sense and sensibility of entitlement

Malcolm Rifkind thinks he is entitled to that money.   I suppose compared to those he mixes with this is indeed small change. However for most outside the bubble, it's a lot and MR lacks the sensibility for those who aren't paid well.   He is being pushed out not because he lacks sensibility, but because he's been seen to lack sensibility. All those in office lack sensibility, have an over inflated sense of self worth, and think they are above the law (they do make it after all),  They just realise that if they were perceived that way, we might get rid of them, not that we're spoilt for choice in Westminster.   MR was ironically one of the more in touch ones.   Shows you just how pompous the others are. ….and political..

..AND THEN THE UPS AND DOWNS OF EASTENDERS

Haven't seen Eastenders in decades but watched this one.   One murder, three confessions, one attempted infidelity, several slaps, one cake in face, three comebacks, one attempted arson, one childbirth in the toilet, lots of long lingering stares, a day in the life of Eastenders. Lots of blonds who all look and sound like each other (no wonder Danny Dyer got mixed up).    Makes anyones life dull in comparison.  Or perhaps not.   Average day on Richmond Green really.  And the ten year old did it with the mercano set in the sitting room.   They should get the writers of Eastenders to write a 50 Shades of Grey.  It would be hilarious.

ANOTHER DAY OF UPS AND DOWNS

Wonderful ride in a helicopter over London. Its a must do. Its a lot of money but its worth it. Think two/three nights out with the family instead of one helicopter ride and they will remember the helicopter ride more.   And they won't want to eat afterwards so save on the food.

Came down to earth at the end of the day, as is the way, but working into the early hours as usual.   It was a beautiful day sunshine wise. And I was with Tom which was lovely.

A VERY WEIRD DAY

This morning I got a parking ticket on my car, in my street, while the engine was running and the windscreen wipers were on. It was frosty and the screen was thawing and some arsehole on a scooter (learner) put it on there.  I am contesting it and won't pay it. Not under any circumstances.    Going to write about it for the magazine as well.    I teach yoga but I did not and do not feel very zen today.   I keep thinking of that scene in the film 'The Counsellor' and how Brad Pitt dies.  If only I could get my hand on one of those things.  

Yoga was wonderful, so I became zen again. I love teaching it and those I teach so that was fine.   Mind you if I see the boy on the bike….

Next Kingsman. The film. Forget the rest.  This is the best.    It is a vicious, very clever take at the Bond franchise.  Everything is exaggerated, well you HOPE its exaggerated.   The Swedish are sluts.   The English are Saville Row tailored stuck up chinless twats with no values, pedigree (inbred), faux compassion and faux friends or Jeremy Kyle, trailer trash, in bred, chavs who beat each other up, steal naff cars and look as though they have .   The Americans are bigoted, narrow minded, racist, anti Catholic, anti Jew (really?) anti anything that isn't American allegedly.  

All those who think they are better than everyone else in the world have their heads blown off (sorry spoiler alert there) and all the baddies die. There is a phenomenal slice (as opposed to dig) at unintentional killer/athlete Pretorius.

There are some shocking scenes and one liners.  A Swedish princess says one of the best.   "Did she really say that?" Yup.   There is a scene in a church which goes on forever which shows you just how devisive and stupid the Bond franchise is. The difference is you KNOW the Bond movies are fake and glamorised.  This movie pushes the boundaries of PC - actually it smashes them to bits, but the clever thing about it is that Kingsman makes you realise how the Bond franchise actually pushes it as well.   And that the bigotry in these films is not too far from the truth.  

So screw the parking attendant. Just written the letter of protest, going to work on the essay thats taken me forever but I will do, and then in a helicopter tomorrow weather permitting.  

FIFTY SHADES OF PROSTITUTION

I have given in. I have bought a copy of  Fifty Shades of Grey.   It sits opposite me as I work the deadlines.   I read a bit of it online and it made me laugh so I've bought it.   E L James, who's personal trainer I know, thinks of many more than fifty ways to call 'the rose bud'.   I wonder.  Was that what Citizen Kane's last words meant before he died?   Yup.

I haven't seen the film but want to. As my advertising friend said, its more an excellence in marketing than in literature, something which publishers should know about but failed to see when it first came out.

As stories go it is about a young woman who signs a business contract to be submissive and sexually subservient in return for financial support.   Isn't this a marriage contract?  Although of course that is not what its called. Perhaps it should be called this because then at least both sides would know what they are in it for. The fact they may feel emotional towards each other in some way is another layer of the onion but it is not the purpose of the contract.    I haven't read the book so don't know if Mr Grey had an exclusivity clause, or year by year clause or any clause which I've heard about in recent pre nup agreements.   Any way it is about back to basics.  Basic instinct that is, not basic values.   And as always the woman is still on top, the man just thinks he is. Bless.

BTW, I attended the book launch of comedienne Helen Lederer at the Hospital Club in Covent Garden. V nice lady v good book.  Lots of lovies, air kissing, herbal happy pills.    Got into conversation with someone who talked about Fifty Shades and said it was prostitution.   She said that the heroine wouldn't have allowed the hero to control her if he wasn't a billionaire and handsome.  I'm not sure. I'm writing about this sort of thing in psychology at the moment. I wonder if Anastasia had a pushy mother who told her to go out and find a rich man and then do anything he told her to.  I think women do what Anastasia does for a lot less.