Keep on keeping on...
#2
I’ll keep it brief. I just can’t believe it’s the 1st of February. If someone can explain that January just gone to me, I’d be eternally grateful.
Keep the faith (with yourselves and the world around you).
Quote(s) that popped for me this month:
"I would never stoop so low as to be fashionable, that's the easiest thing in the world to do" Dolly Parton schooling a very condescending Barbara Waters
"we suffer more in imagination than in reality" Seneca
"No matter what talent an individual possesses, no matter what energy he might have, no matter how much integrity he might have, if he is by himself he can accomplish very little" Robert F. Kennedy
"The easiest place to cross a river is at its source" Anon
READING
This is what’s on the bedside locker at the moment:
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
Assuming this one needs a summary for this one (classic jail break). Started it in December for a bit of “light reading” over the Christmas and about two thirds through it. A lotta pages mind you, but a breath-taking read and no movie or TV series can do it justice. If you haven’t already, then what are you waiting for?
The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday & Stephen Hanselman
Yep my Ryan Holiday content binge continues unabated. Maybe it’s me and middle-age but I found myself gravitating more and more toward Stoic teachings. They haven’t lasted a couple of millennia for nothin’. There is a very short passage for each day from one of the go to Stoic Philosophers and the authors then add a bit of context to it. Bitesize.
Getting Things Done by David Allen
Being ‘busy’ and being productive are two very different things. And I sometimes lose sight of the line between them. So I’m reading this book again. It was the first book that allowed me to begin to develop a simple system that just works. The fact it’s a pre-smart phone era book makes it more attractive to me – it doesn’t matter how sleek your gadgets are if you always feel like you’re forgetting something or should be doing something else.
LISTENING
The Tommy, Hector & Laurita Podcast
I discovered this during lockdown when I was missing home (a lot). Tommy Tiernan would get a laugh out of a radiator in my opinion, but he’s found a couple of great partners in crime here. Some great moments in there as you can hear for yourself here.
I tend to avoid a lot of actor led podcasts as they tend not to be my bag. But to every rule….and my exception is this one. The lads always seem to ask the right questions at the right time. Having been an admirer of Gabriel Byrne for as long as I can remember I really enjoyed their interview with him. And yep, he does talk about behind the scenes on The Usual Suspects.
Second Captains on the death of Ashling Murphy
On a more sombre note, the almost unspeakable death of Aisling Murphy in Ireland sent shockwaves around the world. But what will her death mean for those beyond her grief-stricken family and loved ones? The Second podcast got into that and made me think about what small difference any of us might be able to make in the villages, towns and communities we live in.
And I just cannot get this choon outta my head.
WATCHING
Going back through Shane Meadows work which just gets better with each passing year. If you haven’t seen this then do yourself a favour. It’s an absolute gem. Stephen Graham & Vicky McClure at their pre-household name phase finest. Joe Gilgun in there too who I adore as a performer.
The Electric Life of Louis Wain
Wasn’t sure about this one when I sat down to watch it (my wife would watch Benedict Cumberbatch reading out a list of crumpled parking fines) but I laughed and cried (kind of). A heart warming couple of hours.
I auditioned for a part in this, was close, but no cigar. But I had a hunch from the audition reading that this could be a good one. And I wasn’t disappointed. Beautifully shot, great cast and a very heart warming story. I came away feeling uplifted and that’s not something you can say about every film set in Belfast at the start of the Troubles. Oh and the guy who got the part I was up for? He was brilliant.
A CONVERSATION THAT MADE ME THINK
Why don’t we tackle things at source?
I was speaking to an elderly woman last week who relayed a story to me about how she’d been left waiting for a Doctor’s appointment for over an hour.
Sitting in a freezing waiting room in the middle of winter. In the dying days of a global pandemic.
What did she do?
She continued to wait. As actual non Covid related Doctor appointments are like hens teeth these days. Then, eventually, after a near 90 minute wait the Doctor was ready to see her.
My friend decided not to raise the matter with the Doctor during the course of her appointment. She was just keen to have her medical matter seen to.
Then she left. Neither the Doctor or anyone in the clinic offered anything resembling an apology. Or even a cup of tea.
Then what did she do?
Well, naturally, she was very annoyed. And like a lot of us now do, went online, did some research and it appears, via google review, the Doctor in question has some form here. The spicy google reviews had thrown up that she wasn’t the first to be left waiting. And that being left waiting was par for the course.
Then what?
You’re probably thinking she piled on into those reviews and let the keyboard have it and pressed enter, unburdening herself of her grievance.
Nope.
She called the clinic, asked for the clinic manager. And relayed her frustration, disappointment and anger at being treated the way she was. And advised that she was not prepared to be treated like that again.
Than what happened?
The clinic manager promised to pass on her message to the Doctor in question. Then she put the phone down.
The following day my friend got a phone call. It was the Doctor. He apologized unreservedly for leaving her waiting and made a solemn commitment to her that she would never be left waiting for one of his appointments again. And if there was a delay, for whatever reason, that would be communicated to her.
The lady thanked the Doctor, put the phone down and got on with her life.
That it?
Yep. No twitter outrage, no stonking google review, no telling 5 of her mates, or whoever was in ear shot, at how badly she’d been abused.
Nope. She went straight to the source.
And by all accounts, time keeping at that clinic has never been so good.
MAKING
After almost 3 years in the hopper, #honesty will be unleashed to the world on the 25th of Feb on YouTube. You can see the official trailer here.
#honesty follows the journey of a 40-something born again life guru who gets left at the altar by his influencer fiancée as a stunt by their social media strategist.
If you haven’t already you can subscribe here to make sure you don’t miss Episode 1.
We were going to launch @ Gibneys in London, but decided to go digital. The plan is to get people into a room to celebrate at the end of March. More on that next month.
CAN I HELP?
RFK was right. It takes a village. If you think I can help with something drop us a line on inneroscarwinner@gmail.com