Hero's Celebrity Connection!

I'm a keen radio listener!
BBC Radio 2 for early morning wake-up music and Radio 4 is my later day sound track for drama & source of news.
There's rarely a morning I miss 'Women's Hour' - a magazine programme, originally as it's name suggests, aimed @ women but now with a huge mixed gender following as its remit is wide & varied.
But last week I didn't hear two shows, so played 'catch up' today via the Internet & am so, so glad I did so, because last Wednesday's guest was celebrity chef, noted cookery writer and authority on Italian food & culture Valentina Harris.
She was talking about Spag Bol. & how, what most of us know/make as this ever popular dish, bares no resemblance to a a true Bologna Bolognese sauce served on Tagliatelle not Spaghetti - our version is just a Ragu'!
Anyway, that's not the reason for this post interesting as it is - access to the said programme is HERE!
I've always keenly followed Valentina's Radio & TV appearances because we have a slight, if very tentative connection, having actually spoken on the phone & her Springer Spaniel Onslow Jet known as Toby was my beloved Hero's Sire!!!

Valentina arrived in London from Italy in the mid/late 1970's as a young chef, she married softly spoken DJ Bob Harris, 'Whispering Bob' from the cult Seventies BBC television rock music show 'The Old Grey Whistle Test' and @ a party met a young Jewish man, Simeon - Hero's original master & my business partner.
The three of them became firm friends, and when Bob started work for Radio Oxford in 1981 & subsequently moved his family into rural Oxfordshire, Simeon followed suit.
In May '83, Valentina's Springer Spaniel Toby & pedigree dam Abbisu Lady became parents.
Valentina's 'stud fee' was to have pick of the litter of puppies, but she didn't want another pup & Simeon, although he knew nothing of dogs, expressed an interest.
As a result, he selected Hero [Kennel Club name - Toby's Son of St James].
When I came on the scene 18 months later, the Harris's had returned to live in London.
But, Bob was a regular guest - he was hosting weekend local radio shows in Norfolk & Peterborough and Oxford oddly was a good middle of the road free over night stop for him.
I meet him frequently, went out to supper with him & Simeon & shared my wine with him in the flat when S was away.
Valentina use to phone regularly hoping to catch her husband or to talk to Simeon - Bob was usually somewhere the road & Simeon away in London, where he returned to live in '87 leaving Hero with me - so we talked and I found her bright, friendly & funny.
Bob & her eventually divorced as he had a 'wondering eye'; she went on to really build upon her cookery career; Simeon & I eventually lost contact, but as Hero brought me years of pleasure, I still feel a link to Valentina.
I own her first published book 'Perfect Pasta' from 1984 - just wish it was signed.

The 'Final' Peril of Solitary Living!

Most lunch times, while I have my 'soup & sandwich', I listen to the radio - BBC Radio 4 by choice.
Today, I caught 'Face the Facts', a documentary programme, that was taking a disturbing look at the rising number of deaths, never discovered till long after their event, and where the Local Authorities have, had to bury the remains as there was no on else to do it.
Morbid listening but fascinating!
Each year, a thousand or more, and it's an ever increasing number, of lost souls in the UK, lie dead in their own homes - from, anything from 5 weeks to 2 years - even 5 years as in a recent Edinburgh incident - before being discovered!!!
They had no immediate family, few friends, no close neighbours and had slipped under the Social Service systems net.
No cared, let alone missed them.
It sounded all too familiar/possible to me!
The saddest cases, I thought, were those who had kin who didn't give a dam!
I believe, it's a fact of modern life now, that many of us, who live alone, live lives that will end that way!
Once upon a time here, the Milkman delivered a daily pinta & noticed things, now we buy from Supermarkets.
The Postman/Lady changes weekly - the Electric/Gas meter reader calls once a year!
As one, who is a confirmed Solitary by choice, it could very well happen to me.
To be honest, I suspect it will, hence the broadcast striking a cord & this post.
The programmes consensus was, that those living alone should organise a daily call from someone!
I, laughed - such as who???
Besides which, the likes of me, like our privacy far too much.
I'd, in fact, personally consider it an invasion of my life.
And anyway, I frequently don't take my telephone calls - LOL!
Little Buddy, if he repeatedly received no answer to his, would probably just think I was in a strop with him!
And although, Pussycat Paul is a good neighbour & friend, we can go weeks without any contact.
So, that's why I see & understand how many individuals can passing away quietly, quite unnoticed.
Sad, but possibly a personal decision to be respected in some cases!
Now, I know that is highly controversial as a dead corpse rotting away unattended is not good.
If it's a case of neglect as most are, of the Health Care Services - well, I worry too!
But, some of us, have a right to choose how we live our lives & die!
I do for one.
Re me - I guess, as long as I keep blogging - I'm still here!
It is certainly the likes of BJ and other close blog friends that would notice my absence first!
So, I promise, if I need a break I'll tell!

Postscript on 25 July @ 7am.
Just discovered when I originally published this, I had inadvertently, opted not to accept Comments!
Fate taking a hand.