Copland

I might just become a Spotify bore it spookily good. I'm not going to get too fervent though it seems too good to be true like that cash machine that was giving out 20's for 10's yesterday.
Free music and only a few inept ads to put up with it won't last.

Listening to Aaron Copland just now his Red pony suite it's like the best cowboy music you can almost smell the pines in th morning, saddle leather, fresh pasture, the clunk of pickup truck doors, tobacco smoke. Not bad for someone who's dad probably came from Gdansk! I like his tunefulness and rhythmic melodies.

spotify:track:2LnMwqwtYGed32sLg5gDtK

Anyway anyone else found any gems (they don't have to be classical)?

Comings & Goings

Well it's been a funny week:

It would be easy to wallow in self pity but thankfully I have many good friends and kin to divert my more mordant tendencies.

Also the world outside my hair line throws up reminders that I'm more than blessed even if I'm on a bumpy road for short while. While waiting for a tediously important meeting the other day in an icy etched glass and chrome atrium the silent pictures on BBC 24 were enough to silence any whingeing from me.

"So what's good " as the hopelessly optimistic American tourist once said in cafe Valencia.

#welovethenhs was cheering event it seemed to dumbfound misguided critics because for the most part it was normal people stating their straight forward opinions. There were several comments I saw that went "yeah but that's all well and good but it's still socialism....." the following comment from some ordinary UK resident further drawing out the nonsense would be some simple tale of palliative care that helped their parent die with dignity or the joy of child brought into the world etc. It was the sort of straight forward democracy and free speech the American right always bang on about and it was hard for them to counter not that they didn't try.

It was the simple reminder of the power of democracy and persuasion. Sure benighted Americans may s ill end up with bobbins health system but they can't say we didn't warn them. Oh and the man who wrote Father Ted liked my little picture !

Wetting the babies head: Well it's all a bit pagan but I think AD was sufficient dowsed in Duke yesterday (is it always sunny in Doughty Muse?)

Natures Bounty: the blossomy cherries in the park have borne fruit and today I sat and ate the sun warmed gems. That end of the park was heavy with the thick scent of their fruit and the tiny orbs seemed to essence of cherry/plumminess the red ones the best but the yellow surprisingly good. I ate them while the old guy in mobilityscooter dozed in the sun (we'd high fived on my way to the shops)and a Vietnamese guy read his paper while he waited for his girl, when she turned up they kissed in the most sweet way and wandered off with her teasing him with some ancient joke or whatever. Just then a friend of the old guy came and a gently woke him and eased his bike into the shade and sat with him for a while. It was hot in sun and couldn't shake any more fruit from the tree so I left the wasp and the hover flies to their perfumed treat and headed in side to read and listen to some tunes.

Other Good news: Ivor Cutler is on Spotify

We Love the NHS!

We love the NHS:

The day after my birthday one of my oldest and best friends fell really ill, not mild swine flu ill or spend the day watching old films ill but really terribly ill. We were all very, very worried for him it was touch and go for several days/weeks. But touch wood, praise be (thank science) he’s still around and is making a gradual but steady recovery. He’s thankfully well enough now to start taking the piss out of us all and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Needless to say he’s here today down to the skill, patience and professionalism of the NHS staff that treated him.

My friend has the sort of job that in the US would attract private medical insurance but when he was desperately ill on the first night his other half didn’t have to worry about any of that nor has she since. He would have got the same treatment regardless of his job, background or indeed age. I’m not sure what other treatment he would have got in the US or anywhere for that matter not much I imagine and his care is continuing now that he’s back at home.

I could go on to talk about the NHS assisted births of my 11 nieces and nephews or the excellent care the rest of my family have received when they’ve needed it. Not always perfect or 100% but certainly not the Stalinist nightmare vested interests, rent a quote knee jerk never really believed in anything US TV hosts, general liars and misanthropes across the ocean think of it.Oh and let’s not get started on the time effort and care, diligence, dedication intelligence, creativity, duty and honour my mum and her 2 sisters put into NHS for over 50 years.

But things like the NHS don’t stem from small minded mean spirited, exploitive people that would seek to deprive others what they themselves feel entitled to and would use something as life affirming as the dear old NHS to make cheap political points.

Honestly bless America but sometimes, just sometimes.

#welovethenhs

Dressed for success:

A Study In Scarlet: 3 excellent examples of people going their own way and winning. This morning striding through the grey of the City was a youngish guy dressed in matching red jumper and cords in a sort of autumny red; he was striding along with a long umbrella and patchwork bag.
It might have been willful on other people but this just liked “I look good so s*d you sort of thing”. It was worth it for the disdainful look the snidey looking cycle courier gave him you know the type smug smile, smoking joint while eating huge sandwich.

Get Your Cape on: Next up was a homeless guy looking like a sort of Holborn Gandalf with a flowing grey hair and beard and a huge black cape tied at the neck. Around his neck on a boot lace was a Yale key almost like an amulet that or maybe he does have a “lofty twisted tower” to return to after all.

Go Girl!: Lastly and also in black the cool black girl in our office (blue hair, excellent clothes and equally engaging attitude) seems to be wearing a large cloche hat at her desk (we are really not that sort of office) she looks like she might be going to Michael Jackson’s funeral or something .
As for myself the usual really : the shako of a Major in The 1st footguards, the high cut blouson of a Polish lancer and pair of East German postman’s trousers……

The most dangerous substance known to man

The most dangerous substance known to man
Originally uploaded by bltphoto

This came with my lunch yesterday, the funny thing is I know someone who reacts to tomatos (or did they've grown out it I think).

lunchtime news

French food giant Bel have denied that they are changing the name of their cheese triangles to "L.O.L Cow".....

Do these shoes go with my mask?

Fashion friday

I know I’m the wrong audience for all this but I’m intrigued by the fashion industry partly because the language they use is so baroque Balconette bra, kitten heel, décolletage but also how they march on seemingly oblivious to outside world.

I’m not sure I could ever get used to living two seasons ahead of your know the real season the one’s dictated by I don’t know... the sun. Today for example the paper is taking about autumn there’s no over arching trend but if you go out in a acid bright big shouldered leather bomber jacket with big shoes and a hint of tweedy Bridesheadism (think Bros crossed with Bertie Wooster) you’ll be “rocking” a very “on Trend” look. Oh and go for “smoky eyes” (Not sure if this as in Kipper, B&H or in deed “America’s greatest living poet”) and you’ll be fine.

In an astonishing move the G2 topshopatistas take a pop at Penelope Cruz as if it would possible for her to ever look grim.

As usual us blokes get very little to work with, I’ve lived in London for most of my adult life I have opinions on olives, the colour of walls and the best qualities a half brogue should posses and I also have friends, colleagues and acquaintances from all creeds, backgrounds and who they like to curlupwithisms but I’m not sure I know single chap (or indeed woman) who’d spend 30 quid on a grey checked eye mask. But good luck to those who do, it is all a bit confusing how would you know if anyone was seeing you “rocking” such a great look on the red eye to where ever when a) you’re asleep and B) you wearing a mas….

Anyway off to sort out my autumn wardrobe *digs out overcoat off the rack knocks of the dust decides it probably do for another year and anyway I won’t need it until November*