59. Michael Palin

In September, I wrote a blog post about the comedian Eric Idle (no. 55 – “The Bright Side of Life”), a member of the Monty Python comedy team, which was popular on television around 50 years ago. Another member of that team was Michael Palin, who, apart from being a brilliant comedian and actor, became better known to me for his interesting documentaries and travel stories.

I think that it was in 1989 that Sue and I first watched his television series, “Around the World in 80 days with Michael Palin” on the ABC. We immediately became hooked on this documentary and travel series, not wanting to miss any episodes. Like most people my age I had already read Jules Verne’s “Around the World in Eighty Days”, a classic storyfeaturing Phileas Fogg and his French valet, Jean Passepartout, but Michael Palin’s real-life adaptation fascinated me even more, right from the very first episode.

What caught my interest was the fact that Michael Palin had started his around-the-world trip (from London in 1988) on the Venice Simplon Orient Express (“VSOE”). The VSOE was a luxurious train which first began operating in 1982, when I happened to be employed by the company that owned it. Working for that company and its president, James Sherwood, was an exciting period in my working life, possibly worth another blog post at some future point.

Palin’s around-the-world trip took him from London, via Venice, to Egypt and, from there, by ship, to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. As in my own travels 32 years earlier (post 47 – “Pilgrims to Jeddah”), the pilot who came to guide Palin’s ship into the port looked, “about sixteen and was very nervous”. Palin, as I had, also noticed with some concern all the shipwrecks that were still visible when entering this port. The VSOE and the Saudi port of Jeddah shown in Palin’s documentary brought back many memories, and it’s therefore not surprising that I was drawn to his stories.

What probably captured my imagination most, however, was the TV episode about his week-long voyage on a dhow (wooden sailing ship) from Dubai to Bombay. I felt great sympathy for him when he mentioned the toilets on the dhow, which he had to use frequently, due to an “ungrateful stomach”. They were “two wooden barrels open to the elements”, strapped to the side of the boat. He described his ordeal as follows: “Fierce acidic discomfort persists and I have to make 3 visits to the stern during the night. Each time I feel worse and each time I’m greeted more warmly by the crew”. Although it must have been an uncomfortable and challenging week for him, the very insightful and kind manner in which he interacted with the Indian crew members made his story about his experience appealing.

Sue and I were entertained for weeks watching the various episodes of “Around the World in 80 days”, which included his travels in India, China, Japan and the USA, and then his return to London, 79 days and 7 hours after he had set out on this extraordinary expedition.     

The next series we watched was “Pole to Pole”, in which he travelled from the North Pole to the South Pole, along the 30-degree line of longitude and taking a course which travelled as much as possible overland, through Europe and Africa. Other series we enjoyed on TV were Full Circle, the Sahara. The Himalaya, New Europe, North Korea and, just recently, Nigeria.

After each trip Palin wrote a beautifully illustrated book. Sue and I have 5 of them at home. We also met him in person on two occasions at literary luncheons in Sydney, where he signed our copies of the books “Sahara” (2002) and “Himalaya” (2004).

I think I’ve made it obvious that I admire Michael Palin as a person and as a documentary maker and writer. I like him even more because he has listed walking as one of his preferred activities. On a personal level, there is another reason why Michael Palin is important to me. I’ve thought about whether to share this with you, but you already know much about me, so it might just further help you to understand what it is that motivates me to walk and talk and continue to write about it.

In 1998, our son, Gregory, gave me a book for my birthday, titled “Michael Palin. A biography by Jonathan Margolis”. In the cover of this book Greg wrote:

Dear Dad,

Happy Birthday 1998! I know how much you love Michael Palin and I thought that if you could read his life story, it might help you along the path of taking a few more adventures of your own! Don’t ever let the rat race beat you dad; one day you’ll find the freedom you dream of – Hang in there & never lose hope. You’re a top Dad!

Love eternally, Greg

Three days after my birthday, our beautiful son Greg died in a car accident. He was not the driver. Greg was 22 years old and had just graduated with a first-class Honours Degree in Philosophy from the University of Sydney.

After 26 years, he is still deeply missed by Sue and by me and by those who loved him. I’d like to think that Greg somehow knew that I would indeed find the freedom I dreamt off. For him I’m happy to “hang in there” with Sue, my loving family and my dear friends.

O.P.

P.S. In the next post, on 24 November, I’ll recall my childhood, the cold and windy Dutch weather and the cosy warm living room at home, where we opened our presents from St Nikolaas.