One of my favourite books and films is William Goldman’s The Princess Bride. Taken together, the two show how the two media can be engaging and fun. As far as the book is concerned, it is a tremendous lesson in storytelling. The film, however, is something else entirely. A fairy tale for all generations, everyone should watch the film with its star-studded cast with someone special, be it a parent, child, lover or anyone else to whom you may feel especially close.
Anyway, I realised I am living one particular scene in the movie. When the plans of Vizzini, Inigo Montoya and Fezzik go awry, Fezzik eventually finds Inigo laying around in a village drunk. He tells Fezzik he is doing what Vizzini told him to do: If things go wrong, “Go back to the beginning.” And so he did.
The first time I ever came to England, one of the first stays on the trip was to Coventry (I have written about it before). Anyway, here I am, nearly 40 years later and now working five miles away from Coventry. Or, put it another way, I have come back to the beginning.
My British adventure continues and remains on-going.