I reached this landmark birthday today. Soixante-neuf sounds better than sixty-nine. One short of the 'three-score-and-ten'... Hmmm.
Anyway, I had my usual jaunt around Sainsbury's this morning. The 'Big Issue' seller, Stan, wished me a happy birthday then asked what I was doing shopping on my birthday. I always do the weekly shop on a Friday (well, mostly). Nothing changes there.
I will be enjoying a steak dinner with my wife Rosalind, a bottle of Carta Roja Gran Reserva 2007 (a rich, intense red from Spain) and a couple of Aberlour single malts from Speyside.
Amongst my presents I received from my brother a 2 CD set of Chris Barber & His Jazz Band, recorded in 1956, 1957 and 1958 originally on the Pye label. The sound quality is astonishing and many of these tracks take me back to my youth, particularly 'Petite Fleur'. He also found a book by Malcolm John entitled 'Around Historic Kent' published in 1978 by Midas Books. It's a little gem. Each entry of village, town or other location is accompanied by a beautiful line drawing. Much nostalgia here for me being a 'Man of Kent' (born south of the River Medway - those born to the north are 'Kentish Men').
As I write this I am listening to the wonderful pianist Ivana Gavrić playing 'Grieg Piano Works'. My favourite is the Lyric Piece 'Notturno Op.54 No.4'. And I am awake, daydreaming... Here is a link to this piece played by Mark Farago:
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And now, the sun is below the yardarm, somewhere - time for a birthday beer!
Friday, 9 May 2014
Wednesday, 7 May 2014
24 Live Another Day
Jack Bauer is back. He's in London, and so is Chloe, who looks more like a punk groupie than an ex, disenfranchised CTU agent. I missed the first three minutes. ITV used a typical ploy of an over-run. Programme due to finish at 8:57pm on ITV (to allow for adverts before the 9:00pm start of their next airing) concluded at 9:02pm. As I switched channels to Sky 1 I realised what ITV had done. A rather pathetic attempt to spoil the start of a new blockbuster on another channel in the hope that viewers would switch back to them. Stuff and nonsense. I had already set my Virgin box to record all episodes of '24 Live Another Day' and I will have to watch these first two episodes again, merely because I missed the first three minutes! Which clearly has an impact on the plot-line.
Soon picked up the thread though and in typical '24' fashion the action was intense, the plot line emerged (I think), Bauer, as usual, seemed unassailable, but, wait a minute, what the hell are all these US agents doing running around the streets of London armed with automatic weapons like they own our capital city?!
All great fun though, and we now have to wait for the next episode every Wednesday for the next 10 weeks. Maybe I should have waited to watch all episodes back to back!
Soon picked up the thread though and in typical '24' fashion the action was intense, the plot line emerged (I think), Bauer, as usual, seemed unassailable, but, wait a minute, what the hell are all these US agents doing running around the streets of London armed with automatic weapons like they own our capital city?!
All great fun though, and we now have to wait for the next episode every Wednesday for the next 10 weeks. Maybe I should have waited to watch all episodes back to back!
Invasion by Deadly Ticks
Sounds like something written by John Wyndham, but no, Britain is being infested by ticks that can spread potentially deadly diseases.
Richard Wall, professor of Zoology at Bristol University, found 300 of the blood-sucking parasites in just one square metre of a busy park. Their numbers have soared apparently following the winter's wet weather. Wall found this alarming number at the Ashton Court Estate, a popular site for dog walkers and hikers near Bristol.
Ticks can spread a terrifying array of illnesses including Lyme disease, which can be fatal to both humans and dogs.
If you go walking in green spaces you should check regularly for ticks, both yourself and your dog. If bitten remove any tick rapidly. There are a number of tick removal tools available on the market and it is worthwhile to carry some with you when out in the park or woodland. Take a look on eBay for example.
Richard Wall, professor of Zoology at Bristol University, found 300 of the blood-sucking parasites in just one square metre of a busy park. Their numbers have soared apparently following the winter's wet weather. Wall found this alarming number at the Ashton Court Estate, a popular site for dog walkers and hikers near Bristol.
Ticks can spread a terrifying array of illnesses including Lyme disease, which can be fatal to both humans and dogs.
If you go walking in green spaces you should check regularly for ticks, both yourself and your dog. If bitten remove any tick rapidly. There are a number of tick removal tools available on the market and it is worthwhile to carry some with you when out in the park or woodland. Take a look on eBay for example.
An arachnid tick
If you have to struggle to remove a tick from your dog you should take your pet to a vet right away.
Tuesday, 6 May 2014
Expensive Cancer Drugs and the NHS
Professor Karol Sikora, a senior cancer doctor, has said that expensive drugs should not be given to the elderly (I wonder if he includes himself at age 65 in that category). "They only prolong lives for three to six months" he stated, "we are kidding ourselves if we think they make a difference".
Is this what our NHS has come to? Maybe it should be replaced with something more caring. How many drug doses I wonder could be bought for the £80 billion cost of the useless HS2 high-speed rail line? Or the billions squandered in aid to foreign dictators and countries that do not need our money?
Those of us who have worked all our lives, 50 years or more, have paid our taxes and national insurance contributions, should feel infuriated by Sikora's remarks.
Is this what our NHS has come to? Maybe it should be replaced with something more caring. How many drug doses I wonder could be bought for the £80 billion cost of the useless HS2 high-speed rail line? Or the billions squandered in aid to foreign dictators and countries that do not need our money?
Those of us who have worked all our lives, 50 years or more, have paid our taxes and national insurance contributions, should feel infuriated by Sikora's remarks.
Sunday, 4 May 2014
A Shed Load
In the sense of a load shed, I spent a shed load of money today on a shed. £500 to be precise, or approximately $830, on a garden shed. Ros and I went to Skinner's Sheds at the Lewes Garden Centre in Kingston as they have numerous wood built sheds, potting sheds, log cabins, workshops and summer houses on display. It is satisfying to be able to see what you are about to spend a shed load of cash on.
Skinner's are noted for their build quality and this was certainly evident in the shed that we selected. A 6' x 4' pressure treated shiplap pent roofed - garden shed. Delivery and on site erection is free. The shed is built with extra strong framework with diagonal bracing for extra strength and durability and is fitted with a tongue and groove floor and tongue and groove roof. They claim to build the strongest sheds on the market.
The only downside is that we have to wait until 27th June for our new shed to be delivered and erected. This is an indication of just how popular Skinner's sheds are.
It does provide adequate time for me to dismantle our existing shed, which is 25 years old and looks it, and have it disposed of. The content of the shed will need to be stored on the patio under a tarpaulin until the new shed arrives. I will need to shed some of the paraphernalia that has accumulated over 25 years.
I will need space in the new shed for a comfortable garden chair and somewhere on the shelf to strategically place a few beer mats.....
Skinner's are noted for their build quality and this was certainly evident in the shed that we selected. A 6' x 4' pressure treated shiplap pent roofed - garden shed. Delivery and on site erection is free. The shed is built with extra strong framework with diagonal bracing for extra strength and durability and is fitted with a tongue and groove floor and tongue and groove roof. They claim to build the strongest sheds on the market.
The only downside is that we have to wait until 27th June for our new shed to be delivered and erected. This is an indication of just how popular Skinner's sheds are.
It does provide adequate time for me to dismantle our existing shed, which is 25 years old and looks it, and have it disposed of. The content of the shed will need to be stored on the patio under a tarpaulin until the new shed arrives. I will need to shed some of the paraphernalia that has accumulated over 25 years.
I will need space in the new shed for a comfortable garden chair and somewhere on the shelf to strategically place a few beer mats.....
Saturday, 3 May 2014
Jazz Funk on a Higher Plane
I don't often post about music. Wait a minute. Have I ever posted about music? Anyway, today I came across Patrice Rushen whilst on a trawl through iTunes. I find it hard to believe that I had not heard her music before now. This virtuoso of the jazz keyboard and R&B vocalist was new to me. What a find! This wonderful lady is now 60 years of age and has enjoyed phenomenal success as music director, jazz pianist and vocalist.
This album I am listening to as I type is a revelation: 'Signature' by Patrice Rushen. 10 tracks of sublime jazz/funk. A stunning album recorded in 1997. Her take on the track 'Sweetest Taboo' that I have on an album recorded by Sade, who I always associate it with, is quite simply superb. Her virtuosity on keyboards is stunning.
It is a joy to come across talent like this. Talent that has been around for many years and talent that I was ignorant of, until today.
If you enjoy this genre of music I recommend that you take a listen to Patrice. Simply divine stuff...
This album I am listening to as I type is a revelation: 'Signature' by Patrice Rushen. 10 tracks of sublime jazz/funk. A stunning album recorded in 1997. Her take on the track 'Sweetest Taboo' that I have on an album recorded by Sade, who I always associate it with, is quite simply superb. Her virtuosity on keyboards is stunning.
It is a joy to come across talent like this. Talent that has been around for many years and talent that I was ignorant of, until today.
If you enjoy this genre of music I recommend that you take a listen to Patrice. Simply divine stuff...
Coping with Arthritis
I heard someone talking about arthritis this morning on BBC2. It can be very debilitating. I know. Last year over a period of a few months the joints in the fingers of my right hand in particular (not so severe in the left) became painful and stiff and 'clicked' with movement. It progressively got worse to the extent that I could no longer form a fist (not in anger I hasten to add!).
I spent the last few years of my business career employed in the health supplements industry and amongst many had sold a product called Celadrin, a natural product comprised of a proprietary blend of cetylated fatty acid carbons. More recently this product has become vegetarian sourced.
I had to do something and saw no benefit in visiting my GP. So, during the Autumn of last year I took to a daily regime of 525mg of Celadrin combined with 1500mg of Glucosamine HCl and 250mg of Rose Hip Extract.
This treatment took a while to have any affect. But eventually the results were truly astonishing. Today I enjoy full, painless movement in all finger joints with no sign of the arthritis that I used to suffer with, quite badly. I still take these products on a daily basis.
If you suffer with arthritis you might also benefit from following this treatment regime.
I spent the last few years of my business career employed in the health supplements industry and amongst many had sold a product called Celadrin, a natural product comprised of a proprietary blend of cetylated fatty acid carbons. More recently this product has become vegetarian sourced.
I had to do something and saw no benefit in visiting my GP. So, during the Autumn of last year I took to a daily regime of 525mg of Celadrin combined with 1500mg of Glucosamine HCl and 250mg of Rose Hip Extract.
This treatment took a while to have any affect. But eventually the results were truly astonishing. Today I enjoy full, painless movement in all finger joints with no sign of the arthritis that I used to suffer with, quite badly. I still take these products on a daily basis.
If you suffer with arthritis you might also benefit from following this treatment regime.
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