Wednesday, February 05, 2020

A modest pleasure (updated)

Yesterday we woke to gales of 37 kmh and rain and the bad weather was set to continue all day so I decided I'd write all morning and then go on the train to Sheffield to see A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood, the new Tom Hanks film. The film has got good reviews and it sounded as if it was just up my street, as it's based on a true story of kindness overcoming cynicism.

The problem was that when it was time to set off, the wind had dropped and the sun was out. Shouldn't I grab the fine weather and go outside instead of sitting in the cinema? If this was the last day of my life, which would I choose? The fresh air of course. I only ever go to the cinema in the daytime in winter, when the weather is bad.

Dither, dither, I had to decide or I'd miss the train. So I checked the weather forecast for today, Wednesday: it was good, so I could get a bike ride in. I was still undecided, and Dave wasn't there to offer his two pennyworth so I grabbed the Magic 8 ball. 

I've never done this before to make a decision. I bought it for research purposes when Jane and I decided that Iain, a character in Plotting for Beginners and Plotting for Grown-upsshould be in the habit of consulting a Magic 8 ball when he couldn't decide about something. 

'Shall I go to see the film?' I asked.

'Yes, definitely' was the answer.  




The film was OK. Yes, it was good, I suppose, but it did not move me, and I did not emerge from the cinema enthused. Mr Rogers was obviously doing valuable work with children via his TV show, in teaching them how to manage their feelings, and with his message that everyone is valuable and special. 

However, at times I found the character slightly creepy, and there was one scene where he was so annoying I actually wanted to punch him in the face. The journalist is asking him questions and Mr R doesn't answer. Instead, he takes out his glove puppets and gets them to ask personal questions of the journalist. The journalist walks out, and good for him. Was this what really happened? I'll have to ask the Aging Hippie if the real Mr Rogers of American TV was really like the character in the film.

I actually enjoyed my evening at home by the fire much more, fielding a new set of questions about the cat's cognition that Dave comes out with every night and which drive me demented. 

'I suppose cats are completely unaware of death?'

and 

'Do you think she plans her week at all?'

I've just drawn the blinds and it looks like this:



Not exactly promising. If the sun doesn't come out I shall feel even more like punching Mr Rogers in the face. 

   

2 comments:

Helen said...

Perhaps you should get Dave to consult the Magic 8 ball instead of asking you? My answers to his questions would be "I hope so" and "Yes - but if her plans are anything like Cobweb's, they involve doing bugger all."

Sue Hepworth said...

You made me laugh! I like your thinking, but he wouldn't have any truc with 'that nonsense.'
Musing about the cat, however, is 'scientific enquiry.'