There was a time, a happy time (save the unfortunate squandering of wealth and red sequins that took place on that fateful Saturday, a fateful day which we shall try to not mention, trying really hard, because it's just so much more tempting to speak about the horrid things, if only because they're more interesting than the happy ones, ones, for example, that might go "Oh, it was a good day all right, just splendid. I had a lovely time. Lovely. Splendid," and horrid ones usually involve a good deal more violence or sex, or, if you're lucky, some combination of having to tell Placido Domingo off and throwing a truffle (yes, perhaps somewhat undeservedly, though there was no doubt whatsoever that Placido was, in every way, wholly deserving of your telling him off, unless, as you have a sneaking suspicion, his winking and mumbling "bella bella mmmm mmm mmm" was, in fact, directed at the young woman behind yourself, though you still can't help but feel vindicated in some holistic kind of way) at the ground with vigour, and nevermore shall that fateful day be mentioned, nor, as a matter of course, alluded to, heretofore.), a time in which people felt free and lovely to go about amongst the lot of the other people and frolic, fraternise, and such.
They were not days haunted by the giant spectre of some imminent disaster, not by rapid (or rabid) killer sumo mice, nor even any sort of elections. Granted, neither were these current days haunted by quick killer sumo mice, and rarely have there been such days which have, but it's always nice to remember that you're blessed enough not to have to deal with them.
Ah, did the soda ever taste good in those days, when Club was still using "real bits of orange," instead of just "bits of orange," now.
But in life, as in art, rarely have you ever the chance to savour properly these days while they're happening. Which is a bloody good thing videorecorders came along.
disclaimer:
Another good reason for videorecorders coming around was the slow demise of those wispy shepherd boys galavanting around the old hills playing a gay tune on their recorders, delighting the sheep, trees, flowers, birds, and bees, and pissing the hell out of the neighbours who were just trying to get some peace and quiet out in the country.
Yer Weekly Horoscopes. hup hup hup!