RIP John Spencer

We've only recently seen the 'Leo gets a heart attack' episode of The West Wing here in Britain and to hear this morning that John Spencer has died of a heart attack is very painful.

What a fabulous actor he was. I first saw him in LA Law when he brought a warm, human, believable quality to his character, amidst the gloss and the glitz. And I believed in Leo, totally.

The West Wing isn't what it was under Sorkin, but I still (mostly) enjoyed it. Leo was a large part of that enjoyment.

He will be much missed.

Thank you

So very much to evildrem for the lovely gift of LJ paid account time and user pics.

Such a lovely gift to receive, after the horrible past few days, and I'm incredibly touched.

Thank you so much. *blows happy kisses to Em*

Office party snippets

Wife of firm accountant (who also works part-time as a bookeeper at the firm): "I really want to see that new film, about the cowboys. What's it's name?"

Mandragora: "Do you mean Brokeback Mountain?"

Bookeeper: "That's the one. It's just my type of film."

Mandragora: "You do know it's about two men who fall in love? With explicit sex scenes."

Bookeeper (with happy smile): "Oh yes. Exactly."

Later, at dinner.

Firm accountant (who is big and ginger and Scottish and aged over 50): "Oh, the [senior partner - who isn't gay] is just pissed off because a Civil Partnership isn't available to him, and he doesn't want to get married, but he does want the tax savings."

Mandragora: "Well, he's got a point. I think that both Civil Partnerships and marriage should be available to everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, and then they could choose what kind of commitment they want to make."

Firm accountant: "I agree. I can't see why gays shouldn't be allowed to marry, and I think we'll get there, but it'll take a while yet. Maybe 40 years." Pause. "of course, if we had less immigrants we'd probably get there quicker, bearing in mind their social attitudes."

Mandragora: "Yes, we have got quite a few immigrants coming in." Glances round table, to where senior partner's, er, partner, who he's been living with for about 15 years, is sitting. Next to her is the woman who drafts the firm's (smaller) bills. "I mean, we've got one Frenchwoman and one German woman right there. Oh and there's [fellow lawyer], from Australia."

Firm accountant: Splutters incoherently.

Mandragora: Laughs evilly.