It's hard not to notice all the newspaper and television commentary on the subject of the assassination of John F. Kennedy. This week, on Friday, November 22, it will be fifty years since JFK's motorcade arrived in Dallas and when, minutes afterwards, he was assassinated.
It might sound odd, but I feel I have much to thank JFK for. The connection is this - JFK was diagnosed with Addison's Disease, which, if left untreated is a killer. Low blood pressure will lead to a coma and death. It is rare and the symptoms are rather non-specific. They include, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, breathing difficulties, a general weakness and headaches. JFK was presenting with all these symptoms. Eventually it was diagnosed and JFK was treated using the steroid hydrocortisone. It did the trick.
Addison's disease is a rare chronic condition brought about by the failure of the adrenal glands. which are positioned on top of the kidneys. The adrenal glands are critical in creating numerous hormones. Treatment is lifelong with regular monitoring and health checks.
I have Addison's Disease. I was finally diagnosed in January 2005 and whisked into hospital. Six days later I was out and the symptoms, thanks to the steroid hydrocortisone, had disappeared.
A 'cure' was discovered thanks to JFK - the President of the USA had to be mended, hence the connection I feel. Were it not for him, there might still not be a cure for Addison's Disease and I would not be writing this.
There is still more to say about November 22nd. In 1990, on that day, Margaret Thatcher resigned. Had I been able to, I would have jumped up and down. But I was giving birth on that day and at ten past one my third child, Daniel, was born - a post Thatcher baby.
Wednesday, 20 November 2013
Monday, 18 November 2013
My Brother
He's called David, my brother, and he is 62 years old. The sibling relationship fascinates me so much more than romantic relationships. When you're young, relationships, or those 'together for a few days' things are so ephemeral, whereas a sibling is always there and if you're fortunate enough to get on, not just see each other at Christmas, funerals and weddings, there's probably no other relationship which is so easy.
Another aspect of the sibling relationship is that although you've been brought up by the same parents, some siblings could not be more different. That is the case with my brother and me. The difference between us, especially when we were children, were stark. I was loud, talkative, volatile, whereas my brother was shy, quiet and and easy-going. Although we have veered towards each other's characteristics to some extent, generally we are still the same.
Perhaps he took a little longer than most to find his niche in life, in as far as any of us find our niche. Once found, he excelled. He is a foster father and a superb one. He and his wife began in 2002 and they now teach others about foster caring, as well as continuing to foster themselves. At the moment they have three Slovakian Romany children, aged 9,12 and 13. In total they have fostered twenty children.
You can, if you choose, foster in a kind of 'hands off' way; not my brother and his wife. They really do act as parents. They take the children to places, supervise homework, insist they eat healthily and get enough sleep.
People like my brother and his wife so often go unrecognised which is why I am going to nominate him and my sister-in -law for an OBE. Watch out for them.
Another aspect of the sibling relationship is that although you've been brought up by the same parents, some siblings could not be more different. That is the case with my brother and me. The difference between us, especially when we were children, were stark. I was loud, talkative, volatile, whereas my brother was shy, quiet and and easy-going. Although we have veered towards each other's characteristics to some extent, generally we are still the same.
Perhaps he took a little longer than most to find his niche in life, in as far as any of us find our niche. Once found, he excelled. He is a foster father and a superb one. He and his wife began in 2002 and they now teach others about foster caring, as well as continuing to foster themselves. At the moment they have three Slovakian Romany children, aged 9,12 and 13. In total they have fostered twenty children.
You can, if you choose, foster in a kind of 'hands off' way; not my brother and his wife. They really do act as parents. They take the children to places, supervise homework, insist they eat healthily and get enough sleep.
People like my brother and his wife so often go unrecognised which is why I am going to nominate him and my sister-in -law for an OBE. Watch out for them.
Thursday, 24 October 2013
Tammi Terrell
I wrote about one of the two of my favourite singers a few days ago, Joni Mitchell, and now it's the turn of Tammi Terrell. Between these two, I don't have a preference.They are very different women and very different singers, but they are contemporaries; Joni was born in November 1943 and Tammi in April 1945. I don't know if they knew each other, but I like to imagine that even if they did not know each other, they would have admired each other's music, their vocals in particular.
Thomasina Winifred Montgomery began performing at an early age; she was a natural on stage. James Brown, the godfather of soul, noticed her and asked her to join his band. She did join but not for long; not because she lacked the talent, but because James Brown became infatuated by Tammi and an affair began, again, not for long. Rumours abounded that James was physically abusing Tammi and her parents came to bring her home.
Soon after, Berry Gordy, the legendary creator of Motown, spotted Thomasina Montgomery performing. He decided straightaway that he would like this charismatic young woman, with a strong and soulful vocal to join the Motown stable. He insisted that she change her name and so she became Tammi Terrell. On joining, Berry's masterstroke was to put Tammi with the prince of Motown, Marvin Gaye, and for them to duet together. It worked. In fact it was magical. Their voices wrapped around each other and their performances were electric; they were more than a man and a woman duetting; they produced live theatre and audiences would believe that they were actually in love.Subtle touches such as Tammi saying,'Hey Marvin' and Marvin saying, 'Talk to me Tammi' succeeded in creating the belief that this was a love affair. Both strenuously denied that this was the case. Marvin was married to Anna Gordy and Tammi was madly in love with David Ruffin, the lead singer of The Temptations.
Their first hit was Ain't No Mountain High Enough followed by Your Precious Love. The duet was riding a wave of success.
But it would be very soon cut short as Tammi collapsed into Marvin's arms on stage, while performing Your Precious Love. Tammi had been complaining of severe headaches. Very soon after her collapse the headaches were explained. Tammi had a brain tumour. She was twenty-one years old. Eight operations followed, Tammi believing each time that this time, she would be cured. It was not to be and Tammi died in March 1970, one month short of her twenty-fifth birthday.
It is almost too heartrendingly poignant to consider just how successful, this hugely talented singer would have been if she had not lost her life at such young age.
Thomasina Winifred Montgomery began performing at an early age; she was a natural on stage. James Brown, the godfather of soul, noticed her and asked her to join his band. She did join but not for long; not because she lacked the talent, but because James Brown became infatuated by Tammi and an affair began, again, not for long. Rumours abounded that James was physically abusing Tammi and her parents came to bring her home.
Soon after, Berry Gordy, the legendary creator of Motown, spotted Thomasina Montgomery performing. He decided straightaway that he would like this charismatic young woman, with a strong and soulful vocal to join the Motown stable. He insisted that she change her name and so she became Tammi Terrell. On joining, Berry's masterstroke was to put Tammi with the prince of Motown, Marvin Gaye, and for them to duet together. It worked. In fact it was magical. Their voices wrapped around each other and their performances were electric; they were more than a man and a woman duetting; they produced live theatre and audiences would believe that they were actually in love.Subtle touches such as Tammi saying,'Hey Marvin' and Marvin saying, 'Talk to me Tammi' succeeded in creating the belief that this was a love affair. Both strenuously denied that this was the case. Marvin was married to Anna Gordy and Tammi was madly in love with David Ruffin, the lead singer of The Temptations.
Their first hit was Ain't No Mountain High Enough followed by Your Precious Love. The duet was riding a wave of success.
But it would be very soon cut short as Tammi collapsed into Marvin's arms on stage, while performing Your Precious Love. Tammi had been complaining of severe headaches. Very soon after her collapse the headaches were explained. Tammi had a brain tumour. She was twenty-one years old. Eight operations followed, Tammi believing each time that this time, she would be cured. It was not to be and Tammi died in March 1970, one month short of her twenty-fifth birthday.
It is almost too heartrendingly poignant to consider just how successful, this hugely talented singer would have been if she had not lost her life at such young age.
Tuesday, 22 October 2013
Joni Mitchell and Tammi Terrell
My two most loved female singers are Joni Mitchell and Tammi Terrell. I'm going to deal with Joni today and Tammi another day.
Joni Mitchell first came to my notice when I was at university in Manchester doing a joint degree in English and French. At first I wasn't keen on her; her voice was very high and a little bit whiny at times. Another reason was that the boy I was with at that time thought she was wonderful and beautiful. Overcoming my jealousy, I decided to give her a good hearing. I was enraptured. The nuances of that voice I had once thought whiny, the range of her vocals and her superb lyrics, that noone, not even Bob Dylan had previously created, were evidence of a musical genius.
Blue, Court and Spark, For the Roses, Hejira, The Hissing of Summer Lawns - I listened to them all with a mixed sense of disbelief and adoration. There wasn't only me adoring Joni, many men were entranced by her including Leonard Cohen, Graham Nash, David Crosby, James Taylor and others.
At the age of 19 she lost her virginity and became pregnant, She did her best to protect her parents from the dreadful scandal, as it was regarded at the time. She was their only child too. Joni gave up her daughter for adoption but in the late nineties she made it public that she wanted to find her daughter. She did find her, Kilaurin Gibb, and for a while the two were happily reunited. But only for a while sadly.
Joni lives alone now, saying she prefers it that way. She will be 70 years old on November 7th, and by that time she will have been smoking for 61 years. She began at age 9 when she became ill with polio. Incredible - and even now, unapologetically, she smokes like a chimney.
You would think that Joni Mitchell would be a feminist, but interestingly she declares herself not to be a feminist. She becomes very exercised by the label and disassociates herself from it wholeheartedly. The reason she gives is that feminists don't like men and they wish to separate themselves from the male of the species. Well, not quite Joni; maybe the radical, lesbian, separatist feminists do, but not the vast majority of feminists. Anyway, who cares that she may be a bit eccentric on this, when she can write lyrics such as - 'I met a woman, she had a mouth like yours, she knew your life, she knew your devils and your deeds.' What better way to describe the mother of the man she loves. Genius.
Joni Mitchell first came to my notice when I was at university in Manchester doing a joint degree in English and French. At first I wasn't keen on her; her voice was very high and a little bit whiny at times. Another reason was that the boy I was with at that time thought she was wonderful and beautiful. Overcoming my jealousy, I decided to give her a good hearing. I was enraptured. The nuances of that voice I had once thought whiny, the range of her vocals and her superb lyrics, that noone, not even Bob Dylan had previously created, were evidence of a musical genius.
Blue, Court and Spark, For the Roses, Hejira, The Hissing of Summer Lawns - I listened to them all with a mixed sense of disbelief and adoration. There wasn't only me adoring Joni, many men were entranced by her including Leonard Cohen, Graham Nash, David Crosby, James Taylor and others.
At the age of 19 she lost her virginity and became pregnant, She did her best to protect her parents from the dreadful scandal, as it was regarded at the time. She was their only child too. Joni gave up her daughter for adoption but in the late nineties she made it public that she wanted to find her daughter. She did find her, Kilaurin Gibb, and for a while the two were happily reunited. But only for a while sadly.
Joni lives alone now, saying she prefers it that way. She will be 70 years old on November 7th, and by that time she will have been smoking for 61 years. She began at age 9 when she became ill with polio. Incredible - and even now, unapologetically, she smokes like a chimney.
You would think that Joni Mitchell would be a feminist, but interestingly she declares herself not to be a feminist. She becomes very exercised by the label and disassociates herself from it wholeheartedly. The reason she gives is that feminists don't like men and they wish to separate themselves from the male of the species. Well, not quite Joni; maybe the radical, lesbian, separatist feminists do, but not the vast majority of feminists. Anyway, who cares that she may be a bit eccentric on this, when she can write lyrics such as - 'I met a woman, she had a mouth like yours, she knew your life, she knew your devils and your deeds.' What better way to describe the mother of the man she loves. Genius.
Tuesday, 15 October 2013
On Benefits and Proud
Did anyone see last night's Channel 5 programme called On Benefits and Proud? Well, if you did, you may understand what I am about to say, which is that the people who were supposedly proud, were, in reality, anything but proud. Of course they blustered and said they didn't care about what anyone said and f*** 'em all' was one woman's attitude, but they didn't really think this. As they blustered and claimed that they couldn't get a job and they were definitely not going to work in McDonald's, KFC, Burger King or any other fast food joint, their lack of self-worth and their vulnerability became fully exposed.
A couple, neither of whom had worked for at least six years, had the look of real poverty about them. I am certain that people will rail against what I think about this and accuse me of being on the loony side of left wing; nevertheless it holds true. They looked unkempt, clearly took no pride in their appearance or the condition of their home. Obviously, it doesn't cost much to buy some soap and with places like Primark, Tesco and George at Asda, clothes can be bought cheaply. But it isn't about soap and cheap clothes, it's about a huge lack of self-belief brought about by a poor education, neglectful parenting and a lack of personal resourcefulness. In other words, many benefit claimants have a mountain to climb. They see people smartly dressed, driving reliable cars, going to restaurants and the cinema, children attending good schools and they realise that those people are at the top of the mountain - a summit that for them is impossible to reach.
Next time you hear people moaning about benefit scroungers, and admittedly there are some, don't believe the bluster and bravado; look closely and see the fear inside.
A couple, neither of whom had worked for at least six years, had the look of real poverty about them. I am certain that people will rail against what I think about this and accuse me of being on the loony side of left wing; nevertheless it holds true. They looked unkempt, clearly took no pride in their appearance or the condition of their home. Obviously, it doesn't cost much to buy some soap and with places like Primark, Tesco and George at Asda, clothes can be bought cheaply. But it isn't about soap and cheap clothes, it's about a huge lack of self-belief brought about by a poor education, neglectful parenting and a lack of personal resourcefulness. In other words, many benefit claimants have a mountain to climb. They see people smartly dressed, driving reliable cars, going to restaurants and the cinema, children attending good schools and they realise that those people are at the top of the mountain - a summit that for them is impossible to reach.
Next time you hear people moaning about benefit scroungers, and admittedly there are some, don't believe the bluster and bravado; look closely and see the fear inside.
Friday, 5 July 2013
Language - forever changing
It is undeniable that language changes, otherwise we would be speaking as people did in Shakespeare's or Chaucer's time. The trouble is that people get very het up about language changing, even though they themselves will certainly be using the result of changing language.
What really upsets people is when they hear usage with which they do not agree. Perhaps what they don't realise is that some rules are not really rules at all. People bleat about the use of 'different to' or 'different than' because they were taught that 'different to' is the correct version and horror of horrors Americans say 'different than.' BUT, what people don't realise is that in the 1700s, various individuals of note, Bishop Lowth and Dr. Samuel Johnson to name but two, decided that they, along with other noteworthy influential characters,would make English resemble Latin, in order to give English higher status.
People get angry about split infinitives. In Latin you cannot split an infinitive, because in Latin, an infinitive is just one word- for example 'amare'- to love and 'credere' to think or believe. But in English you CAN split an infinitive because an English infinitive is made up of two words. This gives you the opportunity to say things like, 'To boldly go' which is probably the most famous split infinitive ever.
Another upsetting 'rule' is that a sentence must not end in a preposition. Ridiculous and made up - so much so that Winston Churchill created a sentence to illustrate how ridiculous it would sound in this particular sentence, 'This is something up with which I will not put.' It is these made up rules that cause people so much anguish.
Real rules are much more serious in that they affect meaning. Clearly, the subject and object have to be in the right order. 'Emma kicked the dog' is not the same as, 'The dog kicked Emma.' Similarly,
'Help me' is much clearer than 'me help' ( though if you are two years old that's fine).
A further thought is what will happen to the f. word? Young people use it with great frequency when talking to each other, irrespective of social class. Maybe in in 20-25 years it will have no more power than the word 'crap. But what will replace the F word? Do we need a replacement - a word to carry some potency and guts, which would replace the 'f' word. I believe so.
What really upsets people is when they hear usage with which they do not agree. Perhaps what they don't realise is that some rules are not really rules at all. People bleat about the use of 'different to' or 'different than' because they were taught that 'different to' is the correct version and horror of horrors Americans say 'different than.' BUT, what people don't realise is that in the 1700s, various individuals of note, Bishop Lowth and Dr. Samuel Johnson to name but two, decided that they, along with other noteworthy influential characters,would make English resemble Latin, in order to give English higher status.
People get angry about split infinitives. In Latin you cannot split an infinitive, because in Latin, an infinitive is just one word- for example 'amare'- to love and 'credere' to think or believe. But in English you CAN split an infinitive because an English infinitive is made up of two words. This gives you the opportunity to say things like, 'To boldly go' which is probably the most famous split infinitive ever.
Another upsetting 'rule' is that a sentence must not end in a preposition. Ridiculous and made up - so much so that Winston Churchill created a sentence to illustrate how ridiculous it would sound in this particular sentence, 'This is something up with which I will not put.' It is these made up rules that cause people so much anguish.
Real rules are much more serious in that they affect meaning. Clearly, the subject and object have to be in the right order. 'Emma kicked the dog' is not the same as, 'The dog kicked Emma.' Similarly,
'Help me' is much clearer than 'me help' ( though if you are two years old that's fine).
A further thought is what will happen to the f. word? Young people use it with great frequency when talking to each other, irrespective of social class. Maybe in in 20-25 years it will have no more power than the word 'crap. But what will replace the F word? Do we need a replacement - a word to carry some potency and guts, which would replace the 'f' word. I believe so.
Tuesday, 2 July 2013
Wimbledon grunters and screechers
I quite enjoy Wimbledon but have little tolerance for those players who shriek, scream and grunt; usually the women. In one match recently Maria Sharapova was shrieking so loudly that the whole of SW19 would have been able to hear her.
What I ask is why on earth doesn't somebody stop her? Don't her opponents find it irritating and off-putting? They must do unless they themselves are screechers. Perhaps the reason people don't complain is that they fear the consequences of complaining about someone as massive in the game a Sharapova. You can't denounce her! Nor can you criticise the racket from Serena Williams, as she hits the ball with her racquet. (You see what I did there!)
Seriously though, what does the new generation of tennis players think? I hope that both parents and coaches train the young players not to grunt and squeal. It is unsportsmanlike (there's no gender neutral term to use here) and even for the spectators it can be deeply annoying.
At the weekend Sharapova was interviewed in one of the Sunday magazines. The interviewer asked her why she screeched and shrieked. Sharapova's reply was illuminating as to the sort of person she is. So I shriek, she said, it's what I do and people will just have to get over it. Why didn't she just keep it simple and say that people can f*** off?
What I ask is why on earth doesn't somebody stop her? Don't her opponents find it irritating and off-putting? They must do unless they themselves are screechers. Perhaps the reason people don't complain is that they fear the consequences of complaining about someone as massive in the game a Sharapova. You can't denounce her! Nor can you criticise the racket from Serena Williams, as she hits the ball with her racquet. (You see what I did there!)
Seriously though, what does the new generation of tennis players think? I hope that both parents and coaches train the young players not to grunt and squeal. It is unsportsmanlike (there's no gender neutral term to use here) and even for the spectators it can be deeply annoying.
At the weekend Sharapova was interviewed in one of the Sunday magazines. The interviewer asked her why she screeched and shrieked. Sharapova's reply was illuminating as to the sort of person she is. So I shriek, she said, it's what I do and people will just have to get over it. Why didn't she just keep it simple and say that people can f*** off?
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