I might not have totally squandered my life, but I haven’t set the world on fire either. So, before the flickering embers finally turn into ash, I thought it might be an idea to cobble together a few pictures to show how far I’ve gone downhill since I was the apple of my mother’s eye. Where did the time go?
POSTED – NOVEMBER 2021
Originally posted 2021-11-26 11:40:53.
POSTED – MAY 2025
Originally posted 2025-05-08 13:33:49.
If you’re feeling a bit down today, you might like to know that you’re not alone, because today is officially Blue Monday, the most depressing day of the year. Just so that you don’t get even more depressed by looking in the mirror after slobbing out over Christmas and the New Year, I thought I would cheer you up a bit by letting you know that, according to the Snake Oil Willie Band, you’re not the only one.
POSTED – JANUARY 2024
Originally posted 2024-01-15 16:44:40.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II (APR 21ST 1926 – SEPT 8TH 2022)
For the last 70 years, in an ever-changing world, you have remained a faithful loyal servant to the people of the United Kingdom. Countless Prime Ministers and Heads of State have come and gone during those years and our nation just won’t be the same without you.
RIP Your Majesty
POSTED – SEPTEMBER 2022
Originally posted 2022-09-09 11:35:41.
I thought we could do with a bit of cheering up, so what better than a clip of the Fisherman’s Friends singing about their beloved Cornwall.
POSTED – AUGUST 2022
Originally posted 2022-08-12 12:50:39.
Before I started to hang around with one or two reprobates, I managed to focus my efforts on doing something useful in life – things like learning to play the piano. Ultimately, having a pint with my mates and listening to popular music became a more attractive proposition than being able to play Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No 1 in B flat Minor. That said, the knowledge I gained from being able to play a musical instrument has enabled me to appreciate the abilities of people whose talent I could never match – people like Billy Joel. Now, if only he had been my piano teacher.
POSTED – MAY 2022
Originally posted 2022-05-04 15:03:57.
St. Pancras Station in London (see pic above) is the terminus for Eurostar in England, and thanks to Elton John who donated the piano, any member of the public can bang out a few notes on the old Joanna should they so wish.
One of those people is Brendan Kavanagh who has built up a staggering 1.7 million subscribers on YouTube, and the link below shows why. He often meets passengers who are passing through for an impromptu tinkle on the ivories, but on this occasion he is joined by ‘Josh’ from neighbouring Camden Town who he obviously knows.
Judging from the number of blue and yellow placards, the occasion is possibly the arrival of people escaping the war in Ukraine. Either way, those who are arriving will be met by Brendan and Josh. Now tell me if this doesn’t brighten up your day.
If it did, here they are again.
POSTED – APRIL 2022
Originally posted 2022-04-07 10:13:47.
I’ve never been short of a word or two, but, like most people, I’m struggling to find words to convey how I feel about the tragedy that’s unfolding in Ukraine at the moment. We are seeing a situation develop that we all hoped had been confined to the dustbin of history, but here we are again with another megalomaniac who thinks it’s ok to kill innocent people in an unprovoked and unwarranted attack on an independent sovereign state whose people just want to live in a free and democratic world.
Let’s not forget that the world isn’t at war with Russia, but at war with Vladimir Putin and his accomplices, and in case anybody thinks that the free world isn’t doing enough, just remember the words of Albert Einstein who said “I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones”. It’s a time for those who are having to make tough decisions to hold their nerve and bring an end to the misery that this man is inflicting on the brave Ukrainian people.
Russia has already been kicked out of many international events including the Eurovision Song Contest. The song above was to be Ukraine’s entry this year, but the artist fell foul of the organisers by visiting The Crimea, which until 2014 was Ukrainian and now under Russian control. Kalush Orchestra, who came second in the Ukrainian vote is now going to represent the country in Turin after Alina Pash agreed to step down, but it’s a shame in a way because I feel that this song better represents the moment. Tini zabutykh predkiv means ‘Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors’ in English, and describes Ukrainian history in war and peace, with references to Dante’s Divine Comedy. It ends with a message that peace is the only way out and that Ukraine can have a brighter future – but the song was released before Putin’s barbaric intervention.
I’m dedicating this post to Victor Khorishko and his family who had to flee Luhansk in 2014 and are now facing a similar threat in Severodonetsk. Please stay safe my friend. 🇺🇦
The featured image is courtesy of Reuters
POSTED – MARCH 2022
Originally posted 2022-03-02 16:51:20.
Originally posted 2021-12-23 14:04:10.
Little did I know that when I took this picture from the North Tower of the World Trade Center, I would be remembering it for all the wrong reasons. It was one of those ‘I remember where I was’ moments when those horrific scenes unfolded on that fateful day twenty years ago. Today is a time to remember, not just those who lost their lives, but also those who have suffered in other ways too; the injured, their loved ones, the rescuers and even those who had to take up the fight against the people who were responsible.
Armed conflict between two opposing armies is one thing, killing innocent people indiscriminately is quite another.
Remembering and not forgetting is not necessarily the same thing as far as I’m concerned. Today I’m remembering those that were affected, but tomorrow I will not be forgetting that now the Taliban are back in control of Afghanistan that we need to brace ourselves for possible further attacks like those that took place on 11th September 2001. Let’s all do our bit to make sure that the last twenty years wasn’t all in vain.
Originally posted 2021-09-11 16:27:19.
2020 has been a year like no other
Nature pressed the reset button
But what have we learnt?
Will the madness return?
Music – Pastorale by Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters
POSTED – NOVEMBER 2020
Originally posted 2020-11-24 11:11:31.
While we’re supposed to be trying to contain the virus, everywhere seems to be in turmoil – from racial tensions and political struggles to worries about how the planet is going to survive.
It’s only going to survive if we stop putting our own agenda first, start concentrating on the bigger picture, and join together to create a better world for everybody.
The picture above was taken in a nuclear bunker in Berlin several years ago, and this is how people could be living in the future if we don’t get our act together.
The song Eve of Destruction was released by Barry McGuire in 1965. Nothing’s changed has it – or maybe it has – perhaps we’re getting even closer.
Originally posted 2020-09-05 05:26:31.
Originally posted 2020-05-10 21:29:44.
Covid 19 – As lockdown begins to take its toll, it’s time to put things into perspective
This war can be won
without bullets or bombs
No fields of mud or
barbed fences to cross
The Front Line is our doorstep
Without trenches to dig
Just some music to choose
And a beer from the fridge
Originally posted 2020-04-10 15:18:44.