Friday 13 January 2012

When I’m Sixty-Four ...


Carbis Bay Hotel - fine dining

Well – yes!  Amazing to think that those Beatles’ lyrics written forty-nine years ago are still so relevant today ... and did any of us every think we’d see the year 2000 AD, or for that matter get to 64 – the new Middle Age?

 ... will you still be sending me a valentine
Birthday greetings bottle of wine?
... will you still need me, will you still feed me,
when I’m sixty-four?

Oh and I have some lovely history for you ... and some wonderful looooong words!  Just my kind of day – well perhaps if I was forever young?

What is today? – Friday the 13th ...  yonks ago I was 13 on Friday 13th ... if you’re going to have a birthday on the 13th do it properly ...  and really properly ...

... with so many connotations falling at this time of year:  St Hilary’s Day – today – the start of the University Hilary term, and the start of the Hilary Law term ... such is life – on top of that hilarious means full of happiness – here too I remain true to my name.

So I reflect January 13th ... now comes the interesting bit?!  I have no fear of Friday 13th, but if you do it is called friggatriskaidekaphobia!!! 

Frigg's grass
Frigga being the Norse goddess for whom Friday is named, and the next bit triskaidekaphobia meaning fear of the number 13 – there is a Greek connection too – but I’ll leave you to explore that.

Superstition holds Friday the 13th to be a day of bad luck ... but sometimes we bring those portends with us – and if we get on with life ... all will be well: my way of living.  Otherwise I wouldn’t be here .... and I quite like being here and would like to remain so for a while longer yet.

The Curzon
Just to change the subject as I’m wont to do ... and as I’m a talkative blogger – I’ll go silent for a while ... back one hundred years to the Silent Movie Days. 

1912 offered three cinemas to audiences in Eastbourne (an innovative town), while ‘our’ cinema, The Curzon, first opened in 1920 as The Picturedrome ... by the time 1930 came round there were 9 cinemas.  

I’m a dedicated supporter for 20 years now of our Eastbourne Film Society, which celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2006, who use The Curzon for their performances.

The Society gave us a performance of the silent film “The Passion of Joan of Arc” (1928) on the release of a new print – highly praised by Robert Ebert ... and which mesmerised me totally as my post reflects.

The keyboard of a "Mighty Wurlitzer" from the
Museum of Musical Instruments, Berlin
Neil Brand, that Doyen of silent accompanists, joined us at the piano for our Joan of Arc show ... the Wurlitzer having long gone. Neil hails from Eastbourne when the Curzon was his stamping ground in his early days of restoring the Silent Movie Musician to his rightful place in the history of film.

The Artist” (2011), the-little-movie-that-could success story that has snowballed into an audience favourite – a Cannes award-winner ... and who knows as the respect for this French upstart plays on towards the major prizes.


Eastbourne from the Downs
The Curzon will not let us down ... and the movie will come to town – Kevin Maher in the Saturday Times Review says ... ‘The Artist' is a testament to the fundamentals of cinematic storytelling, and a threnody for an art-form undone by the demands of dialogue.  (Remember Hitchcock on dialogue?  A good movie, he said, works with the sound off.)

This is a film I will not
be seeing!

So today is a day for celebration friggatriskaidekaphobia withstanding!  Over 100 years of cinema, 82 years of talkies to the day in Eastbourne, a cinema that’s ticking on towards 100, over 65 years of the Film Society, actually I too am now officially in my 65th year albeit I call myself 64 ...

... and one last celebration ... this is my first post of year four at blogging, number 375, which as Clarissa mentioned is about four novels worth – 380,000 words.  How this tangled mess of eclectic thoughts could ever be put into a novel is beyond me ... I’m sure sometime a few booklets will appear.


Many of the Beatles thoughts appear not to relate  ... but they perhaps do in ways I could never expect ... my mother still needs me when I’m 64 – we just never know where life will lead us. 

The bottle of wine will be enjoyed – my mother was surprised to see me pull one out of her drawer wrapped up in one of her cloths that Susie had hidden away for me!

Fricka rides a chariot in
this illustration by
Arthur Rackman to
Richard Wagner's
Der Ring de Nubilungen
And I learnt a new word ... keeping the old brain cells ticking over ... ‘threnody’ = a song, hymn or poem of mourning composed from the Greek word threnos (wailing) and the Proto-Indo-European root wed (to speak) ... that is also the precursor of such words as ode, tragedy, comedy, parody, melody and rhapsody.

Please note ‘threnody’ refers to the resurgence of The Silents as they continue apace ... to the first three decades of the 20th century – when movies were cross-cultural and, without language barriers to bother them, could focus on artistic excellence and storytelling, and is not a dirge to me!!

Thus in the 1920s a horror film from Germany, such as The Cabinet of Dr Caligari, happily co-existed with the Charlie Chaplin melodrama, The Kid, or the Buster Keaton comedy Our Hospitality.

These films, and this era, bore witness to one of the 20th century’s most enduring inventions – movie stars.  Here Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford were the global role models, and even established the studio United Artists, in 1919, to protect their burgeoning brands.

I list Kevin Maher’s Top Ten Silent Films – for interest:

1.   The Passion of Joan of Arc: Carl Theodor Dreyer, 1928.
2.   Nanook of the North: Robert J Flaherty, 1922.
3.   The Great Train Robbery: Edwin S Porter, 1903.
4.   A Trip to the Moon: Georges Méliès, 1902.
5.   Sunrise: F W Murnau, 1927.
6.   The General: Buster Keaton, 1926.
7.   Broken Blossoms: D W Griffith, 1919.
8.   The Cabinet of Dr Caligari: Robert Wiene, 1920.
9.   Metropolis: Fritz Lang, 1927.
10.       Battleship Potemkin: Sergei M Eisenstein, 1925.

As I said – I’m wordy .. but they only pop up on your Reader once every x days ... no commitment as to days of posting I note!


1904 Easbourne Life Boat station
My mother will be as surprised as I am that I have reached this tender age - she told me a while I ago ... I'd never reach her age, and I'd be a double O old aged pensioner ... those sorts of comments bring lots of laughs and good memories.




PS I cannot link to Kevin Maher's article - as it's behind a paywall.




Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

70 comments:

April Plummer said...

Man, that's a lot to digest! :) I was born on Friday the 13th - in March. My mother said that's why she always knew Friday the 13th to be good luck, rather than bad. Now, she and I don't talk, so she may be changing her tune...

I have to say, I'm not a fan of silent films, yet without them, cinema wouldn't be what it is today.

Wine! Yum!

And I love the Beatles, and that song!

Joanne said...

Interesting how nestled within the tangent thoughts of your post lies the gem that it is your birthday! I like that it's Saint Hilary Day, too. Do parents still give their baby the name of its birth day saint? What a nice connection to have.

So, Happy Birthday Hilary. I'm raising my coffee cup in a Birthday toast to you ... Cheers :) And in keeping with The Beatles vein here ... Rock On.

Patsy said...

Happy Birthday, Hilary! What an appropriate name you have. (Think it might be appropriate for me to drink wine in your honour tonight ;-) )

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ April - I was going to post this last Summer - not for my birthday obviously ... but never got there. Now The Artist is out .. with the Silent Movie connection - Joan of Arc - I just felt I could 'quickly' give a whizz through one hundred years of cinema in Eastbourne .. particularly as talkies started here on Friday 13th 1930.

You're right Cinema developing over the years ... and yes wine and a celebratory song today ... just sorry about your mother, but your family looks wonderful ...

@ Joanne - thanks so much .. hope it isn't too much! Different cultures seem to have different traits .. here I'd say we tend to link grandparents and parents in - and some ensure their name carries on.

My parents I understand tried to give us names that other members of our very large families hadn't used ... Jenny Hobhouse's sister Hilary died of polio .. and I'm sure the date wouldn't have gone unnoticed in their choice - my father was at Oxford and was a lawyer ... so I guess a very logical name!

Thank you for your coffee cup raised as a toast .. and the Rock On: I'll keep on doing that.

@ Patsy - thank you .. and please share a drink with me tonight and celebrate my day.

Cheers appropriately today April, Joanne and Patsy .. have lovely weekends .. Hilary

jabblog said...

I much prefer Friggatriskaidekaphobia to Paraskavedekatriaphobia! Easier (just) to pronounce.
Happy Birthday, Hilary:-) I think I'd prefer 13th of any month to April 1st. I'll toast you later, too.

Melissa Ann Goodwin said...

Happy Birthday Hilary! Like jabblog, I like the friggaphobia word because it makes me giggle! Lots of great information in this post!Enjoy that wine. 64 IS the new middle age. 64 is the new 40. Enjoy!

Pearson Report said...

Nothing wrong with begin wordy when it's all interesting stuff, which it always is in your little corner of Blogger!

I did look up "yonks" - great little gem of a word! (my new word out of the collection I had to chose from) I also checked out "Frigga", interesting too!

Also, I send you best wishes for a very...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Hilary! Enjoy your day...Friday and all!

Cheers, Jenny @ PEARSON REPORT

Old Kitty said...

Happy Birthday Hilary!
Your blog is full of history!
Let's shout "Encore, you're sixty-four!"
Happy Birthday Hilary!

Hip hip hoooray!!

Take care
x

writing and living by Richard P Hughes said...

This is your first post since I started following you. I'm impressed. You certainly should have a book or two in your blog.

Even when the Beatles came out with the song, and I was maybe in my twenties, I didn't think 64 was that old. Now that I'm 65, I know it's not that old.

T. Powell Coltrin said...

Happy Birthday, Dear Hilary. Your posts are delightful as are you!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Janice - gosh you typed or copied both of those w-o-r-d-s out!! Much easier saying HB - I agree and thank you .. yes the 13th isn't so bad - as Feb 29th would be sad too .. cheers to you when you toast.

@ Melissa - it's a fun word isn't it - couldn't let it slip by .. I shall enjoy the vino shortly .. and definitely not ancient!

@ Jenny - many many thanks .. lots here I know. Yonks is a good word isn't it .. glad I left it in ..

I rather liked Frigga's plant .. pretty yellow for January's gloomy days, except today was sunny!

@ Old Kitty - that's a great poem - thank you so much .. the Nursing Home will love that! Hip hip hooray - exactly ..

@ Richard - delighted to have you along .. and thank you, appreciate that.

I think 60s+ seemed an awful long way off .. and I just never thought it would arrive .. well here I am, and as you say it's not that old.

@ Teresa - many thanks - I'm smelling sweetly today!! Made an effort for being 64 ...

Thanks so much everyone with your wishes and thoughts .. lovely to see you here - Janice, Melissa, Jenny, Old Kitty, Richard and Teresa .. have good weekends - Hilary

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Happy birthday, Hilary! The Beatles wrote that song just for you today.

Diane said...

Happy Birthday Hilary, yes 'When I'm 64' seems like a million years ago now. I will be 69 this year, in the Beatles era I would have now classed myself as over the hill LOL. At heart I still feel like a youngster it is just them old bones do not feel quite the same! Have a great day Diane

Inger said...

Happy Birthday, Hilary. Once again an informative post from you, my friend. I love to learn new words. I read so many books and it is amazing how few of them have words I need to look up. P.D. James being the exception. Her I must read with a dictionary close by. And now, maybe when I read your blog as well.

Southpaw said...

It would be cool - and lucky - to turn 13 on a Friday the 13th.

Karen Jones Gowen said...

"When I'm 64" I remember when that song came out and I never dreamed I'd ever be so old as 64.

Mason Canyon said...

Hilary, Happy Birthday. As I read your post tonight I also raise my cup of coffee (yes, I drink it at odd hours) in a toast to your birthday and many, many more. In addition, congratulations on beginning your fourth year blogging. I always enjoy your post. They are informative, entertaining and inspiring. Looking forward to many more.

Mason
Thoughts in Progress

klahanie said...

Hello Hilary,
And this time, mercifully, I leave you with a short comment with a long word 'Supercalifragilisticexpialidociousaphobia' Which is the fear of American actors with bad Cockney accents...
Cheers,
Gary

Anonymous said...

When I'm sixy-four. The Beatles. Still love them. Married to first husband, he would ask me with this line, "Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when...." Ironic, considering what happened to the marriage.

But right now as I'm approaching 72 in May, 64 sounds VERY young!

Hope you had a very happy birthday, my friend!
Ann Best, Author of In the Mirror & Other Memoirs

Anonymous said...

p.s. How movies have changed. And how great those very early movies are! Film writers/makers can learn so much more from watching them than any of the recent ones. WRITERS can learn so much from them about nuances of characters, etc.

Scarlett Clay said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! :) lol
frigga....what? I'll have to share that with my kids, they'll love that!

You know, I have never seen a silent film, not a single one. Definitely something to add to my bucket list! Thanks for the list to check out...and The Artist sounds worth checking out, too.
~Scarlett

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Alex - that's a fun thought - that those Liverpool lads wrote that song for me! Makes me smile to think of it ...

@ Diane - glad you're feeling like me - young at heart .. 'de old bones I too am not so sure about .. !

@ Inger - many thanks .. when I come across people who speak English as a 2nd language, then I feel ashamed at my inability to converse in anything but English?!

It's wonderful hearing of people who continue to learn - I had to look at frigga... and up 'threnody' -

When I 'research' these posts I constantly come across things I don't know about ... I love that - some of it gets put into the blog.

@ Holly - I'm not so sure yesterday was such a good day for some people - Friday 13th seemed to rear its head as unlucky or portending so - all well here though.

@ Karen - we had similar thoughts in those far off past days.

@ Mason - thanks for the coffee toast - delighted to be toasted at any time of day or night .. with whatever beverage is appropriate!

Thanks very much for the kind comments ...

Cheers with a coffee mug to your thoughts and wishes .. Alex, Diane, Inger, Holly, Karen and Mason - enjoy the weekends .. Hilary

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Gary - love your phobia word - so much I'm not going to type it out! It is a great word though by whoever invented it ...

@ Ann - very ironic considering the wheels of life you've been through .. and I expect there are many other examples from those times.

It's quite comforting to know I'm young to some people!

Thanks for the birthday wishes .. and how films have changed as you say - you're right re the story telling within some of the films made .. it was interesting to read that the actors had to slow down just a smidgeon .. so the effect could be portrayed on the screen with maximum impression.

@ Scarlett - thank you ... great that the kids will enjoy 'frigga' ... and Gary's 'Supercalifragilisticexpialidociousaphobia' and Janice's "Paraskavedekatriaphobia!" - the Greek version.

I think you should share a silent film with your kids - they'll love them - and they're short usually .. so a good fun interlude ...

From the little I've heard about 'The Artist' - it is taking the world by storm .. a good outing for you and hubby?!

Great to see you Gary, Ann and Scarlett - have lovely weekends .. cheers Hilary

Talli Roland said...

Happy Saint Hilary day, O Hilarious One!

And wow, 360,000 words! Bloggers are certainly prolific, aren't they?

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

Wonderful and interesting as ever Hilary, I used to think when the Beatles sang that song"When I'm Sixty Four" wow that's old, well I have past that milestone and dreading the next.
Loved your history lesson, as I said always interesting.

Yvonne.

Unknown said...

You are only sixty-four years young! And no need to go silent on our behalf, we love all your words, all 384, 000 plus of them. What I like best about blogging is that these words will last forever. For years and years to come people will stumble across your blog and read your insightful posts. Keep them coming, Hilary. And Congrats!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Talli - ah! Saint Hilary here .. the positive one ..

I know, when we look at our posts and the months tick by, think what we're producing! Then there's the pictures too .. as you say prolific seems to be a good word here.

@ Yvonne - life is life isn't it - I certainly don't feel old and decrepit, though I suspect I am somewhat!

Thanks re the history lesson of the 13th and of cinematic Eastbourne ..

@ Clarissa - that's the way I feel .. young at heart definitely.

Thanks so much re the words - can't quite believe I've got here and written so much - I had to use the calculator .. to check!

That's an interesting point about the blog being here for .... as long as ..... how long is a piece of string?!

Thanks so much .. for the thumbs up ..

Cheers Talli, Yvonne and Clarissa .. it's great having such friends around the world .. well two in England here - always surprising - how far we reach. Enjoy the weekend ... Hilary

Anonymous said...

Wow! Thirteen on Friday the Thirteenth ... that's kind of cool I think, although I may want to stay inside and celebrate on the 12th and the 14th.

And I love that Beatles song. Yep, I still like the Beatles and turn it up when they're on the radio,

Golden Eagle said...

Happy Birthday! :)

Congratulations on all those posts. Definitely a lot of words!

Connie Arnold said...

Happy birthday, Hilary! Wow, what a post! I always enjoy visiting your blog and seeing what interesting morsels you'll be sharing this time. You may call it wordy, but I call it a creative source of information and variety.

Judith Mercado said...

What a fascinating kaleidoscopic post! Happy Belated Birthday. May you have many more wonderful ones to share with us.

Grace said...

Happy Belated Birthday!
Hilary, you never fail to delight:)

I too am a wordy blogger lol...and thus appreciate a well-tuned, well- timed, and well-"segwayed" post.

May your 64th year be one of discovery, industry, zest and joy.

In Him,
Grace

Susan Scheid said...

First off, I, too, must extend belated greetings: Happy Birthday! A joyful post. The word threnody is a beauty, isn't it?

As for the silent films--I wasn't sure from the post whether you've yet seen The Artist?? It's charming and the Jack Russell definitely steals the show. Interesting to experience how well music can give us the story.

I watched Battleship Potemkin recently. Wonderful. There, depending on the version you get, the music is by Dmitri Shostakovich, BTW. And here's another great one for your list: Eisenstein's Alexander Nevsky (music there is by Prokofiev).

J.L. Campbell said...

Like you, I didn't even know yesterday was Friday, 13th until I had to write the date. Thanks for the information on triskaidekaphobia. Of course, I didn't know that.

Juliet said...

Happy birthday, hilarious Hilary . I never know where you are going to take me next! Just as well that I have no fear of Friday 13th, because I wouldn't be able to pronounce that word! Sixty four is not as old as it once seemed, when the Beetles first sang that song.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Stephen .. it is kind of cool especially with all the other connections - and I'll celebrate all the time! The Beatles are good aren't they ..

@ Golden Eagle - many thanks and definitely a lot of words.

@ Connie - appreciate the words 'creative source of information and variety' ... seems a good description!

@ Judith - glad you enjoyed it and I think there may be more words jellifying themselves in readiness!

@ Grace - delighted to read you enjoyed it .. and many thanks for your words and the segueing of the parts: this was a 'good' mix.

I'd be happy if my year ahead is full of discovery, industry, zest and joy .. lovely thoughts ...

Thanks so much Stephen, GE, Connie, Judith and Grace - have good Sundays - cheers Hilary

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Susan - thanks for the belated greetings. Yes 'threnody' I came across twice and had noted it down ...

The silent films - no - we're waiting for the date for it to come to Eastbourne - sometime soon .. ah I'd read about the Jack Russell ... I'm sure I'll enjoy it, it sounds excellent.

You are so knowledgeable with your music - I think I might be watching more silent movies in the future to catch up - well that's probably not possible. But I can give it a go and start ..

Great extra information - thank you - I'll add a note at the bottom of the post ...!

@ JL - it's fun finding new things out and weaving them into a post.

@ Juliet - many thanks ... sometimes nor do I, when I set out on the quest of writing a post. Actually I can't pronounce the 'frigga....' word either!

You're right 64 is not as old as it was 50 years ago or so ..

Thanks so much Susan, JL and Juliet for your birthday wishes - have happy Sundays - Hilary

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday to YOUUUUUU!

I want to see The Artist - and War Horse -- I rarely get myself to the movies, but some things should be seen on the Big Screen!

Julie Flanders said...

A belated Happy Birthday to you, Hilary!! And Happy St. Hilary Day, how perfect!
I can remember listening to that Beatles' song when I was a kid and thinking 64 might as well be 200 years old. Now it doesn't seem old, or very far off, at all.
Love the name for the Friday the 13th phobia. Who knew??

Happy Birthday again, and many happy returns. Have a great week ahead! :)

TALON said...

Not superstitious so I didn't even realize it was a Friday the 13th until it was mostly over :)

It's incredible how much the world has changed in 64 years and it shocks me how close 64 is to me now - just over a decade away...though each year makes me more and more grateful to be alive and gives more cause for quiet celebration.

Hope your 65th year is your finest, Hilary!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Kat - many thanks .. yes the Artist, War Horse and Corialanus - all coming to the local cinemas soon .. should be very good.

@ Julie - yes it's amazing those childhood memories of years ago -and how far away 2000 was - let alone being here!

Friday the 13th phobia - hadn't realised there was a word before ..

Thanks for the wishes

@ Talon - days can disappear can't they ...

At least you have a decade - enjoy it!! Life is just wonderful isn't it ..

Thanks Talon - my 65th year just might be ..

Cheers Kat, Julie and Talon - so lovely to see you .. Hilary

klahanie said...

Hey Hilary,
Whoops! *Hangs head in shame*. I was so involved in submitting that phobia and here goes, take a deep breath, 'Supercalifragilisticexpialidociousaphobia', that I forget to type the most important part. Humble apologies and a belated birthday to you :)
In humbleness, Gary

Rosaria Williams said...

A birthday! Yeahhhhh!
64 is young nowadays, what with ninety plus folks still driving!
A truly delightful and enriching post,H.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Gary .. no worries - I thought it was amazing that the word 'Supercali........' actually flowed out from your typing fingers!! Thanks for coming by and waving HB to me .. appreciate that.

@ Rosaria - yes a birthday .. they all creep up on us - don't they? 64 is young I agree .. and absolutely some folks of 90 still driving around - but certainly walking and talking.

Thanks Rosaria - glad you enjoyed it ..

Gary - good to see you return and Rosaria - thanks for being here ..

I see The Artist won three awards at The Golden Globes last night ..

Cheers everyone have good weeks, and Gary and Rosaria thanks for your comments - Hilary

Unknown said...

Belated happy birthday to you, Hilary. I hope you had a wonderful day. Here's to many more.

What a fascinating post. I see now why you don't suffer from friggatriskaidekaphobia. :)

Happy birthday to your blog too. Keep them coming!

Rosalind Adam said...

Hope you had a lovely, lovely birthday. Yes, I also remember hearing that song and thinking how impossible it would be to turn 64. I'm not there yet but it's only a matter of a few years and far too close for comfort.

I do hope The Artist comes to your local soon. I saw it yesterday and it's well worth a visit. In some of the scenes they use the facial expressions and body language in a very clever way. It's quite charming.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Shirley .. thank you - it was peaceful and that's what mattered, but definitely here's to many more.

Glad you can see the connections .. for frigga .... and the 13th all round .. thanks so much.

@ Ros - many thanks - yes it was lovely - it's incredible to think we used to think we'd never reach there .. or in your case rocking and rolling towards the magic 64!!

The Artist will come - they're very good ... as we have such a vibrant film society .. and if you've seen it and said it's great .. and very clever in its use of 'silent film work' .. I'm looking forward to it.

In my Passion of Joan of Arc silent post I mentioned .. Roger Ebert's review is linked too - and that film has to be the best I've ever seen - and it's a silent film. Quite extraordinary ..

Thanks Shirley and Ros .. good to see you both .. cheers Hilary

Sylvia Ney said...

Very interesting. I absolutely LOVE that Wurlitzer!

Helen Ginger said...

I love your posts. They're always like a stream of consciousness post.

It's Monday today and I didn't even notice that last Friday was the 13th!

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

Congratulations on so many levels, Hilary. Sorry I missed your birthday. Hope it was utterly fabulous. You are one of the nicest 64 year olds I know. I love that song, and yes, I'm just a few years short.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Sylvia - many thanks .. I think I've only heard the Wurlitzer being played in films or on tv - it has a lovely sound.

@ Helen - many thanks .. I think as bloggers the days can just disappear - perhaps even the leap year will leap passed us!!

@ Joylene - delighted to see you - as you've been a-visiting I think .. having a glorious granny time!

64 - is just another age isn't it .. but resonating with the song and Friday 13th are a little different to the norm.

Thanks so much Sylvia, Helen and Joylene .. and if Blogger will let me access my own account - I'll post this (this time) ... cheers Hilary

Liara Covert said...

Movies offer insight into how we view our deepest selves. On one level, movies offer escapism and fuel for the imagination. On other levels, they invite self-awareness and growth. Whether we respond to what seems to be going on around us in the external world or not, is often mirrored in our film choices and how we respond emotionally. Notice genres that appeal to you and what you avoid. Everything invites you to learn about you.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Liara .. I don't often see blockbusters - so am sent out of the film considering life - and different aspects of our life - be it now or in the past. I'm a learner .. evaluating particulars and where they sit - so I learn about me too.

Great comment - thank you - cheers Hilary

MTeacress said...

That frigg... word is fun to say. I'd have to post it on my mirror and practice for two weeks before I could remember it on my own though. :)

I'm not worried about Friday the 13th either - I have enough to worry about already!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Michelle .. yes the frigg word! I still can't say that "Supercalifragilisticexpialidociousaphobia" which has an extra phobia added to it .. after all these years - I think I'll miss out on being able to say the frigg word!

That's a good point - plenty of other things to worry about ..

Good to see you and thanks for the comment - cheers Hilary

Theresa Milstein said...

I had no idea there was a St. Hilary or there were so many Hilary-related words.

If you like silent movies, you should see Hugo. In fact, you should get your hands on the love book The Invention of Hugo Cabret.

I hear there are two more Friday the 13ths this year--in April and July.

Karen Lange said...

I am a bit late, but Happy Birthday Hilary! Hope you enjoyed a wonderful day! You know, I'm all for stretching a birthday celebration out to a week or so, and I highly recommend it in your case! Why not? :D Wish we could meet for tea and celebrate!
Blessings to you,
Karen

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Theresa .. I think there must be Saints for everyone .. but the connections to my birth day seem to ring true to me.

Thanks for the tip re Hugo - never heard of it .. ah - I caught the Wiki article on it. Ok - I'll keep an eye out for it ..

You're right .. I've a friend whose birthday is on 13th April .. she lives in the States .. and July too ..

@ Karen - no worries! I am stretching mine out over a week .. so perhaps we can meet up for a cup of tea and celebration ... one day definitely - thank you.

Cheers Theresa and Karen - great seeing you .. Hilary

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Hilary -

When the U.S. first started planning for the Bi-Centennial (1976), it seemed so far off. Here we are almost 36 years later!

I recall scripture saying that this life is as a vapor. Even Methusaleh, who lived to 969, is long gone. I'm thankful I've done some long-range planning for eternity. :)

Blessings,
Susan

Arlee Bird said...

That was an info packed post for sure. The topic of silent movies particularly caught my eye. I love them, but my wife is not a fan so I don't watch them often. The list is a good one. I particularly like Sunrise. I know they're somewhat politically incorrect, but I also like Birth of a Nation and Intolerance--a lot going on in those films.


Lee
Tossing It Out

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Susan .. I came over to the States in 1976 .. and now it seems so far away!

Scripture describes life rather well I think - a vapour .. we will leave a trace behind in due time .. well done on your plans - I'm sure many of us need to catch up.

@ Lee .. I thought you might enjoy The Artist .. and glad you enjoyed the post - yes I packed it with information in as a reference place for me!

One day - I must get to watch the others .. I don't know Birth of a Nation or Intolerance .. thanks for adding them in.

Thanks Susan and Lee - informative comments .. cheers Hilary

Chase March said...

Lots of things to celebrate!

Congratulations on starting your fourth year of blogging!

I don't think Friday the 13th is unlucky. It's kind of fun sometimes. I wore a tie with creepy skulls on it to work last week. The students got a kick out of it.

Peace,

Chase

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Chase .. yes there were lots of celebrations going on - and into 4 years of blogging .. surprises me.

Did you - that must have chilled the kids out - what fun!! Fun idea for them ..

Cheers Hilary

Sara said...

Once again, I'm late for the party. Happy belated Birthday to you. I hope you celebrated lots and enjoyed yourself. Birthdays are always special and should be celebrated with great fanfare:~)

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Sara .. I was happy doing what I did .. many thanks for your thoughts and I've had a few fanfare parties over the years!

Cheers Hilary

Ella said...

Belated Birthday Wishes! I have always had great luck on the 13th!
I hope your day was wonderful and filled with charm and fun, just like you!

Empty Nest Insider said...

Happy Belated Birthday Hilary! I'm sorry that I didn't see this sooner. I loved The Artist and Hugo which were both about silent movies. Julie

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Ella - many thanks and glad you're with me on the lucky 13th. I had a very peaceful day .. and am enjoying my year and still celebrating.

@ Julie - no worries .. but so pleased to have your recommendations for The Artist and Hugo .. I'm sure we'll get The Artist in Eastbourne very soon ..

This week I want to see Corialanus, The War Horse and the Iron Lady - & the film Society has a film this week - so I shall be busy screen watching by the look of it!

Cheers Ella and Julie - many thanks for your lovely wishes .. Hilary

Mandy Allen said...

I passed my driving test on Friday 13th February, I signed the lease on my shop fourteen years ago on Friday the thirteenth of February, I signed the lease on my second shop on May 13th and on my third shop on February 13th (neither were Fridays), and I am running the Holkham Half Marathon on May 13th this eyar - phew! So no, I have no fears about the 13th or Friday the 13th! Lovely post, Hilary.

Enjoy the journey.

Mandy

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Mandy .. I might have passed mine on April 13th .. it was during the Easter holidays. Lots of Friday the 13ths, or just 13ths... I've lived in two houses numbered the 13th .. so like you no worries re the 13th.

Good luck with the Half Marathon - after the A - Z .. good for you ..

Lovely to see after all this time! cheers Hilary