Two details about today’s big, bizarre, gotta-be-a-movie-one-day UK crime story (“Spy conman put me through hell”) did my head in. Firstly, that the conman in question lived on the same street as the house that I grew up in. Secondly, that one of his victims has the same name as my late father.
Incidentally, I recently learnt that the house I grew up in – which was sold by my step-family in 1999, in a terrible state of repair, for around £180,000 – has recently been sold again, fully renovated, for £1,200,000. Perhaps it’s best that I say no more than that.
On a related note – but such a slight, tangential one that only a very few of you will spot it, and that’s more than OK by me – this post by Eurotrash, an ex-pat Brit journalist in New York, particularly resonated with me today. It’s about hypnotism, mostly. I’ve never been hypnotised. That’s not the connection.
In an unprecedented move (because if he’s ever done it before, then I sure as hell don’t remember it), K e-mailed me with a link today.
“Did you post it on the blog?”, he asked over dinner.
“No, I didn’t”, I answered, firmly. “It would be too much like rubber-necking at an accident. You know, disaster pr0n: Hey everybody, come and have a look at these cool tragic images! Besides, it’s not that sort of blog. They were amazing images, though… the best I’ve seen by a long chalk.”
“Yes, and at times almost… well… beautiful.”
“I know… those peaceful looking shots of Canal Street, with the still water…”
So maybe I should link to them after all. They are by far the best collection of Katrina images I’ve seen – in terms of artistic quality, range of subject matter and sheer poignancy – and from quite an unlikely source, as well: the Financial Times. You don’t have to look at them, anyway. Do as you see fit. We’re all grown-ups here.
Earlier today, and merely by process of elimination, I thought Bloc Party would do it.
Then I thought that, with the field so wide open, this might be the year that the token folk or jazz acts might do it – if for no other reason than to justify their continued inclusion on the shortlists.
Then, during the show itself, I went through a brief phase of wanting Hard-Fi to win it. Because I bloody love Hard-Fi, crap lyrics and all, and I don’t care who knows it. (Hard To Beat: single of the year?)
But then, THEN, Antony & The Johnsons performed that stunning version of Hope There’s Someone– so emotionally direct and powerful that K finally, FINALLY, saw the light and understood what makes him so great – and I thought: there’s only one act who truly deserves to win this.
And then most of the other shortlisted acts were asked who they’d like to win, and most of them said, with big, broad smiles: Antony & The Johnsons.
And then, bugger me sideways, he did win it, and all the other acts gave him the warmest, most sincere of standing ovations, and justice was done, and it all felt rather lovely. So hooray for that, and if you haven’t bought the album, then please do so immediately.
troubled diva 