We've been in the UK now for 8 days and we both feel it is time to go home. Too much noise, too much traffic and too much to get on with back home.
Anyway, another reason to go back is to stop eating so much here. We have indeed managed to eat all the different things we miss plus more besides. We now need to go on a diet. Before we left we were talking to a friend who ha been using a technique which she may well have got from one of the big dieting companies. The idea being that one listens for the internal sigh when you have had enough to eat. Sceptical as I was I discovered I do indeed have such a sigh. To do it properly you should only eat when you are hungry and you should stop dead when you have the sigh, even if there is a half full plate in front of you. You can always finish it if you are hungry later. She has lost about a stone since she started just after Christmas and she wasn't exactly large beforehand.
Whilst we haven't stuck to it yet, we have noticed portion sizes getting smaller, (our big mistake). Let's hope the body sizes start getting smaller in the near future!
Friday, February 24, 2017
Thursday, February 23, 2017
Nostalgia Ain't What It Used To Be
I don't know whether this is another one of those things everyone thinks when they get old but kids these days don't seem to care about the past, or it's use for the future.
Let me give you an example....
At the wedding last weekend, due to the rrival of little Poppy, there were four generations of M's family there. And her great uncle had brought a photo with him of himself with M and her two sisters sat in the garden with him when he was in his late teens and they were just small kids. Marj wanted just two photos taken, one of the four generations and one of her great uncle with her three daughters. Could she get one, could she buggery. Trying to get her girls to have a photo taken at a relevant time was impossible. They couldn't fit it in between their drinking at the wedding and their need to bugger off the next morning to go and do something which didn't involve hanging araound a minute longer than necessary. They couldn't see why she wanted these photos. What was so special? What was the point?
In the end, just before they all left M rather through her toys out of her pram, or as much as she ever does, whih comes across as slightly peeved. Two of the three daughters I think had realised that maybe this was something their mother cared about and rang later that day to find out if she was ok a they thought something might have upset her. So she explained, but they still don't get the idea why she would want these photo's. Luckily by chance, I had taken a photo during the reception that had all four generations in it, although it isn't posed, Poppy has her back to us, and it's slightly out of focus as people moved. But at least it is there and we hope one day it will give Poppy a chance to see her Great Great Uncle the first time she met him.
It's funny, with digital photography all three girls take hundreds of photos a year on phones etc, thousands of photos perhaps, but maybe not one will ever be a special photo. They won't be printed, they will just be lost in digital files, never to be seen in 20 years time when someone thinks back, if indeed they ever do. So we are going to print off a few photos each year and out them into an album to give to Poppy when she is 21. Hopefully they will mean something and be special for her. As for M's daughters, I suspect one day they are going to wake up and realise they have nothing physical to remember the past by or at least to jog their memories as to people and events.
How sad.
Let me give you an example....
At the wedding last weekend, due to the rrival of little Poppy, there were four generations of M's family there. And her great uncle had brought a photo with him of himself with M and her two sisters sat in the garden with him when he was in his late teens and they were just small kids. Marj wanted just two photos taken, one of the four generations and one of her great uncle with her three daughters. Could she get one, could she buggery. Trying to get her girls to have a photo taken at a relevant time was impossible. They couldn't fit it in between their drinking at the wedding and their need to bugger off the next morning to go and do something which didn't involve hanging araound a minute longer than necessary. They couldn't see why she wanted these photos. What was so special? What was the point?
In the end, just before they all left M rather through her toys out of her pram, or as much as she ever does, whih comes across as slightly peeved. Two of the three daughters I think had realised that maybe this was something their mother cared about and rang later that day to find out if she was ok a they thought something might have upset her. So she explained, but they still don't get the idea why she would want these photo's. Luckily by chance, I had taken a photo during the reception that had all four generations in it, although it isn't posed, Poppy has her back to us, and it's slightly out of focus as people moved. But at least it is there and we hope one day it will give Poppy a chance to see her Great Great Uncle the first time she met him.
It's funny, with digital photography all three girls take hundreds of photos a year on phones etc, thousands of photos perhaps, but maybe not one will ever be a special photo. They won't be printed, they will just be lost in digital files, never to be seen in 20 years time when someone thinks back, if indeed they ever do. So we are going to print off a few photos each year and out them into an album to give to Poppy when she is 21. Hopefully they will mean something and be special for her. As for M's daughters, I suspect one day they are going to wake up and realise they have nothing physical to remember the past by or at least to jog their memories as to people and events.
How sad.
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Hanging Around
By the time we have returned to Franceland hopefully our lounge will nearly be ready. The last thing we need to do is to put a couple of shelves up for the sky box and the radio. we can't find much in France other than some bits at Ikea so we thought, not a problem, we'll get something in the UK. Wickes - Nothing. Homebase - Nothing. B&Q - Nothing very exciting, but the best we are going to do. I can't believe how little shelving there is in either country, other than the aformentioned Ikea. If this is what the state of the shelving economy is now, what the heck is going to happen post-Brexit. I hope Theresa May has got this on the agenda, we might need some more in a couple of years time!
Tuesday, February 21, 2017
How The Leopard Changed It's Spots
The first point I saw somewhere, possibly the Metro letters page, made me think and then the second point occurred to me earlier today.
They both come from the point that the vast majority who are against Trump and also against Brexit tend to be on the left of Politics
1) The Queen, who is normally a sponger off the state, everything that is wrong about the class system and should be got rid of immediately, has suddenly become a poor old woman and great-grandmother who should be protected from Donald Trump by calling off the State Visit as she might be embarrassed by him and it and should be protected.
2) The House of Lords are a bunch of non-elected, upper-class, old men who are out of touch with the normal person and should be abolished forthwith. Except, having laid into them, The House of Lords should rally round and throw out Brexit.
As an aside, many on the left would like to abolish the HofL and the Monarchy and make it more like that wonderful American system with a President and, oh, hold on a second, something wrong here.......
They both come from the point that the vast majority who are against Trump and also against Brexit tend to be on the left of Politics
1) The Queen, who is normally a sponger off the state, everything that is wrong about the class system and should be got rid of immediately, has suddenly become a poor old woman and great-grandmother who should be protected from Donald Trump by calling off the State Visit as she might be embarrassed by him and it and should be protected.
2) The House of Lords are a bunch of non-elected, upper-class, old men who are out of touch with the normal person and should be abolished forthwith. Except, having laid into them, The House of Lords should rally round and throw out Brexit.
As an aside, many on the left would like to abolish the HofL and the Monarchy and make it more like that wonderful American system with a President and, oh, hold on a second, something wrong here.......
Monday, February 20, 2017
It's All In The Stars
I can't remember whether I've mentioned before but I have yet another random hobby. Astrology. Specifically natal astrology and Synastry. The former being the obvious interpretation of a chart cast at birthpoint. Synastry is a sidebranch where you compare the charts of two people and see how they affect each other. You could therefore call it relationship astrology, although the two "persons" could in effect be a person and an animal, or even a building. With the latter two you are not looking at everything, nor the things you look at being interpreted in the same way.
Most people's relationship with astrology is via a newspaper, magazine or website. It is, as most people soon realise, mainly a bunch of absolute rubbish. It partly is based on predictive astrology which I don't touch as I don't have the feel for it. The stuff in papers is a little like saying my car has a wing-mirror therefore we are all driving the same car, colour, make, model, cc etc. It is an extrapolation that is so generalised it is irrelevant for nearly everyone.
I haven't really been doing much in the astrology line for some time. It is quite time consuming and another problem has been that I don't have all the books I want cos some are still in storage and I also need up to date data. So, I went up to Watkins Books who have always been my purveyor of astrological tomes. I can have things sent to France but if I'm in London it gives me a chane to browse as well as pick stuff up. I went to buy one item and came back with four, three of which were on sale.
I now have everything i need to make the chart for our Grand-daughter. The visual chart will be framed and hopefully hung on her wall, as the one I did for my niece, 24 years ago, still hangs on hers. The interpretaion is then sealed in an envelope for either the parents to read then, or to put away until their child is 21, or another age of their choosing, and then just read it out of interest. My niece would have hers if my brother hadn't managed to lose it. The reason for reading it then is not to see how accurate it was, as I say, I don't do predictive astrology, so what is it about?
It comes from the understanding at what a natal chart actually is. The snapsht of that time and day shows a map of the stars. and it exactly the same as a map of the roads. and even more relevant these days with sat-navs. If you want to get from A to B it will show the fastest route, or the shortest, or whatever you want. But once you have set that route it isn't fixed. A roadblock might make you change route, or an accident, or the need for food, or a number of things, including free will. Same with your natal chart. It explains all the routes you can take but the one that should be the road you go on can change through the actions of parents, peer group, free choice.
Of course, this is a very simplified explanation and you may decide it is all absolute hogwash.......
Most people's relationship with astrology is via a newspaper, magazine or website. It is, as most people soon realise, mainly a bunch of absolute rubbish. It partly is based on predictive astrology which I don't touch as I don't have the feel for it. The stuff in papers is a little like saying my car has a wing-mirror therefore we are all driving the same car, colour, make, model, cc etc. It is an extrapolation that is so generalised it is irrelevant for nearly everyone.
I haven't really been doing much in the astrology line for some time. It is quite time consuming and another problem has been that I don't have all the books I want cos some are still in storage and I also need up to date data. So, I went up to Watkins Books who have always been my purveyor of astrological tomes. I can have things sent to France but if I'm in London it gives me a chane to browse as well as pick stuff up. I went to buy one item and came back with four, three of which were on sale.
I now have everything i need to make the chart for our Grand-daughter. The visual chart will be framed and hopefully hung on her wall, as the one I did for my niece, 24 years ago, still hangs on hers. The interpretaion is then sealed in an envelope for either the parents to read then, or to put away until their child is 21, or another age of their choosing, and then just read it out of interest. My niece would have hers if my brother hadn't managed to lose it. The reason for reading it then is not to see how accurate it was, as I say, I don't do predictive astrology, so what is it about?
It comes from the understanding at what a natal chart actually is. The snapsht of that time and day shows a map of the stars. and it exactly the same as a map of the roads. and even more relevant these days with sat-navs. If you want to get from A to B it will show the fastest route, or the shortest, or whatever you want. But once you have set that route it isn't fixed. A roadblock might make you change route, or an accident, or the need for food, or a number of things, including free will. Same with your natal chart. It explains all the routes you can take but the one that should be the road you go on can change through the actions of parents, peer group, free choice.
Of course, this is a very simplified explanation and you may decide it is all absolute hogwash.......
Sunday, February 19, 2017
Dirty Rotten Scoundrel
That's me. Posting this to just get in under the midnight deadline. We are down in London at our friends house and the laptop won't connect to her new Improved VirginMedia box. Luckily this phone will.
Tomorrow hopefully normal service will resume and you'll get more than a dozen words!
Tomorrow hopefully normal service will resume and you'll get more than a dozen words!
Saturday, February 18, 2017
Wedding.
Bar
Ceremony
Bar
Speeches
Food
Drink
Chatting
Drink
Old Time Dancing
Drink
Cuddling Grand-daughter
Drink
Dancing
Drink
Blogging
And onwards.
Ceremony
Bar
Speeches
Food
Drink
Chatting
Drink
Old Time Dancing
Drink
Cuddling Grand-daughter
Drink
Dancing
Drink
Blogging
And onwards.
Friday, February 17, 2017
Wedding Eve
So here we are in Grantham, or just outside. we are staying at the Ramada Resort. What a damn stupid name. It's an oldish hotel that they have taken over and spruced up a bit. But it's hardly Las Vegas!
The staff aren't overly helpful either. Assuming they are the original staff they have taken " more profesional" to mean "more aloof". The Magnificent M had an argument with them the other day about one of the daughters checking in early tomorrow. They were happy to take the money but did want to point out how inconvenienced they were by it. M's sister, the Bride, has been given a room which has twin beds! Not exactly what you expect for your wedding night, however old you might be.
We shall see what tomorrow brings but they better up their game. There's no such thing as a cheap wedding but there are such thing as complaining guests....
The staff aren't overly helpful either. Assuming they are the original staff they have taken " more profesional" to mean "more aloof". The Magnificent M had an argument with them the other day about one of the daughters checking in early tomorrow. They were happy to take the money but did want to point out how inconvenienced they were by it. M's sister, the Bride, has been given a room which has twin beds! Not exactly what you expect for your wedding night, however old you might be.
We shall see what tomorrow brings but they better up their game. There's no such thing as a cheap wedding but there are such thing as complaining guests....
Thursday, February 16, 2017
+ & -
The Positives of being back in the UK so far
Chunky Kit Kat
Tropical Cooler from Costa
Pukka Steak & Kidney Pie and Chips
A Mr Kipling Pie
My Mummy
The Negatives of being back in the UK so far
The traffic jam on the M20
The traffic jam on the M2
The traffic jam on the M25 x 2
Chunky Kit Kat
Tropical Cooler from Costa
Pukka Steak & Kidney Pie and Chips
A Mr Kipling Pie
My Mummy
The Negatives of being back in the UK so far
The traffic jam on the M20
The traffic jam on the M2
The traffic jam on the M25 x 2
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Halfway There
The reason we choose Bourges to stay in because it is about 600km from home and about 600km from Calais and Eurotunnel so a pretty good halfwy stop. The woman on the desk of the hotl actually recognised us which was nice. The bonus today was the weather. We expected to travel in clousy wether with erhaps a little drizzle but instead had sunshine and the temperture just touching 20° which meant we had a mid-afternoon stop for an ice-cream. Not really what we wxpwct for mid-Feb
The other thing about the hotel is that we get to see French TV. We only have UK tele at home, although we are going to put French tv in as well this spring. French TV is worse than French music. They absolutely refuse to use subtitles so absolutey any UK or American series or film is dubbed very badly. And I mean very badly. No attempt at all to lip-synch. The quizzes are as simple as UK quizzes. They must be because I often get the answers right with my level of French. Someties I even beat the contestant which would be very embarrasing for them if they knew.
Anyway, early night for me. Qurter past nine and I'm ready to go to sleep. Not like me at all. I must be getting too old for all this driving.
The other thing about the hotel is that we get to see French TV. We only have UK tele at home, although we are going to put French tv in as well this spring. French TV is worse than French music. They absolutely refuse to use subtitles so absolutey any UK or American series or film is dubbed very badly. And I mean very badly. No attempt at all to lip-synch. The quizzes are as simple as UK quizzes. They must be because I often get the answers right with my level of French. Someties I even beat the contestant which would be very embarrasing for them if they knew.
Anyway, early night for me. Qurter past nine and I'm ready to go to sleep. Not like me at all. I must be getting too old for all this driving.
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
Northward Ho!
Bags Packed √
Passports in Bag √
Eurotunnel Booking √
Snacks for journey √
Car washed √
Petrol filled. √
All ready to leave for the UK first thing in the morning. Well, as far as Bourges tomorrow and St Albans the day after. And then the East Midlands the day after that. The 9th visit between us in 12 months. For the third wedding in 12 months.
Passports in Bag √
Eurotunnel Booking √
Snacks for journey √
Car washed √
Petrol filled. √
All ready to leave for the UK first thing in the morning. Well, as far as Bourges tomorrow and St Albans the day after. And then the East Midlands the day after that. The 9th visit between us in 12 months. For the third wedding in 12 months.
Monday, February 13, 2017
Rum, Sodomy & The Lash
I've come to this Pogues LP somewhat late. I bought a set of 5 cd's in a boxed set and, although I like odd tracks on most, this is good from beginning to end. Sometimes you tend to forget that some of the more traditional sounding songs are in fact penned by Shane McGowan. Anyway, for me there are 4 track that are stand out tracks to my ears.
1) I'm A Man You Don't Meet Everyday
A traditional song which is sung by Cait O'Riordan who played bass for them normally. Strange to hear a woman sing the song but her voice is like drinking Baileys. Sweet, smooth and leaves you wanting more.
2) Sally MacLennane
A semi autobiographical song penned by Shane. The bar in question being the one he was brought up in. It's a great raucous sing-a-long foot stopmer of a tune. One you can't help joining in the chorus with, and unusually for Shane, you can actually hear the lyrics of the chorus which helps.
3) Navigator
Written by Phil Gaston, manager of Shane's first band, it is a paean to the Navvies who built the railways and canals. Another tune to join in with. A typical Irish reminiscing song.
4) And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda
Written by Eric Bogle, Scottish folk singer who emigrated to Australia, it is one of those songs that conjures up what was is about and how those who were there felt about it. It is to do with the Gallipoli Landings and the carnage of the event. I have a slight connection in as much as although this is about the Australian armed forces, there was also a company of The Lancashire Fusiliers at Suvla Bay. They were decimated, in fact worse than 1 in 10 died. When the call went out to restaff the battalion my Grandfather moved across from the King's Own Yorkshire to the Fusiliers. Whilst I would consider myself to be a pacifist I am certainly not one of those who prefers to wear a white poppy because they believe the red poppy glorifies war. I am a pacifist because I don't want young men to be slaughtered like that again, and it is songs like this that help transmit a form of reality that cold facts can't. Whilst Shane can never be said to have a beautiful voice, it is a very sensitive and understanding voice that sings these lyrics.
1) I'm A Man You Don't Meet Everyday
A traditional song which is sung by Cait O'Riordan who played bass for them normally. Strange to hear a woman sing the song but her voice is like drinking Baileys. Sweet, smooth and leaves you wanting more.
2) Sally MacLennane
A semi autobiographical song penned by Shane. The bar in question being the one he was brought up in. It's a great raucous sing-a-long foot stopmer of a tune. One you can't help joining in the chorus with, and unusually for Shane, you can actually hear the lyrics of the chorus which helps.
3) Navigator
Written by Phil Gaston, manager of Shane's first band, it is a paean to the Navvies who built the railways and canals. Another tune to join in with. A typical Irish reminiscing song.
4) And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda
Written by Eric Bogle, Scottish folk singer who emigrated to Australia, it is one of those songs that conjures up what was is about and how those who were there felt about it. It is to do with the Gallipoli Landings and the carnage of the event. I have a slight connection in as much as although this is about the Australian armed forces, there was also a company of The Lancashire Fusiliers at Suvla Bay. They were decimated, in fact worse than 1 in 10 died. When the call went out to restaff the battalion my Grandfather moved across from the King's Own Yorkshire to the Fusiliers. Whilst I would consider myself to be a pacifist I am certainly not one of those who prefers to wear a white poppy because they believe the red poppy glorifies war. I am a pacifist because I don't want young men to be slaughtered like that again, and it is songs like this that help transmit a form of reality that cold facts can't. Whilst Shane can never be said to have a beautiful voice, it is a very sensitive and understanding voice that sings these lyrics.
Sunday, February 12, 2017
Terpsichorean Tragedy
So the wedding we are going to has all the guests choosing a track they would like to dance to. We chose Let's Marvin Gaye. And we decided that we should practice a bit of a dance based on some Ceroc moves. We used to do Ceroc about 5 years back.
So we moved all the sofas and coffee table out of the way to form a nice little dancing space. We revised a couple of moves and developed a small routine. A small routine that worked quite well until I twisted my knee. So here I sit on the sofa with my knee up, getting larger, and rubbing on Voltarol and taking anti-inflamatories.
Let this be a warning that my dancing years may be behind me, although to be fair they never really arrived.
So we moved all the sofas and coffee table out of the way to form a nice little dancing space. We revised a couple of moves and developed a small routine. A small routine that worked quite well until I twisted my knee. So here I sit on the sofa with my knee up, getting larger, and rubbing on Voltarol and taking anti-inflamatories.
Let this be a warning that my dancing years may be behind me, although to be fair they never really arrived.
Saturday, February 11, 2017
Shanty Town
We have, in the area down here, a group of men called The Aude Shantymen. ats they have gathered a series of UK shantys, sea songs plus some French equivalents and perform occasionally around the Aude and Ariege areas of the Languedoc. I knew about them before we came down because one of them used to be in the Navy with the guy we bought the house off of. The estate agent who sold us the house's ex-husband also sings with them. When we did the audition last Wednesday, one of the women there was married to one of them. Whilst they perform irregularly they rehearse weekly which tends to start with a drink and food and then the singing gets fitted in once that has happened.
At ten o'clock this morning there was a bang on the door and there stood their unofficial leader. I had an idea this might happen. As a tenor, and often towards the upper range, I am lucky that we are often in demand. So now I have the offer of joining them after we come back from the UK in a couple of weeks time. It's very good for the ego being headhunted and it will be fun so I will have to be donning a Breton stripey jersey and Languedoc neckerchief in the near future.
So now I will be involved in two groups. The main problem is that rehearsals for both are on midweek afternoons. Plus on a Friday afternoon we often meet with our near neighburs for French conversation in order to improve. I'm not sure I can take three afternoons a week off, much as I would like to.
At least when I am working on the pools I will have some relevant songs to sing as I haul covers on and off!
At ten o'clock this morning there was a bang on the door and there stood their unofficial leader. I had an idea this might happen. As a tenor, and often towards the upper range, I am lucky that we are often in demand. So now I have the offer of joining them after we come back from the UK in a couple of weeks time. It's very good for the ego being headhunted and it will be fun so I will have to be donning a Breton stripey jersey and Languedoc neckerchief in the near future.
So now I will be involved in two groups. The main problem is that rehearsals for both are on midweek afternoons. Plus on a Friday afternoon we often meet with our near neighburs for French conversation in order to improve. I'm not sure I can take three afternoons a week off, much as I would like to.
At least when I am working on the pools I will have some relevant songs to sing as I haul covers on and off!
Friday, February 10, 2017
Chinatown.
A little bit of China is coming to Loupia tonight as our neighbours pop round and we play Mahjong. I haven't played since I was probably 9 or 10 and I can hardly remember the basic rules let alone memorising the special hands! I used to play onine against a computer but that is much easier. And I can't practice online because now I can't find a proper game because of the proliferation of Mahjong Tile sites playing a form of solitaire.
I'm hoping we have a slight advantage in as much as The Magnificent M's mother was actually born in Shanghai. M's Grandmother, having been born in the Scottish Highlands travelled on her own at the age of 16 to Shanghai to catch up with her boyfriend who had joined the Shanghai police service. That must have been an adventure for a young girl just after the 1st World War.
I suspect by the time a few beers and glasses of wine have been consumed it might be more a fun night than a serious games night but I'm too competitive to ever really let go.
I'm hoping we have a slight advantage in as much as The Magnificent M's mother was actually born in Shanghai. M's Grandmother, having been born in the Scottish Highlands travelled on her own at the age of 16 to Shanghai to catch up with her boyfriend who had joined the Shanghai police service. That must have been an adventure for a young girl just after the 1st World War.
I suspect by the time a few beers and glasses of wine have been consumed it might be more a fun night than a serious games night but I'm too competitive to ever really let go.
Thursday, February 09, 2017
A Possible New Toy.
Our trusty VW Golf is knocking on a bit having gone through 300,000kms on out last trip back. It's fine at the moment but it's always in the back of our mind it might die a death at any moment. And that moment will almost definitely on a Saturday in July or August when it couldn't be more inconvenient if it tried. We know what we want, probably, a Peugeot 5008, and we've seen one in Nottingham that is LHD French registered and a decent price. As the wedding we are going to is in Grantham and we are also visiting Newark, we could go have a look and a test drive.
The problem is shoud we buy one now to forestall a problem or are we better to leave it in case the car manages another couple of years? We know the date of first registration for our car but it would be even more helpful if there was a date of terminal breakdown.
The problem is shoud we buy one now to forestall a problem or are we better to leave it in case the car manages another couple of years? We know the date of first registration for our car but it would be even more helpful if there was a date of terminal breakdown.
Wednesday, February 08, 2017
My Public Awaits.
It's two and a half years since I last performed on stage and two years for the Magnificent M. When we came out here we thought at some point we might have to join a group. And today we went and auditioned for a group doing pantomime in December. I was told in no uncertain terms by M I was not to go for a main part and really we should both be just in the chorus. I compromised, I went for anything except a main part.
Luckily they seem a friendly enough bunch and even M liked them. The audition was pretty informal but in case I get a medium part I had to do a singing audition. As a tenor, normally you are in demand, which is lucky for me. It is also very good for the ego. Even meeting those eight people have led to me being invited to join a well known local group so I will have to consider that.
I should know what part I get in a couple of weeks if I get one. I actually don't mind whether I do or if I'm just in the chorus. I'm actually just happy to know I'm going to tread the boards again.
Luckily they seem a friendly enough bunch and even M liked them. The audition was pretty informal but in case I get a medium part I had to do a singing audition. As a tenor, normally you are in demand, which is lucky for me. It is also very good for the ego. Even meeting those eight people have led to me being invited to join a well known local group so I will have to consider that.
I should know what part I get in a couple of weeks if I get one. I actually don't mind whether I do or if I'm just in the chorus. I'm actually just happy to know I'm going to tread the boards again.
Tuesday, February 07, 2017
Bargain of the Century
I understand that this means the whole trip was particularly good value!
Monday, February 06, 2017
Destroy It Yourself
Yes, that old joke but in my case pretty true. Or at least as far as home is concerned.
Since we have arrived in France I have been registered as a "Homme Touts Mains" - a handyman. Although my main job is looking after pools I do have to do a reasonable amount of simple repair stuff. And in general I have surprised myself by how much I have been able to do. Changing a pump for a pool, building from scratch some shutters that were the size of doors, building a fence. Not by any stretch of the imagination the most complicated of jobs, but for someone with the dexterity of a retarded wombat, a definite improvement over what had gone before.
But even after all this, when it comes to doing something in the house I cannot get it right. As well as buying the main storage the other day we bought 3 cd towers. They were pretty easy to put together but it didn't stop me getting one of the shelves put in upside down. I'm also doing some pretty simple tiling with stick on tiles and even with those I've managed with one pair to not get the edges straight together.
I wonder if anyone here knows a good handyman?
Since we have arrived in France I have been registered as a "Homme Touts Mains" - a handyman. Although my main job is looking after pools I do have to do a reasonable amount of simple repair stuff. And in general I have surprised myself by how much I have been able to do. Changing a pump for a pool, building from scratch some shutters that were the size of doors, building a fence. Not by any stretch of the imagination the most complicated of jobs, but for someone with the dexterity of a retarded wombat, a definite improvement over what had gone before.
But even after all this, when it comes to doing something in the house I cannot get it right. As well as buying the main storage the other day we bought 3 cd towers. They were pretty easy to put together but it didn't stop me getting one of the shelves put in upside down. I'm also doing some pretty simple tiling with stick on tiles and even with those I've managed with one pair to not get the edges straight together.
I wonder if anyone here knows a good handyman?
Sunday, February 05, 2017
State of the Nation
I rarely post anything about politics, mainly because I tend to think it's a personal decision. I don't often link to anything political on Facebook either unless there is something particularly funny, and at the moment there is very little stuff that is very funny. Plenty of stuff people think is funny, but it isn't. And this week I have done something I haven't done previously. I have unfriended one person and unfollowed a group because I just cannot stand the constant stream of anti-Brexit, anti-Trump moaning.
What worries me most are some basic principals which seem to be lacking. In both cases, the referendum and the US election, there was a legal vote, one side won and to a degree that should be an end to it. If you didn't get the result you want, you work towards making sure the vote goes your way next time. Even with Brexit, where there might not be a next time, you work to get the deal you want and you make the best of it and try and make it a success.
But not in Britain anymore. Or apparently in the States. What happens now is that if you lose a vote you should not accept it and do everything you can to have it overturned. Demand the other side is wrong and demand politicians overturn things. And you do all this by making stupid statements and attacking people, both members of the public and those in power.
Amongst the stupid statements and suggestions are;
Only 37% of the population voted to come out ofthe EU so we should stay in! That might be an argument if that didn't mean that only 35% of the population voted to remain. There is the argument that 50% of the population should have been required but it is irrelevant as that wasn't the condition of the vote. In fact it is rare for any election in the UK to provide a result where more than 50% of the electorate vote for one side or the other.
Politicians must do the right thing and vote to remain and not trigger Article 50! To start with, it is somewhat presumptive to belive that only "your side" can be right. As we now know, most MP's did vote to trigger the vote. How could they do anything else. It really should have been a simple and obvious decision for each MP. whichever way your constituency voted, as their elected representative, you vote the same way. There shouldn't have been a three line whip. The Lib Dems are pulling their normal trick of taking a stand where they believe they can convince some voters to come over to them. They will once again find long term it doesn't work. Hw did anyone think that MPs would overturn the vote. If they did that there could never be another election again because anyone could declare it unacceptable and a precedent would have been set.
For the sake of going on and on I'll leave it there. Most of the pre-vote talk was about how only racists would see immigration as a bad thing. So, what was largely the far left and then latterly people who wuld normally not be so vocal, lay into those who voted out with a venom that if people on the right had used would be declared bigots and racists and evil.
I recently described Facebook as the Home of Righteous Indignation. And that is what it has become to all too many people. I haven't seen a kitten for weeks! It's just constant bile.
What worries me most are some basic principals which seem to be lacking. In both cases, the referendum and the US election, there was a legal vote, one side won and to a degree that should be an end to it. If you didn't get the result you want, you work towards making sure the vote goes your way next time. Even with Brexit, where there might not be a next time, you work to get the deal you want and you make the best of it and try and make it a success.
But not in Britain anymore. Or apparently in the States. What happens now is that if you lose a vote you should not accept it and do everything you can to have it overturned. Demand the other side is wrong and demand politicians overturn things. And you do all this by making stupid statements and attacking people, both members of the public and those in power.
Amongst the stupid statements and suggestions are;
Only 37% of the population voted to come out ofthe EU so we should stay in! That might be an argument if that didn't mean that only 35% of the population voted to remain. There is the argument that 50% of the population should have been required but it is irrelevant as that wasn't the condition of the vote. In fact it is rare for any election in the UK to provide a result where more than 50% of the electorate vote for one side or the other.
Politicians must do the right thing and vote to remain and not trigger Article 50! To start with, it is somewhat presumptive to belive that only "your side" can be right. As we now know, most MP's did vote to trigger the vote. How could they do anything else. It really should have been a simple and obvious decision for each MP. whichever way your constituency voted, as their elected representative, you vote the same way. There shouldn't have been a three line whip. The Lib Dems are pulling their normal trick of taking a stand where they believe they can convince some voters to come over to them. They will once again find long term it doesn't work. Hw did anyone think that MPs would overturn the vote. If they did that there could never be another election again because anyone could declare it unacceptable and a precedent would have been set.
For the sake of going on and on I'll leave it there. Most of the pre-vote talk was about how only racists would see immigration as a bad thing. So, what was largely the far left and then latterly people who wuld normally not be so vocal, lay into those who voted out with a venom that if people on the right had used would be declared bigots and racists and evil.
I recently described Facebook as the Home of Righteous Indignation. And that is what it has become to all too many people. I haven't seen a kitten for weeks! It's just constant bile.
Saturday, February 04, 2017
It's Saturday, It Must Be Sweden
So today we visited the Swedish Republic of Ikea. I always feel as though Ikea has the same status as an embassy and all their property is considered as part of their home country. Then again I've had a conversation with magpie this week so you cn't expect much sense out of me.
Our nearest Ikea is 106km away on the outskirts of Toulouse and takes about 1hr15 to get there. Then again when we lived in Loondon our nearest Ikea was just under 9 miles away and could take that long to get to. We were after some storage for the lounge and decided to use a modular system so for the last couple of weeks we have been planning out sizes of units, colours of doors, matt/lacquered/textured.....
Saturday probably isn't the best day to go when in reality we could go any day in the week but we had to go out and get our saturday morning croissants from the bakers 6km away so we were nearly there anyway give or take the last 100. So we fought the crowds, walked about a further hundred kilometers round the "yellow brick road to where the display was and then eventually, having marked down all the codes, aisle positions and quantities, descended into the bowels of the store. All went incredibly well and we got absolutely everything except one door. One door costing five euros.
Hopefully we will pass an Ikea when we are next on our UK travels either here or there because I'm not doing that journey again just for one small piece of wood.
Our nearest Ikea is 106km away on the outskirts of Toulouse and takes about 1hr15 to get there. Then again when we lived in Loondon our nearest Ikea was just under 9 miles away and could take that long to get to. We were after some storage for the lounge and decided to use a modular system so for the last couple of weeks we have been planning out sizes of units, colours of doors, matt/lacquered/textured.....
Saturday probably isn't the best day to go when in reality we could go any day in the week but we had to go out and get our saturday morning croissants from the bakers 6km away so we were nearly there anyway give or take the last 100. So we fought the crowds, walked about a further hundred kilometers round the "yellow brick road to where the display was and then eventually, having marked down all the codes, aisle positions and quantities, descended into the bowels of the store. All went incredibly well and we got absolutely everything except one door. One door costing five euros.
Hopefully we will pass an Ikea when we are next on our UK travels either here or there because I'm not doing that journey again just for one small piece of wood.
Friday, February 03, 2017
Four and Twenty Blackbirds.
This would be an apt title if it wasn't for the fact that there is only one bird involved, it's a magpie and it doesn't end up in a pie.
We look after a house in Pieusse, a village just on the outskirts of Limoux. We do security visits once a month and I was out their earlier this week. There is a resident magpie in the garden. Bloody noisy thing it is, cawing at the top of it's voice, or whatever the noise a magpie makes is called. It particularly likes the fruit of the kaki tree, which we know as persimmon, and you will normally find it there. Anyway, the other day I was walking round the garden when he decided to come and fly down and hop along side me. I'm not great with birds, flappy things that they are, and magpies beaks are a bit of a nasty looking weapon but I retained my composure faced with this six inch predator and as I walked he hopped along side of me. I talked to him and then he cawed at me. I talked again and then it started making a strange noise that then became a few words in French. I picked up bonjour, bonsoir and c'est bien. A bit of repeating and a few other words. So I stopped walking thinking I might be imagining it and he stopped hopping looked at me said a couple more words and then, somewhat bored with the fact I had stopped walking, flew off back to his tree.
To say I was a little surprised would be an understatement. It's not everyday one partakes of a conversation with a feathered friend. I didn't know magpies could mimic humans but a quick google search informed me they can. And this one apparently does. He certainly wasn't scared of me so no doubt he has either heard guests or visitors speaking and learnt the lingo. Which I have to say is somedays better than I think I am doing.
We look after a house in Pieusse, a village just on the outskirts of Limoux. We do security visits once a month and I was out their earlier this week. There is a resident magpie in the garden. Bloody noisy thing it is, cawing at the top of it's voice, or whatever the noise a magpie makes is called. It particularly likes the fruit of the kaki tree, which we know as persimmon, and you will normally find it there. Anyway, the other day I was walking round the garden when he decided to come and fly down and hop along side me. I'm not great with birds, flappy things that they are, and magpies beaks are a bit of a nasty looking weapon but I retained my composure faced with this six inch predator and as I walked he hopped along side of me. I talked to him and then he cawed at me. I talked again and then it started making a strange noise that then became a few words in French. I picked up bonjour, bonsoir and c'est bien. A bit of repeating and a few other words. So I stopped walking thinking I might be imagining it and he stopped hopping looked at me said a couple more words and then, somewhat bored with the fact I had stopped walking, flew off back to his tree.
To say I was a little surprised would be an understatement. It's not everyday one partakes of a conversation with a feathered friend. I didn't know magpies could mimic humans but a quick google search informed me they can. And this one apparently does. He certainly wasn't scared of me so no doubt he has either heard guests or visitors speaking and learnt the lingo. Which I have to say is somedays better than I think I am doing.
Thursday, February 02, 2017
We are a Grandmother.
The Magnificent M and I worked out that since last February we have travelled back to the Homeland 9 times either together or separately. Before we moved here no-one in M's family seemed to have any plans and then the moment we relocate you can't stop them coming up with ideas to bring us back. Last March we were out for eldest daughters wedding. This January M flew back for her sister's hen night who is getting married later this month so we will be across shortly. The big event however was in November when youngest daughter presented her with the first grandchild, Poppy. So I now have a granddaughter-in-sin or, as I am in a marriage sauvage, (wild marriage as the French so eloquently call living together), I have a wild Poppy. And more importantly to me as I couldn't have kids, I have presented my mum with the nearest thing she will have to a great grand-daughter and very excited she is too. So here are a few pictures and I promise I won't flood my blog with baby pictures!
Wednesday, February 01, 2017
Becoming John Malkovitch André Verchuren
Anyway, André is the mot famous of all French accordionists. He has sold over 70 million albums. That's more than one and a half times as many as Eminem. Ha. take that Slim Shady. You've been beaten by a French hair-dyed nonagenarian. Who knows though, by the time he is in his 90's he might also have sold that many.
Still, enough about them, it's me
The Magnificent M and I had half jokingly, half seriously thought it would be nice to have an accordion now we lived in France. I mean, how much more can you integrate than that! So I started looking how much one would cost. Do you have any idea how much they cost new? Well, do you? I didn't. It's £6,000.00-£10,000.00. No wonder it's a dying art! Firing up ebay I immediately checked out second hand ones and they are still £1500-£2500. So that idea died a death. Then one day I was perusing Facebook when one of those annoying personalised adverts popped up in the right hand margin. For an auctioneers. So, for no reason other than idle curiosity, I clicked on the link to see what they sold, hoping it might have art deco ceramics or jewellery. But it was musical instruments. And in general, stringed instruments. And tucked away, a few items from the end was the piano accordion. A £200-£300 guide price at least made it look a damn sight cheaper than most, and it was a well known make and professional model. So, I put on a very cheeky offer only to be told I hadn't reached the reserve price so I put in the maximum I was willing to pay, still less than the guide price and, rather like on e-bay, it took enough money to reach what was obviously the reserve price but not my total bid. So with 5 days to go I was lead bidder. And that was it. Nobody else bid. Bargain!
Luckily we were going to be in London the week after so we could pick it up in person. And we did. Neither of us ever having touched one before. And so now it resides in it's box in our living room.
M has yet to touch it and I have tried it once. By God it takes some effort. It's heavy, the bellows take some pushing and pulling, (the trick is you have the shoulder straps at different lengths so gravity helps extend the bellows so you only have to push them back). The good thing compared to the violin is that when you press a key at least the correct sound comes out, no scraping, no screeching. Our cat however, decided I had bought a large box with a filling of cats that were being pummelled and squashed within. She went from lying on the couch to going through the cat flap like a bullet within about two seconds. She did come back and then screeched. I'd like to think she was singing along but it may have been cries of pain.
So at the moment André is unlikely to be spending much time worrying about me, particularly as he is presently sitting on a cloud learning the harp, but I shall not give up. I pledge to you now that by the end of this year I will post a video on this very site of me playing it. Unless you pay me not to. You have been warned!
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Blogathon Eve
Excitement is building here in France as we reach Blogathon Eve.
Hardly have the decorations been put away from Christmas before the whole country comes together to anticipate the month-long blogfest. In towns and villages across the nation, communities are starting the celebrations. As children leave school they are presented with the sweet delicacy Pomme D'Amour or as we in the UK know them a TOFFEE-APPLE. The excited chatter of the little children as they break their teeth on the caramelised goodie mounts as they rush to the Halles des Fetes where they are joined by the adults and the great and the good of each commune. As a whole they crack open a bottle or two of pastis and give the ancient toast for the snowy months "Bien Niege" or good snow a phrase that has been corrupted by English ears and eyes leading to the anglicised word of bien-bren and niege-nig or BRENNIG! Once the pastis has been downed it is time to choose the young boy or girl who will be crowned King or Queen. Once the child has been chosen they mount the stage and are presented with the Couronne de MASHER or Mashers Crown, an ornate headpiece made up of old bits of circuitboard and motorcycle parts topped with a luminous GPS unit. Photos are taken of the monarch supported as in previous years by two accolytes dressed purely in budgie smugglers.
The children are then sent to bed and parents stay up all night waiting for the sighting of the first blogathon post of the Spring.
Vive la France! Vive la Blogathon!
Hardly have the decorations been put away from Christmas before the whole country comes together to anticipate the month-long blogfest. In towns and villages across the nation, communities are starting the celebrations. As children leave school they are presented with the sweet delicacy Pomme D'Amour or as we in the UK know them a TOFFEE-APPLE. The excited chatter of the little children as they break their teeth on the caramelised goodie mounts as they rush to the Halles des Fetes where they are joined by the adults and the great and the good of each commune. As a whole they crack open a bottle or two of pastis and give the ancient toast for the snowy months "Bien Niege" or good snow a phrase that has been corrupted by English ears and eyes leading to the anglicised word of bien-bren and niege-nig or BRENNIG! Once the pastis has been downed it is time to choose the young boy or girl who will be crowned King or Queen. Once the child has been chosen they mount the stage and are presented with the Couronne de MASHER or Mashers Crown, an ornate headpiece made up of old bits of circuitboard and motorcycle parts topped with a luminous GPS unit. Photos are taken of the monarch supported as in previous years by two accolytes dressed purely in budgie smugglers.
The children are then sent to bed and parents stay up all night waiting for the sighting of the first blogathon post of the Spring.
Vive la France! Vive la Blogathon!
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Wednesday, November 09, 2016
British Break
Have just come back from a fortnight's holiday in Britain. Because we normally end up rushing around seeing people we came with the intention of having a break afetr the season. In the end the itinerary ended up as;
Tuesday 25th - Loupia to Bourges including a false start when we realised we hadn't got the passports on us. (Luckily we had only gone 5 miles......
Wednesday 26th - Bourges to Eurotunnel, crossing, Eurotunnel to St Albans. We hd 9 minutes of delays all the way up through France and 26 minutes of delays on the UK side.......
Thursday 27th - St Albans to Pentre Halkyn (North Wales), 29 minutes delay to today but only after the sat nav diverted us away from a 40 minute delay. PLus a diversion of our own so we could go get an ice cream at Snugburys and go see this years straw structure.
Friday 28th - A day of not driving because it's a family wedding. Much food and wine taken!
Saturday 29th - Pentre Halkyn - Newark on Trent. Although we were heading back south we decided we would travel via the Magnificent M's sister even though we had seen them for the last two days.
Sunday 30th - Newark to St Albans. Meal out which was luckily just down the road.
Monday 31st - Local driving such as shopping at London Colney and an evening meal at the excellent Godfreys in Harpenden.
Tuesday 1st - St Albans to Richmond upon Thames. Settled into our friends flat for a few days whist they are away. Trip to Ealing so the Magnificent M could have her ears hoovered. She can now tell what I am up to over a 100 mile radius! Then to Park Royal for a long awaited Pizza Hut pizza.
Wednesday 2nd - Richmond to Windsor and back, for a day with a very pregnant G prior to the Magnificent M becoming a Grandma. Potential contractions during lunch turned out to be trapped wind! And a nice take-away chinese.
Thursday 3rd - Richmond to Stanton Harcourt and back. To deepest darkest Oxfordshire to go see M's Uncle Bill. Family gossip time. Well, back via Boston Manor so we could have a take away Indian.
Friday 4th - Not too much driving as I saw Linda followed by a mate in a local pub and M visited friends within a five mile radius. And pie and chips to end the day!
Saturday 5th - Shopping in Kingston followed by a bit of a lounge before heading off to Ealing Cricket Club for their annual firework display. Good, loud and cold.
Sunday 6th - into Richmond centre for breakfast with a friend, then on to a disastrous shop at Tesco's, possibly more on that in a later post. The afternoon passed at the 60th birthday party of my oldest friend whom I've know since we were four.
Monday 7th - Richmond to Bourges via an argument with a eurotunnel employee. Definitely more on this later!
Tuesday 8th Bourges to Loupia. And breathe!
4010kms driven in 14 days. And we have to do it all again, except the Wales bit, in December!
Tuesday 25th - Loupia to Bourges including a false start when we realised we hadn't got the passports on us. (Luckily we had only gone 5 miles......
Wednesday 26th - Bourges to Eurotunnel, crossing, Eurotunnel to St Albans. We hd 9 minutes of delays all the way up through France and 26 minutes of delays on the UK side.......
Thursday 27th - St Albans to Pentre Halkyn (North Wales), 29 minutes delay to today but only after the sat nav diverted us away from a 40 minute delay. PLus a diversion of our own so we could go get an ice cream at Snugburys and go see this years straw structure.
Friday 28th - A day of not driving because it's a family wedding. Much food and wine taken!
Saturday 29th - Pentre Halkyn - Newark on Trent. Although we were heading back south we decided we would travel via the Magnificent M's sister even though we had seen them for the last two days.
Sunday 30th - Newark to St Albans. Meal out which was luckily just down the road.
Monday 31st - Local driving such as shopping at London Colney and an evening meal at the excellent Godfreys in Harpenden.
Tuesday 1st - St Albans to Richmond upon Thames. Settled into our friends flat for a few days whist they are away. Trip to Ealing so the Magnificent M could have her ears hoovered. She can now tell what I am up to over a 100 mile radius! Then to Park Royal for a long awaited Pizza Hut pizza.
Wednesday 2nd - Richmond to Windsor and back, for a day with a very pregnant G prior to the Magnificent M becoming a Grandma. Potential contractions during lunch turned out to be trapped wind! And a nice take-away chinese.
Thursday 3rd - Richmond to Stanton Harcourt and back. To deepest darkest Oxfordshire to go see M's Uncle Bill. Family gossip time. Well, back via Boston Manor so we could have a take away Indian.
Friday 4th - Not too much driving as I saw Linda followed by a mate in a local pub and M visited friends within a five mile radius. And pie and chips to end the day!
Saturday 5th - Shopping in Kingston followed by a bit of a lounge before heading off to Ealing Cricket Club for their annual firework display. Good, loud and cold.
Sunday 6th - into Richmond centre for breakfast with a friend, then on to a disastrous shop at Tesco's, possibly more on that in a later post. The afternoon passed at the 60th birthday party of my oldest friend whom I've know since we were four.
Monday 7th - Richmond to Bourges via an argument with a eurotunnel employee. Definitely more on this later!
Tuesday 8th Bourges to Loupia. And breathe!
4010kms driven in 14 days. And we have to do it all again, except the Wales bit, in December!
Thursday, September 22, 2016
Cast Adrift
The internetwebthingy went down in our village. I don't think the French noticed. I, on the other hand, have been suffering withdrawal symptoms.
Thursday, June 30, 2016
June Music Blogathon - Day 30
A song I’ve heard from someone else that I like.
I've struggled with this one. Not because I haven't been influenced by other people's suggestions. Most of my girlfriends in my teens introduced me to groups I wouldn't have perhaps listened to if not for them. My brother has also introduced me to stuff. Most notably Banco De Gaia when he bought me their CD, You Are Here, as it had been his record of the year. But that doesn't lend itself to one song. You need to isten to the whole thing as tracks meld from one to another. And in fact if you loop it you would never hear the beginning or end as that runs through too. It's a mix of Trance. Dub, Arabic/Indian influence, a track with a bazouki.... If you like trance and something a little eclectic it is well worth a listen.
So in the end I am going to choose something by an artist I have already chosen. Cat Stevens. My best friend at senior school was Doug McGevor. and we used to skive off in the afternoons and go back to his house. We would ransack his mums larder for tins of strawberries in syrup and listen to either King Crimson or Mr Stevens. His favourite LP was Tea For The Tillerman. I borrowed it and got into it too. And it still has many of my favourite tracks of his. The one I am going for though is Father and Son. And I could kill Westlife for covering it and managing to completely miss the fact it is theroetically a duet.
Cat Stevens - Father and Son
I've struggled with this one. Not because I haven't been influenced by other people's suggestions. Most of my girlfriends in my teens introduced me to groups I wouldn't have perhaps listened to if not for them. My brother has also introduced me to stuff. Most notably Banco De Gaia when he bought me their CD, You Are Here, as it had been his record of the year. But that doesn't lend itself to one song. You need to isten to the whole thing as tracks meld from one to another. And in fact if you loop it you would never hear the beginning or end as that runs through too. It's a mix of Trance. Dub, Arabic/Indian influence, a track with a bazouki.... If you like trance and something a little eclectic it is well worth a listen.
So in the end I am going to choose something by an artist I have already chosen. Cat Stevens. My best friend at senior school was Doug McGevor. and we used to skive off in the afternoons and go back to his house. We would ransack his mums larder for tins of strawberries in syrup and listen to either King Crimson or Mr Stevens. His favourite LP was Tea For The Tillerman. I borrowed it and got into it too. And it still has many of my favourite tracks of his. The one I am going for though is Father and Son. And I could kill Westlife for covering it and managing to completely miss the fact it is theroetically a duet.
Cat Stevens - Father and Son
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
June Music Blogathon - Day 29
My all time favourite song.
It's difficult to think of just one song as my favourite. There are many that mean a lot and some of those have already been listed on previous days for different reasons. Wild West Hero by ELO is a very strong contender or maybe The Last Resort by the Eagles which I can't believe hasn't cropped up somewhere and would probably have been my choice up until a few years back when I started listening to Nancy Griffiths. Another singer I came to via Radio London although in this case it was actually before they launched. For the month before going to air they promoted themselves with a song list and amongst those was From A Distance by Nancy. I liked the song enough to find out more about her and then realised I liked a lot of her music. She's what I guess would be New Country by genre.
However, the song I have chosen is a duet with one of her backing band. I have sung it in concert with a friend. And when I picked Galveston for a previous category becaue I'd been there this reminds me of that visit too as I drove this road to get there.
I never tire of hearing this nor singing along.
Gulf Coast Highway - Nancy Griffiths
It's difficult to think of just one song as my favourite. There are many that mean a lot and some of those have already been listed on previous days for different reasons. Wild West Hero by ELO is a very strong contender or maybe The Last Resort by the Eagles which I can't believe hasn't cropped up somewhere and would probably have been my choice up until a few years back when I started listening to Nancy Griffiths. Another singer I came to via Radio London although in this case it was actually before they launched. For the month before going to air they promoted themselves with a song list and amongst those was From A Distance by Nancy. I liked the song enough to find out more about her and then realised I liked a lot of her music. She's what I guess would be New Country by genre.
However, the song I have chosen is a duet with one of her backing band. I have sung it in concert with a friend. And when I picked Galveston for a previous category becaue I'd been there this reminds me of that visit too as I drove this road to get there.
I never tire of hearing this nor singing along.
Gulf Coast Highway - Nancy Griffiths
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
June Music Blogathon
My favourite song from the last decade.
My favourite song? I'm not even sure I can think of a song from the last decade. I've been trying to rack my brains as to what CDs I might have bought in the last 10 years and I know I've bought quite a lot but I can't remember them. And I've certainly bought a few here in France, particularly by Renaud, who as far as I can describe is a punk, folk, rock, traditional singer. A bit of an enfant terrible when he started in the late 70s and still popular now.
And whilst writing this I've just realised I bought a cd here the other week. The first by a group I've liked the music to but never bought anything prior. It's from their CD Drone which I guess is a concept album as I think all the tracks follow through in sort of timeline. Shows how little I know about it. There are a number of good tracks but I will go with a single. So here is
Muse - Mercy
My favourite song? I'm not even sure I can think of a song from the last decade. I've been trying to rack my brains as to what CDs I might have bought in the last 10 years and I know I've bought quite a lot but I can't remember them. And I've certainly bought a few here in France, particularly by Renaud, who as far as I can describe is a punk, folk, rock, traditional singer. A bit of an enfant terrible when he started in the late 70s and still popular now.
And whilst writing this I've just realised I bought a cd here the other week. The first by a group I've liked the music to but never bought anything prior. It's from their CD Drone which I guess is a concept album as I think all the tracks follow through in sort of timeline. Shows how little I know about it. There are a number of good tracks but I will go with a single. So here is
Muse - Mercy
Monday, June 27, 2016
June Music Blogathon - Day 27
A song to listen to at the end of a tough day.
There are probably a few I would think of if I spent the time but one came to mind straight away. It was a song I only came across a few years back with listening to Robert Elms on Radio London. The artist wasn't one i had heard of before that time and I don't think I've heard of him since. I do however find it a good relaxing record, which is what it is all about.
In fact, in a few seconds time I will look for a photo of the artist to post and that will be the first time I have ever seen him. I wonder if he will look as I imagine.
Jeb Loy Nichols - Heaven Right Here
Nope, really nothing like I expected.
There are probably a few I would think of if I spent the time but one came to mind straight away. It was a song I only came across a few years back with listening to Robert Elms on Radio London. The artist wasn't one i had heard of before that time and I don't think I've heard of him since. I do however find it a good relaxing record, which is what it is all about.
In fact, in a few seconds time I will look for a photo of the artist to post and that will be the first time I have ever seen him. I wonder if he will look as I imagine.
Jeb Loy Nichols - Heaven Right Here
Nope, really nothing like I expected.
Sunday, June 26, 2016
June Music Blogathon -
A Song I Would Give My Offspring.
Hands up all those who even for a fleeting moment thought about choosing something by The Offspring. Oh, just me then.
Anyway, I didn't have to think too long about this and I had a few contenders.
First could have been Stan by Eminem. A cautionary tale of what can happen if you get obsessed with something or take entertainment too seriously.
I could have chosen Zombie by The Cranberries. About those who kept, and indeed keep trying, to keep the Irish troubles going.
But I have gone with an anti-war song, though more the former than the latter for me, which shows how everyone believes they are in the right. There have been many versons of this song but I've chosen to go with the songwriters version although it has the lyrics as he can sometimes be a little incoherent. Bob Dylan - With God On Our Side
Hands up all those who even for a fleeting moment thought about choosing something by The Offspring. Oh, just me then.
Anyway, I didn't have to think too long about this and I had a few contenders.
First could have been Stan by Eminem. A cautionary tale of what can happen if you get obsessed with something or take entertainment too seriously.
I could have chosen Zombie by The Cranberries. About those who kept, and indeed keep trying, to keep the Irish troubles going.
But I have gone with an anti-war song, though more the former than the latter for me, which shows how everyone believes they are in the right. There have been many versons of this song but I've chosen to go with the songwriters version although it has the lyrics as he can sometimes be a little incoherent. Bob Dylan - With God On Our Side
Saturday, June 25, 2016
June Music Blogathon - Day 25
A Song From My Childhood
I am of such a vintage that in the days when I was no'but a lad children didn't really listen to pop music, we had our own records and indeed our own little record players. Amongst the records I owned, along with a number of nursery rhymes, were Tubby the Tuba by Danny Kaye, Big Rock Candy Mountain by Burl Ives and Sparky's Magic Piano by I can't remember who. Once we got to 7 or 8 we would listen to Junior Choice, (no, I'm not old enough to remember Uncle Mac!!), and some of those records came up again, but there was another I particularly liked. And in retrospect I can see how partly the appeal comes from it's comedy value and "cleverness" of concept, something I am still impressed with whether it be a full blown song or the putting together of "one song to the tune of another" in I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue".
Today I present for you.....
The Highway Code - The Master Singers
I am of such a vintage that in the days when I was no'but a lad children didn't really listen to pop music, we had our own records and indeed our own little record players. Amongst the records I owned, along with a number of nursery rhymes, were Tubby the Tuba by Danny Kaye, Big Rock Candy Mountain by Burl Ives and Sparky's Magic Piano by I can't remember who. Once we got to 7 or 8 we would listen to Junior Choice, (no, I'm not old enough to remember Uncle Mac!!), and some of those records came up again, but there was another I particularly liked. And in retrospect I can see how partly the appeal comes from it's comedy value and "cleverness" of concept, something I am still impressed with whether it be a full blown song or the putting together of "one song to the tune of another" in I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue".
Today I present for you.....
The Highway Code - The Master Singers
Friday, June 24, 2016
June Music Blogathon - Day 24
A song that I wish I could play on an instrument.
This is quite a difficult one because my lack of any real instrumental skills mean the answer would theoretically be everything. By the same token the answer is also nothing, because I know there is little chance of me playing it anyway, whatever I chose, so I never even think about it. Had the question been about something I wish I could sing, the list would be endless, mainly with operatic arias.And the one skill I wish I had was to jus sit down at a piano and play, just like they do in the films.
Having thought long and hard, I do have a contender. It's a guitar piece and one of the reasons I wish I could play it is because my younger brother could, and that's bloody annoying as anyone with a younger brother can tell you. I do feel I can claim some credit though for his skills as without me he might never have picked up a guitar. And in particular, my one. My electric one. Which one day I came home to find he had traded in to buy himself a 12 string acoustic. Without a by your leave mind you. Based on the fact that he didn't think I used it much so it might as well be used for something useful for him.
So, I would like to play Classical Gas by Mason Williams.
As long as I can play it better than my brother!
This is quite a difficult one because my lack of any real instrumental skills mean the answer would theoretically be everything. By the same token the answer is also nothing, because I know there is little chance of me playing it anyway, whatever I chose, so I never even think about it. Had the question been about something I wish I could sing, the list would be endless, mainly with operatic arias.And the one skill I wish I had was to jus sit down at a piano and play, just like they do in the films.
Having thought long and hard, I do have a contender. It's a guitar piece and one of the reasons I wish I could play it is because my younger brother could, and that's bloody annoying as anyone with a younger brother can tell you. I do feel I can claim some credit though for his skills as without me he might never have picked up a guitar. And in particular, my one. My electric one. Which one day I came home to find he had traded in to buy himself a 12 string acoustic. Without a by your leave mind you. Based on the fact that he didn't think I used it much so it might as well be used for something useful for him.
So, I would like to play Classical Gas by Mason Williams.
As long as I can play it better than my brother!
Thursday, June 23, 2016
June Music Blogathon - Day 23
A song that I can play on an instrument.
I'd like to think I am a consumate musician across a number of disciplines but in reality I'm a half decent singer, a passable flautist, simple guitarist and a barely competent pianist, (think about grade 1 to 2).
The only time I pick up an instrument these days tends to be open mic nights and then I accompany myself or the Magnificent M on guitar. I have slowly worked through a number of song but last time I performed I suddenly thought about doing a Cat Stevens number abd discovered the chords required for todays choice were in my competency, as long as I changed the key to something simple like C.
Luckily there is no recording of me playing it so you'll have to put up with the original.
Another Saturday Night - Cat Stevens
I'd like to think I am a consumate musician across a number of disciplines but in reality I'm a half decent singer, a passable flautist, simple guitarist and a barely competent pianist, (think about grade 1 to 2).
The only time I pick up an instrument these days tends to be open mic nights and then I accompany myself or the Magnificent M on guitar. I have slowly worked through a number of song but last time I performed I suddenly thought about doing a Cat Stevens number abd discovered the chords required for todays choice were in my competency, as long as I changed the key to something simple like C.
Luckily there is no recording of me playing it so you'll have to put up with the original.
Another Saturday Night - Cat Stevens
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
June Music Blogathon - Day 22
A song that makes me laugh.
Warning. Funny as I might find it to think you'd done it, you probably don't want to have these selections blaring out round the office. And perhaps not in front of children. Although kids today......
My first encounter with Ivor Biggun was his biggest hit, The Winker's Song (Misprint). Many of his song titles are misprints!Beggars Banquet had a record shop on Ealing High Street and this would be played over the external loudspeaker. It was 1978.
I didn't take much notice of him after that although he appeared on television quite a lot but in his other persona as Doc Cox on That's Life.
He reappeared 20 years later when I went to Blackpool with my mate JC in 1998. The club we went to had a favourite track it would play called Anybody Seen My Cock, a tale of a farmer who has a prize cockrel!
It was then I started tracking down some other songs. I could list them all but there are two deserve a special mention.
Hello My Baby, I think possibly his only clean song which is a reworking of an old song. The Magnificent M & I performed this duet in a concert.
My Girl Has Got A Pussy, a song reflecting on his girlfriends cat and what it might have got up to. We would have loved to have done this in concert, that might have woken some of the old dears up in the audience!
In the end I have chosen one that delights me whenever I choose to listen and, in general, very mild for him.
Ivor Biggun - Majorca Song
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
June Music Blogathon - Day 21
A song that I want played at my funeral.
I'm not a great one for messing about with funerals but personalisation is the way to go these days.
I would stick to the traditional funeral hymn of The Day Thou Gavest Lord Is Ended as I think it is a beautiful tune, and obviously the words are apt. Masher has just given me an idea as he has chosen a Queen song that maybe I would have These Were the Days of Our Lives. I always find that song moving, watching Freddie in the video looking so ill. I know from interviews with the other guys in the group they pretty much had to prop him up to get him through it but he insisted on filming it very quickly and intensely. I think it's the bit when he turns to the camera just before the end and speaks the words "I Still Love You". That would seem to be apt so I shall ponder on this further.
I intend to be a burner rather than a burier, but if that should change I would like, for the procession to the grave side to be accompanied by a New Orleans style Jazz Band, playing a sombre tune within the church and then breaking out into a hot jazz march as we come out into the splendid sunshine beating down on us.
Anyway, on to the main course.
I liked this song from the first time I heard it and also knew I wanted it at my funeral. I think it has a hymn-like air to it and the lyrics which are about one person work for me as talking to a collective group. I fancy disappearing off behind the curtain to the fiery furnace whilst this plays.
The only downside I can see is that I won't get to hear it.
Enya - On Your Shore
I'm not a great one for messing about with funerals but personalisation is the way to go these days.
I would stick to the traditional funeral hymn of The Day Thou Gavest Lord Is Ended as I think it is a beautiful tune, and obviously the words are apt. Masher has just given me an idea as he has chosen a Queen song that maybe I would have These Were the Days of Our Lives. I always find that song moving, watching Freddie in the video looking so ill. I know from interviews with the other guys in the group they pretty much had to prop him up to get him through it but he insisted on filming it very quickly and intensely. I think it's the bit when he turns to the camera just before the end and speaks the words "I Still Love You". That would seem to be apt so I shall ponder on this further.
I intend to be a burner rather than a burier, but if that should change I would like, for the procession to the grave side to be accompanied by a New Orleans style Jazz Band, playing a sombre tune within the church and then breaking out into a hot jazz march as we come out into the splendid sunshine beating down on us.
Anyway, on to the main course.
I liked this song from the first time I heard it and also knew I wanted it at my funeral. I think it has a hymn-like air to it and the lyrics which are about one person work for me as talking to a collective group. I fancy disappearing off behind the curtain to the fiery furnace whilst this plays.
The only downside I can see is that I won't get to hear it.
Enya - On Your Shore
Monday, June 20, 2016
June Music Blogathon - Day 20
A song that I want played at my wedding.
Well, having had a wedding, we wanted Stay with Me Baby by Lorraine Ellison for our first dance. It's a great soul song and we both loved it although the content is about a couple splitting up. Maybe we should have considered that at the time as we did split up about 3 years later.
The incredibly camp musical performer in me is desperate to have the wedding procession from Sound of Music. Preferably including nuns.
In the end I have still gone for a piece for in the service, and I think perhaps during the signing of the register. It is from Gounod's opera, Romeo & Juliet. The Epithalamium is sung as Juliet comes down the aisle to be married to Paris. When we performed this opera we never cast for Paris and all his lines were split amongst other soloists. This went well until the Director suddenly realised Juliet was going to walk down the aisle with no intended groom at the altar. They asked me to stand in as Paris and the tenor who was playing Romeo and not on set at that point would sing the part. To cut a long story short, by way of some colluding with said tenor and using him to get permission, I was allowed also to sing the role of Paris in that one section. This is the nearest I have ever got to performing an opera solo as one of the eight soloists who sing outside of the chorus.
This isn't a great recording and I think the soprano is a bit off key at times and the balance isn't right, but this would be something special for the big day although you probably wouldn't know it from this recording.
I should mention at this point Juliet thinks Romeo is dead and comes down the aisle having taken poison and is dead within minutes. On the basis of my previous wedding song choice and outcome, maybe I should choose again!
The Epithalamium from Romeo & Juliet from 2:14:19 to 2:17:58. (See how kind I am to you, not making you listen to the whole opera just to hear that one bit!)
Sunday, June 19, 2016
June Music Blogathon - Day 19
A Song That I Listen To When I’m Sad.
Interestingly, it is always a song that mirrors the mood rather than change it when I choose what to listen to.
This one is no different and is a song that I can wallow in sadness with for a time. It's a break up song. John Denver is probably better known for his country numbers and also Annies Song, written for his first wife. This song is not part of his country ouevre but I am assuming it was written at the time of his break up from his fisrt wife. If not, then I think the experience played a great part in the writing of it.
So, here is my wallowing song. It's a live recording and for reasons he explains at the start, there are a few wrong notes on the piano, but there wasn't a particuarly good studio vrsion available on you tube.
John Denver - Seasons of the Heart
Interestingly, it is always a song that mirrors the mood rather than change it when I choose what to listen to.
This one is no different and is a song that I can wallow in sadness with for a time. It's a break up song. John Denver is probably better known for his country numbers and also Annies Song, written for his first wife. This song is not part of his country ouevre but I am assuming it was written at the time of his break up from his fisrt wife. If not, then I think the experience played a great part in the writing of it.
So, here is my wallowing song. It's a live recording and for reasons he explains at the start, there are a few wrong notes on the piano, but there wasn't a particuarly good studio vrsion available on you tube.
John Denver - Seasons of the Heart
Saturday, June 18, 2016
June Music Blogathon - Day 18
A Song That I Listen To When I’m Happy.
A song that Brennig so very nearly chose for one of his earlier posts. I like the Manics without owning any of their CDs. Because of that I mainly know their singles, plus the song they wrote for Shirley Bassey. But of all their singles I love Autumnsong the best. I like the intro, I can sing along, it's happy music, it's in my vocal range for singing along at volume. It's... oh, it's just great.
Manic Street Preachers - Autumnsong
A song that Brennig so very nearly chose for one of his earlier posts. I like the Manics without owning any of their CDs. Because of that I mainly know their singles, plus the song they wrote for Shirley Bassey. But of all their singles I love Autumnsong the best. I like the intro, I can sing along, it's happy music, it's in my vocal range for singing along at volume. It's... oh, it's just great.
Manic Street Preachers - Autumnsong
Friday, June 17, 2016
June Music Blogathon - Day 17
A Song That I Listen To When I’m Angry.
I'm quite partial to a bit of Eminem when I'm riled but there is one record that means more to me when angry than any of his.
Back in 1983 I locked horns with my branch manager when I worked for an insurance company in Birmingham. It didn't end well for me, not because I was in the wrong, but in those days the company involved felt it was necesary to back a manager regardless of the circumstances. For a month I was forced to go in and work in a seperate room so I had no contact with the other staff.
To start each day, I would get ready for work, and before leaving it would be on with the headphones, volume up high, and focusing on the day ahead. The song that prepared me for a new days fray was
Anarchy In The UK - The Sex Pistols
I'm quite partial to a bit of Eminem when I'm riled but there is one record that means more to me when angry than any of his.
Back in 1983 I locked horns with my branch manager when I worked for an insurance company in Birmingham. It didn't end well for me, not because I was in the wrong, but in those days the company involved felt it was necesary to back a manager regardless of the circumstances. For a month I was forced to go in and work in a seperate room so I had no contact with the other staff.
To start each day, I would get ready for work, and before leaving it would be on with the headphones, volume up high, and focusing on the day ahead. The song that prepared me for a new days fray was
Anarchy In The UK - The Sex Pistols
Thursday, June 16, 2016
June Blogathon - Day 16
A Song From A Favourite Album.
I have many "favourite" albums. Handfuls. Even more than that. So what to choose?
I've dipped into my Desert Island Discs selection. I've always had an idea that should I ever be asked to take part, (cue hysterical laughter), I would want a selection of different music representing my tastes. One of the chosen artists would be Barbra Streisand. What a wonderful singer. I would have loved to see her live but the last chance I had she was charging £360 for the cheapest ticket which was a little steep for the likes of me.
I have gone for the title track off her album Superman which I spent many a happy hour playing until one day, being the lazy sod that I am, I took it off the gramaphone and left it on top of the night storage heater. By the next morning it was somewhat circular but undulatiing. It did play, but the pitch of each note was matching the undulations of the record itself, which was interesting in it's own right as to why that might be, but ultimately bloody annoying from a listening point of view.
And I know it isn't cool to fancy Barbra but my 20 year old hormones definitely perked up with that cover shot.
Streisand - Superman
I have many "favourite" albums. Handfuls. Even more than that. So what to choose?
I've dipped into my Desert Island Discs selection. I've always had an idea that should I ever be asked to take part, (cue hysterical laughter), I would want a selection of different music representing my tastes. One of the chosen artists would be Barbra Streisand. What a wonderful singer. I would have loved to see her live but the last chance I had she was charging £360 for the cheapest ticket which was a little steep for the likes of me.
I have gone for the title track off her album Superman which I spent many a happy hour playing until one day, being the lazy sod that I am, I took it off the gramaphone and left it on top of the night storage heater. By the next morning it was somewhat circular but undulatiing. It did play, but the pitch of each note was matching the undulations of the record itself, which was interesting in it's own right as to why that might be, but ultimately bloody annoying from a listening point of view.
And I know it isn't cool to fancy Barbra but my 20 year old hormones definitely perked up with that cover shot.
Streisand - Superman
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
June Music Blogathon - Day 15
A Song That I Wish I Heard More Often On The Radio
I managed to go see Procul Harum in the 1970s a number of years after Whiter Shade of Pale hit the charts. I'm not sure whether it was a group collective decision or not but Gary Brooker refused to play and sing their biggest hit when playing live. They did however play their two other big songs, Homburg and Salty Dog. I had both those singles. The copy of Homburg I had, got scratched and the line, "leaving ony ash filled ashtrays" then continued shtrays, shtrays, shtrays etc. Hearing it live seemed very weird when they just continued straight on. Salty Dog however remained pristine and is probably somewhere is storage waiting for me to reclaim it.
I think it is a great tune and it does occasionally get played on the radio but I think it could stand a few more hearings.
A Salty Dog - Procul Harum. There is no copy of the original single on You Tube that I can see. This is a live version from 10 years ago and is rather good with added strings, choir and Gary deciding not to be too far up his own backside. It's a also a couple of songs so you don't have to listen to the whole 11 minutes!
I managed to go see Procul Harum in the 1970s a number of years after Whiter Shade of Pale hit the charts. I'm not sure whether it was a group collective decision or not but Gary Brooker refused to play and sing their biggest hit when playing live. They did however play their two other big songs, Homburg and Salty Dog. I had both those singles. The copy of Homburg I had, got scratched and the line, "leaving ony ash filled ashtrays" then continued shtrays, shtrays, shtrays etc. Hearing it live seemed very weird when they just continued straight on. Salty Dog however remained pristine and is probably somewhere is storage waiting for me to reclaim it.
I think it is a great tune and it does occasionally get played on the radio but I think it could stand a few more hearings.
A Salty Dog - Procul Harum. There is no copy of the original single on You Tube that I can see. This is a live version from 10 years ago and is rather good with added strings, choir and Gary deciding not to be too far up his own backside. It's a also a couple of songs so you don't have to listen to the whole 11 minutes!
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
June Music Blogathon - Day 14
A song that I hear too often on the radio.
I have taken the liberty of choosing one I hear too often on UK radio and another that I hear too often on French radio.
My choice for UK radio is two fold. Once because I really don't like the song, maybe this should have been the one for hate, as I really don't like it a great deal. I find the sentiments too twee and also having a particularly boring tune. But more than that it represents a group of songs that I detest. These include, Hi Ho Silver Lining, The Time Warp, Brown Sugar and others that I can't think of at this precise moment. What connect all these songs are that 50 year olds who have had too much to drink think they should get on the dance floor and strut around making fools of themselves. In the case of Imagine they feel it is neccesary to sing along and stare into the distance whilst holding up a lighter, or they would but they gave up smoking a few years back, so instead they hold up their pints.
So my UK choice is Imagine - John Lennon.
My French choice is a record harking back to the singers of the sixties who have now passed on or groups that have broken up. It's by Jane Birkin of Je t'aime (mais non plus) fame. It's still breathy but certainly not sexy. I don't particularly like the song but it is the chorus I can't stand. And for one good reason. She lists a number of 60s artists who died, (although Buddy Holiday died in 1959 but his music was still played obviously during the 60s). and then includes T Rex. No, you stupid bint, T Rex is a group, you mean Marc Bolan. And what's worse, T Rex didn't become that until the seventies. Get your facts right. Tyrannosaurus Rex recorded 3 singles in the 60's before they became T Rex and released their first single 1970. And you still mean Marc Bolan!!!! Aaaaarrrrgggghhhhh!!!!!!
I need to lie down in a darkened room!
Ex-Fan Des Sixties - Jane Birkin
I have taken the liberty of choosing one I hear too often on UK radio and another that I hear too often on French radio.
My choice for UK radio is two fold. Once because I really don't like the song, maybe this should have been the one for hate, as I really don't like it a great deal. I find the sentiments too twee and also having a particularly boring tune. But more than that it represents a group of songs that I detest. These include, Hi Ho Silver Lining, The Time Warp, Brown Sugar and others that I can't think of at this precise moment. What connect all these songs are that 50 year olds who have had too much to drink think they should get on the dance floor and strut around making fools of themselves. In the case of Imagine they feel it is neccesary to sing along and stare into the distance whilst holding up a lighter, or they would but they gave up smoking a few years back, so instead they hold up their pints.
So my UK choice is Imagine - John Lennon.
My French choice is a record harking back to the singers of the sixties who have now passed on or groups that have broken up. It's by Jane Birkin of Je t'aime (mais non plus) fame. It's still breathy but certainly not sexy. I don't particularly like the song but it is the chorus I can't stand. And for one good reason. She lists a number of 60s artists who died, (although Buddy Holiday died in 1959 but his music was still played obviously during the 60s). and then includes T Rex. No, you stupid bint, T Rex is a group, you mean Marc Bolan. And what's worse, T Rex didn't become that until the seventies. Get your facts right. Tyrannosaurus Rex recorded 3 singles in the 60's before they became T Rex and released their first single 1970. And you still mean Marc Bolan!!!! Aaaaarrrrgggghhhhh!!!!!!
I need to lie down in a darkened room!
Ex-Fan Des Sixties - Jane Birkin
Monday, June 13, 2016
June Music Blogathon - Day 13
A song that I used to love but now hate.
Like others, I think hate might be too strong a word but in my case it is a record that meant one thing and now represents another.
Come December, I would never start to think Christmas was imminent until I heard the first playing of Merry Xmas Everybody. That would usually be after my birthday on the 13th. But over the years in an effort to try and jolly things along and create as much xmas hysteria as early as possible I started to hear it earlier and earlier. By the time we came to France you would get the first hearing by early November if not before. Bloody ridiculous! And so now I don't want to hear it at all because it represents ever more commercialism of Christmas as the first place you will hear it will be a supermarket.
Bah Humbug!
Merry Xmas Everybody
Like others, I think hate might be too strong a word but in my case it is a record that meant one thing and now represents another.
Come December, I would never start to think Christmas was imminent until I heard the first playing of Merry Xmas Everybody. That would usually be after my birthday on the 13th. But over the years in an effort to try and jolly things along and create as much xmas hysteria as early as possible I started to hear it earlier and earlier. By the time we came to France you would get the first hearing by early November if not before. Bloody ridiculous! And so now I don't want to hear it at all because it represents ever more commercialism of Christmas as the first place you will hear it will be a supermarket.
Bah Humbug!
Merry Xmas Everybody
June Music Blogathon - Day 13
So this time I'm on the wrong list, but fear not, as well as this one that I had planned, I shall shortly also post the one that everyone else is posting today.
A Song That Fits My Personality
Well, this is a difficult category. There was a quote I saw the other day - Personality is what you are like when no-one else is looking. Maybe that is your true personality but I think I spend more time with my public persona. Those who read my blog, particularly way back, probably know more of the true me than many of my "real" friends. I know that's the same for many bloggers. There is a sense of security online that you don't have in realworld. That of course can be taken to extremes when Facebook is used to chronicle every little thing because you forget it is in the public domain. However I am getting off topic.
When things are going wrong and you are having a tough time you can't always show it. And for much of my adult life I have worked in sales and you learn, as you do with acting, and there are many parallels, that no matter what happens you switch on the smile when you start working. I have had two occasions when I have been very near to breakdown and had to reach out and ring a doorbell when you aren't sure you can do it. The song I have therefore chosen to day is from the opera I Pagliacci. He plays a man who is a clown in a show. His personal life is falling apart and he is going to pieces but there he is, with all sorts of stuff going on, but it is time to put on the make-up and smile....
The famous aria Vesti La Giubba performed by Jose Carreras
A Song That Fits My Personality
Well, this is a difficult category. There was a quote I saw the other day - Personality is what you are like when no-one else is looking. Maybe that is your true personality but I think I spend more time with my public persona. Those who read my blog, particularly way back, probably know more of the true me than many of my "real" friends. I know that's the same for many bloggers. There is a sense of security online that you don't have in realworld. That of course can be taken to extremes when Facebook is used to chronicle every little thing because you forget it is in the public domain. However I am getting off topic.
When things are going wrong and you are having a tough time you can't always show it. And for much of my adult life I have worked in sales and you learn, as you do with acting, and there are many parallels, that no matter what happens you switch on the smile when you start working. I have had two occasions when I have been very near to breakdown and had to reach out and ring a doorbell when you aren't sure you can do it. The song I have therefore chosen to day is from the opera I Pagliacci. He plays a man who is a clown in a show. His personal life is falling apart and he is going to pieces but there he is, with all sorts of stuff going on, but it is time to put on the make-up and smile....
The famous aria Vesti La Giubba performed by Jose Carreras
Sunday, June 12, 2016
June Music Blogathon - Day 12
A Song That No-one Would Expect Me To Love
Most of my friends know I have such an eclectic taste in music that there probably isn't anything that would suprise them so I am picking a track from two different genres that aren't normally associated with me.
Although my faith in their being a deity is a little on the low side, I did grow up in the church choir and became a server. I sometimes go to church and when I di, it is a well known fact that I like traditional hymns and none of this happy clappy rubbish which is meant to appeal to young people. Obviously, not that I am. It's just that I'd rather listen to thrash metal. There have been a couple of "christian" singles in the charts over the years that I've liked, none of which were by Sir Cliff, although I didn't mind his verion of Little Town of Bethlehem. One I can think of is What if God was one of us by Joan Osborne, linked just in case you don't recognise it.
I also like a bit of country music, mainly some of the old stuff but not averse to new as well. But then you knoe that, I just picked Dolly & Kenny yesterday.
So today I am combining the two subjects and coming up with a country hymn based on a gospel song. I discovered it on a country music compilation of lesser known works and singers and I'll normally play it and skip back for another listen and a sing along. It's catchy, foot tapping and sing-a-long happiness.
Why, I almost want to mosey on down to the good Lord's house and have me my fill of his goodness!
Standing on the Promises by Jeanne Pruett
Most of my friends know I have such an eclectic taste in music that there probably isn't anything that would suprise them so I am picking a track from two different genres that aren't normally associated with me.
Although my faith in their being a deity is a little on the low side, I did grow up in the church choir and became a server. I sometimes go to church and when I di, it is a well known fact that I like traditional hymns and none of this happy clappy rubbish which is meant to appeal to young people. Obviously, not that I am. It's just that I'd rather listen to thrash metal. There have been a couple of "christian" singles in the charts over the years that I've liked, none of which were by Sir Cliff, although I didn't mind his verion of Little Town of Bethlehem. One I can think of is What if God was one of us by Joan Osborne, linked just in case you don't recognise it.
I also like a bit of country music, mainly some of the old stuff but not averse to new as well. But then you knoe that, I just picked Dolly & Kenny yesterday.
So today I am combining the two subjects and coming up with a country hymn based on a gospel song. I discovered it on a country music compilation of lesser known works and singers and I'll normally play it and skip back for another listen and a sing along. It's catchy, foot tapping and sing-a-long happiness.
Why, I almost want to mosey on down to the good Lord's house and have me my fill of his goodness!
Standing on the Promises by Jeanne Pruett
Saturday, June 11, 2016
June Music Blogathon - Day 11
A Song That Is a Guilty Pleasure
I have a few I could put in for this category which is a bit worrying. The one I have gone for I always enjoy singing along to and is also the Magnificent M and my choice for a Karaoke duet. To admit that I sing along to this record or perform it in public brings looks of increduity, disdain or elicits a bout of laughter implying how anyone liking this could possibly show their face in public. Just for once I have little more to say other then grab a hairbrush and sing along to
Islands In The Stream - Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton
And just for the record I sing the Kenny Rogers Part!
Well, most times I do....
I have a few I could put in for this category which is a bit worrying. The one I have gone for I always enjoy singing along to and is also the Magnificent M and my choice for a Karaoke duet. To admit that I sing along to this record or perform it in public brings looks of increduity, disdain or elicits a bout of laughter implying how anyone liking this could possibly show their face in public. Just for once I have little more to say other then grab a hairbrush and sing along to
Islands In The Stream - Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton
And just for the record I sing the Kenny Rogers Part!
Well, most times I do....
Friday, June 10, 2016
June Music Blogathon - Day 10
A Song From A Band That I Hate
To be fair I'm not sure there are any bands that I hate, although I'll probably think of some after today. But there is one band that I think are incredibly over-rated and I can't stand all the adulation they get.
It's those lovable mop-tops, the Fab Four, in other words, The Beatles.
It doesn't help that I can't stand the Liverpool accent.
The way people go on about them you would think they had invented music. People go on about how they were the first group to do this, that, the other. But just because they might have been the first to do something doesn't mean they were any good.
And what about all the teenagers and twenty-somethings who think the Beatle were the greatest band ever. Why. I've never heard anybody who didn't live through the 60s actually give a reasoned argument, even if I don't agree. My suspicion is that all these youngsters like them due to an outbreak of Emperors New Clothes.
I don't think they were particularly talented. I don't think Paul McCartney really appealed until he started Wings. Ringo is a bit of a non-entity. George did some really interesting stuff post-Beatles and for God's sake don't get me started on John Lennon. He will be appearing in another category later on, and it isn't the "my all time favourite song" one.
When I do music quizzes if there is going to be one big gaping hole, it will be any questions to do with them.
If I got near to enjoying anything they did, it would be Sgt Pepper.
So do I go with one of the songs I hate, or one that I can at least listen to.
I've decided on the latter. So here is what I think is probably their best song from my perspective.
A Day In The Life
I could have gone with She's Leaving Home which I rate about the same level.
If I had to choose second in line it would have been their tribute act, Oasis.
To be fair I'm not sure there are any bands that I hate, although I'll probably think of some after today. But there is one band that I think are incredibly over-rated and I can't stand all the adulation they get.
It's those lovable mop-tops, the Fab Four, in other words, The Beatles.
It doesn't help that I can't stand the Liverpool accent.
The way people go on about them you would think they had invented music. People go on about how they were the first group to do this, that, the other. But just because they might have been the first to do something doesn't mean they were any good.
And what about all the teenagers and twenty-somethings who think the Beatle were the greatest band ever. Why. I've never heard anybody who didn't live through the 60s actually give a reasoned argument, even if I don't agree. My suspicion is that all these youngsters like them due to an outbreak of Emperors New Clothes.
I don't think they were particularly talented. I don't think Paul McCartney really appealed until he started Wings. Ringo is a bit of a non-entity. George did some really interesting stuff post-Beatles and for God's sake don't get me started on John Lennon. He will be appearing in another category later on, and it isn't the "my all time favourite song" one.
When I do music quizzes if there is going to be one big gaping hole, it will be any questions to do with them.
If I got near to enjoying anything they did, it would be Sgt Pepper.
So do I go with one of the songs I hate, or one that I can at least listen to.
I've decided on the latter. So here is what I think is probably their best song from my perspective.
A Day In The Life
I could have gone with She's Leaving Home which I rate about the same level.
If I had to choose second in line it would have been their tribute act, Oasis.
Thursday, June 09, 2016
June Music Blogathon - Day 9
A Song From My Favourite Band.
How do you decide who your favourite band are? It changes virtually from minute to minute and depending on mood. Then, will the next album be better or worse than the average? That's the sort of thing that would have kept me awake all last night if I hadn't been silently singing the song that I gave as an answer some hours ago.
So, I narrowed down the band by thinking of records that have been played often, despite their age. Have I bothered to see them live? Yes, in this case, and possibly the best gig I have ever been to as a spectacle. And then I chose a track that I never tire of listening to.
I have liked the Electric Light Orchestra from the beginning. I remember 10538 Overture being released and the mix of "rock" music and string arrangements, particularly the heavy use of cello, and I was hooked. Jeff Lynne's vocals are always good as are his lyrics. I suppose they are middle of the road in many ways but I don't care. And then, 40 years ago next year, (where the hell did all those years go!), they released the LP, "Out of the Blue". Kenny Everett had a copy on release day and played it through twice, back to back, on his radio programme on Capital. Not something that could happen these days in the era of playlists. And for me, the standout track. Wild West Hero. I saw them live at Wembley in 1978, the picture below from one of the eight nights they sold Wembley Arena out for, the first group ever to do that. And Jeff Lynne is a vastly underrated musician and producer, or at least with the public. Within the trade he is highly thought of.
Three years ago I wrote and directed a revue show for the musical theatre company I was with. It had a wild west theme. One of our group had arranged Mr Blue Sky, from the same album, for a previous concert, as a four part chorus number, so I got her to do the same for Wild West Hero. It was the last song played in the first half and I had one of our young male leads to start and end the song. At the start of the second half we had a silent film I wrote and directed in which he starred as a wild west hero. I doubt I'll get the chance to do something like that again.
Wild West Hero
As we appear to have diverged a bit as there were two differing lists of subjects to follow perhaps I should have chosen this track instead.
How do you decide who your favourite band are? It changes virtually from minute to minute and depending on mood. Then, will the next album be better or worse than the average? That's the sort of thing that would have kept me awake all last night if I hadn't been silently singing the song that I gave as an answer some hours ago.
So, I narrowed down the band by thinking of records that have been played often, despite their age. Have I bothered to see them live? Yes, in this case, and possibly the best gig I have ever been to as a spectacle. And then I chose a track that I never tire of listening to.
I have liked the Electric Light Orchestra from the beginning. I remember 10538 Overture being released and the mix of "rock" music and string arrangements, particularly the heavy use of cello, and I was hooked. Jeff Lynne's vocals are always good as are his lyrics. I suppose they are middle of the road in many ways but I don't care. And then, 40 years ago next year, (where the hell did all those years go!), they released the LP, "Out of the Blue". Kenny Everett had a copy on release day and played it through twice, back to back, on his radio programme on Capital. Not something that could happen these days in the era of playlists. And for me, the standout track. Wild West Hero. I saw them live at Wembley in 1978, the picture below from one of the eight nights they sold Wembley Arena out for, the first group ever to do that. And Jeff Lynne is a vastly underrated musician and producer, or at least with the public. Within the trade he is highly thought of.
Three years ago I wrote and directed a revue show for the musical theatre company I was with. It had a wild west theme. One of our group had arranged Mr Blue Sky, from the same album, for a previous concert, as a four part chorus number, so I got her to do the same for Wild West Hero. It was the last song played in the first half and I had one of our young male leads to start and end the song. At the start of the second half we had a silent film I wrote and directed in which he starred as a wild west hero. I doubt I'll get the chance to do something like that again.
Wild West Hero
As we appear to have diverged a bit as there were two differing lists of subjects to follow perhaps I should have chosen this track instead.
Humph!
Having got my music post all ready for today, it turns out the list compiled a couple of months back is in a different order to the one listed just before the start. You will have to wait until this evening for todays offering. Is there a song to fit the personality of someone disgruntled?
Wednesday, June 08, 2016
June Music Blogathon - Day 8
A Song That Makes Me Fall Asleep.
The glib answer would be - pretty much anything by Yes. I tried to get into Prog Rock, and my brother would have Yes playing regularly but I never gelled with it.
The song I have decided to go with might make me go to sleep but I think it is really meant to liven things up in the bedroom department and it would certainly be top, or near the top, of my slow dance choices. I think it might be my age! I find it's like wrapping myself up in a big duvet and stretching out like a well-fed cat. Certainly, if I am having trouble going to sleep, I just run this in my head and I drift off on a fluffy cloud of contentment.
Sometimes I really worry about myself!
Todays Choice?
Move Closer - Phyllis Nelson
The glib answer would be - pretty much anything by Yes. I tried to get into Prog Rock, and my brother would have Yes playing regularly but I never gelled with it.
The song I have decided to go with might make me go to sleep but I think it is really meant to liven things up in the bedroom department and it would certainly be top, or near the top, of my slow dance choices. I think it might be my age! I find it's like wrapping myself up in a big duvet and stretching out like a well-fed cat. Certainly, if I am having trouble going to sleep, I just run this in my head and I drift off on a fluffy cloud of contentment.
Sometimes I really worry about myself!
Todays Choice?
Move Closer - Phyllis Nelson
Tuesday, June 07, 2016
June Music Blogathon - Day 7
A Song That I Can Dance To
Once upon a time, in my prime, I would have been able to link to Memphis Soul Stew by King Curtis. My mates and I had a particularly energetic routine based on the moves you see whenever you watch Northern Soul clips. Alas, my ageing knees preclude me from reliving those heady days, the only consolation being that none of those friends can manage it these days either.
My choice therefore has to be something a little more sedate. And it's a song from 23 years ago. Blimey, doesn't time fly! It's by Sannie Charlotte Carlson, although that isn't her stage name. She provided one of those cheesy europop songs that had a group dance to it. And dance I did. And still do when I get the chance.
Saturday Night by Whigfield
Once upon a time, in my prime, I would have been able to link to Memphis Soul Stew by King Curtis. My mates and I had a particularly energetic routine based on the moves you see whenever you watch Northern Soul clips. Alas, my ageing knees preclude me from reliving those heady days, the only consolation being that none of those friends can manage it these days either.
My choice therefore has to be something a little more sedate. And it's a song from 23 years ago. Blimey, doesn't time fly! It's by Sannie Charlotte Carlson, although that isn't her stage name. She provided one of those cheesy europop songs that had a group dance to it. And dance I did. And still do when I get the chance.
Saturday Night by Whigfield
Monday, June 06, 2016
June Music Blogathon - Day 6
A Song That I Know All The Words To
If I have to stand up and perform a chart song, I think the only one I would stand a chance of doing would be Bohemian Rhapsody. Where I do have a bank of songs where I know the words are in shows I have taken part in. One of my favourite is from Gilbert & Sullivan's Patience, their satire on the Aesthetic Movement. Although I didn't sing this song I did learn it as I particularly liked it. I played Major Murgatroyd whom, along with two of his other officer friends, decide to become aesthetes as all the women had gone off military men and taken to swooning over poets and artists. It is dressed in his aesthetic garb that I occasionally appear online on various sites.
However, todays song is sung by Bunthorne, the lead character. Sit back and enjoy the word play of
If You're Anxious For To Shine.
If I have to stand up and perform a chart song, I think the only one I would stand a chance of doing would be Bohemian Rhapsody. Where I do have a bank of songs where I know the words are in shows I have taken part in. One of my favourite is from Gilbert & Sullivan's Patience, their satire on the Aesthetic Movement. Although I didn't sing this song I did learn it as I particularly liked it. I played Major Murgatroyd whom, along with two of his other officer friends, decide to become aesthetes as all the women had gone off military men and taken to swooning over poets and artists. It is dressed in his aesthetic garb that I occasionally appear online on various sites.
However, todays song is sung by Bunthorne, the lead character. Sit back and enjoy the word play of
If You're Anxious For To Shine.
Sunday, June 05, 2016
June Music Blogathon - Day 5
A Song That Reminds Me Of An Event.
The year is 1977. And it's the August Bank Holiday weekend. Me and my girlfriend, Gail, have decided to go away for the weekend to spend our first night together. Not only is it our first night together but another first, to use a phrase which shouldn't frighten the women or horses, a night in which I arrived as a boy and left as a man. It is the only time in my life I have visited Herne Bay. I managed to find a hotel to stay in although it was actually a pub that had rooms to let and it wasn't the world's highest quality resting place, but it's a special place to me.
I married that there Gail in 1979, but for a number of reasons we ended up apart some 3 years later in 1982.
The year is now 1990 and I drive for a living, some 2000 miles a week, so go through vast numbers of cd's borrowed from the librry as I travel around the country. I listened to all sorts of stuff including artists I woud never has chosen if I hadn't had so much listening time on my hands. Amongst the thousands of tracks I ploughed through was this one, by someone I would never expected to listen to, singing about a hotel with the same name as that in Herne Bay and with a sentiment I could relate to.
Todays offering is -
The Railway Hotel by Mike Batt
Mike Batt
The year is 1977. And it's the August Bank Holiday weekend. Me and my girlfriend, Gail, have decided to go away for the weekend to spend our first night together. Not only is it our first night together but another first, to use a phrase which shouldn't frighten the women or horses, a night in which I arrived as a boy and left as a man. It is the only time in my life I have visited Herne Bay. I managed to find a hotel to stay in although it was actually a pub that had rooms to let and it wasn't the world's highest quality resting place, but it's a special place to me.
I married that there Gail in 1979, but for a number of reasons we ended up apart some 3 years later in 1982.
The year is now 1990 and I drive for a living, some 2000 miles a week, so go through vast numbers of cd's borrowed from the librry as I travel around the country. I listened to all sorts of stuff including artists I woud never has chosen if I hadn't had so much listening time on my hands. Amongst the thousands of tracks I ploughed through was this one, by someone I would never expected to listen to, singing about a hotel with the same name as that in Herne Bay and with a sentiment I could relate to.
Todays offering is -
The Railway Hotel by Mike Batt
Mike BattSaturday, June 04, 2016
June Music Blogathon - Day 4
A song that reminds me of somewhere.
Really I should be choosing a song to celebrate it being one year today since we arrived here in Loupia. But as of yet there is no song associated with our new home.
So it's another easy choice, and there isn't a cryptic link between the song and where it reminds me of as the title is the place name.
My Dad got remarried in 1985(?) out in Texas and we went out for the wedding. That's the only time I have ever been to the US. We were based in Houston. We had a hire car and one day we went for a drive down the coast and visited the subject of the song. Everytime I hear it now I remember that journey and the town itself.
Today's Choice is
Galveston - Glenn Campbell
Really I should be choosing a song to celebrate it being one year today since we arrived here in Loupia. But as of yet there is no song associated with our new home.
So it's another easy choice, and there isn't a cryptic link between the song and where it reminds me of as the title is the place name.
My Dad got remarried in 1985(?) out in Texas and we went out for the wedding. That's the only time I have ever been to the US. We were based in Houston. We had a hire car and one day we went for a drive down the coast and visited the subject of the song. Everytime I hear it now I remember that journey and the town itself.
Today's Choice is
Galveston - Glenn Campbell
Friday, June 03, 2016
June Music Blogathon - Day 3
A Song That Reminds Me Of Someone
Well I guess I could have gone with either of yesterdays tunes but I haven't.
Like many people I link certain records to certain girlfriends :
Me & Mrs Jones - Lesley Naylor
Close to You - Carole Lacey
If You Don't Know Me By Now - Cathy Bartellot
Eight Days a Week - Some girl up in Burnt Oak I can't remember the name of.
And others besides...
But in the end I have gone for a record which reminds me of my brother. There were many I could have gone for as he introduced me to Bowie, outside of the singles, and also Led Zeppelin although that never really gelled with me. But this song isn't so much something that reminds me of him for his influence, but a song that reminds me that, although I was desperate for a sister, in the end having a brother was pretty special.
From his first eponymous album I present for you......
The Greatest Discovery
Well I guess I could have gone with either of yesterdays tunes but I haven't.
Like many people I link certain records to certain girlfriends :
Me & Mrs Jones - Lesley Naylor
Close to You - Carole Lacey
If You Don't Know Me By Now - Cathy Bartellot
Eight Days a Week - Some girl up in Burnt Oak I can't remember the name of.
And others besides...
But in the end I have gone for a record which reminds me of my brother. There were many I could have gone for as he introduced me to Bowie, outside of the singles, and also Led Zeppelin although that never really gelled with me. But this song isn't so much something that reminds me of him for his influence, but a song that reminds me that, although I was desperate for a sister, in the end having a brother was pretty special.
From his first eponymous album I present for you......
The Greatest Discovery
Thursday, June 02, 2016
Junee Music Blogathon Day 2
A Song That Makes Me Sad.
Well this was so much easier that a song that makes me happy. Not sure if a psychologist would have a field day with that.
I had a runner up song. "I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen", the famous version being by Cavan O'Connor I think. Kathleen was my maternal Grandmother's name and was the most important figure for me when growing up. She died when I was 15 and I seemed to lose some of my drive, particularly at school, when she had gone. It's a saddish song but made more so for the personal circumstances.
However, as I say, the choice was not going to be difficult.
Les Miserables is my favourite musical. And no, it isn't a connection between sad and miserable! I think it's some of the best theatre music ever written. But despite being a bit of a sad story it is one of the songs in it that can reduce me to tears for my personal circumstances.
On My Own is sung in the show by a girl who has been childhood friends with a local boy and she has held out the hope that they would be together and more than the friends they have been. He, however, falls in love with someone else and she sings of her unrequieted love for him. When I broke up with Linda it was this song that seemed to fit her circumstances and what she wanted deep down. The circumstances being different but the sentiment the same. It came up the first time for me on the day she was admitted to the local mental hospital. Having been her main carer for so many years she entered the doors and for the first time in 30 years we were seperate. That evening I was taking part in a concert which included a medley of Les Mis songs, this being one of them, athough as a chorus member rather than a soloist. Luckily I think my brain cut out a bit and the concert went fine but I would find it difficult to sing this now.
It's been rather hard checking the versions to link to as I find it so hard to listen to.
And in fact I'm linking to it twice.
Lea Salonga took the original role of Epernine. Of the two, she has the more accomplished voice. If you want the vocals then this is the verion for you.
Samantha Barks played Epernine in the film that was released a few years back. (I enjoyed the film as well). Because you see the context and scenery it perhaps detracts from her singing performance but enhances her acting and seems to have more emotion.
I hope you enjoy watching one or both, but I won't be joining you. It's made me sad enough for the time being. And maybe the said psychologist could have a field day analysing the link of music with guilt.
Well this was so much easier that a song that makes me happy. Not sure if a psychologist would have a field day with that.
I had a runner up song. "I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen", the famous version being by Cavan O'Connor I think. Kathleen was my maternal Grandmother's name and was the most important figure for me when growing up. She died when I was 15 and I seemed to lose some of my drive, particularly at school, when she had gone. It's a saddish song but made more so for the personal circumstances.
However, as I say, the choice was not going to be difficult.
Les Miserables is my favourite musical. And no, it isn't a connection between sad and miserable! I think it's some of the best theatre music ever written. But despite being a bit of a sad story it is one of the songs in it that can reduce me to tears for my personal circumstances.
On My Own is sung in the show by a girl who has been childhood friends with a local boy and she has held out the hope that they would be together and more than the friends they have been. He, however, falls in love with someone else and she sings of her unrequieted love for him. When I broke up with Linda it was this song that seemed to fit her circumstances and what she wanted deep down. The circumstances being different but the sentiment the same. It came up the first time for me on the day she was admitted to the local mental hospital. Having been her main carer for so many years she entered the doors and for the first time in 30 years we were seperate. That evening I was taking part in a concert which included a medley of Les Mis songs, this being one of them, athough as a chorus member rather than a soloist. Luckily I think my brain cut out a bit and the concert went fine but I would find it difficult to sing this now.
It's been rather hard checking the versions to link to as I find it so hard to listen to.
And in fact I'm linking to it twice.
Lea Salonga took the original role of Epernine. Of the two, she has the more accomplished voice. If you want the vocals then this is the verion for you.
Samantha Barks played Epernine in the film that was released a few years back. (I enjoyed the film as well). Because you see the context and scenery it perhaps detracts from her singing performance but enhances her acting and seems to have more emotion.
I hope you enjoy watching one or both, but I won't be joining you. It's made me sad enough for the time being. And maybe the said psychologist could have a field day analysing the link of music with guilt.
Wednesday, June 01, 2016
June Music Blogathon - Day 1
A Song That Makes Me Happy.
Well, this is a difficult start as first of all you have to have a philosophical discussion about what happiness is.....
It was a difficult choice though. There are plenty of songs I like to listen to, but do they make me happy?
There are songs that bring back a time and occasion when you were happy but are they making you happy now or just nostalgic?
I think I have got a song in mind that means a lot of things to me on different levels.
I grew up with Glam Rock, enjoyed my time as a New Romantic in the early 80s, but I have never been jealous of other musical genres to the point that I wished I could be young again to experience it as it should be. Or that was the case until Dance music hit the scene. I like Dance music, understand exactly how the 120 and 140bpm music resonates with the body, and it strikes me as happy music. I suppose that's why there was a sub genre of Happy House. If I was ever going to take drugs it would have been ecstacy, to increase the heart rate to match 120/140bpm. For the first time, I "got" drugs.
But for a short period I was able to be part of that world. When I went to Blackpool for the weekend with my mates, when Dance was at it's peak, I could go clubbing and immerse my self in it. There was one club I would always go to. Heaven and Hell. Heaven played the more commercial chart type dance music whilst Hell was into Trance and Techno. I spent many a happy hour in Hell just being immersed in the beat. Old enough to be wise to the fact I shouldn't actually dance I would just stand there and enjoy being part of the experience.
The song I am choosing reminds me of that time, it could have been played in either part of the club but my favourite memory of it was in Hell, with smoke machines and strobe lighting.
If I hear it now it does make me feel happy and I'm not averse to bouncing along to it as I drive and trying hard not to "throw some shapes" as the younger generation probably never say anymore.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you - Castles In The Sky : Ian Van Dahl
PS - Apologies. I don't have the technical knowhow of how to embed the video and as they will all come off Youtube probably you might have to suffer an advert first. I just hope you don't prefer the adverts to my musical choices!
Well, this is a difficult start as first of all you have to have a philosophical discussion about what happiness is.....
It was a difficult choice though. There are plenty of songs I like to listen to, but do they make me happy?
There are songs that bring back a time and occasion when you were happy but are they making you happy now or just nostalgic?
I think I have got a song in mind that means a lot of things to me on different levels.
I grew up with Glam Rock, enjoyed my time as a New Romantic in the early 80s, but I have never been jealous of other musical genres to the point that I wished I could be young again to experience it as it should be. Or that was the case until Dance music hit the scene. I like Dance music, understand exactly how the 120 and 140bpm music resonates with the body, and it strikes me as happy music. I suppose that's why there was a sub genre of Happy House. If I was ever going to take drugs it would have been ecstacy, to increase the heart rate to match 120/140bpm. For the first time, I "got" drugs.
But for a short period I was able to be part of that world. When I went to Blackpool for the weekend with my mates, when Dance was at it's peak, I could go clubbing and immerse my self in it. There was one club I would always go to. Heaven and Hell. Heaven played the more commercial chart type dance music whilst Hell was into Trance and Techno. I spent many a happy hour in Hell just being immersed in the beat. Old enough to be wise to the fact I shouldn't actually dance I would just stand there and enjoy being part of the experience.
The song I am choosing reminds me of that time, it could have been played in either part of the club but my favourite memory of it was in Hell, with smoke machines and strobe lighting.
If I hear it now it does make me feel happy and I'm not averse to bouncing along to it as I drive and trying hard not to "throw some shapes" as the younger generation probably never say anymore.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you - Castles In The Sky : Ian Van Dahl
PS - Apologies. I don't have the technical knowhow of how to embed the video and as they will all come off Youtube probably you might have to suffer an advert first. I just hope you don't prefer the adverts to my musical choices!
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
June Music Blogathon - Intro
Introduction & why I’ve done this challenge in this way.
So, courtesy of Brennig it's time for the second month long blogging challenge of the year. (Note to self - Think of one for October and there will be three nicely spaced out over the year).
I'm sure others will have incredibly clever ideas on how to do this challenge but for me I'm sticking to the tried and tested, explaining my choice and then linking to the music itself.
One thing that has become apparent in choosing the music is that I could have probably chosen 20 pieces for each one and all of them would mean something special.
Hopefully you will find something new to you and hopefully something you like amongst the more better known choices. Who knows, you might even end up with an earworm or two.
So, courtesy of Brennig it's time for the second month long blogging challenge of the year. (Note to self - Think of one for October and there will be three nicely spaced out over the year).
I'm sure others will have incredibly clever ideas on how to do this challenge but for me I'm sticking to the tried and tested, explaining my choice and then linking to the music itself.
One thing that has become apparent in choosing the music is that I could have probably chosen 20 pieces for each one and all of them would mean something special.
Hopefully you will find something new to you and hopefully something you like amongst the more better known choices. Who knows, you might even end up with an earworm or two.
A Change is Gonna Come
Prepare yourselves! Tomorrow heralds the month long music blog. From few posts to myriad. It's like Feb all over again but different.
Thursday, May 19, 2016
Wrong Again.
Following up the last paragraph of my last post, I was wrong. I haven't and I didn't.
The wedding was great though.
The wedding was great though.
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