hayley and danny's engagement party in darlington

I went to Darlington tonight to my niece's engagement party.  I managed to snag a lift there and back but have no idea where the place was, apart from it was on the outskirts somewhere, as it was very dark and raining, and l was busy in the back seat chatting to another passenger, but had a good time. Anyway, here's my niece (one of the engagees) being glamtastic.

And some mementos from the evening

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comb over alert!!

 I can't remember who this MP is, but he's fooling no-one.

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Tig Notaro - The Rolling Stones in 6th Grade Music Class

derek jarman's england's dreaming cover

Jon Savage's 'Englands Dreaming' book is one of the better tomes about the punk war days, and this was a proposed cover for it, by Derek Jarman, which is pretty damn good.

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john squire and liam gallagher on the new mojo cover

These look like the kind of people you avoid in the pub because they will start sprouting off about conspiracy theories.

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mr tangerine man

 This appealed to my sense of humour (and as a huge Bob Dylan fan).

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Suzi Quatro and Can - Can Can Can the Can?

charlotte owen and boris johnson

 Hmmmmmmmmmmm

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Have You Ever Heard A Digital Accordian - The Lovely Eggs

slade at monsters of rock 1981

Somewhere in this photograph, there's the young me.

And Slade were great.

 

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nick candy - a twat

 Much as l support anyone changing their allegiances to Labour, there are limits.

Never vote Tory.

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never buy the daily mail part 474746746474 - amanda platell on prince harry

Another reason why The Daily Mail is so poisonous.  Have these people no shame?

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the house of lords needs reforming

Much as l am in favour of the House of Lords keeping checks on parliament, it desperately needs reforming, precisely for the reasons below.

Plus....Charles Banner looks like an evil baddie in a comedy.

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RIP Damo Suzuki Can - Mushroom

Another one gone way too soon.

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the book no-one is looking forward to - liz truss's 10 years to save the west

Advanced to positions of power way beyond her intellectual capabilities as a stooge of the ERG, her self modesty doesn't know where to start. 

Her and her ilk have ruined this country for the benefit of their rich backers and their own desire for power, and should they should all scurry off behind the nearest rock and beg for forgiveness.

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a truer version of the daily mail

What more can l say?  Don't buy it.

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all watched over by machines of loving grace - richard brautigan

I especially recommend the book 'Sombrero Fallout' by Richard Brautigan but l like this poem as well, and with the massive change AI will make in the near future, it may be a possibility, sooner than we think.

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super darlo back in the day and first aid training

I was in Super Darlo (Darlington) earlier today for my First Aid training refresher, and during the lunch break l headed into town and bought a couple of albums (Spiritualised and Gabriels if you want to know). However the town was empty, and nothing like this earlier picture when it used to be thriving. Most town centres are dying.

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mr parrot has a rival

 Watch this - you won't be sorry. It's like me and Mr Parrot in our house.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1756327412428570966

Jamie Webster - Weekend In Paradise (Lyric Video)

a commotion in robert plant's trousers

Even legendary rock gods have to get old, and l won't be the first person to ask this, but what the hell in going on in Robert Plant's trousers?

Whatever it is, it isn't natural!

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darllngton bus station back in the day

These photographs of Darlington bus station in the 1970's takes me back to getting the bus in to go record shopping on a Saturday morning if l wasn't going to a football match. It's certainly changed since then.

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mick jagger is still doing well

 And just what is it that attracted you to the multi millionaire rock star?

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Lou Reed - Perfect Day (Demo - Takes 1 & 2)

the country slides further into the cesspool

 Just when you think the country can't get much worse.  The face of 'popular' conservatism

Sadly supported by working class fuckwits like this

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why l would never live in australia

Imagine going to open your car door and coming across this beast.

Warm climate = very good

Bloody spiders everywhere = very bad

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dentistry isn't working

Couldn't agree more with this, and if the Tories had their way the NHS would go the same way.

Never vote Tory.

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old radio shows download ahoy

Because l am a very sad man l have just been downloading these old radio shows from the 1960's that music journalist and author Rob Chapman has uploaded to internetarchive.com. Hours of fun from Radio Caroline etc.  Hurrah!!

I really need to get out more.

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Sheb Wooley - The Purple People Eater

the future of the country is not looking good - the royal line of succession

After the news that King Charles has cancer, here's the list of succession from The Times. Not many of these folk will be supporting Labour.

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manchester uniteds future (hopefully)

 All 21 or under. The future's looking so good l've got to wear shades (one for the youngsters out there).

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drop acid and join a cult sew on badge

Helpful advice for the youngsters back in the day.  You don't see sew on badges like this for sale nowadays (unfortunately).

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Future Islands - "Seasons (Waiting On You)" David Letterman

man utd versus west ham united - the old days

As Manchester United and West Ham United get ready to kick off shortly, a sad reminder l am old enough to remember games between them when these two were captains. When l was young and football was better. Then again, I am very very old.

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tory corruption part 8475866564

More never ending Tory crap and corruption, and yet people will still vote for them.

Don't get me started....

 

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a chicken made out of egg shells

This young kid is a genius! These birds made from egg shells look great, and if they were covered in some kind of unbreakable resin, would probably sell.

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Soul Blenders - Blending Soul

RIP Brother Wayne Kramer MC5 - Kick Out The Jams - Live Tartar Field, 1970

Bugger.  I was only playing their live album a couple of days ago and it's on my record shelves staring me in the face as l type this. A band I wished l had seen in their heyday.

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The Bollock Brothers - The Bunker

the new european trump cover - not again

Whoever came up with this cover photograph and added the writing on the latest cover of The New European - well played. As the young and many parts of the world see growth in the support of populist and far right parties, we should be afraid of the consequences, and do all we can to prevent it. I certainly don't want history repeating itself, but it's heading in that direction.

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flat earthers are idiots

I guess those idiots who believe the world is flat think this is how Japan bombed Pearl Harbour.

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this looks legitimate and impartial

 A so called 'news' channel.  Ofcom should be ashamed of themselves.

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NHS waiting lists - a reminder (again)

If you voted for the Conservative party, this is the consequence of your actions. It's not to do with Covid or the strikes, it's government policy in the hope of bringing in more privatisation. We'll miss it when it's gone, and as usual it will be the less well off without private healthcare that suffer.

Never vote Tory.

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donald trump's fake tan

Has Donald Trump really surrounded himself with such sycophantic bastards that no one has the nerve to tell him how ridiculous this fake tan looks? Of course l find it hilarious, but that's because he looks like he's fallen face first in some cow dung. At the very least he should get his neck and ears done to match the abomination of his facial tan. And the Republicans witter on about Joe Biden losing the plot.

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Bonnie Prince Billy - The World's Greatest

magical penis wine

This Magical Penis Wine sounds very suspicious, but come on - who wouldn't want to give it a go?

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Another lad dead RIP Gaz Russell

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.

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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!!)

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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