FAMILIES eh?

Eileen is very reliable.

If George Clooney rang Eileen to beg for a date she'd say "Sorry Georgie - but I've arranged to see Kaz today."

However, if her daughter rings to ask her to baby-sit she'll ring me on the last minute and say "Sorry Kaz ......". She doesn't actually like baby-sitting - so it must be sociobiology - protection of the genes or something like that.

Eileen hails from Skipton. She goes on and on about Skipton - at length. She thinks Skipton is marvellous. So for weeks we had been hearing about the imminent release of 'And When Did You Last See Your Father'. The film is based on the book by Blake Morrison (also from Skipton) and concerns his father who was allegedly doctor to Eileen's second cousin by marriage.

The date to see the long awaited film was fixed for last Tuesday - the last chance before I flew to Spain..... you've already guessed what happened.

Norma and I quite enjoyed the film.

Philip Larkin had said it all well before Blake Morrison -

"They fuck you up your mum and dad
They may not mean to but they do
They fill you with the faults they had
And add some extra just for you"

Colin Firth (as Blake)did his usual performance from the Woodentop school of acting - stare into middle distance and wonder what's for tea.

The film was saved by the scene stealing performance of Matthew Beard (above left) as the young Blake.

Watch out for him - but see the film on telly.
KAZ