A complete shock

When I went into the house in mid-afternoon, I found my father talking on the phone to my sister. This happens with regularity, so I didn't think anything of it, and I started to make coffee.

From listening in to this side of the conversation, I began to realise that something was very, very wrong; he was talking about my sister being alone at Christmas and about "you feel like the rug has been pulled out from under you" and "I know how devastating it is". At first I thought that my sister had maybe lost her job, but toward the end of the call I had a more accurate idea.

When my father hung up, I asked him what it was about. He told me. My sister and my brother-in-law had separated, just days after their last visit here.

It was such a shock, and it still is. We said we wouldn't tell my mother until she gets home from work, but she called a little while ago and my father is still on the phone to her; so he must be telling Mum right now. I can only imagine how Susan and Mark are feeling right now. I have no idea what brought this on, but there were a couple of things noticed during their last visit that seemed a little odd.

I don't want to talk about it, really; I don't even want to think about it lest it make me cry. So I'll switch onto a different subject.

There was a VERY recent documentary on Fox 8 this afternoon about the Spice Girls; it was made earlier this month. An almost complete history of the Spice Girls, with a definitive answer on Geri's departure.

I say "almost complete history" because it curiously skips out two noteworthy parts of their history; the 1999 tour ("Christmas In Spiceworld") and the 3rd album! To be precise, they do mention their third album; Victoria says "It was still a hugely successful album", which I guess is an official acknowledgement that some people don't regard it as such :-)  They also mentioned that this album had "American producers" and that Mel C's parts were recorded separately to the others; which we already knew. But other than that, nada.

It certainly looks like Forever is a sore toe that they don't want to discuss. It was a very controversial album that severely set back the careers of Rodney and Fred Jerkins; the album wasn't universally disliked, but the sales numbers speak for themselves. I would have loved a B*Witched-style admission (that Forever was well-disliked and that it wasn't a very good album). But I mostly would have liked an official explanation of why they released just one single from Forever, pulled Tell Me Why off the release schedule, and went into virtual splitsville for six and a half years.

I found it funny that, once again, the Girls implied that the album was recorded much earlier than it actually was. But was Christmas In Spiceworld another sore toe, and if so, why? What happened? Was there tension because Mel C had completely changed her personality? Is that the real reason why she was so adamant about not reuniting with the Girls?

I wish I'd recorded the doco. I might have a look and see if it will be on again so I can record it.

I'll also let y'all in on a secret. Keep your eyes peeled for an advertisement in the paper on Boxing Day. We're going to do something that will make all our stores as busy as Myer, in the area of browngoods especially.