It’s February 13th today. Not a notable day as such, unless it’s your birthday or you win tonight’s lottery, or perhaps are a scientist who during the day discovers the chemical element plumium. If today had been a Friday it would have assumed an altogether high profile in the psyche of the superstitious. Individuals who subscribe to tales of folklore; those holding great store by fabled bad luck omens passed down […]
This morning I was saddened to hear of the death of David Bowie. In a era where new music predominantly comes in the way of insipid unoriginal offerings by boy/girl bands, reality TV contestants and boy/girl bands who were reality TV contestants, it’s dispiriting to lose a true musical legend. Bowie was an original. His creative journey avoiding the conveyor belt of mediocrity ridden by so many other artists who’ve plyed the same […]
British cycling coach Sir Dave Brailsford attributes part of his charges success, both within the Olympic velodrome with Team GB and on the road with Team Sky, to the philosophy of ‘marginal gains’; or ‘fine margins’ as it is sometimes called. He explains the strategy as such:- “The whole principle came from the idea that if you broke down everything you could think of that goes into riding a bike, […]
Well here we are on the last day of 2015. Very shortly, Julian Calendar’s latest offspring, who shall be nameth 2016, will make an appearance. It is anticipated, the announcement of the arrival will be made live on TV by Jools Holland, around midnight. I plan to toast the appearance of the offspring with a Marks & Spencers ‘Meal for Two’, my wife and a glass of ‘vino de millo’. […]
I ventured out to see Inspiral Carpets and Shed Seven yesterday evening. For those who haven’t heard of them, I hadn’t been granted exclusive access to Boxing Day sales adverts for companies selling flooring and garden storage units. No, I’m relating to around three hours watching two 1990’s Indie bands at the O2 Academy, in Leeds. An inspired carpet (left), not to be confused with the Indie Rock band Inspiral […]
Due to the inclement weather, I offered to drop my daughter Rachel off at work this morning. It was a frustrating journey, the type of which is never portrayed in glossy, Utopian drive car advertisements. This was no sun-filled, carefree drive at the wheel of the only automobile on a picturesque Alpine road. A journey where I’d pass shepherds and milk maids in lederhosen on the mountain side! When I’d […]
I’m a bit late to the party with this, but I didn’t want to let the 100th anniversary of Frank Sinatra’s birth pass without a tribute to ‘Old Blue Eyes’. Last Saturday (12th December) would have seen the late Hoboken born singer/actor become a centurion. That’s 100 years old by the way, not a low order Roman commander. I’ve written in a few of my blogs about my admiration of […]
