In 1966, I was 14 years old. I had already heard of James Brown, but that year he released a song that sounded amazing to me. He co-wrote and produced the song, and I soon had a copy on a vinyl single. Fifty-six years later, I still think it is an amazing song. This is … Continue … | Continue reading
Photographers of the time were keen to record the various characters on the streets of London and other towns and cities. They also took a lot of interest in the Police Force, which had only come into being in 1829, and hade been modernised in the Victorian era. A Young girl livi … | Continue reading
Long before the term ‘Teenagers’ was coined in the 1940s, Victorian teenagers were beginning to get noticed for their adoption of fashion, or their working lives. Various photographers of the era set out to capture the youth of the time. Two teenage girls in a countryside setting … | Continue reading
In 1973, I heard a song called ‘She’s Gone’, by an American duo, Hall and Oates. I liked it enough to buy the album it featured on, and became an instant fan of the vocal talents of Daryl Hall. (Though to be honest, I never saw the point of John Oates.) I bought any album … Conti … | Continue reading
In 1972, I heard a record on the radio by a singer I didn’t know. I liked it enough to go out the next day and buy the single, which I played over and over. Fifty years later, I still enjoy listening to it just as much as I did then. It was late last … Continue reading Retro Musi … | Continue reading
This is the final part of a fiction serial, in 843 words. There were times when I started to question my own sanity. After all, Keith had solid alibis for both of the incidents that I had attributed to him, and would he really have the clout to get some kind of black-ops organisa … | Continue reading
I am now starting to think I may have seen the last of the bad bout of Covid-19 I endured recently. There are quite a few positives to report. *I am able to sleep all night, as long as I make sure to stay propped up on extra pillows. *The sore throat has gone, and … Continue read … | Continue reading
I have long been a fan of Van Morrison. I even went to see him live once, at the Albert Hall. He didn’t seem to be a very nice person, to be honest. He rushed his set, cut short the gig, and hardly looked at the audience. But you don’t have to like a person … Continue reading Ret … | Continue reading
In 1969, I bought an album by The Band. They had been known for backing Bob Dylan on his various tours, but I had heard a song from this album, ‘Up On Cripple Creek’, that made me want to hear more. On the same album was the wonderful song ‘The Night They Drove Old Dixie … Contin … | Continue reading
The career of the Beach Boys speaks for itself. And the genius of Brian Wilson shines through that time too. I don’t believe any other vocal group has ever achieved such excellence in harmonies, and the legacy of their numerous hits will outlive them all. I am choosing one of the … | Continue reading
This is the twenty-fifth part of a fiction serial, in 778 words. Susan and Stephen were very shaken up, but the car had saved them from any injury. A nice piece of solid engineering. It had been taken away for examination by the police, and Susan had been cautioned that she might … | Continue reading
Gary Moore was from Northern Ireland, and is probably best known now for being the guitarist in Thin Lizzy. But he was a Blues man of long-standing, and also had a solo career. In 1990 he released the wonderful album, ‘Still Got The Blues’; his biggest personal hit, and a career- … | Continue reading
When The Zombies released their first single in 1964, I was only 12 years old. But I bought it immediately. This was something really different, with the song and music by Rod Argent, and the great vocals of Colin Blunstone, it was destined to remain one of my favourites for life … | Continue reading
This is the twenty-fifth part of a fiction serial, in 843 words. As soon as I saw the news report, I immediately knew that Keith had been involved somehow. I said as much to Susan, but she didn’t agree. “Danny, he is not the nicest person, but I don’t think he would ever do anyth … | Continue reading
This is a cover version of a Bob Dylan song, released by the British band Julie Driscoll with Brian Auger and the Trinity in 1968. The amazing voice of Julie, her distinctive look, and the musicianship of Brian Auger made me prefer this version to the Dylan original. Even now, I … | Continue reading
This is the twenty-third part of a fiction serial, in 840 words. After the conversation with Keith at his new house, I was getting very worried about Terry. There were so many ways that Keith could affect his life, I started to imagine what he might do. Perhaps invent some corrup … | Continue reading
Before the evolution into The Faces, the band fronted by Rod Stewart, we had The Small Faces, with the lead singer Steve Marriott. In the pop music scene of 1968, it was refreshing to hear a song sung in a completely English accent, and a London accent into the bargain. This was … | Continue reading
Using some rare moving film images from as long ago as 1890, this 11-minute film contrasts the history of the city with images filmed in 2016 at the same spots. | Continue reading
I should have known better than to suggest I might stay up until 00:01 to see in the New Year. After a long day punctuated by coughing fits, the best I could do last night was to reluctantly munch a pizza at 18:30, then sit coughing until I just had to go to bed and … Continue re … | Continue reading
We have no plans to celebrate tonight. Both still feeling flat after Covid, and not in the mood to venture out or invite anyone into the house, it will be all I can do to try to stay awake until one second past midnight. ————————————————————————————— Tomorrow, we are having our C … | Continue reading
Steely Dan has been one of my lifelong favourite bands since I first heard their music in 1972. Fifty years later, I still listen to their back catalogue as much as I ever did. Last night, I was watching a new documentary film on the BBC. This film. (It is very good.) https://www … | Continue reading
I confess I am not feeling very festive or excited about New Year’s Eve. But I would still like to wish eveyone a very happy and peaceful 2023. | Continue reading
As you can tell from my past few posts, I have been listening to some music recently. Whilst not completely recovered from Covid, I have been getting some sleep at night, and that has made me feel so much better. Where blogging is concerned, I have decided to wait until the new y … | Continue reading
When most people hear the name Fleetwood Mac, they tend to think of the vocals of Stevie Nicks, and the guitar of Lindsay Buckingham. And the songs from the album ‘Rumours’, one of the best-selling records of all-time. But I think of Peter Green, and Fleetwood Mac as primarily a … | Continue reading
It is not often that a flute features heavily on a hit record. In 1969, the British ‘Progressive Rock’ band, Jethro Tull, combined folk and modern styles with a very unusual song that captured the imagination of record buyers, and got to number two in the charts here. I was 17, a … | Continue reading
Many years ago, I heard this song from Tim Hardin. Like most of his songs, it is very short. But no less powerful for that. If you have ever experienced an emotional break up, this simple song will resonate with you. It might even make you cry. James Timothy Hardin was an America … | Continue reading
I decided to watch a film on Netflix to take my mind off of feeling ill. It is a new version of ‘All Quiet On The Western Front’. I have read that book, watched the 1930 film adaptation, and the later 1979 remake. This new version is a German language film, starrring mainly Germa … | Continue reading
On the 21st of December, I tested positive for Covid-19 and wrote off Christmas 2022 as a non-event. The next few days became a blur of constant coughing, hardly getting any sleep, and not being able to lie down and rest. ————————————————————————————— Between us, we tried our bes … | Continue reading
I am still not feeling well enough to comment on posts and reply to comments on mine. I will have to start from scratch once I feel able to sit at the PC and write something coherent. Meanwhile, I would like to thank everyone who commented on my recent posts, and apologise for no … | Continue reading
Whether or not you celebrate Christmas, I would like to wish every one of my blogging friends a Happy Christmas anyway. I hope that all of you can be around friends or family, or someone or something important to you at this time of year. I am not including a ‘Happy New Year’, as … | Continue reading
Today marks the fifth day of feeling very unwell, and the second day since I tested positive for Covid. It feels like much longer than that of course, as I can no longer remember how I felt when I was still ‘okay’. From the skewed perspective of illness and lack of sleep, it seem … | Continue reading
I know many of you like to be informed about what is happening with Ollie. Well, something new has happened. As if our poor dog hasn’t suffered enough in his almost 11 years. With us both living with full-blown Covid, Julie elected to take Ollie for his walk today. That saved me … | Continue reading
Our plans for Christmas 2022 were very simple. Nothing remotely grand, just a Christmas Morning visit to Julie’s children to see everyone open their presents, then back to Beetley to get ready for the traditional meal in a restaurant at 3:30pm. Just the two of us, booked well in … | Continue reading
I have done my best to reply to comments and comment on other blogs today, but now I am overwhelmed by coughing and other symptoms. I have tested neagtive for Covid once again this morning, so feel it must be Flu or Bronchitis. Whatever it is, I don’t feel up to writing anything … | Continue reading
This is the twenty-second part of a fiction serial, in 796 words. When I finally got a phone number for Graham that he actually answered, he told me he knew that his mum was on a downward spiral. He had travelled up from Brighton to see her in her small flat, and she had been … C … | Continue reading
**UPDATE. I tested negative, Julie is still positive.** I developed an annoying tickly cough on Saturday evening. I still had it yesterday when I got up. After messing around trying to get some warmth into the house, I took Ollie out for his walk. It was bitterly cold, mainly bec … | Continue reading
This is the twenty-first part of a fiction serial, in 825 words. The next years pased peacefully. Little Stephen coped well at school, and Susan was happy to go back to work part time, working in the office of the same primary school. It was her ideal job, and during the times sh … | Continue reading
As anyone who has read my blog this week will know, my musings are not going to be very cheerful this week. Julie tested positive for Covid-19, and has been very unwell. So far, I have avoided catching it from her, but I do sense it is inevitable that it will happen. ———————————— … | Continue reading
This is the twentieth part of a fiction serial, in 755 words. It dawned on me that Terry didn’t seem surprised to see us when we turned up at his end-of-terrace in West Ealing. He answered the door, didn’t invite us in, and said he would come out with us but we had to wait … Cont … | Continue reading
1930 was one of the hottest summers on record, and 1932 was almost as hot. Londoners enjoyed the warm weather in a variety of ways. These girls are at a main line station, going off on holiday. Old Caledonian Market, King’s Cross. Some of the shoppers are still wearing far too mu … | Continue reading
This is the nineteenth part of a fiction serial, in 786 words. We sold our house to the third person who looked at it. No haggling, no hassle, full asking price. We had only viewed one house, and Susan had fallen in love with it. A nineteen- thirties semi on the good side of Hono … | Continue reading
After escaping more than two years of the pandemic, Covid has finally arrived Chez Beetleypete. Following a bad headache yesterday, and a persistent cough last night, Julie did a home test this morning, and tested positive for C-19. Because she works for our local doctor, that me … | Continue reading
I post a lot of historical photos of London. The places, the people, the unusual jobs. But what of London today? I discovered a 2016 exhibition staged by Historic England in 2016. They invited Londoners to submit photos and personal details to document the diverse population and … | Continue reading
This is the eighteenth part of a fiction serial, in 783 words. So now there were three musketeers. Only two really, as Terry was a loose cannon. He didn’t even come to the funeral, though Keith did, and brought Maddy too. He hinted at a possible engagement later that year, and I … | Continue reading
Originally posted on I didn't have my glasses on....: A girl named Madeline, with a vivid imagination and remarkable awareness of how bureaucracy can dash dreams, got her wish when she asked Los Angeles animal control authorities for a license to own a unicorn — if she’s abl … | Continue reading
This is the seventeenth part of a fiction serial, in 742 words. A patrol car finally showed up after two hours. There was the classic cop combination, a weary old-timer who had seen it all, and an excited female copper who was probably brand new. The old-timer handed it over to h … | Continue reading
Five minutes after leaving the house on Ollie’s dog walk, we were surprised by a sudden, and unexpected, fall of snow. Regular readers will know that I detest snow. While it may be lovely to look at when it blankets the scenery, in such a rural location it can just serve to trap … | Continue reading
In the age of the driver-only bus, younger people might have never travelled on a bus that had a conductor. When they were taken away in London, I missed them a lot. They could direct you to the right stop for your needs, manage unruly passengers, and took great pride in running … | Continue reading