Gentlemens That Do Lunch

Yes that's right, real men do lunch. As I face the prospect of another 3 course lunchtime pile up, being pandered to by attentive waiters bringing me my fine choice of fish or veg, I wonder if this is ok.

I know I enjoy the time away from my hot desk & the stressful confines of my day job.

Luckily next door is getting me along to the gym twice a week to counterbalance all this food & splendour.

The Death Of Mr Lazerescu

I subjected my wife & son to 3 long hours of this Romanian cinema classic.

Shaky, hand held, cameras in this piece of cinema verite. Shaky cameras make me feel dizzy now.You do get swept along in the whole tragedy.

It is a great movie & if you have 3 hours to spare on a harrowing, tale, that perhaps indicates how our health service performs, then this is a must see.

Suspira

As I just watched Dario Argento's 'Suspira' again for the nth time, I realised how crucial Goblin's soundtracks are to these classic movies.

I must get around to playing the soundtracks on their own. I do have them all.

Oh he is so passionate about the colour red, not just for the blood, it is everywhere in this weird & wonderful movie.

Prog Rot or Not?

From being totally anti-prog, to being, well maybe, there is something of re-usable value here.

Looking at this genre with fresh ears & catching up with e.g. Association PV - 'Erna Morena', I can draw parallels with much of the jazz rock I enjoy ..e.g. Brian Auger/Soft Machine/Chicago Transit Authority/Frank Zappa/Miles Davis Electronic Funk period........

As long as the jazz element is foremost, progjazz still is enjoyable for me.

Recently I was grooving to Dun 'Eros' (1981) & although it is thought to be deep in prog rock territory with disjointed odd time signature & drum patterns, I do love it.

Zen & the Art of Space Walking

Try recording air conditioning units or electrical generators & then play back the results.

You will find yourself listening to stuff with new ears.

Whitecrook Social Club

Last night I attended an orchestral gig @ Glasgow City Halls. It was a full-on New Complexity hoo hah being recorded for Radio 3's 'hear & Now' series.

I used to be such an avid listener of 'Hear & Now' & as I was such a James Dillon & not Bob Dylan fan I was well - excited.

I was not disappointed as 'Via Sacra' lit me up.

Interesting that this Glasgow boy, slightly older than this writer, got Phil Lesh from the Dead to help fund some of his work.

It was also cool to see the composer there last night in his hippie ponytail.

Funny Album Titles, Pt 33

Kaffe Matthews -Still a Slapper

It is funny when you know she appears as such a serious composer of new music.

Indian Railway Journeys

It was only a short series of 3 films shown on a Sunday night after a hefty meal, but a number of my friends managed to catch & enjoy & rave about the recent jouneys on the small Himalayan trains.

I am reminded of the less luxurious travels I had on the Indian trains, squashed against a loo door, where obviously half of Utter Pradesh had ate their last spicy curry & then died 2 months previously.

Overtoun House

I had passengers that limited my walking time, but a brisk meander around the Craggs (not as astounding as the signposts & name would suggest) satisfied my need for both fresh air & exercise.

Dick Gaughan

I had seen Dick live a number of years ago, but the fact that he was playing in such a small. intimate venue (Fraser Centre, Milngavie) appealed to me.

His voice filled the small hall, Milngavie & probably carried all the way to the end of the West Highland Way.

Even on my personal favourites the quiet ballads, he shone so bright. His open tuning guitar style still has me in awe.

He helps you remember what it really is that makes you so proud to be Scottish. He has it in bucketfulls.

Fresh Air & Exercise

In order to up the exercise to food ratio, I went off on one again last Saturday.

There was the late afternoon sunshine that gave me the impression that Spring had arrived.

Faced with this false sense of security, I headed up towards Loch Humphrey, in the Kilpatrick Hills . However once I got to a decent height & I started slipping & sliding on the snow & slush, I realised all was not well.

Lacking a modicum of common sense, I carried on 2 steps forward & 3 back, but eventually, I reached my target.

The loch was frozen over & as I was anxious to get back in time for a Dick Gaughan concert, I turned around & trudged back.

All in all good exercise for those thigh/calf muscles & the loch was beautiful still decked in its full winter whiteness.

Below Is the List of Passengers on Budget Bus London to Delhi

It really did happen I was there!

17 NOVEMBER 1973

Driver (A) GEORGE OUGHTON
Driver (B) LES OUGHTON

Assistant: RAJ VERMA

01. MISS M FINKELSTEIN
02. MR T PEARSON
03. MRS M PLAYFORD
04. MR P PLAYFORD
05. MRS R HAWES
06. MR P HAWES
07. MR P MAY
08. MISS R MACLAUCHLAN
09. MISS F MARTINE
10. MR R POTTER
11. MISS S SHERLOCK
12. MISS J JONES
13. MR T WATKINS
14. MISS E CEBALLOS
15. MISS S EDGAR
16. MR I WHITEHEAD
17. MR J STAPLEHURST
18. MR K CREAN
19. MISS M KENT
20. MR A KING
21. MR N BALDWIN
22. MISS D PATTON
23. MR W KNAPP
24. MR B OSBOURNE
25. MR J SINGER
26. MISS K HANSON
27. MR M BIRD
28. MR K BYRNE
29. MR H BEATTIE
30. MR T HARA
31. MR R HASSON
32. MR G FRY
33. MR A AMINTINAT
34. MR T FULTON
35. MR R GRIGSON
36. MR A TRICKER
37. MR J HARRIS
38. MR J BROWN
39. MISS I SPICER
40. MR R MACLURE
41. MISS A TOWENSON
42. MR P BAIKIE
43. MR M BENTLEY
44. MRS C DELOUP
45. MR D DELOUP
46. MR G COX
47. MR JOHNSON

The Emptiness of Form

You might think that nothing changes: Your team get humped at Rugby & then the next day, your football team get crunched.

Coupled with the coldest & the longest winter since God knows when, you may think that life is getting you right down.

I have started hitting the gym to lose those blues & it seems to be working.

The Carnivale is Over

No-one will know the song title above by The Seekers, the same as no-one will know The Seeker by the Who, but that's life as you get older.

My favourite library just got copies on dvd of the complete series, but I have to admit I was a trifle disappointed with the ending. You have to remember that this was not to be the end it was due to run on for another series.

Despite this setback, it was one of the best tv series since 'Twin Peaks' also starring the same vertically-challenged chappie.