Jacqueline

Darcey Bussell: My Life on the BBC, on BBC4 tonight at 8pm. Just a reminder!

The Darcey programme was better than I expected, easy on the eye and on the ear - how refreshing to hear people speaking knowledgeably and clearly, about the subject in question. I am so tired of the mumbling and inarticulacy that seems to be fashionable otherwise - I mean, like, yer know etc etc. I felt the programme fulfilled its remit, was probably informative to those less well aquainted with the story of Miss Fonteyn and with one or two snippets of interest for those who already know about her. I would have preferred, at the beginning, to see footage of Margot before Darcey and her name mentioned before Darcey, but this was never going to be an indepth study. There were one or two, probably unintentionally, funny moments particularly body language and the art of the loaded silence. I do feel that Miss Bussell could probably present any subject under the sun, in exactly the same manner. She must be a director's dream. She rather reminds me of that character from The Fast Show, who would stand in front of the camera and say Today I am wearing....Darcey could say Today I am wearing (insert label) and I am looking for (insert name). Anyway, for me the programme wasn't great, nor was it bad. It was what it was and at least it got ballet on tv, even it was on so late.

I saw Anna Karenina with Ulyana Lopatkina and rather liked it, as I recall, although I think the critics were lukewarm. I love Lopatkina so was already well disposed towards the production. She was wonderful and the staging was very impressive, including an incredible scene of falling snow. I would like to see her and this ballet again.

Regarding requirements for the prince to be handsome, charming and slightly baffled, if not sometimes downright obtuse, having watched last night's fairytales revisited show, the young man might also be rather wanting in the acceptable behaviour department. Rather than being awakened from her slumber with a kiss, the sleeping beauty originally awoke to find herself in the family way. As was Rapunzel in her tower. Both women had twins according to legend. I don't know if it was the same prince. As for bafflement, the prince who discovered Snow White in her glass casket and thought her to be beautiful, although apparently dead, didn't try to rouse her with a kiss but carried her round still in her casket. Or rather, had his servants do the heavy lifting. In the end, not unreasonably, his staff grew tired of this arrangement. They lifted her out of the case and tried to wake her by striking her repeatedly, in a sort of pre-Heimlich manoeuvre. Eventually, the poisoned apple lodged in her throat flew forth, Snow White recovered and they all lived happily etc etc. I can't imagine any of these versions making it onto the ROH stage.

This was, with some reservations, a very worthwhile tribute, with many interesting clips of the actress speaking for herself as to how the character of Hilda was created. Some of the excerpts of Stan and Hilda in action were terrific, for the attention to detail, the dialogue and the way they put it across. As with some other actors who have died this year, it wasn't just that the parts were so cleverly written, it was what the actor brought to the role that made these characters so memorable. I particularly liked Stan explaining to Hilda that he wasn't lazy, it was just that he and work had never really got along. She had a morning job and another in the evening, so perhaps she could think about getting a third job in the afternoon to make up the shortfall. There were some cast members brought in to comment and for some reason, Philip Schofield. But as been said on another thread, he seems to be one of the current crop of ubiquitous presenters who appear on everything, no matter how irrelevant they may be to the subject.

There is a tribute to Jean Alexander on ITV tonight at 8pm.

There is a programme tonight at 9pm on ITV, with Paul O'Grady travelling around Germany exploring the backgrounds to favourite fairy tales, including Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella. It is billed as being unsuitable for children. I have a big book of Grimm's Stories which was originally my mother's when she was a child. It is a beautifully if in parts, rather graphically illustrated book, published in the 30s. Some of the tales were astonishingly gory, with the ugly sisters chopping off their toes so their feet would fit Cinderella's slipper and other delights. The tales came from various sources, myths and such like and many have been long forgotten, but some of them are really frightening. Not the happy ever after we might usually tell children, but more - and the moral of the story is... after which you would be expected to sleep tight and have happy dreams! Anyway, the programme may be worth a look, if you like that sort of thing!

I googled Zvetlana Zakharova Amore and got various results, including quite a long puff piece for the work on youtube. I can't transfer any of it here as my tablet only seems to permit the most rudimentary punctuation, so anything more is probably beyond it even if I knew how to do it. Anyway, the work looks as though it may be worth a view, although perhaps a tad overwrought in parts. As MAB says, these extravaganzas are often no more than vanity projects. I have never seen Zakharova live and time must be ticking to do so. I may give it it a try for that reason alone, so thanks to Don Q for the tip!

For Alison, as you may already know, there is a documentary about Bruce Springsteen on December 27th, Channel 4 at 10.35pm. Sounds good. I was looking through the general tv listings as well as things of particular interest yesterday. Then I got an email reminding me that my tv licence is due for renewal, only 145 quid! I knew there was something to look forward to! Edited to correct date. It is December 29th, not 27th!

There is a two page piece on Sir Peter Wright in today's S.Times Culture mag, a People Watching piece on DarceyB in the main paper and a tiny piecette on Yasmine Naghdi and her new residence in Travel and Home.

Thanks for that Fonty. They are a rum pair next door. Everytime I see him, he is stuffing his face and she is very fond of the sauce! When she opened the side door, I got a brief glimpse into the hell hole that is their kitchen. Luckily the hedge at the back is so wide now on their side, it blocks out a lot of what we would otherwise be able to see of their garden from our back upstairs windows. As for the front, I will contact the builder about the repairs and see if I can drop hints to him about the rest of it, if nothing has been done by then. I have no expectations that she will clean up and from what I can remember of the builder, he can't keep his mouth shut, so he is bound to repeat whatever I say. If it comes to it, I will suggest to her that I tidy the front up myself if she can't or won't do it. There are a lot worse neighbours out there, but you can only put up with what is no more than bone idleness for so long. Failing that, I can just tell any potential buyer who asks, that next door is a work in progress. Which technically it is I suppose.

Regarding my post 1728, these are not the 80 year old neighbours fixing up their bathroom but the ones on our left side. These two are about my age, both work, run two cars, go on regular holidays and have a busy social life. Having thought it over, I have decided enough is enough. I have spoken to the female, politely, explaining my position and asking her for the name and phone number of their builder. I said that in the new year, we are having some pruning done by a professional tree man and if okay with her, he will cut the top of the hedge, as he can reach across with proper equipment. She thinks that is a good idea but then she would wouldn't she! As for the drive, they have indeed run out of money - all things are relative I suppose! There is no prospect of it being done in the foreseable. She doesn't see what she can do about that. Weeding and removing bits of rubbish at the front of the property doesn't seem to occur to her, she said they don't use the front door, they just park on the drive and go in and out through the side door. Pointless trying to get through to someone with that thought process. Anyway, there it is. I would weed and tidy it for her as a last resort, but I would be trespassing unless she agreed to my doing it for her and she probably would! I long to live somewhere with no neighbours. Hell is most definitely other people, unless you are very lucky.

Mine too! Proper sounds even worse than great somehow.

Thanks for the info Alison. I would have expected Darcey to get a better time slot for Margot and in general. Hasn't she been on Christmas Day in recent years?

Back on the subject - briefly - of false eye lashes, I have just seen the rather ethereal latest ad for Gucci, with various beautiful young people prancing artistically to Mahler. At one point, a single, presumably false eyelash is pictured, descending to the bottom of a glass of water. Quite bizarre. But better than teeth I guess!

Instead of a box frame, a friend of mine put her archeological item of interest in one of those multi faceted glass boxes with a mirror at the back, more usually seen as a container for a light or candle. It is actually very effective as it catches the light, you can see the contents from different angles and it doesn't look out of proportion on the wall.

It's the neighbours again. A couple moved in next door about two years ago. Initially, they had a builder friend round who cleared out the mess the previous owner had left in the garden and laid a large patio area. The front was going to be block paved at some point and they are responsible for the boundary between properties. At the back there is a long hedge, at the front nothing, no fence or wall and the drives run alongside each other. To make a long story short, they seem to have lost interest or just can't afford to finish the work. The builder doesn't come round anymore and he was practically living there at one point. While he was driving in and out using our drive as an extension of theirs for his convenience, he did some damage which he said he would put right when he fixed up their drive, but no sign of that happening. The hedge is huge now and out of control over the top and on their side. They haven't cut it once this year. The front just looks derelict, weeds everywhere, patchy gravel and at least two catalogues rotting outside their front door because they can't be bothered to pick them up. They are not unfriendly or unpleasant. We are on nodding terms but we want to put our house on the market next year and the next door eyesore is concerning. We had some hope when they moved in, that they would spruce the place up as they gave that impression. If they have run out of money so be it. Perhaps they just don't see the place as others do. They never seemed to do anything themselves anyway. The only time the hedge was cut, the builder did it. I want to approach them in a non confrontational way and ask them if they have any plans for the driveway, including promised repairs to ours. But I don't want to start some sort of neighbourhood war, as you never know how people will react. They are okay in other respects, not noisy or inconsiderate. I can live with the state of their house as I try to ignore it but if ours goes on the market, I am sure any prospective viewers would look at next door and think who wants to live next to that. Can anyone advise on the best way to proceed?

I agree some make up is good for skin - such as anything that acts as a moisturiser and protection from the sun or any harsh weather. I always wear moisturiser, something on my lips and sometimes a little eye make up. The kind of make up I am talking about is layered on to the point that the skin can't breathe. I think the key is everything in moderation.

True. I can't see the attraction of trowelling it on like some do, must be so bad for the skin. You see quite young girls slathered in it, presumably to look older although it has the opposite effect. The women behind make up counters are usually caked. I realise they are selling a product but they don't need to wear all of it at once. I once had one of those instore makeovers. I was asked questions about my skin type and tone, colours I liked and all that sort of thing. I don't usually wear much or any make up, so the key word was subtle. I might just as well have saved my breath as I came out looking like a painted doll, my face rigid with layers of gunk. My husband who had been waiting elsewhere, took one look and said what the hell happened to you?! I couldn't wait to get home and scrape it all off. I wondered if they cake their own faces and that's the only way they know how to apply the stuff.

False eyelashes inexpertly applied! Was in the mobile phone shop recently, being assisted by a young lady who was quite heavily made up, including some rather fierce looking false eyelashes, which were coming unstuck. She seemed oblivious, although she must have been able to see what was happening looking from the inside out as it were. Maybe the heat in the shop was affecting the lash adhesive, I have never worn false lashes and am not sure how they are or should be affixed. The more I tried not to stare, the more I must have been staring. I was wondering if they would actually fall off. It was quite unnerving. For me and possibly for her too!

On the last day of my week off and I have finally managed to visit Southwell, which is a small town near Newark in Notts, easily accessible from the A1 or via Mansfield from the M1. Southwell is full of lovely old buildings and a rather stunning minster, which is an architectural marvel of Norman and Gothic and particularly known for its pepperpot towers. I was lucky enough to be there this morning while the Minster Girls Choir were rehearsing a Ceremony of Carols by Britten, including one I remember singing as a child in our school choir. After that, I had a wander round a good selection of local, independent shops, had a bite to eat and then drove home. Southwell is only about half an hour from where we have lived for around 15 years, and yet I had never bothered to go until now. I would thoroughly recommend it. Nearby Newark is historically interesting as well.

I Believe in Father Christmas has always been my favourite seasonal song, in fact it is the only one I can bear. It has that mix of great composition, vocals and a thoughtful message. RIP Greg Lake. Can I also mention that Peter Vaughan passed away this week, at the age of 93. A great, versatile actor who perhaps like Andrew Sachs and Manuel, will be remembered for one role, the thoroughly menacing but genial Harry Grout from Porridge.

Thanks for the museum info Janet. I will look out for further developments on the terracotta geezers! I remember my mother taking me to the British Museum in the 70s to see the Tutankhamun exhibition. We had to queue for hours to get in, but from what I can recall it was worth it, much more extensive than the more recent showing and not as crowded once inside the building. Although my memory may be playing tricks after all this time. All those people had to have gone somewhere! I remember the queues even became newsworthy themselves, for their length and the time people were prepared to wait in them. Conversations were struck with other queuers, in that rather stilted way you find in such situations, where some people feel obliged to speak, some can't stop and others remain determinedly silent. It wasn't as though we didn't all know why we were there. It was more a case of have you come far and have you been waiting long? About as long as they had given we were at the same point in the queue! I can't think of anything or anybody nowadays, I would go to that much effort to see.

Janet, I assume you have been there, so I would be interested to know your opinion of the Liverpool World Museum and if you think it is likely to be a good venue for the Warriors?

Have just read that the Chinese Warrior exhibition will be on again in some form in 2018, at the Liverpool World Museum. I would like to see it again and hope it will be better run than it was at the British Museum. The television documentary preceeding that event showed us the people in charge talking about the layout and the impact of reaching the top of the stairs, only to see some fabulous ancient artefact before your very eyes. Fine if you are one of those lucky people. As I recall, when the exhibition opened, it was as expected, extremely popular . Your ticket worked on a time slot but it was so crowded most of the time, all you could see was other people's backs. People were going in but taking their time coming out.The stewards weren't much help moving people along. They didn't have to rush visitors, just try and avoid gridlock at the top of the stairs, but it all was a bit shambolic. One steward even suggested that we could start at the end of the exhibition where the crowds were thinner and work our way back,like seeing history in reverse. I also recall it being stifling hot. I don't know what the Liverpool museum is like but I would go and see the warriors again, in a better organised,more visitor friendly environment.