TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

My blog is on facebook, but you should be able to read it without being on facebook yourself here (https://www.facebook.com/Andy-Leslies-Blog-968283289889339/). It's sometimes musical, most times not.

The latest blog (https://www.facebook.com/AndyLeslieBlog/posts/1291700094214322) is entitled "Nineteen Forever" and deals with the Joe Jackson song and its relevance to the death of a friend.

Today's Blog (https://www.facebook.com/AndyLeslieBlog/photos/a.982690115115323.1073741827.968283289889339/1622098237841171/?type=3) deals with memories of selling Poppies door-to-door in the 1960s, bonfires, fireworks and moist, smoke-filled Autumn evenings.

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Similar experience. My step-father was Canadian and flew on bombers (wireless operator/navigator) he would never 'Wear a Poppy with Pride'. They did terrible things, but that's what it took to defeat an evil.

My mother was one off those women down a bunker commanding fighters out to attack incoming, my father was an air-force engineer mostly working on secret stuff in South Africa. Both would donate to the British Legion, but would not wear a Poppy. To much jingoism.

Very similar experience here too.  My Dad was very badly wounded in Kohima (and effectively died from his wounds in 1987).  He was as far from jingoistic about poppy wearing as it was possible to be...in fact he resented people wearing them as 'they didn't understand what they were talking about'.  He too had issues with the British Legion.  As a very conservative (and Conservative) bloke, I was always intrigued by this reaction.

What the whole campaign has turned into, and how it is used politically, is a total anathema to the original conception behind it.

You're absolutely right about the whole campaign lasting about a week too.  

When did the "minute's silence" become two? It's been mooted that it may become three minutes - which I just don't understand.

How about 20 minute's ecstatic applause?  The whole thing's laughable.

Its the "one more" culture, it shows everyone just how deeply you really, really care. I noticed the poppies were starting to appear on TV yesterday, obviously the earlier you sport your support for our heroes matters as well now. The poppy cultists are about to have their yearly frenzy.
  

 Andy your last sentence sums up exactly how i feel and what i do! "As he felt so strongly, I've usually honoured his memory and not adorned myself or my car with poppies, but, at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day, I pause and remember those that gave their lives in both world wars so that we can be free."

I particularly remember my Grandfather who was killed at the age of 21 when his  submarine was torpedoed 15th October 1940 - the only British submarine to be sunk by the Italians. My mum was 2 years old  :-\

My paternal grandfather died at Paschendale 8 months before my father's birth.

Interesting discussion,

It does seem as though the poppy campaign has been misappropriated in recent years to imply support for our 21st century military misadventures and I have a problem with that.

However, that was not the original intent, which was an act of remembrance for those who had lost their lives in the conflicts of the 20th century and who mostly had no choice other than to participate. My own father, who is thankfully still with us, was a flyer, a radio operator in the RAF during World War 2. His uncle, after whom he was named, died in battle in the closing weeks of World War 1 and has no grave. My Dad wears a poppy, not with pride but with humility and remembrance and I try to follow his lead.  

I'd agree with this - I have no direct link to either war - my father was just too young for WW2 and my Grandad was too young for WW1 - my other grandfather fought in WW1 and survived, but died before I was born. I have, however spent time touring the Somme and the Ypres Salient and wear a poppy to remember those who died in such vast numbers.
 I am a bit uneasy about some of the modern implications and especially the 'shaming' of people who choose not to wear a poppy for whatever reason. I understand why some people prefer not to wear one - after all, those who died fought for freedom, which must include the freedom not to wear a poppy.

A very salient point.

Whilst wearing a white poppy about 4 or 5 years ago I got called a "terrorist supporting cock" which is an interesting interpretation.

Completely nonsensical.

As a teenager and young man I hated the whole poppy thing as well as the Remembrance Day parades etc, as I was of the opinion that it glorified war. Nowadays I usually wear a poppy as an act of remembrance of those who died in conflict (whatever side they fought on) but I heartily agree with the sentiment that this is another tradition that has been hijacked to suit whatever political agenda is prevalent.

its interesting that the British legion page is headed "rethink remembrance" to get people to remember those killed in recent conflicts.

I think that as time has gone on there is a perhaps unfair perception that chipping in for 'The British Legion' means subsidising cheap lager and Sky Sports in a chain of social clubs.
I take my take on the poppy from my in-lawed SAS Major, Croix-de-Guerre recipient, POW camp- surviving, ex-Marine Grandfather - now sadly taken from us, who had extraordinarily forthright opinions on the whole thing and whose perspective on things was undoubtedly more nuanced than mine.

Three attempts to sell me Poppies today. Not yet November of course.

I very politely declined.

It's absolutely fine by me if anyone else buys one, I am not making recommendations either way.

Today's Blog Entry (https://www.facebook.com/AndyLeslieBlog/) is about having fun at Christmas and expensive presents being unnecessary to have fun.

Nice blog Andy, and I concur with everything you've said there... :)

The lead up to and anticipation of Christmas as a kid in the 70s was very exciting, but it was also quite a frugal time ...

Christmas presents?...Well probably a Beano annual or something similar. an Airfix kit, and a stocking of satsumas, nuts, and a few chocolates...

But we were very happy...(I can feel a Monty Python sketch coming on now)... ::)

I wish I could say the same, but I was spoiled rotten as a kid and my Christmas joy was fairly well rooted in materialism.

These days I still love the presents part best, but I try to embrace the whole experience more.  I feel better for it.

Jules

Today's Blog (https://www.facebook.com/AndyLeslieBlog/photos/a.982690115115323.1073741827.968283289889339/1725244700859857/?type=3) is on the subject of SAD (Seasonally Affected Disorder).

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Today's Blog Entry (https://www.facebook.com/AndyLeslieBlog/posts/1731348383582822) is about how I learnt about professional fouls in football and the impact of that on my appreciation of the game.

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Today's blog is entitled "Write Something" and talks about the many things in our lives that 18-year-olds will not remember or know about.

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Having a recent clear-out I sold two Parker fountain pens and a Parker propelling pencil (remember them?) on Ebay to a writing implements collector in Hamburg. Funny what folk collect but he was happy and I certainly was  :)

My latest Blog entry (https://www.facebook.com/AndyLeslieBlog/photos/a.982690115115323.1073741827.968283289889339/1876971992353793/?type=3) is about Boris Johnson.

Great stuff, Andy.  I just posted a link to it on Twitter.

Jules

Bloomin' brilliant Andy! i showed it to my dad who said and i quote "Wonderful, absolutely wonderful. I'm going to put it around as far as I can. Nice to have such a  capable and erudite friend. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"

I imagine most of the rest of his family would agree with you too.

This blog entry seems to have struck a chord with quite a few people. 15 shares and many comments.

Oddly enough, none defending him.

Wonderful stuff Andy.
He is a truly despicable, narcissist and also bloated turd too.

Shared too btw. ✅

Today's Blog (https://www.facebook.com/AndyLeslieBlog/photos/a.982690115115323/2042189012498756/?type=3&theater) is about how little we actually know about William Shakespeare and how we will (mostly) be forever forgotten in a few short years.

It's a small world. My great(x11) grandfather (Michael Hare who was also a glover) knew Shakespeare's father (they sat on the same jury in Stratford in 1586).

More is known about John Shakespeare than his son!

You been reading Rory Clements again?   ;) ;D

That comes of having  criminal tendencies. A bit of a rogue by all accounts.

Today's Blog (https://www.facebook.com/AndyLeslieBlog/photos/a.982690115115323/2088730387844618/?type=3&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARCYY-zshl1ysbApEHd_J0sxtkc8eBJH5t56RGQ0T38_fymIpBHB5KaifGHVwfYlQsB9CYDNkevDQAuxRpaXOJkfU84tVfDgMG1XZN_mReCspi-nw8M413PTHRLOuZR7rLqMfIQb5ml8uGN_JJsmSG9BvvmYG9j-ly2VhBFMIUkXI-4npbWSOVYbjcd0UJai9ASmaWpBFaCtzAcVUoI0LmRjZp6LfO1pVjOWCDCOJqc97JOkF26FDkzfC0jrpfnZ57jbDmrykHiLxIKR57KkX6uEJPsqQ9LYmB3mI5W0syFe5JP8ALHE7pJxhIypzifjN6QimmLdwc2nahY_UtmTY98_dw&__tn__=-R) reminisces about sexual blackmail in one of my first office jobs in the 1970s.

Today's Blog (https://tinyurl.com/y8vrtvch) contrasts and compares the Goveneor of the Bank Of England and the Member of Parliament for North East Somerset.

Today's blog (https://tinyurl.com/y89axys3) is about John Lennon, a brilliant musician with feet of clay who died 38 years ago this week.

Tough yet mostly fair.  Not sure I'd call 1975 "shortly before he died", but I'm nit-picking.

Jules

Thanks, corrected.

Today's blog (https://tinyurl.com/yc4o4d35) is about Carnation Evaporated Milk and how it was the taste of my youth.

Good evans, I never knew that it was named after the town of the same name in Washington State, nor that it still existed.

Punch two little holes in the tin and pour it on your brekkie or stewed fruit. Was it healthy, keeping it in the tin like that? Who cares ;D

My youth too. And I have recently rediscovered it. It is lovely poured over a sponge pudding or a mince pie and delicious in coffee. There was another brand too when I was growing up. It came in a blue and white striped can. Ideal possibly?

working around army barracks(mainly QE barrack Church Crookham Gurkha camp) for a few years, i was introduced to tea and coffee with evaporated milk. Which combined with my time as a chippy, drinking tea with milk that had been in a warm site sheds for a day or two converted me to black tea and coffee a long time ago..

Ideal deffo.

I never did evaporated milk, but I did love tinned sterilized cream.  Preferred it to pasteurised.  Not the same with milk, however.  Steri milk was the devil's work.  We had to apply pressure on Grandma to stop buying it.  And Izal toilet paper.  But I digress.  Tinned steri cream had a certain bite to it that really made a trifle sing.

Jules

Ideal and carnation are the very essence of sunday dinner, poured over pear halves or fruit salad, both out of tins of course.
Luckily we never had stera because we had a fridge but many pals houses weere stera homes and i couldnt stand the taste, but my pal Steve, till his dying day, preferred stera to ordinary milk. :-X :-X :-X

Today's Blog (https://tinyurl.com/yc378puc) is about the extreme cold being felt in the US at the moment and my experience of running with Hash House Harriers in Rockport, Mass. in -30C.

I think I may have been to Rockport. Is it a short drive up the coast from Gloucester? If it is the place I am thinking of it was a dry town. We didn't stay long.  ;)

It's on the coast, north of Boston, and that's all I recall.

I just had a look on a map. It is indeed where I was thinking of. I spent a few days in Gloucester just after they finished filming The Perfect Storm there. It is the location where the events in the book actually took place. I had one of the best days of my life there, whale watching about two hours off the coast.

Today's Blog is entitled I'm Mad As Hell... (https://tinyurl.com/y2vcch4j)

Hear hear

Are you allowed to edit on Facebook?  "Don't say he Liberal Democrats"

Jules

Thanks, fixed.

Today's blog is about being 63 (https://tinyurl.com/yxhtmar8).

My latest blog (https://tinyurl.com/y3lwn7k7) is about grammar. Well, usage. Enjoy. Lots to argue about, I have no doubt.

Absolulely superb (discuss!!), please hold classes in Croydon (innit!!)

Imagine childhood. (http://tinyurl.com/y5ku2t2p)

You made me cry  :'(

And me.

Sorry.

This week's blog is about delegated vs. representative democracy (http://tinyurl.com/y2lc3ryf).

Not having done Politics as a formal subject, I may be incorrect in some details. Corrections appreciated.

An extra blog today, on the concept of a Judas Goat (https://tinyurl.com/y27gwkt7)

What's this Brexit thing people have suddenly started talking about? Why hasn't there been something on the news about it?
It's apparently a big thing so why have the media ignored it? A conspiracy of silence is what it is!!!

Today's blog (https://tinyurl.com/y3s92rjp) expresses my lack of empathy with people who tell me how to improve my life.

Arf!  ;D

On the other hand The Tolpuddle Martyrs, The Chartists, Suffragists, all those public health reformers who improved the water and air pollution and helped introduce legislation to deal with food adulteration, and all those people who have helped the rivers and beaches be much cleaner than they could have been, and those who fought to introduce the NHS, and Old Age Pensions, and universal state education, and vaccinations, and seat belt legislation. I'm sure they were all very irritating at times, why oh why didn't someone tell them to just f*** off.  :)

Today's blog is about how far we have come in the last 60-odd years, with regard to pollution.

It's Not Easy Being Green (https://tinyurl.com/yycqpz7g)

Given your excellent piece on Boris I trust you'll join me in hoping this comes to fruition....!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48445430

Some random stuff (https://tinyurl.com/y56hlecu) today. Cat scratches and tattoos.

Today's blog (https://tinyurl.com/yxrej55j) is about (in)directly electing Prime Ministers.

Today's Blog (http://tinyurl.com/yxgmg95l) tells of a good Samaritan who helped me out last Sunday.

Spot on Andy, not forgetting also his 'best mate' across the pond!  ;)

A few words on our Summer of five festivals (https://tinyurl.com/FiveFestivalSummer), today.

Also today, memories of this time of year, returning to school etc (https://tinyurl.com/y6kco6ej), in the 1960s.

That’s beautiful, Andy.

 I didn’t start High School until ‘79, but much of what you have written resonates anyway...especially the difference in feelings about Primary and Secondary.

Woolworths always seemed to play a big part...’(‘specially with those dreadful hanging signs proclaiming ‘Back to School’ just as we’d broken up.)

Oh and the house we just moved from in Powys still had the original Victorian windows so that sight of the fern-like fronds was still a thing for us!

Thanks!

Oh I remember those frosted windows......for days on end at times. I remember scratching holes in the frost, breathing on it to melt a space and so on. I used to get dressed in bed sometimes, and I remember my hands shaking with the cold.

Thanks for reminding me of all this....oh and the slides we made on the ice at school, and the frozen milk, popping the green tops off the bottles, and then being placed by the furnace in the classroom so it melted. Yuk, yuk, yuk.

Today's Blog (https://tinyurl.com/y4vb2n9l) reflects on the profound impact Ric Ocasek made upon me - and the world - when one of his band's songs (Drive) was married with a video of the dead and dying in Ethiopa by an unknown engineer at CBC and featured at Live Aid.

Very good Andy. The power of music to go so much more beyond fame and fortune is but one reason it means so much to me. It kind of makes me think that for every situation out there, for everyone going through a rough time that there is a song that seems written just for them and their own situation. I honestly forgot about this Live Aid moment but the memories came flooding back just now to that day.

Today's Blog (https://tinyurl.com/y4wyjfhd) is a brief rant on those that weren't there, invoking the "Dunkirk Spirit".

I haven't read it yet but I agree :)

Monday's blog was about the Aberfan disaster (https://tinyurl.com/y5nfal29).

Today's blog (https://tinyurl.com/yxbgndyl) is about Culturally Sensitive Counselling.

All thoughts welcomed.

Well, I can only agree wholeheartedly with your views.  These are some of the biggest issues in the world today and there's no easy path to navigate.

Jules

Today's blog (https://tinyurl.com/yj7xftd2) deals with politicians who glorify war, amongst other things.

...and a song (https://youtu.be/1u2ill7yOZo) from Show of Hands.

I get a URL ERROR Andy on the first link?  :-\

Sorry about that. Try this link (https://tinyurl.com/yj7xftd2).

Thank you, that worked  ;)

Today's Blog (https://tinyurl.com/ubsqyca) is entitled "With great power comes great responsibility".

Read it and weep.

I got sent to Jeremy Corbyn’s Facebook page via this link, have I missed something subtle?

Perhaps. What the link goes to is my blog, which then points to a video on Jeremy Corbyn's Facebook page.

But you should see a lot of my text first.

I just went straight to Jeremy Corbyn’s FB...will try again, I like to read your blogs.

No Politics today.

Today's Blog (https://tinyurl.com/u43o48d) is about birding in my area. It's basically a photo album with commentary.

Today's Blog (https://tinyurl.com/t4gn3xb) talks of Christmas past.

Today's blog (https://tinyurl.com/v94kxom) talks about the new Coronavirus outbreak and a possible correlation to the village of Eyam.

Interesting, Andy. Just catching up with your last couple of blogs whilst awake with a foul cold!

I love the Christmas one...such memories of the excitement of the lumpy pillowcase at the bottom of the bed! We didn’t get a telly until I went to secondary school, so it is the delight of the school Christmas concert prep and the lametta and fragile glass baubles which I recall ( I still have a couple which I rescued when my mum suddenly went for a whole new set of modern ones with colour scheme, in the late eighties).

I will ponder the New Corona virus as I sit up, coughing and sneezing!

Today's Blog (https://tinyurl.com/wfq89so) is on the highly controversial topic of climate damage / change and what we can really do about it.

Three entries this week, reminiscing about trips to Dallas (https://tinyurl.com/tklvmc7), Colorado Springs (https://tinyurl.com/w7tnkn8) and Varese (https://tinyurl.com/tnautto).

A short blog about COVID-19 can be found here (https://tinyurl.com/umrman8).

Today's blog (https://tinyurl.com/w6ry2h9) is not so much a blog, more of a list of useful URLs for those wanting to know factual information about Coronavirus and COVID-19.

Today's Blog (https://tinyurl.com/sd6bxaq) deals with the (lack of) exit strategy in dealing with the Covid-19 Virus.

Today's Blog (https://tinyurl.com/ydfx6kjk) is a stopgap to explain where I have been for a month and why I've been keeping my head down.

I just read this, although I have suspended my account on FB I managed to see it by scrolling past the log in box.

Pretty much where I'm at plus some other things regarding FB itself that I won't mention.

Hoping you are feeling well and unstressed.

Today's Blog (https://tinyurl.com/yajp2p5a) looks back 60 years to my favourite childhood radio programme.

Life was much simpler then.

Today's Blog (https://tinyurl.com/y82cbyhd) is about my love of music and the dire straits that so many musicians are facing because of the pandemic.

Today's Blog (https://tinyurl.com/ydyauc8m) is about love, loss and Nillsson's Without you.

Today's blog is about Tribes (https://tinyurl.com/yxteqcgf).

Today's Blog (https://tinyurl.com/y4k6r4pz) is about Nostalgia, which isn't what it used to be, because, of course, it never was.

That was great, Andy.

Jules

Thanks!

Clocks go back in the UK on Saturday night

Today's Blog (https://tinyurl.com/yykusa96) is a short ramble through my thoughts about the changing of the clocks and how Summer 2020 has been.

I don't think we should put the clocks back. We should put them forward. About 8 months should do it.

I usually love winter but am dreading this one. I am already beginning to struggle with heightened anxiety and increased phobia levels.

Today's Blog (https://tinyurl.com/y5emxtjf) deals with awaiting the end of the world, if not from war or disease or famine, then through ignorance and stupidity.

Today's Blog (https://tinyurl.com/y227rs8e) is about contact lenses and my various travails when I adopted them in the 1980s.

Today's Blog (https://tinyurl.com/y2h2vm77) is a serious one, examining how the government is balancing COVID19 deaths against unpopularity for not allowing large Christmas gatherings.

As someone with an elderly mum who lives alone, I would prefer her to have Christmas on her own so that we can meet alive and well in the sunshine, than risk not seeing her ever again.

A sensible blog entry, as usual...thanks Andy.

Nail. Head.

Though I'd suggest the second weekend in August for the mighty piss-up...  ;)

Today's blog (https://tinyurl.com/y6bqrzfh) is about COVID-19 vaccines not being a panacea and a plea to take care of yourselves and others.

That gave me a smile Andy....Only because the new anti virus software considers your blog subversive.


well done mate keep it up


I'll read it when I get home, can't wait as I'm intrigued.

Subversive? If only!

Do feed back to them, please.

Today's Blog (https://tinyurl.com/ybh4pgc3) reflects upon Christmas, 2020 and looks to a better future.

Happy Crimbo, people.

Today's blog (https://tinyurl.com/y63obf72) deals with the black dog barking for me every year at this time, together with some additional reasons I have found not to be cheerful.

Due to my illnesses since late January, I have not contributed blog entries recently.

I hope to restart in March.

Today's blog is about 2021 - so far (https://www.facebook.com/AndyLeslieBlog/posts/3923828411001464).

So far, so bad
Good luck with the recovery old fruit.  Hang on to Wendy, she seems to be a keeper!

Your blog and the day jobs firewall seem to have fallen out....I am intrigued

Oh Andy  :(
Heal well x

Today's Blog (https://tinyurl.com/y6f6wz9a) is about the sadness of dealing with the detritus of others' lives, after their death.

Today's Blog (https://tinyurl.com/2rr8heea) is about talking to dead people.

Very thought- provoking as usual.

Today's blog (https://tinyurl.com/8vcxrmv4) deals with reactions by the media and public to recent royal deaths and how they have changed.

Today's Blog (https://tinyurl.com/kwy6pa37) deals with important events in my life in the month of May over the years.

You have me in tears...thanks for sharing these personal memories.

May is not very significant to me apart from third niece being born.

Every May 11th, tho’ I always feel gripped by fear in memory of when my small rural school had to do a concert with lots of other primary schools at the local High School. I begged and begged my mum not to send me...but it went okay..except I remembered the recorder tune really well when noone else did, but I didn’t want to stand out so I pretended to forget it too. May 11th always resonates with me ever since!

I'm sorry, that wasn't my intent.

It was ‘in a good way’  :)

Today's Blog (https://tinyurl.com/25bjp3uk) deals with my medical problems this year and the fear that I felt in January as I fell ill and was rushed to hospital.

I've actually left out a lot, so you don't have to be too squeamish about reading it.

Today's Blog (https://tinyurl.com/yerftsdt) is about my experiences of August in the 1960s and some tangential topics..

Today's Blog (https://tinyurl.com/tkhnu74y) is about my recollections of flying home from the USA the day after Lockerbie.

Today's blog (https://tinyurl.com/53txacpp) concerns the funding of Social care.

My taste in music is, well, time-constrained. See todays blog (https://tinyurl.com/tjxwd54b) for more details.

Just fantastic - one of the best albums ever made.  All those PERRO albums are brilliant....

You’re not wrong. I mean, I haven’t explored all the music there was up until I was in my mid-forties yet, let alone start on any new material.

Today's blog (https://tinyurl.com/vx9pkumh) commemorates Wendy and I meeting 17,000 days ago and how that almost didn't happen.

I will read that later....sadly the day jobs firewall considers you subversive

Why yes, yes I am.

A beautiful post, Andy!

One of your many talents Mr L

Thanks.

Today's blog (https://tinyurl.com/dekdj2ts) ruminates mainly on the last year and looks forward a little to the coming one, as I rapidly approach the end of another orbit of the sun.

Today's Blog (https://www.facebook.com/AndyLeslieBlog/posts/5037380226312938) is about nothing much.

You know, February.

Today's Blog (https://www.facebook.com/AndyLeslieBlog/posts/5112087065508920) seeks to compare and contrast the Cuban Missile Crisis and the war in Ukraine.

Caveat: I am not a historian. I’m not a politician. I’m not clairvoyant. I’m probably wrong. I hope I am.

Today's Blog (https://www.facebook.com/AndyLeslieBlog/posts/5172952976088995) tells of how I got to see Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band on May 21, 1999.



Edit: This wasn't my ticket, it's a photo of one from that night pinched from Flickr

I saw him on May 1st on the E St Band reunion tour in Manchester and am having difficulty thinking it was almost 23 years ago!
  It was one of the best ever shows I have seen from the beginning to the end from Max Weinberg's thunderous drum intro to "My love will not let you down" until the almost acappella "Land of hope and dreams" some hours later.

This was at the Manchester Arena and we were up in the gods, near the back which had me wishing for a pair of U Boat commanders binoculars

Is that £35 on the ticket (£38.50) or £25 (£28.50)?  Kind of surprised if it's the former as (accounting for inflation) that's just shy of £71 today...and I'd always assumed most of the "gig price inflation" had occurred more recently...

The thing that most surprises me about this is that I wasn't there. I saw Bruce throughout the 80s, lastly at the Amnesty International show at Wembley (September 89?) but then sort of gave him a miss during the 90s after and because he had split up the E Street Band. I next saw them in the early 2000s at Crystal Palace Stadium. '99 must have been when the band reconvened for the Greatest Hits album but I am sure I must not have known that they were in the UK or I would certainly have gone.  :o

I assume it was £35, when he toured in 2003 it was £40 for Old Trafford cricket field and I refused to pay such a ridiculous amount, but a pal offered me a spare ticket for £30 so I was a happy bunny.  Them I paid considerably more for the 2008/9 tour at Old Trafford Football and then more again in 2012/3 at the Etihad and the last time he toured in 2016 at City's ground again for about £80.  Each time I assumed it was going to be the last, but the bugger is supposed to be going back on the road next year and that's going to be another dear do.

I offered, but never paid Dave for the ticket as he was a good chap and said "never mind". So I've no idea how much my ticket was.

This wasn't my ticket, it's a photo of one from that night pinched from Flickr

Today's Blog (https://www.facebook.com/AndyLeslieBlog/posts/5178620348855591) is a witter about Graham Gouldman, one of my musical heroes.

I knew he'd been a songwriter before 10CC, but I had no idea he'd written so many hits (at such a young age, too)

Most first saw his name in brackets on singles by The Hollies. Look Through Any Window is an outstanding song for anyone to have written, let alone a teenager. Amazing talent.

Jules

I love a lot of his songs, especially the Hollies ones, but I have to be honest and say I find 99% of 10CC just "really rather dull".  They're in the "I know I'm supposed to love 'em, and everyone else does, but I really don't" pile with Steely Dan for me.

Funnily enough I often think of 10cc as being the British Steely Dan.

Jules

 :o Just  :o  The run of albums from Sheet Music to Deceptive Bends contain some of the most imaginative, articulate, eccentric, witty, sardonic and downright thrilling music of the 70s or indeed any other decade imho. The idea that a song like The Second Sitting For The Last Supper (to name but one) is beyond my comprehension.

I only have "The Very Best Of 10cc" compilation CD, which is really a top notch listen from start to finish & unlike most other "greatest hits" type packages, which are often best avoided in my experience! ;D...I really need to search out some of the albums as well though! :)

Sorry, I missed some vital words from the sentence. Corrected above.

I saw 10CC in 1973 and 1975, then the current line up at Cropredy a few years BC (Before Covid). I had the first 4 albums and loved them all. The first album was a revelation to me. Such a talented band.

Just listened to the song mentioned above.  Dull is probably the wrong word - there is just far too much going on in there.  It really doesn't work for me at all...jarring all over the place.  I mean that guitar solo - why?  And the vocals!!!  No, no, no.  But, hey, I like Gentle Giant so absolutely none of this makes any sense.  Just proves it's impossible to 'prove' why we like some things, and why we don't.  No upset intended.

That's fine. I totally get that we don't/can't all like the same things. It was just the word "dull" I couldn't fathom. They may be a marmite band but they are anything but dull.

I enjoyed "Sheet Music" but struggled with "Original Soundtrack" and then I saw the Feelgoods on TV and life was never the same...

Today's Blog (https://www.facebook.com/AndyLeslieBlog/posts/5244489322268693) is about meeting a Cyberman in a bar and their drunken ranting.

Excellent!! Cracking start to the day!  ;D

Today's blog (https://tinyurl.com/5n8pjaux) is a bunch of meandering observations and invective. Enjoy.

Today's Blog (https://www.facebook.com/AndyLeslieBlog/posts/968288209888847) is in fact a blog from 2015 about the significance of Alice Cooper's School's Out to me.

Enjoy. Sort of.

Today's Blog (https://tinyurl.com/ToryShitShow) is about the Tory Leadership contest.

Just a bit political.

Today's Blog Entry (https://tinyurl.com/2znc69x4) illustrates the many uses of my (4-year-old but still pretty smart) mobile phone and is entitled Convergent Technology

On a similar theme:
https://eastdevonwatch.org/2022/07/17/the-five-go-mad-and-beat-the-****-out-of-each-other/

A quick skim of your 'Schools Out' blog shows similarities to my own early education,  Andy.  I left a grammar school at 16, too, having started at the top of my class aged 11 and finished somewhere near the bottom at 16. Yes, there was bullying, mostly done by teachers, and I became as unkind as some of my peers were to me. Teaching was about as unprofessional as it could get, when done by unqualified people who happened to have a university degree. There were at least 2 known paedophilies, and in the climate of the times it simply wasn't talked about.

Leaving school didn't solve anything for me, in the long term. I worked for the local authority for a while and a long period of unemployment followed. Basically I had mental health issues which had gone undiagnosed. Again, things like this were not part of the general discourse,  as they are now.

Life hasn't been  a total car wreck - I got back into education as a mature student and hold a degree and a masters by research. I won't go into my work history, which is sporadic to say the least, but I look forward to the state pension next year, which seems to be the only thing they can't withdraw or threaten to.

Stay safe,

Alan.

"Looking forward" to one of the lowest state pensions in the developed world is perhaps not the right terminology to be used, but I certainly hope you enjoy it nonetheless...

Yes I know its **** in European terms David, but as far as I can tell I'll be better off than I am now, which makes me unusual,  I guess.

Today's Blog (https://tinyurl.com/2p8ywsdz) is about Music that makes me smile: "There Must Be An Angel" by  Eurythmics.

Today's Blog (https://tinyurl.com/2x6fdf65) is about our brushes with three varieties of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). The third being at Cropredy two weeks back.

Today's Blog (https://tinyurl.com/ycyujyvs) is about dementia and memory.

A serious subject I know, but it's increasingly common in our peer group.

Today's blog (https://tinyurl.com/ysew7acu) is about January.

Just looking back at this, which like most of my contributions to this forum I've completely forgotten.  My state pension is in sight. With the triple lock in place, and even without it, I'll be experiencing a rise in income. I dont like talking about my income- was brought up not to - and in my case it looks like reverse bragging.  But imagine an average salary then yhink of a third of it and you have my annual income.

In the course of my life, and particularly since I got interested in such things, I've heard a lot about how overgenerous our system is in terms of working age benefits.  These, as much as pensions, need to be compared with their European counterparts.   It's how they look in comparison to average earnings in the country concerned which is the key.

Today's Blog (https://tinyurl.com/2s3af5s7) is entitled WTF? and explores that last week of Lineker's Tweets and the reactions thereto.

Bang on, sir.

Jules

Today's Blog (https://tinyurl.com/2yr7mj82) is about the idea that 2023 was, in fact, quite predictable from the 1960s (or earlier!).

Link?

Sorry, just click on the caption.

Or here (https://tinyurl.com/4kykm5c4).

Doh! Brain not working. Thanks.

Jules

Today's blog (https://tinyurl.com/3h99f8hx) is a brief appreciation of Peter Gabriel's third solo album, sometimes known as "Melt".

Today's Blog (https://tinyurl.com/4h3fydfj) commemorates the 38th anniversary of Live Aid.

Today's Blog (https://tinyurl.com/4ujtzs26) is about Breakfast.

Today's Blog (https://tinyurl.com/4xt266en) reflects upon the four festivals we attended this summer.

I did laugh at the description of Solstice.  Plenty of marmite bands on this year by the sound of it.  Increasingly perhaps, Fairport become one of them themselves...

I like that “a lack of patience on your part does not constitute an emergency on our part” quote ;D  Entitlement?  Don't get me started...

Except I like Marmite!

And I don't ;) ;D

I too love Marmite ;D but your comment here about Fairport struck a chord with me David. I'm sad to find myself finding it very hard to defend Fairport
these days against accusations such as ultra twee and samey. :(

This was a great blog Andy, nice to hear about the festivals. I used to work in a village near Hopton Wafers, but that was before the Beardy festival. It is beautiful round there!  

On Fairport, I see them as a bit like a much-loved, maturing relative ...they can’t be expected to be exactly as they were years ago, but I still go to see them and love to do so. I think they still sound good doing what they do best, they aren’t at the stage of sounding cringeworthy, like some high profile acts that keep on too long.

Yes, they do the similar sets and sometimes the new tunes sound strangely familiar... but I see that as their style and tradition. Keep it up, boys!

I think my comments have been at least slightly misinterpreted...although tbh I generally agree with the misinterpretation.  What I was suggesting was that Fairport are now a marmite band at their own festival...people either love them or don't like/ignore them.  It wasn't a comment per se on the rights or wrongs of the current band (most know my feelings on that).

Today's Blog (http://tinyurl.com/2rvfsycm) gives to pointers to organisations that can help you if the Black Dog comes visiting at Christmas.

Today's Blog (http://tinyurl.com/48xdsk98) is a dreary review of how I feel to have gotten to 68.

Not the most cheerful one you'll ever read.

I'm 66, so I'd best pass on that Andy.  I'll hold onto the illusion things may improve.   ;D

Happy birthday Andy and happy anniversary to you and Wendy as well.

I am behind by just over a decade, but can relate to much of what you say.

Today's Blog (http://tinyurl.com/4fhavhh6) is about the increasing difficulty of making any money in the music industry.

An excellent piece, Andy. I'm thankful my 2 sons didn't want to become musicians, even though they would both admit to having zero musical talent.

Great piece Andy. I’m astonished by the number of under the radar artists who manage to tour and (frankly) eat - mainly from the rider, admittedly - every year. Back in the day the band James apparently made more from t-shirt sales than they did from records, those days are back again.

Very relatable.

Yes indeed!

Today's Blog (https://tinyurl.com/93nvbv9s) is about giving up booze.

Thanks for sharing Andy.

I gave up alcohol  as I was approaching 60, which us over 6 years ago now.  As far as I know I had and still have a fully functioning Liver. My relationship with alcohol wasn't a bad one, but I was no stranger to a bad hangover, and at times I regretted the money I'd wasted.  I enjoyed booze at the start, and as a youngster I hadn't got loads of  confidence.  Beer got me talking to people, and i had a few adventures brought on by drink. Like you, I can say without hesitation that I don't  miss alcohol. There's coffee, tea, food, meditation, music and company to enjoy in a sober state.  Who knows, I might even live a little longer.  ;D

Today's Blog (https://tinyurl.com/mr2676zp) urges you to hydrate this summer, as we're all Hairy Bags Of Water.

Big thumbs up for that advice, sir!

where have you heard we will have a hot summer? I want your forecast!! ;D All I've seen suggests it is to be a very wet cool summer.

We've just had the warmest May ever...

ah yes but also very wet!

Today's Blog (https://tinyurl.com/m5vv5xzw) is about our musical and other adventures in 2024.

Where did you get your Jerry top (tee?) from?

They were on sale at Croppers in ?2017? All funds went to help support him after his stroke in 2016.

Oh yes, I vaguely remember.  Looks grand.  I wish more was said (and done?) about Jerry - there seems to be a bit of "Don't mention the war" about him, poor bloke.  He was always a highlight of Cropredy past for me...such a brilliant guitarist.

Dave Pegg said much the same to me regarding Jerry's situation , and his  sublime guitar playing
I understand the need for privacy , but it's been a long time now ,

With Jerry around you were always certain to see at least one electric guitar being played , whatever the line up

Today's Blog (https://tinyurl.com/4vne85ym) is about international football.

Today's blog (https://tinyurl.com/26heuden) is a short bemoaning of Summer 2024.

Today's Blog (https://tinyurl.com/2wuur3hm) is about a dream of pavement bears.

Today's Blog (https://tinyurl.com/3hycv8an) started off to be about things that would have sounded ridiculous to our teenage selves, but does ramble on a bit.

Today's Blog (https://tinyurl.com/n6h68fau) suggests that you have a prepared "Go" bag in case of medical emergency to take with you to hospital.