When I was growing up our family regularly sat in the lounge room listening to The Goon Show. Starring Spike Millian, Peter Sellers, and Harry Seccombe. Spike was a British comedian, writer, poet, playwright, and actor.
As we sat around the radio Dad would be slouched in his armchair choking with laughter tears running down his cheeks. I didn’t understand all the jokes so I took my cue from Dad when to laugh. These were some of my fondest memories of Dad. The cartoon at the top of this post featured on the back page of the order of service at Dad’s funeral. Dad and Spike were forever linked.
Years later I listened to some of The Goons episodes again. It brought back many fond memories. Dad in his favourite armchair and the three offspring sitting cross-legged on the carpet. I have no memory of where my mother was I expect she was there with a cup of tea in her hand.
I have read most of Spike’s books some about his wartime experiences like “Hitler My Part in his Downfall” and some books written for kids like “Badjelly the Witch”. I regret in a fit of bookshelf culling I gave most of my Milligan books to the local library. I still have two books left The Essential Spike Milligan compiled by Alexander Games and Memories of Milligan by Norma Farnes. I need at this point in my life to laugh a lot. You know what they say laughter is the best medicine so last night I bought one of Spike’s books. The first of his war memoirs.
When my Dad was forty he was unwell. He used to spend hours in bed in a darkened room. He wasn’t able to work. My siblings and I would creep about the house as quietly as possible so as not to disturb his fragile temperament. Any unnecessary noise was not tolerated under any circumstances. We didn’t understand what was going on. It was difficult for three boisterous kids to keep quiet. Eventually, Dad was told he was having a nervous breakdown. Nowadays it’s called depression or a depressive disorder.
One day I had a phone discussion with Dad explaining I was unwell. He knew straight away what was wrong. He sent a letter to me and told me to take the letter to my GP. Dad knew before the GP I had depression. The Doctor read the letter and gave me a diagnostic questionnaire to fill in. I remember how difficult it was to do. I was in a mental black hole, sitting in a waiting room full of people I didn’t know ticking boxes and trying not to cry. Funny how some moments in life stick in your mind. I was recalled back to the GP’s rooms. The doctor had one quick look down the checklist to confirm I had depression. Just as my father had predicted. I was forty.
This was the start of my roller coaster journey into mental health disorders. I won’t go into details except to say there have been a few episodes of mania and many episodes of deep, deep depression. A few trips to hospitals (mental health facilities) and more recently a diagnosis of Bipolar.
There are many forms of treatment for mood disorders. Dad once told me that the medication he took saved his life. I can say that too. He told me never to stop taking my medication. I tried stopping once. I thought I didn’t need it anymore. Dad was right. It wasn’t a good decision. Since then I’ve had many different treatments. Not all of them worked. I’ve recently been told I have drug-resistant depression/Bipolar. It’s tough and I’m emotional just writing this post because I’m sick and tired of being unwell but I have to try to stay positive. I can say I am better than I was a month ago so that is progress.
I really can’t add any more to this post. Except to say Spike Milligan was manic-depressive too. There was a reported episode in Spike’s life when he was in a bad way in bed. He sent a telegram to his then-wife asking for mushrooms on toast for breakfast. I don’t know if this story is true or not. It makes me laugh. Maybe they were magic mushrooms. Spike died at the age of 83 in 2002. I’m glad his legacy lives on.
Here are bits that are taken from episodes of The Goon Show. My guess is if you are under sixty you may not have heard the Goon Show before. Take a listen there is nothing like a Goon.
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