Don’t mention the Ashes

Joan Fontaine died today. I had no idea she was still alive. She was 96…which is a pretty good innings.

Of course Radio 4 had a lot of stuff on about her today, including her famous feud with her sister, Olivia de Havilland. My favourite story is how Olivia turned up for the casting for Rebecca, resplendent in furs and jewels. The casting director told her the part was for a poor, mousey woman. Olivia’s catty response was that he should call her sister then. Of course, it was the part of a lifetime and made Joan an international star.

The sibling rivalry went on forever, with Joan saying in 1978 “I married first, won the Oscar before Olivia did, and if I die first, she’ll undoubtedly be livid because I beat her to it!” That could be so…Olivia is still alive and living in Paris.

………………..
Today was a book group day so Mirinda drove off to Alton after lunch. Since the departure of the librarian, the group members have been taking turns leading the monthly discussions. This month it was Mirinda’s turn. Naturally, she was brilliant.

Rather than coming home afterwards, she had to go into town to meet with an MP.

Meanwhile, back at home, I was busy getting together bits of paperwork in order to fund the extension. Nowhere near as much fun but one of those things that just has to be done.

Actually, my favourite bit of the day was chatting to Ben. He’d called to talk to Mirinda but had to settle with me. Naturally, we talked at length about the failings of the English cricket team now that normality has returned to the world of test match play. I told him it wasn’t because the English had suddenly gone off, it was that the Aussies have shucked off the awful coach and stared playing like an Australian cricket team again.