Remember The Good Times !!

Well "Hello" there - how are you doing this fine evening, I trust you're all well & happy !!

It's a Friday night & I'm here with ME - I'm typing & she is watching TV.... so no music at the moment !!  Maybe in a little while - if she goes upstairs, I'll see.....

As for the other members of the family - not including the 3 cats - well, J is upstairs in his Hobbit hole & B (my Wife & Dearest Friend) has just gone out to the gym thing, again - some class or another !!  She'll be home a bit later..... probably completely tired out !!  Oh well........

Ok - a little puzzle for you !!  How many hands does it take to turn a bathroom light on & off 12 times in a night ?  Simple 2 !!  You use the left hand going in & the right hand coming out !!  I know this for a fact - as it was my hands doing all the switching.... yep, I was that man !!

I had a really bad night last night - B said I should of  got her out of bed - but, what was the point of that ?!!  It was a really nice night out-side - the stars were out & there was an owl in the trees behind the house.... hooting it's little head off - which was nice to hear !!  It's funny what you take notice of in the middle of the night ain't it !!

Add to that, one of the cats was really happy to be let in soooo early !!  She had a big bowl of milk & a dish of cat food - before moaning at me to be let out again !!  Maybe she fancied a bit of "wise old owl" !!  I don't know - she is a dumb cat at the best of times - especially at 5 in the morning or whatever time it was !!

Anyhoooo - that was last night - today has been pretty good.  I've managed to stay awake & for my sins, I'm very very tired now...... but, I'll get over it - as long as I can get a full night's sleep this evening !!  Never mind - I'm still smiling about it - especially B's face when she realised what had been going on while she was asleep !!  Life is good !!

Altho' there is no music on at the moment - all day I've been playing anything & everything.  From the Allman Brothers to Within Temptation... Pink Floyd & Rush - a nice quiet day in the mad house.... again !!  Oh I forgot - B was bopping along to A-ha earlier..... showing her age a little there !!  No, I will not tell you her age - I like my life as it is, thank you & I do not need any more problems !!

If all goes well, tomorrow, we'll head into town again.......if I can't stand the excitement !! I have another parcel to put together & I need to buy a "jiffy bag" thingy - I'm not sure what there called, but you probably know the sort of envelope I mean.  They wrap up pretty well.... + they post quite cheaply as well & that's always a bonus these days.

I see my new reader in Russia has been back - so, a special "hello" to you & thank you for reading !!  I never thought that - when I started this - that so many people would read my words...... many thanks to all of you..... those of you I know & those of you I've never met !!  Keep reading, I might write something worthwhile - one day !!

As for my plans tonight - well.... probably some music & then bed & sleep..... or, sleep & then bed !!  I'll see how things go hee-hee - it will not be the first time I've fallen asleep in a chair !!  I must put some music on soon !!!!

ME has just gone upstairs & so - at long last - the music of the moment is Otway & Barrett's 'Live At The Roundhouse' bootleg from August 1977 - just a bit of fun !!  Don't worry - I didn't buy this as a 'bootleg'..... the guys were selling copies the last time they came here in June !!  So, it's a kind of an official 'bootleg' type of thing... whatever, it's great fun to listen to !!  If you've never heard of them - check out "U-Tube" or something like that & you'll find them on there I'm sure.  The track of the moment is Dylan's 'Only A Hobo' & believe me - it's nothing like Dylan's version !!  Check them out........

I'll have to turn the music off soon - ME will be back down to watch a soap opera she likes !!  This is a University student & she still watches soap opera's !!  Never mind - in the mean time, I will away & regret not playing more music earlier - when I had the chance !! 

It's going to be a sad weekend for many of us around the World....... keep smiling & remember the good times !!

Bye Bye

Jaycee Dugard

Hello Worlds - I hope life (as we know it) is treating you well !!

I'm doing Ok today !!  For once I can report an almost 'good' day - the usual aches & pains for sure, but the bottom line is, I'm feeling good !!  So good in fact, I've stayed out of bed all day & we went into town to do some shopping - it's been a while since I've done that !!

We were in one of the banks - paying the usual bills - anyhooo, we were having a little joke with a lady there & I said "they only let me out of the home once a week"...... I think she took me seriously !!  She didn't really have a reply to that one !!  Oh well....... I do look kind of sick - but, well - not that stupid.. tho' I did have my Allmans beeny hat on !!

The bills have been paid, the groceries have been bought & now we have the joy of waiting to do it all over a again !!   It's only Thursday - so, by Saturday - it'll be back to ASDA & start over.  I thought as we got older, the food type of thing would get easier to buy - but, I forgot to take into account the kids have got bigger & are eating more & more with every passing week !!  Who knows, maybe one day they will move out & B & I will not know what to do with ourselves !!

As for now - the family.... well, the ladies are out.  ME is with her boyfriend & B has gone out to a gym class.  So, that leaves J & yours truly here at home...... he's upstairs & I'm here typing these words to you.  such is the way of things at the moment.

The music of the moment... well, it's Tangerine Dream's 'Lagos' album.  I've had it a while now, but hardly ever play it - mainly because it only has two tracks & the first of them is over 40 minutes long !!  It takes a while to get thru' it..... so, having said that - I'm changing it to Linkin Park's 'A Thousand Suns'.  I can not really think of two different Cd's to play after each other !!  Never mind - music is a big part of my life, so what comes next keeps me smiling & that's the main thing .... got to keep smiling !!

On the way into town today, we stopped off at a local post office - to post my friend a parcel...... as mentioned, he lives in South America.  Well, the parcel cost just over £10 to mail - soooooooo I really hope he gets that one !!  It's going to be a bummer if it fails to reach him - I'm not 100% sure how the postal system works where he is - so, here's hoping.........  I can't think really how I would chase it down if it doesn't reach him - but.... I'll cross that bridge when I come to it !!

So what to do tonight.... probably very little !!  I did plan on staying up until B got home from the gym - but, that's going to be at least two hours from now, so I'll see how I get on.  Maybe I'll play this Cd over a few times - it's got a bit of a punch to it & that's for sure !!

Oh yes - today - in town - I bought a copy of 'A Stolen Life' by Jaycee Dugard.  You might remember her.... she was kidnapped by a pervert when she was 11 years old & kept captive for 18 years.  She lived thru' that - a horrible existence - and survived to tell her tale.  It's given me hope & a little more understanding of what life can do to you..... when ever things get, that I can not stand it any more, I honestly can think of people (like Jaycee) & realise - there are people far worse off than myself !!

Time to change the music again - it's now the turn of Nightwish to burn a hole into this thick skull of mine !!  It's the 'Once' album from quite a few years ago now.  All the Nightwish albums are here in front of me & this was the first one I came to - play it loud.... who knows, it might wake up the neighbours, just a little !!

Come to think of it - I have this Cd on a two Lp picture disc.  J gave it to me a few years back - either for Father's Day or my birthday, I can't remember which now....... it was quite a few years ago !!  It's quite a good thing to keep & play from time to time.

A while back, we had an Elder visit from Finland - he was amazed at the Nightwish collection. I'm not sure where he is now, he headed to Weston last time I heard anything of him.  We called him Elder K - there was no way I could pronounce his name... he was a great lad, as are all the Elder's we've had since.  But, our hearts still belong to the very first Sister's we ever met - they will always have a place in our home.  Oh well.......

I'm really, really pleased we were able to go back to Church on Sunday.... I also really really hope that B will take us again this weekend, but.... well, it's got to be down to what she wants to do.  The Lord is in our hearts, but my family will always come first !!  Hopefully, people at Church, will understand that........

It's 7pm & tablet time - B leaves them all out for me to take.  I'm glad of that - there is no way on this Earth that I could remember which or what I'm supposed to take each time !!  Tho' the 4pm ones are pretty easy - I only have to take 3.... so I kind of remember them !!  Oh well......... Life goes on & so must I..... for now..

with 'Planet Hell' playing loudly in the background...

Bye Bye

Live On Blueberry Hill - it was 41 years ago this week !!

Well Hello To You All - I hope yours Worlds are treating you well !!

It's cold here tonight - cold & wet unfortunately !!  I tried to get the rec room fire lit, but the only wood I had was too wet, so it was a bit of a waste of time really....... I'll try again tomorrow !!  I might even try again later tonight, but that's unlikely.....

3 quarters of the family are here at home this evening.  J is upstairs someplace, ME is here with me doing some Uni work & your's truly is here typing these words.  B has just gone out to a keep fit thing here in the village - she'll be back later on !! 

As for the music of the moment - it's Pink Floyd's 'Earls Court' concert from October 20th 1994.  Ok, I know some people will argue, it's not from Earls Court etc etc - but, this concert certainly is & on that front, I am 100% sure !! Floyd did a lot of concerts in '94 & some get mixed up - but, not this one folks....... oh well !!

I was thinking I should of played Zeppelin's 'Blueberry Hill' concert over the last couple of days - it was 41 years ago this week that show took place & it's one of my favourites !!  I remember, making the trip up to London, to the very old Virgin records & asking for the Led Zeppelin bootleg - there was only one out at the time & when I left the shop, went down stairs....... There was a guy outside the shop - he had just bought a Jethro Tull bootleg.  We talked for a minute about our new Lp's & both agreed, tho' we never said anything..... We were kings !!  We said our goodbye's & I made the 150 mile trip home.

Little did I know then - well , some 40 years later, I now have 6 boxes of Zep bootlegs.... about 500 in all (maybe a few more) & if nothing else - B will make a really big bonfire out of them when I'm gone !!  Hopefully, she won't burn them all - some of my dearest friends want to get their hands on them !!  Great stuff !!

As I've said before - don't buy bootlegs...... if someone won't let you have them for free, don't buy them... it's just not right !!  For the record - mine are not for sale !!

I had a nice surprise last night - some one in Russia read my words yesterday !!  Greetings to you - I hope you'll read this as well & I wish you well !!  You're my first reader from your fair country & altho' I've no idea where you live - it's great to know you're there !! 

I used to have a Russian pen pal, but we lost touch - he left his wife & moved on - so..... without an address - it was kind of hard to keep up with him !!  Oh well - I remember his wife, she was really sorry she didn't have an address for me to write to him.... never mind !!  I still have a picture here someplace..... not sure where.

My plan came together last night.... I went to bed early, did some reading - got up for a short while when B got home - then fell asleep for the night....... a great plan & it all came together !!  I didn't have a plan for this evening, but - as I've been in bed asleep for most of the day - I probably won't go to bed so early tonight !!

I wasn't feeling too "happy" earlier - felt like c**p really - so, sleeping it off was (for me) the best way to go.  It's hard to put into words - but, as the year has gone on & my health seems to have got worse - well, sleep is a good remedy !!  Oh well - I'm still here - so, I won't moan tooooo much !!

I've just taken my evening set of pills & potions - I'm only on 10 at night now !!  It did go up to 13 or 14 a while back, but now the size of the pills have increased - well, I don't have to take so many !!  Which is a good thing....... tho' I have no problem taking pills - the numbers sometimes get to be a drag !!

I hope it'll be dry tomorrow - I have to mail a parcel off to a mate & I really do not fancy going out into the rain !!  I've not been too far this week - well, not since our trip to Church on Sunday.  I can't say I'm looking forward to going into town - but, if that's what I need to do - so be it !!  Whatever happens - I need to get the parcel wrapped & posted !!  Hopefully he'll get ti by the end of next week - it's going to go out to South America & I really have no idea how long that will take !!  We'll see.....

Anyhooooo - the Cd is just coming to an end with 'One Of These Days' - so, I better head on & leave these words for you.

Bye Bye

It's cold outside - don't forget your booties !!

Greetings Peeps - I trust you're all well & happy this fine day !!

Well, it's another Tuesday.... it's quite cold tonight !!  We decided the other week, we wouldn't put the heating on until October 1st..... I'm not sure if that will happen !!  I'm thinking we'll put a fire going soon - that'll warm the rec room & some of the upstairs.... not tonight tho' !!

Ok - I'm sat here, with J sat a little ways to my left - he's just had his supper & is now watching a TV programme.... so no music at the moment !!  B is out at a weight-watchers meeting & ME is working until later...... not sure what time she'll be home, but not for a while, I guess.

Today has been a quiet one - I've not been out all day, except for a trip to the Dr's this morning.  My 'black left hand' is still the matter of conjecture - now that's a big word for me.... I hope I've spelt it right !!  Anyhooo - it's not black any more - tho' it is still swollen & we don't really know why !!  By now, it should of gone back to normal, but....... well - welcome to my life !!  I've to keep an eye on it - to make sure it stays 'pink' & not bright red (or black, I guess)...... also, to make sure it stays cool & not too hot !!  If the latter happens, it could be some kind of infection.... but.... we'll see how things go - I have to see the Dr again, next week, so..... time will tell !!

The music is now on & it's Boston's 'More Than A Feeling' - recorded live in March 1977.  I found a copy today & I've always liked the track... so I made a copy for myself.  I bought the single when I first went to Bermuda, many moons ago now - we now have loads of copies on compilation Cd's around and about + the Boston Cd's !!  Oh well....

In a minute, when this finishes - it'll be the turn of Tommy Bolin to fill the house !!  It's his 'Teaser' album & one of my favourites - I had the Lp & now the Cd & the 'deluxe' version of it as well...... I should play it more often really !!  Never mind....

As I say, it's been a quiet day.... spent most of the morning asleep !!  B went into town, to another gym class thingy & as I had nothing better to do - I went to bed & slept for a while !!  I sound really lazy... but, when the pain gets too much to stand, rather than take even more medication - I go & sleep it off for a while !!  It works for me.... plus, I get to stay up a little later in the evening !!

Last night, ME's boyfriend came over & I completely missed his visit...... I went to bed about 6pm & didn't wake up, any sense, until this morning - now, that's crazy !!  Never mind, I'll try & do better next time !! 

My plan for tonight is pretty lame really - I'm going to head for bed, do a little reading & then head off to sleep !!  Great stuff..... such is life, for me, at the moment !!

I asked the Dr to look into when I'm likely to head back into hospital for my 2 outstanding surgeries.  he didn't really know - but has promised to look into it for me.  I can manage the pain, pretty much - but..... well, I would like some idea of what is going to happen.  We can't do much about it all - but it would be good to have at least a date to work towards !!  Never mind....... it'll all happen, when it happens I guess.

I'm not 100% sure what is happening tomorrow.  I think B is taking J into town, early on, for a meeting, but I'm not sure if I'm going or not.  He (J) has to be there at a kind of strange time - so, the buses are not really going to be an option for him... hence, B is taking him in.  I'll see how I feel in the morning I guess - time will tell on that one.  Such an exciting life !!

For now, I must away - with Tommy Bolin playing in the background - I bid you all a goodnight......ZZZzzzzz !!

Bye Bye

It's Raining Again !!

Ho- Hum & many greetings to you Worlds.... I trust all is well & you're turning nicely ?!

Today is another Monday - the first one in September.  The year is really zooming thru' & it'll be Christmas before we know it - kind of wishing my life away there !!  Never mind - next month will be B's birthday.... no, I'm not going to tell you how old she'll be !!

Anyways.... one of our neighbours has a really 'nice' bird feeder & B would like to have one of those - if we can find one !!  It's about, we just have to look for it...so, we'll keep our eyes open.  I said to B, if we see one she likes - even if it's before her birthday - we'll buy it, or remember exactly where we saw it.  That way, we can go back & buy it !!

Talking of B - she has gone out with ME....... the plan being to do some shopping & pop into the gym for an hour.  I'm not sure when they will be back, but probably not for a couple of hours at least.  So, that leaves me here with J - who, as always, is keeping an eye on me - making sure I don't fall over or what have you !!

B is full of surprises.  I had not expected to go back to Church for a while - but, yesterday..... well...... B woke me with a drink/food & my morning pills & potions + a bath already run for me.  All set ready, to go to Church at 11.30am !!

So, we went off to Church & - as I expected - we were surrounded by people wanting to know how we were & why we hadn't been to Church for a number of weeks.  BUT, as also expected - the older members completely ignored us !!   That's up to them really - it's their choice, not ours........

I've got to be honest, some of The Church really do have problems with us & some of the other 'younger' members of the congregation !!  Oh well........  I was pleased to be able to go back - but, I had to leave earlier than I had hoped  because of a 'problem' - nothing serious - just a problem I have with my illness & the way my body deals with it !!

Anyhoooooo  - I'm sat here again.... the music of the moment Deep Purple's 'Made In Japan' album - a great piece of 1972's rock !!  I don't remember exactly when I bought it, it was when it came out - but, I do remember feeling pleased with it & I've played it many many times over the years !!

I still have the old Lp here in a box..... it's one of the few I didn't sell off - even tho' I've got a copy (or three) on Cd.  I don't play too many of my old Lp's anymore.... but, from time to time, I put one on the turn-table.  I do like the feeling of 'satisfaction' - if that's the right word for it - when I find a Cd of an old Lp that I've sold off.

I really have no idea what B will do with all the Lp's tapes & Cd's when I finally pop my clogs...... as long as she takes care of them & hopefully continues to listen to them down the years !!  Or, maybe she'll pass them on to the kids - I know J likes a load of the Cd's... tho' I think ME would probably prefer to sell them off & have the money !!  Bless them all, I say !!

This weekend is Exeter Record fair..... I'm not sure if we'll go down.  It's a 100 mile round trip.  The last time we went to one, we stayed over night in Exeter - but, I don't really feel like doing that this time around..... it was nice, not have to worry about driving down & back on the same day - but.......... we'll see how it goes !!

Whatever we decide to do - I don't really want any new Cd's... so.... it'll be just a quick trip down to meet up with some friends & have a chat.  Of course - if I see a Cd I really want, I will more than likely buy it..... but, at the moment I've nothing  on my mind !!  We'll see how things go........

As for the rest of the day - I've nothing thought out..... I must get on with a few things, but as to what I've no real idea or plans - such is life.  Actually, I'm going to play 'Ca Ira' - the opera Cd's that Roger Waters did the music for !!  I'm not feeling over active - so I'll give that a listen !!

Bye Bye

"Our Love Leads To Madness" Nazareth

Well hello there - this is me again....... whoever I'm meant to be !!  I hope you're all well !!

Ok - it's a Friday night & we've just had a house full.... now it's just J & your's truly - on our own again.  I could get a complex about this, but what the heck, as long as everybody is happy - why should I care ?!   Exactly............ onwards !!

B has gone out to some class or another, J is upstairs & ME + boyfriend (M) has gone for a walk down to the hairdressers, here in the village...... so.... that just leaves me here typing these words - too much excitement !!  Anyhoo - it does mean I can put whatever I like on the music machine & not worry too much about what the family might think about it.

The music of the moment is Cd 2 of Nazareth's 'Bad Bad Boyz' essential collection.  I've picked the second disc, mainly as it has newer tracks on it - the ones I don't know so well & I can give them a bit of a listen. It's quite good sometimes, to put on stuff I know - but not too well, or  have not played too often - if that makes any sense ?!  Oh well.......

I was thinking earlier - about strange things I've seen in my life & what have you.  Going back to my wayward youth - well.... maybe not that long ago !!

Back in 1974 - I had my first car & was heading towards work.  they were building the motorway thru' here at the time & I had to cross the road workings.  It was quite early in the morning & very misty..... can't remember exactly what time it was.  Anyhooooo - I was sat at this red light & out of the mist came these big road making type machines.... big Earth movers.  I remember that pretty well, as I was playing Pink Floyd on the car stereo at the time - it was apt music for these 'mighty' machines as they came out of the fog !!

Jump forward to about 1997 & I took the kids down to our local beach...... we were sat there & around the corner came this guy - leading a string of camels !!  I kid you not... he was dressed in the full 'arab' (no offence meant) clothing & had about 4 or 5 camels behind him.  I found out later that Neil (the guy) did a 'tourist trip' around that area of the coast for anybody willing to pay !!  Crazy, but true - the guy used to live about a mile from here & we used to see the camels in his field.....

One more thing I remember - since living here at least.... J & I went up to the hill fort above the village.  It was very dark & cold - but, we worked out (thanks to NASA) that the space station thingy was going over our area.  So we went up & watched it 'zoom' over - it was really strange to see this bright light fly over - quite fast, but with no sound.... something I'll always remember was the look on J's face - he was a lot younger then !!

Enough of my memories..... my plans for the weekend are pretty fluid.  I've no real idea what we're doing !!  I'm not sure if we're going into town or anywhere else for that matter !!  I doubt if we will be going to Church - unless B has a change of mind - but, it's up to her. The Church is a big part of my life - but, my family must come first & that's a fact I will not alter, in any shape or form !!

I know if we did go, we would be surrounded by people wanting to know where we have been !!  As it's Testimony Sunday - well, maybe of asking where we have been - I should stand up & ask where they (the members of The Church) have been in our time of need.  Only the Bishop has phoned to make sure we're Ok..... people will moan at our not being there - but, nobody except Bishop has phoned to see how B is coping with my failing  health !!  Oh well - never mind...... my life will go on for a quite a few days yet & my arms will keep flapping...... 

 I won't  be flying too far any more...... but, that the thought is still there, means I've not given up yet - well, maybe just a little !!

The track I'm listening to at the moment was "Where Are You Now" - a nice little song..... one for my Son in Canada, I guess !!  If you live in Canada (and I know some of you do) & you know a guy, whose name starts with C - well, ask if he has a father in England ??  His Dad leaves in Canada, I'm just his father - I don't really count anymore !!

Never mind...... it's time to go.......  I might be back over the weekend, I'll see...... thank's for reading !!

Bye Bye

September 1st !!

Hi ya !!  How are all you Worlds doing out there - I hope you're well & happy !!

Well, as yesterday was the end of August - today must be the start of September..... another month in 2011 !!  Where has the year gone ?  Never mind - it's been a really warm day & the sun has been out..... so, a really good day to be happy !!

My plan tonight was to do a load of photo-copying - but, as yet I've not been able to get my printer to work properly..... so I've given up..... for now, at least !!

J did an upgrade on this old computer of mine about a week ago & today was my first go on the printer since his handy work..... but, it's not quite right, so I'll have a better look at it tomorrow - when I'm a little less tired !!  B took me into town this morning & I'm a little "puffed out" tonight !!  Life will go on - but, not tonight !!

As mentioned, J is about here someplace - upstairs I think.... ME has just got home & is eating some supper & my better half is out at the gym & some keep fit class.  She'll be home in about an hour, give or take.  So that's the family & as for the music - the sounds are switched off at the moment... ME wanted to watch TV & as I've been listening to music most of the afternoon - well, the amp needed to cool down a little......

I've finished all of the Allmans box set now - so the music today has been a little varied.  the 'highlight' was probably A-ha's last concert, from December 4th 2010.  I'm not a big fan of theirs - but B liked it, so we've been playing it kind of loud !!

We've also been playing the soundtrack to 'Stephen Hawking's Universe' TV programme, that was on a while back...... I've not bought it - I found a copy in the library, while we were in town this morning.  I also found a copy of 'ca ira' by Roger Waters - well, he did the music for it - I'm not sure if he wrote the words, I've not really looked at it too much as yet.  That will probably be tomorrow sometime...... I'll see how things go !!

My plans for tonight are pretty much out the window - I'm not going to do the printing & I've not thought too much what is going to take it's place.... it'll probably be another early night - such a hectic life I lead !!

I saw on the news today about a guy, who had the same problems as my good self.  Unfortunately, he died & his family were given a 6 figure pay out - because, as I understand it - he wasn't diagnosed properly.  It goes to show how lucky I've been & how good my Dr's have been to me !!  I know I'm not the Worlds healthiest person - but.... I'm lucky & hopefully I'll remain that way.... for a while at least !!

I also saw the guy from Libya was on, doing a speach, from his hiding hole - if they catch him.... well, I can't say I care too much - but, I hope they do somewhere's along the ways !!  Oh well - I must away - it's been a quiet night, so I'll keep it that ways !!

Bye Bye