As a youngster in London, I didn’t have a rocking chair. But when I heard this song on my dad’s record player, I imagined myself sitting in one. Written in 1929 by Hoagy Carmichael, it has famously been covered by many other singers. But when I was in my teens, I was able to find … | Continue reading
Yesterday we carried on the Christmas festivities with a breakfast of scrambled eggs and smoked salmon. Julie decided to cook a home-made Indian curry for dinner last night, as a change from roast meat and vegetables. Her son has decided to stay on for a few more days, no doubt a … | Continue reading
I woke up to bright December sunshine today, so I decided this 1977 song from the wonderful British band ELO was appropriate. Sun is shinin’ in the sky There ain’t a cloud in sight It’s stopped rainin’, everybody’s in the play And don’t you know It’s a beautiful new day? Hey Runn … | Continue reading
Here is something political for the 26th, known here as ‘Boxing Day’. It is called Boxing Day because that was the one time of year when domestic servants in the Victorian era were given ‘boxes’ containing pgifts from their rich employers, and allowed one day off to visit their o … | Continue reading
It is not yet 3pm in Beetley, and we have been on the go for over 8 hours. Ollie had a disturbed night with his throat problems. I heard him at 02:30 and got up to sit with him on his bed for a while until he setlled down and went back to sleep. Then … Continue reading Christmas … | Continue reading
After deciding against last minute shopping on Saturday, Julie hit the supermarkets at 1pm today, just three hours before they close on Sundays. She had no hassles, easy parking, no checkout queues, and got all the ‘extras’ on her list. I took Ollie for his walk in strong, gusty … | Continue reading
I might be busy tomorrow, so here is a seasonal wish to everyone on WordPress. (If you have seen the film, you will get it) “HEY, YOU BOY! WHAT’S ALL THE FUSS ABOUT?” | Continue reading
Well the big day is almost upon us. Tomorrow we will be visiting the grandchildren at breakfast-time to hand over presents and watch them opening them. Collecting my oldest stepson who will be staying until the 27th, and then back to dive into the cooking ready to eat in the even … | Continue reading
My thanks to Antony for sending me this link to Loren Berg’s blog. Worth a look to raise a chuckle. Day Brightener – Laughter Is The Best Medicine | Continue reading
My thanks to my friend Antony for sending me this short video. It is only 3.5 minutes long, and contains a great deal of truth about Britain. **Advance warning! Contains very bad language. If you are offended by swearing, do not watch it!** | Continue reading
Here is Ruby Keeler singing and tap-dancing her way through the song ’42nd Street’ from the musical film of the same name. Later joined by the rest of the cast for a grand finale. This film was released in 1933, and was a huge hit. I probably saw it 30 years after that, and loved … | Continue reading
I am not sure if they are seen in any other countries, but model villages are a common feature in some small towns and seaside resorts in the UK. Usually a tourist attraction with an entrance fee, they have existed here since the late Victorian era, and new ones continue to open … | Continue reading
When I first ventured out with Ollie when he was 3 months old, dog-walking was a joy. I met many other people with their dogs, made friends, and Ollie made lifelong canine friends too. Every day we would congregate on Beetley Meadows or Hoe Rough, and walk in a large group of up … | Continue reading
Not long ago, I posted about how the local Deer had ‘gone missing’, and I wondered what had happened to make them leave Beetley. So I was pleased to see a small Muntjac recently, walking around in the open on Beetley Meadows. Then entering the woodland area, I disturbed two more, … | Continue reading
The 21st of December is usually a dull and uninspiring day. It was still dark before 8:10am this morning, and will be dark again by 3:30pm. Today is also extremely windy, which is driving the occasional heavy showers. I had an early start to get into the nearby town of Dereham to … | Continue reading
I read something this week that made me think it was a spoof. So I read it again, and then Googled it to find other sources. Amazingly, it is true. The UK has a massive network of offshore and onshore wind farms, most of which are in the east of the country, in the North … Contin … | Continue reading
As many of you care about my dog, Ollie, I thought I would update you on his condition. He is currently acting like two different dogs. During the day he goes about his normal routine. Out on his walks, eating voraciously, and happy to see familiar people and his canine friends. … | Continue reading
I was going to post this on my other blog, but decided it should be seen here. The Conservative Party politician, Liz Truss, held the job of Prime Minister in the United Kingdom for just 45 days. During that time her policies caused financial catastrophe for this country, resulti … | Continue reading
I have recently had a lot of uncredited comments appearing as Anonymous. I know many of these are from regular followers, as I either recognise their ‘style’, or in some cases they have added their name. Yesterday alone, I received 11 such comments. The problem with this is that … | Continue reading
Ollie had his groomer appointment this week, which I have already posted photos of. To see him looking so old realy choked me up. Ollie At The Groomer We have had a couple of incidents where he has been unable to swallow things, so have to keep a very close eye on him when he … C … | Continue reading
Sea Of Love. Following my review of the film of the same name, here is the record that inspired part of the story. I remember it well from my childhood, and have always liked it. It was a one-hit wonder for singer Phil Phillips, who also co-wrote it. Released in 1959, it was numb … | Continue reading
**No Spoilers** I have had a mixed relationship with the acting of Al Pacino. Flawless in Serpico, the Godfather Trilogy, Dog Day Afternoon, and Carlito’s Way. Then a descent into shouting and hysteria with Scarface and Scent Of A Woman, before the superb performance in Donnie Br … | Continue reading
Kelly the dog groomer took some photos of Ollie last week, and kindly sent them to us. Knowing what is wrong with him, she wanted some memories in case it was the last time she saw him. She is the only groomer Ollie has ever known, and he has a special place in her heart. … Conti … | Continue reading
Thanks to my good friend Antony for sending me this lovely colourful documentary film from 1968. It is about ‘The English Riviera’ in the summer and is less than 8 minutes long. | Continue reading
An unusually early start this morning, as we had to get to Cambridge by 10am for Julie’s hospital appointment. After an initial chat, followed by X-Rays, the surgeon decided she needs a full knee replacement surgery on one knee. (The right one) It was easy to see the problem on t … | Continue reading
Some more found online that interested me. The first trials of a video-phone. America, early 1960s. A beauty contest for eyes only. France, 1930s. Child-friendly gas mask during WW2. America, 1940s. The props and models from the first Star Wars film. America, 1977. Mr Harley and … | Continue reading
The tree is up and decorated by the side window of our living room. That means it is officially Christmas in our house. | Continue reading
The first post in an occasional series. This is designed to be cooked in a slow-cooker, but can alternatively be cooked at a low heat in a conventional large casserole dish with a secure lid. Ingredients. 1 Red Cabbage, shredded. 2 Cooking Apples, peeled, cored, and loosely chopp … | Continue reading
**No Spoliers** There was a lot of ‘buzz’ around this film on release, and I avoided reading any reviews as it seemed like something I would like to watch. The only name I recognised from the cast was Florence Pugh, an English actress who has received much praise. Last month, I s … | Continue reading
Up early chopping red cabbage for Julie to make red cabbage and spiced apple in the slow cooker. (Still cooking) Early snack, bath, then out with Ollie in the rain. Drive into Dereham with Julie and Ollie, drop him off at the groomer. On to the town’s main car park. Park the car … | Continue reading
**No spoilers** Of all the films made by Quentin Tarantino, this is by far my favourite. It is neo-noir, and as good as it gets in that genre. Adapted from the book ‘Rum Punch’, by Elmore Leonard, Tarantino assembled a mouth-watering cast for this tale of a street-wise air hostes … | Continue reading
I saw a post on Beth’s blog this morning, and it jogged my memory of this funky song from 47 years ago. https://ididnthavemyglasseson.com/2023/12/12/car-wash/ It seems incredible that I heard this almost 50 years ago, (and saw the film at the cinema) it sounds as fresh as anythin … | Continue reading
Continuing the theme of ‘Rain’ from the previous post, this is a song that I did like, and I bought it too. Carole King wrote the song for the pop singer, Bobby Vee. He had a decent hit with it, but the record company liked Carole’s version too, so released that the following yea … | Continue reading
When I was 10 years old, this song was a minor hit in the UK. I didn’t particularly like it, and never bought a copy, but somehow it got into my head, and stayed there. I was out walking Ollie on Sunday, and it was pouring with rain. As I trudged through the mud, I … Continue rea … | Continue reading
Some years ago, I used to write articles about films for another website, Curnblog. It was run by James Curnow, an Australian who is very knowledgeable about film and cinema. I am not sure if James keeps the site active these days, but I checked, and my articles are still there. … | Continue reading
When I woke up this morning, I was in the middle of a very vivid dream. I was happy to discover that I was safe and sound in my bed in Beetley, and not actually in the place I had been dreaming about. The dream was long, and in strict chronological order. I had received … Continu … | Continue reading
This week has been dominated by the bad news about Ollie we received on a trip to the Vet. I think all of you know about this by now, so I won’t repeat it. On the plus side, he is currently very happy, eating well, and enjoying his walks. I ask for no more than … Continue reading … | Continue reading
Google Underwater. (Click on ‘I’m Feeling Lucky’ to sink your search bar) https://elgoog.im/underwater/ Google tilt. (Thanks to Darlene for the link) https://elgoog.im/tilt/ These will probably only work with the main Google Browser, and will (apparently) not work with Firefox or … | Continue reading
Most of these photos were later colourised after being taken of course. Freed slaves in America, 1865. Native Americans in Montana, 1908. (Partially colourised) Children sheltering from air combat over Kent during WW2, 1940. Emaciated Allied POWs freed from a Japanese camp, 1945. … | Continue reading
Here’s a fun fact about the word, ‘Askew’. Just type the word into a Google Search, and the page will slant with the result to literally show you the meaning. Try it. Silly, but fun. | Continue reading
When I was young, I saw a film called ‘Gold Diggers of 1933’. It was a classic Hollywood musical, with amazing dance numbers and a great cast. Many years later, it was featured in the film ‘Bonnie and Clyde’, when the gang members are in a cinema after a robbery. I have loved the … | Continue reading
**No Spoilers** Twenty-six years ago, I saw this film at a cinema in London, and earlier this week I watched it again on TV. One of those films that raises a familiar argument, “Sci-Fi, or Horror?” As with the legendary ‘Alien’, this film is a bit of both. Something horrible happ … | Continue reading
Something of a variety today. An elegant lady with her two Chow-Chow dogs. The dog is just marking his territory. From the novelty photo booth. This old lady looks really fed up. I think she forgot her wrinkle cream. Big is beautiful. So the saying goes… Remember what your tattoo … | Continue reading
Apologies to my non-British readers, but unless you are considering visiting this area as a tourist, you are unlikely to ever eat here. Something I rarely do, but I have to recommend the restaurant where we went to celebrate my stepson’s birthday last night. On a foggy and cold n … | Continue reading
I was going to start a new fiction serial today, but decided against it. Too many gaps in the days ahead when we are busy doing something. I will wait until the New Year to start it. Thinking a lot about Ollie, and his more or less terminal medical condition. Watching him trot ar … | Continue reading
I took Ollie to the Vet today because we were concerned about what seemed to be a persistent cough. The Vet gave him a good examination, and I was totally unprepared for the diagnosis he gave me. Ollie has a tumour, a Melanoma in his mouth close to the base of his tongue. It is … … | Continue reading
I found these old photos of London during a harsh winter. Loaded up with snowballs ready for a snowball fight. The skiers have flagged down a passing taxi. Household Cavalry on morning exercise. Being towed by a car. Clearing a footbal pitch for the big game on Saturday. Trafalga … | Continue reading
Here are three great audiobooks just in time for Christmas. Narrated by the talented actress and writer, the lovely Pippa Rathborne. You can listen to samples from the links in the main post. | Continue reading