Wot is hot...

...in the 70’s

What do you remember about the 1970’s that was cool?

Swingball

Soda Stream

Bata Bullets

Silly Putty

VHS vs BetaMax

C60 Cassette homemade mix tapes

Raleigh Twenty and Raleigh Rodeo bicycles

Banana toothpaste

Chicken Chow Main

Casio Digital Watch

Rubik’s Cube

Slinky

What else?

See you at the bar…

We are coming over to NZ for a short visit during October and we are intending to be in a bar in Auckland on Sunday 18th to meet up with any old friends who can make it (venue to be confirmed).

Avast, me hearties…

A bunch of our regular gamers came over to our place on the weekend and celebrated ‘Talk like a Pirate Day’ this year by playing a table top role playing game where we were Privateers (not quite Pirates – we have a license you understand). It was great fun and I quite enjoyed playing the part of ‘Jolly’ Roger the Cabin Boy – especially when I nearly managed to take down the dastardly French Captain.

Probably the best Swedish TV cop show ever…

We had recently seen the British remake of, Wallander, with Kenneth Branagh in it and enjoyed it very much, so when we saw it again on the schedule we originally thought it was more of the same. It wasn’t until we started watching it that we realized it was the original Swedish series.

We really enjoyed the series, even more so than the English speaking adaptation (which was very good). The acting is fabulous, the scenery bleak and the music moody.

Thoroughly enjoyable

Empire Irregulars…

One of our friends suggested it might be a good idea to combine his interests in military uniforms and parading with morris dancing and start up a military morris side. I was thinking it might be fun to call it the Empire Irregulars and have the members choose items off uniforms from past British forces (Red Jacket, Pith Helmet etc) yet still have knee length trousers and bells on their ankles.

Hedgerow bounty…

Autumn is the time to harvest and we have been out in the nearby fields collecting Blackberries and Elderberries. We have had plenty to pick and so our freezer is full of berries and we have enjoyed puddings and I even made another batch of Elderberry Jam (too much sugar again, so it is very thick and sweet).

Summer-House warming…

One of our neighbours has had a new summer house put up in their back yard and we were invited over to celebrate with a drink and some nibbles. The construction is wonderful with a sizable decking around a well appointed building that is so good we all wanted to move into it. We had a great time talking to their friends and family and we well impressed with the rocket scientist.

Just slap it on all over…

Our house has desperately need some tender loving care taken on the exterior and recently we had the pointing repaired in preparation for repainting the woodwork and stonework around the windows and doors. Sue had the impression we could have it all done and dusted in a couple of hours. This was not quite the case, even though we have done the majority of it, with the not insignificant help of family, and the rest should be completed this weekend.

Operation Pied Piper…

We went along to a very enjoyable and informative talk at the local Westcott History Group on the subject of Operation Pied Piper as part of the remembrance of the start of WWII.

Operation Pied Piper was the code name for the evacuation of major cities on the day that war was declared, where many children were taken from possible danger zones to areas of relative safety in the countryside. The village of Westcott was host to two schools from London and this talk concentrated on them and what happened.

The Reading Room was packed with people; many of who were of a generation that could remember the events first hand (some even stood up and added to the talk with personal details). Several local children came in and acted out the roles of evacuees by reading out letters written by them to their parents. A woman also read out passages from the memories of the local lady responsible for the allocation of the children to suitable accommodation. I particularly like that she referred to her self as the Dumper and the children as the poor Dumplings. I think this episode and memories would make for an interesting children’s story, luckily I obtained a copy of the talk for reference. So you never know – another incomplete project.

More wot I have read…

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

This is a new book from the author of the Twilght series, this time with aliens as the subject rather than the supernatural. It certainly has the potential to change young female reader’s attitudes in the same way and introducing them to Sci-Fi. It was well written and thought out with a lot of attention spent on characterisation and personal interactions and not so much on the whole alien thing.

'Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away.

Our world has been invaded by an unseen enemy. Humans become hosts for these invaders, their minds taken over while their bodies remain intact and continue their lives apparently unchanged. Most of humanity has succumbed.

When Melanie, one of the few remaining "wild" humans is captured, she is certain it is her end. Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, was warned about the challenges of living inside a human: the overwhelming emotions, the glut of senses, the too vivid memories. But there was one difficulty Wanderer didn't expect: the former tenant of her body refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.

Wanderer probes Melanie's thoughts, hoping to discover the whereabouts of the remaining human resistance. Instead, Melanie fills Wanderer's mind with visions of the man Melanie loves—Jared, a human who still lives in hiding. Unable to separate herself from her body's desires, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she has been tasked with exposing. When outside forces make Wanderer and Melanie unwilling allies, they set off on a dangerous and uncertain search for the man they both love.'

All the best folk…

We went to the Towersey Folk Festival on the last bank holiday on August and had a brilliant time.

Three of us went along and camped the weekend at the site in Oxfordshire. Although it was grey and windy for most days, apart from Monday afternoon’s sunshine, we were lucky that it didn’t rain, as I am sure that could have dampened our spirits.

We were on the go all day seeing many concerts and acts, interspersed with some liberal consumption of alcohol and the regular burger before bed. Even though we kept busy we still missed seeing anything at the off site venues or the ceilidh tent (pronounced kay-lee, or if you are Sue, see-li-dah).

There wasn’t an act that we didn’t like though there were a few favourites and I now have a longer wish list on Amazon. The highlights for us were:

The Imagined Village – an exciting cosmopolitan folk collective demonstrating how tradition can be made contemporary and grow from it
The Spooky Men’s Chorale – ‘a vast, rumbling, black-clad behemoth’ group of Australian (led by a Kiwi) ‘blokes’ who sing in great harmony and like a bit of silliness. We also went to the Spooky Men’s – Sing Like a Bloke workshop, where a large group of people learnt the ‘Let Me Through’ song and then invaded the Market Square, singing at the top of our collective voices, much to the puzzlement of the other visitors.
Megan and Joe Henwood – a great young brother and sister act – winners of the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards 2009 and an act to watch for
John Smith – another great new act, unbelievably unsigned
Chris Smither – an old school American Blues singer who sounds like he has been gargling gravel and looks a bit like a cross between Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash
Karine Polwart – a successful new Scots singer with an angelic voice
Devon Sproule – a quirky North American songstress with an unique sound that wasn’t universally liked by the old school folk audience. We had seen here last year at Womad and love her stuff

We also saw…
Roy Bailey – an old school folky, from before it was big the first time around. Popular with young and old alike
Mawkin – a fun modern folk group who are making waves on the new scene
The Lark Rise Band – this band were around before the TV series promoting the works of Flora Thompson with readings and song
4Square – a group of young, precocious and extremely talented youngsters who will undoubtedly go onto big things
Ross Ainslie and Jarlath Henderson with Ali Hutton – a talent couple of pipers with their friend
Pete Coe – another old school folky who has been around for a while and has a big following
Demon Barbers – the noisiest group we saw who like to keep things lively
Cupola – a talented group of traditional folk musicians
Various Dance sides and musical acts in the Market Square, Beer Tent and the Rope Circle.

Shakespeare is always better outdoors…

Recently we went up to see my Uncle and go to the local production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Pendley Manor. The costumes and setting gave it a 1920’s feel and Puck was a fantastic with mannerisms that reminded me of Charlie Chaplin and Tommy Cooper.

There is something about watching Shakespeare outdoors that adds to the experience, I think it reminds me of earlier days when we went to see productions with friends at the Auckland University.

Swingball Champion 1977…

We went to Sue’s Brother’s place a while back to help put up some guttering and to have a family get together. The weather was great and we sat out in the garden and played swingball, something I had not done for many years.

Flying south…

We are planning a short visit down under to visit friends and family in NZ in October and to show Jamie around some of the sites (he wants to do the Sky-Jump and Zorbing). So we will try and set a date when we are in Auckland to meet up and get together with anyone who is free.

Where has the sunshine gone…?

I know we shouldn’t expect too much of the British Summer but our hopes were initially lifted by a good spring and the promise by the forecaster’s of a BBQ Summer. Now that June and July have been predominately wet and gloomy the forecaster’s have revised there predictions for the worst.

On the plus side the wet weather has meant that we have not had to water the allotment, though we have not had much time outside and we are getting fed up with the wet and cold. We do have the occasional day of sunshine and heat, but it is unpredictable and short lived as another shower passes through to dampen our enthusiasm. Oh well, I guess it will soon be Christmas!

More banjos than is healthy…

We went to another festival recently, though on a much smaller scale and restricted musical theme as a local village held its 9^th Surrey Mini Bluegrass Festival in the village hall. We have been to folk festivals, jazz festivals and now a bluegrass festival, and it seems there are similar types of people at each, just wearing different ‘uniforms’. It was a small, intimate and friendly atmosphere and we did hear some very talented musicians, and I even enjoyed one so much I bought their album.

Wood, Wire and Words are a family trio of husband and wife and wife’s dad who played a more accessible style of bluegrass that was centred on the lyrics of the young lead singer.

Mad for Womad…

Our now regular trip to the Womad festival was not hampered greatly by the British summer weather and we managed to dress accordingly and shelter when necessary as the rains came and went. The site was prey good again though the organisers suffered problems with the toilets, and we mourned the lack of the Pieminister food stall and the small Little Italy Tent.

Again we saw and amazing selection of artists that most of us knew nothing of. There seemed to be a jazz influence to this year’s line-up culminating in the foremost Acid Jazz performer – Roy Ayers.

Some of the acts we saw included:
Caravan Palace downloaded their album)
Rachel Unthank and The Winterset (on my wish list)
Sarah Savoy & The Francadians (would love to get something of theirs)
17 Hippies (on my wish list)
Victor Deme (on my wish list)
Hindi Zahra
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Mec Yek
Solomon Burke
Roy Ayers
Youssou N’Dour
Spiro
Nneke
Ethiopiques
Los Desterrados

Long days (and nights) of prolonged drinking and festival atmosphere did produce some amusing incidents, like putting an order in for tea & toast in the middle of the night under the name of ‘fudgy-foo-foo’ and having another late night cuppa in a chi tent as kids inhaled ‘laughing-gas’ from balloons and a single mum smoked a joint as her baby slept in a pram nearby.

It was such an education for us innocents abroad in everyway.

Gently does it...

Titsey Place - House and Gardens

After an entertaining and excessive party recently we woke up gently the next day at our friend’s house to bright sunshine and a bacon butty. Paul, one of those celebrating a birthday, lived here and he took us out to where he worked at the grand and historic Titsey Place near Oxted. He spends most of his time out in the gardens and use his woodman skills to create impressive arches and other woven wood structures for the kitchen garden. It was a wonderful place with lovely different garden areas to stroll through and to slowly recover from a hard night before.

Poynter Pointing Party…

We enlisted the help of Sue’s family (the Poynter’s) to fix the mortar pointing around the windows at the back of the house that had been left neglected for many years and had crumbled away in areas exposing large gaps that let the weather in. Sue’s brother Dave and his eldest son Nick did the work as they have experience in building work, while I acted as gofer. Sue and her mum did domestic chores and prepared a sumptuous meal for us in the evening when Sue’s other brother and his wife joined us.

Writing unblocked...

I have finally got around to more writing, this time it was a short (2000 word) story for the Guardian Short Story Competition. I did rework something that I had started a few years ago, but after the initial fear about putting pen to paper again, I found I quite enjoyed the process. Hopefully this won’t be the end of things now. I will have to keep my eye out for other competitions where the deadline and restrictions give me focus.

A Picnic in the Park...

Reigate Priory

We took an afternoon off recently and went for a picnic in this delightful park on a Sunday. It is a large space with a variety of areas for perambulating, sports, children, views and lolling about. It was nice to see so many people out and about, families together, groups of friends and work colleagues and couples.

I know wot I like….

I have been asked to make a few musical recommendations on folk music. I can’t say that I am an authority on any genre as I tend to dip into many different styles of music, but I know what I like. These that I have chosen here a generally English folk, though they are more modern than traditional and so are influenced by the country’s more cosmopolitan nature.

Musical Recommendations – English Folk


Underneath the Stars by Kate Rusby

The most traditional of the four albums selected here, Kate has a clear and sweetly regional accent that lends itself well to the gentle and clean sound that she creates. This is a beautiful album for either background music or quiet contemplation. I would say this is a good album to introduce you to the folk style.


The Imagined Village

This is something quite different in that it is a determined attempt at moving the genre along to better represent the modern world. A great collective of people mixing folk stalwarts such as Martin and Eliza Carthy, The Copper Family, Chris Wood and Billy Bragg, with new borrowed cultural music from Sheila Chandra, rock influences like Paul Weller and Trans Global Underground and even poetry from Benjamin Zephaniah. This might not be for the old traditionalist, but it is very relevant to the new audience of today.

‘The Imagined Village is an ambitious reinvention of the English folk tradition, embracing modern-day culture in all the diversity. Classic folk songs are skilfully reworked with the sounds and voices of today, updating the tradition for a new generation.’


The Boy Bands Have Won by Chumbawamba

Folk has always had its political and protesting side to it and this band, like the Imagined Village, have set out trying to push the genre forward into the future. They are a very considered and thoughtful group who have a point to make even when you don’t realise it as you listen to the catchy tunes and often humorous lyrics.

‘The boy bands have won, and all the copyists and the tribute bands and the TV talent show producers have won, if we allow our culture to be shaped by mimicry, wether from lack of ideas or from exaggerated respect. You should never try to freeze culture. What you can do is recycle that culture. Take your older brother’s hand-me-down jacket and re-style it, re-fashion it to the point where it becomes your own. But don’t just regurgitate creative history, or hold art and music and literature as fixed, untouchable and kept under glass. The people who try to ‘guard’ any particular form of music are, like the copyists and manufactured bands, doing it the worst disservice, because the only thing that you can do to music that will damage it is not change it, not make it your own. Because then it dies, then it’s over, then it’s done, and the boy bands have won.’


Burlesque by Bellowhead

This is a big band with a big sound that is quite a contrast to the gentle sounds of Kate Rusby, as they relish the wall of sound that the mixture of instruments can achieve. They are all about entertainment and they take the traditional folk songs and add colour and lights to the sound.

‘M’Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure – oh yes – to present these rare and glittering gems, these dazzling and delectable delights, these precious sparkling stones from the gilded coronet, the diamante tiara that is indeed the English music tradition.

So without further ado, pray sit back, recline and repose whilst we entertain and edify you, courtesy of the bold and brazen brass, soothing soniforous strings, rich and resplendent reeds, pantechnicon of outré percussion, and of course, vivacious, nay, effervescent vocals, that conjoin and coalesce to form the truly singular sui generis that is: Bellowhead!’

More of wot I have seen…

Public Enemies

We recently saw this movie in the small cinema in Reigate. It relies a lot on the action and momentum to carry it along, which it does apace. The characters were fun too, if a little two dimensional, but that fitted with the almost cartoon feel to the story

Fiddly French fingers…

Seen recently at the Dorking Folk Club was this artist who had amazing skills in guitar finger-picking. The intros to the songs were longer than the songs themselves. He was also a nice guy with a good sense of humour.

‘Claude Bourbon - A breathtaking fusion of Blues, Folk, Jazz, Classical and Spanish guitar. This accomplished artist offers tender, compelling performance through highly developed precision and instantly creates ambience – from haunting Spanish moods to lyrical, romantic jazz.

A formidable performer, Claude may have his roots in the blues, but he is inspired by music from all around the world, taking these sounds and weaving them into a performance of melodies that defy a label, all delivered with a gravely voice that has given him the nickname of "The Frog with the blues".’

More wot I have read…

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

This was the second book from the same author that Sue enjoyed and suggested I read. Like the first one it too was slow to start and the author spent a lot of time setting the scene and fleshing out the characters. This story spanned several time periods and geographical locations but was nicely resolved. A good period drama.


‘Before her eyes the garden changed. Weeds and brambles, decades in the growing, receded. Leaves lifted from the ground, revealing paths and flowerbeds and a garden seat. Light was permitted entry once more…

1913
On the eve of the First World War a little girl is found abandoned after a gruelling ocean voyage from England to Australia. All she can remember of the journey is that a mysterious woman she calls the Authoress had promised to look after her. But the Authoress has vanished without trace.

1975
Now an old lady, Nell travels to England to discover the truth about her parentage. Her quest leads her to Cornwall, and to a beautiful estate called Blackhurst Manor, which had been owned by the Mountrachet family. What has prompted Nell’s journey after all these years.

2005
On Nell’s death her granddaughter, Cassandra, comes into a surprise inheritance. Cliff Cottage, in the grounds of Blackhurst Manor, is notorious amongst the locals for the secrets it holds – secrets about the doomed Mountrachet family. But it is at Cliff Cottage, abandoned for years, and in its forgotten garden, that Cassandra will uncover the truth about the family and why young Nell was abandoned all those decades before’

Drunken legs…

The night before the longest day we went to a BBQ at our allotment that was hosted by a couple of guys who had rebuilt their impressive shed after vandals had burnt it down. They were expressing their thanks to all of those who offered assistance and support and the Allotment Holders Association promoted it as a gathering of tenants to get to know one another.

It was a pleasant evening and everyone enjoyed themselves meeting people that they previously had only seen the backsides of from a distance as they bent over their plots attending to their crops. There were young families with children running around, middle-aged people of all professions, older couples with their home made elderflower cordial, and an elegant woman who had been on the site since 1964.

As the evening drew in a core group of revellers were left, of which we were two. It was then that the flavoured vodkas emerged – home made infusions of Fennel, Mint, Strawberry and Vanilla. Sue was more sensible than I, who had never had vodka before (and by now was less inhibited by the application of red wine), to consume all of the shots. I knocked them back and even finished some of Sue’s. We were sitting around the shed having a laugh and a good time as it got later. We had planned to walk back to Westcott (which meant a 2 mile trek across the fields, through a wood and along a main road), so Sue suggested we get on our way as we had plans for the following morning. It was then that I noticed I had drunken legs, and as soon as tried to stand I was on my backside again. We mumbled apologies, thanks and goodnights and staggered off into the gloom. It wasn’t the last time I fell over, and Sue had a hard time keeping me upright – berating me as I swayed close to the road ‘If you get run over I will kill you!’

Needless to say the next day was mostly spent in a haze as I endeavoured to set up Sue’s Aunt’s Broadband and Video package.

I don’t think I will be trying vodka again in a hurry… …though the boys have promised to invite us back for their cider making enterprise!

More wot I have read…

The House at Riverton by Kate Morton

This was a book that Sue enjoyed and suggested I read. I found it slow to start but the ending was nicely resolved without being too cutesy. A good period drama.


‘Summer 1924
One the eve of a glittering society party, by the lake of a grand English country house, a young poet takes his life. The only witnesses, sisters Hannah and Emmeline Hartford, will never speak to each other again.

Winter 1999
Grace Bradley, ninety-eight, one-time housemaid at Riverton Manor, is visited by a young director making a film about the poet’s suicide. Ghosts awaken and old memories – long consigned to the dark reaches of Grace’s mind – begin to sneak back through the cracks. A shocking secret threatens to emerge, something history has forgotten but Grace never could.

Set as the war-shattered Edwardian summer surrenders to the decadent twenties, The House at Riverton is a thrilling mystery and a compelling love story.’

The history of Ranmore village…

We recently went on an evening walk around what was the village of Ranmore. The shops, cottages and church served the nearby Denbies estate and were built by the then landowner who went on to become the 1st Lord Ashcombe. The shops, post office, dispensary, school and rectors house are now all private residences, but we were allowed a closer look at some of them and were allowed to walk across part of the Denbies estate to see where the grand old house used to stand and the views it commanded over the local area.

Gardens in bloom…

We have been spending more time out doors in gardens now that the weather has improved. We have planted much of our allotment even though the ground is still poor and we are not expecting a great yield – the strawberries are going great guns at the moment and Sue has made jams and frozen the excess that can’t be eaten fresh. Around home the garden is looking good and we are seeing where we can move some plants around next year to improve the display. We have also been helping out with the Westcott in Bloom preparations by clearing approaches to the village of overgrowing verges and helping plant out display beds that should improve our chances of getting an award.

Recently we also joined the Gardeners Club in an outing to Parham House in West Sussex to walk around their lovely free-form gardens and the historic 16th C house. The gardens have a variety of ‘rooms’ within the large walled area and outside that is the please gardens with lake, maze and parkland. The house has a great collection of paintings, artefacts and a very grand long gallery. Still privately owned and occupied Parham House and Gardens is well worth a visit.

More wot I have heard…

Wishful Thinking by Hot Club of Cowtown

This was the album that the band was promoting as part of their tour that we caught in Brighton recently. We have an earlier album (Continental Stomp – 2003) and this new one is similar but with a few more variations and is very enjoyable – I listened to it twice through on the way home on the weekend.

******

I have been into some aspects of the jazz genre for a while as my dad introduced me to traditional acts and I found acid-jazz/jazz-fusion later on. A friend in NZ gave me a list of his top jazz albums and I have recently tracked them down and bought them online.

Brilliant Corners by Thelonious Monk

This was the first album to be delivered, and it is described as challenging, provocative and disturbing. I know some jazz can be pretty weird, but I can’t say found it this album all that bad, in fact I found it was perfectly fine as background music.

Kind of Blue by Miles Davis

This is probably my favourite of this jazz classics group, and the one I was most familiar with. It has a smoky, late night club feel to it and is great to let it flow over you.

A Love Supreme by John Coltrane

I lot of these artists were familiar with each others work and often collaborated together and Coltrane features on the Miles Davis album. This, though, is one of his most celebrated albums and where it is a bit more ‘out there’ it is still well worth a listen to and has a lot going on in it.

Mingus Ah Um by Charles Mingus

Another very interesting jazz classic album, and for those keen on the genre it is full of really good stuff.


Also recommended by my jazz loving friend is this interesting album…

The Very Best of Play Bach by Jacques Loussier

I was unaware of his work until it was pointed out that he performed the ‘Hamlet Cigar’ music. This album is an easy listening joy that washes over the listener and gently carries them away. It is an antidote to the other albums above that require more active concentration on the behalf of the listener to get the most out of them. Where they are smoky jazz dive beats, this is a sophisticated cocktail bar soundtrack.

******

Made in Dakar by Orchestra Baobab

We saw these guys at the last Womad we went to and were impressed with their Afro-Cuban rhythms and beautifully orchestrated instruments and harmonious voices. For anyone who has an interest in World music and expanding their listening horizons this group would be high on my list along with the Buena Vista Social Club.


Sweet Fast River by Suntrap

We saw this group at our local folk club and were very impressed with their lovely songs. You can also find them on their own MySpace site.

More wot I have seen…

We went to see Hot Club of Cowtown recently with a couple of friends and we had one of the best nights ever as the band ripped up the club with an enthusiastic foot-stomping show. They are – as their name suggests – a band that incorporates the Hot Club of France sound with Country music into a hugely entertaining fusion. All of members of the band are amazingly talented musicians with the guitarist taking the Django Reinhardt role, the violinist the Stephane Grappelli, and the double bassist slapping out a thumping beat with support of the drummer.

The venue was an interesting and deceptive Komedia club in Brighton that is host of a variety of gigs including comedy, music and cabaret. It was a lively place with a mixed audience and a well stocked bar. Downstairs they have a coffee bar and a café that looks well patronised.

More wot I have read…

My Name is Daphne Fairfax by Arthur Smith

I rattled through this book as it was a very entertaining read. I could hear Arthur Smith’s distinctive voice in the words as I read about his interesting life.

'My name is Arthur Smith, unless there's anybody here from the Streatham tax office. In which case, I'm Daphne Fairfax'. This has been Arthur's opening line at hundreds of stand-up comedy performances. In fact, he is neither Daphne nor Arthur. Friends and family know him as Brian. One of the 'alternative comedians' who shook up light entertainment in the eighties and nineties, Arthur (and Brian) is also a broadcaster, an opening bat for Grumpy Old Men, a West End playwright (his plays include An Evening with Gary Lineker) and a guest on innumerable radio and TV panel shows. In "My Name is Daphne Fairfax", he reflects on the nature of comedy and his days as a scruffy kid on the bombsites of Bermondsey, a wild-haired undergraduate, a road sweeper, an English teacher, a failed rock star, a boozed-up sexual adventurer and an intensive care patient who has been told never to drink again. Hilarious, scandalous and rude, his memoir incorporates a tender tribute to his parents and a vigorous account of the peculiar business of being alive.’


Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer

The fourth book in the series that ties up the storylines for all the major characters nicely. This book got some bad press from the puritans as it celebrates the union between boy and girl, though I can’t see a problem with it as there is nothing graphic and the passion is highly romanticized.

It is an easy read, written as it is for young adults, but it is still entertaining and compulsive. Different in its approach from the previous books it allows the story to viewed from two characters point of view fleshing the second character out more while giving us a relief from the insecurities of the lead.

‘Don’t be afraid,’ I murmured. ‘We belong together.’

I was abruptly overwhelmed by the truth of my own words. This moment was so perfect, so right, there was no way to doubt it. His arms wrapped around me, holding me against him…It felt like every nerve ending in my body was a live wire.

‘Forever,’ he agreed.

Under canvas…

We had a long weekend away camping at Hollands Wood in the New Forest with a bunch of friends and we were lucky with unusually bright and hot Bank Holiday weather. Much of the time was spent sitting around the site drinking copiously, but we did manage a few short walks and one long (and painful) bicycle ride in the forest.

We were impressed with the site and its location in the middle of the forest was ideal, though you had to be careful to move any foodstuffs and not leave any out in the campsite when you retired at night as the ponies would be around in the morning rooting through it for their breakfast.

More wot I have seen…

Madeleine Peyroux is a French/Canadian singer songwriter with a soulful and mellow voice that transports the listener. She had a reputation of being stand-offish and difficult, but she was charming and engaging, and a little quirky… …which is not a bad thing.

She performed at the Brighton Dome which is an interesting venue and one that seemed to suit her very well.

The support act was from Sophie Hunger and her group from Switzerland who were very interesting and folksy (I have ordered her latest CD).


Cara Dillon is an Irish singer songwriter with the voice of an angel. She sings effortlessly with a clear and sweet sound and is supported by a talented band (including her husband Sam Lakeman – brother of Seth).

The venue was the Chequer Mead at East Grinstead, a smaller intimate theatre that suited this traditional folk music very well.

The support was from an unusual duo called Horses Brawl. They came from Norfolk and played a ‘mash-up’ of music that they say is rooted in renaissance, medieval, baroque and European folk traditions.

More wot I have read…

The Blue Zone by Andrew Gross

This not the greatest book that I have ever read but it is not terrible either.


‘They were the perfect family. And he was the perfect family man. One day changed it all.

Arrested for racketeering, Ben Raab must take his family into America’s Witness Protection Program. Only his eldest daughter, Kate, stays on the outside.

But the Program’s perfect success rate is about to end. A case agent is tortured to death and Ben vanishes. The one person who might be able to find him is Kate.

Pursued by killers, forced to question everything she knows about her life, Kate is plunged into a terrifying existence for which nothing has prepared her.

Most people would call it certain death. The FBI calls it the Blue Zone.’


The Righteous Men by Sam Bourne

This book exposed me to a glimpse of what it might be like in a Jewish community, but otherwise the storyline and progress was a little to much like other better written books.


‘A series of murders as far apart as the backstreets of New York, the crowded slums of India and the pristine beaches of Cape Town can’t be connected, can they?

Rookie New York Times reporter Will Monroe thinks not – until his beautiful wife Beth is kidnapped. The men holding her seem ready to kill without hesitation.

Desperate, Will follows a sinister trail that leads to a mysterious cult – fanatical followers of one of the world’s oldest religions – right on his doorstep. Now he must unravel ancient prophecies and riddles buried deep in the Bible to find a secret worth killing for, a secret on which the fate of humanity may depend. But with more victims dying every hour and each clue wrapped in layers of code, time is running out…’


Unchained America by Dave Gorman

This was an interesting read for me as I would be quite keen to take a road trip across America. The journey through backwater towns where unusual people and sites were found was entertaining.

‘The plan was simple. Go to America. Buy a second-hand car. Drive coast-to-coast without giving any money to The Man. What could possibly go wrong? Dismayed by the relentless onslaught of faceless American chains muscling in where local businesses had once thrived, Dave Gorman set off on the ultimate American road trip - in search of the true, independent heart of the US of A. He would eat cherry pie from local diners, re-fuel at dusty gas stations on remote highways and stock up on supplies from Mom and Pop's grocery store. At least that was the idea. But in a world of 30,000 McDonalds, 13,000 Starbucks, and 4,200 Best Westerns, could it really be done? When did you last see an independent gas station? Gamely, Dave beds down in a Colorado trailer park, sleeps in an Oregon forest treehouse, and even spends Thanksgiving with a Mexican family in Kansas. But when his classic coast-to-coast trip mutates into an odyssey of near-epic proportions and he finds himself being threatened at gun point in Mississippi, Dave starts to worry about what's going to break down next. The car...or him?’

More wot I have read…

Twilight Series by Stephanie Mayer
The first three books:
Twilight
New Moon
Eclipse

This series of books aimed at the American young adult market is very entertaining for the older reader too. Quite heavily charged with teenage angst I can see how it appeals to the hormonally imbalanced youth who have taken to it so well.


Twilight
‘When Isabella Swan moves to the gloomy town of Forks and meets the mysterious, alluring Edward Cullen, her life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. With his porcelain skin, golden eyes, mesmerizing voice, and supernatural gifts, Edward is both irresistible and impenetrable. Up until now, he has managed to keep his true identity hidden, but Bella is determined to uncover his dark secret.

What Bella doesn’t realise is that the closer she gets to him, the more she is putting herself and those around her at risk. And it might be too late to turn back…’


New Moon
‘For Bella Swan, there is one thing more important than life itself: Edward Cullen. But being in love with a vampire is even more dangerous than Bella could ever have imagined. Edwards has already rescued Bella from the clutches of one evil vampire, but now, as their daring relationship threatens all that is near and dear to them, they realise their troubles may be just beginning…’


Eclipse
‘As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continuous her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded be danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob – knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which?’

Up, up and away…

We have just been on a long weekend break to the beautiful Peak District and the heart of the country. We based ourselves at the historic market town of Bakewell, renowned for its tarts and puddings (though not to our tastes), which is a lovely town besides the river that has a friendly atmosphere and bucolic charm.

On our way to the town we stopped in at the nearby historic Chatsworth home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. It is an impressive pile with grand gardens and lands as far as the eye can see. We were more impressed with the wonderful grounds with their long lacks, fountains and water terraces than we were with the house itself. We had a delightful picnic lunch sitting in the grounds in the bright sunshine


The following day we visited another historic home that had belonged to the Cavendish family, that of Hardwick Hall. We were very impressed with both the old and new halls that stand next to one another on the top of a hill overlooking the countryside.

Down into the valley we stopped at another National Trust property; that of the estate’s mill – Stainsby Mill, where we witnessed the water wheel powered millstones grinding grain into flour just as it did so long ago.

We returned to Bakewell to have another picnic lunch, this time on the banks of the river, before returning to our hotel to change for the evening.

We drove a couple of miles out of town to a little village of Rowsley where we parked up in the middle of a field. Here we had arranged to meet with others for a balloon ride over the countryside.

The weather was perfect and the organisers started to prepare the balloon as we were briefed. It turned out one person had tried 17 different occasions to fly over a 2 years before this day, each time to have it cancelled before it took off. Conditions though were right and the balloon was inflated and we clambered into the wicker basket to soar into the sky. The trip was sublime and gentle as we drifted up to over 4000 feet where we could see all around the Peak District, the town of Bakewell at out feet, Chatsworth over the hill, other stately homes, farms and rolling countryside. We could see a couple of other balloons in the sky with us and briefly a small airplane buzzed in between us and the Virgin balloon like the red baron. After the controlled landing in a farmer’s field we had a drink of champagne before being driven back to our car.

It was one of the best experiences we have ever had, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

More wot I have read…

Lords of the Bow by Conn Iggulden

This was another charity shop purchase. This is the second in a trilogy, but I don’t think that matters. It is a ‘boys own’ sort of read and is entertaining in its own way, well written and researched without being overburdened with a desire to educate.


‘His warriors only have the bow, the horse and an iron discipline born from a land of ice, hunger and death. Genghis Khan, the greatest of the warriors, must unite the most warlike tribes on earth in order to forge a new nation from the wild plains and mountains of Mongolia.

To achieve this, he must break the ancient enemy who has kept his people divided; he must attack them in their fortresses and walled cities; he must find a new way of warfare, while at the same time coping with his restless generals, ambitious brothers and growing sons.’

More wot I have seen…

Brass Monkey at the Electric Theatre in Guildford

We recently went to a live ‘gig’ at the Electric Theatre in Guildford, a lovely little venue built in what used to be an electricity power station. We saw a flyer for Brass Monkey at the local folk group and decided to give them a go as we recognised the names of a couple of the band members (Martin Carthy and John Kirkpatrick). The small venue had an intimate feel, though the seats we had at the back suffered from poor ventilation and it became quite hot and stuffy during the performance. The band played traditional folk songs but with a twist of having the less traditional brass instruments playing a major part. Probably not exactly our taste but interesting in their own right they were certainly very accomplished musicians and it was an enjoyable evening.


‘Brass Monkey – the five-piece band that started in 1980, sputtered to a halt in 1987, and burst back onto the scene with renewed vigour in 1997 – looked all set to build on the buzz of a re-energised come-back with regular new albums and annual tours. They had a unique sound, nobody else remotely resembled them, every live appearance was a wonderful success, and every new recording was greeted with joyous appreciation’



Shep Woolley at the Dorking Folk Club

This was an entertaining gig in the old folk tradition of comedy and music combining to give the audience a good time.


‘To some Shep is a folk singer who tells funny stories, to others he's a stand-up comedian who writes great songs and parodies. He can sing a protest song or belt out Long Tall Sally - he is definitely a great all-round performer who is the perfect guest for All Fool’s day!’

More of wot I have read…

Fatal Revenant by Stephen Donaldson

This book, like all the others in this and the earlier Chronicles, was a difficult and frustrating read. There is now so much history in this world created by the author in seven previous books over thirty years, that there is a need for a lot of explanation that sometimes hinders the story. Also the author’s main characters are so flawed that you just want to throttle them, to shake some sense into them. Only one more book to go in this final trilogy.


‘Linden Avery watches from a balcony while Thomas Covenant and her adopted son, Jeremiah, ride desperately towards Revelstone. But their reunion has vast consequences which she could not have foreseen. Soon she is betrayed by people whom she most needs to trust. Transported deep into the Land’s past, she is forced to confront mysterious strangers, legendary heroes and ancient evils, and to stand alone against the malevolence of the Despiser’s minions.

When she finds herself abandoned in Garroting Deep, the most bloodthirsty of the Land’s long-dead forests, she reaches a fearsome decision; if she is to end the Despiser’s evil and her own son’s suffering, she must reshape reality. For this, she needs to find Loric’s krill, a weapon lost in the Hills of Andelain millennia ago. And she needs the aid of friends and allies who would turn against her if she revealed her intent.’

Catch the Kiwi...

We managed to catch up with our illusive and shy Kiwi friends on a couple of occasions recently. The first we collared Marc and Heather in London and after a quick circuit of the British Museum we had a meal at a local restaurant with them and Jamie. At that time Heather was just about to present her thesis and we now know she passed without comment and is now a doctor. Now she has the task of finding a ‘real’ job.

A few weeks later we met Heather again, this time when Mary was briefly in London on her way to Paris with work. We had a meal, reminisced, gossiped and looked and photos that Mary had brought with her.

A Night on the Town...

Sue took me out for a meal for my birthday at a local restaurant, Two to Four, that we had passed many times. The name reflects its address on West Street and didn’t reveal anything about its character, which was cosy and classy at the same time. The older building was lovely restored and decorated to a high finish, the staff attentive but not intrusive. The food was superb, well balanced flavours, beautiful produce, and good portions that were not too large as to discourage additional courses. This is definitely a good place to come for a special treat.

Before we went to the restaurant we met at the Star, probably our favourite pub in Dorking. It is not the cheapest place to drink in but the atmosphere is special and welcoming to all.

Under the Surface...

Dorking Heritage Trail

We were quite aware of parts of the local history and we had recently been to a talk about the Dorking Caves. But while we were at the theatre (which doubles as the tourist information centre) we noticed that they were being opened up (once a month – closed for winter) and so we booked a tour that included a guided walk around the town first. We found out some additional information we had not known before and explored some parts of the town we had not seen. The underground tour was also a revelation as these caves exist in the heart of the town hidden away from the bustle behind an unimpressive door in a wall.

All Song and Dance...

42nd Street

Dorking Dramatic & Operatic Society put on a large scale musical every year at the Dorking Halls. Last years performance was South Pacific, which was very good, this year it was 42nd Street – not a show we were familiar with so we did not fully appreciate the performance. Next year it is one of my personal favourite musicals – Return to the Forbidden Planet. The DDOS group do other performances throughout the year at a smaller venue behind the halls called the Green Room, which was a temporary structure for Canadian Troops during WWII.


La Cage aux Folles

Sue went on a girl’s night out to see this show and thoroughly enjoyed herself, saying that the guys did a great job including Graham Norton. I have seen the American version on film some time ago and enjoyed that.

‘The idyllic existence of Georges and the dazzling drag artiste Albin, star of the La Cage aux Folles club, is threatened when Georges’ son announces his engagement to the daughter of a right-wing politician, who wants to close down the local colourful nightlife! With a visit from the prospective in-laws imminent, they all decide to take drastic action to hide their lifestyle... but can they keep it up?’

Old Folk...

At the Dorking Folk Club

We continue to support our local Folk Club and have seen many an accomplished artist there that we have never heard of before. We are becoming educated to what is almost an underground scene that has existing for some time now after its popularity in the sixties and seventies. Many of these artists have been plying their trade since that time and perfecting their own particular sound, the skill of which is making it all look so simple.

Mick Ryan and Paul Downes
also at
http://www.pauldownes.com/index.html
http://www.mickandpete.co.uk/

'An inspired pairing of two highly respected artists in their own right:
Mick Ryan is well known on the folk scene as a fine singer of traditional and original songs, writing for radio and a series of highly successful folk musicals such as 'A Tollpuddle Man',
'The Voyage' and 'The Navvy's Wife.'

Paul Downes has a rich musical background working with artists such as Phil Beer, Show of Hands and Pete Seeger. A great acoustic guitarist with a dazzling array of styles performed with effortless brilliance and also a wonderful singer of songs.

This talented duo combine a heartfelt and masterly performance of self penned and beautifully arranged material – a rare and memorable treat'

John James

‘One of the most spectacular and entertaining guitarists combined with a warm humour –
`Old Tyme’ gospel, Western swing or classical rags from a true exponent of the art’

More of wot I have seen…

Recently we went to see Ray LaMontagne at the Barbican.

This guy is a gravel-throated hero of the Americana/Blues sound. We have seen him before in a much smaller venue with just a bass player. This time his fame has grown and he has come with a full band that allows him to have a bigger sound – occasionally it might be too big as it threatens to drown out his particular vocal sound. A shy and otherwise uncommunicative artist he seems to let his music do the speaking for him, and the songs are full of emotion and passion.

I picked up his latest offer at the gig and found it to be equal to his previous albums with evidence of his experimenting with new ideas and sounds.

Gossip in the Grain by Ray LaMontagne – album review


The support artist for Ray was a young American Korean girl called Priscilla Ahn, who played solo to the packed auditorium and charmed everyone there with her personality and sensitive, sweet songs. I also bought her album and as I do enjoy a good female voice I was entranced with her offering, playing it through twice in a row.

A Good Day by Priscilla Ahn

More of wot I have heard…

I received several new CDs for my birthday that I had listed in the Amazon Wish List tool and have not been disappointed by any of them.

Some new Indie beats from bands that are relatively new to me. All of them are great pop sounds with cleaver lyrics and gentle sounds, but Fleet Foxes certainly do have something extra with virtually all tracks being top notch.

Fleet Foxes by Fleet Foxes

Scouting For Girls by Scouting For Girls

Peaceful The World Lays Me Down by Noah And The Whale


Compilation albums can give the listener a variety of different sounds that they may not come across otherwise, and I have found that the Late Night Tales series is very exciting with the compiling artists mixing favourites from days gone by with obscurities never heard of before. It often shows the influences and passions of those doing the selecting which is revealing. Nu Cool is a throwback to a time when I was first interested in music and the disco inspired sounds are an indulgence for me. Several of Mark Ronson’s tracks have made it to the mainstream and all of them are clever reinterpretations of songs you know done so well they often eclipse the original.

Late Night Tales compiled by Nouvelle Vague
and
Late Night Tales compiled by Fatboy Slim

Nu Cool - Lounge Grooves & Sassy Beats From Hed Kandi by Various Artists

Version by Mark Ronson


These two albums are both something away from the mainstream which is in it self something to celebrate. Bellowhead are the dance act of the folk scene with pounding rhythms and strong driving beats giving the genre a welcome boost with its energetic and well crafted music. Lambchop are a firm favourite of mine and have taken Country and Americana folk to new levels, sometimes it can be variable but this album is them at there best – truly sublime.

Burlesque by Bellowhead

Ohio by Lambchop

More of wot I have read…

No Time for Goodbye by Linwood Barclay

This book had an intriguing premise that was well played out through the story and even managed to keep a few secrets until the end. It had a good degree of suspense and the characters and storyline were well written.

‘One night, when Cynthia Archer was 14 years old, her family disappeared. Now, 25 years later, she’s about to learn what happened to her mother, father brother, and she might be better off never finding out.’


Remembrance Day by Henry Porter

This book is a little ‘boys-own’ in style and suffers from dated technology (it is interesting how much things have changed in such a short time that we take for granted now). It also plays heavily on stereotypes and preconceptions such that some elements of the story become predictable.

‘Constantine Lindow is waiting for his brother Eamonn outside a central London tube station when a bus turns into the street and explodes. The next day Con is arrested as the prime suspect for the bombing.

Con is determined to prove his innocence, but the only way he can do that is to find the real bomber. As he digs deeper, he finds himself confronted by his own brother's secret life - and the cold-blooded killers from his past.The trail leads Lindow halfway across the world and back to London, where he tracks down a killer with a genius for encryption codes. Only Lindow can crack the code. Only Lindow can stop that telephone ringing... ‘


Half a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

This a story based on real events of which I knew nothing about and for that reason alone it would have been an interesting read. But the author also manages to bring a real sense of humanities worst and best extremes that can be exposed in times of trouble. Well worth a read to educate your self about a little known struggle.

‘A masterly, haunting new novel from a writer heralded by The Washington Post Book World as "the 21st-century daughter of Chinua Achebe," Half of a Yellow Sun recreates a seminal moment in modern African history: Biafra's impassioned struggle to establish an independent republic in Nigeria, and the chilling violence that followed.

With astonishing empathy and the effortless grace of a natural storyteller, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie weaves together the lives of three characters swept up in the turbulence of the decade. Thirteen-year-old Ugwu is employed as a houseboy for a university professor full of revolutionary zeal. Olanna is the professor's beautiful mistress, who has abandoned her life of privilege in Lagos for a dusty university town and the charisma of her new lover. And Richard is a shy young Englishman in thrall to Olanna's twin sister, an enigmatic figure who refuses to belong to anyone. As Nigerian troops advance and they must run for their lives, their ideals are severely tested, as are their loyalties to one another
.
Epic, ambitious, and triumphantly realized, Half of a Yellow Sun is a remarkable novel about moral responsibility, about the end of colonialism, about ethnic allegiances, about class and race—and the ways in which love can complicate them all.’

What have we been doing…

Anniversary

I had a few days leave left to use as Christmas approached and so I took the three days before off, which included our wedding anniversary. Sue treated me to the box set of the 4th series of 24, and so I over dosed on Jack Bower – and felt suitably jumpy afterwards.

Xmas

Christmas was the traditional affair where we ate lots of food and drank more than we should have and enjoyed the company of family and friends

Jamie came to visit and spent a good few days with us, which was very nice. He is doing well and has settled into his new place and new job making many friends and having a good time. As is usual he was spoilt rotten.

New Year

We like to be at home for New Years as it is too much of an expense and a hassle going out. This year we invited a few friends around and we had a Gaming Night, where we played silly games and ate and drank some more.

On New Years day we joined the History Group walk, which was blessed with good weather as we wandered of hill and across dale refreshing ourselves from the excesses of the festive season.

The dreaded ‘W’ word

We have been back to work for a few weeks now and it hardly seems that we have been away, we are both as busy as ever and nothing seems to have changed. We have started making plans for the year as this gives us something to aim for and a reason to carry on.

On the small screen…

Winter is a time of hibernation and we have been spending ever more time in front of the box.

Various films over Xmas including
- The 39 steps (made for TV adaptation – quite good)
- Kinky Boots (a good laugh)
- Superman Returns (not so good, but very ‘Superman’)

Watched TV including
- Dr Who Special (I am a fan, what can I say)
- The Royal Family at Christmas (cringe-worthy fun)
- Wallace and Grommet – A matter of loaf and death (superb)
- Demons (a new series a kin to a UK Buffy – bad accents though)
- Royal Variety Show (a Christmas staple)
- ER (the last series has just started on Freeview)
- My Name is Earl (one of the best comedies from across the pond)

We have been enjoying
- Apparitions (spooktastic!)
- Heroes (Mark – what’s not to like)
- Brothers and Sisters (Sue – good girly stuff)
- Life (a great new series with another English actor that has made good in the states)
- Dexter (we really shouldn’t like him)

DVDs including
- Mama Mia (a present for Sue)
- The illusionist
- Atonement
- The lady in the water

On the silver screen…

It has been a very long time since we last saw a film in a cinema (several years in fact) and we were probably not going to change that any time soon, until friends of ours invited us out.

The day the earth stood still

Probably not the best remake ever, but it was just as well that they selected the alien role for Keanu Reeves.


Yes Man

We went to the movies again with our friends and enjoyed this film much more, silly and slapstick though it was. It was interesting to see the Kiwi actor out of Flight of the Conchords in it too.

More of wot I have read…

Human Traces by Sebastian Faulks

This was an interesting book and it is clear that the author has spent a lot of time researching his subject, unfortunately some of the extended passages detailing various psychiatric illnesses and treatments were too long, and frankly boring, for my tastes.


‘In the 1870s, two ambitious boys from different backgrounds, Jacques Rebiere and Thomas Midwinter, find themselves united by a determination to understand how the mind works and whether madness is the price we pay for being human.

As pioneering psychiatrists, their quest takes them from an English country lunatic asylum to the plains of Africa, the lecture rooms of Paris and the mountains of Austria and California. They are guided by Thomas’s devoted sister, Sonia, and by an ex-patient, Katharina, whose arrival exposes profound differences between them. As the concerns of the old century fade and the Fist world War divides Europe, the two friends are compelled to a tragic revision of all that they have loved and pursued.’



The Runes of the Earth by Stephen Donaldson

This is the first book in THE LAST CHRONICLES OF THOMAS COVENANT

It has been many years since I read the first and second trilogies and I remembered how I found the character’s human frailties frustrating. Well the author has continued this with this book and I again find myself almost shouting at the character to ‘get a grip’. Still this conflict of a damaged and worthless person from one world being thrust into another where they are powerful and can’t come to terms with it is what drives the story. It is a difficult read from that point of view, but I hope that is down to me not the author, as I like the basic premise.


‘Since their publication more than twenty years ago, the first six books in The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant have sold more than 10 million copies and have been published around the world. Now, with The Runes of the Earth, Donaldson returns to the Land, and the story of Thomas Covenant.

Struck down with a deadly disease, Covenant is abandoned by his wife and son. Alone and despairing, he is drawn into the Land, where the earth itself brings healing. He is welcomed as the reincarnation of a legendary saviour, but cannot - will not - accept this magical world is real. But the Land itself is under threat, and only Covenant has the power to save it.

As Covenant battles to save the world he has come to love, he is killed: his death is both the ultimate sacrifice and his redemption.

Now comes the book every fantasy reader has been waiting for. It's ten years on, and Dr. Linden Avery had thought she would never see the Land, or Covenant, her beloved, again. But Lord Foul has stolen her adopted son, and there is more at risk than the life of the boy she adores: Lord Foul is unmaking the very laws of nature and if he is not stopped, he could destroy everything.

And though Linden believes Covenant dead, he keeps sending her messages: 'Find me', and 'You're the only one who can do this', and 'Remember that I'm dead'.

The Land is in turmoil, and Lord Foul has plans for them all...’

Remembrance Day…

On Tuesday 11th November we went to A Remembrance Day Special talk at the Westcott History Group.

The speaker was Andrew Tatham, who explained how a photograph of the officers of the 8th Royal Berkshire Regiment, taken on Salisbury Plain in July 1915, prompted a research project that focused on the First World War and those who fought in it.

He has a website called http://www.groupphoto.co.uk/ where he details what he has been doing and some of the information he has found out.

‘I have a group photograph of the officers of the 8th Royal Berkshire Regiment taken at their training camp on Salisbury Plain in July 1915. My aim when I started was to explore who those officers were - where they had come from, what happened to them, and what their families are doing now. So often wars are seen in isolation from the rest of history - well, I want to put the First World War in the context of the stories of these men and their families. One way that I have explored this is in the production of an Animated Film that shows all of their family trees growing over 136 years, mixed in with photos of their families and historical time markers, with contemporary music, and with the cycles of the moon and the seasons.

Andrew Tatham’

It was a very interesting and moving story that kept us entertained and made us think.

More of wot I have heard…

We have returned to the Dorking Folk Club and saw a couple of very good acts that came out of the 60’s and 70’s resurgence of folk and are still around to entertain us.


Bob Fox & Stu Luckel

‘One of the most innovative and highly acclaimed collaborations ever seen on the folk scene have just re-formed for a very special October tour to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the release of their highly innovative and widely acclaimed album: "Nowt So Good'll Pass".’


Dave Burland

‘The controlled dynamism of stunning guitar playing with rich, gentle songs has proved his mastery for over 30 years. Blues, rock and roll and folk combine to make him an all-time hero of many professional folk artists.’

More of wot I have seen…

Spamalot

Although we had seats so high up in the gods that other people seated near by were suffering from vertigo, we still had a great time throughout all of this performance. I was totally absorbed with all of the various Monty Python references, and even though she was not a obsessive fan as I am, Sue also enjoyed the humour and spectacle.


Dead Set

This TV mini series came and went quietly in the night without too much fuss, but when we watched it we found it a very good example of its genre. We are not horror enthusiasts (in fact Sue jumps at her own shadow) but we managed to make our way through the series (all be it with a heightened pulse rate and a slight hand tremor). The way it was shot helped with the horror as quick and shaky cameras, or fleeting and fast moving action implied more than it revealed and allowed the viewers imagination to do most of the work. References to the Big Brother show and the use of the set, presenter and some previous inmates added an extra dimension to the story.


Calendar Girls

We recently went to see this stage show version of the true life story of the Alternative WI Calendar of the nude pictures of 11 mature women. The show is currently making the rounds of provincial theatres before it transfers to the West End, and we went to see it in High Wycombe. We went with a group of friends, one of whom is a close friend of Linda Bellingham, one of the actresses in the show. And afterwards we went backstage to meet her and some of the other cast members. It was a very well written and acted show with a good set. The subject matter was close to the hearts of all of us there who had lost someone dear to us recently and we all shed a tear or two in amongst the many moments of laughter.

More of wot I have read…

High Society by Ben Elton

I enjoyed this book and have found the author’s style of writing has changed over time so that he approaches this subject with some sensitivity and sophistication perhaps not apparent in all of his previous works.

‘The war on drugs has been lost. The simple fact is that the whole world is rapidly becoming one vast criminal network. From pop stars and royal princes to crack whores and street kids, from the Groucho Club toilets to the poppy fields of Afghanistan, we are all partners in crime.

High Society is a story about Britain today, a criminal nation in which everybody is either breaking the law or knows people who do. It takes the reader on a hilarious, heartbreaking and terrifying journey through the kaleidoscope world that the law has created and from which the law.’


A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby

This is an odd but strangely captivating story with some interesting, if outlandish, characters and storyline.

‘On New Year’s Eve, four strangers make their way to the rooftop of a London apartment building called Toppers’ House. Their goal, however, is not celebration but obliteration. For various reasons, each one has decided that the time has come to put an end to his or her life. As they inadvertently meet and begin to share their stories, they find themselves citizens of a sort of independent state, where street-level laws no longer apply. And gradually, very gradually, they help one another to discover reasons to live, at least for the time being.

Hornby tells his story through the alternating, idiosyncratic voices of his four main characters. There is Maureen, the mousy, fifty-something mother of a mentally and physically incapacitated son, who has done little but care for him for the past twenty years; Martin, a disgraced former TV morning show host and ex-con; Jess, an obnoxious and explosive teenager; and JJ, the lone American in the bunch, an aspiring rock star.’


The Client by John Grisham

Another enjoyable read even though I am not necessarily a fan of the genre. The plucky young boy as the main character is interesting and the author’s obvious knowledge of criminal law makes for a good read.

‘A US state senator is dead, and a young boy is told the name of the killer - a mafia hitman, Danny "The Blade" Muldano - by Muldano's lawyer. After the lawyer's suicide, Muldano and the boy are the only people who know the killer's identity.

By the author of The Firm and The Pelican Brief.’

The need for speed…

Our company co-hosted a corporate event with one of our customers at the Brands Hatch racing track where the MG Car Club was having a club day. We had a suite of our own with food and drinks laid on and a view of the whole circuit before us. Each race had it’s drama with many a crash and spin off that although looking quite frightening luckily didn’t seem to result in any injuries (other than dented pride and wounded wallets). We were also able to walk around where the competitors had their cars arranged and could watch as they tweaked and tuned them as they tried to get the last drop of performance out of them. The majority of the cars were naturally MGs, the earliest seemed to be a 1940’s MG TC and the latest a group of MG Z hatchbacks. There were also many other marquees there, including Triumph, Jaguar Austin-Healey and number of TVRs

Although I am not much of a petrol head it was still quite and interesting day and I think everyone enjoyed themselves.

Green fingered success…

When we moved to the village we joined a few clubs so that we could meet people and integrate better into the community, through the local Gardener’s Club we were encouraged to have a go at entering something into their competition. We are still struggling to improve the ground at our allotment so that it will be better for growing vegetables and the wet weather has caused many problems for them and the flowers in our garden that we were not sure we would have anything to enter. But we managed to get together enough for half a dozen entries and we even had some minor success with a first and two thirds for the fruit and vegetables. We made some mistakes with our flower entries but our fern in a pot was the only one entered in that category and so was placed.

It seems there are few regulars who do well every year and the awards were split between a small number of exhibiters, still we offered some support and encouraging words so we might try again in the spring.

Wave your arms like you just don’t care…

A few of the ‘boys’ got together a while ago with the intention of having a games night and we ended up playing Olympic Games and other sports on the Wii games console to much amusement.

It was so much fun that we decided to run a rematch and invite the girls along too. This time we held it our place and Sue made a one-pot meal for everyone that we enjoyed to excess. So while we waited for the food to settle we had a quick Movie game that used a DVD of film clips for some of the questions. We then cleared a space for the Wii events and tried our collective hands at several Olympic track and field games before trying other sports such as tennis, bowling and most hilariously boxing. After that we had a few goes at the Brain Trainer and called it a night.

I think the sales of the console may be set to increase come Christmas.

Blood on the sawdust…

We took some time out one weekend and headed into town to visit the Old Operating Theatre Museum and Borough Market. I thought it might be a good idea for the three of us to spend some quality time together near where Jamie’s new job is and where he is thinking of moving to. But it seems that wandering around a food market and looking at scary bone-saws or specimens in jars is not everybody’s cup of tea. We had a tasty, though expensive, meal in the fish restaurant and an abortive look at the stalls before we had a quick look at the oldest operating theatre in the country that used to be part of the nearby Guys Hospital. It consists of a small semicircular demonstration area surrounded by steeply raked viewing platforms. Under the knife marked table sits a box of sawdust that was designed to be kicked around to capture the blood that drained from the semiconscious patient above. It is an odd museum built in the loft space of what was originally a church and the displays are quite random and unusual with what appears to be hand written notes explaining some of the exhibits.

We didn’t linger and returned home soon after.

Death’s high-kicking routine…

Recently we went to the Yvonne Arnaud theatre in Guildford to see Mort the musical, a reinterpretation of the Terry Pratchett Discworld novel with song and dance. This was performed by a youth group to great acclaim and we particularly enjoyed how they managed to get a seven foot skeleton to move around the stage and talk in capitals.

The theatre itself is nicely situated along side the river and has a pleasant atmosphere in the cosy auditorium. The food in the café is also tasty and adds to the whole experience.

A working man…

Jamie has found himself a job working as a Software Developer for a company based in London. He has been there for a couple of weeks now and seems to be enjoying himself. The only thing he is not enjoying is the travel to and from our place into to the city. He has been talking to a couple of friends he knew from Uni and is hoping to move in with them sometime soon.

More of wot I have read…

Do Not Pass Go by Tim Moore

A book that tells the story of London since the thirties through the 28 streets, stations and utililties of the Monopoly board . In the wonderful world of Monopoly it still only costs £50 to buy a house in Islington, you can move around London with the shake of a dice and even park your car for free. In Do Not Pass Go Tim Moore, belying his reputation as a player who always paid that £10 fine rather than take a Chance, fearlessly tackles the real thing and along the way tells the story of a game and the city that frames it. Sampling the rags and the riches he stays in a hotel in Mayfair and one in the Old Kent Road, enjoys quality time with Dr Crippen in Pentonville Prison and even winds up at the wrong end of the Water Works pipe. And, solving all the mysteries you'll have pondered whilst languishing in jail and many other you certainly wouldn't, Tim Moore reveals how Pall Mall got its name, which three addresses you won't find in your A-Z and why the sorry cul-de-sac that is Vine Street has a special place in the heart of Britain's most successful Monopoly champion.

The stirring travelogue of one man's erratic progress around those 28 stations, utilities and street, Do Not Pass Go is also an epic and lovingly researched history of London's wayward progress in the 66 years since the launch of the world's most popular board game.

More of wot I have heard…

I bought the following albums after seen the artists at the recent Womad festival. There are all probably loosely called folk, but they are quite different from each other.


The Ha’ O’ Habrahellia by Fribo

As you can tell be the name this group is not totally English in origin.

Their website states that - Fribo is a unique collaboration between three musicians from Norway, Scotland and England, who are rapidly gaining recognition and acclaim for blending their own musical styles together with sensitivity and an exuberant feel for contemporary sounds and rhythms.

The music is lively and different and perhaps a little challenging at times.


I am the Man by Simone White

I like this album very much, it is quirky, modern, and pointed and the singer has a lovely voice. I can listen to this over and over again.


After the Morning by Cara Dillon

Perhaps the most traditional of the three this Irish singer’s album is lovely and gentle collection of good melodies and good tunes.

More of wot I have heard…

This was probably the best Womad yet as we were bless with superb weather, a greatly improved site, good food music and company. All together there were twenty of us in five huge tents with a couple of gazebos for cover outside. We would eat breakfast together and study the line-up for the day. The kids would often spend time in the Children’s Area making crafts, listening to stories or learning new skills such as juggling or kite flying. The rest of the group would split up according to what artists they wanted to see and we would meet up during the day at various events often getting together later on when the wine and nibbles came out.

WOMAD REVIEW - BY JANE CORNWELL

There were a many and varied list of artists at this years Womad and we managed to see a lot more this year as the weather was kinder than last year’s ‘Womud’.

Sue and the girls particularly enjoyed their Chic disco fix, and I found it hard to choose between the gentle folk meanderings of Fribo and the pumping Ska rhythms of Babylon Circus. We also really enjoyed the sweet voices of Devon Sproule and of Simone White in our favourite new Little Sicily tent.

Of the rest we enjoyed Squeeze and knew almost all of the songs, Sharon Shannon Big Band feat Shane MacGowan, Damien Dempsey & Mundy who played a foot-stomping ceilidh (kay-lee), Asere and their sultry Cuban rhythms and Cara Dillon and her sweet Irish folk.

We had an unexpected treat watching a couple of friends in a dance competition where they need to dance with a potato pressed between their foreheads as Sarah Savoy & the Francadians played in the Taste the World tent.

We also saw Ernest Ranglin, Dengue Fever, Eddy Grant & the Frontline Orchestra, Orchestra Baobab, Martha Wainwright, Finley Quaye, Hossam Ramzy & his Epyptian Orchestra and Justin Adams & Julideh Camara.

I have already bought several CDs and I have a few more in my wish list for later.

We have all set our minds on returning for next year’s event.

More of wot I have read…

Making Money by Terry Pratchett

This is the latest in the Discworld series and as with the many others that have gone before I enjoyed it. It is more of the same, which to my mind is no bad thing.

‘The Ankh-Morpork Post Office is running like . . . well, not at all like a government office. The mail is delivered promptly; meetings start and end on time; five out of six letters relegated to the Blind Letter Office ultimately wend their way to the correct addresses. Postmaster General Moist von Lipwig, former arch-swindler and confidence man, has exceeded all expectations—including his own. So it's somewhat disconcerting when Lord Vetinari summons Moist to the palace and asks, "Tell me, Mr. Lipwig, would you like to make some real money?"

Vetinari isn't talking about wages, of course. He's referring, rather, to the Royal Mint of Ankh-Morpork, a venerable institution that haas run for centuries on the hereditary employment of the Men of the Sheds and their loyal outworkers, who do make money in their spare time. Unfortunately, it costs more than a penny to make a penny, so the whole process seems somewhat counterintuitive.

Next door, at the Royal Bank, the Glooper, an "analogy machine," has scientifically established that one never has quite as much money at the end of the week as one thinks one should, and the bank's chairman, one elderly Topsy (née Turvy) Lavish, keeps two loaded crossbows at her desk. Oh, and the chief clerk is probably a vampire.

But before Moist has time to fully consider Vetinari's question, fate answers it for him. Now he's not only making money, but enemies too; he's got to spring a prisoner from jail, break into his own bank vault, stop the new manager from licking his face, and, above all, find out where all the gold has gone—otherwise, his life in banking, while very exciting, is going to be really, really short…’

Good night and God bless…

My Aunty J died recently after a long and courageous battle against the dreaded cancer. The end was peaceful and in her own home with family around her and was the best that could be hoped for. Uncle J and Sue were there at the end. J & T had lots of support from family and friends and from the District Nurses and the wonderful Iain Rennie Hospice at Home nurses.

J had been diagnosed seven years ago with terminal breast cancer and given 18 months; she took a lot more, which was down to her determination and positive attitude along with the supurb care she received from the NHS. Sue and I had spent a lot of time with them enjoying long drunken dinners, gardens and National Trust houses and some fantastic holidays abroad and in the UK.

The service in the local church was incredibly moving, well attended as it was by over eighty friends and family. There was music by classically trained neighbours, a song specifically requested by J was performed by the Morris group that T belonged and a eulogy by a long time friend that was all beautiful. The coffin was taken to the grave through and arch of Morris men and everybody was encouraged to witness the internment. Afterwards we congregated at the village hall and talked to each other while we partook of a great spread washed down by suitable beverages. It was an emotional and beautiful day.

Good night sweet lady, we will miss you very much.

An educated man…

We were in Hull again recently, this time to witness Jamie gain his degree. Jamie, Sue, her mom and I drove up and met Jamie’s dad there where we had an enjoyable evening out at a local restaurant. The next day we gathered in the town square and, after Sue obtained some extra tickets, we all filed into the Guild Hall to watch the pomp and pageantry (it was like a scene out of Harry Potter) of the great day.

After the presentations the assembled ranks of newly qualified assembled on the steps of the monument for and address by the town-crier, photos and the ritual throwing of the mortar-boards in the air.

The Prodigal Son…

Jamie has returned home to a heroes welcome after finishing at Hull University with a 2.1 in Computer Science. We went up to pick him up and collect his belongs as he moved out of student digs to bring him back home.

On the way up we stopped at Lincoln for Sue’s birthday and checked into a hotel in the old town for the night. We had a quick drink in the Wig and Mitre pub to avoid the crowd of young girls that were queuing to go into the castle for a Sugerbabes concert.

Afterwards we had a stroll around the old town along the cobbled streets alongs side buildings that date back to Roman times. Then had a an evening meal in the delightful Brown’s Pie Shop , where Sue had Scallops to start followed by Fisherman’s pie and cheese to finish. I had Haggis to start followed by Beef and Oyster pie (the most expensive pie ever at £15) and finished with jam roly-poly and custard. The meal was wonderful and we were suitable stuffed when we returned to our rooms after a nightcap again in the Wig and Mitre.

In the morning we visited the imposing Lincoln Cathedral which is a very impressive structure both outside and in, only marred a little by the use of plastic chairs for seating.

We journeyed on towards Hull, crossing the more modern and no less impressive construction that is the Humber Bridge and met Jamie.

It took a great deal of time and clever packing to fit all of Jamie’s possessions in the car and an even more time to ensure that the place was left clean and tidy before we set off for the long trip back home.

We will be returning to Hull the following week for his graduation and then Jamie flies off to Spain for a holiday before come back home and starting to look for a job.