James Willis > Recent Status Updates

After a slow start, the suspense is beginning to build nicely. We’ve begun to learn some key elements from Lucca’s past, whilst also being introduced to her handler - the mysterious Mr. Smith. The next chapter sees her heading back to ‘the beginning’ of her current job.

Whereas countryfile and ‘lambing live’ make farming dull and frankly boring, Clarkson’s musings on rural life make agriculture genuinely interesting to the uninitiated. I can honestly say I’ve learned more from Jeremy Clarkson about farming than I ever did from Matt Baker.

And I never expected to be saying that.

This book reads like a typical visit to spoons. You’re never quite sure what’s going to happen next, and often you’re not quite sure if any of it makes any sense. However when reading this book, just like leaving a spoons, you can’t help but feel warm inside.

*Jäger bombs not included with book

So far Tim Moore manages to encapsulate the feelings all those who consider themselves “cycling novices” experience before their first serious ride, and injects colourful humour throughout with relatable anecdotes and observations.

Welcome to the trials and tribulations encountered by the madcap team running Jeremy’s “Diddly Squat” farm. Jeremy writes in such a style that you hear his comedic monologues being orated in your mind as you follow along with the recollections of the events unfolding on the pages in front of you. Most of all the book is loaded with witticisms, but still manages to evoke heartfelt moments.

So good to pick this up again. Working for the NHS during the Covid pandemic has meant I haven’t nearly set aside enough time to sit down and enjoy a good read. So nice to have some sunshine and be taken away to Ireland of the late 1990’s and Tony Hawks’ preposterous adventures circumnavigating the Emerald Isle.

Tony turns down the opportunity for a free reflexology session to watch the FA cup final in a crowded Sligo pub, which is largely ruined by arriving late, missing the opening goal, and the machinations of a drunk belting out deranged renditions of Bob Geldof’s work. Tony concludes the Sligo chapter of his adventure by heading for the Ballina road, to hitch once more.

Tony departs Tory island and the idyllic Bunbeg to be interviewed by RTE in the midst of bandit territory, before arriving in Sligo to soak up the local culture. Which largely consists of ‘baby-Guinness’ (a shot of tia Maria and Baileys), taking philosophy lessons from the local pub’s resident Buddhist (with a questionable lager habit), and achieving the impossible - surfing a fridge in the Atlantic Ocean.

With a little help from RTE FM’s Gerry Ryan, Tony and his fridge have become national celebrities. Due to this, on their arrival in Bunbeg with the aim of reaching the elusive Tory Island, the whole local community rallies round in typical fashion to try to find a way across the troublesome tide. This results in an absurd chain of events, culminating in an ambitious phone call direct to the head of the Irish MOD!

What starts off as a drunken dinner party wager based on Tony’s fond recollections of time spent on the Emerald Isle, and in particular one eccentric Irish hitchhiker, soon turns into a part philosophical/part mid-life crisis quest around the coast of Ireland accompanied by an ill-suited kitchen appliance companion. Very funny opening, I look forward to reading on!

Nearing the end now, Greg Sestero submits his family to a test screening of ‘The Room’ and notes that their uncontrollable laughter at what is undoubtedly a monumental cinematic failure, but also an unintentional piece of comedic genius, was an early hallmark for the cult status ‘The Room’ would go on to earn in years to come.

Sestero reveals more about his bizarre relationship with Wiseau, now focussing on a 9 month period in which they became estranged, and Wiseau borderline suicidal. Upon their reunion, he presents to Sestero the finished draft of ‘The Room’ which as Greg neatly puts it is Tommy’s lonely interpretation of the few human relationships and friendships he has had.

Greg Sestero reveals a bit more about Tommy Wiseau’s origin story, by confabulating loosely related threads and tidbits of information Tommy had drip fed to him over the years into a semi-congruent journey from the deprivation of war-torn Eastern Europe, to living as an illegal immigrant in Strasbourg and Paris, before finally arriving in New Orleans in pursuit of what Tommy believes is the ‘American dream’

Moving deeper into this book reveals more about the fractious relationship between Tommy, Greg, and the film crew. Greg Sestero recalls with great detail the extreme paranoia and jealousy Tommy had over Greg’s few other friendships in LA, and how Tommy used this to manipulate the young and naive Sestero. He also reveals the disastrous series of events that led to Raphael and the film crew abandoning the project.

If you have ever seen ‘The Room’, and the biopic spoof ‘The Disaster Artist’ starring the Franco brothers (which is based upon this book), and found yourself caught between tears of joy and pure bewilderment at the man and mystery that is Tommy Wiseau, then you must read this book. Greg Sestero recounts how he met Tommy in search of stardom, and how that dream turned into a bizarre yet beautiful friendship.

Nearing the end now, but each anecdote warms the deeply nostalgic heart of this city fan.

There seems to be a reoccurring theme with the anecdotes from the 70’s & 80’s players that whilst they love the club and look back on their playing days fondly, they all feel that in some way the club has mishandled their careers or off-the-field lives. You can’t help but sense a degree of personal bias, but equally you’re left wondering what might have been, had the club conducted themselves differently.