Esscee - The information I gave earlier was true, as far as I knew it to be....... However I then googled Roy Plomley and discovered that I had not told you all the truth. He did live in Putney for many years, but was not apparently living there when he conceived the idea of DI D. At that time he was in truth living in a cottage in Bushey Hertfordshire, but perhaps that was gloomy too, and so he looked to his sleepy lagoon on a warm and sunlit deserted island for inspiration.
Esscee March 31, 2020 at 8:51 PM
That’s fine MrsP. I love looking at atlases and maps so will now look up the places mentioned.
I have now removed every weed, stray leaf & piece of fluff from the front garden! At the end of our incarceration I swear I will have the tidiest flower beds in Christendom...
1) The Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana by Mascagni- no particular version. This was the first Classical record I ever bought. My sister broke it accidentally!
2) I will always love you sung by Dolly Parton Dolly Parton wrote it and I reckon she sings it better than Whitney Houston.
3)Nimrod from Enigma Variations - Elgar. No particular version. This reminds me of Remembrance Sunday and to me is very moving.
4)You’ll never walk alone-Gerry and the Pacemakers. This is certainly not the best version of the song in my opinion but hearing it sung by him and thousands of Liverpool supporters, moves me to tears.
5) Bruch- Violin Concerto No1 in G minor finale -Zukerman/Meyer I thought you might not want to listen to the whole of the Concerto which is why I chose this particular version. However should you wish to listen to it all, may I suggest you listen to the version played on the last night of the Proms 2012 . I think it is truly wonderful.
6) Time after Time sung by Sarah Vaughan (I prefer her 1947 version ). I could have chosen Ella Fitzgerald but I think Sarah Vaughan just has the edge.
Spoiler for those who are still to catch up with the final episode of “Last Tango in Halifax”
(Celia and Alan dance to this at the end of the episode. Anne Reid (Celia ) says / sings the words beautifully ) to Derek Jacobi (Alan)
7) God only knows-Beach Boys. I just really like it and I was listening to it when I was in the labour ward when I had my younger son.
8) Let it be me.-The Everly Brothers My favourite duo. It was a toss up between that and “All I have to do is dream “ which was in the hit parade when I was doing my A levels but when I went to see them in Liverpool.they ended the concert with this song and we all stood up and cheered.
Thank you. I hope you enjoy some of my choices.
If I could only take one it would be “You’ll never walk alone”. I will make a Liverpool scarf from dried grass somehow which I will wave about as I sing along.
I would take the complete works of Nevil Shute to read and my luxury would be a trunk full of artists materials - loads of paint (not oil ) ,brushes, easel and plenty of paper.
May I add that it was Parsley’s choice of Amy Winehouse singing “Back to black “ which I had never heard before and which bowled me over which I nearly inserted instead of one of the other pieces. What a voice. Reminded me a bit of Helen Shapiro who entered the hit parade aged only 14 years of age in the early 60s
I love the Dolly Parton - agree with you that it's MUCH better than the Whitney Houston version. Grew up with my mum listening to the Everly Brothers so lots of memories there! And who doesn't like a bit of the Beach Boys?
So glad you were introduced to Amy Winehouse by parsley - I didn't appreciate at all how good a singer she was when she was alive and only really "discovered" her when I watched the documentary "Amy", which totally transformed my opinion of her AND her music.
Lanjan. Have now finished listening to all your choices and was surprised! You are definitely a romantic. I found the “You’ll never walk alone”, very moving. The version I watched was attached to comments about the current medical crisis. I never heard Sarah Vaughan sing before, I can see where A Winehouse got her inspiration. I also prefer Dolly Parton’s version, but what awful hair arrangement, can’t possibly be real. I already knew the classical pieces. My favourite would be the Bruch. I have never read any N Shute, did see an old film called on the beach. Will your artists materials include Knitting needles and material for making dish cloths?
LanJan, so pleased you included the Everly Brothers. I did expect it, and so have left them off my list even though they were and are still important to me. Hearing them brings warmth and comfort from my youth. As I'm sure it does yours. But other just as important pieces have edged them away.
Here in Reggio Emilia we have had a slight slackening of the restrictions. Up to now the only reason to go out was to do the shopping. Yesterday they announced that one child in the family could go for a walk with one parent. The numbers are going down!
The extreme lockdown ( not being able to go out for exercise) started on 7th March. They are reviewing the situation on Friday but it will probably continue until 18th April. It hasn't been hard for me as I am used to being on my own though I miss my walks. I read, listen to radio 4, do jigsaw puzzles and knit. I also miss having the grandchildren near.
I can't imagine what it's like to not be able to hug & kiss your grandchildren Gianna - have a hug from me! (I know it's not quite the same, but we've all got to make do...)
I hope you have enough jigsaws to see you through? And wool?
At the moment it's the long walks & cycling that I'm missing, but hey - big deal!
Thanks Gary. Hopefully we can meet up.when this is over. Autumnleaves suggested meeting in Verona. I do have enough to.keep.me occupied and also wattsapp with my sister and friend Hilary and the grandchildren. I too miss the walks.
LanJan, the Liverpool fans singing their anthem always moves me too. Nimrod is on my list too and for the same reasons as you. Everly Brothers reminds me of listening to 'Cathy's Clown' on Radio Luxembourg. Anyone remember that? My sister and I used to listen under the bed clothes at night.
I was obsessed with listening to the radio at night Anneveggie - and still am. I used to listen to Luxembourg, Radio Free Europe & the Russian equivalent of the World Service. There was a local station in Glasgow that used to have a book programme on in the middle of the night & had an actor reading the complete Sherlock Holmes stories for a few years. To me it was perfection. I cannot, cannot get to sleep without the radio - probably the thing I will miss most on my desert island....
Me too..radio Luxembourg under the bedclothes. My sister complaining while the radio whistled while I found the right station..it was a delicate process. As a child I suffered often from bronchitis and was very often in bed..the radio was my companion, especially radio 4 when I listened to woman's hour with sue McGregor, armchair theatre, listen with mother and of course the archers. These were the days when there was no daytime tv until jackanory at 4. 40. And of course there was no tv in my bedroom ( there wasn't even heating). Radio was my entertainment.
Gianna and Gary. .I've been thinking recently of how this would have been about the time to plan our meet up. For me this is an open date and whenever this is over, it'll be something special to look forward to. Gianna I'm holding my breathe too that we are starting to see a glimmer of light..fingers crossed.
Gary 12.01 I wish I could say the same. Earlier I had 7 large ash trees cut down that had ash dieback as they lay on the road/bridlepath, my woodman cut the trunks and main branches, but I have had to clean up, pile up the logs and burn the brash, as the trees were covered in ivy there has been a lot. I spent 3 hours this morning burning up, then after lunch took the dog for an hours walk. I'm K.....erd, but still have to go and water Emerald and cook tea. Hopefully I will finish clearing up tomorrow, then Emerald can come back in her own field where there is water on tap At least I can take my time to cut split and stack, he has already brought 3 trailer loads into the yard. As no one can come into the house I have let it go, not my usual style at all, its so frustrating not being able to do what I used to !!
Our window cleaner has just "sacked" us - he went off in the huff because we politely asked him (for the 2nd time!) to please try to be a bit more careful in the back garden and be aware of the flowers & shrubbery when putting up his ladders. Apparently he is a man of great sensitivity, according to a neighbour... Hmmmmm.
That’s one of the advantages of a bungalow, Gary. No ladders for the window cleaner! Maybe just as well he has huffed as he should respect your garden. We have a lovely father and son team and they clean the window frames, sills and exterior doors not just the glass bits. They do the whole house, conservatory and Katy’s office/chalet for £15 and only come every six weeks which is perfect spacing. I hope you can find a more affable window cleaner or that he comes round and realises you have a point!
I listened to Radio Luxembourg too but also in the 1980s there was a Sunday morning programme on Radio Merseyside called “Now and Then” presented by somebody called “John Kennedy” . He payed music mainly from the late 1950s and 60s requested by listeners. I used to record them on tapes . Still have them.
Lanjan - loved your choices, especially the Bruch. And I totally about Amy Winehouse having a modern day Helen Shapiro voice, deep and husky, and even the big, dark hairstyle! I met Helen one evening when she sang at a Jewish club that was holding a charity evening in London long, long ago. She had a lovely dark speaking voice too, I remember.
As for the complete works of Neville Shute - you rotter, that was going to be on my list!!
You still can, as it your own personal choice. There are bound to be overlaps, with similar tastes + ideas between others. Don't change your ideas - which are personal to you.
Archerphile ,you can still have Nevil Shute. You can borrow my collection because I won’t be off to the island yet awhile and I am about to start an HE Bates before doing a Miriam and
Tears dried enough, to read a message - my new lawnmower is being delivered tomorrow. Just in time for the next cut, esp as it will be much warmer at weekend. Needed to pour myself a "Scruff + T" as I got so emotional. Off to chop onions - so will "cry" again! π
Lanjan Well I'll go to the foot of our stairs! Your first three choices could so easily have been on my list! I have a choice very similar to one of yours as well, but slightly different.π Gerry and the Pacemakers' version of YNWA brings back memories of me disappearing up through the pine plantation on Sunday afternoons with our lovely golden Labrador. Nina. listening to Pick of the Pops with Alan Freeman on my tranny! (In those days a tranny was a transistor radio!) I probably was about 15 years old? Stasia - I have the complete works of Nevil Shute's books, collected monthly from a book club, except for A Town Like Alice which my eldest son pinched because it was my Mum's favourite book and he adored his Nan! I read 'On The Beach' once and vowed I would never read it again but did many. many years later and re-avowed it will remain on the bookshelf. It is far too depressing but of course was of its time being written during the Cold War! Gary - I had to laugh that you had been 'sacked' by your window cleaner! Sorry. I found it difficult to get a window cleaner because I live in a three storey 'Town' house, so ladders are out of the question. Once a month a man comes round with large drums of water, an extendable tube and brush fixed to a rod and it somehow pumps the water up 30-40 feet to reach the bedroom windows on the third floor. Very clever!
"On The Beach" still spooks me out, but is a wonderful book. I listened to this, as a drama a few months ago, on R4ex. To say I enjoyed it, would be wrong, but I did appreciate it.
Spicycushion I have never read “On the beach” and have read “Requiem for a Wren” only once. I cannot reread it. I have both books in my bookcase. I finished “A town like Alice” last night. I have of course read it several times in the past. We went to see the film when we were teenagers . It starred Virginia Mc Kenna and Peter Finch. The film was only half of the book though. We sat in the “gods” in the Odeon. The cost was 1/- (5p).
I used to listen to R Luxembourg too, but don't remember the K E Y N S H A M My sisters do remember this. At the time we lived in Bristol, so very close. One sister now lives in Perth, Australia. She volunteers at a local beauty spot. Recently she met a visitor, the conversation got around to where the visitor lived. Yes, she was from Keynsham, and my sister immediately said - spelt K E Y N S H A M. She said the visitor was very surprised!
Many others - I too love the Nevil Shute books, especially On The Beach. The scene from the film that has always stayed with me is when the crew on the ship try to track down an intermittent and erratic signal in morse code - and it turns out to be... (should I say? I wouldn't want to put spoilers for any who have not read it but may do in future!) But it was heartbreaking.
I read On The Beach years and years ago and it haunted me for some time. I did enjoy it though. I'd forgotten K E Y N S H A M until I read that post - how funny!
Lanjan Yes the film with Finch and McKenna only dealt with the first half of the book and left out the interesting part of building a town like 'Alice.' The BBC did a serialisation of the novel (probably 1980s?) Can't remember who the female lead was but Joe Harman was played by Bryan Brown, a rather dishy Australian actor! I do like Shute novels although nowadays they are rather dated. Many are poignant like Trustee from the Toolroom and Requiem for a Wren but No Highway and Ruined City have happy endings! I might start re-reading them! Alice, On the Beach and No Highway have been made into films. Highway had my all time film star Jimmy Stewart!
Well, super choices, Lanjan, have dipped into some, & all the memories attached are so interesting too, as has been the case with the other desert Islanders. I'll have a field day at some point listening to absolutely everything - just can't keep up ! So far today, the Nimrod is my favourite on your list. Am gathering a list, but such a musical ignoramus, have to check on every title, recording etc., so not ready to be dropped in the hat yet. By the time I am, this inspired idea of Gary will be well in the past....many blogs down the line.
No, have googled it and it was a guy called Horace Batchelor who reckoned he could predict football results and make it more likely to win! He had his own program on RL and sponsored the station to an extent. Funny how we remember Keynsham and not him!!
We have had deliveries from a local farm shop and a group who usually supply restaurants, pubs etc but with vast amounts of food on their hands they are selling to households and delivering to the door. In both cases the delivery has been about a week after ordering and everything is good and fresh. The group even had toilet rolls! The veg from the farm shop was really fresh and unblemished, more expensive of course but quality was good. Might even continue with them after the lockdown!
The Keynsham thing was an advert by a chap, I think his name was Harold Batchelor, who sold perms for football pools entrants. He claimed his scheme would help you win big prizes on the pools! π€₯
Re Neville Shute books, the first one I read was The Far Country set in Australia. It was the first book I had ever read about life in a different country and I loved it. It led me on to read all of his other novels except A Town Like Alice. I purposely left that out as I had learned a lot about concentration camps and the Gestapo from my Dad and I just couldn’t bring myself to read about anything similar - the Japanese prison camps for example. I couldn’t go and see the film either. Perhaps one day I’ll pluck up the courage!
I realised there were no German atrocities in A Town Like Alice, but back then I had become very sensitised by the Gestapo stories to anything that involved oppression of people by an all-powerful evil force. I thought (maybe wrongly) that the book included details of the Japanese invasion of Singapore etc and the incarceration of women in POW camps. I just didn’t want to read about such things at that time. I had seen a few trailers for the film starring Virginia McKenna and they put me off wanting to read the novel.
Now I am grown up and less sensitive, perhaps I’ll give it a try.
The whole point of ATLA was that the women and children were NOT put into a camp. The Finch/McKenna film is just half of the novel. Much better to read the book as the second half is quite uplifting and funny in places,
I do remember the name “Horace Batchelor “ Ev..and his connection with Keynsham ,spelt K-E-Y-N ,S -H-A-M ,Bristol but it is the only advert I remember 298 medium wave.
Yes, haven't we all remembered K-E-Y-N-S-H-A-M ? I remember looking out for signs of Keynsham the first time I went to Bristol when we moved west in the early seventies. Don't think I ever went there though. And of course remember Horace Bachelor too.
I don’t remember large winnings as a result of Horace’s scheme. Google tells me he left £150,000 when he died in the 70’s and his son carried on with the business! Was it a con?!!π€
Yes, saw it on BBC Breakfast and the family were interviewed. They are going to try a write another lockdown song. What a brilliant, clever, musical family.
Not heard a cuckoo but Mr A saw his first Brimstone butterfly a couple of days ago - always our first sign of spring and great competition in the family for who sees one first!
As Gianna says, our blog is a real comfort in this period of suspended life. In Italy we have had longer to get used to lockdown and phone chats and videocalls are one of the positives but how I yearn to hug my two little grandsons. You wondered about tips for lockdown, Gary. I am finding that time passes strangely so decided to make a timetable to give my day some structure. Not that I have to stick to it but I feel I have more control. The Ted talks on YouTube are a good alternative to the spider solitaire I am trying not to get addicted to! Hopefully there will continue to be fewer new cases of the disease and we will begin to see the end of this tunnel.
Hilary, step away, now1 Spider solitaire will get you in its web and *never* let you go!
I dragged myself away from the wretched game 2 weeks ago. But I know Shelob is sitting there waiting to grab me the minute I risk another look. Stay strong, together we can beat the evil arachnid ; )
Then we will be able to start planning a get-together in Verona! I found the Archers conference in Reading on YouTube - your paper was really good, Gary! - and wondered if anyone in the audience was on this blog.
KP was at the conference Hilary - we were sat together at the back for the first day!
Speaking of which, this Saturday morning at 11.00pm I have been invited to take part in the Academic Archers "Saturday Omnibus" - they are streaming selected past papers from the conferences with a live Q&A from the authors! It's being done using the "Zoom" app that everyone (including me) has downloaded over the past few weeks.
Details of how to join in are on their website at www.academicarchers.net - they are doing these events every Saturday for the next few months...
Hilary. 10.50 I have written a time-table too, which I refer to throughout the day, and marvel that I am not able to stick to it. It isn't very strict either, the first two hours are dedicated to making breakfast for me and my dog, and getting washed and dressed!! The more time I have, the less I seem to do, the smallest task takes an age. I think I must be dragging things out so that I am not left with 'nothing' to do. There is always plenty to do of course, but usually stuff I don't want to tackle, like sorting out cupboards, although I try to complete one boring task each day.
I am very glad that the National Theatre is streaming 'live' filmed performances via You Tube starting tonight at 7 p.m.with James Corden. I got a refund of cancelled theatre tickets yesterday, one show was scheduled for June. I like the efforts that broadcasters are making to keep us entertained.
I saw a brimstone butterfly and a bright orange butterfly while driving back home from an emergency call to work, and popping into Lidl for a few essentials and some flowers to brighten up the lounge. Otherwise life in lockdown is trundling along, yesterday I started sorting through old papers for recycling or shredding. I must see if I can get YouTube up on the TV for the NT production this evening, and hope our internet behaves.
I really, really wanted to get flowers today but the supermarket we go to only had the dregs left & I couldn't justify going to another shop just for nice blooms! First world problems, eh...?
Katy ordered from the company who usually sell to pubs, restaurants etc and it included a very large tub of Philadelphia cream cheese so this morning I made a baked cheesecake. Then I steam cleaned the hard floors in two bathrooms, utility, kitchen and hall. Now resting on my laurels!
Buddy has been undergoing tests as he drinks a lot and weeks prolifically! Having taken on Dudley we realised that Buddy was a bit abnormal in this way. He had two blood tests and a test on his thyroid. Nothing showed up but they are now thinking it is an overdose of vitamin D. Katy has a vitamin D based ointment, Dovonex for her psoriasis and. Buddy sleeps on her bed. We think he has been licking her arms! She is a very sound sleeper so would not be aware. She is now wearing long sleeved nighties and he has been a lot better. His appetite is better too as vitamin D excess also leads to loss of appetite. It has been a gradual thing over months. The vet has been intrigued as he has not seen anything like it before! Just shows though how careful you have to be around dogs. We are mightily relieved as we feared a tumour on his thyroid. Result has just come through about a week late but how impressive that the lab has done it under the present circumstances.
I almost had ”All I have to do is Dream “as one of my choices . This is my version of the song.
ALL I HAVE TO DO IS SCREAM -with apologies to the Everly brothers.
When I need loo roll in the night But can find none ,I’m in a plight Whenever that happens all I want to do is Scre -e -e - e -eam , scream ,scream ,scream ,scream , scre-e-e-e-eam -scream.
When I run out of milk and tea I could drink gin but then I see There isn’t any tonic , All I that I can do is Scree -e-e - e-eam ,scream,scream scream scream,scre-e-e-e-eam,scream.
If I should need soap. Then I really hope I have some stashed away Sanctuary or Dove. Both I really love Should last for me for a day.
I could go out ‘tween 9 and 10 and join the queue ,I know but then If there are no bananas All I’ll want to do is Scre-e-e-e-eam,scream,scream scream scream ,scre-e-e-e-eam scream
I could go on line Yes that would be fine. Been doing that quite a lot Only trouble is, gee whiz. I can’t get a blessed slot
This dreadful time one day will go Life will be good again I know When ever that happens None of us will want to Scre -e -e-e-eam,scream,scream,scream ,scream scream. .
Gosh, only just seen this, Lanjan - how spot on & so clever !
Was just going to echo others in saying how odd it is that so little gets done in lockdown ( stretching the time to fill the space), but LJ is a magnificent example of someone who makes creative use of time π
I do t know where the days are going to. Been meaning to spring clean kitchen all week and still not got round to it. Article in the paper today saying how people are losing weight because of lockdown. Not eating crap, going to the pub and cooking from scratch. Not working here......I’ve been trying to master the art of a Victoria sponge. Given up now. I just can’t bake one...,,solid and like cardboard. Had to eat the attempts though. Today, I had some rasps to use up, so I’ve made a trifle. I don’t even like trifle!!! Had to make proper creme anglaise as I don’t buy custard powder or tinned custard. I’m sure I’ll manage to force some down. Soaked sponge fingers in creme de cassis!! Isn’t that 1 of your 5 a day?π€
Scrabble arrived today through the post. It was a bit of plastic/paper folded up. Really crappy tiles and racks. Typical cheap Chinese shit. So have glued the paper onto some ply wood ready to have a daily game. When my son was a toddler I used to go to a local scrabble club one afternoon a week. I was mid 20’s and everyone else was retired!! One lady was nearly 100 and was still driving!
I tried a dance exercise video off you tube 2 days ago. Nearly bloody killed me. Prancing 20 something’s taking it!! Yesterday I tried a you tube video of exercise for the over 50’s. Managed that. Could hardly move this morning though.
It's the gardening that kills me! I can walk or bike for hours and not a twinge. 30 minutes doing some weeds & the next day I'm walking like Quasimodo...
My Scrabble set is an old one and says on the box - manufactured by J.W. Spear & Sons Ltd., Enfield, Middlesex which I now believe is classfied as being in London. The London borders have stretched out over the years. Anyway it is a sturdy set with wood tile holders and good quality tiles. It's had so many years of use and still being used.
Your post re dogs is of great interest. I too have creams to apply at bedtime, and I have the same problem with licking from Lady. At first it was just my peppermint foot cream that she wanted to lick off my hands. I thought it not a good idea and tried my best to stop her licking. But since it's been other creams Voltarol, as well as the peppermint now. I bury my hands in the bedclothes but she seeks them out. And licks voraciously. I'm not asleep unlike Katy, but I have been aware of the possibility of the danger. Now that you have pointed it out, I shall need to be hyper vigilant. Thank you for writing about it.
On the common over the last few days the wood anenomies (?) are flowering and the cowslips are pushing through. There are still daffodils in abundance on the verges and primroses a plenty in the church graveyard. I've had butterflies in my garden for the last three weeks but haven't been able to identify them as they flit too quickly, but can tell that they are not all the same. This does not make my garden special, it is simply that I am less than five hundred yards from Rodborough Common which has one of the highest number of varieties of butterflies in the country I gather.
My consultant rang today to say my MRI scan on my eye was fine. It’s solely down to thyroid trouble. I’m to see someone at the thyroid eye clinic on 28th May but it’s not definite in these dreadful times. I am on consultants list now for Botox injections to cure the double vision but Botox is not being done at the mo, quite understandably. So don’t know when that’ll happen. So all in all I call that good news. Hence I’m sat here celebrating with a glass of prosecco. πΎ
Bloody thyroids! I always sat out of the medical conversations everyone has had down the years for whatever reason but I can empathise completely PbtY. It's a pain in the ass isn't it?
I think I will join you in a glass of something and then eat my cake....
Such good news, even if treatments are now, obviously delayed. You are in the system, so it will happen, but it will be a much longer wait - though understandable, in these times. Me, off to raise a glass to you, also. Any excuse π₯
Why am I busier now, that I am home alone in "Lockdown"? I am finding that I am eating far more - so I am increasing excercise regime, as from tomorrow.
As to animals licking hands etc. A friend of mine, sadly had breast cancer and all went really well. As she convalesced, she cuddled her dog on her lap, who licked her hand. She ended up with an infection with resulted in lymphodyma. 10 years on, she still has problems. This is a sad story, but it is also, a "beware" one.
I am off to visit a zoo again, tomorrow, but just in a virtual way. The Zoo is doing another day of live feeds with the keepers, but I don't know yet, what will be shown. I hope it will be as interesting, as the previous one.
Just catching up with today’s posts and see Gary takes 3 tablets a day for his thyroid condition. So do I Gary, - 3 x 50 microgram Thyroxine every morning (+ 5 other tabs of various shapes & colours) and have been doing so for the past 35 years. I don’t seem to have any side effects or problems with them. Except from having a very slow heart rate (about 42 - 46 normally) which my GP told me was partially due to the thyroid medication.
I once forgot to take them with me on holiday and thought it would be OK for a few days. But by day 3, thyroxine-less, I was totally exhausted, couldn’t walk more than a few yards, wanted to curl up asleep all the time and had to get Mr A to get an emergency supply from a nearby pharmacy. So ever since I have been jollly grateful for them !
PtbY, very glad you've got some reassurance about the eye problem - enough to celebrate with a glass or three of prosecco ! Still a huge drag to suffer an uncertain delay about the thyroid problem, & do sympathise. Current circumstances make lesser matters hang in abeyance & we just have to shut up & put up. Thinking there, also, about my projected audiology apt., to get the external hearing aid in May. It won't happen then, of course, given all that is going on, but can't help feeling a tad selfishly frustrated, as the groundwork has all been done !
Yes, you have to be really careful especially if you have any wounds or thin skin. Mrs P, don’t worry unduly about your creams. If it bothers you maybe wear thin gloves or put the cream on in the morning but the important thing is to make sure you have the right treatment. If a dog has a problem it usually shows up as in Buddy with unusual toilet problems, drinking too much or too little, weight loss, maybe vomiting and general low spirits., loss of appetite and so on. If Lady seems fine then she is!
My daughter and granddaughter went to see One Man, Two Guvnors in the theatre a little while ago and really enjoyed it - very funny they said and recommended I watch tonight. Unfortunately had other things to do but hope to see it soon.
We have a full shoe! Last shoe-dweller came home yesterday after his 6 months in Germany got unceremoniously truncated. Full credit to the insurance company who sorted out his return tickets within the hour. So now we shall all have to restrain from murder for the next few weeks/months. I have suggested the male shoe-dwellers make an assault on our trainer (aka garage) so at least we have an escape route from time to time. My childless brother-in-law wondered what was not to like about having everyone home. After lockdown the younger shoedwellers are being sent on an extended holiday to their aunt and uncle ; )
Congratulations/Commiserations OWIAS! My neighbour made her family sort out the garage IMMEDIATELY the threat of lockdown was imminent so that it could be turned into a gym of sorts. (But mainly so that she could have somewhere to order them out of the house to when she wanted to strangle the children!!)
Gary .... Parsley was talking about hyperthyroidism V hypothyroidism.
One signifying too much - PtbY .... the other too little - Parsley and me and Archerphile I think. I've now lived with this condition for sixty years. I've survived. I take one 100mc daily plus one 25mc three times a week. Thyroxine is a very slow acting medication and I'm surprised that Archerphile finds she is slowing down after three days. I can manage at least a week before I start to notice any difference. On the other hand if I am over medicated as was the case when in hospital with my knee surgery, then I really do know something is wrong. But at least after sixty years of living with it I have a better understanding.
I sleep for Britain regardless Gary. Twelve to fourteen hours regularly. Don't know how much a prescription is these days, but think it might be £7-8 an item. I do often feel guilty that I've never ever had to pay for any prescription because of having the condition.
Yes Mrs P. Mr A (diabetic) and me (hypothyroid) have both had free prescriptions for around 40 years and always thought the system was badly thought out. Why should we have had free antibiotics, steroid cream, antacids etc etc as well as the medications needed for our qualifying conditions? But I suppose the beaurocracy required to sort this out would have been enormous, just easier to give a patient a blanket free prescriptions certificate and leave it at that.
My daughter just told me that the cost of a single item on prescription is now £9.15 !! If you require two items, say some tablets and a cream, that comes to a staggering £18.30. How can anyone afford to be ill these days?
Re thyroxine....my dose seems to be still being calculated to give correct results since having thyroid out last May. At the moment I’m on 75mg a day. I quite like having an overactive thyroid in one respect, I did lose weight. Now I can’t lose any and I only have to look at a slice of cake to put weight on. Very frustrating. Fitness wise, I guess I’m being impatient considering a year ago I couldn’t climb our stairs without having two stops for a rest and it’s hard when you’re lugging an extra stone and a half about.
Thyroid and menopause are 2 words that strike the fear of god into me now.
I’m actually enjoying lockdown being the anti-social person I am. Managed not to kill Mr PtbY yet, though it’s been close a couple of times. Hope everyone is keeping safe. π€
Yesterday was my son's birthday (43). Usually we all go out to a restaurant to celebrate but, obviously, it was not possible so he set up a Google meet and included my daughter in London. We ate dinner together and then watched him blow out his candles. It was lovely. My 15year old grandson prepared the meal as he enjoys cooking and my 10 year old granddaughter made a cheesecake which is their dad's favourite.
If I am knitting,crocheting or making cards I have been listening to the Desert Island Discs but I had none to listen to yesterday since it was my choice the previous day . Thought of the idea in the morning and continued it in the afternoon. My son sent me a compact disc of my choices. . It arrived yesterday. It takes just half an hour.toplay.
Good morning to all. I’m trying to muster up some energy to get the hoover, duster and electric mop out. I absolutely loathe domestic housework and will avoid doing it if possible. Unlike Gary, I never seem to have any physical inclination for indoor activity and there is nothing wrong with my thyroid. But I will dig, hoe, plant, seed, trim and cut the grass on the allotment, all day nearly every day. We are very privileged to have somewhere else to go during this lockdown. Our allotment site is hidden behind large hedgerows and has a locked entrance and car park. At the moment it is lovely to hear the birds and watch the bees and butterflies π¦ whilst drinkIng tea and indulging in a sandwich. After years of working in the NHS I never thought my fingers would turn green. I was out last night at 8.00pm making a racket banging on my Bodhran.
Posted this ages ago but obviously posted through Firefox instead of Chrome which is the only way now of posting! Anyway here are my 10 'discs.' I hope you allow me the cricket commentary as I think I would need to hear someone else speak whilst in my isolation. It had to be Sir Geoffery as I have had a crush on him since my early twenties! 1. Calypso - John Denver. Celebrating the beautiful voice of John Denver and in memory of Jacques Cousteau, favourite of mine since 1950s, who was concerned about the sea and the planet long before David Attenborough and that dreadful Swedish child. 2. Miserere mei, Deus - Allegri – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmUw-zyklYQ The boy treble ( Aksel Rykkvin) must be the sound of the angels. It makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end! 3. Proud Mary - Credence Clearwater Revival. My ‘bopping’ song. Also to remind me of The Arrow radio station which I always had on when cooking my cricket teas during the past seventeen years! 4. In the Depths of the Temple - Jussi Bjoiling & Robert Merrill - From The Pearlfishers The first piece of opera I remember hearing. The harmonies are exquisite. 5. To Make You Feel My Love - Bob Dylan. Just because I love this man and every single piece of music of his, and because I am a sucker for slushy romantic poetry! 6. Your Tiny Hand is Frozen - Boheme - Pavorotti. Memories from ten years ago during my only Christmas visit to Vienna and being given, as a Christmas present from my son, a ticket to the Vienna State Opera on Boxing Day for a performance of this, my favourite opera. Sadly not Pavorotti but an excellent Chinese-American tenor. 7. Flower of Scotland - Murrayfield crowd! Amazing and unique. 8. Boycott’s wind up by Jonathan Agnew. TMS recording on You tube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPIjT-zdryY . To remind me of cricket and Sir Geoffery, a man I have had a crush on since my early twenties!
Pride and Prejudice- my book even though I have read it probably a hundred times. All the characters are old friends. My luxury is, please, a limitless supply of Hemp body/hand lotion from Bodyshop!
Ooh, miserere Mei was on my shortlist as well, except I have the version by the Sixteen. Beautiful, especially in a cathedral on Ash Wednesday.
Archerphile, belated thanks for your help with Zoom, which am still getting around to sorting out but your clear instructions are great.
Gary do we need to be on Zoom to hear your broadcast tomorrow?
LanJan, loved your poem/song yesterday and I have your DID list still to go through - I managed to listen to You’ll Never Walk Alone which is always emotional.
Gosh, several people, not just on here, are saying how little time there is to do stuff despite...
I've just joined zoom, but couldn't hear anyone in the group... will have to try again. Does anyone know if it is differed used on a phone or tablet (android)?
Not used it yet Zoetrope - tomorrow will be my first go. I do know that there are mute buttons somewhere on it, so it may well be that your problem is as simple as checking those!
Ah, Spicy, can hear why you'd retain miserere Mei above all the others. Thanks, Gary, for choosing that one as the header for the blog. Just been bopping to the Creedence Clearwater - you're right, one just has to !
A very tech friend suggested I sign up to Zoom. I am very frightened of technology, but if Autumnleaves suggestion takes off I will be left behind unless I do something about it. I have an Apple IPad.
Spicy....only know the Proud Mary one, it's a good one though. Mr PtbY was capped with your choice of the cricket wind up. Haven't time to listen to them today, my job tomorrow afternoon I think whilst gardening. Talking of which.....Gardeners World tonight.
With regards to Zoom....hadn't heard of it until this week when it was in the paper that it is easily hacked and people keep getting porn springing up on it. Therefore I will be giving it a miss.
Merci Spicy, like AP we've also got The Sixteen version of the Allegri. But merci most of all for the TMS wind-up!! Sorry, not for Boycott, love Aggers..!
I second MrsP and PtbY, I too am very frightened of technology and Zoom has a bad name. We all have Google accounts, some from the BBC blog voiced objections, I have no idea if they overcame them.
Spicycushion. Have just finished your choices, apologies left out the cricket π.
The only song of John Denver I know is Annie, I did recognise his voice and style immediately. His singing brings back the most profoundly saddest day of my life. The Allegri is beautiful. Do you know how it left the Vatican? I am not a rugby fan but Flower of Scotland is stirring and one day it will be the National Anthem. God save the Queen is a dirge, although Haydn did use the tune in a piece of music. Thank you for a pleasant afternoon.
I have spent a most pleasant afternoon making cards and listening to your Desert Island Discs., Spicycushion. A good ,mixed selection I thought My favourite was the duet from ” The Pearl Fishers” and I really liked “Proud Mary” Recognised it but couldn’t give it a name.
Your DID choices, are so very similar to my taste, and you have chosen some wonderful music - Allegri Misere, "Calypso", La Boheme, Pearl Fishers. As for "Flowers of Scotland" - I heard this performed live, by The Corries, in Her Majesty's Theatre in Aberdeen, in the '70's, when it was a "new" song. I had an autographed LP (by The Corries), with this new track on, before it became popular. How I wish I had kept it, but it went to a jumble sale. As they say, hindsight is a wonderful thing.
PS I was lucky to see a concert of the Allegri, sung by The Sixteen, with Emma Kirby as the soloist. It was performed in a church, which doubled up as a concert venue.
The "hell-hole" of my study is even more of a mess!! At least, it is now a much more, organised area of chaos. How I need some charity bags, to donate books + jigsaws to.
I can now reach the window, so I can now attempt, to clean the UPVC frames + the window glass, so some progress.
It is suddenly getter warmer, so it will be gardening for the next few days.
I did increase my exercise regime today - it went from 5 mins to 10 mins. I doubled it..ππ
Hilary 2/4 9.43p.m. NT Live I liked it in parts, but that type of stylised performance is not really my cup of tea. James Cordon was good though, I thought his self-fight scene was brilliant. There is a Shakespeare play on soon with Tamsin Grieg. I think this is a great initiative from the NT.
Can I make two points about my choices please. Firstly I have just listened to The Sixteen's version which I do not rate at all I'm afraid. This piece was not meant to be sung by a female! There is no comparison to any treble's rendition imho! I also get very annoyed when our best known cathedral choirs are forced to admit girls which changes the sound of the choir and not for the better. The second point is that Flower of Scotland MUST be recorded at a Murrayfield match. It doesn't matter what the words of the song are.It is the crowd who 'make' this wonderful recording. I believe it is the only national song partly sung unaccompanied.
I rarely listen to recordings, my passion is for live music. I have attended many different concerts which have included the Allegri Miserere. All are different because the musical director of that particular choir or group has interpreted the piece from his or her own angle and taste. A piece of music is written to be interpreted by the musicians. Purists may believe that a piece can only be interpreted in one way, the correct way according to that persons belief, but music is of its nature an interpretation of what has been written. If Allegri was with us today, he would be entitled to tell us what he wanted. He is not, therefore we are fortunate that we have many examples of his work to enjoy.
However Mrs P, Allegri would not have dreamt of his piece being sung by a woman round about 1630. Therefore the music in his head whilst composing would not have been of soprano but a boy treble. That is who it was written for. Any music director, the same as a film director or theatre director can interpret music, play or story in their own way. It doesn't mean that the original author would like it to be so. In fact many authors get very cross when 'liberties' are taken with their works by new directors, producers etc. The quality of a top class soprano comes third to tenor, treble then soprano for the purity of the voice for me. How sad you rarely listen to recordings. It is a blessing to be able to sit down and find a recording that suits my mood at that particular time be it sad, reflective, calming or joyous. I can listen via computer, CD disk or vinyl (I have the complete 'Boheme' and Rodriges on LPs.) There are so many wonderful recordings. I too love live music but cannot afford many visits to concerts so I listen to recordings, as I cannot imagine life without music.
Just to add "A piece of music is written to be interpreted by the musicians." If that is the case then why do composers/conductors tell the orchestra how he wants the piece played? It is because he wants it played in that particular way. Not 'interpreted' by the first violin or oboe.
Scrolling down now I have only just seen your comment, OWIAS. It is very good advice! Every so often I delete the spider solitaire app from my iPad! ( I googled Shelob! How stimulating this blog is, leading us to learn new things all the time! Love it!)
Like you, Mistral, I found the exaggerated, Commedia dell’Arte style a little off putting at the beginning but then I got used to it and laughed a lot. It was very skillfully done, especially Corden getting the audience involved. I am looking forward to the other National Theatre productions.. I am so glad we have internet!
Re the debate about the Allegri, many individuals have tried to reconstruct the original which the Vatican considered to be so sacred that no one was allowed to see the music. Mozart, being the genius he was, was taken to hear it and consigned it to memory and this is the version most will hear. It is The Allegri as he heard it. Did Mozart take some poetic license and provide us with his interpretation. If so, then is it okay for others to do their take on it. I love the sixteen and Emma Kirkby’s voice, however if we stick to tradition then it should be a boy treble.
I know next to nothing about classical music but I'd agree with Spicycushion about liberal interpretation. I recently read a TV script for a book I've read in which two very dramatic scenes were omitted. Pride & Prejudice - I reread it this year with much interest, human nature doesn't change.
Going off at a slightly different angle from musical interpretation - As Basia says, I hate it when classical books are altered before being produced as television plays. I am thinking, particularly, of the last two or three adaptations of Agatha Christie stories, all by the same ‘adaptor’, or perhaps that should be ‘adaptress’, Sarah Phelps One famous story had the ending totally altered and a completely different character found guilty of the crime! Another had really nasty scenes of violence and sexually motivated torture which certainly didn’t feature in the book. A third included a back history of Hercule Poirot that was never mentioned in the original books, seemed highly unlikely and only inserted to mine the mournful acting of John Malkovich. These upset me greatly and much as I would love to see more Christie I certainly shan’t be watching any that have been mangled by Ms Phelps!
I too rate John Denver highly Spicycushion. He figures as one of my choices but fortunately a different song. Also very much liked the Creedence Clearwater. I had never cone across them before.
I am way behind listening to everyone's different choices, and am very gradually working my way through. What has surprised me is the wonderful lyrics to music that I would never normally have listened to.
I have been writing down people’s lists to go back through as I am also way behind.
Spicy, when I mentioned the Sixteen version of the Allegri, I was commenting that I had put it on my own list before I saw yours, and I was not suggesting it was better (or worse)than the version you have chosen. As I said it is beautiful to hear choristers singing in a cathedral and no doubt they were trebles as I have rarely had the opportunity to hear a girls cathedral choir, as there are so few.
I do love the Sixteen as a group and I also love Hildegard of Bingen sung by Emma Kirkby and Gothic Voices, as chosen by Stasia and another piece from my list.
Seasider. I am sorry I didn't mean to indicate that either version was better or worse either. I chose my music which sounded beautiful and perfect to my ears. I have had an objection for several years about girls in boys' choirs! I like soprano arias in opera but not so much as tenors. though. I certainly agree that a cathedral's acoustics are lovely with whatever music is played. I will listen to more of The Sixteen's music and see if I get on with them! π
I am one of those people who cannot understand what is wrong with the expression “I don’t know anything about art but I know what I like” Well I feel the same about music. There are some Pieces of Music which can bring me to tears and I think that a lot of them are possibly ones with minor keys . I may be talking out of the back of my head here. I think ,but may be wrong ,that a minor key is when whatever you expected to hear doesn’t happen and so you hear something else. Perhaps it goes down half an octave or something .I don’t know. What I do know is that I am perfectly happy to listen to Classical Music whilst seated in my chair at home. I haven’t a clue whether one Artist is better than another one but I would know which I prefer. I will now listen to the other version of the Allegri to see which I prefer.
We have just had a delivery from Tesco. Goodness only knows when I made the order but it must have been about a month ago and I had completely forgotten about it. Everything that I ordered was there . At first I told the van driver that he had it wrong and that I hadn’t ordered anything but then I checked and it was what we use all the time including the cats’ favourite food. Unlike Sainsbury’s or Iceland ,Tesco do not email on the day that they have a delivery for you at a particular time or whether there has been a substitution made. I am dreading the fact that I might have done an order way back at the beginning of March for Sainsbury’s as well. Must check my Bank Statements. Anyone fancy a cuppa? I certainly can make a cup of tea or coffee for anyone on the blog who would like one !
No Irish whiskey I am afraid ,Stasia but you would be very welcome to have some Bell’s ( Mr LJ’s favourite) I am afraid I would not dream of putting even a drop of my Islay,Jura or Arran malt whiskies into a mug or cup of coffee though. What a terrible waste.
Where is the Sun, as promised? It is still cloudy + cool here, and my new lawnmower needs its "maiden mow", now that I have finally put it together (not easy). Tomorrow, is another day..
To add... I have a wonderful bottle of a.. Chocolate, Orange, Gin, liqueur still to be opened. I have tasted this before, and it is delicious (only 10% alcohol).
Miriam the sun has been here all day in Hampshire, really gorgeous day sorry you missed out, better luck tomorrowπ€πΌ
CBBC starting Monday @ 5.30pm “Mallory Towers” begins (memories memories- will give it a go probably on catch up) Second childhood and all that π€£π€£
*** FROM PREVIOUS BLOG ***
ReplyDeleteMrsP Ambridge March 31, 2020 at 8:37 PM
Esscee -
The information I gave earlier was true, as far as I knew it to be.......
However I then googled Roy Plomley and discovered that I had not told you all the truth. He did live in Putney for many years, but was not apparently living there when he conceived the idea of DI D. At that time he was in truth living in a cottage in Bushey Hertfordshire, but perhaps that was gloomy too, and so he looked to his sleepy lagoon on a warm and sunlit deserted island for inspiration.
Esscee March 31, 2020 at 8:51 PM
That’s fine MrsP. I love looking at atlases and maps so will now look up the places mentioned.
*** DESERT ISLAND DISCS ***
ReplyDeleteAnd the next name out of the hat is................Lanjan!
Oh wow!
DeleteThank you,Gary.
I have now removed every weed, stray leaf & piece of fluff from the front garden! At the end of our incarceration I swear I will have the tidiest flower beds in Christendom...
ReplyDeleteAnd the cleanest house in all the land to boot!
DeleteDESERT ISLAND DISCS
ReplyDelete1) The Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana by Mascagni- no particular version.
This was the first Classical record I ever bought.
My sister broke it accidentally!
2) I will always love you sung by Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton wrote it and I reckon she sings it better than Whitney Houston.
3)Nimrod from Enigma Variations - Elgar. No particular version.
This reminds me of Remembrance Sunday and to me is very moving.
4)You’ll never walk alone-Gerry and the Pacemakers.
This is certainly not the best version of the song in my opinion but hearing it sung by him and thousands of Liverpool supporters, moves me to tears.
5) Bruch- Violin Concerto No1 in G minor finale -Zukerman/Meyer
I thought you might not want to listen to the whole of the Concerto which is why I chose this particular version.
However should you wish to listen to it all, may I suggest you listen to the version played on the last night of the Proms 2012 .
I think it is truly wonderful.
6) Time after Time sung by Sarah Vaughan (I prefer her 1947 version ).
I could have chosen Ella Fitzgerald but I think Sarah Vaughan just has the edge.
Spoiler for those who are still to catch up with the final episode of “Last Tango in Halifax”
(Celia and Alan dance to this at the end of the episode.
Anne Reid (Celia ) says / sings the words beautifully ) to Derek Jacobi (Alan)
7) God only knows-Beach Boys.
I just really like it and I was listening to it when I was in the labour ward when I had my younger son.
8) Let it be me.-The Everly Brothers
My favourite duo.
It was a toss up between that and “All I have to do is dream “ which was in the hit parade when I was doing my A levels but when I went to see them in Liverpool.they ended the concert with this song and we all stood up and cheered.
Thank you.
I hope you enjoy some of my choices.
If I could only take one it would be “You’ll never walk alone”.
I will make a Liverpool scarf from dried grass somehow which I will wave about as I sing along.
I would take the complete works of Nevil Shute to read and my luxury would be a trunk full of artists materials - loads of paint (not oil ) ,brushes, easel and plenty of paper.
May I add that it was Parsley’s choice of Amy Winehouse singing “Back to black “ which I had never heard before and which bowled me over which I nearly inserted instead of one of the other pieces.
What a voice.
Reminded me a bit of Helen Shapiro who entered the hit parade aged only 14 years of age in the early 60s
Thanks for that Lanjan!
DeleteI love the Dolly Parton - agree with you that it's MUCH better than the Whitney Houston version. Grew up with my mum listening to the Everly Brothers so lots of memories there! And who doesn't like a bit of the Beach Boys?
So glad you were introduced to Amy Winehouse by parsley - I didn't appreciate at all how good a singer she was when she was alive and only really "discovered" her when I watched the documentary "Amy", which totally transformed my opinion of her AND her music.
Watched that documentary on the flight back from WA, a few years ago now, absolutely love her voice.
DeleteSuch a sad little film isn't it? But by God, what a voice!
DeleteYes, Mr P was snoring beside me while I was in tears...
DeleteLove π₯° the Beach Boys - especially God Only Knows.
DeleteLanjan ... will be you tubing some of these later. Good variation I think.
ReplyDeleteLanjan, the Liverpool anthem, sadly I discovered it in 1989 and it has moved me since.
ReplyDeleteGod only Knows almost made it onto my list.. love it!
ReplyDeleteWe sing an arrangement of it with our ensemble
DeleteLanjan. Have now finished listening to all your choices and was surprised! You are definitely a romantic. I found the “You’ll never walk alone”, very moving. The version I watched was attached to comments about the current medical crisis.
ReplyDeleteI never heard Sarah Vaughan sing before, I can see where A Winehouse got her inspiration. I also prefer Dolly Parton’s version, but what awful hair arrangement, can’t possibly be real.
I already knew the classical pieces. My favourite would be the Bruch.
I have never read any N Shute, did see an old film called on the beach.
Will your artists materials include Knitting needles and material for making dish cloths?
LanJan, so pleased you included the Everly Brothers. I did expect it, and so have left them off my list even though they were and are still important to me. Hearing them brings warmth and comfort from my youth. As I'm sure it does yours.
ReplyDeleteBut other just as important pieces have edged them away.
Here in Reggio Emilia we have had a slight slackening of the restrictions. Up to now the only reason to go out was to do the shopping. Yesterday they announced that one child in the family could go for a walk with one parent. The numbers are going down!
ReplyDeleteSo glad to hear that Gianna! Long, long may it continue to be the case. How long has it been for you since the lock-down now? Any tips?
DeleteThe extreme lockdown ( not being able to go out for exercise) started on 7th March. They are reviewing the situation on Friday but it will probably continue until 18th April. It hasn't been hard for me as I am used to being on my own though I miss my walks. I read, listen to radio 4, do jigsaw puzzles and knit. I also miss having the grandchildren near.
DeleteI can't imagine what it's like to not be able to hug & kiss your grandchildren Gianna - have a hug from me! (I know it's not quite the same, but we've all got to make do...)
DeleteI hope you have enough jigsaws to see you through? And wool?
At the moment it's the long walks & cycling that I'm missing, but hey - big deal!
Thanks Gary. Hopefully we can meet up.when this is over. Autumnleaves suggested meeting in Verona. I do have enough to.keep.me occupied and also wattsapp with my sister and friend Hilary and the grandchildren. I too miss the walks.
DeleteWe shall go for the biggest walk we can manage in Verona in the not too distant future Gianna - and that's a promise!!!
DeleteLanJan, the Liverpool fans singing their anthem always moves me too. Nimrod is on my list too and for the same reasons as you. Everly Brothers reminds me of listening to 'Cathy's Clown' on Radio Luxembourg. Anyone remember that? My sister and I used to listen under the bed clothes at night.
ReplyDeleteI was obsessed with listening to the radio at night Anneveggie - and still am. I used to listen to Luxembourg, Radio Free Europe & the Russian equivalent of the World Service. There was a local station in Glasgow that used to have a book programme on in the middle of the night & had an actor reading the complete Sherlock Holmes stories for a few years. To me it was perfection. I cannot, cannot get to sleep without the radio - probably the thing I will miss most on my desert island....
DeleteMe too..radio Luxembourg under the bedclothes. My sister complaining while the radio whistled while I found the right station..it was a delicate process.
DeleteAs a child I suffered often from bronchitis and was very often in bed..the radio was my companion, especially radio 4 when I listened to woman's hour with sue McGregor, armchair theatre, listen with mother and of course the archers. These were the days when there was no daytime tv until jackanory at 4. 40. And of course there was no tv in my bedroom ( there wasn't even heating). Radio was my entertainment.
Gianna and Gary. .I've been thinking recently of how this would have been about the time to plan our meet up. For me this is an open date and whenever this is over, it'll be something special to look forward to.
DeleteGianna I'm holding my breathe too that we are starting to see a glimmer of light..fingers crossed.
Absolutly!
DeleteThe knitting needles will be made from tree branches,Stasia.
ReplyDeleteNot sure what I will use for the cotton.
What a worry!
There will be a huge cotton field on the island Lanjan!
DeleteThanks Gary .
DeleteThat is one fewer worry I will have.
Gary 12.01
ReplyDeleteI wish I could say the same.
Earlier I had 7 large ash trees cut down that had ash dieback as they lay on the road/bridlepath, my woodman cut the trunks and main branches, but I have had to clean up, pile up the logs and burn the brash, as the trees were covered in ivy there has been a lot. I spent 3 hours this morning burning up, then after lunch took the dog for an hours walk. I'm K.....erd, but still have to go and water Emerald and cook tea. Hopefully I will finish clearing up tomorrow, then Emerald can come back in her own field where there is water on tap
At least I can take my time to cut split and stack, he has already brought 3 trailer loads into the yard.
As no one can come into the house I have let it go, not my usual style at all, its so frustrating not being able to do what I used to !!
To put a positive spin on things CowGirl, at least you've got a project to do!
DeleteWhat a lovely + very varied choice LJ.
ReplyDeleteI love Gerry + Pacemakers, but I always get emotional when I hear it!.
I have been cleaning the inside of some windows today, along with starting to sort out my study (which will definitely keep me occupied)!
PS I can't clean the study window, as I can"t get to it.
DeleteOur window cleaner has just "sacked" us - he went off in the huff because we politely asked him (for the 2nd time!) to please try to be a bit more careful in the back garden and be aware of the flowers & shrubbery when putting up his ladders. Apparently he is a man of great sensitivity, according to a neighbour... Hmmmmm.
DeleteThat’s one of the advantages of a bungalow, Gary. No ladders for the window cleaner! Maybe just as well he has huffed as he should respect your garden. We have a lovely father and son team and they clean the window frames, sills and exterior doors not just the glass bits. They do the whole house, conservatory and Katy’s office/chalet for £15 and only come every six weeks which is perfect spacing. I hope you can find a more affable window cleaner or that he comes round and realises you have a point!
DeleteI listened to Radio Luxembourg too but also in the 1980s there was a Sunday morning programme on Radio Merseyside called “Now and Then” presented by somebody called “John Kennedy” .
ReplyDeleteHe payed music mainly from the late 1950s and 60s requested by listeners.
I used to record them on tapes .
Still have them.
I should also add that this blog has been a tremendous help in these sad times. Hearing what you are all doing has been a great boost.
ReplyDeleteI'll second that Gianna. Thanks everyoneππ
DeleteLanjan - loved your choices, especially the Bruch. And I totally about Amy Winehouse having a modern day Helen Shapiro voice, deep and husky, and even the big, dark hairstyle!
ReplyDeleteI met Helen one evening when she sang at a Jewish club that was holding a charity evening in London long, long ago. She had a lovely dark speaking voice too, I remember.
As for the complete works of Neville Shute - you rotter, that was going to be on my list!!
You still can, as it your own personal choice.
DeleteThere are bound to be overlaps, with similar tastes + ideas between others.
Don't change your ideas - which are personal to you.
Radio Luxembourg under the sheets means two things to me:
ReplyDelete‘We are the Ovaltinies, little girls and boys’ and.....
’Keynsham, spelt K E Y N S H A M’
I have just played the music of Gerry + Pacemakers, which Gary has put up at the top of this page.
ReplyDeleteLanjan + Gary - You have reduced me to tears!!
After I have finally dried my eyes, I will be off to make a sausage + bean casserole. It might take a while, before I can start, though.
ππ
Bless! Enjoy the scoff Miriam!
DeleteKnow what you mean Miriam the same happens to me whenever I hear “When you walk” and unlike LJ l love G&P version - my youth π€
DeleteArcherphile ,you can still have Nevil Shute.
ReplyDeleteYou can borrow my collection because I won’t be off to the island yet awhile and I am about to start an HE Bates before doing a Miriam and
rereading some Daphne Du Maurier .
ReplyDeleteTears dried enough, to read a message - my new lawnmower is being delivered tomorrow. Just in time for the next cut, esp as it will be much warmer at weekend.
ReplyDeleteNeeded to pour myself a "Scruff + T" as I got so emotional. Off to chop onions - so will "cry" again! π
Lanjan
ReplyDeleteWell I'll go to the foot of our stairs! Your first three choices could so easily have been on my list!
I have a choice very similar to one of yours as well, but slightly different.π
Gerry and the Pacemakers' version of YNWA brings back memories of me disappearing up through the pine plantation on Sunday afternoons with our lovely golden Labrador. Nina. listening to Pick of the Pops with Alan Freeman on my tranny! (In those days a tranny was a transistor radio!) I probably was about 15 years old?
Stasia - I have the complete works of Nevil Shute's books, collected monthly from a book club, except for A Town Like Alice which my eldest son pinched because it was my Mum's favourite book and he adored his Nan!
I read 'On The Beach' once and vowed I would never read it again but did many. many years later and re-avowed it will remain on the bookshelf. It is far too depressing but of course was of its time being written during the Cold War!
Gary - I had to laugh that you had been 'sacked' by your window cleaner! Sorry.
I found it difficult to get a window cleaner because I live in a three storey 'Town' house, so ladders are out of the question. Once a month a man comes round with large drums of water, an extendable tube and brush fixed to a rod and it somehow pumps the water up 30-40 feet to reach the bedroom windows on the third floor. Very clever!
"On The Beach" still spooks me out, but is a wonderful book.
DeleteI listened to this, as a drama a few months ago, on R4ex. To say I enjoyed it, would be wrong, but I did appreciate it.
Spicycushion I have never read “On the beach” and have read “Requiem for a Wren” only once.
ReplyDeleteI cannot reread it. I have both books in my bookcase.
I finished “A town like Alice” last night.
I have of course read it several times in the past.
We went to see the film when we were teenagers .
It starred Virginia Mc Kenna and Peter Finch.
The film was only half of the book though.
We sat in the “gods” in the Odeon.
The cost was 1/- (5p).
Archerfile,. 4.39
ReplyDeleteI used to listen to R Luxembourg too, but don't remember the K E Y N S H A M
My sisters do remember this. At the time we lived in Bristol, so very close. One sister now lives in Perth, Australia. She volunteers at a local beauty spot. Recently she met a visitor, the conversation got around to where the visitor lived.
Yes, she was from Keynsham, and my sister immediately said - spelt K E Y N S H A M.
She said the visitor was very surprised!
Many others - I too love the Nevil Shute books, especially On The Beach. The scene from the film that has always stayed with me is when the crew on the ship try to track down an intermittent and erratic signal in morse code - and it turns out to be... (should I say? I wouldn't want to put spoilers for any who have not read it but may do in future!) But it was heartbreaking.
It was.
DeleteI read On The Beach years and years ago and it haunted me for some time. I did enjoy it though.
DeleteI'd forgotten K E Y N S H A M until I read that post - how funny!
On the beach for me is a great song by Chris Rea which didn't make my DiD
ReplyDeleteLanjan
ReplyDeleteYes the film with Finch and McKenna only dealt with the first half of the book and left out the interesting part of building a town like 'Alice.'
The BBC did a serialisation of the novel (probably 1980s?) Can't remember who the female lead was but Joe Harman was played by Bryan Brown, a rather dishy Australian actor!
I do like Shute novels although nowadays they are rather dated. Many are poignant like Trustee from the Toolroom and Requiem for a Wren but No Highway and Ruined City have happy endings!
I might start re-reading them! Alice, On the Beach and No Highway have been made into films. Highway had my all time film star Jimmy Stewart!
Well, super choices, Lanjan, have dipped into some, & all the memories attached are so interesting too, as has been the case with the other desert Islanders. I'll have a field day at some point listening to absolutely everything - just can't keep up !
ReplyDeleteSo far today, the Nimrod is my favourite on your list.
Am gathering a list, but such a musical ignoramus, have to check on every title, recording etc., so not ready to be dropped in the hat yet. By the time I am, this inspired idea of Gary will be well in the past....many blogs down the line.
Miriam.. always loved Daphne du Maurier, since Frenchman's Creek in early teens.. mislaid my copy of The Flight of the Falcon.. Γ§a m'Γ©nerve..
ReplyDeleteI think the Keynsham reference was an advert for a pools company. Was it Littlewoods? Long time ago!π€
ReplyDeleteNo, have googled it and it was a guy called Horace Batchelor who reckoned he could predict football results and make it more likely to win! He had his own program on RL and sponsored the station to an extent. Funny how we remember Keynsham and not him!!
ReplyDeleteWe have had deliveries from a local farm shop and a group who usually supply restaurants, pubs etc but with vast amounts of food on their hands they are selling to households and delivering to the door. In both cases the delivery has been about a week after ordering and everything is good and fresh. The group even had toilet rolls! The veg from the farm shop was really fresh and unblemished, more expensive of course but quality was good. Might even continue with them after the lockdown!
ReplyDeleteThe Keynsham thing was an advert by a chap, I think his name was Harold Batchelor,
ReplyDeletewho sold perms for football pools entrants. He claimed his scheme would help you win big prizes on the pools! π€₯
Re Neville Shute books, the first one I read was The Far Country set in Australia. It was the first book I had ever read about life in a different country and I loved it. It led me on to read all of his other novels except A Town Like Alice. I purposely left that out as I had learned a lot about concentration camps and the Gestapo from my Dad and I just couldn’t bring myself to read about anything similar - the Japanese prison camps for example. I couldn’t go and see the film either. Perhaps one day I’ll pluck up the courage!
Oh you must read the book ,Archerphile .
DeleteThere is nothing about Concentration camps or Gestapo in it
It is his best -I think .
I realised there were no German atrocities in A Town Like Alice, but back then I had become very sensitised by the Gestapo stories to anything that involved oppression of people by an all-powerful evil force. I thought (maybe wrongly) that the book included details of the Japanese invasion of Singapore etc and the incarceration of women in POW camps. I just didn’t want to read about such things at that time.
DeleteI had seen a few trailers for the film starring Virginia McKenna and they put me off wanting to read the novel.
Now I am grown up and less sensitive, perhaps I’ll give it a try.
The whole point of ATLA was that the women and children were NOT put into a camp.
DeleteThe Finch/McKenna film is just half of the novel. Much better to read the book as the second half is quite uplifting and funny in places,
I do remember the name “Horace Batchelor “ Ev..and his connection with Keynsham ,spelt K-E-Y-N ,S -H-A-M ,Bristol but it is the only advert I remember
ReplyDelete298 medium wave.
.
Yes, haven't we all remembered K-E-Y-N-S-H-A-M ?
DeleteI remember looking out for signs of Keynsham the first time I went to Bristol when we moved west in the early seventies.
Don't think I ever went there though.
And of course remember Horace Bachelor too.
Thanks for correcting my ‘Harold’. I knew it began with an H!
DeleteI don’t remember large winnings as a result of Horace’s scheme. Google tells me he left £150,000 when he died in the 70’s and his son carried on with the business! Was it a con?!!π€
ReplyDeleteHave you seen a family’s version of “One Day More” from Les Miserables on U tube?
ReplyDeleteBrilliant.
Yes, saw it on BBC Breakfast and the family were interviewed. They are going to try a write another lockdown song. What a brilliant, clever, musical family.
Delete1st cuckoo heard yesterday, still waiting for the 1st swallow to arrive..
ReplyDeleteBrilliant. Nothing here yet.
DeleteParsley, I am in desperate circumstances, I have now swigged the last of my favourite apΓ©ritif Pineau des Charente. I was supposed to go to Germany next week to visit my brother who lives on the French/German border so can’t bring any back.
Could you just send me a dozen bottles to see me through to the end of isolation?
Alcohol always helps in these trying times.
Thank you.π€£π₯°
Yikes, desperate times indeed......
DeleteTrying out Leclerc Drive for the 1st time tomorrow, if only I'd known...π
Not heard a cuckoo but Mr A saw his first Brimstone butterfly a couple of days ago - always our first sign of spring and great competition in the family for who sees one first!
DeleteI'll raise you an Orange-tip!
DeleteAs Gianna says, our blog is a real comfort in this period of suspended life. In Italy we have had longer to get used to lockdown and phone chats and videocalls are one of the positives but how I yearn to hug my two little grandsons.
ReplyDeleteYou wondered about tips for lockdown, Gary. I am finding that time passes strangely so decided to make a timetable to give my day some structure. Not that I have to stick to it but I feel I have more control. The Ted talks on YouTube are a good alternative to the spider solitaire I am trying not to get addicted to!
Hopefully there will continue to be fewer new cases of the disease and we will begin to see the end of this tunnel.
I've not had any structure to my daily life for about 4 years now - and I love it!
DeleteHilary, step away, now1
DeleteSpider solitaire will get you in its web and *never* let you go!
I dragged myself away from the wretched game 2 weeks ago. But I know Shelob is sitting there waiting to grab me the minute I risk another look. Stay strong, together we can beat the evil arachnid ; )
Then we will be able to start planning a get-together in Verona! I found the Archers conference in Reading on YouTube - your paper was really good, Gary! - and wondered if anyone in the audience was on this blog.
ReplyDeleteKP was at the conference Hilary - we were sat together at the back for the first day!
DeleteSpeaking of which, this Saturday morning at 11.00pm I have been invited to take part in the Academic Archers "Saturday Omnibus" - they are streaming selected past papers from the conferences with a live Q&A from the authors! It's being done using the "Zoom" app that everyone (including me) has downloaded over the past few weeks.
Details of how to join in are on their website at www.academicarchers.net - they are doing these events every Saturday for the next few months...
Hilary. 10.50
ReplyDeleteI have written a time-table too, which I refer to throughout the day, and marvel that I am not able to stick to it. It isn't very strict either, the first two hours are dedicated to making breakfast for me and my dog, and getting washed and dressed!!
The more time I have, the less I seem to do, the smallest task takes an age. I think I must be dragging things out so that I am not left with 'nothing' to do.
There is always plenty to do of course, but usually stuff I don't want to tackle, like sorting out cupboards, although I try to complete one boring task each day.
I am very glad that the National Theatre is streaming 'live' filmed performances via You Tube starting tonight at 7 p.m.with James Corden.
I got a refund of cancelled theatre tickets yesterday, one show was scheduled for June.
I like the efforts that broadcasters are making to keep us entertained.
This morning I set the alarm on my phone to remind me about the National Theatre production this evening!
ReplyDeleteGreat minds.....
DeleteI saw a brimstone butterfly and a bright orange butterfly while driving back home from an emergency call to work, and popping into Lidl for a few essentials and some flowers to brighten up the lounge.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise life in lockdown is trundling along, yesterday I started sorting through old papers for recycling or shredding.
I must see if I can get YouTube up on the TV for the NT production this evening, and hope our internet behaves.
Are you still working then KP? God bless...
DeleteI really, really wanted to get flowers today but the supermarket we go to only had the dregs left & I couldn't justify going to another shop just for nice blooms! First world problems, eh...?
Katy ordered from the company who usually sell to pubs, restaurants etc and it included a very large tub of Philadelphia cream cheese so this morning I made a baked cheesecake. Then I steam cleaned the hard floors in two bathrooms, utility, kitchen and hall. Now resting on my laurels!
ReplyDeleteBuddy has been undergoing tests as he drinks a lot and weeks prolifically! Having taken on Dudley we realised that Buddy was a bit abnormal in this way. He had two blood tests and a test on his thyroid. Nothing showed up but they are now thinking it is an overdose of vitamin D. Katy has a vitamin D based ointment, Dovonex for her psoriasis and. Buddy sleeps on her bed. We think he has been licking her arms! She is a very sound sleeper so would not be aware. She is now wearing long sleeved nighties and he has been a lot better. His appetite is better too as vitamin D excess also leads to loss of appetite. It has been a gradual thing over months. The vet has been intrigued as he has not seen anything like it before! Just shows though how careful you have to be around dogs. We are mightily relieved as we feared a tumour on his thyroid. Result has just come through about a week late but how impressive that the lab has done it under the present circumstances.
Good news on the pet front is ALWAYS good news Ev!
DeleteThank you!
DeleteThat should be wees not weeks! Auto correction again!
ReplyDeleteOur cat Merry has a tablet a day for hyperthyroidism, so far π€it goes down with his food..
ReplyDeleteI will now think of Merry when I take my thyroid medication every morning!
Delete(And Merry, I take THREE tablets a day for mine!!!)
ReplyDeleteI almost had ”All I have to do is Dream “as one of my choices .
This is my version of the song.
ALL I HAVE TO DO IS SCREAM -with apologies to the Everly brothers.
When I need loo roll in the night
But can find none ,I’m in a plight
Whenever that happens all I want to do is
Scre -e -e - e -eam , scream ,scream ,scream ,scream , scre-e-e-e-eam -scream.
When I run out of milk and tea
I could drink gin but then I see
There isn’t any tonic ,
All I that I can do is
Scree -e-e - e-eam ,scream,scream scream scream,scre-e-e-e-eam,scream.
If I should need soap.
Then I really hope
I have some stashed away
Sanctuary or Dove.
Both I really love
Should last for me for a day.
I could go out ‘tween 9 and 10
and join the queue ,I know but then
If there are no bananas
All I’ll want to do is
Scre-e-e-e-eam,scream,scream scream scream ,scre-e-e-e-eam scream
I could go on line
Yes that would be fine.
Been doing that quite a lot
Only trouble is, gee whiz.
I can’t get a blessed slot
This dreadful time one day will go
Life will be good again I know
When ever that happens
None of us will want to
Scre -e -e-e-eam,scream,scream,scream ,scream scream. .
πππ
DeleteSpectacular Lanjan!
DeleteAnother triumph LJ π
DeleteGosh, only just seen this, Lanjan - how spot on & so clever !
DeleteWas just going to echo others in saying how odd it is that so little gets done in lockdown ( stretching the time to fill the space), but LJ is a magnificent example of someone who makes creative use of time π
Parsley16. How lucky are you, have shopped in E. Leclerc HyperMarchΓ© lots of times, does the Drive mean what we call Clic And Collect?
ReplyDeleteLanjan. You have made my afternoon. I sending a big π πsmiley face.
ReplyDeleteIt has taken me all day but part of it was thought out when I was gardening.
ReplyDeleteGood effort Lanjan. Very good.
ReplyDeleteI do t know where the days are going to. Been meaning to spring clean kitchen all week and still not got round to it. Article in the paper today saying how people are losing weight because of lockdown. Not eating crap, going to the pub and cooking from scratch. Not working here......I’ve been trying to master the art of a Victoria sponge. Given up now. I just can’t bake one...,,solid and like cardboard. Had to eat the attempts though. Today, I had some rasps to use up, so I’ve made a trifle. I don’t even like trifle!!! Had to make proper creme anglaise as I don’t buy custard powder or tinned custard. I’m sure I’ll manage to force some down. Soaked sponge fingers in creme de cassis!! Isn’t that 1 of your 5 a day?π€
Scrabble arrived today through the post. It was a bit of plastic/paper folded up. Really crappy tiles and racks. Typical cheap Chinese shit. So have glued the paper onto some ply wood ready to have a daily game.
When my son was a toddler I used to go to a local scrabble club one afternoon a week. I was mid 20’s and everyone else was retired!! One lady was nearly 100 and was still driving!
I have made an enormous orange chocolate brownie this afternoon & I will eat the whole lot PtbY - weight gain be damned!
DeleteI'm "trying" to exercise indoors, but it's so boring. I miss my long hikes & cycles. Grrr.
I tried a dance exercise video off you tube 2 days ago. Nearly bloody killed me. Prancing 20 something’s taking it!!
DeleteYesterday I tried a you tube video of exercise for the over 50’s. Managed that. Could hardly move this morning though.
It's the gardening that kills me! I can walk or bike for hours and not a twinge. 30 minutes doing some weeds & the next day I'm walking like Quasimodo...
DeleteMy Scrabble set is an old one and says on the box - manufactured by J.W. Spear & Sons Ltd., Enfield, Middlesex which I now believe is classfied as being in London. The London borders have stretched out over the years. Anyway it is a sturdy set with wood tile holders and good quality tiles. It's had so many years of use and still being used.
DeleteEv -
ReplyDeleteYour post re dogs is of great interest.
I too have creams to apply at bedtime, and I have the same problem with licking from Lady.
At first it was just my peppermint foot cream that she wanted to lick off my hands.
I thought it not a good idea and tried my best to stop her licking.
But since it's been other creams Voltarol, as well as the peppermint now.
I bury my hands in the bedclothes but she seeks them out. And licks voraciously.
I'm not asleep unlike Katy, but I have been aware of the possibility of the danger.
Now that you have pointed it out, I shall need to be hyper vigilant.
Thank you for writing about it.
On the common over the last few days the wood anenomies (?) are flowering and the cowslips are pushing through. There are still daffodils in abundance on the verges and primroses a plenty in the church graveyard.
I've had butterflies in my garden for the last three weeks but haven't been able to identify them as they flit too quickly, but can tell that they are not all the same.
This does not make my garden special, it is simply that I am less than five hundred yards from Rodborough Common which has one of the highest number of varieties of butterflies in the country I gather.
My consultant rang today to say my MRI scan on my eye was fine. It’s solely down to thyroid trouble. I’m to see someone at the thyroid eye clinic on 28th May but it’s not definite in these dreadful times.
ReplyDeleteI am on consultants list now for Botox injections to cure the double vision but Botox is not being done at the mo, quite understandably. So don’t know when that’ll happen. So all in all I call that good news.
Hence I’m sat here celebrating with a glass of prosecco. πΎ
Bloody thyroids! I always sat out of the medical conversations everyone has had down the years for whatever reason but I can empathise completely PbtY. It's a pain in the ass isn't it?
DeleteI think I will join you in a glass of something and then eat my cake....
I’m raising my glass to you now. π₯π°
DeleteSuch good news, even if treatments are now, obviously delayed. You are in the system, so it will happen, but it will be a much longer wait - though understandable, in these times.
DeleteMe, off to raise a glass to you, also. Any excuse π₯
Why am I busier now, that I am home alone in "Lockdown"?
ReplyDeleteI am finding that I am eating far more - so I am increasing excercise regime, as from tomorrow.
As to animals licking hands etc. A friend of mine, sadly had breast cancer and all went really well.
As she convalesced, she cuddled her dog on her lap, who licked her hand. She ended up with an infection with resulted in lymphodyma.
10 years on, she still has problems. This is a sad story, but it is also, a "beware" one.
I am off to visit a zoo again, tomorrow, but just in a virtual way.
ReplyDeleteThe Zoo is doing another day of live feeds with the keepers, but I don't know yet, what will be shown. I hope it will be as interesting, as the previous one.
Just catching up with today’s posts and see Gary takes 3 tablets a day for his thyroid condition.
ReplyDeleteSo do I Gary, - 3 x 50 microgram Thyroxine every morning (+ 5 other tabs of various shapes & colours) and have been doing so for the past 35 years.
I don’t seem to have any side effects or problems with them. Except from having a very slow heart rate (about 42 - 46 normally) which my GP told me was partially due to the thyroid medication.
I once forgot to take them with me on holiday and thought it would be OK for a few days. But by day 3, thyroxine-less, I was totally exhausted, couldn’t walk more than a few yards, wanted to curl up asleep all the time and had to get Mr A to get an emergency supply from a nearby pharmacy.
So ever since I have been jollly grateful for them !
PtbY, very glad you've got some reassurance about the eye problem - enough to celebrate with a glass or three of prosecco ! Still a huge drag to suffer an uncertain delay about the thyroid problem, & do sympathise. Current circumstances make lesser matters hang in abeyance & we just have to shut up & put up. Thinking there, also, about my projected audiology apt., to get the external hearing aid in May. It won't happen then, of course, given all that is going on, but can't help feeling a tad selfishly frustrated, as the groundwork has all been done !
ReplyDeleteWell, Mistral? Did you enjoy One Man, Two Guvnors? I did!
ReplyDeleteYes, you have to be really careful especially if you have any wounds or thin skin. Mrs P, don’t worry unduly about your creams. If it bothers you maybe wear thin gloves or put the cream on in the morning but the important thing is to make sure you have the right treatment. If a dog has a problem it usually shows up as in Buddy with unusual toilet problems, drinking too much or too little, weight loss, maybe vomiting and general low spirits., loss of appetite and so on. If Lady seems fine then she is!
ReplyDeleteI bet you are on your second or third cocktail by now P tb Y.
ReplyDeleteYou deserve it.
Pleased to hear the news.
I had been planning to watch it, but thought I might fall asleep! Maybe I'll watch in the next few days while it's still on YouTube.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter and granddaughter went to see One Man, Two Guvnors in the theatre a little while ago and really enjoyed it - very funny they said and recommended I watch tonight. Unfortunately had other things to do but hope to see it soon.
ReplyDeleteLJ 3:57.. ππ
ReplyDeleteStasia.. oui, Click & Collect equivalent, π€all goes well..
PtbY, GG, Merry hyper, me hypo, regular as clockwork, if not there's hell to pay..
Saturday evening apΓ©ros set up with our choristes, 19h pile ! Seems a little late to me..
ReplyDeleteI will happily admit to not being able to translate that fully parsley! Something to do with food & drink I think...
DeleteEnjoy! (I think...)
Virtual apΓ©ros at 7 on the dot.. π
Delete& we certainly will!
*** DESERT ISLAND DISCS ***
ReplyDeleteAnd the next person out of the hat is...........The Cushion! (as I had written on the slip of paper!!!)
We have a full shoe! Last shoe-dweller came home yesterday after his 6 months in Germany got unceremoniously truncated. Full credit to the insurance company who sorted out his return tickets within the hour.
ReplyDeleteSo now we shall all have to restrain from murder for the next few weeks/months. I have suggested the male shoe-dwellers make an assault on our trainer (aka garage) so at least we have an escape route from time to time.
My childless brother-in-law wondered what was not to like about having everyone home. After lockdown the younger shoedwellers are being sent on an extended holiday to their aunt and uncle ; )
Congratulations/Commiserations OWIAS! My neighbour made her family sort out the garage IMMEDIATELY the threat of lockdown was imminent so that it could be turned into a gym of sorts. (But mainly so that she could have somewhere to order them out of the house to when she wanted to strangle the children!!)
DeleteGary .... Parsley was talking about hyperthyroidism V hypothyroidism.
ReplyDeleteOne signifying too much - PtbY .... the other too little - Parsley and me and Archerphile I think.
I've now lived with this condition for sixty years.
I've survived.
I take one 100mc daily plus one 25mc three times a week.
Thyroxine is a very slow acting medication and I'm surprised that Archerphile finds she is slowing down after three days. I can manage at least a week before I start to notice any difference. On the other hand if I am over medicated as was the case when in hospital with my knee surgery, then I really do know something is wrong. But at least after sixty years of living with it I have a better understanding.
I'm hypo MrsP - I take 175mg a day & if I miss a couple of days I could sleep for Britain!
DeleteMy dose is currently much lower.
DeleteSadly, it has zero effect on my energy levels but it does at least mean I get free prescriptions.
(GG - you're going to have to miss more than a couple of doses if you want any chance of snatching my gold medal ...)
I do love sleeping though!
DeleteRe prescriptions. I always forget that in England most people have to pay for them. How much are they these days?
PtbY - so pleased that you've heard at last with a result.
ReplyDeleteAs said, waiting for the Botox indefinitely but you will get it eventually I imagine.
I sleep for Britain regardless Gary.
ReplyDeleteTwelve to fourteen hours regularly.
Don't know how much a prescription is these days, but think it might be £7-8 an item.
I do often feel guilty that I've never ever had to pay for any prescription because of having the condition.
Yes Mrs P. Mr A (diabetic) and me (hypothyroid) have both had free prescriptions for around 40 years and always thought the system was badly thought out. Why should we have had free antibiotics, steroid cream, antacids etc etc as well as the medications needed for our qualifying conditions? But I suppose the beaurocracy required to sort this out would have been enormous, just easier to give a patient a blanket free prescriptions certificate and leave it at that.
DeleteMy daughter just told me that the cost of a single item on prescription is now £9.15 !!
If you require two items, say some tablets and a cream, that comes to a staggering £18.30.
How can anyone afford to be ill these days?
Re thyroxine....my dose seems to be still being calculated to give correct results since having thyroid out last May. At the moment I’m on 75mg a day. I quite like having an overactive thyroid in one respect, I did lose weight. Now I can’t lose any and I only have to look at a slice of cake to put weight on. Very frustrating.
ReplyDeleteFitness wise, I guess I’m being impatient considering a year ago I couldn’t climb our stairs without having two stops for a rest and it’s hard when you’re lugging an extra stone and a half about.
Thyroid and menopause are 2 words that strike the fear of god into me now.
I’m actually enjoying lockdown being the anti-social person I am. Managed not to kill Mr PtbY yet, though it’s been close a couple of times.
Hope everyone is keeping safe. π€
Yesterday was my son's birthday (43). Usually we all go out to a restaurant to celebrate but, obviously, it was not possible so he set up a Google meet and included my daughter in London. We ate dinner together and then watched him blow out his candles. It was lovely. My 15year old grandson prepared the meal as he enjoys cooking and my 10 year old granddaughter made a cheesecake which is their dad's favourite.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely Gianna and hopefully the next birthday in the family will be for real.
DeleteLovely indeed - and a Happy Birthday from Glasgow!
DeleteGianna, I sang Happy Birthday to him - twice, of course - while washing my hands!
ReplyDeleteIn case you missed it late last night
ReplyDelete*** DESERT ISLAND DISCS ***
And the next person out of the hat is...........The Cushion! (as I had written on the slip of paper!!!)
Lanjan, please look back to yesterday, just after your pop song pastiche - only spotted the verses today !
ReplyDeleteThank you Carolyn.
DeleteIf I am knitting,crocheting or making cards I have been listening to the Desert Island Discs but I had none to listen to yesterday since it was my choice the previous day .
Thought of the idea in the morning and continued it in the afternoon.
My son sent me a compact disc of my choices. .
It arrived yesterday.
It takes just half an hour.toplay.
Good morning to all. I’m trying to muster up some energy to get the hoover, duster and electric mop out. I absolutely loathe domestic housework and will avoid doing it if possible. Unlike Gary, I never seem to have any physical inclination for indoor activity and there is nothing wrong with my thyroid. But I will dig, hoe, plant, seed, trim and cut the grass on the allotment, all day nearly every day.
ReplyDeleteWe are very privileged to have somewhere else to go during this lockdown. Our allotment site is hidden behind large hedgerows and has a locked entrance and car park. At the moment it is lovely to hear the birds and watch the bees and butterflies π¦ whilst drinkIng tea and indulging in a sandwich.
After years of working in the NHS I never thought my fingers would turn green.
I was out last night at 8.00pm making a racket banging on my Bodhran.
stasia, I have spent the ENTIRE morning so far sat in front of YouTube watching random nonsense.
DeletePosted this ages ago but obviously posted through Firefox instead of Chrome which is the only way now of posting!
ReplyDeleteAnyway here are my 10 'discs.' I hope you allow me the cricket commentary as I think I would need to hear someone else speak whilst in my isolation. It had to be Sir Geoffery as I have had a crush on him since my early twenties!
1. Calypso - John Denver. Celebrating the beautiful voice of John Denver and in memory of Jacques Cousteau, favourite of mine since 1950s, who was concerned about the sea and the planet long before David Attenborough and that dreadful Swedish child.
2. Miserere mei, Deus - Allegri – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmUw-zyklYQ The boy treble ( Aksel Rykkvin) must be the sound of the angels. It makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end!
3. Proud Mary - Credence Clearwater Revival. My ‘bopping’ song. Also to remind me of The Arrow radio station which I always had on when cooking my cricket teas during the past seventeen years!
4. In the Depths of the Temple - Jussi Bjoiling & Robert Merrill - From The Pearlfishers The first piece of opera I remember hearing. The harmonies are exquisite.
5. To Make You Feel My Love - Bob Dylan. Just because I love this man and every single piece of music of his, and because I am a sucker for slushy romantic poetry!
6. Your Tiny Hand is Frozen - Boheme - Pavorotti. Memories from ten years ago during my only Christmas visit to Vienna and being given, as a Christmas present from my son, a ticket to the Vienna State Opera on Boxing Day for a performance of this, my favourite opera. Sadly not Pavorotti but an excellent Chinese-American tenor.
7. Flower of Scotland - Murrayfield crowd! Amazing and unique.
8. Boycott’s wind up by Jonathan Agnew. TMS recording on You tube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPIjT-zdryY . To remind me of cricket and Sir Geoffery, a man I have had a crush on since my early twenties!
Pride and Prejudice- my book even though I have read it probably a hundred times. All the characters are old friends.
My luxury is, please, a limitless supply of Hemp body/hand lotion from Bodyshop!
The one save above all others I think would be "Miserere mei, Deus - Allegri " with Aksel Rykkvin. He is now quite a famous baritone!
DeleteThank you Cushion!
DeleteOoh, miserere Mei was on my shortlist as well, except I have the version by the Sixteen. Beautiful, especially in a cathedral on Ash Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteArcherphile, belated thanks for your help with Zoom, which am still getting around to sorting out but your clear instructions are great.
Gary do we need to be on Zoom to hear your broadcast tomorrow?
LanJan, loved your poem/song yesterday and I have your DID list still to go through - I managed to listen to You’ll Never Walk Alone which is always emotional.
Gosh, several people, not just on here, are saying how little time there is to do stuff despite...
Re butterflies we had a peacock butterfly sunning itself on the garden fence last week.
DeleteYou DO need to be on Zoom to join in Seasider.
DeleteI have just had a brilliant idea!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhy don't we all have a zoom meet up.
I've just joined zoom, but couldn't hear anyone in the group... will have to try again. Does anyone know if it is differed used on a phone or tablet (android)?
ReplyDeleteNot used it yet Zoetrope - tomorrow will be my first go. I do know that there are mute buttons somewhere on it, so it may well be that your problem is as simple as checking those!
DeleteAh, Spicy, can hear why you'd retain miserere Mei above all the others. Thanks, Gary, for choosing that one as the header for the blog.
ReplyDeleteJust been bopping to the Creedence Clearwater - you're right, one just has to !
A very tech friend suggested I sign up to Zoom.
ReplyDeleteI am very frightened of technology, but if Autumnleaves suggestion takes off I will be left behind unless I do something about it.
I have an Apple IPad.
Spicy....only know the Proud Mary one, it's a good one though. Mr PtbY was capped with your choice of the cricket wind up. Haven't time to listen to them today, my job tomorrow afternoon I think whilst gardening. Talking of which.....Gardeners World tonight.
ReplyDeleteWith regards to Zoom....hadn't heard of it until this week when it was in the paper that it is easily hacked and people keep getting porn springing up on it. Therefore I will be giving it a miss.
Merci Spicy, like AP we've also got The Sixteen version of the Allegri.
ReplyDeleteBut merci most of all for the TMS wind-up!! Sorry, not for Boycott, love Aggers..!
We did Google meet for our family meeting. I don't know if it has the same problems as Zoom.
ReplyDeleteWell, there & back again to Leclerc Drive (1st time, relatively painless) via the vet's. Merry has been stockpiling again...
ReplyDeleteI second MrsP and PtbY, I too am very frightened of technology and Zoom has a bad name.
ReplyDeleteWe all have Google accounts, some from the BBC blog voiced objections, I have no idea if they overcame them.
Mr P says Zoom is not secure and I believe him.
ReplyDeleteI and my family are wary of it.
DeleteThanks for your confirmation, as to our thoughts.
Spicycushion. Have just finished your choices, apologies left out the cricket π.
ReplyDeleteThe only song of John Denver I know is Annie, I did recognise his voice and style immediately. His singing brings back the most profoundly saddest day of my life.
The Allegri is beautiful. Do you know how it left the Vatican?
I am not a rugby fan but Flower of Scotland is stirring and one day it will be the National Anthem. God save the Queen is a dirge, although Haydn did use the tune in a piece of music.
Thank you for a pleasant afternoon.
I have spent a most pleasant afternoon making cards and listening to your Desert Island Discs.,
ReplyDeleteSpicycushion.
A good ,mixed selection I thought
My favourite was the duet from ” The Pearl Fishers” and I really liked “Proud Mary”
Recognised it but couldn’t give it a name.
Loved the Geoffrey Boycott wind up .
"The Cushion"...aka our own "Spice" Gal.
ReplyDeleteYour DID choices, are so very similar to my taste, and you have chosen some wonderful music - Allegri Misere, "Calypso", La Boheme, Pearl Fishers.
As for "Flowers of Scotland" - I heard this performed live, by The Corries, in Her Majesty's Theatre in Aberdeen, in the '70's, when it was a "new" song.
I had an autographed LP (by The Corries), with this new track on, before it became popular. How I wish I had kept it, but it went to a jumble sale.
As they say, hindsight is a wonderful thing.
Spicycushion.
DeleteThank you so much, for bringing a wonderful memory back..π
PS
DeleteI was lucky to see a concert of the Allegri, sung by The Sixteen, with Emma Kirby as the soloist.
It was performed in a church, which doubled up as a concert venue.
The "hell-hole" of my study is even more of a mess!!
ReplyDeleteAt least, it is now a much more, organised area of chaos.
How I need some charity bags, to donate books + jigsaws to.
I can now reach the window, so I can now attempt, to clean the UPVC frames + the window glass, so some progress.
It is suddenly getter warmer, so it will be gardening for the next few days.
I did increase my exercise regime today - it went from 5 mins to 10 mins. I doubled it..ππ
The Pearl Fishers ..just so beautiful
ReplyDeleteHilary 2/4 9.43p.m.
ReplyDeleteNT Live
I liked it in parts, but that type of stylised performance is not really my cup of tea.
James Cordon was good though, I thought his self-fight scene was brilliant.
There is a Shakespeare play on soon with Tamsin Grieg.
I think this is a great initiative from the NT.
Can I make two points about my choices please.
ReplyDeleteFirstly I have just listened to The Sixteen's version which I do not rate at all I'm afraid. This piece was not meant to be sung by a female! There is no comparison to any treble's rendition imho!
I also get very annoyed when our best known cathedral choirs are forced to admit girls which changes the sound of the choir and not for the better.
The second point is that Flower of Scotland MUST be recorded at a Murrayfield match. It doesn't matter what the words of the song are.It is the crowd who 'make' this wonderful recording. I believe it is the only national song partly sung unaccompanied.
I rarely listen to recordings, my passion is for live music.
ReplyDeleteI have attended many different concerts which have included the Allegri Miserere.
All are different because the musical director of that particular choir or group has interpreted the piece from his or her own angle and taste.
A piece of music is written to be interpreted by the musicians.
Purists may believe that a piece can only be interpreted in one way, the correct way according to that persons belief, but music is of its nature an interpretation of what has been written.
If Allegri was with us today, he would be entitled to tell us what he wanted.
He is not, therefore we are fortunate that we have many examples of his work to enjoy.
However Mrs P, Allegri would not have dreamt of his piece being sung by a woman round about 1630. Therefore the music in his head whilst composing would not have been of soprano but a boy treble. That is who it was written for.
DeleteAny music director, the same as a film director or theatre director can interpret music, play or story in their own way. It doesn't mean that the original author would like it to be so. In fact many authors get very cross when 'liberties' are taken with their works by new directors, producers etc.
The quality of a top class soprano comes third to tenor, treble then soprano for the purity of the voice for me.
How sad you rarely listen to recordings. It is a blessing to be able to sit down and find a recording that suits my mood at that particular time be it sad, reflective, calming or joyous. I can listen via computer, CD disk or vinyl (I have the complete 'Boheme' and Rodriges on LPs.)
There are so many wonderful recordings. I too love live music but cannot afford many visits to concerts so I listen to recordings, as I cannot imagine life without music.
Just to add
Delete"A piece of music is written to be interpreted by the musicians."
If that is the case then why do composers/conductors tell the orchestra how he wants the piece played? It is because he wants it played in that particular way. Not 'interpreted' by the first violin or oboe.
Scrolling down now I have only just seen your comment, OWIAS. It is very good advice! Every so often I delete the spider solitaire app from my iPad!
ReplyDelete( I googled Shelob! How stimulating this blog is, leading us to learn new things all the time! Love it!)
Like you, Mistral, I found the exaggerated, Commedia dell’Arte style a little off putting at the beginning but then I got used to it and laughed a lot. It was very skillfully done, especially Corden getting the audience involved. I am looking forward to the other National Theatre productions.. I am so glad we have internet!
ReplyDeleteRe the debate about the Allegri, many individuals have tried to reconstruct the original which the Vatican considered to be so sacred that no one was allowed to see the music. Mozart, being the genius he was, was taken to hear it and consigned it to memory and this is the version most will hear. It is The Allegri as he heard it.
ReplyDeleteDid Mozart take some poetic license and provide us with his interpretation. If so, then is it okay for others to do their take on it.
I love the sixteen and Emma Kirkby’s voice, however if we stick to tradition then it should be a boy treble.
I know next to nothing about classical music but I'd agree with Spicycushion about liberal interpretation. I recently read a TV script for a book I've read in which two very dramatic scenes were omitted. Pride & Prejudice - I reread it this year with much interest, human nature doesn't change.
ReplyDeleteGoing off at a slightly different angle from musical interpretation -
ReplyDeleteAs Basia says, I hate it when classical books are altered before being produced as television plays.
I am thinking, particularly, of the last two or three adaptations of Agatha Christie stories, all by the same ‘adaptor’, or perhaps that should be ‘adaptress’, Sarah Phelps
One famous story had the ending totally altered and a completely different character found guilty of the crime!
Another had really nasty scenes of violence and sexually motivated torture which certainly didn’t feature in the book.
A third included a back history of Hercule Poirot that was never mentioned in the original books, seemed highly unlikely and only inserted to mine the mournful acting of John Malkovich.
These upset me greatly and much as I would love to see more Christie I certainly shan’t be watching any that have been mangled by Ms Phelps!
I too rate John Denver highly Spicycushion. He figures as one of my choices but fortunately a different song. Also very much liked the Creedence Clearwater. I had never cone across them before.
ReplyDeleteCome!
DeleteI am way behind listening to everyone's different choices, and am very gradually working my way through. What has surprised me is the wonderful lyrics to music that I would never normally have listened to.
DeleteI have been writing down people’s lists to go back through as I am also way behind.
ReplyDeleteSpicy, when I mentioned the Sixteen version of the Allegri, I was commenting that I had put it on my own list before I saw yours, and I was not suggesting it was better (or worse)than the version you have chosen. As I said it is beautiful to hear choristers singing in a cathedral and no doubt they were trebles as I have rarely had the opportunity to hear a girls cathedral choir, as there are so few.
I do love the Sixteen as a group and I also love Hildegard of Bingen sung by Emma Kirkby and Gothic Voices, as chosen by Stasia and another piece from my list.
Gary, how did your session go this morning?
DeleteSeasider. I am sorry I didn't mean to indicate that either version was better or worse either.
DeleteI chose my music which sounded beautiful and perfect to my ears. I have had an objection for several years about girls in boys' choirs! I like soprano arias in opera but not so much as tenors. though.
I certainly agree that a cathedral's acoustics are lovely with whatever music is played.
I will listen to more of The Sixteen's music and see if I get on with them! π
...and if you don’t get on with them, that’s just fine π€
DeleteI am one of those people who cannot understand what is wrong with the expression
ReplyDelete“I don’t know anything about art but I know what I like”
Well I feel the same about music.
There are some Pieces of Music which can bring me to tears and I think that a lot of them are possibly ones with minor keys .
I may be talking out of the back of my head here.
I think ,but may be wrong ,that a minor key is when whatever you expected to hear doesn’t happen and so you hear something else.
Perhaps it goes down half an octave or something .I don’t know.
What I do know is that I am perfectly happy to listen to Classical Music whilst seated in my chair at home.
I haven’t a clue whether one Artist is better than another one but I would know which I prefer.
I will now listen to the other version of the Allegri to see which I prefer.
Decided to wait to see whether Seasider chooses the sixteen version and if she does I will listen to that version ,then.
ReplyDeleteWe have just had a delivery from Tesco.
ReplyDeleteGoodness only knows when I made the order but it must have been about a month ago and I had completely forgotten about it.
Everything that I ordered was there .
At first I told the van driver that he had it wrong and that I hadn’t ordered anything but then I checked and it was what we use all the time including the cats’
favourite food.
Unlike Sainsbury’s or Iceland ,Tesco do not email on the day that they have a delivery for you at a particular time or whether there has been a substitution made.
I am dreading the fact that I might have done an order way back at the beginning of March for Sainsbury’s as well.
Must check my Bank Statements.
Anyone fancy a cuppa?
I certainly can make a cup of tea or coffee for anyone on the blog who would like one !
How very kind Lanjan, can my coffee have a drop of whiskey, please. I need a pick me up after a day on the allotment. ππ
ReplyDeleteNo Irish whiskey I am afraid ,Stasia but you would be very welcome to have some Bell’s ( Mr LJ’s favourite)
ReplyDeleteI am afraid I would not dream of putting even a drop of my Islay,Jura or Arran malt whiskies into a mug or cup of coffee though.
What a terrible waste.
What a brilliant idea, by GG to do Desert Island Discs.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly has us all discussing music, in differeing ways, as to likes + dislikes.
It is so much fun...π
I am sorting my study out, as I have previously posted - but this does include, dusting my 100 or so, CD's of classical music.π€£
Where is the Sun, as promised?
ReplyDeleteIt is still cloudy + cool here, and my new lawnmower needs its "maiden mow", now that I have finally put it together (not easy).
Tomorrow, is another day..
PS I am enjoying my "Scruff + T"...my tipple, though I need to restock, Hic..
DeleteTo add... I have a wonderful bottle of a..
DeleteChocolate, Orange, Gin, liqueur still to be opened.
I have tasted this before, and it is delicious (only 10% alcohol).
Miriam the sun has been here all day in Hampshire, really gorgeous day sorry you missed out, better luck tomorrowπ€πΌ
ReplyDeleteCBBC starting Monday @ 5.30pm “Mallory Towers” begins (memories memories- will give it a go probably on catch up) Second childhood and all that π€£π€£
Good Enid Blyton. π
Delete