NYE 2024, the passings

I feel kind of amazed that I am still around in the year 2024. Many we know so well from screens and radio are not around to see 2024, although they came close.

I went through a few lists but these are who...what? Entertained me at some point or made an  impression on me. Maybe they were funny, maybe sexy, maybe so talented, maybe bad. Who knows. 

No special order and the photos are generally found widely on the internet.

Australian singer Renee Geyer, 69. (Fun person)

Australian painter John Olsen, 95.

Australian comedian/radio/tv presenter Doug Mulray, 71.

Australian performer Barry Humphries, aka Dame Edna Everage, 89.

English fashionista Dame Mary Quant, 93.

 

Irish singer Sinead O'Connor, 56.

Italian actor/model/politician/photojournalist Gina Lollobrigida, 95.

Australian Labor politician Simon Crean, 74. (Much admired by me and I remember seeing his parents frequently travelling on trams)

New Zealand/Australian comedian Cal Wilson, 53.

Australian Catholic priest Cardinal George Pell, 81. 

Israeli singer and actor Topol, 87.(I so remember my father singing 'If I Were Rich Man').

 

Australia actor Johnny Ruffo, 35.

Australian media personality Diane (Bubbles) Fisher, 91. 

US actor Matthew Perry, 54.

US singer/songwriter and daughter of you know who, Lisa Marie Presley, 54.

US actor Piper Laurie, 91. (She was in a good Australian film called Tim, with a very young and hot Mel Gibson)

Japanese actor./musician/composer/music producer Ryuichi Sakamoto, 71. (I was sad as I thought he was wonderful in the film Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence. He was such a high achiever)

A scene from the aforesaid film, with David Bowie.

US composer/musician/songwriter/record producer Burt Bacharach, 94.

US actor Cindy Williams, 75. (Laverne and Shirley, she was Shirley).

US tabloid talk show host Jerry Springer, 79.

US singer/actor/civil rights activist Harry Belafonte, 96. 

US singer/fabulousness Tina Turner, 83. 

US jazz and popular music singer Tony Bennett, 96.

English television interviewer Sir Michael Parkinson, 88.

Irish-English actor Sir Michael Gambon, 82.

Spanish fashionista Paco Rabanne, 88.

US actor Raquel Welch, 82.

Australian entertainer Rolf Harris, 93.

Italian politician Silvio Berlusconi, 86.

And not a celebrity, just my Mum, Thelma, 89.

Removed.

I wish you all a very happy, healthy and calm 2024. 🍾🎇🧨

Nearly there

If you are near my time zone, it will be the eve of Christmas as you read this. If you're not, you probably should be tucked up in bed or thinking about it at least. It's time for some Christmas cheer that doesn't come in a bottle with some Christmas themed photos I've taken. I haven't been out and about too much of late on my own, but I plan to resume roaming the city in the New Year.

Acland Street, St Kilda.

Prahran Square.

Melbourne Town Hall for the next few.

Above the masses queuing to see the Myer Christmas. While we did see the Bluey animatronics display with our Friend from Japan, when we took Jo, the queue time would have been a couple of hours, so she didn't get to see it this year. I didn't think that much of the display myself. 

 

Oh yes, there is a religious connection to Christmas.

Federation Square.

Darls, it's a tram on a tv screen. There is no point in waving to the passengers.

Now a few from home.

Annual Christmas party across the road, not as big as in the past. This year the wait staff were all in pink full length aprons.

R's Christmas cake. It has had a weekly brandy feeding since it was made Cake fringe seem impossible to find now, so he had to make do.

He ummed ahhed about putting the tree up, as he has for the last couple of years but two weeks before Christmas, up it went.

Frosty would be thirty plus years old, as are most of our decorations. A tea candle is placed inside him and the light comes our of the star openings. We don't want smoked walls so we don't light him up every night.

We were a bit overwhelmed with flowers when Mother died, and none have reappeared since. R stopped buying the weekly flowers. I've not mentioned the matter. I think it may be grief related. R's three sisters sent this bunch for Christmas.

The light bulbs were painted? by Ex Sis in Law many years ago.

The reindeer were back but the volume had been turned down this year, so I didn't find them as good.

And how could we not celebrate without Kim Wilde, a little the worse for wear and her brother on a train, concluding with Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree.

We will be away for a week or so, staying in a seaside cottage near Sister's. It's going to be a rather different Christmas this year without someone who I have spent every Christmas dinner with for all of my life.

Merry Christmas and Season's Greetings to you all.