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Showing posts from February, 2015

Birth Trauma

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Around the turn of the 1970s I re-experienced something of my birth...or "rebirth" into this world. It took place in Spain. I was a child, and I had curled up into the foetal position on the back seat of my parents car. Whilst sleeping, I entered into a "low" "sub-normal" state of conciousness...I was aware of being unable to move. I was having trouble breathing. Infact, I felt I was "suffocating".I was trapped in a confined space (ie. the womb). I could see the exit of the birth canal. Instead of a hospital I could see the backs of my parents in the front seat of the car. I was feeling increasingly terrified because of my "immobilisation". I tried to scream out several times....but they were mental screams...and thus, my parents could not hear me... As this was happening I could hear music. It could have come from the car radio but I do not know. It was like military music of the 18th Century. My late mater was doing some research

The Pleasure of Intelligent Films......

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(Ref Wikepedia) When it comes to films I am very selective. I love quality high brow movies which have a strong sense of depth, and meaning. Most films are somehow lacking this dimension as far as I am concerned. Alot of them are shallow, and weak on character, and plot. Quite a number of them are frankly de-humanising with an obssession with senseless voyeuristic violence. This is a sad reflection of society, and our world in general. Anyway, I thought I would list my key film favourites. Propero's Books is at the top of my list, and is my all time favourite....but most people would find it dull, and heavy going.... The following is my personal listing... 1. The Draughtsman Contract (1982). A film directed by the legendary Peter Greenaway, and gorgious music by the one, and only Michael Nyman. The former also directed Prosperos Books... 2. The Piano (1993). I knew the man who actually made the Piano for the Piano film, a certain Alan Whear who lived in Windsor, w

The Curfew Tower of Windsor Castle

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Back in the early 1970s I knew the old guide at the Curfew Tower of Windsor Castle. He was called George Hudson. From around the ages of 13 - 16  I used to help him with the second floor of the Tower itself as an unofficial guide. The history of this building was surprisingly interesting, and quite often tourists would miss out on not visiting it. Among other things, it is the home of the "small" dungeons where beehive shaped stone cells can still be seen. One poor prisoner tried to make a hole in one of them but was unfortunately caught as he emerged through the guard room of the Curfew Tower. Nowadays, the dungeons are used for social occasions! What follows is a listed, and "potted" description of the Curfew Tower. Here, I am only relying on memory. I may check for accuracy at some later date... The Guard Room/The "First Floor" (excluding the dungeons which could be seen as being the "basement"). This was also the place where the bel