When I was a young lad, I would often notice on calendars that featured international holidays that December 26th was Boxing Day in Great Britain and Canada. How funny, I thought, that there was a holiday devoted to the pugilistic sport practiced by Muhammed Ali, Sugar Ray Robinson, and Rocky Marciano. While a few fists may be swung today by those who prefer a good "pub crawl" over peace on earth and goodwill toward men, this is the day where by Victorian-era tradition the wrapping paper and other remnants from the previous day's festivities are boxed up (and gifts are made to the family's serving staff). Today is also the day when friends venture out and call upon other friends to share in post-Christmas food and libation. Sarah and I shall be partaking in this tradition later today, as we call upon a few of our friends who live in the area.
After the holidays, the Amazing Carnac and I are sending in our turbans and crystal balls for an unscheduled tune-up. Despite our continuing sub and near-freezing temperatures, the Christmas Day snowfall that "we" predicted has instead manifested itself as fog and light rain showers (with ice on the ground) throughout the country.
There was, however, nothing frosty about the Queen's annual Christmas Message. Broadcast yesterday afternoon on the BBC, Her Majesty's very moving words almost brought a tear to my eye. She might just make a monarchist out of this American colonist, yet. With a little technical advice and consultation provided by her two grandchildren, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie of York, Her Majesty has gone "cyber." The speech (plus many other very interesting items) can be viewed on the Queen's new You Tube webpage (http://www.youtube.com/theroyalchannel). In addition to viewing videos of narcissistic teens hurling themselves and their skateboards off speeding locomotives while attempting to evoke the lyrics of Amy Winehouse, visitors to You Tube can now also catch a high-tech glimpse into the life of this country's monarch.
To echo Her Majesty's closing comments, ...And so I wish you all, young and old, wherever you may be, all the fun and enjoyment and the peace of a very happy Christmas.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
It's Going To Be A White Christmas
Ice storms are stretching across the midwest section of the United States, and those of us who reside in England's Ribble Valley awoke this morning to find frost on our roofs and a sub-freezing air temperature of 25 degrees Fahrenheit. You don't have to be the Amazing Carnac to figure out that winter has finally arrived. Carnac and I have pressed our turbans together and we predict that the village is going to wake up to a White Christmas of Bing Crosby proportions this year. We had a very similar picture postcard experience two years ago. This photographer is already prepared to capture the Winter Wonderland of England during the coming weeks.
Speaking of Christmas...
Cards and parcels have been sent out during the past few days to all of our family, friends, and other loved ones on both sides of the pond. Between the cooperative efforts of the Royal Mail and the U.S. Postal Service, we're hoping that everything arrives at their intended destinations within the next week.
Speaking of Christmas...
Cards and parcels have been sent out during the past few days to all of our family, friends, and other loved ones on both sides of the pond. Between the cooperative efforts of the Royal Mail and the U.S. Postal Service, we're hoping that everything arrives at their intended destinations within the next week.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Au Revoir, Mr. Whipple
I read on the newswires earlier this week that the American actor Dick Wilson had passed away at the age of 91. Dick Wilson was a truly gifted and multi-talented practitioner of his craft, having taken on a quite diverse range of roles on the stage, in television, and in motion pictures throughout his career. Mr. Wilson's eldest daughter Melanie and I were classmates in both junior and senior high school, and his love of the acting craft was instilled into her at an early age. Years later, Melanie and I would often cross paths when I was working for ABC-TV and she was co-starring on one of our situation comedy television programmes.
I find it a bit ironic that the late actor, who was also one of the many unsung flying heroes of the Battle of Britain, was born in Preston, which lies just a few miles south of where Sarah and I now make our home in the Ribble Valley area of Lancashire.
Our condolances go out to Melanie, her mother, brother, and sister. May they be comforted in knowing that he will be missed not only by them but also by a very appreciative audience.
I find it a bit ironic that the late actor, who was also one of the many unsung flying heroes of the Battle of Britain, was born in Preston, which lies just a few miles south of where Sarah and I now make our home in the Ribble Valley area of Lancashire.
Our condolances go out to Melanie, her mother, brother, and sister. May they be comforted in knowing that he will be missed not only by them but also by a very appreciative audience.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Welcome Back, Michael
Just a quick note. Veteran talk-radio broadcaster and former ABC colleague Michael Jackson begins a new chapter in his long and illustrious broadcasting career this week. Beginning on Monday 29 October, he will be returning to the Los Angeles radio airwaves on KGIL 1260AM. His broadcast will run Monday through Friday, between 9:00am and 11:00am. I encourage everyone in Southern California to tune in. I wish I was back in L.A. just to be able to tune in myself. Hopefully, he'll start podcasting his shows in the future.
Michael was kind enough to send me a brief email over the weekend, as he and his producer Lyle both prepare for Monday morning's inaugural broadcast. I wish the two of them great success. Break a leg, you two.
Michael was kind enough to send me a brief email over the weekend, as he and his producer Lyle both prepare for Monday morning's inaugural broadcast. I wish the two of them great success. Break a leg, you two.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Bonfires of the Vanities
A random flash fills the night sky and a muffled rapid-fire popping sound finds it's way toward us from a nearby farmer's field. Are we in Baghdad? No, but the night-time sights and sounds of the Lancashire countryside remind me that we must be approaching that very special time of year again.
Next week, on the evening of November 5th, revellers throughout the United Kingdom will be celebrating Guy Fawkes Night, or Bonfire Night as it is commonly known. It commemorates the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot, in which a group of Catholic conspirators, including Guy Fawkes, allegedly attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament on the evening of 5 November 1605 with the intent of killing the Protestant King James I of England. The conspirators were later arrested, tortured, and executed.
As has been the custom during the past few centuries, fireworks are lobbed into the air and community bonfires are ignited, often fueled by an accumulated collection of surplus wood and contributed items that otherwise would have been destined for the local refuse pit. Sadly, some communities still burn effigies of the Pope and other clerics, in a fervor of anti-catholicism that still darkens the souls of a few that remain unenlightened. Fortunately, they are in the minority.
Prospective photo opportunities beckon, as we will be venturing out with the trusty camera in hand to witness and capture Britain's closest version to the Fourth of July.
Next week, on the evening of November 5th, revellers throughout the United Kingdom will be celebrating Guy Fawkes Night, or Bonfire Night as it is commonly known. It commemorates the foiling of the Gunpowder Plot, in which a group of Catholic conspirators, including Guy Fawkes, allegedly attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament on the evening of 5 November 1605 with the intent of killing the Protestant King James I of England. The conspirators were later arrested, tortured, and executed.
As has been the custom during the past few centuries, fireworks are lobbed into the air and community bonfires are ignited, often fueled by an accumulated collection of surplus wood and contributed items that otherwise would have been destined for the local refuse pit. Sadly, some communities still burn effigies of the Pope and other clerics, in a fervor of anti-catholicism that still darkens the souls of a few that remain unenlightened. Fortunately, they are in the minority.
Prospective photo opportunities beckon, as we will be venturing out with the trusty camera in hand to witness and capture Britain's closest version to the Fourth of July.
Monday, October 15, 2007
A Visit Down South of Titanic Proportions
Sarah and I ventured south to the English coastal region of Hampshire last weekend. This is the land of thatched roof cottages, the breed of hog that bears the area's name, and that mythical kingdom known as Camelot. We had gone there to meet up with some friends from Los Angeles who were spending a couple of days in London, before boarding a Eurostar train destined for Brussels.
We had the pleasure of playing tour guide to Maria and Chris as we drove them around the Salisbury Plain, showing them sites both picturesque and historic in nature. The ancient Druid rock formations of Stonehenge, the grand cathedral in the market town of Winchester, plus King Arthur's alleged roundtable (which is on permanent display in Winchester's Guild Hall), were but a few of the stops on our weekend itinerary that were dutifully captured with my camera.
My better-half and I also made a special journey of our own; one that I have been wanting to do for many years. After registerring into our B&B, the two of us drove to the bustling seaport town of Southampton, with our final destination being the Gate 4 entrance to Ocean Dock. On the tenth day of April, in the year of 1912, a very grand ship bearing the name of Titanic set sail on her maiden voyage from this very dock. A small monument has been erected here in memory of the officers, crew, and passengers who lost their lives five days later. South Western House, the hotel where many of the ship's First Class passengers spent the night prior to the following day's voyage, still stands proudly across the street from the pier; its many windows gazing out across the River Test toward the English Channel and the sea.
Chaucer wrote of pilgrims from this very land, journeying to the cathedral town of Canterbury. A pilgrimage of an entirely different sort was successfully accomplished by this photographer, and it was definitely worth the wait.
We had the pleasure of playing tour guide to Maria and Chris as we drove them around the Salisbury Plain, showing them sites both picturesque and historic in nature. The ancient Druid rock formations of Stonehenge, the grand cathedral in the market town of Winchester, plus King Arthur's alleged roundtable (which is on permanent display in Winchester's Guild Hall), were but a few of the stops on our weekend itinerary that were dutifully captured with my camera.
My better-half and I also made a special journey of our own; one that I have been wanting to do for many years. After registerring into our B&B, the two of us drove to the bustling seaport town of Southampton, with our final destination being the Gate 4 entrance to Ocean Dock. On the tenth day of April, in the year of 1912, a very grand ship bearing the name of Titanic set sail on her maiden voyage from this very dock. A small monument has been erected here in memory of the officers, crew, and passengers who lost their lives five days later. South Western House, the hotel where many of the ship's First Class passengers spent the night prior to the following day's voyage, still stands proudly across the street from the pier; its many windows gazing out across the River Test toward the English Channel and the sea.
Chaucer wrote of pilgrims from this very land, journeying to the cathedral town of Canterbury. A pilgrimage of an entirely different sort was successfully accomplished by this photographer, and it was definitely worth the wait.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Buon Giorno Da Toscano
Sarah and I have just returned from a warm and glorious week in the Tuscany region of Italy, where we had the great joy of witnessing the marriage of our niece Joanna and her husband Dave. Twenty-eight of us made our way south to Italy, where we took up residence at Il Castello di Bibbione, a 1000 year old castle / villa that belongs to a member of the Machiavelli family; a practicing physician when she and her adult daughter are not hosting guests at this wine and olive oil-producing estate.
Our week in Tuscany, coupled with some very excellent weather, provided us with a fine opportunity to visit and shoot picturesque locales that included Firenza (Florence), Pisa, Lucca, San Gimignano, the various villages of the Chianti countryside with its many spectacular vineyards, plus our favourite of locales: the medieval town of Sienna, with its reddish-brown brick Gothic architecture.
Unfortunately, we missed the running of Sienna’s famous Palio horse race by one week, which takes place annually on the town’s Piazza Il Campo. We did however pause long enough to take in and savour the panoramic view of Il Campo while leisurely sipping a late morning espresso at the table of one of the many outdoor cafes that ring this shell-shaped piazza. While visiting Sienna I experienced a bit of déjà vu. Those of us who watched ABC-TV's award-winning mini-series The Winds of War, starring the late Robert Mitchum, may recall the memorable scenes that were filmed on this very location with Ali MacGraw, Jan-Michael Vincent, and the great John Houseman.
In addition to the great wines and cheeses that Italy is well known for, Sarah and I made sure that we “consumed” a bit of artistic culture, as well as the culinary. While in Firenza, we marvelled at artworks such as Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus and Michelangelo’s David. Sarah’s initial reaction to seeing this famous and well-detailed statue was “Gawd, he’s BIG.” I am still assuming that she was commenting about the enormity of the ENTIRE statue…
Our week in Tuscany, coupled with some very excellent weather, provided us with a fine opportunity to visit and shoot picturesque locales that included Firenza (Florence), Pisa, Lucca, San Gimignano, the various villages of the Chianti countryside with its many spectacular vineyards, plus our favourite of locales: the medieval town of Sienna, with its reddish-brown brick Gothic architecture.
Unfortunately, we missed the running of Sienna’s famous Palio horse race by one week, which takes place annually on the town’s Piazza Il Campo. We did however pause long enough to take in and savour the panoramic view of Il Campo while leisurely sipping a late morning espresso at the table of one of the many outdoor cafes that ring this shell-shaped piazza. While visiting Sienna I experienced a bit of déjà vu. Those of us who watched ABC-TV's award-winning mini-series The Winds of War, starring the late Robert Mitchum, may recall the memorable scenes that were filmed on this very location with Ali MacGraw, Jan-Michael Vincent, and the great John Houseman.
In addition to the great wines and cheeses that Italy is well known for, Sarah and I made sure that we “consumed” a bit of artistic culture, as well as the culinary. While in Firenza, we marvelled at artworks such as Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus and Michelangelo’s David. Sarah’s initial reaction to seeing this famous and well-detailed statue was “Gawd, he’s BIG.” I am still assuming that she was commenting about the enormity of the ENTIRE statue…
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