My tribute to Richard Briers

Monday was a sad day.  I honestly couldn't even begin to count the number of times I've watched The Good Life.  Watched, and laughed, and shaken my head, and laughed some more.

I don't know if it's because I'm now pretty much self sufficient myself, but the program just didn't seem to date.

And leading it, was Tom Good.  Richard Briers.

I remember watching it in the 70's as a small boy, sitting in a semi in a street of similar houses, laughing at it.

Now, as a slightly larger man, i find myself watching reruns and laughing with it.

Richard Briers gave self sufficiency a face.  And a smile.

And a whistle - he always seemed to be whistling.

His enthusiasm and his energy for a lifestyle that at the time seemed so odd, opened the door for people like me. Now, we all recycle, green energy is a hot topic, veg plots and chickens in the garden practically the norm.

If you want to know the technical side of self sufficiency, watch Hugh Fernely-Whittingstall.  But if you want to know the emotional side, how it feels to be self sufficient, and more importantly, how it feels to be in a relationship and self sufficient, then watch the Good Life.  It's truer than you could possibly imagine.

Gone, but never forgotten, Richard Briers.