My Occasional Thought For The Day

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Early this afternoon I finished "The Spy Who Came In From The Cold" by John Le Carré. I read this years ago, in the 1980s, in an omnibus edition of Le Carré's early novels. This time I read in a Victor Gollancz paperback edition, which I borrowed from the Kings Cross Branch of the Sydney City Library. I wished to read in whilst travelling on trains, which purpose an omnibus edition is not designed for.

It is very fine novel, both in its story, and in the quality of its writing, such that I found the reread most enjoyable. It is a chilling novel. If anyone thinks that State Security Services need unrestricted legal protection, as is the trend with Western politicians with their anti-terrorist mania, a reading of "The Spy Who Came In From The Cold" will convince to the contrary, any unclosed mind.

"The best spy story I have ever read" - Graham Greene, on the above mentioned novel.

My strong conviction is that spy novels should be written by ex-spies, such as John Le Carré and Graham Greene; with the proviso that they should write well, and not just tell a good story. Greene and Le Carré certainly fulfill these conditions.

After I finished the above I returned the book at Kings Cross. My new borrowings, taking it to nine now on loan were: "Strong Poison" by Dorothy L. Sayers [I have a different attitude to crime fiction]; a DVD - "Doctor Who - Resurrection Of The Daleks"; a Video - "Changes 1901-2001; South Sydney - A Retrospective; Volume 1 - Woolloomooloo to Moore Park".

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"Mozart's Forte"

The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra.

7.00pm at the City Recital Hall, Angel Place.

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Josef Haydn.

Overture to the Opera "Lísola Disabitata".

An interesting & enjoyable overture. It has this curious way of working to a crescendo, then suddenly beginning again at a slow pace. Any part of a Haydn Opera is rarely heard today.

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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major, K488.

Soloist [Fortepiano]: Kristian Bezuidenhout.

The Fortepiano makes a Mozart Piano Concerto said very different from when it is played on a Grand Piano. This emphasis was especially made compared to last night, as this Concerto is a more light hearted piece than the 24th. Kristian is a comparitively young & unknown Pianist, an Australian born American, who throws himself with full emotion into his playing. This was very good, very enjoyable.

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Interval

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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Basoon Concerto in B flat, K191.

Soloist [Classical Bassoon]: Jane Glover.

Only one has survived, although he may have written more. It is not his most succesful Concerto to my mind, although he still has made impressive efforts to produce a composition, which both displays the Bassoon as virtuoso solo instrument [no mean feat!] and yet sounds very listenable to a broad audience in a Mozartean way.

The playing was certainly superb. The astonshing thing for me was seeing how small Jane Glover's hands are. The Classical Bassoon favours lower air holes at considerable differnce apart, and Glover's bottom hand had fingers at what looked like an uncomfortable stretch for long periods. But she did it!

Jane Glover is an Austrlian who mnages to be resident in both Australia & the Netherlands it seems. Many of these musicians are constant travellers, as it has been for some centuries. After the Concert I bought a CD of her playing Classical Bassoon in four Quartets by Franz Danzi, for $30.00.

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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Symphony No. 39 in E flat major, K543.

I love this Symphony. It probably is my most favourite of all his 41+ Symphonies. The playing by the ABO in full Chamber mode was wonderful. I note too, that both soloists were playing in the Orchestra, which is unusual as it is welcome.

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"Mozart And Bruckner"

The Sydney Symphony Orchestra [SSO].

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8.00pm, at the Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House.

Conductor: Yannick Nézet-Séguin.

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Mozart: Piano Concert No. 24 in C Minor, K491

Soloist: Stephen Kovacevich.

This is quite a solemn Mozart Piano Concert, and playing it on a Grand Piano exentuates this feel. Mozart is Mozart; a Piano is a Piano; Kovacevich is Kovacevich; and this was very good. The Soloist was as advertised, but the conductor was brought in at short notice to replace Lorin Maazel, who is having an operation. Considering this especially, it was a fine performance by Yannick Nézet-Séguin, another young Composer of whom I have been utterly ignorant until now.

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Interval

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Anton Bruckner: Symphony No. 8 in C Minor [1890 version].

Bruckner is someone I have doubts about, for despite his undoubted skill, there is the matter of the rather extreme length he prefers, coupled with his somewhat lack of imagination. The Violinists were especially made to suffer, with frequent demands from them of very strenous & sustained bowing. Still, it is an impressive work, and was impressively performed tonight, under the baton of Nézet-Séguin.

One can see how Bruckner recounts in this work, how he suffered much self doubt at first, which gradually he worked through to produce a clear and determined composure of mind. Probably this refers to the spiritual, as well as to the musical. And he is determined to make us feel every single minute of his agony, as if it were our own! I took note of start and finish times: 88 minutes in total between them.

The Brucknerfiles had filled in the seats behind me; many appearing only after interval. They were absoutely enthused by the performance.

Doctor Who: Davidson Era: "Kinda", Episode Two. It started yesterday. This has an elaborate storyline, with involved and interesting philosophical & psychological ideas. I love it; even when one of the Doctor's three companions, Tegan, under the spell of the evil force of the Mara, throws apples down to Aris, who is a native Kinda. It is all a question on the incipient instability of civilisations which change rapidly with time.

An yet, it is still a rattling good story, even if you are not into the elaborations.

We had a fire drill at work today, rather early when it was still quite chill. I had the presence of mind to put on my coat [Castro Jacket], and bring both my coffee and a book. While I did not get to read any of the book, I drank much of the coffee, and the coat was most useful.

Wolfgang Razorbeak, the blue-grey Budgie, self-trimmed his lower beak while I was at work today. This was much to my astonishment. Last night I had been telling him that his beak had to be trimmed, with both words and gestures, but I did not really expect that he had understood. But today he somehow broke off most of his lower beak, and he is in robust good spirits.

After arriving home this afternoon, I was to ring for the vet's appointment. I will not now.

Doctor Who: Davidson Era: "Four To Doomsday", Episode Three. It started last wednesday and will end tomorrow. I have always had some doubts about this story. Monarch with his delusions and megalomania is an interesting study. But the way the Doctor outsmarts him is a mite contrived. And there are a few parts of the story which strain credability. Tegan being able to talk an Aboriginal languag for one. The Doctor throwing a cricket ball against the Tardis exterior to propel himself back to Monarch's ship, Newton's Laws and all that, even if the Doctor did once take six wickets for New South Wales.

What I did not do today, was go to Schubert Society lecture. It was just that I had too much to do, even if I was by no means doing it to my satisfaction.

During the day I listened rather than watched Kenneth Clarke's "Civilisation" Volume 4. This is, as h is at pains to mak clear "Western Civilisation". The images were good, what I saw of them. But the main thng was that erudite voice, saying intelligent & important thoughts. Eat your heart out, Phillip Adams.

Ultimo Library. This is a branch of the Sydney City Library, which I discovered through their catalogue, is most well endowed with Videos. So I borrowed "The Saint - The Fiction Makers"; Kenneth Clarke's "Civilisation" - Volume Four; "The Mind Series - Language & Communication".

I watched The Saint. The movie, "The Fiction Makers" was good; highly inventive script, with good acting by Roger Moore & Sylvia Syms. It was followed by a black & white television episode: "The Saint Plays With Fire". This is what I was really after, for while it did not quite have the finesse of the movie, it was still well produced, and I was most impressed by the left wing sympathies of Simon Templer, played once more by Roger Moore.

Those two short novels had put me off, but this video has be back on track for buying "The Saint" - Box Set One.

"Scheherazade"

The Sydney Symphony Orchestra [SSO].

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8.00pm, at the Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House.

Conductor: Turgan Sokhiev.

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Alexander Borodin: In the Steppes of Central Asia.

This conductor, who hails from North Ossetia of all places, is clearly a very young, but already exceptional composer. The way he is able to command the respect and keen attention of the SSO, despite seeming to speak no English. This Borodin .

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Igor Stravinsky: The Firebird - Suite [1919].

"A musical lollipop for the audience", indeed! Stravinski did later say this; but he was prone to such robust outbursts. "The Firebird" does have a beautiful melodic ambience. But it is an adaption of Ballet music, which is notoriously uncharacteristic of a Composer, more than any other kind of music. This is due to the necessity of the Composer to serve the needs of the Choreographer, by providing the mood he or she needs. In that other collaboration, in Opera, the Composer is much less constrained in expressing his or her own emotions.

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Interval

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Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov:

Scheherazade - Symphonic Suite, Opus 35.

This is an Arabian Nights' adaption, not written for any reason, beyond being just inspired by the stories. It was exceptionally well performed, without yet being an exceptional work, albeit still a work of quality. This is the kind of composition, like a Mahler Symphony, which I can enjoy at a Concert or occasionally on the radio, without suffering any wish to but a CD of it.

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Encore

After the Conductor's return had been demanded by the Audience a second time, we had an éncore. It was a resounding & energetic performance of the opening three minutes, of the First Movement of Carl Philip Emmanuel Bach's Symphony in B.

Personally, I cannot see the problem of Australians going deaf, because of excessive listening to portable MP3 players. It is not as if they listen to anything important.

1.16pm. I saw a dozen Leaden Flycatchers feeding on the wing at the Waverton five ways [Crows Nest Road, Carr Street & McKye Street]. They were often feeding very low of the bitumen and were very excited. I could hear their shrill cries of delight.

There was this Wattle Bird in Whatmore Street at 2.11pm. It was sitting on an electrical wire, which strings across the street just south of the house at 6 Whatmore Street. It is unusual to see them in Waverton. They are a Honey Eater, which is the next size up from the Noisy Miner, but unlike the later occurs only sporadically across the north Shore, despite being a bundle of barely restrained agressiona at most times.

You cough to clear the phelgm or other matter which is blocking your throat.
It is the coughing which makes your throat sore.

[Font is ''Paris''.][--- To Cough? Perchance to Clear Your Throat!! ---][Font is ''Paris''.]

1.32pm - Deadcat! I saw the famous Deadcat for the first in a long time today. The front gate at 5 Crows Nest Road in Waverton was unusually open to the full. Beside it, Deadcat was sprawled along the concrete path. His eyes gave me close attention & recognition, but his body, true to form, moved not at all.

[Font is ''Paris''.][--- Deadcat; Cherry Trees; Rainbow Lorrikeets!! ---][Font is ''Paris''.]

1.55pm - The Cherry Tree on the grass verge, outside 9 McKye Street, has its first new season scattering of blossoms; only about a dozen or so over the entire tree. This is the first I have noticed them. The Cumquat Tree, not too far away, has a full load of the small orange coloured Citrus fruit, spaced within the lush green foilage.

2.12pm - As I approached 9 McKye Street once more, at the end of the loop, I saw a single Rainbow Lorrikeet flying at break neck speed, in an easterly direction. They seem to get great pleasure from flying, and the speed was not due to need, but rather just for the hell of it!

Doctor Who: Davidson Era: Castrovalva, Episode Three. We only met the Castrovalvans at the end of the last Episode, resplendant in their pseudo-Mayan style hunting costumes. Today we were in the City of Castrovalva itself, amongst the Citizens, dressed in their Mediaeval style, whose costumes owe much to . On the other hand, the City Architecture owes much to Escher. Especially this was emphasised when the Doctor realised that Castrovalva was shrinking, enfolding within itself, such that everytime that the Doctor and Companions tried to leave the City, they found themselves back at that square with the Women of the City.

It is not really very cold; only going down to 7ºC early this morning, afore dawn. In the past, such a temperature would in no way bother me; this, even though I do not heat my home. But this last fortnight or so of colder weather has really hit me. I feel that chill in my bones.

The meeting had changed somewhat as to the time, but I did connect with those her wee there, in a nearby coffee shop. It was a case of knowing where. A pleasant afternoon was passed.

The last episode of Doctor Who [Eccleston Era]: "The Parting Of The Ways" was on tonight: an excellent finisher, with Daleks everywhere, even pouring out of their spaceships and travelling through space by themselves in military formation. Even with the impressive special effects, the episode was still story driven, as with all the 2005 series: a perennial & very wise Doctor Who feature. So that is Doctor Who for 2005, and the end of the Eccleston Era, as he regenerated into David Tennant at the end of the Episode.

The Government cannot bring David Hicks back to Australia, for the simple reason that her he would probably gt a fair trial. They can in no way afford a fair trial; having the inncocent declared to be innocent.

After coming home, I fell asleep briefly. On awakening, as the day had darkened, I leaned over and checked the time. It was 6.01pm. This knowledge sparked immediate action. I leapt out of bed, raced in to the next room and switched on the television. The video setting had already cut into action. At 6.04pm, Doctor Who began: Davidson Era; Castrovalva, Episode One. I have always been fond of this story, as there are many interesting ideas in the script.

The lump inside my skin, near to the shoulder blade, was exposed to ultrasound today. It proved to be, as the Doctor expected, a free moving lump of fatty tissue. This is apparently a common occurrence, and essentially a benign one. However, in my case, it causes some problems as it often pressures the arm tendon. I first noticed it in April 2004. Since then it has seemed to increase it size somewhat, but not hugely.

Last night I fell asleep with the lights on. So the Budgies had light all night. When I woke up and switched them off? Yes, Ludwig van Budgie-Bird complained.

A very strange Test Cricket match ended last night, when England finally defeated Australia by a mere two runs. Yet if they had applied themselves at the start of the day, instead of assuming that the victory would just fall into their laps, it may not have got this tense ending. I for one, was quite unable to drag myself away from the television. Not like me at all!

I was up before dawn, which is easy at this time of year in southern Australia. When I opened the balcony doors, the nightair proved to be none too cold, and the calls of the birds of the wild awakening came through in progression. Firstly there was the high pitched staccatto calls of several Leaden Flycatchers to each other. This caught the ears of the Budgies. They knew this sound well in Cremorne. Then there was a Pied Currawong calling into the still air. That they knew well too. Finally, after a long pause, there was the distant chattering of a hnadful of Noisy Miners or Indian Mynas.

It is good to see that even in winter, the Leaden Flycatchers are established in even these built up areas. I love those little birds, albeit not as much as I love my Budgies.

Originally I had planned to repeat the whole of "Sapphire And Steel - Assignment Two", before going on to "Assignment Three". But the somewhat unpleasant tatse of Steel's solution in the final Episode of "Assignment Two" disinclined me this to do. So I went on to the first Episode of "Assignment Three". It was very good, both intelligently inventive, and a tight thriller story at the same time. There are this couple with their baby, who are from 1,500 years in the future, but are living twentieth century life as an experiment. They are in a solid but invisible capsule, which is on the roof of an apartment building. There are under attack from some mysterious & malevalent time anomaly creature. Sapphire and Steel are there on assignment to solve the problem; hopefully less unpleasantly then with "Assignment Two".

It was a day on which I struggled to do Chess games - only three competed; stuggled to do house wrok; struggled to get my head in order. However, what I did not struggle to do was One the 2005 version of Doctor Who [Eccleston Era]. This was the penultimate episode: "Bad Wolf". This is the glorious war on the so called Reality TV, by writer Russell T. Davies. It was a splendid satire; as well as being a rattling good story. It continues into the final episode next week, in which we meet many Daleks, who do lots of creative things: such as levitating, and travelling through space without a space craft.

...

"Rinaldo" - Music by George Frideric Handel- .

Libretto by Giacomo Rossi.

Opera Australia.

With the Opera Australia Chorus

& the Australian Opera & Ballet Orchestra.

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Conductor: Trevor Pinnock.

Director: Luise Napier.

Set Designer: Michael Scott-Mitchell.

Choreographer: Matthew Barclay.

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Rinaldo, Crusading Knight - Michael Chance

Goffredo, General of the Christian Army - Graham Pushee.

Almirena, his Daughter - Emma Matthews.

Herald - Henry Choo.

Argante, Saracen King of Jerusalem - Richard Alexander.

Amida, Sorceress & Queen of Damascus - Rachelle Durkin.

Sirens - Taryn Fiebig & Hye Seoung Kwon.

Magic Christian - Richard Anderson.

... ... ... ... ...

...

Rinaldo was, in Handel's own lifetime, his most popular Opera, and so it remains so today. That in itself is a bit surprising, as he colated rather than composed it, so that he could put it together in a fortnight - it was required to be available almost at once. He reused, for the most part, pre-existing works of his own, which he adapted to the Libretto. The Italian Libretto, by, is far from being the best, from my point of view. But the music carries the Opera, and the cleanness & coherence of the music mkes it seem miraculous that it was actually cobbled together with such considerable haste.

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The singing was very good, getting stronger during the performance.

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The set design was amazing: mostly simple lines and bold primary colours, but done with such finesse as to suggest much more. The lake scene in particular, was wonderful: with the boat set vertically, with the Sirens sitting in it, while a green see-through curtain in front of this suggested the lake. The curtain then rose; following which the boat slowly descended to the horizontal as the Sirens sang.

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The Orchestra was directed by Trevor Pinnock from the Harpisord. They played very well. The big surprise for me, was when, at the end of Act Two, Pinnock embarked a long, technically complex & eminently listenable Harpsicord Sonata. In the first production of this Opera, Handel would have played this Sonata.

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The Dancers were impressive, in their rather delciate looking chain mail.

The actors had the hardest part, as they had no talking to do. R handmaiden was there whenever she was, but never opened her mouth to speak, let alone sing.

...

The aim of new proposed terrorist laws is not to help catch terrorists. Those whose duty this is have far more powers than they need. Rather there is a two pronged purpose.

[2] So that blunders by the state security people, in regard to terrorism, can be hidden from the media and the public.

Doctor Who: "Logopolis". This final story of the Tom Baker Era.began today. Episode One is even better than I remembered it to be, with that infinite regression of a Tardis inside a Tardis, and the Master having this new toy which shrinks people into a doll size, killing them (not surprisongly) in the process. The only problem of course, is trying to keep up this standard throughout the following three Episodes.

Tonight I twice watched "Danger Man" - "Affair Of State" [Episode 9]. I suffered from an unusually virulent state of intertia. And while my activity rate did not increase much, as a consequence of this viewing, at least I felt considerably better. "Affair Of State"is a good rivetting yarn, of loyalty & betrayal.

I lay in bed looking at my Chess games, in the Purdy twin sets, for quite some time. I managed to arise and watch the Third Episode of Doctor Who: "The Keeper Of Traken". This story is good, but not great. There are a few inconsistencies in the script.

I finished listening to "Paul Temple And The Madison Case" by Francis Durbridge, today, having listened to over two days, for the second time. I first listened to it on Sunday 17th July, all in the one day. It was recorded in the 1950s, as part of the BBC broadcast of Paul Temple serials, which extended over many decades.

"Wild Musical Spirits"

The Sydney Symphony Orchestra [SSO].

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8.00pm, at the Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House.

Conductor: Balazs Kocsar.

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Paul Stanhope: Fantasia on a Theme by Vaughan Williams.

Inspired, naturally, by Vaughan Williams "Fantasia on a Theme by Thmas Tallis". It works well enough for my tastes; the n\middle section being rather reminiscent of Pink Floyd's "In The Narrow Way".

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Franz Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 1.

Soloist: Giovanni Belluci.

A Liszt Piano Concerto, like a Rachmaninov, always insists of the frequent crossing of hands. That in itself, is not enough; as it must also sound good. And so it does, very good indeed. Another Concert Pianist of whom I had heard naught before, proves to be of exceptional quality. There are so many who are so good, that is is almost scary!

The Pianist was often required to play hand over hand, which was yet delicately achieved. No uncalled for hammering of keys tonight.

My only complaint of the composer is that the Triangle, such a small instrument, is perhaps overdone; especially sounding so in our present age of endless bells, hooters & strident alarms.

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Interval

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Leos Janacek: Taras Bulba - Rhapsody for Orchestra.

This is a good work, if one just concentrates on the music, and no the raison détre behind it. Taras Bulba's Slavic speaking Ukrainians are fighting Slavic speaking Poles; so it hardly is suitable for a pan-Slavic anthem. Rather the story, if we put aside the unrealistic nature of much of it, is a confirmation that there is no "Slavic People" and never was after varous of their brigand leaders moved beyond there original home land in the mountin passes of the Lower Danube.

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Bela Bartók: The Miraculous Mandarin, Opus 19 - Suite.

This seemed to be an intense experience for the conductor, as he was dripping sweat at the end. The Orchestra was full, including Harp & Chamber Organ; albeit not quite Mahleresque in its size, nor on the demands of its volume. However, the demands on the musicians' skill was formidable, as Bartók liked his music to be challenging.

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"Mozart's Queen"

The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra.

7.00pm at the City Recital Hall, Angel Place.

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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Symphony No. 22 in C major, KV162.

Concert Aria "Ah! lo previdi!", KV272.¹

Rondo for Solo Violin and Orchestra in B flat major, KV269.²

Concert Aria "Vorrei spiegarvi, O Dio!", KV418.¹

Aria "Lieve son al par del vento"
from the Opera "Il sogno di Scipione", KV126.¹

Aria "S'attro che lagrime"
from the Opera "La Clemenza di Tito", KV126.¹

Serenade in D major "Serenata notturna", KV239.

Aria "L'amero, saró constante"
from the Opera "Il re pastore", KV208.¹

Recitative and Aria "O zittre nicht, mein lieber Sohn"
from the Opera "Die Zauberflöte", KV620.¹

... ... ... ...

¹ Soloist: Cyndia Sieden [Soprano].

²Soloist: Lucinda Moon [Violin].

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In a moment of weakness & fiscal recklessness last Tuesday, I booked for another night of the magnificent Cyndia Seiden. They were recording this time, and she had no performance the night before. So despite still seeming to have a throat problem, she was able to retain the technical perfection, but be less restrained with the emotion. Everything was on a higher, more intense edge. After she had done the finale, the Queen of Night Aria, I imagined she could not give any more for this. But when sh performed it again as an encore, she managed to give even more! After that, I noticed that Paul Dyer said to her: "That was very very good."

My seat was only two to the left from being directly in front of her, in the front row of course, as is my predilection. During the first half of this Concert, approaching towards the interval, I had this problem with my throat being blocked with phlegm. But I refused to cough, although I felt so bad at one stage, I thought I would collapse. Yet I was still able to hear and concentrate on the music, unlikely though that may seem.

...

I tried. Yet I failed, due to tiredness, to get anything done at home today. Even listening to CD 1 "The Fairy Queen" by Henry Purcell, recorded live by the Pinchgut Opera, failed to lift my energy, albeit it did lift my spirits. I saw this live in 2003, and so it not only is an excellent recording, it brings back wonderful memories.

The Battle Of Killiecrankie; 27th July 1643.

Where: At Killiecrankie, where there is a narrow pass giving access to the Highlands, and in particular, allowing approach to the Town of Perth.

Whom: 1st Jacobite Revolt. Scottish Goverment forces, mainly lowlanders, against the army of , overwhelmingly Highlanders.

Why: This persisting dispute regarding the nature of Kingship.

Result: This is today regarded as a great "Scottish" victory, by many of that land. However, this forgets that: [1] Both sides were Scottish. [2] The Jacobite commander was killed and the Revolt at an end. [3] The Government forces were left in control of the battlefield. [4] The Jacobite losses, even from just that first massed volley, was greater than all the Government losses. - With such a "victory", who needs a defeat?

Consequences: The 1st Jacobite Revolt was ended.

Today I finished "The Masked Angel" by Leslie Charteris. This is the second of the two short novels in the book, "Call For The Saint"; the first being "The King Of The Beggars". Whether or not these are characteristic of Charteris' work, I know not. This is a 1998 UK edition, but the they were first published in 1948, and both stories are set in the USA, Chicago & New York respectively. Surprise to me on both counts: the age of the work, and the setting. From what little I know of the television series of The Saint, I took him to be English and the time setting to be 1960s. He may well be English in the books. It is just that there is no reference to it, albeit he is shown as urbane & articulate.

The writing is consistent from one novel to the other [refer 19th July 2005]. It is often rather good and free flowing, when it is narrative or description. The dialogue, however, is rather wooden and forced, even the Saint's quips; and his contradictory attitudes to the Police is rather forced. Still, Simon Templer, "The Saint", is the best considered character. Hoppy Uniatz, his offsider & enforcer, is an unconvincing characterture, as are all the Policeman and almost all else. It is just some are worse than others. To give out the names of the most unconvincing characters among the villains would give the plots away.

Overall, I would rate Leslie Charteris as a writer, as noticeably better than Raymond Chandler, but definitely worse than Francis Durbridge. But John Le Carre, whom I am know reading, leaves all three for dead!

Doctor Who: "Warriors' Gate" concluded tonight. Thus we farewell Romana & K-9.

Monday, as is usual nowadays, was a complete pain at work. So ... "The Prisoner" - "A, B and C". This was a blessed pleasure and release; a great story, with lots of late 1960s period thriller psychology. Our current technology has not yet matched the ideas in this epiosde.

I have not repeated any epiosdes of "The Prisoner" yet, but I am sure I will. Years after I have seen all the epiosdes, I am sure I will still continue to watch episodes form time to time.

I watched the final two episodes today of "Sapphire And Steel - Assignment Two". This wa more than the usual one allowed, but I had missed last week; and how it could be brought to an abrupt conclusion was mysterious.

The ending indeed caught me by surprise; both in the question as to its actual nature, and as to its morality. I found it disturbing, even though I know this is just fiction. Such so, that I do not care to watch this assignment in repeat, for the moment. Eventually, I know doubt will, at least for the most part; but perhaps not that contentious final epiosde.

...

The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra.

7.00pm at the City Recital Hall, Angel Place.

...

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Symphony No. 22 in C major, KV162.

Concert Aria "Ah! lo previdi!", KV272.