STILL DELUSIONAL AFTER ALL THESE YEARS
“I am with you always, even till the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20) Jesus's farewell to his disciples.
“Whatever you do, I'm always with you.” Tony Blair’s farewell speech. He can't have missed the reference. This is a better joke than the one about Cherie and the bloke next door.
You read it here first.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
ECONOMY OF STYLE
I was talking to my friend, a Graham Greene expert, who said that his style is noted for its economy. The following excerpt, from The End Of The Affair, is a wonderful example of this. It’s about the amateur rationalist philosopher Richard Bridges, who has a deformed face, and seen through the eyes of one of the major protagonists.
“I had an idea that he was a man who really loved the truth, but there was that word love again, and it was only too obvious into how many desires his love of truth could be split. A compensation for the injury of his birth, the desire for power, the wish to be admired all the more because the poor haunted face would never cause physical desire.”
The ironic comment on rationalism is insightful, and nothing new, but you have to admire that GG is able to sum up in one paragraph what it took Freud (on sublimation) and Nietzsche (on Will To Power) whole books to say!
I was talking to my friend, a Graham Greene expert, who said that his style is noted for its economy. The following excerpt, from The End Of The Affair, is a wonderful example of this. It’s about the amateur rationalist philosopher Richard Bridges, who has a deformed face, and seen through the eyes of one of the major protagonists.
“I had an idea that he was a man who really loved the truth, but there was that word love again, and it was only too obvious into how many desires his love of truth could be split. A compensation for the injury of his birth, the desire for power, the wish to be admired all the more because the poor haunted face would never cause physical desire.”
The ironic comment on rationalism is insightful, and nothing new, but you have to admire that GG is able to sum up in one paragraph what it took Freud (on sublimation) and Nietzsche (on Will To Power) whole books to say!
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
POLITICIAN COMES CLEAN, PROVOKES RIOT
I can’t pretend to know a lot about Hungarian politics. Even in my ignorance, however, I knew that both main parties lied about their future plans in order to win the General Election in April. And the government talked up the economic situation pre-election, while the opposition rubbished all their achievements. Big deal.
The irony is that there are riots now because Mr Gyurcsany, the PM, was inept enough actually to tell the truth about the political process! Which everyone knows anyway. I have a sneaking liking for the PM, just because he is such a maverick. Ever the politician most likely to slip on a banana skin, he actually loses patience with his party, upbraids them all for lying to the public, and publishes the whole transcript on his website. It's so blatantly the wrong thing to do, people here are hinting at some kind of conspiracy.
I'm all for less slick politicians and an end to tacit consent. If people were consistent, there’d be riots every day. Until the whole house comes crashing down.
I can’t pretend to know a lot about Hungarian politics. Even in my ignorance, however, I knew that both main parties lied about their future plans in order to win the General Election in April. And the government talked up the economic situation pre-election, while the opposition rubbished all their achievements. Big deal.
The irony is that there are riots now because Mr Gyurcsany, the PM, was inept enough actually to tell the truth about the political process! Which everyone knows anyway. I have a sneaking liking for the PM, just because he is such a maverick. Ever the politician most likely to slip on a banana skin, he actually loses patience with his party, upbraids them all for lying to the public, and publishes the whole transcript on his website. It's so blatantly the wrong thing to do, people here are hinting at some kind of conspiracy.
I'm all for less slick politicians and an end to tacit consent. If people were consistent, there’d be riots every day. Until the whole house comes crashing down.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
UPDATE ON MY LIFE IN BUDAPEST, AND THOUGHTS ON WHY GROWING UP IS HARD TO DO
Last year, a close friend visiting from the UK told me I’m living an “alternative lifestyle”. Anyway, I’ve just returned to it – for a third year, and in a new (rented) flat. I don’t know why I feel I have to justify this to myself, but I suppose living here could be considered an irresponsible choice, failing somehow to grow up and grasp the nettle.
The flat is all high ceilings, double doors, large mirrors: the feeling of 19C opulence for less than £200 a month! The previous tenant, a friend and colleague, also left her entire video and CD collection behind, for the moment at least. This weekend, I’ve been finishing off a song on my laptop, and Brindle & I have started a new instrumental piece. It’s the same feeling a child gets when playing – pure, unconstrained fun. We also took the tram to Margit Island, for a burst of colour and to take digital pictures of flower beds and each other.
This afternoon I wandered down a narrow, deserted street where the only sound was the dull beat of my trainers on a dappled pavement, and past an old church into Raday utca, where I’m writing this blog. It’s a tree-lined old world style street, with wrought iron copper-topped lampposts and a parade of cafes. It’s also a perfect early autumn day and the sun is angling in spaces between the high facades. This is pretty normal for Budapest, but basically picture postcard stuff.
Tomorrow, I am back to work. It’s the most fun job I’ve had, and in some ways the least demanding. Not that I don’t have to focus on the work during office hours, but for the first time in my life I don’t often have to take it home with me, and I am not burdened by piles of meaningless paperwork.
Well, I have the nagging feeling that I should be making pension contributions and that I should be a property owner. But I hope this blog goes some way towards explaining why I’m loath to give up life in this beautiful city for a £200,000 mortgage in Bedford or somewhere, and the stale pleasures of trailing round HMV on a Saturday, or doing up the kitchen before settling down for another instalment of Changing Rooms. There is a painless alternative. I’m living it.
Last year, a close friend visiting from the UK told me I’m living an “alternative lifestyle”. Anyway, I’ve just returned to it – for a third year, and in a new (rented) flat. I don’t know why I feel I have to justify this to myself, but I suppose living here could be considered an irresponsible choice, failing somehow to grow up and grasp the nettle.
The flat is all high ceilings, double doors, large mirrors: the feeling of 19C opulence for less than £200 a month! The previous tenant, a friend and colleague, also left her entire video and CD collection behind, for the moment at least. This weekend, I’ve been finishing off a song on my laptop, and Brindle & I have started a new instrumental piece. It’s the same feeling a child gets when playing – pure, unconstrained fun. We also took the tram to Margit Island, for a burst of colour and to take digital pictures of flower beds and each other.
This afternoon I wandered down a narrow, deserted street where the only sound was the dull beat of my trainers on a dappled pavement, and past an old church into Raday utca, where I’m writing this blog. It’s a tree-lined old world style street, with wrought iron copper-topped lampposts and a parade of cafes. It’s also a perfect early autumn day and the sun is angling in spaces between the high facades. This is pretty normal for Budapest, but basically picture postcard stuff.
Tomorrow, I am back to work. It’s the most fun job I’ve had, and in some ways the least demanding. Not that I don’t have to focus on the work during office hours, but for the first time in my life I don’t often have to take it home with me, and I am not burdened by piles of meaningless paperwork.
Well, I have the nagging feeling that I should be making pension contributions and that I should be a property owner. But I hope this blog goes some way towards explaining why I’m loath to give up life in this beautiful city for a £200,000 mortgage in Bedford or somewhere, and the stale pleasures of trailing round HMV on a Saturday, or doing up the kitchen before settling down for another instalment of Changing Rooms. There is a painless alternative. I’m living it.
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