Suleman's Gifts and Toys

I saw a guy wearing an 'English Defence League' t-shirt in the pub last night. I didn't know they are actually real people, i thought they were just on tv and in newspapers. But they are real, i saw one. And in the multicultural progressive haven of Scarborough! I don't think they'll be happy about a new shop called 'Suleman's' that i saw on the seafront. 

They are taking over!

Michael Munn is Octavian. Or Cleo?

In the observer the other day the cover story was about Michael Munn, who wrote 'Richard Burton: Prince of Players'. Here is the article: 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jul/25/michael-munn-biographer-interview-tim-adams

Now, Prince of Players (i must admit) is the only biography i've read about Burton. Whilst my reading list has led me to extensive reading on Liz, Richard seemed like he was a bit simpler, and one biography up to this point seemed enough. Especially as the author knew him personally. 

But this article paints Munn as a liar. Well, it doesn't say that exactly, i guess it isn't allowed to. But that's what it wants to say. If so, i've been well tricked. Excellent falsehood! Munn is also described as a Zelig in this article. Woody Allen's chameleon man, who is all things to all people. I recently re-watched this with Helen (its on youtube) and it's still brilliant. 

I guess upon reading of Munn's apparent deception, i initially likened Munn to Octavian, in his use of words that aren't true. But Zelig reminds me more of Cleopatra, needing to adjust herself to the situations she finds herself up against ('I'll seem the fool i am not'). Minorities often have to do this i think. But both Cleo and Munn are trickier than Zelig. Whilst Zelig is scared, Munn and Cleo are using things to their own ends. 

But who knows what to believe. All seems a bit wordy at the minute. I might use Munn as a character in this project, he seems pretty productive. He also directed Anthony and Cleopatra once. 

I better read another Burton biography now. I'll keep reading.

Building Pyramids

Sorry I haven’t been writing much recently. Helen recently got a commission to do a public artwork for Scarborough Council and I’ve been helping her do it for the last few weeks. I haven’t been enjoying it very much but the wage will go towards our trip to Cairo.

Below are some pictures.

 

It is called ‘Wavelengths’, and was painted (just by the two of us!) onto the hoardings in front of the Spa, obscuring the re-construction work there. Ironic, I thought, because my work is about not obscuring re-construction.

I read in an old National Geographic yesterday about the building of the pyramids. It felt a bit like doing this. Apparently the makers weren’t slaves, they were waged workers. Like me. But, like in any work you don’t want to do, if you have to do it for the money, you’re kind of a slave anyway aren’t you?

But, its finished now, thankfully. It looks really good, Helen is very talented I think, and she is pleased with how it went. So am I, I'm glad to have been a part of it to be honest. Again like the pyramid workers I guess. Its up till March so you should go see it. Me, I’m looking forward to getting back to my work now, and getting on with my ACE bid for the trip to Cairo.