A completely unexpected death this weekend that has taken everyone by surprise. RIP Gaz Russell (on the left with his brother Bim). l've had many good times over the years because of him, and he was well liked in this household.
Toodle pip
Sunday, 28 January 2024
the travaux is no more
Many years ago l used to drink in The Travaux, a club in Catterick, and played for the football team. I was also in a parody barbershop quartet that won the barbershop competition every year, so despite the fact l hardly drank in their over the last few tears (unless to watch the football), and it was a bit of a dump, I have fond memories of the place, and it's sad to see it go. Luckily the football team framed photograph was retrieved before demolition, and l made copies of it for all the team. Don't know who's got the barbershop winning trophy though, which is a pity, as it was inscribed with our team name for the winning years (All the way from Russia - The Singingoffkeys!!)
Toodle pip
Saturday, 27 January 2024
when the squares mingle with the rolling stones
Although Mick Jagger and Brian Jones are not looking their best, l love this photograph of them with Marianne Faithfull because of the square in the suit. He has a look of sneering distain and contempt, mixed with jealousy that they live in a world where beautiful and intelligent ladies such as Marianne want to be in their company and have sex with them. A world far far away from his experience and existence. It certainly wasn't the swinging 60's for everyone.
Toodle pip
Some Say (I Got Devil) - RIP Melanie Safka
More sad news regarding deaths, this time Melanie, who seems to have been written out of pop history, but at one time she was very popular, and still is in my household.
Toodle pip
Friday, 26 January 2024
st james' park, newcastle back in the day
I first went to St James' Park in the 1970's, but by jove, it has changed beyond recognition over the years (as has Newcastle), and now looks nothing like this. However it's still one of the grounds that are very close to the city centre, which helps with the feeling of the football club being part of the community, and that certainly is the case in Newcastle.
Toodle pip
Friday, 19 January 2024
RIP Mary Weiss -- Shangri-La's - 'Give Him a Great Big Kiss'
Mary Weiss, the singer of The Shangri La's has sadly passed away. Here's one of my favourites of there's, later covered by The New York Dolls.
Toodle pip
Thursday, 18 January 2024
pakistan international airways twin towers advert
This is an advert for Pakistan International Airways from 1979, featuring an aeroplane silhouette on the twin towers. After what followed, it now looks very disturbing.
Toodle pip
art garfunkel looking very old
I saw these photographs earlier and if they hadn't been linked and captioned, l would not have recognised Art Garfunkel in the top picture, singing with his son. I loved Simon and Garfunkel, but hadn't seen any recent interviews or photos with Art, and obviously l know he is no longer a spring chicken, but this still came as a bit of a shock. I know everyone's getting older and everyone ages (apart from me of course), but our mortality can be a brutal curse, and a reminder that everyone's going to die at some stage (once again - apart from me).
Wednesday, 17 January 2024
reform's strict vetting process
'Our strict vetting process'
Hahahahahahhhahahhahahhahahahahahhahahahahahahhahahahahahahaha
Knobheads. Never vote Tory (or Reform)
Sam Cooke & Soul Stirrers - Nearer to Thee (Live at the Shrine 1955)
I've said it before and I'II say it again. This is one of the best vocals I've ever heard, especially towards the end when Sam Cooke gets the crowd going. What a talent.
Toodle pip
Tuesday, 16 January 2024
T.Rex - 20th Century Boy (Full Version) [HD]
A mixture of recording, but great to see the complete footage again
Toodle pip
marc bolan storms the 1978 record mirror polls
Pretty fantastic results for Marc Bolan and T. Rex in the January 1978 Record Mirror polls. However, much as I am a fan, this was heavily influenced by the fact Marc had died late the previous year, and there is no way that Dandy in the Underworld deserved to be the best album of the year.
Now l liked Queen back in the early days, but it still should have been 'Never mind the Bollocks' as best album, and The Sex Pistols as the best band, despite the fact Fleetwood Mac and Abba were way more successful.
Gig of the year for me was Status Quo at Lewisham in December, which l hitch-hiked down to as a young whipper-snapper (and what a tale I have about that). Gigs and the times were a lot different then. Trust me.
Toodle pip
Monday, 15 January 2024
I think michelle mone might need to stop posting on twitter
I never thought it would be possible, but a bigger hole is being dug, and l am very happy about it.
Toodle pip
charlie brown type david bowie
More excellent cartoons / representations by the always reliable stuff by mark - this time various David Bowies in a Charles Shultz Charlie Brown way. I for one, like it very much.
Toodle pip
Sunday, 14 January 2024
never buy the sun part 986754876986
As usual, The Sun newspaper has no moral compass. The fan wasn't just ill. He died. Any decent newspaper would have checked first, and even if the fan hadn't died, they would have found out how serious it was, and not printed a disrespectable headline such as this. The fans name was Ian Purslow, aged 71, and he had 20 minutes of CPR administered in the ground, which also must have been pretty traumatising for all close to the scene.
Never buy The Sun (or vote Tory)
Toodle pip
me after todays football
Me trying to look ecstatic after the Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur draw. As I'm always a glass half full kind of fellow, at least Manchester United are still undefeated this year an are technically still on for the doubule. Pints all round!
Saturday, 13 January 2024
standing loud and proud at the football
An excellently timed and positioned shot at the football. Well played!!
the re-election conflict isn't new
Rather sadly, too predictable. We've been here before.
Friday, 12 January 2024
demolishing the johnson's factory, bootle
Many happy memories of my childhood are ingrained with the Johnson Factory in Bootle, as l lived on Markfield Road, and if l looked left on leaving my front door the top picture is what l would see. I no longer live in Bootle, and to some people it may be an eyesore, but to me it's part of the history of the place, was opened in 1910, and in my eyes it looked magnificent. However, it had been derelict for a while, and is now half demolished (or by now maybe has been completely demolished), but l think it's a shame, and it's a pity it couldn't have been repurposed for flats or some kind of apartments, which l know was (or still is) an idea (see bottom pictures).
Toodle pip
the waterboys - under the skin magazine
I put this magazine together years ago and sold it at The Waterboys gigs around 1989 / 1990. I gave a lot of the left over copies away for free at a Liverpool Waterboys gig a few years later, but looking at these listings that are currently on ebay and a Japanese site, maybe l should have saved a load to booster my pension. Then again, l don't really think any fortune awaits there, and life's way too short.
The whole magazine has been scanned here
Wednesday, 10 January 2024
tory corruption part 867647658767
This was a while ago, but it's good not to forget these things.
george best at the world cup final 1966
I either didn't know, (or must have forgotten) that George Best was at the World Cup Final in 1966 at Wembley, watching England defeat West Germany 4-2. I've certainly never seen a photograph of him at the game.
Until now.
Tuesday, 9 January 2024
james blunt being funny (again)
I haven't got much time for James Blunt's music, but he can be funny and self deprecating on twitter. Here's a recent example that made me laugh.
living in a minimmalistic way
This was in a recent style magazine (I forget which one) extoling the virtues of minimalist living, but l immediately thought 'How can anyone live like this?' I know my house is cluttered and full of junk, and the room in the picture would be a lot easier to clean, but it looks like a hotel room or lounge, with no character. If l went back to someone's home and it was like this, l would go into serial killer alert and make my excuses to leave as soon as possible. It's just not right. Minimalism my arse (as Jim Royale would say).
Toodle pip
Monday, 8 January 2024
keith richards is unwell
Much as l love Keith Richards and his devil may care attitude, it's easy to forget how addicted to Heroin he used to be and the detrimental affect it had on him. Here's an example of Keef looking like he's not had many cottage pies in the recent past.
Toodle pip
rip franz beckenbauer
I had the pleasure of living in Germany for a few years back in the day, and although l preferred Borussia Monchengladbach featuring the magnificent Gunter Netzer, the Bayern Munich team at that time was something to behold, with Der Bomber Gerd Muller up front, and the sublime Kaiser himself, Franz Beckenbauer pulling the strings. Another great now sadly gone, but never to be forgotten by the likes of me.
When football was better.
Sunday, 7 January 2024
UUTAi Olena - Blessing of Nature. Благословение ПриРоды
What the Hell? Once this gets going and builds up more and more, it's amazing. So good it brought a ear to my eyes for some reason l can't explain (maybe l'm going senile).
Mr Parrot certainly looked a bit startled listening to it.
Toodle pip
inheritance tax cuts - a reminder
The inheritance cuts will certainly help his own family and his rich friends, but not many others.
Saturday, 6 January 2024
The Waterboys - Beverly Penn (2004 Remaster)
A reminder this was unreleased for years. That's how good The Waterboys were at that time. Lyrics below.
Toodle pip
watching darlington and manchester united years ago
When l finished my last exam and moved Oop North to the North East, this was the ground l went to the most often, as l was only on an apprentices wages and couldn't afford to go to Old Trafford to watch Manchester United every week, much as l'd liked to have done. Therefore, l went to every home game of Darlington, whose old ground (Feethams) is in the picture.
Also, when l did go to to see Manchester United, despite being on crappy wages, l could afford the bus to Darlington, a train to Manchester, a ticket on the gate to see the game, another train to Liverpool to visit relatives and stay over, a train back to Darlington from Liverpool, and a bus back from Darlington. And all of that is without buses and trams in Manchester and Liverpool, plus food and drink (and a matchday programme). Those days have long gone.
Toodle pip
I'm old enough to remember ....Liverpool 1954
I'm old enough to remember when this was still a thing. Women (and it was always the women) scrubbing and cleaning the front steps. I'm not old enough to remember when this was taken although l do remember the place. This is from Liverpool, 1954, which even for me, was before my time.
Toodle pip
Friday, 5 January 2024
galactus gets my vote
As it looks like there is going to be (at long last) a General Election in the UK this year, l'm throwing my considerable weight behind Galactus*.
* Not really - It's Labour all the way. Mind you, l live in Rishi Sunak's constituency, and if l thought the Lib Dems had a chance of ousting him and his Tories, l would vote tactically and for them. We should however have proportional representation to give all votes a meaning.
Toodle pip
Rolling Stones - Under Review 1975-1983: The Ronnie Wood Years | Amplified
Worth some of your time if you're a Rolling Stones fan like myself.
Toodle pip
the jeffrey epstein files - prince andrew is sweating
Prince Andrew. Sweating a lot as the Jeffrey Epstein files are released. Rather sadly, certain people are above the law, and he will probably never be held responsible for any crimes he may have committed, as money and power can make pretty much anything go away.
Thursday, 4 January 2024
a reminder fans used to sit down
Everyone seems to have forgotten now that music events have been swamped by the well to do that at one time, they were for outsiders, and a lot of the time, people used to sit on the floor at festivals. This is Eddie and The Hot Rods at Reading Festival.
Toodle pip
the juniors doctors strike and the nhs waiting list
As the misleading term of Junior Doctors (they are qualified Doctors) go on strike again, remember the Conservative Government do not support the NHS and would privatise it all if they could (and will if they are not removed from power)
Toodle pip
seinfeld characters as victorians
These Seinfeld mock ups as Victorian characters look excellent. They should do a show based in Victorian times, dressed like this and in sepia. Comedy gold.
smoking animals are cool
If this is meant to put someone off smoking, they are going about it the wrong way, as these animals look cool.
Wednesday, 3 January 2024
nudity is strickly forbidden
Once again, l wish l had been informed before some of the Christmas and New Year drinking events l went to. Would have saved some blushes all around.
Toodle pip
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