Joe Hisaishi - Okuribito

I watched a film called Departures, the story of a old Japanese embalmer who, with the most extreme dignity takes care of the dead.  His offsider is a cellist who, jobless, applied for the position of "assisting with departures", having, of course, no idea what was in store for him.   He is taught the art of dressing and embalming, but his young wife doesn't like what he is doing, and not until she sees him preparing the body of her mother, does she understand the honesty of his work.

The film is very moving, and the music is superb.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdhjHAGFQH8&feature=related

They're coming to take me away, ha-haaa

from: Dr. Demento's Delights


Remember when you ran away and I got on my knees and begged you not to leave
because I'd go berserk?? Well...

You left me anyhow and then the days got worse and worse and now you see
I've gone completely out of my mind.. And..

They're coming to take me away, ha-haaa!!
They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa
To the funny farm. Where life is beautiful all the time and I'll be
happy to see those nice young men in their clean white coats and

they're

coming to take me away, ha-haaa!!!!!


You thought it was a joke and so you laughed, you laughed when I had
said that loosing you would make me flip my lid.. RIGHT???
I know you laughed, I heard you laugh, you laughed you laughed and
laughed and then you left, but now you know I'm utterly mad... And..

They're coming to take me away, ha-haaa,
They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa.
To the happy home. With trees and flowers and chirping birds and
basket weavers who sit and smile and twiddle their thumbs and toes and

they're

coming to take me away, ha-haaa!!!

I cooked your food, I cleaned your house, and this is how you pay me
back for all my kind unselfish loving deeds.. Huh??
Well you just wait, they'll find you yet and when they do they'll put
you in the ASPCA, you mangy mutt!!! And...

They're coming to take me away, ha-haaa.
They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa.
To the funny farm, where life is beautiful all the time and I'll be
happy to see those nice young men in their clean white coats and

they're

coming to take me away, ha-haaa!!!

To the happy home, with trees and flowers and chirping birds and
basket weavers who sit and smile and twiddle their thumbs and toes and

they're

coming to take me away, ha-haa!!!To the funny farm, where life is beautiful all the time...

__________________________________________________________________

This was a brilliant song way back in the 60s

The dog is back

Echo decided, on hearing a barking invitation from another dog walking just below the bank, to join him and have a bit of a laugh.  The property at the lake is secluded and the edge goes down a fairly steep bank and joins public walkways.  Generally we don't hear people walking unless they are talking loudly, and so Echo's disappearance wasn't noticed at first.  When it was realised that he was no longer on the property, but had taken off on his own little accord, there was pandemonium.  I doubt whether more panic would have taken place had it been a child missing.

Everyone was put to work searching, driving around, calling for the dog.  Only one small shop in the vicinity, but a large notice-board, so a notice was written and taken down to the shop - to find that just minutes before, the dog-walking owners had put a notice there to contact them if anyone had lost a little black, long-tailed miniature poodle.

Such panic afforded by a small black dog!

I have just found Joshua Bell

I had been watching Ladies in Lavender, a film with Judi Dench and Maggie Smith, about a young musician who'd been shipwrecked and washed up in their little wild bay.  He didn't speak their language, but it became apparent he was a musician, a violinist.  When he played, it was so beautiful, so I looked for the credits and googled the violinist, Joshua Bell.
What a joy it is to listen to this young man's playing.  And it helps that he is beautiful to look at :)  Obviously many others think the same way and there are plenty of clips on You Tube, but my favourite is the theme music to Ladies in Lavender http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4RIPjk6Jh4 It isn't a demanding piece for a violinist, but it is beautiful.