Be Excellent To Each Other

I don't understand cricket, never mind the Duckworth-Lewis method of which I'd previously never heard.

Aeons ago, when I was running Occasional Speakers courses for my fellow civil servants, we'd let them choose their own subjects for their practice presentations so that we didn't get 10 or more boring talks about the work they did.

One memorable presentation was on The Leg Before Wicket Rule. The guy managed to fill 45 minutes without hesitation or repetition. I seem to remember it making sense at the time.

Shelley Duvall won't be shining any more.

Shannon Doherty, aged 53. Damn.

And Dr. Ruth. 183 years old.

And Richard Simmonds

John Anderson swings through the Eliminator.

John Mayall whose influential band the Bluesbreakers was a springboard for stars including Eric Clapton, John McVie, Mick Fleetwood, Jack Bruce, Mick Taylor, etc. etc. - has died at the age of 90.


L-R John Mayall, Eric Clapton, John McVie and Hughie Flint

"He had a reputation as something of an eccentric, building a massive treehouse in his grandparents' back garden, where he lived with his fiancee Pamela."

If I remember correctly, his grandparents' house was in Didsbury, less than half a mile from where I lived as a child, although I never actually saw it.

Not sure this counts as celebrity, but I hope there are some succulent Chinese meals wherever he's ended up.

So long, and farewell to Sven-Goran Eriksson