Saturday, July 28, 2018

08:00 Lois and I get up and after breakfast we head over to the local Sainsburys supermarket to do the food shopping. We come home and relax with a cup of coffee on the couch.

It rains on and off during the day, including a few claps of thunder, which is a bit of a relief after the recent heat wave. The temperature is lower also, thank god.

We know that both of our two daughters are busy this weekend, which always makes Lois feel a little lonely and restless. She does not like the feeling that she cannot talk to them and I know what she means. We feel a bit redundant, which is a little irrational, but we cannot help it. We sometimes feel that we no longer have any meaningful role, which is true from nature's point of view - we are too old to have more children so nature does not care if we get sick and / or die and so does not bother to update our bodies' physical defense mechanisms ha ha! Damn, also yikes - just our luck !!!

Sarah, our younger daughter, who lives in Perth, Australia is busy today preparing for her twins' 5th birthday party taking place tomorrow. They have invited about 12 of the twins' little friends from their kindergarten.

Alison, our elder daughter, and her family, are spending time with some of the many friends they got to know during their recent 6-year stay in Copenhagen. Alison was also busy last weekend when her parents-in-law were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary with their 5 children (and their partners) and some of their many grandchildren in a large holiday home in Bridgwater, Somerset.

Later in the day, I take a little look online, and I see that Alison has added a couple of charming photos to Facebook / Instagram, taken over last weekend:

Alison and Ed with their 3 children -

Josie (11), Isaac (8), and Rosalind (10)

Alison's parents-in-law celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last weekend

along with their 5 children (and their partners) and some of their many grandchildren

in a big house near Bridgwater, Somerset

11:30 I hop up on my exercise bike and cycle my usual 6 miles: easier today because of the cooler weather.

12:30 We have lunch and afterwards I go to bed and take a huge afternoon nap. I get up at 3 o'clock and sit down in front of my laptop.

I read another roughly 10 pages of "Svigtet", the Danish crime novella which is our U3A Danish group's current project. As group leader, it is my responsibility to read the pages in advance and to make vocabulary lists at the bottom of each page, to save members having to look the harder words up in a dictionary - I am so considerate ha ha. It also enables me to find out in advance where the sex scenes are going to come, and mark the naughty passages with "skip over this during group meetings" - yikes!

The novella's heroine is Pia, a police forensics expert. She and her boyfriend, Lars, are both working on an creepy case: a year-old dead body has been found in an outhouse on an old farm far out into the country.

Pia Holm, Police Forensic Medicine expert

The conventional sexual stereotypes are reversed between Pia and Lars. Lars is a steady young man who is only interested in committed relationships, while Pia likes to sleep around. Pia makes use of a business trip to Copenhagen in connection with the current murder case, in order to have sex with Andreas, an old friend from her forensic training days, and a few days ago, unfortunately, I read all about this encounter and had to mark one whole long paragraph with "skip over this one".

And now today, I find out that when Pia returns home after her business trip, Lars, her boyfriend, discovers that she has been unfaithful to him and the couple end up by, firstly, quarrelling, and then afterwards having sex on the couch: he is angry and she wants to calm him down and get him thinking about something other than her unfaithfulness. Good grief, yet another 3 paragraphs to mark up with my legendary "blue pencil". What madness!

During our group meetings, we always take turns to each read a few paragraphs and then translate them into English. I think the most embarrassing descriptions are about people either taking their own underwear off or to pulling them off someone else, and what's worst of all are the descriptions of the body's physical signs of sexual arousal (male and female). These are all no-nos in a mixed sex group, I think: in England, at least ha ha! Maybe it's different on the continent, but that's something I'm not entirely sure about.

Probably in reality, the members of the group would not blink an eyelid, and actually not give a damn about whether Pia and Andreas, for example, let "their hungry bodies unite" or "go into a rocking-motion" etc or not. It may be that group members' own private lives are overflowing with sex scenes. But if not, it would expose me to possible criticism, because it was me who chose the novella as our project without really knowing the contents of the novella in detail. And what's the most important thing? That I avoid criticism ha ha ha (again).

My god, it's not easy to be a group leader. All of this sex keeps me busy and occupied, no doubt about that. Busy busy busy.

18:00 We have dinner and spend the rest of the evening watching television. An interesting regular weekly program is on, all about the previous week's BBC Proms concerts. The host of the program is the charming Katie Derham. Lois and I are critical of her top again - too loose this week, and too big, we think. My god, we are so superficial.

Katie Derham, the program's charming host. Once again, Lois and I

do not like her attire – my god, we are so superficial.

An interesting program that shows another gender role reversal, because the work of the BBC's radiophonic workshop, that is, the creation of artificial, synthetic sound effects, might be thought to be more typically a male obsession. But in fact, it was women who organized it all, starting from the 1940s during the Second World War with Daphne Oram's groundbreaking projects. Oram's orchestral work, "Still Point" (composed in 1946), was performed as part of this past week's Proms concert program.

The workshop itself is a collection of equipment from the Radiophonic Workshop, and exhibited now at the Science Museum, London. It has made up one of the BBC's sound effect departments and was established in 1958 to produce sound effects and music for radio, and later on, television shows. The unit has been famous for its experimental and innovative work in electronic music and music technology. They created, for example, the famous signature tune for the BBC's sci-fi series Dr. Who.

Katie's guests listen to Dr. Whos's famous signature tune

Daphne Oram, responsible for much of the groundbreaking work

carried out in the field of synthetic music

21:00 We continue to watch a bit of television. An interesting documentary is on, all about the Swedish pop group Abba.

I had low expectations about this program because Lois and I have seen a lot of documentaries about Abba before, but in fact it turns out to be an intelligent presentation. The program shows a lot of interviews with Björn Ulvæus, the group's keyboard player and co-songwriter (together with Benni Andersen). Björn is a very intelligent man, we think.

At the beginning Björn was every much inspired by English pop music in the 1950s and 1960s. In the late 1950s, his cousin traveled to England and saw the then skiffle craze, and his cousin's reaction suggested to Björn that anyone can learn to play music, and this inspired him to try it out. And when Björn heard the Beatles song "She Loves You", he also realized that singers could compose their own songs.

The Abba group had many hits on the continent, but Bjørn realized that they would have to get a breakthrough in the Anglo-Saxon music world to be considered a "proper" pop group. And only by winning the Eurovision Song Contest could they attract the necessary attention in Britain and Australia.

22:00 Lois has been feeling a little nostalgic today, mostly because she is sensing our isolation vis a vis our two daughters, both busy with their own families today. It's a bit of a shame, but also a little predictable that the Abba documentary film includes their song "Slipping Through My Fingers", which is about a parent's sadness at seeing her little daughter start school.

"Slipping Through My Fingers"

Lois says she wishes she could remember more than she does about our daughters' childhoods. But such is life, I think. When you're busy, you do not have time to store memories away, which is a bit of a shame. At least we have our photographs. "Time it was, and what a time it was, I have a photograph. Preserve your memories. They're all that's left you. "(Copyright Paul Simon).

But back to reality - hurrah! We hop into bed. I read 12 pages of my bedtime book, JD Salinger's "Catcher in the Rye", before I drift off to sleep - zzzzzzzz !!!!!

Danish  translation

08:00 Lois og jeg står op og efter morgenmad kører vi over til det lokale Sainsburys-supermarked for at købe ind. Vi kommer hjem og slapper af med en kop kaffe i sofaen.

Det regner af og til i løbet af dagen, inklusive et par tordenskrald, hvilket er lidt af en lettelse efter den nylige hedebølge. Temperaturen er lavere også gudskelov.

Vi ved godt, at begge vores to døtre har travlt denne weekend, hvilket altid gør Lois føle sig lidt ensom og hvileløs. Hun kan ikke lide følelsen, at hun ikke kan tale med dem, og jeg ved, hvad hun mener. Vi føler os lidt overflødige, hvilket er lidt irrationelt, men vi kan ikke gøre for det. Vi føler nogle gange, at vi ikke længere har en betydningsfuld rolle, hvilket er sandt fra naturens synspunkt – vi er for gamle til at få flere børn, så naturen er ligeglad med, at vi bliver syge og/eller dø og ikke gide at opdatere vores kroppes fysiske forsværmekanismer ha ha! Pokkers, også yikes – bare vores held!!!

Sarah, vores yngste datter, der bor i Perth, Australien har travlt i dag med forberedelserne på tvillingernes 5-års fødselsdagsfest, der finder sted i morgen. De har inviteret ca. 12 af tvillingernes små venner fra deres børnehave.

Alison, vores ældste dattter,  og hendes familie tilbringer tid med nogle af de mange venner, de lærte at kende under deres 6-års ophold i København. Hun havde travlt også sidste weekend, da hendes svigerforældre fejrede deres 50-års bryllupsdag sammen med deres 5 børn (og deres partnere), og nogle af deres mange børnebørn i et stort feriehus i Bridgwater, Somerset.

Senere på dagen kigger jeg lidt på nettet, og jeg ser, at Alison har lagt et par charmerende fotos op på Facebook/Instagram, der blev taget i løbet af weekenden:

Alison og Ed med deres 3 børn –

Josie (11), Rosalind (10) og Isaac (8)

Alisons svigerforældre fejrede sidste weekend deres 50-års bryllupsdag

sammen med deres 5 børn (og deres partnere), og nogle af deres mange børnebørn

i et stort feriehus i Bridgwater, Somerset

11:30 Jeg hopper op på min kondicykel og cykler mine sædvanlige 6 miles: lettere i dag på grund af det køligere vejr.

12:30 Vi spiser frokost og bagefter går jeg i seng og tager en gigantisk eftermiddagslur. Jeg står op kl 15 og sætter mig foran min bærebare.

Jeg læser endnu ca. 10 sider af ”Svigtet”, den danske kriminovelle, der er vores U3A danske gruppes nuværende projekt. Som gruppeleder er det mit ansvar at læse siderne i forvejen og udfærdige ordforrådlister i bunden af hver side, for at spare medlemmer for at skulle slå de sværere ord op i en ordbog – jeg er så betænksom ha ha! Jeg kan også finde ud af på forhånd hvor sexscenerne dukker op, og mærke de frække passager ”til at springe over i gruppemøderne” – yikes! 

Novellens heltinde er Pia, retsmediciner. Hun og hendes kæreste, Lars arbejder begge to for tiden på en uhyggelig sag: et 1-år gammel lig er blevet fundet i et udhus på en gammel gård langt ude på landet.

Pia Holm, retsmediciner

De konventionelle seksuelle stereotyper er omvendt mellem Pia og Lars. Lars er en stabil ung mand, der bare interesser sig for faste forhold, mens Pia godt kan lide at bolle udenom. Pia udnytter en forretningsrejse til København i forbindelse med den nuværende drabssag til at have sex med Andreas, en gammel ven fra sin retsmedicinske uddannelse, og for et par dage siden måtte jeg desværre mærke et langt afsnit til at ”springe over”.

Nu i dag, finder jeg ud af, at da Pia kommer hjem efter sin forretningsrejse, opdager Lars hendes kæreste, at hun har været ham utro, og parret ender med først at skændes om hendes utroskab, og bagefter at have sex i sofaen: han er vred, og hun vil berolige ham og få ham på andre tanker. Du godeste, endnu 3 afsnit til at mærke med min legendariske ”blå blyant”. Sikke et vanvid!

Under vores gruppemøder, skiftes vi til at læse et par afsnit op og oversætte dem til engelsk. Jeg mener, de pinligste beskrivelser er dem om at tage tøj af eller at trække dem af nogen anden, og, hvilket er det værste, tegn på seksuelle ophidselse (mandlige eller kvindelige). Disse er alle no-nos i en gruppe af blandet køn, synes jeg: i England, i det mindste ha ha! Måske er det anderledes på kontinentet, men det er jeg ikke helt sikker på.

Sandsynligvis i virkeligheden ville gruppens medlemmer ikke løfte en øjenbryn, og faktisk skide det et stykke, om Pia og Andreas eksempelvis  lader ”deres hungrende kroppe forene sig” og indleder ”en vuggende dans” osv eller ej. Det kan være, at gruppemedlemmernes egne privatliv flyder over med sexscener ha ha. Men hvis ikke, ville det hele udsætte mig for mulig kritik, fordi det var mig, der valgte novellen, uden at kende på forhånd novellens indhold i detaljer. Dét er vigtigste, at jeg undgår kritik ha ha ha (igen)!

Du godeste, det er ikke nemt at være gruppeleder! Al denne sex holder mig meget travlt beskæftiget, ingen tvivl om det! Travlt travlt travlt ha ha!

18:00 Vi spiser aftensmad og bruger resten af aftenen på at se lidt fjernsyn. De viser en interessant regelmæssig ugentlig program, der handler om den forgående uges BBC Proms koncerter. Programmets vært er den charmerende Katie Derham.  Lois og jeg kritiserer hendes top igen – for løs og for stor, synes vi. Du godeste, vi er så overfladiske!

Katie Derham, programmets charmerende vært. Engang til kan Lois og jeg

ikke lide hendes påklædning – vi er så overfladiske ha ha!!!

Et interessant program, der fremviser endnu en kønsrolleomvendelse, fordi arbejdet af BBCs radiofoniske værksted, dvs det, at skabe kunstige, syntetiske lydeffekter, ville man tro var mere en mandlig besattelse. Faktisk var det kvinder, der organiserede det hele, startende fra 1940’erne under den 2. verdenkrig med Daphne Orams banebrydende projekter. Orams orkesterarbejde, ”Still Point” (komponeret i 1946), blev opført som en del af denne forgående uges Proms koncertprogram.

Selve værkstedet en samling af udstyr fra Radiophonic Workshop, udstillet af Science Museum, London. Det har været en af BBCs lydeffektsafdelinger og blev oprettet i 1958 for at producere lydeffekter og musik til radio- og senere på tv-programmer. Enheden har været kendt for eksperimentelt og innovativt arbejde inden for elektronisk musik og musikteknologi. De skabte blandt andet BBCs sci-fi serien Dr Whos berømte kerningsmelodi.

Katies gæster lytter til Dr Whos berømte kerningsmelodi

Daphne Oram, ansvarlig for meget af det banebrydende arbejde

i feltet af syntetiske musik

21:00 Vi fortsætter med at se lidt fjernsyn. De viser en interessant dokumentarfilm, der handler om den svenske popgruppe Abba.

Jeg havde lave forventninger om dette program, fordi Lois og jeg har set en masse dokumentarfilm om Abba før, men faktisk viser det sig at være en intelligent fremlæggelse. Programmet fremviser en masse interviews med Björn Ulvæus, gruppens tastaturspiller og sangskriver (sammen med Benni Andersen). Björn er en meget intelligent mand, synes vi.

Björn blev inspireret i begyndelsen af engelsk popmusik i 1950’erne og 1960’erne. Sidst i 1950’erne rejste hans fætter til England og så den daværende skiffle- dille, og hans fætters reaktion foreslog til Björn, at nogen som helst kan lære at spille musik, hvillket inspirerede ham til at prøve sig med det. Og da Björn hørte Beatles’ sangen ”She Loves You”, indså han også, at sangere kunne komponere deres egne sange.

Abba-gruppen havde mange hitsange på kontinentet, men Bjørn indså, at de ville blive nødt til at få et gennembrud i den angel-saksiske musikverden for at blive betragtet som en ”ordentlig” popgruppe. Og kun ved at vinde Eurovision Song Contest kunne de tiltrække den nødvendlige opmærksomhed i Storbritannien og Australien.

22:00 Lois har følt sig lidt nostalgisk i dag, for det meste fordi hun mærker vores isolation overfor vores to døtre, begge to beskæftigede med deres egne familier i dag. Det er lidt af en skam, men også lidt forudsigeligt, at Abba-dokumentarfilmen inkluderede deres sang ”Slipping Through My Fingers”, der handler om en forælders tristhed om at se sin lille datter starte i skole.

”Slipping Through My Fingers”

Lois siger, hun ønsker at hun kunne huske mere, end hun gør, om vores døtres barndom. Men sådan er livet, synes jeg. Når man har travlt, har man ikke tid at lagre minder væk, hvilket er lidt af en skam. I det mindste har vi vores fotos. ”Sikke en tid det var, sikke en tid det var, jeg har et fotografi. Har du bevaret dine minder? Nu er de alt du har tilbage.” (copyright Paul Simon ha ha ha).

Men tilbage til virkeligheden – hurra! Vi går i seng. Jeg læser 12 sider af min sengetidbog, JD Salingers ”Catcher in the Rye”, før jeg glider over i søvnen – zzzzzzzz!!!!!