Author: ian

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Update

Thank you to all of you who have found my publishings to have been of interest. Even to the gentleman who took the time to give them a rating of “B+”.

I attempt to read each and every one and I don’t mind admitting that one comment was so glowing and so heartfelt that I choked up half of the way through when I chose to read it aloud to Tiki.

Thank you to the gentleman who expressed the view that I “ROCK” and to another for stating so unreservedly that I am an “intelligent man!”.

At a time when people are being trolled to the point of committing suicide, I’m sure you can appreciate just how much I appreciate such comments.

Thank you to the gentleman who informed me recently that he found that my posts were becoming “stale”. Since then I’ve attempted to vary them.

No thanks to the person who told me that he/she lamented the fact that I didn’t have a ‘donate button’ and since its installation, at my expense, still regrets that I don’t have one.

Presently, entertaining and attempting to inform you is my top priority and whilst glowing comments inspire me, it does deflate me, somewhat, that besides the gentleman who installed the ‘button’, and a friend who donated to ensure that it was still operational, not one other have I received.

I would consider no such donation to be too small. If you wish my contributions to continue as they are, it is up to those of you who can afford to contribute a little to make the effort.

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“She Loves Me?”: Saturday, 27th August, 1977

We awoke at 6.30 a.m. but, as Tiki felt tired, we lay in bed for a further two hours. “Mum” rang just as Tiki was entering the shower and I would like to think I entertained her, by talking about the actors Kenneth More, the late Gary Cooper and the late Walter “The Real McCoys” Brennan, until her daughter re-emerged. We agreed to meet her at ten o’clock, in Miranda Fair, on what was another gloriously sunny morning.

I immediately prepared to take my shower, but not before Tiki had warned me that should I not be out within ten minutes I would have a basin of cold water thrown over me. Whilst I complied with her instruction, I still had cold water thrown over me. Twice! Before she told me of how much she loved me.

Once we had returned home from shopping, I set out to walk to her parents’ via the drive-in at the Caringbah Inn where I purchased two bottles of Tooth’s KB — beer is supposed to assist in the lowering of one’s cholesterol — for one dollar and fifty-four cents. Tiki clipped her white poodle, “Fifi”, prior to her also giving me a haircut.

The news on Channel Seven, from half past five, was followed by “Seven’s Big League” at six, which featured the replay of this afternoon’s major preliminary semifinal between Eastern Suburbs and St. George. Eastern Suburbs played poorly, and to add to its woes Arthur Beetson was sent off, ten minutes after the break, because he had elbowed Ted Goodwin. Eastern Suburbs will now play the winner of tomorrow’s minor preliminary semifinal between Manly-Warringah and Balmain.

Veteran actor, Buddy Ebsen, tracks down a murderess — played by the British actress, Pamela Franklin — in this evening’s edition of the series, “Barnaby Jones”, from half past seven. “Mum” drove us home, at 8.30, along with two old chairs she had donated towards our kitchen table, together with the nice indoor plant that she had kindly bought for us today. Its leaves resemble those of a monstera deliciosa.

I watched Bob Willis and Mike Hendrick add thirty-three runs at The Oval before England’s first innings came to an end with the total on two hundred and fourteen. Craig Serjeant was trapped l.b.w. for a duck and Australia was 1-6 at lunch, and 1-11 at tea; after which there was to be no further play. Australia defeated South Korea by two goals to one, at the Showground, to keep alive its hopes of qualifying for soccer’s World Cup.

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“A Wee Caravan!”: Sunday, 28th August, 1977

I arose and left the house to buy a copy of “The Sun-Herald” from the paperboy. It cost me fifteen cents. The day was to remain overcast, but there could be few complaints for it has been the first without copious amounts of sunshine in weeks.

This evening we watched the replay of this afternoon’s minor preliminary semifinal between the Balmain ‘Tigers’ and the Manly-Warringah ‘Sea Eagles’. The latter’s handling let it down badly and the team could have considered itself lucky  to have trailed by just five points to seven at half-time. Manly’s Terry Randall injured a knee and did not return to the field for the second half. Although a try by Lindsay Drake levelled the score at ten all, the star of the match, English five-eighth, David Topliss, kicked a cheeky field goal to snatch back the lead. From that point on, Balmain, with a glut of possession from the scrums, went on to win comfortably by twenty-three points to fifteen.

Lindsay Wagner portrays Jaime Sommers in the series, “The Bionic Woman”, from half past seven. An hour later, on Channel Nine, the film, “Stand Up And Be Counted”, which was produced in 1972, is screened. Jacqueline Bisset, Gary “Follow The Sun”/”The Lieutenant” Lockwood and Stella Stevens are among its cast.

Tiki informed me that on her parents’ first trip around Australia “Mum” developed such an aversion to having to leave their caravan of a night, in unfamiliar surroundings and go in search of caravan parks’ public amenities, that “Dad” devised the idea of purchasing a large funnel and more than a metre of hose. He drilled a hole in the floor of a cupboard, connected the hose to the funnel and poked the remainder of its length through the hole in the floor. Problem solved!

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Articulate English: Adverbs

Adverbs, as the name would suggest, add to the verb in a sentence.

Many people incorrectly use the adjective ‘real’ — which can mean genuine — when they should use the adverb ‘really’.

The sentence ‘I feel real good.’ should read ‘I feel really well.’ The adverb, ‘really’, adds emphasis to the verb, ‘feel’.

‘He is a real good player.’ becomes ‘He is a really good player.’

In this instance the adverb, ‘really’, adds to the verb, ‘is’.

Many adverbs end in ‘-ly’ e.g., The bird flew swiftly. She ran quickly (not ‘quick’). He boxed cleverly (not ‘clever’). The runner finished the race strongly (not ‘strong’). The aeroplane landed safely (not ‘safe’).

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“Too Much Like Hard Work!”: Monday, 29th August, 1977

I signed a blank cheque so that Tiki could fill in the remainder of it when she purchased our new lawn-mower from Gillespie’s in Rockdale. “Dad” had noticed the store’s advertisement in the local paper last Saturday and had drawn our attention to it.

In the meantime I bought a weighty, grey crowbar from Nock and Kirby, in Miranda Fair, at a cost of nine dollars and fifty cents. I had already made the decision to carry it home and as I descended the pedestrian ramp an elderly gentleman commented, “That’s hard work, mate!”

He certainly wasn’t wrong! For after I had given the earth around the tree stump I intended to remove, about forty stout blows the sum of my progress was the creation of a blister on the lower section of my right thumb.

Having perused a repetition of the British series, “The Saint”, I turned the dial to Channel Ten and the local pop show, “Right On”. It is hosted by the young, buxom Kobe Steele. Today’s edition included footage of veteran rock star Cliff Richard singing “My Kinda Life”, from his current LP, ‘Every Face Tells A Story’. Kobe remarked on how ‘brilliant’ and ‘professional’ Cliff’s recent Australian concerts were this year. Smokie performed “Lay Back In The Arms Of Someone”, and The Electric Light Orchestra, “Telephone Line”: an outstanding sound, which is reminiscent of the 1960s.

“Dad” and Tiki arrived in his red ute, which contained our new Victa ‘Contessa’. It had cost us one hundred and sixty-nine dollars.

“Flashez”, another Australian pop show, hosted by the singer, Ray Burgess, airs for half an hour from half past five on the ABC-TV’s Channel Two. Today’s programme features the extremely popular local band, Sherbet, performing its current hit, “Magazine Madonna”.

James “Maverick” Garner appears as the private investigator, Jim Rockford, in the series, “The Rockford Files”, from half past seven. Swedish actress, Camilla Sparv is a guest star in this evening’s edition in which the task is to determine which statuettes of the cormorant are genuine. Jim Rockford’s home is that of a caravan at the beach.

Having washed the dishes, I decided to retire early at half past eight. Sydney’s maximum temperature reached a pleasantly mild twenty-two degrees Celsius.

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Faye Adams

Faye Tuell was born in Newark, New Jersey, in May of 1923. Her father, David Tuell, was a singer of gospel music and, from the age of five, Faye joined two of her older sisters in the singing of spirituals.

Faye married Tommy Scruggs, in 1942, and under her married name performed in nightclubs in New York. In 1952, she became the vocalist in a band led by Joe Morris. It was to be her recording of the song, “Shake A Hand”, under the name of Faye Adams, that was to give her her initial and largest hit. “Shake A Hand”, Joe’s own composition, spent ten weeks atop the rhythm and blues chart, in the latter half of 1953.

Before the year had ended, “I’ll Be True” had followed it; also bound for No.1. Almost a year later, “Hurts Me To My Heart” spent five weeks at No.1. In 1955, Faye Adams appeared in the film, ‘Rhythm And Blues Revue’.

http://youtu.be/-T1bpxMr7OQ

At the time of writing Faye is ninety-four years of age.

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‘The Prince’: Tuesday, 30th August, 1977

“Australia” defeated “Sverige” by fifty seconds to take a commanding lead of three races to nil over her Swedish opponent. Meanwhile Australia’s team at cricket passed England’s first innings total, but tomorrow is the fifth and final day and a result appears to be out of the question. Its score at stumps sits on 6-226 of which David Hookes contributed 85 and Rod Marsh an unbeaten 53.

Having used the crowbar and a spade to remove the largest dead stump from beside our driveway, I watched “The Maggie Eckardt Hour” from ten past eleven and, at noon, “Keep Pace With Harriet”. Jill Perrryman was a guest on “The Mike Walsh Show”, which I attempted to view simultaneously.

Two pounds of veal stake cost me three dollars and thirty-two cents at Miranda Fair. I had retreated out of the heat and squally conditions by a quarter to three. In actual fact, Sydney’s maximum temperature reached 28.3 degrees Celsius, which means it has been the city’s warmest day in August since 1954.

In spite of me having recollections of this afternoon’s programme of “The Saint”, I watched it again, anyway. At four o’clock, I turned the knob to Channel Ten to view the pop show, “Right On”, which has Kobe Steele as its hostess.

Tiki is fed up with her job and wants to leave it. We drove in to town where a cappuccino in the Hoyts Cinema Centre cost us fifty cents each. We were there to see “The Deep”, which stars Robert Shaw, Jacqueline Bisset and Nick Nolte. Prior to intermission, two short films were screened. “The Tennis Lesson” contains the simulation of sex between a woman and a machine, ‘The Prince’, that projects the balls. The other reviews this year’s “City To Surf” footrace which was sponsored by Sydney’s “The Sun” newspaper. Fifteen thousand competitors faced the starter.

Tiki is in a much better frame of mind, having thoroughly enjoyed “The Deep”. It pleased me, too, although I declared its finale to be an improbable one.

 

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Max’s Last Official Test: Wednesday, 31st August, 1977

The Fifth and final Test, which was played at The Oval, ended in a predictable draw with England being 2-57 at the close of play. Australia had been dismissed in its first innings for 385 of which Max “Tangles” Walker, who is much more renowned for his ability with the ball in hand, having contributed an unbeaten 78, in this his last appearance in an official Test. This tally had given Australia a lead of 171 runs.

In the America’s Cup, Alan Bond’s yacht, “Australia”, wrapped up the foreign challengers’ final, 4-0, when she defeated the Swedish contender, “Sverige”, by the huge margin of thirteen minutes and nineteen seconds.

From noon, on this miserable overcast day, I alternated my viewing between “Keep Pace With Harriet”, on Channel Ten, and “The Mike Walsh Show”, which was hosted this afternoon by Sue Smith. The latter show featured a ‘Puppy-Pooper-Picker-Upper’: a cylindrical device for picking up dogs’ droppings from footpaths and the like. Philip Brady, who was playing for a home viewer, then defeated the actress, Joanna Lockwood, in a quiz which was based on the subject of show business.

It had begun to rain again by half past one and so I watched “Jeanne’s Little Show”, which featured the zany Jeanne Little riding on public buses as she impersonated a conductress. She gave out apples to passengers who were deemed to be sitting in ‘lucky’ seats, and attempted to sell a ticket to a policeman when, by law, they are permitted to travel free of charge.

The British series, “Billy Liar”, followed one hour later, on Channel Seven, before “The Saint”, which stars Roger Moore as Simon Templar, screened from three o’clock. “Right On” was viewed from four.

I walked to Miranda to buy the newspaper and, in so doing, covered my four hundred and seventh mile. “Flashez” was followed at six by “Country Road”, a new programme which actually aired for the first time yesterday.

A programme by Jacques Cousteau, “The Coral Divers Of Corsica”, followed “Willesee” at half past seven. I washed the dishes and, at half past eight, began watching “The Forbin Project”, that bears the copyright of 1969. Starring Susan Clark, it is about a computer named ‘Colossus’ that becomes uncontrollable. I began to doze off, hence at half past nine it was decided that I should put out the garbage bin and retire to bed, thereby leaving Tiki to view the remainder of the movie.

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The Top 40 Fantasies No.2

1. It’s A Heartache (1977)                                                                                                                                                                                                               Bonnie Tyler                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2. Marie (1937)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Tommy Dorsey; vocalist: Jack Leonard

3. Mozart : 1st Movement From Symphony No.40 (1971)                                                                                                                                                      Waldo De Los Rios

4. Little Bitty Pretty One (1957)                                                                                                                                                                                                    Thurston Harris

5. When You Walk In The Room (1964)                                                                                                                                                                                      The Searchers

6. That’s All Right Mama (1946)                                                                                                                                                                                                    Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup

7. Whatever Happened To Old Fashioned Love (1983)                                                                                                                                                             B.J. Thomas

8. Let The Good Times Roll (1956)                                                                                                                                                                                               Shirley and Lee

9. I’ll Make You Happy (Just Like Your Mama Wants) (1966)                                                                                                                                                The Easybeats

10. My Hang-Up Is You (1972)                                                                                                                                                                                                        Freddie Hart

11. Jingle, Jangle, Jingle (1942)                                                                                                                                                                                                       Kay Kyser; vocalists: Julie Conway and Harry Babbitt

12. Funkytown (1980)                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Lipps Inc.

13. My Sweet Lord (1970)                                                                                                                                                                                                                 George Harrison

14. At Last (1961)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Etta James

15. Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car (1988)                                                                                                                                                                     Billy Ocean

16. Five O’Clock World (1965)                                                                                                                                                                                                          The Vogues

17. The Ballad Of Lover’s Hill (1963)                                                                                                                                                                                               Teresa Brewer

18. Pictures Of Matchstick Men (1968)                                                                                                                                                                                            Status Quo

19. It’s The Little Things (1967)                                                                                                                                                                                                         Sonny James

20. I Found A Love (1962)                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The Falcons

21. Axel F. (1985)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Harold Faltermeyer

22. At Last (1942)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Glenn Miller; vocalist: Ray Eberle

23. Living Next Door To Alice (1972)                                                                                                                                                                                                The New World

24. I’d Rather Be Sorry (1971)                                                                                                                                                                                                              Ray Price

25. Language Of Love (1961)                                                                                                                                                                                                                John D. Laudermilk

26. Dear Hearts And Gentle People (1949)                                                                                                                                                                                       Bing Crosby

27. Rock ‘N’ Roll Ruby (1956)                                                                                                                                                                                                               Warren Smith

28. Be Bop Boogie (1950)                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Mustard and Gravy

29. I Ain’t Living Long Like This (1980)                                                                                                                                                                                             Waylon Jennings

30. Marilyn (1952)                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Ray Anthony; vocals: Tommy Mercer and The Skyliners

31. Numbers Boogie (1949)                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Sugar Chile Robinson

32. Summer (1976)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                War

33. In The Middle Of A Heartache (1961)                                                                                                                                                                                          Wanda Jackson

34. When You Walk In The Room (1987)                                                                                                                                                                                          Paul Carrack

35. Parade Of Broken Hearts (1957)                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ned Miller

36. Living Next Door To Alice (1976)                                                                                                                                                                                                  Smokie

37. Universal Soldier (1965)                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Donovan

38. Sugar On Sunday (1969)                                                                                                                                                                                                               Tommy James and The Shondells

39. Better (1991)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       The Screaming Jets

40. Ma Belle Marguerite (1947)                                                                                                                                                                                                             Georges Guetary

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Articulate English: Auxiliary Verbs

Many people know far more about English grammar than I, so should you detect a failing in this area on my part, please, notify me.

Some verbs (or “doing words”) are readily recognisable, e.g., run, jump, throw…while others are not so easily detectable.

These include: am, is, was, were, has, have, had, did, do, done.

Sometimes these act as auxiliary (or “helping”) verbs which precede other verbs, e.g., I do think; he is arriving; have they paid?

In the above instances ‘do think’, ‘is arriving’, ‘have…paid’ are examples of what some people term “double verbs”.

The double verb ‘is arriving’ consists of the auxiliary verb ‘is’ and the present participle ‘arriving’. Using the past tense ‘is arriving’ would become ‘had arrived’, with ‘had’ being the auxiliary verb and ‘arrived’, the past participle.