Of totty, Marianne, turkey, cash in the attic, mummy's boy, eruptions, word games and the wrong trousers

"I think to be the devil you have to be angel. Only an angel can play the devil because the devil was a fallen angel."
RIP Udo Kier, pioneering gay actor. And gorgeous as a youth.[click any pic to embiggen]

It's another snippets post, dear reader:

• Much-missed icon news: A collection of Marianne Faithfull's personal items, including her diaries, personal photos, various fashion pieces, items of furniture and works of art - and a trunk owned by Carrie Fisher and given by her to Marianne as a gift - are on display at Bonhams Knightsbridge, prior to coming to auction next week. The evening of the day: The Estate of Marianne Faithfull is part of Bonhams' Sound & Cinema auction, running from 25th November to 3rd December.
• Colonial news: Apparently some people "over there" are giving thanks for something-or-other today. Happy Thanksgiving to our chums in the colonies!
• Geek news: The most expensive comic book ever sold - Superman #1 from 1939 - found in their mother's attic by three of her sons went for over $9 million (£6.8 million)!
• Ghoul news: An Italian man is under investigation for benefit fraud and hiding a body after allegedly dressing up as his dead mother – including mimicking her hairstyle with a wig and wearing makeup and jewellery – in order to claim her pension. He bore an uncanny resemblance to Rita Webb, to my eyes.
• The earth hiccuped news: A long-dormant volcano in Ethiopia has erupted for the first time in around 12,000 years.
• We interrupt this broadcast to give you a new word game: I recently stumbled across a piece on the radio about contranyms, which are words that are their own opposites. Here are a few examples, but you can quite easily go down a rabbit-hole trying to think of more:
  • Bolt: To secure, or to flee
  • Cleave: To adhere, or to separate
  • Custom: A common practice, or a special treatment
  • Dust: To add fine particles, or to remove them
  • Fast: Quick, or stuck
  • Left: Remained, or departed
  • Oversight: A careless error, or supervision
  • Sanction: To approve, or to boycott
  • Screen: To present (as in a film), or to conceal
  • Splice: To join, or to separate
  • Weather: To withstand, or to wear away

• And, finally: A new exhibition will explore the world of Aardman animations – from Wallace & Gromit to Morph, Chicken Run, and Shaun The Sheep - is coming to the Young V&A (formerly The Museum of Childhood) next year! With more than 150 objects on display – including never-before-seen models, sets and storyboards from Aardman’s archives – it will open in February to coincide with the studio’s 50th anniversary year. Cracking news, Gromit!

Wallace and Gromit - The Wrong Trousers - Cracking Toast

Wallace and Gromit - The Wrong Trousers - Train Chase

And the weather? Murk.