted and witty and warm. And you can help transport Emma, who writes it, all the way from little Glenavy village in County Antrim, north east of Ireland, all the way to Big London for the finals of the 2012 MAD (Mum and Dad) Blog Awards. All you have to do is go here and vote for Adventures of an Unfit Mother in the MAD Family Life Category. I did it and immediately my hair looked more glossy, my stride longer and my teeth more sparkling. Why don’t you try it? (Hair toss. Smile. Gleam.)

2. Bread

Jonathan Kent – using his loaf to accomplish a much needed facelift.

You think you know about bread? Ha! Think again

And then finally, the Obituarist happened…

In a shock development, The Obituarist has now been published as an ebook.

You can download it from Smashwords here or from Amazon here and the cover looks like this…

I fiddled around with various design packages until the incomparable Clem said: “Here, wait a minute. What if I just do this, and then this and then… Ta Dah!” See him? See computers? And guitars. And keyboards. Smashing.

At the moment The Obituarist can be downloaded (from here)  for various devices, including kindles, or just your normal computer. But it’s not on Amazon yet, though I’m working on it. It’s on Amazon here.

What I really want to do is just frolic around smiling away to myself and getting the next one ready.

But your feedback would be welcome

The awesome power of nine-year-olds

Got a nine-year-old? Know any? Then watch out. They’re not to be messed with.

They have reach, power and influence beyond what you’d ever imagine.

Check these two out.

1. Nine-year-old Martha Payne from Argyll in western Scotland. Her school dinners aren’t great. Not very tasty, not very healthy, not very much. So she started taking photos like this…

Appetising? No?

and posting them on her blog www.NeverSeconds.blogspot.com .  Just one totey wee little blog that no one will ever notice.

Oh really? After almost no time at all, the local council (which runs the school catering) and the Scottish government are having to defend themselves to every media organisation. And defend themselves with a rictus grin. Because it doesn’t do to be cross or dismissive with a nine-year-old girl who just wanted to do an interesting writing project. (At least, not in public.)

Somewhere in Argyll there’s a teacher who gave permission for Martha to bring her camera into Lochgilphead primary school who’s either hugging him/herself with glee, or else worried about future employment prospects

Reasons to be cheerful – Part Two

There’s a hawthorn tree in there. No really.

Coincidentally, I was feeling cheerful this time last year. This is why I’m in a good mood now.

1. I planted a hawthorn tree. Few things are better than planting a tree. Putting down roots. Engaging with nature. Creating a legacy that will last till…  Well, I hope it’s still there. I haven’t looked since the weekend. Better check it tomorrow. It’s tucked away in a corner between the village recreation ground and the allotments.

2. I encountered someone who has changed her mind and admitted she was wrong. She’s discovered she can’t wipe away what she wrote. But she’s apologising and rejecting the wrong. I find that refreshing. Good on you Nadia.

OK, I admit it. Some people’s hole digging productivity was a lot higher than mine. But surely that’s what Scouts are good at?

3. It may take a while, but given time and a fair wind, even a writer who it seemed had been written off, can get a publishing deal

Ringo redeemed

"It's just you and me babe. Against the world." "I love you Ringo." "I love you too Ringo."

Sorry Ringo, I owe you an apology.

A few weeks ago Ringo Starr was the object of ridicule for failing to hoik one of the Vernon Girls onto his knee. The evidence is here.

All the other Beatles were beautifully laden. Ringo was the odd one out. Poor Ringo we purred, like mean Heathers.

But now the redoubtable Nigel has returned. Having slain grammatical heresy, he’ s now championing the man who was described as “not even the best drummer in the Beatles.”

Oi! Before you get too hoity toity standing up for Ringo everyone, don’t forget he was responsible for this – I’m not hosting the video here, it’s so dire – you’ll have to click on the link to see it.

But regardless of his stick and snow action, there’s nothing wrong with Ringo’s pulling power – as this newly discovered picture supplied by Nigel reveals

And I mean that most sincerely folks

When discussing the concept of sincerity, one man stands colossus over all others. Bob Monkhouse.

Remember his famous touchstone motto? The secret of success is sincerity.

Don’t be fooled by that oleaginous mien. No man can ignite such true* empathy so quickly.

I witnessed him in action at

So that’s what happened to the KGB

The KGB? They haven’t gone away you know.

But they’ve ended up in the most unexpected places. You’ll never guess