Charleston bar.

 Hi  forgive me if I have posted this before  but it is lost in the mists of time and times have certainly changed

Some years ago..late 1990s I was filming in Charleston VIrginia..we were there for about a month.

Usiusally on a Sunday most of the bars closed down and ubnless you laid some booze in then it could be a dry night.

An assistant sound lad amd myself thought we would take a walk in downtown...which was very quiet..and on the way back we noticed a long dark alley ..at the top end was a sign that said those magical words  BAR..BEERS.

In we went..It was dark inside but avbsolutely popping, music was playing and folk were haveing a great time..We hutled through to the bar..The chatter stopped, the barrman approaoched and asked if he could help,,'Two beers please'

'Are you sure about that.?'

'Absolutely'

'Take a look around'

We did..it was full of black folk,

'What do you see?'

''A bar full of Americans'

He looked long and hard at us, 'You Brits?'

'Yes'

'On the house'

The chatter started up again.

It turns out that we were the first white men to go into that bar.. ever..We had a great evening, invited to the homes of some people and were told we were the first white men that some of the customers had ever had a converstuon with.

I think those days are gone but I do know that the great American Nation can overcome the ridiculous divisions that are slowly ripping their country apart  Get it together folks ,, the rest of the worl needs you.

 STEALING.

Have you ever felt the urge to steal something..to take something that does not belong to you..?

I guess most of us have at one time,  maybe as kids, nicked a chocolate bar or something of little value..

I have to admit that I have never stolen anything..nothing..mainly because of my father who threatened me with dire circumstances if I did.

But one day I nearly committed grand theft.

Some years ago I went to a magical place near Bishp Stortford  in England.

It was a stunning house with a large estate..massive gardens and at the far end was a workshop/ studio.

Dotted among the shrubbery in the garden were some magnificent works of art..all sculptures.

I was there to make a short film of the owner of this place.

Henry Moore.

Probably the most famous sculptor in the world.

I am a fan and I have admired his work in front of grand buildings across the globe  Here I was strolling around his estate and then into his studio where a massive work was in progress.

It was a pleasant and unique day..Eventually we had to say goodbye and before we left I had to visit the toilet before we hit the road for the long journey north.

And there it was  Treasure..masses of it..

Around the spacious and luxurious washroom was a shelf...and on that shelf was  arranged every single miniature model of Moores major art works..they were fashioned in clay and were his first ideas for  the resulting scupltures.

They were also pocket sized. 

During those few moments I had to wrestle with my conscience..do I steal one, which could completely ruin my career or regret not stealing one.

My conscience is clear..the collection was left intact.  But it was a close run thing.