Since Bob Simpson has yet again taken himself off on leave, I was delighted to be back with a bonus show this week.
In between the music, we took our usual peek at some of the odder stories around. First off came news of a man arrested by police in Walsall on suspicion of soliciting only to claim that “the lady of the night” who was with him was only there to show him where he could buy tomatoes. Tell that to the judge! He did, but strangely was not believed, fined £400 and ordered to pay £665 in costs. Pretty expensive tomatoes, I’d say.
Now if you remember BEAN THE MOVIE where disaster struck when our hero tried to repair some damage to a priceless 
painting, after he sneezed on it, spare a thought for Cecilia Gimenez. A year ago this lady came to prominence after her botched attempt to touch up a fresco known as ECCE HOMO (Behold the Man). The church painting was for decades a little-known piece of religious art by a minor Spanish artist. It had remained in peaceful obscurity in the Misericordia sanctuary since it was painted in 1930. That was until Ms Gimenez, a longtime devotee of the work, decided it needed some attention because it was flaking due to the damp church air.
Her attempt didn’t go so well, and some dubbed the retouching “Ecce Mono” – Behold the Monkey.
But now the retouched version has grown in popularity with the image appearing – without authorisation – on T-shirts and cellphone covers, coffee mugs and wine labels. As a result no less than 40,000 people have turned up asking to see the painting.
The local council in Borja has started charging an entrance fee of 1 euro, giving the money to the Sancti Spiritus charitable foundation, which used the windfall to help pay bills at a care home for 60 elderly people. So far no less than €50,000 or £42,900 has been raised
The council has now appointed lawyers to establish copyright and draw up a merchandising agreement which will see the image put on plates, postcards and cigarette lighters, among other items.
So sometimes even catastrophes can sometimes turn out to be glittering successes.
Right that’s me done. Mike Jones is back tomorrow and I’ll see you again on Monday.
Scott
