Thursday, 30 December 2010

The Dig Tree

Hi all......

So it's nearly 2011 & I've spent most of the last week listening to Tom Petty's 'Live Anthology' 4 cd set - not every day, but it hasn't been out of the cd player much this past week !!  Well good it is as well - give it a listen, you won't be disappointed folks !!  I'm just playing disc 4.... 'Have Love Will Travel' - give it a listen !!

Ok, so Christmas has come & gone.... a "merry" one it was as well.   The guys seemed happy with their pressies, no 'big' ones this year, just a bunch of silly little ones..... well, car seat covers for ME & an iPod thingy for J amongst other things.  Me, I got the usual - socks etc etc.  Not to worry, just happy to see my family having a good day !!

So today is Thursday (I think).... B has just gone into town, ME has just come home from town, J is upstairs & me - well, I've got the fire lit, the music turned down to deafening.... kind of hog heaven really !! There isn't much in the plan for this week... just a quiet one.  Might pop into town tomorrow, I need to get some ink for the printer, before ME goes back to Uni (in case she has to do a assignment).... + we're going to need some food I guess !!

We've been invited to a 'New Year's Party' tomorrow night, but won't be going - even if my health was better, I would still prefer to spend it quietly with B & the guys home here... tho' I expect ME will be out someplace !!

Last year, I made the decision to read The Book Of Mormon all the ways thru' - this year... well, I'm not sure what 'task' to set myself !?!  I'm set on playing a shed load of old tapes - to check them out... I know sort of what is on them, but..... there are about 150-200 of them... so I want to check them out !!  I've got nearly all of my tapes listed (by number) - so at the moment I've got about 30 of them lined up, in order, ready to play..... it will probably take all year to work thru' them - could be fun !!

I'm thinking about trying to list completely all the cds.  I've tried before - without luck - so I might have another go...... trouble is, I get new ones nearly every week - so it's hard to keep up with it all !!  It's a task, so I might give it another go !!

This past year I've read quite a few books - mostly centred around Australia... Ned Kelly & Burke & Wills.  B bought me a new copy of 'The Dig Tree' & I re-read that one over.  It's a very good, well written book & I would recommend it to anyone.  My only, real, sadness with the book is that the author, Sarah Murgatroyd, died the year it came out.  I would love to have been able to tell her, somehow, how much I enjoyed her work - maybe one day.... oh well.

I must away, read 'The Dig Tree' & listen to Tom Petty & Gov't Mule 'live'. Do that & I'll die a happy man !!

Bye Bye

Thursday, 23 December 2010

You can go crazy !!

Hail & greetings to you peeps out there !!

It's been a 'bad' week..... I just can't seem to shake this bug I've had now for what seems like an eternity !!  Oh well - could be worse.......

Yesterday we attended a friends funeral.  As most of the world knows, the weather here has been pretty bad - lots of snow - over the past week or so...... with that in mind, we made as much an effort as we could, in order to be there.  We wanted to make sure he had friends with him at the end of his earthly life.

As it turned out people I thought would be there, didn't show up & others - well, like us, who had a long ways to travel (given the weather) were there !!  There were some people who could of been there, but decided not to go - one of which we saw Christmas shopping !!  Oh well - life goes on - you can go crazy thinking about things......

I've spend most of this week, either in bed asleep or wishing I was in bed asleep !!  We went to Church on Sunday, but that was about it until yesterday.  After the service, we went into Taunton & tried to do some shopping for Christmas - it was chaos !!

Trying to get thru' the crowds was bad enough - but the snow on the pavements was crazy  !!  Since having my new wheelchair, I've been able to push myself around, but I would of needed snow chains to get about yesterday....... in the end B had to push me thru' the worst bits !!

The shops were worse - especially HMV..... come on guys, put some thought into your shop lay out. Wheelchairs are bigger, wider & everything else you can think of that goes with it !!  It was made worse by some guy who decided it was easier for me to go backwards 10 feet, to go around some displays, rather than him moving to one side, to let me thru' !!  B was fuming, me - well maybe one day HE'LL need a chair to get around in - then he'll know what it feels like to have jerks like him stuck in the way !!  I wouldn't mind, but he had room to move & I did ask him to excuse me, so I could get by !!

Talking of B - she & J have gone on a trip to visit her Auntie & Dad..... to drop off some Christmas pressies !  I think she is kind of hoping her Dad won't be home - things are a bit 'tense' between them at the moment over his lady friend !!  There going to be gone most of the day I guess - so with ME out working today, I'm here on my own with the 3 cats & 1 hamster !!  which means, I'll be heading back to bed in a short while !!

The music of the moment is Tom Petty's 'Live Anthology' 4 CD set - I picked it up yesterday from the library & it's well good.  I'm guessing it's about 4 hours long, so plenty to listen to - if it's any good, I'll order up a copy from somewhere after the Christmas break !!  I've got plenty of time to listen to it........

Also on the music front.... we were talking to one of the Elders at Church on Sunday.  He's from Finland & his face 'lit up' when I said I like Nightwish & Korpiklaani !!  He said he had never heard of anyone out side of Finland who liked them - well......... he has now !!

Also - music wise - I had a copy of  the 'A Knights Tale' sound track come this week.  I've been waiting a long time to find it & ME found it on Amazon..... bargain !!

Must away..... Merry Christmas !!

Bye Bye

Thursday, 16 December 2010

Jethro Tull

Greetings Worlds & Any Other Life Forms......

Well, the winter is back - it is pouring down outside, absolutely hissing it down !!  Never mind - I'm indoors, listening to Jethro Tull.... the doors are shut, the fire is lit & I'm going nowhere !!  Why not ?  Because it's cold out there folks, that's why !!

OK, as mentioned, the music of the moment is Jethro Tull.  It's a Cd transfer of the Carnegie Hall DVD that came with the 'Stand Up' set recently re-released.  For those new to these pages, I do this a lot.... transfer the s/ts of DVDs to Cd - it means I can play just the music, rather than switching the TV on & all that has to go with it !!  It may not be 100% legal, but it's for my own ears & I'm not making any money out of it, sooooo !

As for my family.... B is out for lunch with the ladies of the Church - probably wanting to know what is behind our recent absences.  ME is out at Uni placement - she only has one more day to go & then it's her Xmas break. I'm sat here & J is upstairs - his big news at the moment is he has a kind of job !!

He has managed to get a place at the college where he & ME attended right out of school.  It's a voluntary thing, a kind of work experience & he's well happy with it, as he's helping his ex-tutor with the current classes that did his course while he was there !!  Hopefully it might land him a payed job, but time will tell !!

I think it's 9 days to Christmas.... so we must do some shopping at some point.  I'm used to doing it last thing, sort of Xmas Eve !  It was the only day I used to be able to get to the shops & have money to spend at the same time..... things haven't change much.  Sure I have more time now, but there are days I don't feel like going out, so in many ways it's situation normal !!  Tho' B might pick up a Christmas tree on the way home today - the car will be quite empty, so she'll have the space !!  Ho ho ho !!!

Oh, I did buy her a DAB radio yesterday - she has wanted one for years, so while we were getting some foodstuffs last night, I shot off down another section & collected one for her !!  She already has it set up in the kitchen & it seems pretty good - could use a little bass, but........

We still have time to go out & pick things up - so it's not too late to see whats about, so to speak !!  I think it's late night shopping in Taunton tonight, so if the weather holds, we might go for that - we'll see.  For now... back to Jethro Tull.

Bye Bye

Sunday, 12 December 2010

Feelings...... Mork !!

Hello Worlds - hope you're keeping warm ?

Well - it's a Sunday & for the second week in a row, we've missed Church..... for this I expect to go to hell, well - at least in the eyes of some of our congregation !!  Least it'll be warm there + I understand, from all I've been told over the years, that heavy metal is played 24 hours a day..... sounds a bit like this place !!

No really !!  The last time we went, I stood up & gave my Testimony - I actually finished reading The Book of Mormon in front of the people I call 'friends'..... only to be moaned at for the way I did it !!  I've probably said all this before, so read a previous posting. 

So last week, even tho' I wasn't well enough to attend, I really did not feel like I wanted to go...... I'm probably an 'evil' person for thinking that - but !!  Today is our Conference in Bristol & I'm certainly not well enough for that trip - I couldn't handle a 10 mile trip, let alone a 100 mile outing !!  Oh well, we'll see what happens next week..... time will tell !

OK, at the moment it's quite a nice day..... there is a bit of mist out over the sea, but here the sun is out.  Our car is still covered in ice, so it must of been cold last night - well, I know it was cold last night.  I was up & about until 2.45 this morning & I cold feel the temperature dropping on my walk-abouts !!  Last night was not a good one for me - the sooner I get the 2 operations out the way, the happier I'll feel !!

I'm seeing my GP at some point this week, so I'll see if he can find out what is going on.  For those new to these words - I had 2 operations in August as a prelim to a 3rd, much bigger, operation...... well, that was August & since then I've heard nothing, other than I'm waiting on 'funding'.  IF anyone says that our new government are not hitting the front line NHS - well............  Never mind, I would much rather wait & let someone who needs it have my 'funding' - I'm going to die anyways (at some point) - but, it would make my life a little easier !!  Enough moaning.........

The music of the moment is The Animals 'Greatest Hits' - an old album that came out back in the late 60's.  It's quite good, tho' I'm not 100% sure many of these tunes were 'hits'.  As for the family....... J is upstairs & the ladies of the house are out shopping - well, that is to say ME is shopping, B has just been dragged along for the ride !!  I expect B would of rather gone to Church - she hates shopping with a vengeance !!

As for my extended family, my brother, who told me exactly where I could go a couple of years back, has sent us a Christmas card WITH my name on it........ par for the course.  The number of times he has told me to go to hell & he no longer has a brother etc etc only to try & get back on friendly terms a while later !!

Never mind, I consider myself a Christian & - as such - kind of forgiving.... besides, he's the one who told me where to go - I have nothing to be sorry for.  Well, not in my eyes, to my way of thinking......

As for C - my son from my first marriage.... we have sent him another Christmas card - to the last address we had for him (in Canada) - whether he gets in touch is out of my hands.  It's been about 18 months since my last contact with him, so - as with my brother - it's up to him. 

Family or not, I'm toooooooo old & ugly to worry about other people...... I have my family here, I love them dearly & that means more to me than any other relative who thinks 'ill' of me !!  Life goes on.........

The music of the moment is now an early Allman thing called 'Allmanjoys - The Early Allmans' or something like that - it came out in 1973 & this is the first time I've played it in years........ I've decided to work thru' all my old albums A-Z.  Most of them are on tape, but it's going to be fun & should give me something to listen to over the coming year - or 2 !!

I must away....

Bye Bye

Monday, 6 December 2010

Foggy !!

Well hello again Worlds !!

Greetings from the fog bound southwest of England - land of hope & glory & what have you.... today, not so much glory, but a little bit of hope the fog might lift.

It feels a little warmer outside today - hence, I guess the fog - but we lit the fire this morning, to take the chill off a bit..... 'tis nice & warm here now.

Anyhoo - not much happening today.  Deep Space 9 is on the goggle box, the Allman Brothers are on the CD player & I've got a bit of a bug.... keep taking the 'lem-sips', but can't seem to shift it, oh well !!

Bye Bye

Tuesday, 30 November 2010

It's Cold - Don't Forget Your Booties !!

Hail & Many Greetings Worlds !!!

I'm here thinking - kind of hard at my age - about the music I'm playing.  It's the Allman Brothers show from Portland (May 15th 2009) & it is really good !!  For an Allman's show, a little short, but still well worth the cash if you find a copy.

The reason I was thinking about it ? Well, I've picked up 3 shows by the band - recorded over 4 nights & each set is different !!  How many bands can do that?  More to the point - how many bands can do that & get away with it !!  Oh well.....

It's just after 6pm & I'm here laughing at ME - my daughter - her boyfriend has just come down smiling his head off... ME thought Joan of Arc was Noah's wife !!!!!!!  A Bill & Ted moment I think - I'm not 100% sure if she meant it, but..... that's my little girl !!  I must give a better copy of the Bible, I think !!

AND talking of the good book...... well, the other one - The Book Of Mormon....  We were at Church last Sunday & I was granted permission to give my Testimony.  I read the last verse of Moroni (Ch 10 V 34) & by doing so completely re-read the book !!  I started on January 1st this year & finished it in front of my friends, the Bishop & President B - he was visiting this weekend & it was him who granted me permission.  So, I've read it again..... it's a great book, give it a chance !!

OK, the music of the moment is now, Jethro Tull's 'Stand Up' re-issue.  It's a 3 disc set & I'm playing disc 2 - the live concert.  Disc 3 is the same concert, but is on DVD.... the sound is a bit better + it's longer.  Quite good to listen to, especially as I used to have the Lp from when it came out ..... it also has the Tull 'pop up'  - so they kept that in !!!

Not much else to say really.... I'm getting used to my new wheels.  B & J left me in the bank yesterday, so I was able to catch up with them afterwards..... maybe it seems a little thing, but in the past B would of had to stay with me, to push me around.  Now I can push myself & it's great - hard on the arms, but GREAT !!

Mind you - that was good - but 3am this morning I came down stairs to let a cat in & I couldn't get back to bed !!  I got up the stairs, but that was it, I was stuck !!  I waited until B's alarm went off 6.30 ish & then she was able help me.  I could of woken her up, but.... she was out cold & I didn't have the heart to wake her early !!

Oh well - must away..

Bye Bye

Friday, 26 November 2010

The Dentist Pt - I've forgotten !!

Hello & Greetings Worlds !!

Now, if you read these words from time to time, you'll know that I do not mind the dentist - that is to say, I do not enjoy going, BUT it holds no fear for me......... compared to some of the s**t I have to go thru', well - it's no problem !!

So yesterday, I had to go & get a tooth fixed - being 56 & counting  - it had fallen apart + another one had got busted along the way..... so 2 to look at.  B drove me in & we waited & waited & waited - the guy was like an hour late !!  I didn't mind that, I went in 40 minutes after my time & I was fixed up.  Why am I mentioning all this ?  Today my mouth feels like it has gone 10 rounds with some big boxer guy & I don't think I won !!  Oh well - life goes on........

The music of the moment is Within Temptation ("Ice Queen") & I'm here - sort of - alone.  B is out, ME is out, J is in the shower... I can't see any of our cats... so, as I say, I'm sort of alone.  I was going to stay in bed for a few hours, but once I was awake - well, I couldn't stay there.

Yesterday - apart from the dentist - I had good day.  We had a delivery of stuff to help me around the house.  A bed rail thing, to help me get up, a loo frame, again to help me get up & a kind of seat thing.... it moves up & down to help me in & out of the bath !!  Great stuff....

In the last week or so, I've had a new wheel chair, a new pair of spec's & all this new stuff yesterday - I've been spoilt rotten.  BUT, every thing is to help me - as B says - I do not realise how much I need these things !!  I've noticed the benefit already...... as I say, 56 & falling apart !!

All right - the music is now Neil Young... I like his new album, it's just a little short.  Unlike the box set I had thru' the post yesterday.  Transatlantic's "Whirld Tour 2010"... it's from a Shepherd's Bush Empire show & features the entire "The Whirlwind".  I've not played it all yet, but at 3 hours in length, THAT is value for money !!

I may have mentioned this already, but the Neil Young "Cow Palace 22-10-78" show came out really well - there are a few places where the audio is a bit 'naff' - but all the music came out well.  Where it lacks is on some of the more visual aspects of the show, came out good tho'...

I'm waiting on a Jethro Tull set to reach me - the updated "Stand UP" album that has just come out.... it's a 3 disc set, tho' I think one of them is a DVD of a live show.  Plus, I'm also waiting on some Allman's stuff - I had hoped it would reach me yesterday... never mind.  They WILL be good, no matter how long they take to get here !!

I'm playing Neil Young's 'Living With War' at the moment - well, a couple of tracks from it...... give the album 'Deja Vu Live' a listen - it's with CS & N - but, a good listen all the same.  Freedom Of Speech folks....... oh well - good album !!

Yesterday was Thanksgiving, so a big "Hello !!" to all my American friend's.... hope you didn't eat too much ?  If you did, well - nobody forced you !!

The music of the moment is Dream Theater, I hope they make it thru' the next year !!

I must away.

Bye Bye

Monday, 22 November 2010

Where Does The Time Go ?

Hello & Greetings Worlds !!

So, here I am thinking  about logging in & doing a bit more to my blog..... then one thing pushed out another - so 2 weeks went by !!  Wow.... where does the time go when you're having fun ? 

Ah yes "fun" - I remember "fun" !!

I have NO excuse at all - other than (again !) I've been poorly..... IF anybody is reading this, well - I get poorly a lot, maybe too often - but I keep flapping my arms & try to pull out of it !!  Remember, if you'll falling a long way, you may as well try & fly !!  So flap those arms people - it works for me !!

OK, it's a Monday & it's cold outside..... we (B & I) went into town earlier & it was freezing !!  Never mind - I have a new way to keep warm !!  The highlight of the last week has been the 'gift' of a new wheel chair - yippeeeeeeeeeee !!  My old chair had small wheels & I had to be pushed around - this new one has BIG wheels on the back, so I can move all on my own !!!  It's great fun - I'm mobile at last..... Like today, we went into ASDA (someone has to !) & I was able to double back & pick up something that B had forgotten !  It IS brilliant - I can not tell you what a big deal this is for me !!

Yesterday we said "Goodbye" to my old chair.... we have donated it to the Church.  They can either use it at our Church - to help people in & out of the building - or give it to someone who needs it.  I know we could of sold it, but........ someone, some place, will get the benefit of it & that's all that matters really.  It was kind of sad to let it go, it has been a part of me - my life - for the last 3 years.... oh well !!

OK - 'The Family'..... B is out, J is upstairs & ME is - I think - on her way home from Uni placement.  today was her first day in a hospital complex, so it's been kind of hard for her.  BUT, it's all part of her course, so...

As for 'The Music In My Life'.... where to start, I have had soooooooo many things come thru' in the last 2 weeks !!  Yes... where to start ?

At the moment I'm listening to the soundtrack of the last 'Dr Who' season -  it's well good... nice & loud, good job our neighbours are deaf !!  Before that, I was playing 'Mulennium' by Gov't Mule - a great version of Skynyrd's 'Simple Man' !!  I had to get it from the Allman's web site, but it was worth it - only took 5 days to reach me as well - better than Play.com !!  Today - earlier - I picked up the new Bruce Springsteen 'The Promise'..... I've only played a couple of tracks on that, but it sounded pretty good.  What else ?  I can't remember !!

I know I've got some Allman Brother's concerts on the way from the US of A - again from their own web site - & I hope they will be here this week sometime, maybe tomorrow......  Oh yes, I also had a great version of 'The Wall'.  I had the DVD a week or two back, but the transfer to CD worked really well....  I can not remember what else !!  Some Band Of Joy stuff came & probably many others, which I'll think about when I switch off the computer !!  Never mind....

B picked me up some 'Vinyl CDs'.... they look & feel like small LPs.  I'll use them for special stuff, they look great, but at £2.50 a pop they are too expensive to just use for everyday things....... Never mind......

Anyhoo - 'ti 4.15pm & I must away...

Bye Bye

Monday, 8 November 2010

It's Been A While !!

Hello & Greetings Worlds.......

It's been too long since my last post - I didn't realise just how long until I logged in..... nothing to add really, except I've been poorly !  Sorry about the delay & all - couldn't be helped.  I saw one of my consultants a week or two back & she altered my meds.... with the result that I've been completely out of it, just wanting to sleep - while my Dearest friend, B, has been trying her best to keep me awake !!  Oh well... life will go on..... & on !!

Talking of B - she is out at the moment, so J is here keeping an eye on me. He (J) went for a job interview earlier today - hopefully he'll get the work.  Trouble is, there are so many people going for the same thing all the time - at least this time he got an interview !!  Most of the jobs he applies for don't even take the time to write back at all !!  When I was in the position to employ people, I always took the time to get back to them - it was harsh at times, phoning them up, to say they didn't get the job - but.....

The other member of the family, my Daughter ME, is working today (B is collecting her later) - I think tomorrow she is at Uni... I can't keep up with her these days - I never know what she's doing from day to day !!  Never mind - she seems happy & that's the main thing...

As for the music of the moment... I'm playing the Allman Brothers 'Woodstock 94' set as I type these words.  It's kind of sad really, because Allen Woody is on bass & he's no longer with us.  I've picked up Gov't Mule's 'Live With A Little Help From Our Friends' this past week & he is also on there.  Good bass player - never met the guy, but he was a great guy by all accounts.  The Woodstock thing is a DVD & well worth a watch - I might transfer it to Cd, to play/listen to other places, I'll see how time goes & if I can stay awake long enough !!

I think, also this past week, I've picked up Bryan Adam's new Cd 'Bare Bones' - another live disc (no surprise there folks) & well worth a listen.  My only complaint with it, is that it's meant to be the 'Deluxe' version & there ain't too much 'special' with it - a bit of gold lettering, but no extra tracks or anything.... kind of a shame really !!

Also on the music front - I've been listening to all the old Simon & Garfunkel Cd's.... I'm not really sure why - I started with 'Bookends' & it kind of spiraled out of control from there !!  At least here - in this old home of ours - you get a variety !!  Rock music thru' to classical & beyond - got to be mad !!

Never mind, I must away, so IF anybody is reading this.... take care.

Bye Bye

Friday, 29 October 2010

The Bees Are Going !!!

Greetings Worlds !!

So, about 2 summers ago, a swarm of honeybees flew in & made a home for themselves in our roof space (well, just below it).... today, a man came & we have worked out a way to remove them to a home with a beekeeper.  She has wanted them since she first saw them, but...... how to get to them !!

So, the plan is now to erect a platform.  From there our bee lady can climb up & grab them - once the roof section has been removed.  A 'big' job, just to get to some small creatures !!  For me, I would leave them there, but we can't get the back of the house painted with the bees living where they are - or get the window cleaner around there..... everybody (but us) seems to be afraid of them !!  Oh well........

The music of the moment is Simon & Garfunkle's 'Live On Stage' set from a few years back - not exactly sure when...... yep, a bit quiet for me - but a good listen all the same.  BUT, tonight is the Robert Plant concert !!!  Sure am looking forward to that one..... the live stuff I picked up a few days back has been a good listen, but..... tonight's going to be good - well, I hope so at least !!

Must away.......

Bye Bye

Wednesday, 27 October 2010

Music Music & MORE Music !!

Hi Worlds...

It's been a great week for music.... so much new stuff !!  Along with the Band Of Joy album, that has just come out - I've picked up a 'live' 2CD set + a 'live' DVD..... really good !!  Plus on Friday, there is a Band of Joy concert on the radio - why, oh why, couldn't Zeppelin have been so generous to the fans ?  Never mind....

On top of the above - I've been watching a brilliant Roger Waters DVD - from his 'Wall' show in Chicago last month.... it's really good - great quality & well played !!..........

..... Also, but not least - there is a new Bryan Adams CD out on Monday - already ordered for B + an Allman Brothers DVD from Woodstock '94.  The latter is not new, but will be worth a watch - a great band !!

Apart from the music - the family have been pretty good..... nearly all of us have had colds of one sort or another (hence the delay between posts) but we're on the mend now - I hope !!  So life has been good !!

Not much else happening - tho' our Bishop came over again last week - that makes two visits in as many weeks & more than the last Bishop made in two years !!  Oh well - life has been good.......

Bye Bye

Monday, 18 October 2010

It's cold out there.....

Greetings Worlds.....

Went into town today - it was soooo cold out there !!  I probably felt it worse as I was in my chair - not moving around - so couldn't keep warm...... oh well.

B is out for a few hours - leaving me in the hands of the kids.  ME is over the worse of her cold & J... well, J is J - little to add really !!  The cold bug is still in the house... ME passed it on to B & in turn, I seem to be coming down with it now - thanks for sharing guys !!  Never mind......

Last week, I spent some time at the hospital (again)...... they found some new ways to test parts of my body that I didn't know existed before !!  I think they - the staff - enjoy their work too much !!  Never mind - I passed the 'tests' & now it'll be back to the powers that be to see what happens next.  Life goes on.......

The music of the moment is the Tom Petty live set I picked up a few weeks back - 3 cds of great music.  In a while I'll be back onto the Gov't Mule set.... while B is out, I can give it a good listen.  Tho' having said that, she has put it on her iPod thing - so she must like it a bit.

Oh well must away...

Bye Bye

Monday, 11 October 2010

Gov't Mule

Hi Worlds.....

Yesterday I sat down & transferred the Gov't Mule DVD over to CD .... it has come out really well !!  There are soooo many great tracks on the DVD & to be able to play them thru' the Hi-Fi is brilliant..... of course, I could just play the DVD thru' the amp - but this way I can listen to it out & about !!

I never really got into Mr Haynes 'Mule' - being an Allman's fan, I should of..... but this DVD/CD set has really got me hooked... maybe I'll pick up some more of his stuff along the ways - we'll see.

OK ... today ain't such a good day !!  ME is in bed with a heavy cold & really feeling it... poor thing.   I don't care how old your kids get - it's still hard seeing them poorly !!  ME will be 20 in February - so..... oh well !!

B is out this afternoon - meeting up with her cousin in town.   She (B) has got over the worse of her dentist visit last Thursday.... we missed Church on Sunday - it didn't seem right, with B in pain, to drive over 30 miles...... the Lord will probably forgive us this time around.

It's her birthday on Wednesday, so I'll buy her something nice ..... we'll see what we find  - 21 again !!!  It's the last birthday of the year - next one will be J in February...... time move on & so must I.

Life goes on.....

Bye Bye

Friday, 8 October 2010

A Good Day !!

Hello Worlds.......

Yesterday was a GOOD day......

Not only did our new Bishop come and visit, but a brilliant lady came to update my physical needs & to see if B needed any help in any way, with caring for me.

The upshot of her visit is that I might be getting a new wheelchair !!  If it happens, it will be fantastic as - hopefully - it'll have big wheels !!  My current one has just a set of small ones, which makes it very hard to move myself around....... big wheels will give me sooooo much more independence !!  It'll be great !!!!!!!!

The Bishop visit was very nice - it was the first time to our home & was a kind of 'introducing' himself type of thing - even tho' we have known him for a few yeras now.  A really nice guy & we're glad he came around to see us.  Hopefully we can have a longer 'indepth' talk the next time we see him - there are a few things we're not too 'happy' about at Church & we need to speak to him in private about those.

The family are all out at the moment.  ME is at Uni, B is out walking & J is out cold - still sleeping..... I've not even seen any of the cats yet this morning - tho' Merry did climb into bed in the middle of the night !!  He sleeps on the bed & sometimes, we think, he gets cold.... so he climbs in on our electric blanket.  He never stays for more than a few minutes - just enough to wake us both up !!  Oh well........

The music of the moment is Gov't Mule's 'Deepest End' DVD & life is good......

Bye Bye

Monday, 4 October 2010

Music, Music & More Music !!

Greetings Worlds & anybody else who might happen across these words !!  You're always welcome to say "hi" - even if you hate my words, I could use the joy of knowing someone is reading this dear blog of mine !!  It's been 6 months now - I'm getting lonely !!

OK, 'tis a Monday & the music Gods have been good to me this weekend..... not only did I get the new Neil Young album, but after a quick trip to the record fair - I've come home with another Grateful Dead live set + a brilliant Tom Petty 'Fillmore' set from 1997 !!  I'm in music heaven - it's been a while (at least a week) since I've heard something as good as this !!  Even the new Robert Plant is growing up me.........

The Neil Young album is a little short at 37 minutes, but well enjoyable..... the Dead set from 1993 is over 3 hours - as is the Tom Petty set !!  Great stuff.... especially the way the Petty Cd's cover not only his own stuff, but also, plenty of cover versions.... even B likes it enough to put it on her iPod thingy - must be good !!

Add to all of this excitement, this weekend was Conference & that was great - to be able to hear the talks, live as it happened..... wonderful stuff !!  Luckily we were able to record the 4 sessions that were broadcast, so we can re-visit them over the coming months !!  Maybe not for everybody, but for us it means a lot........

As for the family..... J is upstairs having his yearly shower & the ladies of the house are out shopping.  ME had to take the hire car back today, so she is back to driving her own wheels now.... so, to give it a run, they have gone to the 24hr ASDA.  Why there I don't know - there is some logic to it I guess, but it's lost on me !

I had to visit the doctors (again) this morning for a check up & on Wednesday, I have to go down to have my yearly flu' jab... B is having one as well - as my carer, she likes to be on top of things + she hates having the flu'.......  Then on Friday, it's back to the dentist again - B has to have a tooth out !!!  Bummer - it's the first time she has ever had one out, lucky lady I say !!

Oh oh - I forgot - on Thursday night, out new Bishop is paying us a visit !!  His first trip here EVER !!  What he will make of us I don't know.......  he did want to come over at 8.30pm !!  But, I had to point out to him, that B gives me my last meds' at 7pm & by 8.30pm I would either asleep of so out of it wouldn't matter !!  He's coming over at 6.30pm - so I shouldn't be too stoned by that time !!  I'll try to be good !!

Maybe he wants us to do something within the Church - or he wants us to stop doing something in the Church.  Maybe my blog has upset too many people !!  We are not your average Mormons - we follow the teachings of the Church, but maybe we've been naughty in some other way !!  Time will tell !!

Anyways - I must away..........

Bye Bye

Thursday, 30 September 2010

Cooper's Creek

Hi Worlds again....

It's been a week since my last confession - oops - I mean post, so time to type the keys again....... not that there is much to write about !!

I think I've been in bed most of the week - certainly feels like it..... I woke up this morning about 11am after a kind of bad night & by lunch time I was back in the sack !!  Thank the Lord for the various meds' I'm on - life would be s**t without them - not to worry, there are people worse off - so, I count my blessings  !!

Anyhoo - after working my ways thru'  'The Dig Tree' by Sarah Murgatroyd, I have just finished 'Cooper's Creek' by Alan Moorehead... again about the Burke & Wills expedition across Australia.  Out of the 2 I prefer 'The Dig Tree'... so much so, that I've ordered a new copy, this time in paperback.  The copy I read is a kind of battered hardback, so I thought I would treat myself to a new copy, great stuff !!

Okay, the music of the moment is The Who's 'A Quick One While He's Away' - I think that's what it's called anyway - & the ladies of the house are out for an hour.  ME's car broke down on the way's to Uni & under our AA coverage, she gets a hire car for 3 days, so she is taking B out for a ride to the shops..... it's a 2010 Ford & she is really enjoying driving it !!  It's a shame she'll have to give it back in a few days... never mind !!

The other big family news is that J has had a haircut !!  WOW - that's Earth shattering news, hold the front page....... maybe now he'll get a job - can't expect too many things to happen in 1 year !!

Never mind - with The Who playing away in the background, I must away.......

Bye Bye

Thursday, 23 September 2010

Greetings...again !!

Hi Worlds - how are the rocks coming along ?

Today is a quiet day - nothing to do except kick back & let the drugs do their work...... what a life, it's hard but some one has to live it, may as well be me !!

Ok the music of the moment is some track by Leo Sayer - yep, I kid you not !!  It's just one track on the tapes I'm (still) playing.  I used to have several of his albums - actually went to see him in concert once... he had a great backing band.... some 'name' musicians.   Never mind - I've got older since then.... but I still like some of his stuff..... the music has now changed to Pink Floyd - only in this house, on my tapes, honestly !!

Right, today's plan is.... well I haven't got one really !!  I promised I would do the washing up & that's about it really.  B & ME are in town.... B to have a hair cut & ME to have her eyes tested before she goes back to Uni, - I think - next Wednesday.  I think she is looking forward to her second year.....

That leaves me & J (who is STILL in bed) to have the house to ourselves - home alone again !!  No really, it's no big deal - J is here to help me if I get into trouble at all.  Health wise, I've not been too bad this week - very sleepy - I think mainly due to a 50% increase in one of my drugs - but, a part from that, I'm ok at the moment.

I didn't get to Church (again) on Sunday - but B & I had a day to ourselves..... sometimes it's great just to have a quiet day & Sunday was ours....... we might have been married for over 22 years, but it's nice to have some 'us' time !!

On Saturday, I did get to the local record fair !!  It was the biggest Simon has managed to put on in our area !!  I came home with 2 new albums........ a Hawkwind 'live' thing & amp; a Government Mule set - also 'live'.  They only cost me £10 for the 2 - so it was a good deal.... especially the G. Mule set - a 2 Cd + 3 hour DVD package for £5.... can't be bad !!  It has some great stuff on it - including a version of 'Voodoo Child' from Hendrix's 'Electric Ladyland' album - the long version !!  Great stuff.... in about 10 days there is another fair so I'll meet up with a mate there & pick up some more Grateful Dead stuff - money & B permitting !!

Oh I forgot - we went back to the dentist for our 6 month check up - poor B has to have a tooth out !!  Me, I got away free & easy....... but, if you've read these words before, B hates the dentist, she really does - so to have a tooth out is a very big deal for her !!  I think it's next week some time..... ouch !!

Taking of next week - I'm back into the hospital for a check up.... should be fun, as the meds I've been on don't seem to have worked at all !!  See what they come up with next.... time will tell.....

I must away.....

Bye Bye

Friday, 17 September 2010

The Dig Tree

Hello Worlds....

Well, I finished 'The Dig Tree' by Sarah Murgatroyd..... a really great read !!  So anyways, I went looking for any other books by her & I found out the lady died in 2002 - that is so sad, she obviously had a great talent for wring & now she has gone !!   I recomend everybody to read 'The Dig Tree'.... a great book from what would of been a fantastic author.

Oh well Worlds - it's a Thursday & B is out at her swim club for a few hours.... ME spent the night out & J is STILL in bed.  It's going to be a quiet day - tho' we have to pop into town to have a word with our bank.  They put thru' a direct debit we cancelled... naughty bank !!  Hopefully we can get it back.......

The music of the moment is Humble Pie's 'Rock On' - an old live version from about 1971-ish.  It's one of the old tapes I've been playing over recnet weeks - only another 20 or so to go out of this batch - then I'll find something else to play !!  I might try again at listing my CDs... or at least try to put them in some kind of order, that'll be fun for a few weeks !!

Must away....

Bye Bye

Tuesday, 14 September 2010

Hello again, hello......

Hello Worlds,

- it's raining & I think I might put the heating on.... just to take the chill & dampness out these old bones of mine + as B & ME will be home in about an hour, it would be nice if they came home to a warm/hot house !!

I'm here playing some old - the same old - tapes.... at the moment the music of choice is Mike Oldfield... tho' I'm not 100% sure if it's his work or someone else ?  It's the classical version of 'Tubular Bells' that came out many many moons ago... oh well.

After a few weeks of feeling poorly, I was really looking forward to going to the Exeter record fair on Saturday... unfortunately it didn't come off.  I was not on top form & with a 'lack' of cash to enjoy ourselves, we decided to miss it this time around.  I'm glad we did, because by mid afternoon I was dead on my feet, so it was good we stayed home.  I missed seeing some friends (& buying some cds) but........ there will be another one in November, so I might make it to that on.

There is another fair, here in town - 10 miles away - so I'll go to that one on Saturday.  It's unlikely I'll find anything, but it'll worth it, just to say "hello" to the guy who runs it + maybe, just maybe, the guys I missed last week will be there.... we'll see.

As reported before, we have a new building of our own at Church & Sunday we made our first visit.  it's quite good, tho' I think it could use some curtains in the windows !!!  It's like a green house in there & it'll only get worse as the summer comes around, next year !!

I made the mistake of taking 5 sweets with me & giving them to the first 5 kids I saw - it caused all sorts of problems with the kids who didn't get one !!  One 11 year - old YES 11 !! - thru' a wobbly all thru' the service....... next time I'll either not bother at all or take a lot more.  My bad........

Anyhoo - the music has moved onto Lynyrd Skynyrd and I have put the heating on........ not going to make a habit of it, but it is cold this afternoon.

Talking back on music - I picked up a copy of 'Concert For George'.  a show put together by the friends of George Harrison in November 2002.  some of it is very good, especially the Eric Clapton bits... great guitar work.... if you get a chance, give it a listen.

If you've read any of my words before, you'll know I read quite a few books recently about Ned Kelly.  following on from that - the whole Australia history thing - I've started on 'The Dig Tree' by Sarah Murgatroyd.  It's about the Burke & Wills expedition to cross Australia.  I know very little about it - but so far, it's been a good read, very interesting.

Oh well.... I must away.

Bye Bye

Friday, 10 September 2010

Friday on my mind......

Hi Worlds..... keep banging the rocks together guys !!

So "Hi" again - it's Friday & ME & M (her boyfriend) are on their ways home from Cornwall... B just had a text to say they had left their little home away from home.  So, by late afternoon - if they stop on the ways home - the house will be full again with the whirlwind that is my daughter !!  It'll be good to see them again, even tho' she has been on the 'phone every night.... so we know we've not exactly 'missed' her about the place.

Ok it's been a sad week.... On Sunday the guy from Moto2 was killed... we were watching a recording of the race as it happened & our hearts & prayers go out to the guys family & friends !!  Never met the guy, but we watch the Moto GP races when ever we can - usually a day later - so, in many ways he has been a part of our 'lives'......

... & today - even tho' it in no way compares to a guy losing his life - I have the news that Mike Portnoy has left one of my favourite bands, Dream Theater !!  Ok - it's only music.... but..........!!!  Never mind, I hope the band will carry on - but after 20+ years he'll be missed by all.  Good luck to whoever takes over the stool !!

Right.... the music of the moment is Gary Moore's live album from the '80s 'We Want Moore'..... well, it's on a tape I'm playing - earlier it was the mighty Mountain... not sure what will be next !!

As for my Dearest Friend - she has gone swimming...... some group she has joined, or is joining, today being her first time.  As mentioned, ME is on her ways home from Cornwall & J is still in bed - well, it is only 10am after all !!  One day he'll get a job again & he'll moan then about being knackered !!  Oh well......

The music of the moment is now Jimi Hendrix's 'Room Full Of Mirrors' - a live version, not sure where from.  I hope tomorrow we might go down to Exeter to the record fair..... health permitting !!  I don't actually want anything, but it would be good to go down & meet up with some friends - maybe get some more Grateful Dead stuff..... I've played all the ones I picked up so far this year, so.........  I'll see how things go in the morning.

If it's raining & I feel under the weather, there is really no point in making the trip - 100 miles I could do with out.  We'll see.......

....Oh, I forgot.... no one phoned from the Church, because we were away last Sunday !!  I honestly did not expect any phone calls, but..... well, I can guarantee that the next time we go, there will be some eye staring !
If they can't except I'm poorly, too bad - life will go on & so must I........ with Black Sabbath playing in the background.......

Bye Bye

Monday, 6 September 2010

It's Raining !!

Hi Worlds.... I hope all you life forms are well & happy !!

OK - so here's the thing - ME & her boyfriend have waited months for their holiday to come around & as soon as it does, it buckets down !!  They 'phoned earlier & they are at the Eden Project & it's pouring down.  It seems almost poetic - they are in an artificial rain forest dome & outside.... well, it's raining !!  Never mind.... life will go on.........

Meanwhile, here at home - yes, it's raining outside as well - BUT, the music of the moment is another Caravan cd... following up from 'In The Land Of Grey & Pink', I'm now part ways thru' a 2 cd 'anthology' called 'Where But For Caravan Would I ?'... After years of not hearing anything by them, I'm in overdose mode here !!  Never mind.......

Today is a good day - well, depending how you look at it !  I was well under the weather yesterday.... this blooming illness of mine really got the better of me.  I was pretty good Saturday, but by about 2 am Sunday morning I was in 'the pit of despair'..... so, most of yesterday, I was in bed feeling really fed up & poorly !!  This morning I'm not 100%, but  better than I expected !!

Unfortunately, this meant that we didn't make it to Church yesterday - which was a big shame really, as it was the first Sunday at our new building...... I feel kind of gutted that we weren't there - but we can't always do everything we want to !!  It will be interesting if any of the congregation contact us to see how things are.

I missed 4 weeks recently - due to the 2 surgeries I had - and not 1 person phoned to see how I was or anything... yet, as soon as we return to Church, they want to know why we've not been !!  I'm sick people, get over it & move on !!

I have to see my GP tomorrow, so hopefully he can alter my meds a bit to help me along & thru' this, we'll see.... he's a great guy.... helps a lot to have a GP you can relate to/with - if that makes any sense at all ?

As for the family - B is out in town & J is upstairs... ME is - as mentioned - aways in Cornwall - & that leaves me here to type these words. 

I've been watching 'Farscape' - I gave up on 'Stargate Universe' - from the start of season 1 & that's been great fun !!  I put the first dvd in & started watching & now I've got to the end of that season & will watch the last disc tonight.... it's been funny, as I started watching it by myself & now B & J have sat with me & watched quite a bit along with me !!  It's a good series, shame it got cancelled.... never mind !!

Oh well - I must away.... things to do & what have you !!

Bye Bye

Thursday, 2 September 2010

Hi Ho !!

Hello & greetings !!

So here I am, it's a Thursday - the sun is blazing down - & I have the '1812' Overture on, just loud enough to let the neighbours know I'm home !!  Life is good......

Tomorrow ME & her boyfriend are off on their long awaited holiday... they booked it soooooooo long ago, it seems to have been for ever - but, it's finally come around for them.  So today ME & B have shot off into town, mainly to have a hair cut, but - I think - also to have a last 'girlie' day out before the break !!

The '1812' has now given way to a bit of Hawkwind - yep, nothing but variety here folks !!  It's all on a tape I recorded, along with 64 (yep 64) others, many moons ago......  It was one of my little 'projects' that I have mentioned before - this one has one track from each of my old vinyl albums.  It has been fun listening to them, as I have sold nearly all my old lps - the odd track brings back a few memories !!

I've mentioned before, how one of my little projects had the lyrics of 'Los Desaparecidos' written along the spine of the cassettes - this one has all the chapters of 'The Lord Of The Rings' (including book titles) to identify each tape !!  Very sad, I know..........

.... which reminds me of something.  An old friend was amazed that I was able to type the names of cassettes on the labels - the actual tape labels - he couldn't work out how I did it.  He honestly thought I, somehow, put the whole cassette into the typewriter & then typed its label !!  Oh well......

This same 'old friend' is no longer - well, I guess he is still alive, just not a friend anymore.  There were several reasons - one of which will always stick in our minds.

It was a Saturday morning & B and I were getting ready to go to one of the farms I used to manage, when there was a knock at our door.  It was our 'friend' wanting to borrow/use our bed, as he had picked up a girl overnight and wanted - well.... you can guess !! 

I said no, not only because we didn't want our bed used in such a ways, but also - well, the guy had been with his partner for years, their daughter was our 'bridesmaid' & there was no way we were going to betray her - his partner - in such a way !!

Our 'friend' walked away - chuntering under his breath about how we had 'let him down' etc etc - as I say, he is no longer a friend - with people like that, who needs enemies !!  Oh well - life goes on........

The music has now changed to the J Geils Band.... these tapes are really good - I've no idea what comes next !!

Oh Oh - big surprise of the week !!  As I've stated before - we're members of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints... no big deal - it works for us, but it's not something that would suit everybody.  Anyhoo, I've had an e-mail from a friend who lives quite aways away from us... he wants to contact his local (Saints) Elders, with a view to them going to his house !!  He asked if I could give him their phone number, so he could contact them - it's quite a big deal, as he is a devout J Witness & I thought.... well, I won't say what I think - but..... it's quite a big deal for me !!

Because the guy lives in another area - the Church is split into (sort of) regions, I have no idea what their phone number is, so I've had to contact our Bishop, to get the information... He has come back to me, that even he has no idea - BUT, he will find out for me... Our new Bishop is such a great guy - a really nice bloke !!  The old Bishop was/is brilliant, but - well, the new one has stepped up to the mark & is well good !!

I just hope my friend is not going to waste their - the Elders - time.  The J W's who come here from time to time really do seem to have a problem with our Church - never mind, we will see !!  He & other JW's do not seem to be able to get their heads around that I can be a member of a Church & not know the Bible from cover to cover... in order to quote scripture & what have you !!  Come on guys - it's a faith, a way of life - not something to go into battle over !!

Anyways - the music of the moment is from one of Cream's (the group, not the club) live albums - can't remember which, but it's pretty good..... so with that playing away in the background, I will away !!

Bye Bye

Tuesday, 31 August 2010

Bath Blues Festival 1970

Hi Worlds...

It is another beautiful day here in the wilds of England - the sun is out, the sky is a sort of a blue shade of white & I'm here listening to a 'new' cd of  Led Zeppelin's 'Bath Blues Festival' show from 1970.  It reached me yesterday & today is my first real chance of giving it a play.

To start with, I was a little disappointed.... I was expecting a NEW tape of the show - but it seems to be just a better version of the tape that has been around for years.  Having said that, it is much better, quality wise - it's amazing what can be done with computers these days !!  So - all things considered - it's not too bad !!

For those interested the tracks are:

  1) Immigrant Song
  2) Heartbreaker
  3) Dazed & Confused
  4) Bring It On Home
  5) Since I've Been Loving You
  6) Organ Solo
  7) Thank You
  8) That's The Way
  9) What Is & What Should Never Be
10) Moby Dick
11) How Many More Times
12) Whole Lotta Love
13) Communication Breakdown
14) Long Tall Sally

Take into account that there are 2 medleys of rock & roll numbers, it pans out at a good 2 hours worth of music.... as I say, I'm a bit disappointed it's not a new tape - but all in all, worth a listen !!  Probably one of Zeppelins best shows...... tho' I really like the '77 tour shows, this one is really good.

Ok, so what is the plan for today ?  Well, everybody is out - leaving me & the cats here on our lonesome.. which ain't so bad, as it means I get to play the music a bit louder !!

The rest of the family are on their ways to Weston-Super-Mare.  J is meeting up with some friends & to save him a load of hassle with buses &/or trains, B is driving him up there & ME has gone along for the ride & to do some shopping on the ways back - a sort of mini girls day out !!

ME & her boyfriend go off on their holiday on Friday, so she is well excited about that !!  It's only for a week - but they have been looking forward to it for so long..... I hope the weather stays good for them !!  It'll be strange not having her around the house - even when she is at Uni, she is here most nights.

IF anybody is reading this - have you tried watching 'Stargate Universe' ?  B bought me the box set of season one & I'm struggling with it.  I'm not sure if it's the plot lines or just the characters - whichever, I'm finding it hard work !!  I've been a 'Stargate' fan since the movie came out in 1994 (?) and have collected all the dvds as they have been released, so maybe I'm stuck with the old stuff & not giving the 'SGU' enough attention, I'll keep watching & see how it goes !!  Never mind - it's only a TV show after all !! 

Talking of TV shows - B & I watched the first 5 seasons of 'House' back to back !!  That was fun - I had forgotten most of the shows, so it was like watching them all for the first time !!  The dvd extras were good as well.... check them out !

Back here in the real world - I have to visit the Dr's this afternoon - bummer !!  It's not a hospital visit or anything, just a visit to my GP to sort out some of my meds'.  We were reading some of the labels & one set of pills - well, it says something like I should only be on them for up to 2 weeks...... I've been on them for over a month -  never mind  !!

Also here in the real world - we were expecting a visit from B's dad & all that goes with it.  But, it never came about, I'm glad to say !!  That sounds very un-Christian, I know - but, B does not need the hassle at the moment... long story, so check out an earlier post - about 10 days ago.

Also, here in the real world (pt 3)... we - our Church - move to out new building on Sunday !!  B & I went and had a look, a couple of weeks back, and it looks really good !!  Just having 'our' own sign on the wall outside is pretty cool - so..... well, to us it is anyways !!  I think the car park is going to be too small - but, it's OUR building, so that's the main thing !!

Our new Bishop is coming to visit us at some point next month.  I'm not sure of the actual day, but it will be great to welcome him to our home, for his first visit......as B has said, as long as he takes us as we are, he is always welcome.  Who knows, he might like Led Zeppelin !!

And with that in mind, I will away - the Bath Blues Festival is still playing & it has grown on me.... either that, or my ears have packed up !!

Bye Bye

Wednesday, 25 August 2010

In The Land Of Grey & Pink ?

Hi everybody....

Today's music of choice is the 1971 album by Caravan - 'In The Land Of Grey & Pink'...  I must admit, I don't think I have ever heard it before today !!  I remember Caravan being on the BBC's 'In Concert' radio programme - I guess about the same time this came out (?)... but, I can not remember ever hearing the album before.

Oh well... it's raining cats & dogs outside & I'm glad to say I'm here, warm & snug, after a wet trip to town this morning.  B & J have popped out for 30 minutes or so... so the cats are here with me, as I say... in the warm !!

I was talking to someone yesterday about this blog of mine.... she asked if anybody was reading it & - to be honest - I had to answer that I have no idea !!  So, if I do have anybody on the end of this, let me know... it would be nice to think somebody is 'out there' some place !!  Go on, be a follower - or whatever it's called !!

For now, I'm away....

Bye Bye

Monday, 23 August 2010

Monday Monday.....

Greetings Worlds....

It's a Monday - the start of a new week and I'm listening/watching the 'Live At Wembley' dvd that Muse put out a few years back..... I still, even after many listens/watches, can not quite get my head around these guys !!  Good music - good stage show.... but something is missing for me ?

Ok - I know I'm 'old' & grew up with a different generation of bands - but, if you came here & checked out our music collection, you would see we have a very wide ranch of taste...... I'm no 'music snob' in any shape or form, I just can't get myself excited about them !!  Maybe, on a different day, I will/have/would contradict myself & rave about them - but not today !!

Oh well - so whats new ?

.....well, last night I finally sorted out my Led Zeppelin list..... That is to say, brought it up to date.  I 'think' I now have over 550 different titles by them.  Quite a few (more than a few) are duplicates, but..... they all add to the collection.  I will have to dig them all out of their various boxes & - sort off - tick them off a list to double check the exact number, but..... I still think the shows they did in 1977 are some of their best - but, each to their own !!

The most recent title, is another updated copy of the Knebworth show from 1979.... check out my August 5th post..... The copy that came a few days back, is another dvd of the show.  The picture quality is SO much better than the old videos that circulated 10-20 years back !!  The only downside to this latest version is the soundtrack.  it's still very good, but there is some 'talking' over the top of it - kind of distracts from the general sound !!

I've taken the Muse disc out & am now playing Zep's Seattle '77 show at just below deafening !!  For those interested, it's the 'Jupiter & Saturn' version that came out on the Tarantura label a while back.... a good s/b version.  Please - as I'm sure I've written before - do not ask me to send you a copy or buy a copy from anyone !!!  Copies are out there for free, just do not expect me to give you one !!  If I can find them, so can anyone......

B is out at the moment, so the sound is pretty loud, even for me !!  I'm a little down in the dumps (my health is dragging me down a bit) so, as always - music is there to cheer me up !!  I shouldn't really moan - after all, I'm still breathing & that beats the alternative !!

Oh, I forgot - I've found another Ned Kelly book..... this one is from 1968 - a bit dated - but, from what I've read so far, it's quite a good book.  From what I can work out, it's a publication based on a symposium held over the Easter weekend of 1967.  It's been interesting, to read the various books, from different authors & from different years !!  If I was a (much) younger man, I would head over to Australia & look for the various places mentioned... it would be interesting to see them first hand, rather than read about them all.

B father has just 'phoned.... there is going to be 'rumble in the jungle' tonight !!  I think he is hoping to visit with his 'lady friend' tomorrow - that is NOT going to happen...... In most religions, people marry 'until death we do part' - as Mormons, we marry for life & eternity.  There is no way B is going to be happy about her Dad's new partner + she still misses her Mum & (for me at least) it just does not feel right.

Ok - so, how come I've been married twice ?  Simple - my ex walked out on me & thus broke our vows of marriage... It does take 2 to make a marriage to work, but walking out the door & moving 3000 miles away (I kid you not) kind of wipes the floor as far as I'm concerned !!  Especially as she went for the divorce & re-married the day after it became final.... Judas Priest, I sound cranky.... but.............. life goes on !!

Never mind - I must away.... I want to try & watch some of Stargate Universe.  B bought me the box set of the first season a few weeks back - to cheer me up a bit - & I've still not managed to watch them all yet !!  Yep - I'm a Stargate fan, so add that to my list of sins !!

Bye Bye

Saturday, 21 August 2010

Hi again...

Hi again Worlds..... is there anybody out there ?

Oh well - it must be a weekend, it's raining !!  Plus our neighbour has just gone off on holiday - so... it has to rain !!  Never mind, it's dry & warm indoors !!

Okay - Today's music of choice is another Grateful Dead cd, this time the 'Europe '72' set.  I keep thinking about buying the so called 'expanded' version - but...... I can't make up my mind.  The quality of the music & recording is really good, but - do I want to spend £17 on what will be just a few extra tracks .... not to worry.

The ladies of the house have gone shopping - that is to say, ME (my daughter) has gone shopping & has dragged B (my wife & dearest friend) with her !!  ME left her car home yesterday, because it was playing up - it was just damp, from not being driven - so I think she wanted B along for 'support' in case it 'played up' again !

Talking of cars - we have a 'bill' to pay this week.... bummer !!  It's only (I use the word sarcastically) £200+, so it could of been worse.  Every year we have to put it thru' it's MOT test, so with a service & the test, it's not such a bad price.... I guess.  I always have the car serviced, before the MOT - that ways, if it fails, I can ask "why".... after all, it was meant to have been services... never mind !!

J (my son) is upstairs on the computer... kind of looking after me - to pick me up, should I fall etc etc..... He is still out of work, but he is trying his hardest..... oh well......

As I've written before, I'm waiting for a date to go back into hospital.  So far, nothing has come...... I'll just have to wait a whiles longer.  It is quite 'funny' - the 2 weeks the 'bionic' thing was fitted - I didn't realise how much it was helping me, until it was removed !!  Now, I have to wait until the implant can be done... no biggy, I'm still breathing & that beats the alternative !!

Our MP came to visit & assured me that, under this government, the heath service would be in good hands & that my health care would not be altered in any shape or form...... the implant will prove or disprove his statement.  It's about £10,000 worth, so if there is a funding issue, I WILL remind him of his words to me !!  It may not be life or death, but...... the difference it will make to my life will be huge.

Oh well - too much moaning on my part.... I've not been into hospital at all this past week - so that makes a change !!  Life goes on & so will I.....

Bye Bye

Wednesday, 18 August 2010

Hello again ....

Hello Worlds......

It's a lovely day here in the wilds of England - well, the south west wilds of England.... It is a little over cast outside, but the view over the coast is quite good, I think the tide is on the ways in... hard to tell !!

Anyhoo, I'm here sat... the music of the moment is a live recording of Robert Plant from about 9 years ago - 'Hey Joe' is coming out of the speakers loud & clear - it is a bootleg, but quite a good quality one..... some of them are a bit 'bad' - but this one is pretty good.

I mentioned, a day or 2 back, that I was thinking about buying some more Allman Brothers Cd's.  I was thinking 4 or 5 sets.  Well, going thru' the list yesterday, I came up with 8 possibilities !!  I'm guessing no matter how much my Dearest Friend (& wife) B loves me, I might have to cut a few of them from the list !!  I buy quite a few each year from their (the Allman Brothers) live sets - I think it was 14 last time around - that was about $350 worth - so I might get away with a few extra this time !!

Talking of my Dearest Friend..... B & ME are out meeting up with her Aunt & cousin.... B's Mum & Aunt were twins.... Mum died a few years back, so B likes to 'celebrate' with her Aunt on this day.  ME calls her Grandma G.... - that goes down well, as G has no granddaughters of her own, just grandsons.

I said it was a 'nice day' outside - well..... it's just starting to spot with rain !!  Oh well.... the girls are at a shopping village place, so they should be in the dry......  mind you, the longer they stay indoors, the more cash they will spend !?!  Not to worry - it's a special day after all.

We were at Church on Sunday & one of the speakers raised a point I've often thought of.  The point being, that 2000 years ago messages took forever to travel.  I've made the point myself.... in the 1970's, a letter would take the best part of a week to reach Bermuda & another week for the reply to get back to me.  We take for granted how the times have changed.  Within seconds of me sending an e-mail, a friend can read it & mail me back......

Likewise, IF anybody is reading these words, it would only take a few seconds to get back to me... feel free to so !!  It would be great to know that there is life out there ....... As Spock would say "It's life Jim - but, not as we know it"

Bye Bye

Monday, 16 August 2010

Greetings again !!!

Hi Worlds & to any body reading "G'day to ya all"

It's Monday August 16th & 3 years ago today we made the greatest decision of our lives, when - after over 25 years of thinking about it - we joined the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints.... we became Mormons !!!

Now, each to their own - but...... well, it works for me/us & that's all I can really say about it - I ain't going to preach to anyone, we all have to live our lives the way we see fit. BUT, it's been a great 3 years & I recommend everybody to look into it - if nothing else, you will save money by not drinking booze, tea or coffee !! Mind you, in my case the latter was not a problem - the Dr's had already taken that little bit of pleasure away from me - bless them !!
OK - it's a Monday & I'm here alone - well, sort of...... B is out & the 'kids' are upstairs. J is still looking for work & ME is on her Uni' summer holidays. In a couple of weeks she is off to the 'seaside' with her boyfriend for a week.... so........ I hope they have a good time !!
Music wise, I've been playing a lot of things over the last few days.... at the moment the Grateful Dead's 'Without A Net' is blasting away..... not my favourite Dead album, but worth a listen all the same.
B has decided I can spend out some cash on some more Allman Brothers stuff. If you don't already know, they release a lot of 'live' stuff thru' their own 'shop' - via the net - so I buy direct from them. It does mean the cds come from the US of A - but, cost wise, it's a good deal.
For example - I have a 3 cd set here from 2003 which cost me about $25...... on Play.com today I saw the same set on sale for £50 !! That is a big mark up in any body's money.... so it works out cheaper to buy direct from the band !! Even with a low £ to $ - it's still a GOOD deal !!
I'll probably buy 4 or 5 things - depending what takes my fancy.... the sets they've done at the Wanee Festival over the years have always been good - so I might go for the 2010 versions of those..... time & the bank balance will tell !!
Onwards.....
We live in this 'small' village & I'm glad to say that 1 family seem to have moved away !! I'm not being mean or a snob - but they have been a thorn in the side of many of the villagers over the years. The sons in particular have been no more than a set of glorified bully boys - taking their own form of 'crap' out on any body who got in the way !!
We have 2 kids - both have been to college & one is now at Uni'.... the sons, I mentioned, in the meantime have been in & out of the court system more times than I can count - as I say 'bully boys'...... good riddance to them - tho' I feel sorry for whoever they have moved next to !!
Oh well - I must away.... with B out, I have to sort out my meds for the afternoon. No biggy, but I have to make sure to take the right ones - some of them knock me senseless (not too hard to do).... so I must not take those - or else B will be on my case !!
Bye Bye

Thursday, 12 August 2010

Greetings

Hi Worlds......

It's been a week - a whole week since my last post.... sorry about that. I hope someplace somebody might be reading my words, so I apologise for my lack of words !!
Considering how little I've written - I have very little to write today. My absence was - kind of - forced upon me due to poor health. I went 'bionic' a little over 2 weeks ago & it took quite a while to get used to it. My back hurt like crazy & the plasters stuff they used to stick the wires (onto my back) took a layer of skin off..... we told them I was allergic, but - nobody listened !!
Anyhow - on Monday last, it was back into hospital to have my 'bionic' part removed - it was only in for 2 weeks - and now I have to wait to have a permanent piece implanted. I'm not sure when that will be, time will tell !!
On the music front, I've been playing to death Little Steven's DVD from his 2 'Rockpalast' shows in the 80's. The latter of the 2 is - for me - the best of the set...... mainly as it covers his 'Voice Of America' album..... oh well..........
I must away....
Bye Bye

Thursday, 5 August 2010

Knebworth - it was 31 years ago !!

Hi Worlds......

31 years ago today, I was just about waking up - in a tent - from one of the greatest concerts I had ever been to !! Led Zeppelin @ Knebworth, August 4th. 1979 !! To celebrate this mad milestone in my life, I'm playing the entire concert recording from start to finish - why ? Well - why not !!
Going back to that day, my ex & yours truly had driven up on the Friday, pitched our tent - my old man's - and settled in........ only to wake up at 1 am the next morning to a heap of noise, as people were getting ready to go to the arena area - hence we got about 3 hours sleep at most !!
To the back of the tent, about 50 yards or so away, was a fire - with this guy sat alone beside it... so I went over & warmed myself & got talking to him. He was a Welsh guy, had a ticket, but was looking for his mates..... he asked if I had seen a red 'post office' van. I mention this as there were 1000's of cars & vans there - I think the official figures (from Zeppelin's manager) were something like 250,000 people - so that will give you some idea. Best we could do, was give him a hot drink & part company......
Then off to the concert - I think we sat in the arena about 4 am & waited - getting a bit of sleep & wandering off to the loos & then trying to find our ways back to our bags.... in the days when you could trust people, you didn't know, to watch things & not walk off with them !!
It was a long day, with various bands playing, until Zeppelin came on stage - I think somewhere around 9.30 pm that night.... it's been a while, so I might have my time a bit wrong. I know they came on stage part ways thru' Lynyrd Skynyrd's 'Tuesday's Gone'... the music died, the crowd cheered & then we got our first sight of the big back screen - projecting the bands image across the whole arena.... without which, we would of seen very very little !!
So the set went:
1) The Song Remains The Same
2) Celebration Day
3) Black Dog
4) Nobody's Fault But Mine
5) Over The Hills & Far Away
6) Misty Mountain Hop
7) Since I've Been Loving You
8) No Quarter
9) Ten Years Gone
10) Hot Dog
11) The Rain Song
12) White Summer
13) Kashmir
14) Trampled Underfoot
15) Sick Again
16) Achilles Last Stand
17) Guitar Solo
18) In The Evening
19) Stairway To Heaven
20) Rock & Roll
21) Whole Lotta Love
22) Heartbreaker
By the time the band left stage, my ex & I were heading back to the tent - we stopped, part ways, when the band came back for the final encore..... but, it was brilliant !! It had been a long day, it was something like 2 am when we actually found the tent & sleep followed quite quickly !!
Later that day, the Sunday, we packed up & headed home..... wishing I had taped the show, as so many had - but happy to have seen the band again. The last time had been 4 years earlier at Earls Court, in London.
What nobody knew, at the time, was that in just over a year the group would break-up due to the death of the drummer, John Bonham......... apart from the second show, the following week, at Knebworth, we had seen Zeppelin's last show in England. It got slated in the press, but we were there & it was a brilliant experience - one I will never forget - as you can probably tell !!
As we drove back along the M4, guess what ? There was a red 'post office' van - full of people like us - tired, dirty & (probably) still talking about Zeppelin... we couldn't see if our lonely campfire man was in the van - but, it wold be nice to think, he found his mates !!
Oh well..... as the cd plays 'Ten Years Gone' from all those years ago - I will away........
Bye Bye

Monday, 2 August 2010

It's the little things.....

Hi again World,

About 2 years ago - my brother decided he didn't want to know me. Anyhow, he's just written to B, telling her that his wife had died - he didn't write to me, just my Dearest Friend.
So a few minutes ago, I e-mailed him.... the first time I've tried to contact him since September 2008. It was only a little e-mail, but it's the little things that make the World go round & life worth living. We'll see if I get any form of a reply........
Anyhoo - 'tis Monday & for the first time in a week, I've not been in a lot of pain from last Monday's surgery. I can actually sit here with-out too much discomfort - so that's a bonus !! It's only taken 7 days & in another 7 days I have to go back to the hospital, so maybe I should make the best of it !!
Today is ME's last day at Uni - the end of her first year. So the ladies of the house have gone shopping... leaving me here with J awaiting a washing machine repair man. As aways with these guys - you can never tie them down to a time - just "I'll be there on Monday".... fat lot of good that is !! Oh well........
Today's music of choice is a tape I put together 6 years ago. At the moment it's a track from Led Zeppelin and now it's Springsteen - my taste in music seems to be pretty constant.... at least I have that going for me !!
I'm still waiting for a Little Steven dvd I ordered last week - so much for their 'quick delivery' promise - heck, it's only coming from Cheshire - I've driven there and back in less that a day before... oh well, I'll think twice before using them again !!
If you read these words, try & listen to Little Steven's 'Voice Of America' - it's a great album & worth 45 minutes of anybody's time......... give it a try..... for now the music is by Queensryche - & life is good !!
Bye Bye

Thursday, 29 July 2010

Hi again....

Hi Worlds,

I've been wondering why I've been hurting so much, since the hospital visit on Monday - turns out, I've got this wire in my spine, which is attached to a battery pack..... I thought it was a bit painful - but I really do have something stabbing me in the back !!! Never mind - I'm still here...
The music of the moment is Roger Waters' 'Radio KAOS' - one of my favourite post Floyd albums by him, tho' I really like his 'In The Flesh' live album....
'tis a quiet day for me - too much hassle to do very much today - so I'll do the dishes, listen to some music & send a few e-mails.... I have one guy who wants some stuff from me, so I need to contact him as soon as I can, to explain the delays....
Life will go on & so must I........
Bye Bye