There comes a point when you finally realise that you’re not going to be able to fit it all in before you pop your clogs. A bit of a relief, if truth be told, but no harm in remembering the bits you almost managed to do.
In 1965, I was a schoolboy in Scotland with certain urges and needs, I was rubbish at singing, but I had worked out that it would be a good idea to join the school choir. The girl/boy ratio was favourable and a lot of the boys in the choir did not appear to have their heart in the concept of interacting with the fairer sex, to be fair.
So, not a lot of competition and no lack of dates, but there was a pattern. Choir girls=singing=musical=’The Sound of Music’. In those far-off days, ‘blockbuster’ films were only shown in major cities.
Our nearest venue was Dundee, armpit of the Universe, and 19 miles away from Perth. Thus it was that, on three occasions and within two months, I took the bus to said armpit to see the aforementioned film, in the company of an alto or soprano and with high hopes.
It all went well each time except for the fact that the last bus back to Perth left 15 minutes before the bloody film finished. We had to slip away to catch it at about the same time as the Family von Trapp were absenting themselves from the folk festival.
So, we never got to find out what happened and I never got the chance to move the conversation on to more interesting topics on the way home . The distaff side of the date always seemed a wee bit unsatisfied.and slightly unfulfilled, even before I tried anything on,
All sorted now, I thought. Went to see Connie Fisher in the stage production on Thursday. Loved it and her and believed that all my demons were laid to rest. Except that the two very close female friends that I went with assure me that the stage ending is very different from the film ending.
Boadicea's Chariot 
Well, I still have to climb the foothills, John, never mind the mountains. I’ve never managed to make it past the first ten minutes of the film. This was probably due to the fact that I actually took my choir girl status rather more seriously, but then I went to a girls’ school, and had a serious case of arrested development! Smiley thing.
“So, we never got to find out what happened”
For all those who do not wish to know the result please turn away know.
The Germans lost.
I’ve never heard Dundee so described, but it seems to fit very well, JM.
Hire the film and watch it. Simple really.
I remember watching the film when we first arrived back form South Africa, and ,y only experience of cinema before that had been the outdoor drive in type. It was 1965 and I was nearly 5, so much of the film went over my head.
Does this bring back any memories if SA pseu?
In 1964 I was living in Weston-Super-Mare. I was walking out with a young lady who was crazy about ‘Mary Poppins.’ For a whole summer I saw that film at least once a week – I can still quote large chunks of it verbatim. My dughter didn’t believe me until she got the film for the Grandchildren…
It was worth it, btw. 🙂
I loved it too John, it’s one of those ‘feel good’ musicals.
Inspired by a true story. which always adds something extra.
Bravo, she obviously had other qualities you could appreciate. Did she call you Dick?
Ag pleez Deddy, what’s a bleddy Sugar Ball? Bring back the original lyrics.
Janus. Red hair, blue eyes and a free spirit…
Sipu That song, with the original lyrics 🙂 was popular when I was at school in Kenya in the early sixties. So was this:
PS 1. We didn’t have ‘sugar’ balls in Kenya.
PS 2. When I was back home in the Sixth form in the mid-late 60’s I went out for a while with a lift girl from the one department store in Deal which was big enough to have a lift, (all three floors of it 🙂 )
Bravo, thanks for that. I have been trying to remember the lyrics for it. The flip side was something called ‘Joburg Talking Blues’.
‘I rode on down to Joburg town
All day long I walked up and down
Reckon that place was full to the brim
By half past five it was empty again
All gone home
Back to the suburbs!
Needed to find myself something to eat
So I tied my horse to a pole on the side of the street
When I got back some darn fool had been messing around with him
Stuck a pink ticket on his backside.
Said, Meter Expired…
Cant remember the rest, but there was talk of ‘politics and immorality’. Very topical of the day. Too sophisticated for me, but my parents laughed.
Dammit, my little brother just reminded me of that one too – can’t find a copy anywhere.