More of wot I have read...

The Liar by Stephen Fry


This is Stephen Fry’s debut novel and there are undoubtedly elements from the author’s life represented within it hidden behind the carefully crafted and engaging story.

The story revolves around the life and times of a clever but selfish character that does some amazing things, or so he will have you believe. As the story progresses you become more aware that there are many levels of deceit occurring, but it is impossible to unravel them all, and the reveal at the ending comes as a surprise.

There is a possibility that it will be turned into a film.



‘Not one word of the following is true’

More of wot I have heard...

Look Where I’ve Ended Up Now by Colum Sands

We saw this Northern Irish singer songwriter at our local folk club and found him very enjoyable. He had the gift of the gab too, telling some interesting tales including one about a song on his new album that came out of a tour to New Zealand and a chance meeting in a Devenport folk club.


Beachcomber’s Windowsill by Stornoway

Terry gave me a spare copy of this album and I am very glad. This is the début album, and boy they are worth looking out for, they a bit like Munford & Sons but more folky.

A Cultural Day in the City...

Benjamin Franklins House


We had a day in London recently and we managed to cram a few things in including a visit to the only surviving home of Benjamin Franklin in the world. The rooms are bare now, but the guide is an actress who interacts with pre-recorded audio and visual presentations in each room to give you a great tour, bring to life much of the history much better than a dry display case could.

Camille Silvy at the National Portrait Gallery

The NPG does a nice thing where they have a late night opening some evenings and even have a small bar in the foyer. We decided to have a quick look at an exhibition of Camille Silvy’s work after we came out of the theatre. The gallery is a great place to pop in quickly and get a fix of culture.

Silvy was a pioneer of early photography and one of the greatest French photographers of the nineteenth century. There were some very interesting pictures that showed a snapshot of life during that period. Some of his experiments with different techniques were interesting too.


Avenue Q at the Wyndham’s Theatre

This adult puppet show is coming to an end in London, so we thought we would catch while we could. It was an absolute hoot, we loved it, never have we seen the like even puppet porn. It had great songs, funny acting, fun stage and a superb production and was very enjoyable.

Local culture...

When We Are Married by JB Priestley at Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre


This was a great production of a lovely bedroom farce, everything about it was well done – even the set got an applause as the curtain rose. The company were on the last night in the suburbs before moving into the west-end. The cast included some very familiar names including

Rosemary Ashe, Lynda Baron, Susie Blake, Michele Dotrice, David Horovitch, Roy Hudd, Vincent Brimble, Maureen Lipman, and Simon Rouse

Dance little piggy, dance...

Westcott Gardeners’ Club Ceilidh


The Gardeners’ Club had an event in one of the local halls. They had organised a Ceilidh (Kaylee) band – the Pugwash Band (a couple from the band run the Dorking Folk Club that we frequent).

We had a good night dancing our socks off, though Sue claims I flung her about far too roughly.

Mong’d in Corfu...

We had a short break in Corfu recently, essentially our summer holiday but in autumn. We have friends who moved out there several years ago and renovated a small cottage, living there most of the year.

We were taken on a guided tour of the island and some of the things we saw included: Sunset Beach (where a cliff-top bar is situated and you can have a drink facing the sea - there are also swing seats), Achilleion Palace (a grand old building with an interesting history of pre-war Germany, Nazi occupation, casino and set of a James Bond movie – it also has a very tall and impressive bronze of Achilles), Kalami ( a lovely bay), Vlacherna and Pontikonisi or Mouse Island (iconic views of Corfu and entertainingly just at the end of the runway), birth place of Prince Phillip, home of the Durrell family, home of Nana Mouskouri, Mount Pandokrator (tallest point on the island with a church at the very top and a communications tower in the church yard), Kassiopi (a wonderful coastal town) and Nisaki (near where our friends live and where Sue had the best calamari – ever!)

We spent the evenings drinking way too much, partying into the night playing silly games – like pick a track from Terry’s extensive collection in turn in a multi-DJ style. The earliest we got to bed was 1am, the latest 5am. Mong’d is Terry and Alexis term for being very, very drunk.

Luckily it rained all day on the last day – we all needed the rest.

More of wot I have read...

Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell


This was a very interesting book not just for the narrative but for the unusual writing style. There are six stories that start in the past and proceed through to the future, each partially completed – until you get to the last story in the middle of the book that is whole, each of the other stories is then completed in turn until you get back to the first story. Each story makes reference to the previous one in a continuation but they are quite different stories, written differently in different styles (diary, pulp novel, interview etc.). I liked it very much.


“Souls cross ages like clouds cross skies...


Six interlocking lives – one amazing adventure. In a narrative that circles the globe and reaches from the 19th century to a post-apocalyptic future, David Mitchell erases the boundaries of time, genre and language to offer an enthralling vision of humanity’s will to power, and where it will lead us.”

More of wot I have read...

Blood River, A Journey to Africa’s Broken Heart by Tim Butcher
This is an interesting read as it documents a part of the world that is almost as hidden as it was years ago during the time of the early Victorian explorers. The terrible troubles in the region are catalogued in this documentary style book and show just what circumstances led to the downfall of this natural resource rich region.


‘When Daily Telegraph correspondent Tim Butcher was sent to Africa in 2000 he quickly became obsessed with the legendary Congo River, and the idea of recreating H. M. Stanley’s famous expedition. Despite warnings that his plan was ‘suicidal’, Butcher set out for the Congo’s eastern border with just a rucksack and a few thousand dollars hidden in his boots. Making his way in an assortment of vehicles including a motorbike and dugout canoe, helped along by a cast of characters from UN aid workers to a campaigning pygmy, he followed in the footsteps of the great Victorian adventurers. Butcher’s journey was a remarkable feat, but the story of the Congo, told expertly and vividly in this book, is more remarkable still.’



Fatherland by Robert Harris

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it had a good, well paced action/police/conspiracy story and the ‘what if the Nazi’s had won’ setting was fascinating too.


‘April, 1964. The naked body of an old man floats in a lake on the outskirts of Berlin. In one week it will be Adolf Hitler’s 75th birthday. A terrible conspiracy is starting to unravel...’

Autumn is on its way...

The days are drawing in, temperature is dropping and the sun has left is again. Still, we have had a few good weeks during the summer time and overall the weather here has been pretty good. We are determined not to put the heating back on until we have had our ‘summer’ holidays – going to Corfu to visit friends.

This time of year is a bumper time in the allotment and we have dug up the last of the potatoes, are picking tomatoes almost every day, and the courgettes glut is nearly over. At home we have some very interesting chillies cropping, including two fruit on the dreaded Dorset Naga (under ‘uses’ it has ‘weapon’ listed).

Folk in a Field...

Towersey Village Festival

Again we had a lovely time at this smaller family friendly folk festival in Oxfordshire. We were lucky with the rain that abated the day we got there and stayed fine for most of the time (apart from a small shower when we were safely ensconced in the pub listening to my uncle, his mates and others playing and singing).

Here is some of what we saw...

Established and Old School

Roy Bailey (the patriarch of the festival, does a good turn in comedy/children’s/family songs – particularly like the Ben Kenobi song)

Chris Wood and Andy Cutting (bought Chris Woods cd – great voice)

Martin Simpson

Martin Carthy

Eliza Carthy

Going To Go Far

Sam Carter (bought his cd – touching lyrics)

Lauren McCormick (lovely voice)

Tyde (a very popular young group – going to go far)

Jackie Oates

Fay Hield

Nancy Wallace

Walsh & Pound

Up and Coming

Gavin Osborn (comic songs with heart – bought his cd)

Bethany Weimers (beautiful voice – she could be a star)

Anna Elias (bought her cd – sublime music and voice)

From Across the Pond

Genticorum (great, fun and French Canadian)

Sara Grey, Kieron Means and Ben Paley

Foot Stompers

Bellowhead (real party band, only folk band I have pogo’d to – have there cd)

Jon Boden and the Remnant Kings (Jon from Bellowhead, toned down slightly, great tunes and lyrics – have his cd)

Kan (a new grouping of artists from other great bands, real energy and enthusiasm)

Something Else

Frumptarn Guggenband (unbelievable brass and percussion band, especially when joined by the following)

Gaorsach Rapper and Step (a fantastic dance side that well deserve their award winning status)

Pig Dyke Molly Dancers (making morris and molly dancing modern?)

Cabaret

Bruce Airhead (brilliant show – how does he do that?)

The Dragon’s Tale (great show for the kids – and sensitive adults)

Madame Ovary & Cecily Bumtrinket (great fun)

Installations

HiG Helix in Gimble (looks great, could save you energy and money)

More of wot I have read…

The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson

This is an interesting book with some fun ideas and nice twists, but there is a lot in it and sometimes I felt quite lost, and ultimately this meant I lost interest at times.

‘The Diamond Age or A Young Lady’s Illustrated Primer

Far above the diamondoid bedrock of New Chusan, a powerful class of neo-Victorians is ruling twenty-first-century Atlantis/Shanghai. John Percival Hackworth, a brilliant nanotechnologist, has created an illicit, magical book for the education of a young lady: an interactive device crammed with folklore, science and the martial arts that teaches young women how to think for themselves.

What will happen to society of it should fall into the hands of someone like little Nell, a poor orphan girl with so much to learn?’

Epsom Downs Racecourse – Concerts...

Throughout the summer Epsom Downs Racecourse is the venue for several concerts. You can pay for entry to the grandstand and get close to the stage, or you can sit up on the Hill for free (or for the price of car parking). We discovered if you have a meal at the Rubbing House pub, they will take the price of car parking of your bill.

We saw a couple of the acts there. The first being Simply Red (not really my thing) who are on their farewell tour; and the second being the nutty boys, Madness (who were more up my street).

Northern Soul...

No Masters 20^th Anniversary Celebration

We are big fans of a collective of musicians and bands that come together under the banner of ‘No Masters’ and we were lucky enough to see an ad for their 20^th anniversary show. It was being held in the Victoria Hall, Saltaire, near Bradford, so we planned to take a few days out and visit a few places on the way or way back and make a proper event of it. The gig was fantastic and all of the acts were top drawer. We had a thoroughly good time.

Saltaire

Saltaire is a great ‘model’ village that was built by a forward thinking mill owner called Titus Salt. He laid out a whole community with the Victoria Hall at the centre (where the gig was played).

Don’t Tell Titus

In Titus’s time he made sure that there were no pubs or pawnbrokers in the town, so when the restaurant we ate in started up they called themselves ‘Don’t Tell Titus’. It was a popular and lovely place with a great atmosphere and good food and drink.

On our way back down south we stopped at a couple of National Trust properties, both of which were very interesting and beautiful.

East Riddlesden Hall

Nostell Priory and Parkland

Lucy in Joseph at Fairfield Halls...

Lucy, the youngest daughter of friends of ours was in her stage debut recently in the chorus for a production of Joseph at Fairfield Halls. We enjoyed the spectacle immensely – even if it wasn’t quite our normal cup of tea. It would be great if Lucy continues with her acting, if not for herself but for us (we would love to know a famous actress).

Fun for all the family...

Hever Castle

We went with friends to Hever to see the jousting and to explore the grounds. One of our favourite castles, Hever sits in lovely grounds that have become a big attraction for families with many different things to do such as mazes (water and hedge), boating lake (which we tried out), the gardens and parkland, the castle itself, and during the summer they have the jousting, archery, hog-roasts and a real ale beer tent.

More of wot I have seen…

Neverwhere, the TV series on DVD by Neil Gaiman and Lenny Henry

I recently bought a DVD copy of this 90’s TV series after buying Jamie the book as a gift. Even though it was filmed on the cheap, the story still carries through. I loved way Neil Gaiman uses his fondness for puns to give the London tube stations a new meaning as they take on characters of their own. It is great fun and I particularly enjoyed the over the top performances of Croope and Vandermar.

‘Richard Mayhew is an unassuming young businessman living in London, with a dull job and a pretty but demanding fiancee. Then one night he stumbles across a girl bleeding on the sidewalk. He stops to help her--and the life he knows vanishes like smoke.

Several hours later, the girl is gone too. And by the following morning Richard Mayhew has been erased from his world. His bank cards no longer work, taxi drivers won't stop for him, his hundred rents his apartment out to strangers. He has become invisible, and inexplicably consigned to a London of shadows and darkness a city of monsters and saints, murderers and angels, that exists entirely in a subterranean labyrinth of sewer canals and abandoned subway stations. He has fallen through the cracks of reality and has landed somewhere different, somewhere that is Neverwhere.

For this is the home of Door, the mysterious girl whom Richard rescued in the London Above. A personage of great power and nobility in this murky, candlelit realm, she is on a mission to discover the cause of her family's slaughter, and in doing so preserve this strange underworld kingdom from the malevolence that means to destroy it. And with nowhere else to turn, Richard Mayhew must now join the Lady Door's entourage in their determined--and possibly fatal--quest.

For the dread journey ever-downward--through bizarre anachronisms and dangerous incongruities, and into dusty corners of stalled time--is Richard's final hope, his last road back to a "real" world that is growing disturbingly less real by the minute.’

More of wot I have heard…

Eliza Doolittle self titled album

Eliza has created a fun, self titled debut album that has many enjoyable and upbeat poppy songs in a similar style as Lily Allan, Katy Perry, Kate Nash or Amy Macdonald.

We got this as Sue’s current favourite track is Pack Up which has a great chorus with lines from the old war tune ‘pack up your troubles in your old kit-bag’ sung by a black guy with a wonderful voice.

These Friends of Mine by Rosie Thomas

We have Rosie’s first album after hearing her on KEXP (one of the best non-commercial radio stations in America), and we were bowled over by her fragile and beautiful voice.

This album has her collaborating with various other artists such as Damian Jurado and Surfan Stevens to great effect. Again her gentle, haunting voice gives the songs a wistful, melancholic or romantic feel to them depending on the track.

Nice and easy restful experience.

More of wot I have read…

The Amalgamation Polka by Stephen Wright

This book was bought randomly because it was cheap and I liked the cover (UK cover is different to the US one). My initial reaction was that there was some very interesting use of words and language, and I was concerned that I would find it all too difficult, but it turned out that once you got used to it the writing was more like poetry than prose. There are some wonderful turns of phrases throughout and the descriptions can be very evocative. Not a lot happens in the traditional sense of action and reaction, but there is a greater internal journey for the reader as we follow the changes that happen to the main character and his beloved America.

This is a highly recommended book.

‘Born in 1844 in bucolic upstate New York, Liberty Fish is the son of fervent abolitionists as well as the grandson of Carolina slaveholders even more dedicated to their cause. Thus follows a childhood limned with fugitive slaves moving through hidden passageways in the house, his Uncle Potter’s free-soil adventure stories whose remarkable violence sets the tone of the mounting national crisis, and the inevitable distress that befalls his mother whenever letters arrive from her parents—a conflict that ultimately costs her life and compels Liberty, in hopes of reconciling the familial disunion, to escape first into the cauldron of war and then into a bedlam more disturbing still.

Rich in characters both heartbreaking and bloodcurdling, comic and horrific, The Amalgamation Polka is shot through with politics and dreams, and it captures great swaths of the American experience, from village to metropolis to plantation, from the Erie Canal to the Bahamas, from Bloody Kansas to the fulfillment of the killing fields. Yet for all the brutality and tragedy, this novel is exuberant in the telling and its wide compassion, brimming with the language, manners, hopes, and fears of its time—all of this so transformed by Stephen Wright’s imaginative compass that places and events previously familiar are rendered new and strange, terrifying and stirring. Instantly revelatory, constantly mesmerizing, this is the work of a major writer at the top of his form.’

Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett

This is another great book from the great man and is much in the same vein as the rest of the Discworld series.

‘Football has come to the ancient city of Ankh-Morpork. And now the wizards of Unseen University must win a football match, without using magic, so they're in the mood for trying everything else.

The prospect of the Big Match draws in a street urchin with a wonderful talent for kicking a tin can, a maker of jolly good pies, a dim but beautiful young woman, who might just turn out to be the greatest fashion model there has ever been, and the mysterious Mr Nutt (and no one knows anything much about Mr Nutt, not even Mr Nutt, which worries him, too). As the match approaches, four lives are entangled and changed for ever.

Because the thing about football – the important thing about football - is that it is not just about football.

Here we go! Here we go! Here we go!’

The Bard and the Booze…

For Sue’s birthday this year we went to our local vineyard for a ‘cultural’ evening. Denbies Wine Estate in conjunction with Guildford Shakespeare Company presented A Midsummer Night’s Dream with dinner. We were received into the garden room with sparkling wine (their own, which has won awards and is favourably compared to champagne) and canapés whilst a pianist played. The first act took place out in the courtyard, after which we had dinner in the atrium and the second act followed coffee. It was all very grown up and civilized.

‘Sit back, relax and let the award-winning Guildford Shakespeare Company spirit you away to a magical wood just outside Athens...

This specially adapted version of Shakespeare's all-time summer favourite A Midsummer Night's Dream follows the hilarious exploits of the Rude Mechanicals, and their hopeless but enthusiastic attempts to rehearse and stage a play for the Duke of Athens’ wedding day. But not everything in this wood is as it seems...

Guildford Shakespeare Company’s work over the last four years has been seen by more than 11,500 people; and their passion for Shakespeare, their infectious sense of fun and invention will make this special summer event one not to be missed.’

Normal Conquest…

This years annual Aldbury Morris Weekend took us to Hastings and the lovely Sussex towns around like Rye and Winchelsea, where the group danced, drank and played music (sometimes all at the same time). The weather was glorious and the atmosphere relaxed (except for later as the national team met the ‘old foe’ on the field of battle down in South Africa).

If you ever wondered what Morris, then check out their entertaining and amusing website where they also have a link to a short clip of the side performing the ‘invisible stick dance’.

And for a more educational and informative video find out about the differences/similarities of Morris vs. Rave.

More of wot I have heard…

Beachcomber by Liz Simcock

We saw her at the Dorking Folk Club recently when she played with Ian Newman and Warwick Jones. Her sound reminded me of the ‘Seattle Sound’ that I like, gentle and folksy with subtle guitar flourishes.

‘Liz Simcock writes songs and performs them in folk and acoustic clubs in and around the Southeast. In 1999 she featured on the Playpen Album of New Acoustic Music alongside Eliza Carthy, Billy Bragg, Eddi Reader and Kathryn Williams. Since then she has trodden an independent path, recording three albums and gaining a growing reputation as a performer and songwriter. At many gigs Liz is to be found in the illustrious company of Ian Newman (bass) and / or Warwick Jones (guitar).’

More of wot I have read…

The Innocent Mage: Kingmaker, Kingbreaker Book 1 by Karen Miller

I was lent this book by Jamie and found it interesting, though it was obvious by the pace and presentation that it is part of a series. Now I will have to borrow the next book.

‘Enter the kingdom of Lur, where to use magic unlawfully means death.

The Doranen have ruled Lur with magic since arriving as refugees’ centuries ago. Theirs was a desperate flight to escape a powerful mage who started a bitter war in their homeland. To keep Lur safe, the native Olken inhabitants agreed to abandon their own magic. Magic is now forbidden them, and any who break this law are executed.

Asher left his coastal village to make his fortune. Employed in the royal stables, he soon finds himself befriended by Prince Gar and given more money and power than he’d ever dreamed possible. But the Olken have a secret; a prophecy. The Innocent Mage will save Lur from destruction and members of The Circle have dedicated themselves to preserving Olken magic until this day arrives. Unbeknownst to Asher, he has been watched closely. As the Final Days approach, his life takes a new and unexpected turn . . .’

Online Comics…

I am a bit of an online comic fan, and so I though I might share my favourites with you – not all of them suit everybody, but there should be something in there for everyone…

...in no particular order...

Questionable Content (quirky, humorous and painfully hip)

Wulffmorgenthaler (weird and wacky eurotrash)

xkcd (geeky, nerdy, techno-humour)

Girls with Slingshots (racy, close to the bone)

The Dreamer (lovely artwork and strange story)

The Phoenix Requiem (another beautifully drawn graphic novel with a disturbing story)

String Theory (edgy and fun in a weird way)

Menage a 3 (x-rated comic filth)

Dead Winter (zombie-tastic)

TX Comics (a collection of some of my favourite comics including:)
- Aardehn (beautifully inked drawings with a fantasy tale)
- Butternut Squash (irreverent attitude with great characters)
- Kukuburi (fabulous artwork and surreal story)
- The Abominable Charles Christopher (superbly drawn and beautifully written)
- Sin Titulo (quirky, strange story)

Dreamless (beautiful artwork and another unusual storyline)

South of England Show...

South of England Show

This is a grand agricultural show on a huge scale that has loads of things to see and do for just everyone. We were very lucky with the glorious weather and were happy to potter about and look at the stands, eat alfresco with friends as we listened to music, watch the entertainment in the arena and generally have a nice day out.

A walk in the park…

Summer has started to make itself felt in the UK and now people are taking the opportunity to spend time out in the open spaces. I too have enjoyed the felling of sun on my back as I explored Dulwich Park with a couple of friends who grew up in the area. Many other happy folk were also enjoying the green parkland, boating lake, sports fields, bikes for hire and various other attractions there. We too took to the water, perambulated around, used the open air gym equipment, had coffee and cake in the village and played Frisbee amongst the other happy visitors. It was a great day out – everybody should visit a park at least once a year.

More of wot I have heard…

Say I am You by The Weepies

The Weepies were another ‘recommendation’ in a similar vein to the other album I bought. They also have a similar sound and feel to them. Lovely.

‘Since they met in a Cambridge folk club 9 years ago, The Weepies have progressed from an indie duo playing house concerts, to ranks on the Billboard Charts. Though they now have sales in the hundreds of thousands, the Weepies have kept a surprisingly low profile; they haven’t toured at all since 2006.’


Goodnight by William Fitzsimmons

This was an album ‘recommended’ by a well known online retailer that I am glad I took a gamble on. It has a lovely gentle melancholic vibe that is very seductive.

‘William Fitzsimmons is one of the oddest people you will ever meet. Born the youngest child of two blind parents, William was raised in the outskirts of the steel city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Due to the family's inability to communicate through normal visual means, William's childhood home was filled with a myriad of sounds to replace what eyes could not see. The house was suffused with pianos, guitars, trombones, talking birds, classical records, family sing-a-longs, bedtime stories, and the bellowing of a pipe organ, which his father built into the house with his own hands. When his father's orchestral records were not resonating through the walls, his mother would educate him on the folk stylings of James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, and Simon & Garfunkel. By the completion of his youth and schooling, Fitzsimmons had become well-versed at a variety of instruments, at the minor expense of social standing, interactional skills, and a knowledge of proper shaving technique.’


ABCDEFG by Chumbawamba

This is another top album from these politically sensitive musicians and artists. You can let the beautiful sounds wash over you or allow yourself to be drawn into the deeper underling messages in the lyrics, either way it is equally rewording.

‘Seven letters to hint at what Chumbawamba have spent their adult lives doing: fashioning something weird, funny, eccentric and challenging from a seven-note Do-re-mi of possibilities. Or by another name, music.

This, the band’s 17th album, is another concept album (‘concept’ as in ‘idea’. Above all, ideas is what Chumbawamba thrive on), an album full of ideas specifically about music. Music both good and bad, music celebrated and music ridiculed.’


The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain

I defy anyone not to watch this group perform and come out smiling like a loon. We were not too sure what to expect, though the few interviews and performances on the radio gave us a clue to their gentle subversive nature. We saw them at the local halls and were captivated from the first note through to the last. So much that we bought one of their albums which has been on high rotation at home. If they appear near you (and they are tour extensively through the world) then make sure you go and see them – you won’t be disappointed (unless you were expecting a George Formby concert).

‘The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain is a group of all-singing, all-strumming Ukulele players, using instruments bought with loose change, which believes that all genres of music are available for reinterpretation, as long as they are played on the Ukulele.A concert by the Ukulele Orchestra is a funny, virtuosic, twanging, awesome, foot-stomping obituary of rock-n-roll and melodious light entertainment featuring only the “bonsai guitar” and a menagerie of voices in a collision of post-punk performance and toe-tapping oldies. There are no drums, pianos, backing tracks or banjos, no pitch shifters or electronic trickery. Only an astonishing revelation of the rich palette of orchestration afforded by ukuleles and singing (and a bit of whistling). Audiences have a good time with the Ukulele Orchestra. Going from Tchaikovsky to Nirvana via Otis Redding and Spaghetti Western soundtracks, the Orchestra takes us on “a world tour with only hand luggage” and gives the listener “One Plucking Thing After Another”.’


London Town by The Magic Theatre

From two of the original members of the indie band Ooberman comes a concept album with an intriguing story and wonderful ethereal tunes. Some tracks remind me of the delightful Black Box Recorder who also had a breathy female singer and are sadly no more a group.

The London Town album is very a lush and enveloping soundtrack to an entertaining story. The website has some interesting videos to accompany the tracks.

‘The album is a time-travel love story set in 1968 and 1888, where the young 60s hero falls through a hole in time in The Magic Theatre in the Old Victorian Steam fair, to find his one true love in 1880’s London’

More of wot I have read…

The Power of One by Bryce Courtney

This is a well known South African tale that past me by originally, but was recommended to me by a colleague from RSA. It is an interesting read for the illumination of a place and time that was hidden to many outsiders, though I was put off by the precocious and self assured lead character that I didn’t warm to.


‘First with your head and then with your heart. . .
So says Hoppie Groenewald, boxing champion, to a seven-year-old boy who dreams of being the welterweight champion of the world. For the young Peekay, it is a piece of advice he will carry with him throughout his life.

Born in a South Africa divided by racism and hatred, young Peekay will come to lead all the tribes of Africa. Through enduring friendships, he gains the strength he needs to win out. And in a final conflict with his childhood enemy, Peekay will fight to the death for justice…’

More of wot I have seen…

Alabama 3 at the HMV Forum

We have a couple of Alabama 3 albums, the best being their debut Exile on Coldharbour Lane.
Although the band doesn’t seem to take them selves too seriously, they do have some pretty deep messages to convey in their lyrics.

We were looking forward to seeing them and travelled up to North London, had a meal in an Italian Café and then went on to the venue, a superbly converted cinema. Once in the venue we suddenly felt old – it was very load and there was no seating downstairs. We were not however the oldest there and we soon realised that we could not pick out a typical audience member style as it varied from hip-hop homies, gay cowboys, heavy set rockers, top hat wearing Goths, indie chicks and boys and people more like us. It was a party atmosphere and the band had great energy, but we were glad to leave early to catch the train as our ears were ringing. The unfortunate side effect of playing their music so loud was that we missed most of the wonderful lyrics as our eardrums distorted at the volume.


They say…
‘We're the Alabama 3. We make Sweet Pretty Muthafuckin Country Acid House Music. All night long. We're not from Alabama, and there's not three of us. We're from Brixton, London. We're the fellas that did that Soprano's theme tune. That tune bought someone a swimming pool, but it sure wasn't any of us...’

‘…As ministers in the First Presleyterian Church of Elvis the Divine, we know the party ain't never over. Not till you're sitting on the toilet in a big nappy with a rancid quarter pounder in your, fat, cold, dead, dead, emerald-encrusted hand…’

Tangerine Dream…

Blackpool Football Club goes up to the Premier League much to the delight of my father who has supported them since childhood.

'Blackpool will become the 44th team to play in the Premier League next season - and the players are already relishing the opportunity of facing the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal.

The Wembley triumph in the Play-offs against Cardiff City will go down as a career highlight for every player that stepped out on to the field and will long live in every Blackpool supporters' memory. '

More of wot I have read…

Gaunt’s Ghosts by Dan Abnett

These books are what they are; written representations of the table-top war-game Warhammer 40,000 from Games Workshop. But that said they are well written and give a great feel for the action pact nature of the game. The back story and characters development adds an extra dimension to the bloodletting.

Gaunt's Ghosts: The Founding
This omnibus edition of the first three Gaunt's Ghosts novels follows the story of the Tanith First-and-Only regiment (nicknamed the Ghosts) and their charismatic commissar, Ibram Gaunt. As they travel from warzone to warzone in the Chaos-infested Sabbat Worlds system, the Ghosts must not only carry out the most dangerous of missions but also survive the deady politics of the Imperial Guard.

‘In the Chaos-infested Sabbat system, the massed ranks of the Imperial Guard stand shoulder to shoulder as they encounter an invasion by heretical forces

Amongst the Guard are the troops of the Tanith First-and-Only, a displaced army forced to flee their home planet before it succumbed to the unrelenting assault of Chaos. Nicknamed the Ghosts, their specialist scouting role has thrown them into the thickest of the fighting, trying to complete whatever desperate mission their uncaring commanders have volunteered them for!

Now Gaunt must evade the treacherous scheming of rival regiments and the lethal firepower of the enemy if he is to win through and lead his Ghosts to victory!’


Gaunt's Ghosts: The Saint
This omnibus edition follows the second cycle of the Gaunt's Ghost stories in a collection called, "The Saint". It includes the four novels, Honour Guard, The Guns of Tanith, Straight Silver and Sabbat Martyr. The story arc follows the First & Only from warzone to warzone of the Chaos-infested Sabbats World system fighting enemies in many guises and shapes.

‘In the blood-soaked Sabbat Worlds Crusade, the massed ranks of the Imperium battle the dark forces of Chaos for domination.

At the forefront of this conflict are the Imperial Guard – untold numbers of ordinary soldiers fighting to preserve the Emperor’s holy realm. Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt and the men of the Tanith First-and-Only are at the heart of this struggle. Forced to flee their planet before it was destroyed by Chaos, their specialist scouting role has earned them the nickname the Ghosts, along with any dangerous mission their commanders deign to throw at them.

Follow Gaunt’s epic adventures as he and his men storm into battle with their warcry: Men of Tanith, do you want to live forever?’

Training Day…

After our holiday in Ireland I had a four day training course in London on the subject of Technical Writing. It was a very interesting and informative course but I certainly am thankful that I don’t have to travel into the city each day on public transport. I am much happier to sit in the M25 for hours on end in my own space

Celtic Connections…

We have recently returned from a most enjoyable holiday in Ireland, via Wales. When people were having travel problems as the Icelandic volcano (the no one can pronounce) spewed ash into the atmosphere and grounded European air traffic for a week, we drove our way around this delightful island. We had booked our passage on a ferry and took our own car (previous to the ash-issues we were told we were mad to do it this way – but afterwards we were applauded for our forward thinking – we just thought it would be easier as we don’t fancy airports).

The weather was also a pleasant surprise as we had prepared for rain (they tell us that is why the country is so green and lush), yet it was absolutely brilliant without a cloud in the sky (apart from the ash cloud).

We initially drove to Caerphilly in Wales after work in the Friday and stopped there. In the morning we explored the grand castle and headed towards the port of Fishguard where we caught the ferry to Rosslare. Sue dislikes sea travel almost as much as air travel (difficult when we live on an island), but the Irish Sea was as flat as a mill pond and the journey uneventful.

Arriving in Ireland we drove on to Cashel, where we stayed a couple of nights with friends as we explored Cashel including the ‘rock’ and the surrounding areas in Tipperary.

On the road again we headed further west, sliding through Limerick (didn’t fancy the look of it) and stopped to look around Bunratty Castle and Folk Park that had its own recreated village laid out in the shadow of a restored castle. We continued deeper into county Clare until we reached Ennistymon , and had a run out to the awesome Cliffs of Moher before returning. We stopped in the Falls Hotel over looking the river and had a couple of drinks in the famous Eugene’s Drinking Emporium (where cast and crew of Father Ted frequented).

The next day we headed on into the spectacular landscape of the Burren where we stopped to visit Poulnabrone Dolmen and Cahirconnell and looked around the pavement landscape and other picturesque vantage points. Later on in the day we drove to Kilrush for lunch before catching the ferry across the Shannon between Killimer and Tarbert and continuing on until we arrived at one of our favourite towns, Dingle.

This town had an alternative hippy arty feel to it with plenty of craft shops, colourful buildings and a lively eating, drinking and entertainment scene. We had a great meal at the Out of the Blue fish restaurant where sue had her first Lobster. We got talking to an American couple who were stranded due to the ash and later we met them at the Small Bridge Inn where traditional music was playing.

We travelled around the peninsula the next day stopping at regular intervals to take in the view, visit stone forts, famine cottages and to have lunch on a sheltered sandy beach. We drove a long way in the afternoon with a few stops at particular attractive sights until we arrived at the pretty fishing village of Portmagee at the end of the Ring of Kerry, where we stopped for the night in a lovely B&B.

The Ring of Kerry is also spectacular, but we felt that we were spoilt by the superior Dingle Peninsular. The next day we explored more of the ring and were again pleasantly surprised as each corner on the winding coast road revealed another wonderful view. Onward we continued until we came to the south-eastern fishing port of Kinsale where we stopped for the night.

This town is famed for its food and it is where we found our most favourite restaurant of the journey. Jola’s is unassuming from the outside, but inside it is breathtakingly elegant and calming. The food was divine Eurpoean / MoPo (apparently that is Modern Polish) and we left feeling quite spoilt in search of some entertainment. Three different music venues later and we came to the conclusion that the Irish seem to like older music as we watched youngsters sway to Fleetwood Mac, Thin Lizzie, blues and soft rock.

On our last day in Ireland we visited Charles Fort near Kinsale before driving northwards past Cork and onto Cobh (pronounced Cove), where we visited the Queenstown Story that informed us about the great exodus from Ireland by sea after the Famine. We also saw moving exhibitions about the sinking of the Titanic and the Lusitania. After a lovely alfresco lunch in the glorious sunshine we drove on towards Rosslare where we stopped within striking distance of the port, ready for the early morning crossing.

Another calm crossing and we were back in the UK, still bathed in sunshine. We took a diversion to Tenby where we joined the throngs of people enjoying the good weather either on the beach or in the town up on the cliffs where we had fish and chips (having queued for them out into the street at Fecci’s – one of the best in the country) out of the paper whilst sitting on a bench admiring the views. We also visited Colby Woodland Gardens before driving back home.

More of wot I have seen…

Flossie Malavialle

Flossie Malavialle is a French singer who started getting involved in the British folk scene in 2000-2001 while she was on a teacher exchange in the North East of England. We saw her at the Dorking Folk Club and enjoyed her fun, lively performance and were charmed be her self effacing manner and hybrid Geordie-French accent.

More of wot I have read…

The Last Testament by Sam Bourne

This is the second book I have read by this author, and it is in a similar vein – a Dan Brown style thriller with lashings of mysterious religious symbology. It is not the best book I have read by a long shot, and unless you get a copy free like we did I probably wouldn’t have bothered.


‘April 2003: As his nation descends into chaos, an Iraqi boy loots an ancient clay tablet from a long-forgotten vault in the Baghdad Museum of Antiquities—unaware that his actions could ignite the war to end all wars.

Years later, on the eve of a historic Israeli-Palestinian peace accord, bodyguards for Israel's prime minister gun down a possible assassin—and discover a blood-stained note clutched in the dead man's hand.

With Middle Eastern tensions rapidly reaching the boiling point—in the wake of a frightening wave of seemingly random revenge killings—Maggie Costello is sent by Washington to try to keep the peace. A government negotiator with old sins to atone for, she immediately comes face-to-face with ancient secrets, extremist violence, and sudden, inexplicable death. For Maggie seems to hold the key to the last unsolved riddle of the Bible—a shocking revelation that could end the world's most bitter conflict . . . or leave the earth in ruins.’

SteamPunk follow-up…

It looks like Steampunk is starting to make large waves in the media.

BBC News - Steampunks gather for Great Exhibition

more links...

Steampunk Network

SteamPunk Magazine

The Great Steampunk Debate

The Right Answer...

Papua Partners Quiz Night

A group of guys from down our street (and some from elsewhere in the village) get together once a year for a Curry Night. During the last meal we agreed to get together again for a Quiz Night that was being held to support a local charity, Papua Partners. We were not overly confident and the initial round on classical music did not help, but we picked up our socks in the later rounds and we eventually came in second by one point. The event was very well attended and was held in a local restaurant and included a meal. Over £600 was raised on the night and we had a very enjoyable time.

Westcott in Bloom...

We have been invited to be part of the village committee that is organising this year’s entry into the Britain in Bloom competition via our regional panel South and South East in Bloom

The village have only been entering into this event for a couple of years and they have been improving each time. The aim this year is to get a Silver Gilt or Gold award. We help out with the planting and clearing up activities as well as the organisational tasks.

More of wot I have seen…

Lee Mack

We have enjoyed Lee Mack in his TV show ‘Not Going Out’ and he tackles his stand up show in a similar manner with quick one-liners, sarcasm aplenty, and stereotypical northern wit. He gave a good show with plenty of pointed observations and barbs that was nicely complemented by his similarly stereotypical southern warm-up man.


Return to the Forbidden Planet

I do like this show, and I have seen several different productions of it since it came out many years ago. This production was the local Am Dram - DDOS annual musical of choice, and it was well received by our group. We bought tickets for several family members as their Christmas present as it was and event we had been to before and hoped they would enjoy. The cast have to be multitalented as many act, sing, dance and play various musical instruments during the show.

The show is subtitled as Shakespeares Lost Rock and Roll Opera and it is loosely based on the Tempest as if crossed with the old American sci-fi TV programme Forbidden Planet to the sound track of 50’s rock and roll music. The jokes are nicely layered with various Shakespearian and sci-fi references that are telegraphed as are the transitions from spoken word to song.


Alice in Wonderland
and another link

We were looking forward to seeing this in 3D at the IMAX, but were unfortunately too late to get the convenient times, so we went to a local cinema that was also showing it in 3D. There was enough entertainment in watching Sue jump at all of the effects to keep me happy, but the show delivered much more. We played ‘spot the famous actor’ from their voices and loved how they merged some of the actors and their characters features. The darkness and weirdness of how Tim Burton, Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter interpreted this classic tale made it their own and was a wonderfully modern wonderland.


Priscilla Queen of the Desert - the Musical

We were bought tickets to this show by friends who we went with to see it. We had seen and enjoyed the movie, but they and their daughters were not aware of it. Some of the themes and language may have come as a bit of a shock, but hopefully nothing too lasting.

We thought the production was fantastic, the songs, the costumes and the set were all brilliant along with the outrageous performance of the cast.

More of wot I have read…

The Algebraist by Iain M Banks

This is more my speed. I like a lot about the worlds the author has created in his sci-fi work and this is no exception. There are always difficulties in seeing the creations of an author the way he does, and sometimes you can find this a little hard to accept. Also there are many obstacles an author must overcome for the sake of a good story (languages, alien compatibility, technology etc). I find that this author makes a good job at talking all of these and still being able to spin a captivating yarn.


‘It is 4034 AD. Humanity has made it to the stars. Fassin Taak, a Slow Seer at the Court of the Nasqueron Dwellers, will be fortunate if he makes it to the end of the year.

The Nasqueron Dwellers inhabit a gas giant on the outskirts of the galaxy, in a system awaiting its wormhole connection to the rest of civilisation. In the meantime, they are dismissed as decadents living in a state of highly developed barbarism, hoarding data without order, hunting their own young and fighting pointless formal wars.

Seconded to a military-religious order he’s barely heard of – part of the baroque hierarchy of the Mercatoria, the latest galactic hegemony – Fassin Taak has to travel again amongst the Dwellers. He is in search of a secret hidden for half a billion years. But with each day that passes a war draws closer – a war that threatens to overwhelm everything and everyone he's ever known.’

More of wot I have read…

Don Quixote by Cervantes (translated by P A Motteux)

This was one of the most difficult reads I have ever had. It has taken me months to plough through this translation (which I now find out is perhaps not one of the better ones). Having been written so long ago 1600’s and in Spanish it is very different in style to that of modern novels. Also since the translation itself is hundreds of years old, the references are also dated and at times hard to follow. In addition to the style and structure being quite difficult to grasp, the story arc is strange and hard to follow. There are many interesting and funny passages hidden away in amongst the more challenging paragraphs, but I am not sure they alone make the ordeal worthwhile. This sort of book can make one feel a total dunce.


‘Cervante’s tale of the deranged gentleman who turns knight-errant, tilts at windmills and battles with sheep in the service of the lady of his dreams, Dulcinea del Toboso, has fascinated generations of readers, and inspired other creative artists such as Flaubert, Picasso and Richard Strauss. The tall, thin knight and his short, fat squire, Sancho Panza, have found their way into films, cartoons and even computer games. Supposedly intended as a parody of the most popular escapist fiction of the day, the ‘books of chivalry’, this precursor of the modern novel broadened and deepened into a sophisticated, comic account of the contradictions of human nature.

On his ‘heroic’ journey Don Quixote meets characters of every class and condition, from the prostitute Maritornes, who is commended for her Christian charity, to the Knight of the Green Coat, who seems to embody some of the constraints of virtue.

Cervantes’ greatest work can be enjoyed on many levels, all suffused with a subtle irony that reaches out to encompass the reader, and does not leave the author outside its circle.

Peter Motteux’s fine eighteenth-century translation, acknowledged as one of the best, brilliantly succeeds in communicating the spirit of the original Spanish’.

How do you like your Punk, Sir…? Steamed of course…

Steampunk is a unique fantasy version of 19th century Victorian England- now imbued with high tech digital devices, fantastic steam-powered machines and all manner of surreal, electro-mechanical contraptions that could only have been conjured by a mad, 21st century scientist. The “Steam” refers to steam power- as in the living, fire-breathing machines of antique locomotion. The “Punk” is the important reference to the ‘outsider’ attitude- the lone wolf artist, the DIY craftsman and the amateur engineer, who are not beholden to any contemporary style or ideology. You can bet that you won’t be seeing this kind of design in your next DWR Catalog -and that’s just the way the Steampunks want it.

Once you know where to look, Steampunk design is familiar. By reading H.G. Wells, Jules Verne or Mary Shelly or by seeing movies such as “Brazil” or “The League of Extraordinary Gentleman”, one may already have had a peek into this ingenious style. Hollywood has embraced Steampunk and often uses it as a plot foundation for it’s films (think “Wild, Wild West”). As far as Steampunk’s internet popularity is concerned, you can thank today’s young, savvy computer geeks, bloggers, gamers, authors and artists. Obviously, these creative individuals are not Luddites. They celebrate modern technology but firmly believe that the design of modern products like the ‘I-Phone’ and ‘I-Pod’ can’t possibly compete with the luxurious design of the early “Victorian Wonders” of technology.

Below are links to some of the artists on display at the show…

Amanda Scrivener
Art Donovan
Cliff Overton - Mad Uncle Cliff
Daniel Proulx
Eric Freitas
Haruo Suekichi
Ian Crichton – Herr Doktor
James Richardson Brown
Jesse Newhouse
Joey Marsocci – Dr Grymm
Kris Kuksi
Molly ‘Porkshanks’ Friedrich
Rich Nagy – Datamancer
Stephane Halleux
Thomas D Willeford
Tom Banwell
Vianney Halter

An Education…

For my birthday treat this year Sue and I went to Oxford for the weekend and stayed in a swanky hotel called the Randolph (where Morse would often drink) right in the middle of this spectacular city. I had wanted to go see the modernised Ashmolean Museum and a Steampunk exhibition.

The hotel was conveniently opposite the Ashmolean and so we spent an enjoyable few hours soaking up the culture, before moving on to have a meal in a very old down a narrow alleyway pub off the high street.

Replete we continued our education with a visit to Christ Church where we took a self guided tour around the university and saw where Lewis Carroll got inspiration for Alice in Wonderland and where some scenes from Harry Potter were filmed among the great and the good whose pictures lined the walls, and where history fair oozed out of the ground.

We wandered the streets and looked in other universities and historical buildings until we came to the Museum of the History of Science where the Steampunk exhibition was being held. We nipped in and were blown away by the artwork on display (more in a separate blog).

We had a slap-up meal at the hotel of exceptional standards and indulged ourselves in some fine wine before retiring quite contented to our sumptuous room.

More of wot I have heard…

For my birthday I bought a load more music listed below. Most of these are modern folk artists, some who have won awards for their art. A couple are more of the ‘popular’ genre (Munford & Sons being a cross-over act and Paolo Nutini being in the mainstream charts), but both have elements of folk about them. And another one is a bit more specialist – The Duckworth Lewis Method is an album entirely written about the gentleman’s game of cricket, even if you are not a fan (as I am not), there are still some cracking tunes in it.

Arc Light by Lau

The Awkward Recruit by Mawkin:Causley

Here’s the Tender Coming by The Unthanks

Sunny Side Up by Paolo Nutini

The Duckworth Lewis Method by Duckworth & Lewis

Songs from the Floodplain by Jon Boden

Sigh no More by Mumford & Sons

More of wot I have seen…

Lee Hurst - We hadn’t heard much from this comedian for several years since he left the TV show ‘They Think Its All Over’. It appears he has been running his own comedy club, The FymFygBar, where he also appears, so when we heard he was playing in Croydon we bought tickets for as and family as another Christmas present. The show was very entertaining and Jamie particularily liked the line – ‘Let’s all go to Woman-Land and play on the mood swings’.

More of wot I have seen…

fRoots at the Roundhouse – another Christmas gift was to take my uncle and a friend of his to a show at the Roundhouse that was put on by the fRoots magazine (a world roots periodical that includes many folk acts in its listings) to celebrate their 30th anniversary. The acts were many and varied with Billy Bragg toping the bill. The venue (an old steam train turning building) is absolutely spectacular though inconveniently located in north London. It was a great night out.

More of wot I have seen…

Aladdin – a pantomime at the New Wimbledon Theatre, where we took some friends and their children for a Christmas present. This show was a little different in that every few weeks they changed the leading star between Ruby Wax, Pamela Anderson, Anita Dobson, and Paul O’Grady (we saw Anita Dobson in it, and saw Brian May in the audience). A regular star was Brian Blessed (and I was over the moon when only a few minutes into the show he bellowed ‘Gordon’s Alive!’). I very much enjoy this particularly English Christmas experience.

Are you sitting comfortably…?

Late last year we decided to invest in some new sofas for our living room so we went to the Sofa Workshop store. Sue wanted a three-seater and a two-seater so that we could accommodate more people. We ended up with a large leather Robertson and a smaller fabric Browning (in a different material to the website). They were not cheap, but with the discount and the obvious quality we placed our order. They tuned up the other day and now our front room is full of seating, though we have lost our bookcase as there wasn’t room for it all.

Driving in style…

As part of my job I get a company car which is changed every few years. Just before Christmas this year I took delivery of my new bright and shiny white BMW 118d. And then it snowed for a week. In the New Year I took it to work and showed it off. And then it snowed for a week. Having been taught to drive in NZ I didn’t have much experience of driving in snow, and apparently rear wheel drive automatics are not the best at handling in this sort of weather. So it ended up parked for quite a while. But now I have been out and about we have tested it out and had it full of stuff , including a loaded roof rack, when Jamie moved.

I love it, though I think Sue is not so sure about the colour. White cars can be associated with Essex and girls in stiletto heels.

Not so clever now…

Recently we went with friends to a local pub for a quiz evening. We didn’t know what to expect, as we have not been to many, but we were greatly cheered when we got full marks in the first round and we still leading in the second. After that though we had a massive batting collapse in the music round and tumbled from first to last place. The quizmaster said he had never seen that happen in all of his years of hosting them – at least this was a first for us!

Moving house…

Jamie moved house again, still in London but now south of the river and closer to work. The girl he was flatting with bought one of those low deposit starter flats where you part buy part rent. Luckily she wanted Jamie to move with her so that he could help by paying her rent.

We moved them with the help of family and friends into the lovely brand new place, helped clean the old one, and build the furniture for the new one. Afterwards we treated them to a meal a few minutes walk away in a riverside restaurant. Oh to be young and in the middle of London – we are jealous.

More of wot I have seen…

Sherlock Holmes

We thoroughly enjoyed this film. Having only ever seen the TV version of this classic story, we enjoyed the reinterpretation of the characters that seemed well rounded and authentic. We can’t say if this is actually true, as we have not read the books, but this does make me want to search them out just to see.

I have heard mixed reviews from people, one who thought it was the best film he has seen in a long time, the other the worst. I guess it is a matter of taste and opinion.

Snow bound…

There is definitely one down side to modern telecommunication technology, and that is you do not get to benefit from a snow-day. We have had a few days of relatively heavy snow here, and I have been unable to get the car out of our little village. Nevertheless I have still had an internet and mobile phone connection so have still had to work.

I can see a glimpse of the beautifully frosted countryside through a small gap in the snow that covers the window in our converted attic space that I use as my office when I work-from-home and I took a quick walk about at lunch time to take a few photo’s.

Wii Party…

We had a fun Boxing Day around at Sue’s Sister’s place with much of the family eating and drinking well. Later their new Wii console came out and inexperienced and merry participants abused it with gusto. Since there were woollen hats amongst the gifts it was decided that it was only right that these should be worn during the Winter Sports games.

No major injuries were sustained and nobody broke anything however there was a report of ‘Wii wrist’ the next day.

There was absolutely no danger of any significant high scores being placed during the competitions

More of wot I have heard…

Again this year I received more new music that has boosted my collection.

Lemonjelly.ky by Lemon Jelly
I do love the quirky nature of this group, how they include a fun element to their wonderfully sublime tracks.

I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight by Richard and Linda Thompson
This is an album that harks back to the initial folk revival in the 1970s and is reputed to be a seminal collection of tracks. Historically interesting, put it does seem to have dated a bit.

Live Lounge by Various Artists
This is an earlier collection of tracks performed by artists on the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge show. Some of the most interesting are those where artists play songs by others.

El Dorado by 17 Hippies
We saw this German band at WOMAD and were blown away by their skill and enthusiasm. As they admitted there are not seventeen of them in the band and they are not all hippies, however they do play some very good modern folk with a European twist.

Disco Heaven 2009 by Various Artists at Hed Kandi
I bought this double album for Sue who is a bit of a disco diva. It is the second hed kandi collection we have and if you like contemporary club music with soul then you should give this label a try.

Beside You – 30 Years of Hits by Dave Dobbyn
This was a gift from New Zealand that along with the following album means that I probably have everything that I can ever remember listening to in NZ that was locally produced when I lived there.

The Great New Zealand Songbook by Various Artists

Excessmas…

What a festive couple of weeks. We ate and drank as if it was going out of fashion. Does this make us particular devout to have celebrated so much? I didn’t think so either.

We did manage a few walks in the frozen countryside, however these resulted either in ending up at a pub or at a house where we ate and drank some more.

Of course now it means we are on a diet, and are attempting to detox during January.