NOW
for a few leftovers from the year just ended. The end of 2002 saw a new era dawning in Kenya. After 24 years in power. President Daniel arap Moi steps aside to make way for his opposition rival Mr. Mwai Kibaki who won a landmark election there on December 27.
The 71-years-old Kibaki gets a chance now to make a name for himself and his country.
NEW Year’s Day saw a former shoeshine boy take over the controls in Brazil – that vast South American country that is, as far as I can recall amongst the top half dozen largest in the world. Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, leader of Brazil’s left wing Workers Party takes over from Fernando Henrique Cardoso in the first transition between two democratically elected presidents in Brazil for over 40 years. Here’s wishing him every success at the helm.
On December 27 at least 44 people were killed in two suicide bomb attacks on the pro-Moscow government building in Grozny capital city Grozny. Two vehicles packed with explosives rammed through protective barriers around the building. Grozny is seeking Independence for Russia and is one of the trouble spots in the world presently.
Colin Clark, who died just before Christmas, was overshadowed by his art historian father Kenneth and his tory politician brother, Alan. He got his niche in history working for his godfather, Laurence Oliver who was both director and star in the film, The Prince and the Showgirl – here Oliver’s leading lady was Marilyn Monroe whom he detested – he called her "the stupidest, most self indulgent little tart I’ve ever come across". Clark was the go-between and when he was only 23 found himself looking after Marlyn.
On one occasion Clark was summoned to Marlyn’s house when staff feared she might have taken an overdose in her bedroom. Colin climbed in through a window and found her lying sleeping on her bed. "I want to be hugged" she told him. "I want to feel strong arms around me. I want to be loved like an ordinary girl in an ordinary bed."
Clark declined the offer and that is his main claim to fame – very few 23-year-olds would have done likewise. And here is a true story that made the tabloids during the year with a pertinent message for one and all: AThai man was drugged and robbed after sucking the sedative- coated nipples of two pretty women. Nontakora Pearsontea (27) was waiting at a bus stop in the city of Nakorn when two women approached him, removed their tops and invited him to suck their breasts. "I could not refuse but I woke up and found I had lost everything" he said.
