Rebus. (As played by Ken Stott.) Looks pissed off. Perhaps he's contemplating his imminent departure from the job?
Synchronicity? Serendipity? Or an unfortunate coincidence?
I’ve been working for a large organisation for many years, doing all sorts of stuff in different areas. But now, I’m a few weeks away from finally leaving. It feels like a big deal. A big change for me.
It so happens I’m reading Exit Music by Ian Rankin at the moment. The main character is an Edinburgh-based Detective Inspector called Rebus. (Sure, many/most of you will already know that, but there might be someone who doesn’t.) It’s one of a series of novels with Rebus as the central character. They’re very good.
But the point is this: In Exit Music, the story takes place over Rebus ‘s final week in the police force. His impending retirement hangs over everything like a dirty cloud threatening to burst – over his attitude to colleagues and his job, his thoughts of legacy and other players’ attitudes to him.
So I’m worried that it’s exactly the wrong thing for me to be reading right now. It has passages like this:
That was that, then. End of the line, end of the job. These past weeks, he’d been trying so hard not to think about it – throwing himself into other work, any other work… For three decades now this job of his had sustained him, and all it had cost him was his marriage and a slew of friendships and shattered relationships.
Bit depressing. And then there’s this:
‘Just one last thing.’ His next three words were spaced evenly. ‘You … are … history.’
‘What I want you to do, Rebus, is crawl away from here and tick off the days on the calendar.’
Obviously none of those invitations to be maudlin have the slightest effect on me at all. I’m marginally less crumpled than the picture above. And the outlook here is resolutely sunny. Oh yes.
Anyway, while we’re on the subject of rebuses. Here’s one that was prepared earlier.
Not only does it predate Ken Stott, but also that unfortunate interlude involving the otherwise fine John Hannah. Scroll down below it for a surprising (if true) fact about Ken Stott.
This hieroglyphic puzzle, or rebus, is dated 1811. Go to the Puzzle Museum website to solve it. Click on the picture.
Apparently Ken Stott used to be in a band called Keyhole, members of which later went on to form the Bay City Rollers. Narrow escape there, Ken. On the one hand massive stardom and record sales. On the other, they were awful and legal dodginess followed. They were awful, weren’t they?
Just back from the Rhythm Festival.
Blackwatertown 