Curly's Capers

"We are such stuff as dreams are made on, rounded with a little sleep"  The Tempest; William Shakespeare. Certainly last Saturday (16/ 4) was one for the dreamers. It started so strangely with the weather which might have prompted the Bard to say," we have seen better days." Timon of Athens." For in heavy rain, at 6:45am, I drove daughter d to the nearby bus stop, only to see snowflakes falling from the sky and the temperature at freezing point. I pondered whether today's match would turn out to be ' A Winter's Tale,' or indeed would it survive the dreaded pitch inspection. Thankfully due to the vagaries of the English climate, by eleven o'clock the precipitation ceased, the temperature moved up and even the clouds went walk about. Making sure I had my required red robin coloured warmth on, I boarded the bus and arrived at my favourite watering hole ' The Bay's ' at half past twelve. Daughter d soon arrived back from work a...

This is a picture of the Late Captain Beefheart ( Don Van Vliet ) One of the few that I know being unshaven . I was reminded of his iconic album "Trout Mask Replica" I mention the good Captain , because recently the actual photo of Don with his carp mask and tall hat on has come to light. Owing to a technical fault with my Mac , I cannot show it to you now, but will do so when the problem has been fixed. Released in 1969 "  Trout  Mask Replica "  is a special album, containing many forms of music and sounds. Indeed so much has been written about, the making; the players; the lyrics, that even after all this dissection, it retains an unique place in Rock history. I haven't checked this, but I wouldn't be surprised if someone has a doctorate through study of this record. I am re-reading "  Riding Some Kind of Unusual Skull Sleigh"  by W. C. Bamberger, which looks at the arts of Don Van Vliet. Here he writes about " Pachuco Cadaver "  a ...

First Record Matters ( 1957- 1969) I paused. And thought it started for me with British Steele- Tommy Steele. His ‘Handful of Songs’ propelled me onwards, found me,  a Diana on The 'Last Train To San  Fernando ' and pretty soon I was putting on the style with Lonnie. I reflected.  My new number was forty five bringing me a 'Whole Lotta Woman', a' Purple People Eater' and soon succumbed me to chirping crickets full of Holly.' Oh Boy' did I' Rave On.' I remembered. 'Come On' it's 1962 and  time for the Stones to start rolling with album covers which bore no script and also to bring white blues here, Satisfaction  was  guaranteed with Them Pretty Things howling at wolves and drinking muddy waters and always  prowled  at by geordie Animals. I recollect. 'Strange Days' ahead. The doors of perception opened And Love and the Byrds flew into the grooves, whilst Jimi M...

" The safest way to write a diary was to imagine Stalin reading every word.  Even exercising this degree of caution there was the risk of a slipped phrase, accidental ambiguity- a misunderstood sentence. " So starts " Agent 6 "  by  Tom Rob Smith.  This being the third book in his Russian trilogy which began with " Child 44 "   followed by "  The Secret Speech. " These books have been literary delights, ensuring rapid page turning. The subject matter is grim and stark; namely life under the rule of Stalin and later his successor Khrushchev in communist Russia. Our 'hero'  Leo Demidov who has periods working for the MGB and KGB has targets to meet. They are the number of state 'traitors ' he has found and denounced. Nobody, including families are safe from being convicted for crimes, which usually meant execution or labour intensive imprisonment in the harsh realities of the Gulags  Once this fear o...

Why is it as we get older,  do the little things seem to bother us so much? Even approaching seventy years I still get anxious if I misplace my toys. I expect them to be in my designated space, when  even if I'm not using them at the time, I still know where they can be found. This is irrational behaviour, but I guess it's just the way I have constructed my personal ' bubble ' over the years, allowing meaningless routines to become part and parcel of my daily life. I mention all this because we have come to the season of Easter; a time of rebirth and renewal, when we, like the clocks move forward and begin planning for the Summer ahead. It is an occasion when we need to take stock and  reaffirm the important and eternal values, that really matter in ours lives. Reaching out to our families and friends and comforting them when necessary and at the same time receiving comfort from them, even if it's merely their presence. Checking health issues and seeking to im...

And so the stands emptied; the horses went back to their stables; the punters went to spend their winnings and the losers still drank to consider what might have been. In essence the National Hunt festival was over for 2016. What, as a mere televiewer, were my highlights of the four days? 1  Seeing jockey Ruby Walsh, riding in his pomp. With seven winners in the bag, Ruby rode immaculately. Horses, like people go better when a confident approach is used. No one presents his mounts to fences better than Ruby. He can see a stride and instils  a calm demeanour from his horse. He only pushes out his horse when he needs to  in a close finish. He is always modest in victory, making a point of praising the trainer and stable staff. In defeat he is gracious towards the victor. He has now accumulated 50 + winners over the years at the festival. An achievement that may never be matched. Long may he continue. 2  The quality of the Irish trained horses, with thi...

The Waiting Room All  human emotion spills into The Waiting room.  We greet, chat,hug and reminisce  In the Waiting room.   While some just look  or watch In the Waiting room. Pondering the slow advance of time In the Waiting room. Other people arrive for the next service  In the Waiting room. We file out leaving empty spaces In the Waiting room. They will rapidly fill again In the Waiting room. Perhaps our lives take place In Waiting rooms. Getting ready for the occasion,  When it comes to our turn, not to Enter Into  the Waiting room. Ck. 12 / 03 /'16. ZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZ Last Thursday D and d and I visited the market town of Ledbury just inside the county boundary of Herefordshire. It is always an interesting place with some original shops. One such was " Tinsmiths."  It is situated a the end of a narrow alley. I particularly liked th...