By the time you’ve read this you’ve missed it – sorry .
On Sunday and Monday I felt proud and happy and on Thursday I was blessed once again to feel proud and happy – not twice but thrice p.a.h.f. in one week is more than just a Brucie bonus .
On Thursday Jacob’s film was screened on the open Screenings event at The Whitechapel Gallery .A great space , 6 very diverse films ,lovely people , post-viewing drinkies in a proper pub and a couple of samosas down Brick Lane for our supper .Could only have been a better evening if Florence had been there ( to see herself and the rest of us on the big screen ) .
I won’t bore you with the other stuff , but the Proddy Son has Eurostarred it back to Dam , John and i have seen Bohemian Rhapsody and although neither of us are a fan of Queen ( especially THAT song – I actually can’t bear it ) , we thought the film was great and that Rami Malek was pure genius.
It is funny how the brain works , because as soon as I heard
”Tonight, I’m gonna have myself a real good time
I feel alive and the world I’ll turn it inside out, yeah
And floating around in ecstasy
So don’t stop me now don’t stop me
‘Cause I’m having a good time, having a good time………”
It took me back to a precise place and time
– 2004 ,our front room , Rosie ,Florence and I squished onto the settee watching a documentary ”The Boy Whose Skin Fell Off’- a film about a young Geordie man ,Jonny Kennedy ,who had a terrible condition , Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa which meant his skin fell off at the slightest touch . He was amazing , funny , caring and philosophical about his death .He loved that song and wanted it played at his funeral . This film really effected the 3 of us , we talked about it a lot
Jonny died on September 26, 2003 in his wheelchair on a train as he was returning home from meeting with Cherie Blair. Jonny was trying to raise awareness of EB so other children born with the disease would not have to live as he did.The day after he died, His mother Edna found a note addressed to her which said, “Do not be sad for I am free. I could not have done so much with my life were it not for you. I leave you with a symbol of my strength and all my love.” The parcel contained a gold brooch that Jonny had made for her. It was fashioned in the shape of a tiger with a ruby for an eye.