I hope you can still read my words...?

Greetings World's !!

It's a Tuesday, here in old England & I've been away from my keyboard a little longer than I like to be !! Sorry about that - one thing has pushed out another - and, time has just got on top of me.... oh well, I'm back now !!

As I type - B is here about, someplace.... I think she went upstairs, to do a bit of cleaning or something. She has just put her head, around the door & I've been reminded to tell you a new trick, that Archie - our kitten - has perfected.

Over the last few years - 2 of the cats have learnt, to get up on the outside window ledge & sort of sit there, waiting for one of us to let them in. Well - after 9 months (give or take) Archie has worked out that he can do this trick !! To begin with - he would fall off & hit the dirt..... but, now he is a master of balancing & has got it down to a fine art !! Bless him !!

As for the rest of the family.......

ME is on a day off & has gone to meet up with a friend from her days at Uni....... and, as far as I know, J is over in Wales, doing his Uni course. I sent him some Cd's, in the post, yesterday afternoon..... so, he might of got them today.

As is the way of the World.... B has just received a text from him.... saying he got them, this morning !! That's kind of weird.... but...... who knows how these things happen !!

So, including Archie..... that's the family taken care of......

As for the music of the moment, well.....

I'm listening to a surprise DVD !! By that -.... well, I'll try & explain.

I was expecting a 2 Cd set, recorded at a festival, in Holland. Well - it came on Saturday, but it also contained a DVD of the same festival, hence the surprise !!

I thought I was getting some recordings of the groups, who played there & I remembered going to see a film release of the festival, when it was in the movie houses. I actually thought the film was called 'Stomping Ground'.... but, the inlay says the film was called 'Stamping Ground'. But - it seems to have had two names..... In the UK, it was called 'Stamping Ground' (I prefer my memories....) and in Europe, it was called 'Love & Music' !!

One thing, that is for sure.... it keeps getting referred to, as 'The Dutch Woodstock' !! Coming approximately one year after 'Woodstock' in August 1970 & having a shed load of bands, who actually played at the more famous concert, well...... I can see the likeness. I can also see that the camera work & crowd shots are very much alike !!

There are a couple of let downs.... Number one has to be the sound quality !! The Cd's sound really crap - tho'.... the film sounds a little better !! So - if you buy the Cd's.... be warned !! The other let down & it's one I know a little about, so I'm not being a bit of a jerk over it.....

..... that's the actual write up, in the package notes !! I don't know what else they got wrong, but.... as far as Canned Heat are concerned, they got the line up of the group really wrong !! I'm not being "picky" (or maybe I am ?) but somebody has the line up including Harvey Mandel & Larry Taylor - when infact, it's Henry Vestine & (I think - tho' I've not seen the film close up yet) Antonio de la Barreda taking those duties !!

If those little things are wrong - I don't know what else is, so.... you pay your money & take your choice on it, I guess !! I was just pleased to get the extra stuff - so, I'll give you the track listing, on the Cd's & leave it at that !! The tracks are:

Cd 1

1) Dust My Blues - Cuby & The Blizzards
2) Human Condition/So Sad (The World's In A Tangle) - Canned Heat
3) Big Road Blues - Livin' Blues
4) Zero She Flies - Al Stewart
5) Giants - Quintessence
6) The Sun Of East/Irish Theme - East Of Eden
7) Freedom - Country Joe
8) Mardis Gras Day - Dr John
9) Drowned In Wine

Cd 2

1) Gumbo/Savor/Jingo - Santana
2) White Rabbit/The Ballad Of You & Me & Pooneil - Jefferson Airplane
3) Wasted Union Blues/Bulgaria - It's A Beautiful Day
4) By The Light Of The Magical Moon - T Rex
5) Old Blue - The Byrds
6) Big Bird - The Flock
7) Esther's Nose Job - Soft Machine
8) Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun/A Saucerful Of Secrets - Pink Floyd

So, there you go..... For me, it's great to watch the DVD & think nostalgically, about the bands I - sort of - grew up listening to..... on the other hand, the sound quality really lets the audio discs down, one heck of a lot !!

If any of you remember those old 'sampler' albums, that CBS Records put out, in the early '70's.... there are loads of groups, on those Lp's featured here..... so, maybe CBS Records sponsored the festival or something, in order to get their bands some face time, in Europe !! Oh well.....

Tomorrow, for my sins.... I have to go down to Exeter, to see the guy about doing another plastic surgery, on my back..... that's going to be fun !! We have to leave here about 8.30am, just to make the appointment in time.... so, I'm not looking forward to that side of the trip !! Nevermind..... I will let you all know how things go.... if at all !!

I don't mind, one way or another now..... the pain is driving me "doo-ally" and the quicker it all gets sorted, the better really..... I'm just really fed up with it all !! It all started, if you go right back, in December 2012 - when the Consultant said "I can fix this..." !!

For him, "fixing it" - well, I will forever be grateful...... but, that was a long time ago now & 8 surgeries later, it's still not completely over.... oh well - I'll see what tomorrow brings !!

Before I go tho' - for today.....

I must thank Mr Puck-tin & how he has successfully shown, how to be a complete asshole !! Over the years, I have been crapped on, in many many ways - buy, Mr Puck-tin have shown the World, what a complete & utter jerk you really are !!

By successfully invading part of the Ukraine and then, blatantly putting your middle finger, into the air as far as the rest of the World is concerned.... well, I hope you sleep well at night. I hope you sleep well.... and well protected, because if you can get away with what you've done...... "good luck" !!

The whole World knows what you've done & I - for one - think you deserve everything the whole World does to you !! Mind you - like me, the whole World knows, short of going to war, there is very little that can be done - so, I look forward to any visits you might make to our little village, not like that's going to happen...... but, if you do came my way...... I look forward to seeing you !!

Just as much as those people who now live under your shadow must look for ward to seeing you..... you jerk !! At least I'm free to say as much...... can you, the people of The Crimea, say the same ?!

 I will away now..... my film is coming to an end & I have things to do. If anybody in the Ukraine or the Russian Federation, have any comments to make, I will look forward to reading them...... mind you, since I started my little "one man" assault, on Mr Puck-tin.... I've heard nothing from any of you !! I hope you can still read my words, I really do.... until next time...

Bye Bye