we will allways have Oban
® Val (in the United Kingdom) 18 Dec 2002 at 22:25 GMT

Standing in the dock of the bay, just after sunset, twinkling lights from the boats passing by, tears running down our cheeks, holding hands as if this was the last night being together Val asked: 'Do you fuck?' 'Not in your life time', Patrick replied and started rambling about this one time experience with a Sean Connery Look-alike Dutch professor which was enough for his liking. Val being a gentleman as always got his handkerchief out and thought of the times that would never be. 'We will always have Oban', he thought, while driving back to his flat...

(Patrick)

Hi guys, these were some words of the Dutch filmmaker. I definitely am going to film Val in a few weeks time and maybe I will meet some of you. If you have any reveating anecdotes about him, then do not hesitate to write them down. I will get them from Val, probably edited and everything.

Love,

Patrick Bus
The intellectual's bi-sexual

Re: we will allways have Oban
® Graham (in the United Kingdom) 18 Dec 2002 at 22:40 GMT

Oban? Lovely place. Believe it or not, years back [I was still at school, though not at the time- obviously] I scored in Tobermory.

I suppose the sheep were unavailable that night.

Re: we will allways have Oban
® wilf. (in the United Kingdom) 18 Dec 2002 at 23:04 GMT

I'm spending a week on the Isle of Luing in May, which I believe is just off the coast from Oban, we have hired a house there, almost on top of the sea, great place to film, providing I get a walk on part.

Re: we will allways have Oban
® Mabel (in the United Kingdom) 19 Dec 2002 at 10:23 GMT

God, I spent an entire, dreadful, summer in Oban. I hate the place.

Re: we will allways have Oban
® wilf. (in the United Kingdom) 19 Dec 2002 at 11:29 GMT

Heavens Mabel, what on earth made you feel so unhappy?

Re: we will allways be Open
® TisFrank (in the United Kingdom) 19 Dec 2002 at 11:52 GMT

She lost her top plate in the soup!

Re: we will allways be Open
® dancesliketwat (in the United Kingdom) 19 Dec 2002 at 12:05 GMT

I thought this was going to be about some rather nice whisky!

Re: we will allways be Open
® Mabel (in the United Kingdom) 19 Dec 2002 at 13:15 GMT

wilf was overworked, underpaid and underappreciated.

dlt: definitely not one of my favourite whiskies.

Re: we will allways be Open
Wanderer through eternity (at uni) (in the United Kingdom) 19 Dec 2002 at 13:19 GMT

awww ((mal))

Re: we will allways be Open
® wilf. (in the United Kingdom) 19 Dec 2002 at 14:52 GMT

I don't blame you Mabel, thats awful, isn't strange how experiences colour our thoughts about places. For thirty years (all my life, phew you have to think quick) I hated Northumberland or rather a part of it, because of a terrible time I had there, then three years ago I was persuaded to go again, and fell in love with the area.

Re: we will allways be Open
® random (in the United Kingdom) 19 Dec 2002 at 18:57 GMT

So you're actually thirty-three? I'm shocked, my innonence is forever shattered, I never thought you would lie to me *sob*...

Re: We will allways have Oban
® Val (in the United Kingdom) 20 Dec 2002 at 11:40 GMT

Just restoring the title after an all too typical Frank desecration..

Patrick and I argued about which of us was Bogie and which Bergman, to me it was patently obvious - he speaks Danish, I don't, so he was made to do Ilsa and I am the perfect Rick. Thinking of the other parts...

Wilf, with your acting experience, I am sure that you would have been a perfect substitute for Claude Rains and the ages fit beautifully too . Likewise Graham for the Paul Henreid role . Mabel you were born to receive the instruction 'Play it again, Sam', so you are the pianist (with modern sound systems we should be able to fix the music). Random, with your tour arranging experience you can play the shady character in Ricks Bar Americain who arranges boat trips for refugees. ("It leaves at 1:00 tomorrow night, here from the end of the Medina. Third boat...and bring 15,000 francs - in cash. Remember, in cash.") WTE(atuni), you can have the slimy Peter Lorre part . Who have I missed?

Oops.. dlt, sorry but you will have to settle for a walk on part in Woody Allen's 'Play it again Sam'

Oh, and Frank - you can have any part you want in the animated Bugs Bunny short Carrotblanca (1995).

Re: We will allways have Oban
® Mabel (in the United Kingdom) 20 Dec 2002 at 11:55 GMT

"Fix the music" indeed! I shall play live.

I was a competent pianist in my youth, I'm sure it will all come flooding back.

Re: We will allways have Oban
® Mabel (in the United Kingdom) 20 Dec 2002 at 11:55 GMT

Graham that was "pianist".

Re: We will allways have Oban
® dancesliketwat (in the United Kingdom) 20 Dec 2002 at 12:17 GMT

That's ok, I've done extras work before, Val. Oddly enough, they haven't asked me back though!

Re: We will allways have Oban
® Toptom (in the United Kingdom) 20 Dec 2002 at 12:49 GMT

can I play the Sidney Greenstreet part? I'd be perfect ... even though I'm much younger and slimmer than him.

Re: We will always have Oban
¿ tonyinbkk (in the United Kingdom) 20 Dec 2002 at 13:11 GMT

Yourself having righted Frank's typical wrong, Val dearest, I feel I must also jump into the header fray. Can one have Oban allways? It seems for most that one way is enough.

Ah, but you know those surprising Dutch!! You never can tell. No matter where I've travelled, and even recently in the remote mountains which were formally a Khmer Rouge stronghold, there's ALWAYS been a Dutchman (and yes, okay, a Kiwi woman!)
One thinks back to Van Diemen's Land in my own country, and New York wasn't, at least to start with!

I'll have to come watch the documentary film at your (soon-to-be) Manchester penthouse, for I fear it will not be certificated for showing to a Thai audience.

BTW, val, just come back from 4 very relaxing days at YenSabai with Sak. Natch, we visited the lofty heights of the 11th floor, and laid flowers at the Shrine of Remembrance. It still aromes of your tobacco (inter alia) - and I hear say that many a lithe youth still gets the "wrong door" at 3 a.m. much to the chagrin of the present lessees. Not to mention the strange query as to why we were hanging a Puang Malai on the doorknob. It was easier to flee via the fire escape than to explain!

Cuddle up with your memories!

Re: We will always have Oban
¿ tonyinbkk (in the United Kingdom) 20 Dec 2002 at 13:54 GMT

ooh, and "formerly" a Khmer Rouge stronghold as well!

(thought I'd save some Strange Tin-tack the trouble!)

Re: We will always have Oban
® wilf. (in the United Kingdom) 20 Dec 2002 at 15:45 GMT

random, I'm not as clever as I thought. dammit!!

Re: we will allways be Open
® Andy, anywhere but guildford (in the United Kingdom) 20 Dec 2002 at 16:53 GMT

dlt - tobermory whisky is very nice - i can drink it by the bottle

Re: we will allways be Open
® Val (in the United Kingdom) 20 Dec 2002 at 16:57 GMT

dlt - not so much a walk on part them - more a walk on, through and out part?

Re: we will allways be Open
® Andy, anywhere but guildford (in the United Kingdom) 20 Dec 2002 at 19:17 GMT

into the harbour purchance ?

Re: We will always have Oban
® Graham (in the United Kingdom) 20 Dec 2002 at 21:15 GMT

Mmmm, which was the Paul Heinreid part? Then I'll know whether to be flattered or offended?

Re: We will always have Oban
® Val (in the United Kingdom) 20 Dec 2002 at 21:28 GMT

Don't worry Graham. He was the handsome French resistance fighter who Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) shacked up with after she dumped Bogie in Paris, which they always had. Don't you know *anything* about the classiest of all classical romantic movies? He'd be about your age (then) BTW .

Re: We will always have Oban
® Graham (in the United Kingdom) 20 Dec 2002 at 22:27 GMT

Oh, that's alright then.

Never been a great cinema buff I'm afraid. I *do* realise that it is my loss.

Re: We will always have Oban
® emjay (in the United Kingdom) 20 Dec 2002 at 23:05 GMT

With apologies to Val, Ingrid (Ilsa) was married to Henreid all along. When she was 'shacked' up with Bogie her husband was missing presumed dead.

There was *no* reckless adultery in a 1940's film.

Re: We will always have Oban
® Novice (in the United Kingdom) 21 Dec 2002 at 23:18 GMT

<Patrick Bus, the intellectual's bi-sexual>

So does this mean Patrick has rediscovered himself? Your a fast worker Val.

Don't worry if things don't work out. There's always another bus just behind, and this one might go all the way - up Crouch End and beyond. Jump on and hold tight.

Your parting scene was so touching and so British. It reminded me of 'Brief Encounter': all those stiff upper lips.

Can I have a big meaty part in your remake of Casablanca?

Re: We will always have Oban
® Tintin (in the United Kingdom) 21 Dec 2002 at 23:20 GMT

Crouch End? You wish. (NB. There is no 'beyond' to Crouch End. Crouch End *is* The Beyond.)

Re: We will always have Oban
® Graham (in the United Kingdom) 21 Dec 2002 at 23:27 GMT

One of the biggest queens I have ever met lives in Crouch End.

Re: We will always have Oban
® Tintin (in the United Kingdom) 21 Dec 2002 at 23:38 GMT

Is that 'big' as in 'large'? (I'm worried about my neighbours over the hill. Crouch End is a small place.)

Re: We will always have Oban
® Graham (in the United Kingdom) 21 Dec 2002 at 23:42 GMT

I was not referring to a weight or height problem. Regarding 'the other' I never got to find out, unfortunately. , not for the lack of trying.

Re: We will always have Paris
® Val (in the United Kingdom) 24 Dec 2002 at 21:36 GMT

It's on NOW! On Channel 5. Watch it if you have soul..

Re: We will always have Paris
® Val (in the United Kingdom) 24 Dec 2002 at 22:05 GMT

Finished now, and this old man is happily tearful. I'd forgotten how Bogie shoots the German Officer at the end and Claude Rains covers for him ('Arrest all the usual suspects') and how they walk off into the fog together, having agreed to go to the Free French garrison together. Well done Wilf!