So, here I am once more......

Hi World.....

'Tis a Friday & the weather has turned pretty crud-ish for the long weekend - it's raining & I'm here on my own (again) as B & J are out walking a friends dog. ...... 2 questions really.

1) Why have a dog if you're going to leave it all day ?

2) Why is it that B has to walk the mutt....... I've no idea !!!

ME is at Uni today - bad knee and all. She is struggling to drive, but she had to make the effort. Next week B is going to drive her up & back. ME has to have some blood work done & the Uni is advising people not to drive. All well & good if you live on campus - not 57 miles away as we do !!

For the last 2 days the music of choice has been Mr Wagner's 'Gotterammerung' - all 4+ hours of it !!! I've only ever heard it all the ways thru' once before & that was on 6 lps. This 4 cd set is far better quality - even if this the German language version....... as you can guess, I don't speak German.

Oh yes - I had a hair cut today..... Earth shattering news there folks !! Tomorrow there is a Baptism & I thought I would make the effort. I'm not sure that we're going yet - depends what sort of night I have. B had to pick me up off the floor last night as it was !!

I went to let the cat out and I missed the bed on my return - I kid you not, but it happens !! next time I'll let the moggy wake someone else up....

Oh well, must away....

The Dentist Pt 3

Hi again.....

Well, today has seen another visit to the dentist - this time for me... I'm sooooooo glad I have no problems with going there !!! Anyhow, that's me finished for another 6 months. I keep reading about how people find it hard to find a NHS dentist - but the surgery we go to has big signs outside, saying how new patients are welcome !! Never mind.........

....and talking of patients. Poor ME is in the wars. Her knee keeps going 'out' on her & last night she was going up the stairs & pop - out it went !! So as I write B & her are at the Dr's trying to sort it out. Hopefully something can be done - it looks VERY painful !!

Anyways - I'm sat here listen to Roger Waters & enjoying the sunshine.... tomorrow it's meant to rain, so where ever you are - stay dry......

Oops !

Hi again world - or those of you who might read this.......

So, there I was looking back at my blog & I realised something. It's spelled Sat Nav - not Sta Nav as I wrote on Sunday !! As I say Oops !!

Anyways, it's another beautiful day outside, a few clouds, but pretty good all the same. Today's music of choice has been a cassette I recorded on December 23rd. 1986..... and it's been a good listen all the ways thru', reminding me of the things I was listening to all those years ago.

I had just come back from the USA & the music on the tape reflects what I had been listening to while I was there. From Boston thru' Marillion to the Monkees !! D, who I met while I was out there, gave me a Monkees lp as a keep sake - I still have it here - hence the Monkees made it to the tape.

Can I add here, to those people who say tapes do not last, this one is 6 months short of it's 24th birthday...... it's not the tape, it's how they are looked after !!! My oldest tape was bought in 1971 & it still plays fine to this day. It has a Canned Heat collection on it..... well good !

At the moment I'm sort of here alone. ME is at Uni, B is out visiting a friend - just leaving J here to keep an eye on me.... in case I get sick & fall over or something.

I'm transferring a cd of hymns at the moment.... you get a big variety in this place, as I guess you can tell you. I recorded them from Conference over the Easter weekend & I needed to edit them a bit. The Elders should be here later & I want to give them a copy to listen to in the car or at their apartment. Hopefully it'll all work out ok - I guess it should be ok... we'll see.

.... so with 'Nearer My God To Thee' playing in the background - I bid you good day & take care..

Greetings....

Hi again to anybody who might read this.....

It's a beautiful day here in the country - tho', this morning on a trip to town, the traffic was really bad..... why do they always do road works at peak times ? Oh well.....

That was this morning - this afternoon I'm here on my lonesome... B has taken J into town to check out some job things. If I've not mentioned this before, he lost his job last week - bummer !

So I'm here playing some Allman Brothers... it's one of their shows from the Beacon Theater last year... well good it is as well !! I only ever saw them once, on the first visit to this country in 1974. Jeez, it seems from reading these posts that all the concerts I write about are from the mid '70s.... it's just a coincidence, I promise you !!

Anyways - I must away.... too many things to do & not enough brain cells to deal with them all !!

Take care.....

Sta Nav's

Hi again,

Today, at about 11pm, marks the 24th anniversary since I recorded Roger Waters in concert in New York. I wasn't there - the concert was on the Friday Rock Show on the BBC...... I still have the tape, tho' now I've put it onto Cd.

How do I know, well.... the 23rd of April was Independence Day & I recorded the RW concert 2 days later, on a Friday night - feeling very tired, but making sure my life would go on !!! It is quite a good concert, so I might dig it out and give it another play.... just for old times sake.

Anyhow - it's been the Sabbath again and Church was pretty good today.... the journey home was hectic tho' !! We were following our normal route, only to find the road blocked by a police sign & a fence.

So, being locals we shot off down a side street to cut thru' the lanes we know, like the back of our hands - only to be met by idiots driving towards us using their blooming Sat Nav's. Just because the main road is closed & your Sat Nav takes you off the beaten track, it doesn't mean you can drive like jerks or get a car & caravan thru' lanes that were not designed for !!

Oh well - 'tis the summer crazy season......... Bloody Tourist !!

Independence Day

So say goodbye, it's Independence Day,
It's Independence Day,
All down the line,
Just say goodbye, it's Independence Day,
It's Independence Day, this time.

The Sky Is Crying......

Hi again,

The planes must be flying again - our beautiful blue sky is full of white streaks... almost like tears ! It's really kind of sad.

While I'm talking about the sky - how many children's balloons are let go each day & are flying over head as I type ? It was just a thought I had today after seeing the film 'K-Pax' - during part of the film, a child's balloon escapes (for want of a better word) and floats away into the sky. So, my question is this - how many balloons get lost everyday ? Answers on an e-mail to the above if you please.

Today's music of choice is the John Cale album I got a few days ago, 'Circus Live'... I decided to play it end to end to give it a good listen. It's been a long time since I played any of his music, but this really something special. I have a soft spot for 'live' recordings at the best of times - but, this is good !!

Add to that, B is feeling under the weather... as mentioned yesterday, her mouth is playing up - so she is in bed trying to sleep off the pain. I'll give her a few hours & go up with a cup of juice or something.

In a way things have worked out quite well... We were having the Elders over for a meal tonight, but they had to cancel - so, with B being poorly & their cancellation, things worked out for the best.... Hopefully she will be feeling better tomorrow... when the antibiotics kick in !

Take care.....

The Dentist Pt 2

Hi,

Now as I have written already, I do not mind the dentist... but B bless her hates the place. So today I am VERY proud of my Dearest Friend & Wife, as she went to the dentist - without being forced - due to tooth ache !!!

As it turned out, she didn't need any work doing - she has somehow got an infection - but, I'm so please with her..... very brave, as only people who hate the dentist can understand !!

It's been a very funny 24 hours since I last put finger to keyboard.... I couldn't remember the name of the other Cd I got yesterday - shame on me - it's by The Gaslight Anthem, 'The '59 Sound'.... I know very little about them, other than they were at Glastonbury last year & Bruce Springsteen joined them on stage. I'll give it a few listens & let you know my thoughts on it !

At the moment I'm playing a Dio Cd 'Live At The Spectrum, Philadelphia'.... I like Ronnie James & he is one of the few people/bands I've seen 3 times, a good guy all around !! Last I heard he had a cancer, so I hope he's OK.... anyhow, this is a great way to wake up !! Oh yes, I've been asleep most of the afternoon.... not to worry !! I had to get up 'early' this morning to go with B - well, early for me - so I needed to sleep it off........

Oh yes, it's been a funny 24 hours !! As you might know, we have an election coming up here in the UK & yesterday our sitting MP came a knocking for my vote !!! What is so funny about that ? Nothing really, except I've known the guy for a number of years & we always get on well - yet I've never voted for the guy ! Would you trust a friend with running the country ???? No, I thought not........ Besides, my vote wouldn't count for much around here - you could put a monkey up in a Conservative suit & he would will ! It's that sort of area ! I still vote, but usually for one of the 'also rans' who don't stand a chance....... Hell, in one of the local elections, the Labour party didn't even put anybody up - they knew it would be a waste of time !! So, on the day my vote will go to someone who doesn't have a hope - but needs some kind of support from the masses, bless them !!

On the 'down side' J telephoned to check what his bosses needed him to work this week - he's been on holiday - only to find he has lost his job !! It was only going to be a short term thing, but nobody thought to tell him !! IF he hadn't 'phoned, he would have gone into work tomorrow night at 11pm only to find he didn't have anything to do !! A bummer really, but at least he's taking it for what it was..... another job will come up at some point !!

So, another 24 hours & - it's highs & lows - have been a funny sort of thing.... but life will go on, so - if anybody is reading this...............................

..........take care until next time !!

Hi again

Hello World....

It's Monday & a fantastic day outside - hot, sunny & a nice place to be a part of !! I hope all is well with you & yours and life is treating you well ? That is of course IF anybody is actually reading this ! It would be nice to think that, one day, somebody will be a part of this blog...oh well......

Today I have finished listening to the choir extracts from our General Conference, which was held over the Easter weekend - the 'Hallelujah' chorus at the end was really good - it sounded like the whole buildibg was vibrating !!

It's all quiet here - picked up 2 'new' cds today & at the moment I can't remember what they were - one was by John Cale and the other I've forgotten about ?!! It happens a lot, I forget what I've got - hence the list I started a while back !!

I'll have a think & fill in the blanks tomorrow..... take care....

Greetings

Greetings again world !!

So, it's another Sunday - but, due to feeling like s*** today, I've not been able to enjoy it or the sunshine..... oh well.

It's about 7 pm & the big news of the day is that Mr Button won the GP today !!!!!! 2-0 to Mr B !! I saw some of the race earlier, but not enough to enjoy - I'll watch the re-runs during the week at some point.... all in all, a good result !

At the moment I'm sat here in our 'rec room' listening to Neil Young's Glastonbury set from last summer - 'Rockin' In The Free World' has to be one of the best versions yet - I'm looking for any tapes from - the following night - Hyde Park in London...... anybody out there got one they want to pass on ? I still think his best work is to come - tho' many of my friends think his early stuff to be his best..... If you haven't done so already, listen to the 'Dead Man' soundtrack - pure brilliance !! You must watch the film tho'...... !!

Anyhow, this is going to be a quiet week - so today has started the way the rest of the week will progress... all being well I'll hear from the hospital this week & get things rolling on my 'bionic' implant.

It might be quiet - but the music will keep me going !!

Take care.

What a great day to fly !!

Hi,

If you're falling a long way, you may as well try and fly - that's how I try and live my life, it works for me.... but then, of course, I've never had to deal with an Icelandic volcano !

So, why are all these people moaning about their flights being cancelled ? Surely it's better not to fly - rather than "crash and burn".... oh well - no matter how hard you think you have it, somebody is always worse off !!

So quit your belly aching folks - it's Gods planet after all, we're only the passengers. Take life for what it is and get on with it..... things could be a lot worse tomorrow !!!

It's a bit cold outside today - had to put my coat on - but it's a really sunny day, just a little cold in the wind. B took me into town earlier and I picked up 2 new cds. Tangerine Dream's 'Tyranny Of Beauty' & classical compilation of baroque masterpieces. If nothing else, in this house, you get a varied selection !!

If that wasn't enough to spoil the neighbours day, at the moment I'm playing an old tape a friend did for me - KLF are taking the walls to a higher level of experience !! Great fun being had by all..... well, me at least !!

Anyways, volcano's permitting, tomorrow is the Chinese F1 GP - so that's something to look forward to. Hopefully Mr Button will win again and go 2 up over Mr Hamilton - wouldn't that be nice !! As long as everybody gets around safely, I don't mind - JB winning is just a bonus, I guess.

I must away, for some reason Phil Collins is on the tape & as much as I like music, I have to draw the line at some point... take care 'Cruel World' - I hope you get into the air at some point, least ways, it'll stop all the moaning on the News !!

Oh yes, before I go - M & T - the surgeon has worked wonders.... all I would ask.... "Why ?"

Oh well.....

I went to dentist - yesterday - & was so happy with it.... NOW today, my mouth & jaw feels like I've gone 10 rounds with some kind of heavy weight puncher !! Life will go on, I guess, but next time - I'm taking my gloves !!!

Anyways - the music today has been very varied... played some more Tangerine Dream onto Deep Purple and finished the afternoon with the Hymns from The Easter Conference. I can't think too many people would have that sort of play list on a bad day - this is a good day for me !!

'Tis late now, so I'm wrapping up with some Robert Plant 12 inch singles - well... why not ?

The Dentist ?

Hi World !!

Am I alone in the thinking "I don't mind going to the dentist !" - I wonder this thought as I have spent 45 minutes in the dreaded chair this morning, listening to the screams of the other surgery rooms.... and wondering what all the fuss was about ?!

It's true, given the choice, I would rather spend time any place else... but it's only a dentist after all - a small bit of discomfort a few times a year and that's it. Oh well - it probably helps that, as a nipper, my dentist was a real terror, so any thing compared to him HAS to be an improvement !

I did ask the family if any of them wanted to exchange visits with me & not one of them were interested - they, like most of the planet, hate just the thought of going, but me - it's just another day in the life. Mind you - given my medications, it would take a LOT to put me off, almost, anything !!

Anyhoo - 'tis a Wednesday (B has just confirmed that for me) and the week is at it's turning point..... to 'celebrate' this wonderful day, I'm playing Tangerine Dream's 'Underwater Sunlight' album. I've had a couple of days of Deep Purple/Marillion & Robert Plant, so this is quite light for me...... maybe going to the dentist has got to me after all !!

Oh well... take care & keep brushing those teeth !!

Good morning....

Hi,

'Tis 9.20am & Deep Purple is blasting from the speakers - now that'll wake up the parish !! A good - if not slightly mad way to start the day.

Oh well............

Greetings

Hi people,

When I started this, I mentioned a song by John Miles - 'Music' - which I hadn't heard in years.. yesterday, at about lunch time, it was on the radio !! Spooky...................

It was some old chart show and 'Music' was number 3 in the charts this week in 1976. I can't believe it really - B couldn't understand why I was laughing about it. Oh well... stranger & stranger !!

Today is Sunday & being the Sabbath I'm blasting the local parish with some good ol' rock..... today's cd of choice being by Them Crooked Vultures. It came out last year sometime & altho' I've a few 'live' concert cds by them, I've not played the studio discs for some time now. It's a good album & being a Zeppelin fan of many years standing, anything by John Paul Jones is worth a listen. He's not every body's cup of tea, but I enjoy his stuff. This album, with Joshua Homme & Dave Grohl is a bit special - well, I think so at least !!

But, more of music later... yesterday we went to visit B's Grandmother. We think she's about 95 - nobody seems to really know - and the biddy is in hospital, not really expected to leave. I've not always seen eye to eye with her, but it's a shame she's got to this point. As someone said today, at Church, "when the train gets to your stop, it's time to get off"...... it's nearly her 'stop' I guess.

B is a bit upset about it, as you can guess, but.... well, I think she knows it's coming to an end & that's about it really. Without sounding too harsh, life will go on - but for B, her 'Nan' has always been there.......

Anyhoo - I have to move on... I was meant to have sent some cds by Donovan to a mate this week, but with everything going on - going bionic - I forgot to put them in the parcel of stuff I sent him. So, I'll wrap them later & post them off tomorrow or the day after..... anybody out there remember Donovan ? Anybody out there.... anywhere ?

Being an Allman Brothers fan, I love their version of Donovan's 'There Is A Mountain' - or as they call it, 'Mountain Jam'... especially some of the longer versions they've played over the years. The concerts they did in 2009 were a bit special, being the 40th year of their "togetherness" so to speak. My hat's off to the band & all the people at 'Hittin' The Note' - 40 years & still rockin'...... where will the Pop Idols of today be in 40 years ??????

Oh - if you haven't seen it already, check out the film about the Canadian rockers Anvil !! I saw them many moon ago, at the Monster's Of Rock - it wasn't until the film came out, that I knew they - at least, 2 of them - were still together & still cooking on all
6 rings !!

The last bit of the film, when they play Japan, at something like 11am to a pack hall of some 20,000 people, is a sooooo good !! They really are a band who deserve any one's attention - they rock !!

Ok, tis' time to go for now - it's Sunday afternoon - & the music of the moment is The Style Council..... "Why ?" - good question !!! ME's boyfriends Dad is a Paul Weller fan, so I'm passing the tape onto him. It's a live show from Pilton, many years ago & seems to be pretty good - not that I would know any different, I'm not a great lover/fan of Mr Weller.... a good guy by all accounts, but not for me really. So, why do I have the tape ? it's just one of many, many here abouts I've collected over the years - knowing, 1 day, somebody would be interested in hearing it...... and that's a good enough reason in my book !!

Take care all........................

Hi again...

So,

It's Friday & another week has gone by - where do they all go ? This time last week, it was Easter weekend & I was looking forward to General Conference..... oh well.

As you may know, we've gone 'Digital' this past week - no more crude TV signals, just weird & wonderful mega channels from all over the world. One of our satellites is 'Telstar 12' - hell I'm old enough to remember the first Telstar..... The world spins on & it's a lovely day outside so no point moaning about it.... Telstar 12 !!!

B is outside doing the gardening - tending & talking to her plants. Our place gets very soggy, so we need a few dry days for the lawns to dry out for cutting. She seems to enjoy her garden - me, I just kill anything I look at !!

On the music front, I have a tape playing at the moment & I've no idea who it is !! I recorded it many many moons ago, probably for the car, so it could be anybody..... tho' I would take a guess at it being Little Feat. I'm just trying to remember if I ever saw them live - can't remember !

A day or two ago, I mentioned the Pink Floyd bootleg.... well, I dug out the Knebworth '75 set - another bootleg, so the quality ain't special, but a nice thing to have... if only to say "I was there".

I can't honestly believe it was 35 years ago !!

This afternoons plans are pretty flexible, so - as I've to rest up after yesterday - I'll be playing more music & just being me - life is great !! Now if only I can find out who's on this tape !!

Never mind... I'll remember at some point !

Have a good one......................................................................... Take care C

I Love it when a plan comes together !!

So,

There we were walking - well, B was walking - thru' town & I kind of casually say about going into this shop... we walk in, I say "hello..." B says "What have you done ?!" and the rest is, as they say history.

B is now the beautiful owner of a piece of Welsh gold in the shape of a flower, the Cancer foundation get a 10% cut and me - well... "I love it when a plan comes together !"

Anyhow, that was yesterday - today has been a bummer. But, it seems like I'm going 'bionic' and having a £10,000 bit of hardware fitted to me, which if all goes well, will make my life a lot better..... come on, did you think I spend all day listening to music for the hell of it ?

Nope, I have some crude disease that up until 9 years ago I had never heard of. BUT, no matter how bad things get, I'm surrounded by a great family and - even it beats me - I'm going down fighting !

I just get bummed out when things go wrong and I/we have no control over it. I hope dear readers you can understand that ? The new bit of kit will make things sooooo much better (if it works) it'll be unreal !!

I live by a phrase:

"If you'll falling a long way, you may as well try and fly"

I've been falling a very long way these past years - but I'm still flying and, besides, little things like yesterday make the world a lot nicer place to live in !

Enough of this - the music these past 2 days has been really electric. Too many names to mention, but, at the moment I'm listening to the fantastic Mick Ronson & Ian Hunter. A great album from a few years back... check it out.

I'm away - sleep easy people.

Starnge but true.....

OK,

It's 4pm in the afternoon - re-runs of Star Trek are on the TV - and for some unknown reason, Depeche Mode are on the tape I'm
playing !! Very weird, as it started out as some AOR stuff !! God knows when I recorded this - must of been in a moment of madness I guess... oh well.

Tomorrow, if all goes to plan, something special is going to happen. I've made a deal with a shop in 'town' to keep B a Welsh gold necklace thing - she really loves that stuff..... shame it's so bloody expensive !!

Both the kids are in on the plan - it's a long story - but ME went into the shop to put it aside for me and J has loaned me a few £'s to help things along. If all goes well, sometime tomorrow morning, B's face will be a picture & I'll probably get a rollicking for treating her..... but it'll be worth it - just to see her face !!

Anyhow, that apart & the D Mode tape - things have gone pretty well today... got on with some cds, putting them in some kind of order - it's no good working out what we have here, if I ain't got a clue where they all are !

Much to my surprise, I found a copy of the Pink Floyd bootleg 'Winter Tour 74'.... I've had that one some years !! It's been 35 years, this year, since I saw them at Knebworth - a great day had by all !! I'll dig the tapes of the show out & give them a listen later - a 3 cd set if I remember !!

Oh well - with D Mode playing badly - sorry lads - in the background, I must away.... onto Floyd I think, or maybe I'll let the amp cool down a bit & watch Star Trek. What fun !!!

Here I am once more....

Greetings,

I've had a sad thought today - I've been playing far too much AC/DC... Today it was the 'No Bull' dvd. It's okay, but a little too much for me in my aging years !

Oh well, it's been a quiet day really - apart from AC/DC - with a little Van Morrison and a LOT of Grateful Dead... only 6 cds, if that counts for a lot, but all good stuff anyhoo.

Being Easter Monday, we've stayed in for most of it, hence the 6 Grateful Dead cds - are there any Dead Heads out there ? It took me a few years to understand them, preferring the Allman Brothers Band - but they have grown on me over the last 30 years or so.

God !! 30 years... oh well...

Live will go on & on & on......

What a wonderful weekend !!

Tis 10.30 pm & such a wonderful weekend is coming to a close... not only the close of Easter Sunday - but also the close of our 180th Conference !

I won't bore you with the details, but it's been a great two days for me. My family have been here, with me, and I've played some kick butt music - all is good in the world....... not perfect, but for me I could wish for no more.

Music wise, I recommend Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow and their 'Stranger In Us All' album. I heard it for the first time this past few hours & I am so over the moon, as one of the tracks is the wonderful 'Ariel' !!

I have looked for so long to find this track, soooooooo long - to finally get a copy has been the cream on the top of the apple pie.... it's one of my favourite tunes that Blackmore's Night played in concert.... and now I have the studio version - great stuff...

Take care & goodnight !

Greetings

Hi,

Now picture the scene... it's 6.30am, it's wet & windy - average day in England I guess - and we're heading south on the motorway. What a better pick me up than AC/Dc & 'Hells Bells' blasting thru' the car stereo !!!

After a quarter hour and a few miles, we pick J up from his work - knackered as usual after a night shift - and head off into town to deliver an Easter cake to the missionaries who are serving in our Ward... only they've moved !!!

So, it's now about 7.30am and we give them a call.... only to have a very vague voice on the other end of the line. So we tracked them down and find them on the doorstep of their 'new' home - both without shoes, and only in sweat shirts and shorts - in the rain & in the very cold morning air.

It turns out, the vague voice on the end of the phone is a brand new Missionary - only on his first morning in our Ward... he wasn't being vague, he had no idea who we were OR probably where he was !! What a strange welcome to our homes & hearts !!

It was all worth it tho' to see the look on their faces when they saw the cake - chocolate, with mini eggs on the top... we have to look after the guys, they are a long ways from home after all + it's nice to know they are normal guys under their suits.... bless them all !!

It's now 6.15pm - it's been a long day (for me at least) and Ritchie Blackmore's 'Rainbow' is blasting thru' the speakers. A new album to me called 'Stranger In Us All' - it came out quite a few years ago, but this is the first time I've heard it... any Rainbow fans out there ? Is there anybody out there ? Anywhere ????????

Oh well - ti's Easter weekend & to make it more special, it's Conference weekend.... some of you will know what I mean, for those who don't... well not to worry.

Good night World !!!

A Question....

Has anyone out there ever seen a film called 'A Scream For Help' ??

Last night B was driving us home - about 11pm - and as our favourite radio station has been closed down (Boo Boo), we were playing a tape in the car. it turned out to be the s/t to the above film... from I'm guessing about 1984.

I used to have a really great friend - he past away - who lived on an island. It had 'sun, sea & everything'.... but, at the time, a really bad time getting albums & stuff. This is before the Internet and the stuff we take for granted now... so every now & again I would send him over stuff he wanted.

Anyhow, the s/t was done by John Paul Jones & as I've been a BIG fan of Led Zeppelin since hearing side A of the 1st album, I got a copy for myself. BUT it dawned on me last night, I've never seen the movie.........

Oh well - have a good Easter !!