IN THE MEANTIME ( QUITE LITERALLY!)

Hello my little stars!

To Greenwich and the Astronomers Ball at the Royal Greenwich Observatory in southeast London.  And what an unusual and remarkably interesting evening it was!  In truth, I had never visited this august loication previously, so I had no idea what to expect, but was very pleasantly surprised at what I did experience.

On arrival, you can get to see and touch, what is claimed to be the oldest object on the planet. A rather large and hideously deformed metallic meteorite.

                                          Rock of ages, and ages, and ages.....

The event, hosted by my friends at the Polish Cultural institute and Secret Garden, was spread over the entire property with “pop-up” modules. One such event was a secret tour of the giant telescope (still the seventh largest in the world even after 150 years!), hosted, in costume by a suitably attired Mittel European girl, with her accomplice (foreground) who, becuase I happened upon the tour a little late, refused to tell me who she was and just glared!.

       Pay attention at the back and stop taking pictures...                                       

A "workshop" presented by two "starlets" in silver space suits explained to us the history of astronuats' food, and even took the trouble to ensure that we experienced first hand such marvelsd of culinary science with a pieceof dehydrated carrot and a tube of what looked like brown toothpaste - but could have been either beef extract or chocolate. I didn't try it!

                                          What's for lunch?......
The problem with eating biscuits in zero gravity was a problem because of crumbs that could get in the way of important equipment. This problem (we were told) was solved by coating the biscuit in jelly!

                                           ...and dessert?

Another, and startlingly effective coup-de théatre was played by an actor and actress in Dutch attire of the 15th Century explaining their fear of the Church, but keen to impart their astronomical knowledge, then, somewhat spookily distracted by my camera!

Elsewhere, an intergalactic travel bureau had been set up where you could book a trip into space and visit all the sights of the planets.  The two girls I filmed were about to be charged 33 million Pounds (about $50 million). Sounded like a bargain to me, but they remained to be convinced!


Many chose to dress up for the evening.

                                             Menage-A-trois at my planet or yours?
The Museum’s shop remained open throughout the event, where one could purchase a very good value (I thought) high powered “beginner’s” telescope for a mere £150.00.

At the end of the hill beside the observatory is the wonderful, romantic and highly  spectacular view across the river to Canary Wharf and its environs.

Time, for me, stood still…..

SPACE PARTY AT THE INSTITUT FRANCAIS

GALS FROM OUTA SPACE!

                                      L'Institut - c'est formidable!

In Douglas Adams’ Hitch Hiker’s Guide To The Galaxy, they serve a drink at the Restaurant At The End Of The Universe called a “Pan Galactic Gargle-Blaster”. This exotically named cocktail came to mind last night when I attended the crazy Space Party at the beautiful Art Nouveau Institut Français in South Kensington and downed a couple of the barman's creations. As part of the Passion et Bande Dessin (that’s French for comic book) weekend, the party – which was preceded by a screening of Roger Vadim’s Barbarella – it was a little bit of Paris in Londres. 

                                                    Is this how you want me to hold it?

My record company, Harkit Records, were, along with Absolut Vodka, joint sponsors of the party.

We had just re-released the soundtrack to the aforementioned film, and it was on sale at the Institut.  At the time of the film’s initial release in 1968 at Paramount’s flagship cinema in London, the Plaza (now sadly, the way of all buildings in the UK – a Tesco supermarket), it flopped miserably. After 5 days, they shoved in Lyndsey Anderson’s “If....” which, in case you didn't know, went on to win the “Palme D’Or” at Cannes the following year.

                                          "If..." made Malcolm McDowell

In the intervening period, Barbarella has gone on to become what is known as a “Cult Classic”. God! How I hate that term, but it does serve a purpose I suppose. Watching it last night with many who had not seen in before, it looked arch and dated, with just a little too much sadism for its own good.

I had hot-footed it from synagogue in the west end following the termination of the Yom Kippur holiday, where I partook of a splendid dinner at the Institut’s terrific bistro where I got to chat with some of the gamer girls, including the organiser Natacha, who had dressed up for the party later on.

                                          Natacha - she is very strict! "If you are not on ze leest, you are not coming een!"

                                             These French gals are out of this world!

There were probably about 200 people there dancing a drinking the space-themed and vodka-based concoctions, but alas, no Gargle Blaster!  As I write this, I haven’t slept for 30 hours...

PARLIAMENT - IT'S OSSUM!

PARLIAMENT - “IT’S OSSUM!”

I was recently invited by a friend to attend a little talk in one of the committee rooms in the House of Commons at Westminster.

                                           Did you bring a  copy of the notes? I forgot mine...

The room looked exactly the same as the one where The Murdochs were recently quizzed.  There were three fixed-position television cameras that I could see in the room (which, incidentally, was much smaller than I had imagined) which is why they didn’t pan when a cream pie was pushed in Murdock, Sr’s face!

After passing through a  security check where they take your pic and issue a pass,

                                                        The image is worse than my psaaport!

 

there’s a short walk which takes you into the extraordinary Great Hall. This alone is worth the visit. It has a terrific history which is told in a semi-graphic form as you enter. Booklets are available to take away including the indispensable “Parliament And You” visitor guide and map. As well as that you’ll need “This Week’s Business” which tells you what’s being discussed such as “Oral Questions” , Select Committees and so forth.

 

There'll be more chimes in 53 minutes....

After the talk that I was attending, I re-visited the little souvenir kiosk on the way out. It is manned in a desultory manner, and features all manner of grotesque and twee “gifts” that, in my view, are best avoided and not to waste one’s money on, unless you really MUST have a bottle of “Mr. Speaker’s Scotch”.

It’s free to go in, and if you see the light on at the top of the clock tower that houses Big Ben (even late at night) you can go in to see and hear your MP discussing matters such as Defence, Northern Ireland Affairs, or even – if you are especially fortunate, Tourism in Yorkshire!  All being discussed that week.

                                                      Suprise me - what's in the bag?

Passing back into the Great Hall on my way out , I heard an American lady gushing that it was “ossum!”. 

 

                                 It's great!

Quite so.