In 1995, Swedish woman Lena Paahlsson lost her beloved wedding ring, a white gold hoop with seven diamonds embedded in it. As time rolled on, she lost all hope of ever finding it again and had almost forgotten about it in 2011 when, after sixteen years, she found it in the most unexpected place… around a carrot in her garden!
Edward Mordrake was a 19th century Englishman who was born with an extra face on the back of his head and neck. This face could not talk or eat, but it would reportedly cry and laugh.
Mordrake begged doctors to remove the face, which he called a “demon head,” because he said that it whispered things to him at night in a Satanic language. Doctors refused because of the risk to Mordrake’s life.
Mordrake committed suicide at the somewhat disputed age of 23.
There was a hunter in the woods, who after a long day of hunting was in the middle of an immense forest. It was getting dark, and having lost his bearings, he decided to head in one direction until he was clear of the increasingly oppressive foliage. After what seemed like hours, he came across a cabin in a small clearing. Realizing how dark it had grown, he decided to see if he could stay there for the night. He approached and found the door ajar. Nobody was inside. The hunter flopped down on the single bed, deciding to explain himself to the owner in the morning.
As he looked around the inside of the cabin, he was surprised to see the walls adorned by several portraits, all painted in incredible detail. Without exception, they appeared to be staring down at him, their features twisted into looks of hatred and malice. Staring back, he grew increasingly uncomfortable. Making a concerted effort to ignore the many hateful faces, he turned to face the wall, and exhausted, he fell into a restless sleep.
The next morning, the hunter awoke - he turned, blinking in unexpected sunlight. Looking up, he discovered that the cabin had no portraits.
Only windows.
Here is a photo of me, Mark and Steve from Edinburgh 1996! Yes we were young once! We were there with a new sketch show called “The League of Gentlemen”. It went ok.
Me at the press night for “Absent Friends” last night. Sir Alan was there last night. Pic of me and him to follow. He was very happy with the production. And that of course, is the best we could hope for.
Whilst in New York, I went to visit one of my favourite paintings at MoMA. The Edward Hopper “House by the Railroad”. Inspiration for the Bates’ house. Here’s it, and me as Norman.
Aw. Younger gentlemen. This was from our week of the panto tour at the Hammersmith Apollo.
Bit more detail on the handles… I am hanging these babies up when I get back home.