Curly's Capers

Selsey Common, near Stroud. Down below a stillness in the valley and little activity  in  the village of Kings Stanley. Last Monday ( 11/ 6 )  D. and I drove up to Selsey Common. It was a perfect Summer's day with clear blue skies and visibility reaching  a distance of over 16 kilometres. Very little wind, uncut grass and no evidence of cows, which often graze upon it. Indeed God was in  his heaven. I sat down, ate my sandwiches and glorified in the scene in front and near me. There is  nothing more to be said. A day to remember. 😁😁😁😁😁😁 Football Analysis  Premier League Predicted                        Actual Final Placing 1 Chelsea                         5th 2  Man Utd.                     2...

Hi All, As you can see, since the last time of posting. I have been laidback and taking it steady, waiting to spring into action. Well May Day arrived and so, as usual it became incumbent for me to wake up a few trees, so knowing bark is worse than bite, I performed the ceremony on my own trees and then headed out to visit more greenery in the nearby area. The above pics come from the  Prinknash Abbey grounds, taken on May Day. In the last photo, you can see the walled garden in the distance. May Bank holiday came and gave us our Euro required summer; which lasted about three days; until normal and sensible  British temperatures prevailed  and our coats went on again. Later on in the month, feeling the feed for a fresh fish, D. and I found ourselves at the Bibury Trout Farm. Bibury Trout Farm Situated, near the town of Cirencester, Bibury is at the epicentre of the Cotswold tourist industry , serving each day mostly visi...

"Conversation is but carving, give no more to any guest, then he is able to digest " So wrote Jonathan Swift ( 1667 -1745 ). I think you will agree, although a memorable quote, it is not the usual fare a mother  gives to a young youth, but in a curious way, it describes the singular person Chris Packham, who finds social intercourse with people difficult and instead uses all his energies in the detailed study of all creatures, big and small. This is Chris's wonderful book "  Fingers in The Sparkle Jar. "  Note the intricate cover with its bird motif and sun peeping through. This is so typical of the care that Chris takes with all his work. There are no photos within the text, yet the eloquent and rich imagery allows the reader in see in the mind's eye a Kestrel swooping; a fish darting and insects swarming. Everything is precise and truthful and what he sees; when he sees it; is recorded. Here is an example of his writing: " Saw the ...

Well here we are again. It's already beginning to seem we've been in the year 2018 for quite a time. Just waiting for the first Snowdrop, to announce Spring is on her way. THE RHYMER'S LAMENT I don’t know where this rhyme is going Because the future is really unknowing  From my thoughts words slowly dribble  But is it really art or merely scribble? Thoughts cascade from my pounding skull Some quite coherent, but mostly, null. I need to assemble the best phrases. To bring a higher quality that raises This snow storm of  useless verbiage  Making heart heavy and eyes squirmiest. Oh to produce a  memorable ode Upon the minds of readers to bestow, a word, a phrase or slight refrain that makes a stay in someone’s brain. So  I’ll look for pearls in oysters and plant myself in quiet cloisters.  Ck 16/01/ '18 I wrote the above piece, using the app " Writr. " This allows you to input a word...

A Good New Year to one and all. Let's start at the end. The following people have all passed away in 2017' Can you guess their names? 1 This lady captained the England ladies’ cricket squad from ’66 to ’78. She was also the first female to score a six. 2  This gentleman was amazing in “The Elephant Man “ . He died aged 77 3 A big favourite of children in the ‘60s and ‘70s, who loved his sheepdog, died aged 88 4 A bit of a scaly,  all his life he duck-rocked up to be one of the first  musicians to be inducted into the Rock ’n ‘ Roll Hall of Fame. He died aged 90.  5  A celebrated  Children’s Author died in London aged 91  not far from a railway station, which bore the name of his best known creation 6 This loved actor, died aged 91 was the only star to appear in all 295 episodes of this popular sitcom. 7  Starred in Coronation Street for many years. She died aged 77 8 Running in the ‘60s and later in the ‘70s it’s ...

It started here: The first concert the Magic Band played  at Shepherds Bush Empire on Monday 7th April 2003. Organised and led by John 'Drumbo ' French (drums, vocals harmonica); the band consisted of Gary Lucas ( guitar); Denny Whalley ( guitar); Mark  ' Rockette Morton ' Boston ( bass)  and Richard Williams ( drums). All had played with Captain Beefheart ( aka Don Van Vliet ) at various times and their mission was to recreate songs from the Beefheart canon. Fast forward fourteen years and we arrive here: The Magic Band Farewell Tour to which I attended with friend K. last Monday 20th November 2017 at The Fleece, Bristol. Here's a thought. How many bands with great musicians after an interval of fourteen years still charge the same for their tickets ? Not many I venture. Arriving early I quickly grabbed the latest tour T shirt; still selling for a modest fifteen pounds. Pulling rabbits out of a hat indeed. The 'F...