The 'Musical genius' term gets bandied about a lot, but Quincy Jones was one of the best, and has had an extraordinary life. I also love his candid interviews, such as here. A titan, and the world is now a sadder place.
Toodle pipBooze, news and views from a drunken opinionated fool who can't spell very well, may well repeat himself, and can't blame it on dislexia
Tuesday, 5 November 2024
aliens live amongst us - a wolf spider
I don't like spiders at the best of times, but just take a look at this nasty looking bastard. It's a close up of a wolf spider, and it creeps me out.
ear glasses / cuppers
As music and speech becomes much clearer when cupping your ears, l had the idea of some kind of headphones that cup you ear forward, and had a search online for such an item. After much searching (I am a very sad man) these are the closest l could find, and they don't ship to the UK. Time to get my blowtorch out and make my own. Check back in about 5 years to see if l ever get round to doing so (I won't).
Or there is these, which make you look insane.zig zags ace cats of the century
Zig Zag magazine's 1971 'Ace cat of the century'. As a bit of a hippy left leaning lover of comedy and alternative culture, l wholeheartedly agree with most of these and own output from the majority of them.
Toodle pipMonday, 4 November 2024
james dyson - land owner extraordinaire
Sunday, 3 November 2024
kemi banenoch - partygate was overblown
I don't know about the larger public, but l suspect there are many that feel otherwise, including myself. There are still many of them that should have been locked up rather than fined, but instead of which, some were put in The Lords by Boris Johnson. Never forget they were a bunch of lying pisstaking bastards, and Kemi Badenoch is trying to appeal to the far right of the Conservative party.
Saturday, 2 November 2024
the telegraph and elon musk can bugger off
You would think you couldn't make this kind of crap up, but rather sadly it's all too true. The world's richest man, born in South Africa and now an American citizen, holds forth in an English right wing 'newspaper' about the Labour Government forcing rich people to be taxed on inheritance rather than them buying farmland to avoid it through a loophole (as Jeremy Clarkson has admitted doing so himself in the past). If these rich bastards paid tax rather than avoided it, the country (and the NHS) would be in much better shape. Inheritance tax, private schools VAT, private jet charges, Covid corruption charges - Bring it all on and lock some of them up. Bastards!
rip janey godley
The comedian Janey Godley has sadly just passed away. If you are unfamiliar with her work, this action below at a Scottish Donald Trump visit is legendary in itself, and she stuck to her beliefs till the end. Both courageous and funny. I'd like more people like her please (and respect also goes out to the policeman who high fived her).
Friday, 1 November 2024
Thursday, 31 October 2024
the cult in newcastle
Another excellent night out last night. Had a trip out to Newcastle with the lads to see The Cult at the City Hall, and they were much better than l was expecting. I hadn't seen them for years and thought their new material may have been crap, but happily l was proven wrong, and they were on top form. Double Jack Daniels and Coke all round!
a scary fanny for halloween!
A happy Halloween from Franny Craddock (one for the youngsters out there). The past was a different country.
Toodle pip
Wednesday, 30 October 2024
my injured brother
I've just been sent some photographs from my brothers recent injury. He injured himself while on the first day of his recent holiday and has just managed to get his broken elbow / arm repaired properly back in Leeds, but plenty of metal was required. It certainly looks bad and he said it certainly hurt. That will teach him not to go chasing suitcases down steep hills again.
Toodle pip
Tuesday, 29 October 2024
a polite notice regarding the right wing press
Think I've posted this before but it's worth showing again. An excellent statement and very true.
Toodle pip
Monday, 28 October 2024
hamburg - still great (includes jamie webster)
Had another outstanding time in Hamburg and managed to catch Jamie Webster there on Saturday night. A long haired scouser called Jamie entertaining everyone? What's not to like? Amongst many other occurrences, our local pub there also had a demonstration outside by the St Pauli fans before their game against Wolfsburg on Saturday afternoon, so that was also pretty cool, and many beers were drunk. We shall return soon.
Friday, 25 October 2024
RIP Ron Ely - Tarzan 1966 - 1968 Opening and Closing Theme
Thursday, 24 October 2024
this time tomorrow...Tipell bar
This is where l will be this time tomorrow. My favourite bar in Hamburg's Reeperbahn, the magnificently seedy Tipell.
Toodle pip
Wednesday, 23 October 2024
Tuesday, 22 October 2024
free tickets and clothes for the pm?
A reminder - the Tories were taking the piss, and Labour declared their freebies (which pretty much everyone famous or in power get). This is one of the many many examples l could have used, and that's without highlighting Boris Johnson's free accommodation, decoration, wedding, holidays and honeymoon, Covid parties or the VIP fast track lanes which they exploited. Bloody right wing press owned by offshore billionaire owners are responsible for reporting this crap and trying to shape the narrative, and should also be held to account. Bastards!!
Sunday, 20 October 2024
how trump should be reported on
This is how newspapers should report on Donald Trump, rather than trying to sanesplain his rambling incoherent and yet dangerous answers to ordinary questions. They rightly exposed Joe Biden's failings, but need to do the same to Trump. Hold him to account, because if he does manage to become president again, it may well be too late.
jacob's ladder in saint helena
My mates family are from Sant Helena, although he has never actually been there himself. However, if he did visit, l would be tempted to go with him, just to tackle this stairway, as it looks like it would certainly get the old adrenalin pumping. It's a good job l'm not scared of heights, but it may be a test for my sad old knees.
Toodle pip
Saturday, 19 October 2024
Friday, 18 October 2024
troy hawke in middlesbrough
Went to see Troy Hawke at Middlesbrough Town Hall last night and a most splendid evening was had by all. Much better than l had anticipated. Had a couple of ales in The Pig Iron beforehand and also got immortalised in the bottom photograph if you look closely enough. Ruddy marvellous!
Thursday, 17 October 2024
space age eldon square
A reminder that when Eldon Square in Newcastle opened, it was like stepping into the space age. Rather sadly, this is most certainly no longer the case.
Toodle pipWednesday, 16 October 2024
Tuesday, 15 October 2024
tax the rich
Speaking as a Labour supporter, instead of going after pensioners winter fuel money, let's tax the rich bastards instead. You know it makes sense.