Evening Mici (I think I'm going to call your Mici from now on - Mic in English is a bit too much the Irish builder, not that i've got anything against Irish builders but they're mostly muscley blokes!)

Hope your studying is going well - probably better if i distract you with this on a weekend. Are you enjoying the medical stuff? What would you do with your qualification - work in a hospital?

It's interesting when you say the body is so very complicated. From one perspective it's mind-blowingly complex, especially how the foetus develops. But looked at another way it's a bit like plumbing or engineering or building - quite logical how it works.

You haven't mentioned your job since your first post - how's it going?

I am a trustee of the 24 Hour Museum which has charity status. I advise on stuff to do with interactive media. The museum is about to undergo a pretty big overhaul.

Was very interesting to read about your family history. Do you mom and dad tend to hang out with Russians despite the tough life they had in Moldova?

The place we stayed in on the Sea of Galilee was indeed Tabcha I think - it was a place for pilgrims run by Germans as far as i can remember, a great peaceful spot - at moments, like being back in biblical times.

Never heard of Damka - what kind of game is it? My kids have suddenly got into card games - I bought the older one a pack of Simpsons playing cards on my way back from a trip to Glasgow and they haven't stopped playing with them. He calls Hearts "Love" by mistake - so he talks about "the Queen of Love" or the "three of Love".

Talking of hearts, I'm glad you found my short film "heartwarming" - that's why i called it Spark. There's actually quite a lot of backstory in it which probably isn't obvious - for example, the fella fixing the old man's cut leg has a terminal disease and the old man looks out for him, so there's a lot of warmth and tenderness behind that plaster.


I think I've seen Mika on a BBC TV programme called Later with Jools Holland (formerly of Squeeze). He is very particular and interesting. He reminds me a little, beside Freddie Mercury as you say, of Anthony of 'Anthony and the Johnsons'.

It's very illuminating to see a person like Robbie Williams, with so much talent, struggling so much with life. It makes you happy to just be a regular guy/gal and enjoy the Simple Pleasures of Life. Like sitting on the shore of Yam Kinneret watching the fishermen go by. Or looking out over the allotment and following the cycle of Nature.

Your phrase about Music being "like food to the mind" reminds me of a famous line from Shakespeare: "If music be the food of love, play on" - he had a good way with words, ol' Shakey. Did you see Baz Luhrmann's movie, Romeo & Juliet?

I'm going to have to stop talking to you if you don't watch Casablanca soon! ;-)
I've just received Walk on Water - it was not easy to get over here. I'll try and watch it over the weekend and get back to you about it.

I believe Matt Lucas worked really hard to get his break - I heard him on a BBC Radio show called Desert Island Discs and it was clear he committed to drama and comedy from a young age, about 15. I saw him live when he first started stand-up comedy at London's famous Comedy Store and he was truly embarrassing to watch. It's cool how he eventually found his voice.

You mentioned Andy Warhol in your last post - I've recently seen Factory Girl with Sienna Miller. It showed Warhol in a very bad light - very shallow and heartless. The movie contrasted him with a caring and profound Bob Dylan.

Today I've been in Milton Keynes, a strange town created as a 'New Town' in the late 60s, so a very artificial, planned place. It's famous for being full of roundabouts. What I quite like about it is that when you do find something of Beauty or interest there it's all the more striking. It's a bit like the French poet Charles Baudelaire's concept of 'paradis artificiel' - natural beauty enhanced by the artificial like the ribbon round Olympia's neck in Manet's picture above, and the bracelet and shoe.

Have a lovely weekend
A