Podcasts From The Edge

My Dear Princess Normal & Dear Fellows,

By the time I left Tesco Bank in September I had settled into a regular routine of podcast listening. It was pretty much the only way to get through the day. I wasn't in a team - not really - and sat on my own. So it was the only way to keep brain atrophy at bay.

Shut up. It's AT BAY. Yes it is.

Right now I sit next to a nice lady, but she is in her 20's and Malaysian so it's not like we have a lot in common. I don't really work with anyone so podcasts it is. I like to start the day with "Desert Island Discs" which is a nice relaxing listen first thing in the morning. Today's guest was Tom Hanks who came across as lovely as everyone describes. Modest, full of enthusiasm and kindness. His taste in music was pretty eclectic, from LL Cool J to Dean Martin. 

The Dean Martin song was BRILLIANT. It was called "Relaxez-Vous" and included the line, "take off your sneakers and slacks and relaxez-vous". I'm going to have to download it. 

This was followed by "Attaboy Clarence". I love this podcast. Today he told the actual true story behind "Whisky Galore". I didn't even know there WAS a true story. 

It turns out that the "SS Politician" ran aground on the island of Eriskay in the Outer Hebrides. The locals put on their wives' dresses to rescue as much whisky as they could from the wreck. They were wearing women's clothes because they didn't want oil on their own clothes, marking them out as  looters.

Although that raises a few more questions. Wouldn't that mark their WIVES out as the looters? And couldn't they just wear their SPARE clothes? And how did they ALL know to wear dresses? Had they discussed it beforehand, in case a whisky-laden ship happened along?

Let's just say that they wearing dresses because um... oh well I'm sure it's not important.

The true story ends a lot more sadly than the film, unfortunately. But apparently they still find bottles of whisky all over the island to this day.

After that, I moved on to the story of Jane Fonda and Jean Seberg in "You Must Remember This". And of course more episodes of "In Our Time", "Lore" and "The Secret History of Hollywood".

All in all, it was a pleasant day. It would be nice to have a team to work with but I expect that will happen sooner or later. In the meantime I shall put on my sneakers and slacks and relaxez-vous.

S.