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A lovely Wednesday-morning read for me, Terry, thanks. It actually feels nice that this is midweek and not right at the start. Mondays never feel overly good for me. I have also been feeling a little low lately, but can't exactly put my mind on why. The weather is amazing (spring is springing here) and work is calm, but for some reason things just feel a bit bleh. So, thanks for the notion on reframing. I think I need to do some of that. And congratulations on your huge body of work. It has (and continues to be) a joy to read all that you put out.

My initial thought it 13. Some of the wording near the start seemed to nudge something and then the unlucky line and more than a dozen. Mitchell puzzle master seems to have caught more of these, so I'm going with 13 too.

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My guess is 13. No reason, it's a guess. I once went to see Tommy Cooper at Dudley Hippodrome, many, many years ago. He was a total hoot. The chap I went with fell off his seat laughing - twice.

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I saw him with a friend many years ago too, and we didn't stop laughing for the whole two hours!

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Sep 19, 2023Liked by Terry Freedman

There's also the line "unlucky" right at the start. And I see Mitchell elaborates further.

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Sooooo much fun/interest/learning/knowledge/Terry in this post, Terry! What a great start to the week! That Tommy Cooper joke - gosh, he was something, wasn't he?! 🤣

I went to a performance at the Globe very many years ago - and to my shame I don't remember what I saw! I do remember that it was a very, very hot day, that I wished I'd taken my own cushion, and that I enjoyed the performance immensely. How lovely that you did a tour - that must have been fascinating!

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PS thanks for nice comment. Tommy Cooper: yes. Here's his joke (only 53 seconds long): it still makes me laugh: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF-PuHFwGZc

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They provide cushions, though I think they might cost a bit extra. The young lady on the box office, who obviously fancied me even though we were on the phone, advised me what seats to buy that have a backrest (the ones right at the back). As for cushions, we just took a cat each, which worked out quite well.

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I was a destitute student and was NOT going to shell out A FIVER to sit on one of theirs....!

LOL to using the cats! Although you're very mean for leaving one of them behind.... 👀

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I was going to say, we brought Willow along as a footrest, but I thought people might think I was cruel

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That is NO way to treat your brother - particularly if you were both sharing him. Four feet, one cat? That's HARSH...... 👀

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we swapped over in the interval

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Great - so Willow got to use you and Elaine as footrests for the second half, then? I should think so too! 🤣

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Film cinematography would be so cool. Did you used to make short films? Also, saxophone is without a doubt the coolest instrument of them all.

Also, thanks for the shout out!

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It is. Yes, but nothing with much of a story. I just liked recording the ephemera of everyday life. Sax would be even cooler if I could play the wretched thing. You're welcome!

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Three?

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You're the second person who said three. Why? I am afraid not, Miss Rebecca, but thank you for trying.

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Bother. I was being both lazy AND ignorant... I had simply counted the Marx brothers.

Having now CONSULTED WIKIPEDIA I have counted them anew, and am duly upgrading my answer to FOUR.

🤔

Any better?

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<sigh> The Marx Bros have nothing to do with it. Sorry

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🙄

NOT four, then? 🤔

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Oh puh-lease! My ambitions are much loftier than a mere four, Rebecca

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🙄

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Sep 19, 2023·edited Sep 19, 2023Liked by Terry Freedman

"...1984 has had a trigger warning slapped on it in some quarters." Good God. Really? And I agree about self-obsession. So much "I ,me, my, mine. Which is cool, maybe, if you have an extraordinary ( or at least entertaining ) life. I tend to be a little suspicious of anyone who wants to share their "journey" ... Is your number zero? And THANKS again for the shout out! Raymond thanks you too.

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Yes: https://www.spiked-online.com/2022/01/24/now-even-1984-comes-with-a-trigger-warning/

Thanks re self-obsession bit. For me, the most extraordinary people are ordinary people who just get on with it, not spend their time boasting about how they're getting on with it, which means they're not getting on with it.

Zero: don't make me laugh, Sharron.

You and Raymond are both welcome.

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Rats! Not zero? I thought I saw a reference to goose eggs. I will keep looking.

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I agree with Julie, changing the narrative can make all the difference! 💜

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Thanks, Sue.

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Love the example of changing the narrative. Thank you! Also my daughter was at the Globe last week to see Macbeth. Small world.

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Amazing! What did your daughter think of it?

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I'm 42 so I think that 42 is the answer (to quote Adam Douglas). (I'm probably wrong, but I had to try.)

I'm amazed at your many talents, Terry. You experience cutting & glueing analogue film left me in awe. Sounds like the analogue version of copying & pasting but more work intensive. 🤣 Plus, you couldn't copy/paste anyone's work (but nothing is perfect in life).

Thank you for including me in your recommendations, I really and humbly appreciate it.

P.S. That video was such good fun. What was the high-brow article you mentioned (and low brow comment to it)?

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42? Did you get the numbers the wrong way round? 24, surely?

Well, thanks for nice comments about my talents, but (a) I was 15 and so had more brain cells than I do now, and (b) I spent many hours honing my skills in that area, so it wasn't really talent, just hard graft.

42 is not the number, sorry.

I can't remember the article I'm afraid. I'm sure an educated woman like you, Claudia, is able to think of a few possible low-brow replies!

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🤣 24, I wish! But with the brains I have now. 😝

Youth and hard work, that's the formula! I get it now. At that age you have unlimited patience & time to tinker with something like that. I'm thinking what I did at 15...

Did anyone get the number right?

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Possibly. I ain't saying, Claudia. Have another go. As Oscar Wilde said: youth is wasted on the young.

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Oscar was so right... 🤣

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Another post rich in smiles and discoveries of great writing.

Thank you so much for the accolade, too, much appreciated!

Is the hidden number 3...?

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3? No, sorry. Thanks for trying, and for nice comment!

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Wonderful musings. A Scottish play tour! Is this in the UK? Love the Out Dam Spot antiseptic stand.

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Yes, sorry, should have said: London. Me too! Thanks, CK

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Does prime mean 12 then?

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No, sorry squire

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Was also going to say 13 for 2/4 of those (I didn't spot the others).

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Oh, thanks re commission. You just click on that link, and change the .co.uk to .com. I don't think I'm actually registered as an affiliate in USA. I was, but they cut me off because I wasn't earning enough. So don't worry about it, but thank you anyway.

I'm glad you understand the bit about promises. I, too, held on to domain names "just in case". Over the last year I've been gradually divesting myself of them by cancelling the renewal. It's sad, but on the other hand it was costing a fortune.

And yes, the if-only vibe continues to haunt, but counting ones blessings is a better way to go methinks.

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😂 It's better for ones mental health

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