Friday, September 30, 2016

Boing boom tschak...

Playlist
Various - Cloudland Blue Eclectic Selection 2016
King Crimson - Tour 2016
Kraftwerk - Minimum Maximum
Messiaen - Turangalîla Symphonie

September gone...
A lovely morning...





...midway through which, came news from Dr Prog that we will see Kraftwerk in Edinburgh next June for an eye-watering £82 each...

I've worked out that if I put 32p into the Silver Cat every day between now and the gig...


...I'll get my £82 back...

Result...

Boing boom tschak...

Some TV watched and some nice sustenance from the EP and some music listened to...

It's all good...

Highlight of the Day : Kraftwerk tickets...

Thursday, September 29, 2016

The art of surprise...

Playlist
Various - Cloudland Blue Eclectic Selections 2016
Prokofiev - Piano Sonatas 6 - 8
Tiësto - Just Be
King Crimson - King Crimson 2016 Tour
Steven Tyler - We're All Somebody From Somewhere
Peter Gabriel - Us
Peter Gabriel - Digging in the Dirt (Single)


A bit of a Peter Gabriel debut album thing going on this morning...


By the time I got into town for some chat on the state of the world, things were looking a little better - at least on the weather front...


This evening an excellent suggestion from the EP led to a stroll to a nearby Indian we've not been to since it was opening around 5 years ago - Spice Lounge Kitchen...

Top notch...



Home and some Prokofiev listening...

And, on TV "Red Dwarf XI" and "NEw Girl" enetertained too...

Highlight of the Day : Surprise Indian...

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

The inability to abstain...

Playlist
Various - Cloudland Blue Eclectic Selections 2016
Mark Farner - Wake Up
Lana del Rey - Ultraviolence
Lana del Rey - Honeymoon

The view from the office this morning...

Good skies...





I've been trying to abstain from CD buying but, in the British Heart Foundation shop, as a Grand Funk Railroad fan, I could not less this God-bothering solo album from Mark Farner pass me by - especially when the price was merely 99 pence...


Then, a trip to Fopp, and they had more of these 20th Century discs for £3 so three of those were snapped up...




...while these (also £3 each) Lana del Rey albums are chalk full of melancholia doused in mellotron...


What's not to like?


Idiot...

Home late after a particularly testing day in the business of the bringing home of the bacon which allows me to maintain my status as a dilettante...

As a consequence, "DCI Banks" took priority over listening but I had the chance to sample a couple of items later on...

Just as well this week's podcast was already in the bag...

Hihglight of the Day : New music...

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

The best things are not usually to do with the collection of bacon...

Playlist
Various - Cloudland Blue Eclectic Selections 2016

Recording the links for the podcast 1st thing...


In the daylight hours, bacon being brought home - which the podcasts certainly don't do, although they are more fun...

The world of a dilettante...

In the evening, editing the podcast together - including a "world exclusive" from Edward Spark (and another from, ahem, CBQ)...


On telly, promising new comedy with Jo Brand, Alan Davies and the actor Kevin Eldon, "Damned", entertained well and was followed by the inevitable Tuesday night delight that is "Holby"...

Lights out with the new podcast in the cans...

Highlight of the Day : Podcasting, nothing to do with bacon...

Monday, September 26, 2016

Good skies and a good score...

Playlist
Various - Cloudland Blue Eclectic Selections 2016
Ray Davies - The Songs Of Ray Davies - Waterloo Sunset
Scarlatti - Keyboard Sonatas
Grumbling Fur - A Grumbling Fur Selection 2011-2016
Stevie Wonder - Innervisions (RM)
Pixies - Surfer Rosa
The Four Tops - Motown's Greatest Hits
Alban Berg Quartett - 20th Century Masterpieces
Chopin - The Complete Chopin Edition - 200th Anniversary

A picturesque morning...

The view from the office...


...and making my way down Crispycat Hill...




The beast was about its business...



This evening, a score of 160 between the Exec Producer and I on "University Challenge".  I think that qualifies as being "on fire"...

That and "Cold Feet" were the TV highlights...

Meanwhile, the eclectic selection of music for this week's podcast was also finalised...

Lights out...

Highlight of the Day : Good skies and a good score...

Sunday, September 25, 2016

Discovering I'm a dilettante...

Playlist
Rush - Working Men
Bosso - Symphony 1 : Oceans
Wolfe - Cruel Sister
Albinoni - Complete Oboe Concertos
Grand Funk Railroad - Good Sungin' Good Playin'
Laura Pausini - Similares
Grand Funk Railroad - All the Girls in the World Beware
Grand Funk Railroad - Bosnia
Grumbling Fur - A Grumbling Fur Selection 2011-2016
J S Bach - English Suites (Angela Hewitt)
Handel - Oboe Concertos
Argent - Encore : Live in Concert

The view from the office this morning...


Updating the red book of CDs acquired as I move past 8,500 - I have almost 400 days worth of music in my iTunes...

Before...


After...


A tasty breakfast at home again...

Morning listening to Albinoni - and, reading the sleeve notes...


...I realised I am, in fact, a dilettante, in the original sense of the word, devoting my life to art without making it my main occupation...


I also discovered that Albinoni was assisted by the Pirate Bay of his day, which kind of went on to become the Spotify of his day...


Weird...

Meanwhile, Anne was hedge-cutting...


I went out to help and noted this wee thing left behind by the kids next door...


Out to my mum's...

The plants are still alive after three weeks...


...and mum still likes a chocolate biscuit...
...but is also still a reluctant photo subject...


Home around 3:15 and, then, a walk to Jane and Bobby's through the rain...






...for a tasty tea and much wine, chat and fun...


...with my favourite (ok, only) niece...


By the time we left, the (blurily pictured) kids had retired to more interesting stuff via technology in the comfort of their bedrooms...



A bus home and writing this up while Anne enjoyed "Victoria"...

Weekend over...

highlight of the day : Discovering I'm a dilettante...

Saturday, September 24, 2016

Sometimes things creep up on you...

Playlist
The Four Tops - Motown's Greatest Hits
Various - The Listening Room Volume II
Wolfe - Dark Full Ride
Cloudland Blue Quartet - Rubinmusik 1977-2016
King Crimson - King Crimson 2016 Tour
Edward Spark - 1.9.7.FOUR
Pixies - Come On Pilgrim
Pixies - Surfer Rosa
Stevie Wonder - Innervisions (RM)
Ligeti - Atmospheres
Dutilleux - Concertos for Violin and Cello
Captain Beefheart - The Best Of Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band: The Virgin & Liberty Years
The Beach Boys - Surfin' Safari
Chopin - The Complete Chopin Edition - 200th Anniversary
Scarlatti - Keyboard Sonatas
Alban Berg Quartett - 20th Century Masterpieces
Ray Davies - The Songs Of Ray Davies - Waterloo Sunset
Liszt - Symphonic Poems 7, 9 & 10
Public Policy - PP 8 26 2016
Ezio Bosso - The 12th Room
Ezio Bosso - Works
Eric Clapton - I Still Do
Bad Company - The Summit, Houston, Texas - 23rd May 1977
Bad Company - Empire Pool, Wembley, London - 9th March 1979
Walter Trout - Walter Trout
Steven Tyler - We're All Somebody From Somewhere
Rush - Working Men
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Southern Surroundings: The Ultymate Skynyrd Collection
Genesis - Trespass
Kraftwerk - Expo2000
Don Ellis Orchestra - Electric Bath
Laura Pausini - Similares
Wolfe - Cruel Sister

The view from the office this morning...


Autumn has arrived over the last week...


I did not leave the house...

A nice breakfast at home...

Whilst writing up yesterday's blog, I was watching ballet on YouTube and downloading some Julia Wolfe music when I stumbled across this...


As a consequence, I spent much of the next few hours collecting and listening to the work of Italian composer Ezio Bosso...

Nice...

Some work rejigging CDs...


After Anne had left for Tynecastle - both our teams drew 0-0 to eventual 10 man opponents at home today - top of the table Queens played Hibs, 2nd in the league and so "we" remain top and unbeaten - Hearts remain 2nd in teh top division but may be overhauled tomorrow by Aberdeen, who play Scotland's newest team - anyway, while Anne was away, the rejigging continued around the room...




The lovely Polish family who have lived next door moved away today - the guy who owns the house boosted their rent by 25% making it unaffordable for them...

So sad as they bade their final farewell and set off on their bikes, having moved all their stuff over the last week or so...

They gave us some Polish sweets...



I hope they'll be happy in their new place, just a couple of miles away...

A lovely Mexican for tea from Anne's expert hand...

"Strictly" is back...

I actually quite enjoy it,,,

It always reminds me of Sister Pam - her last night out of hospital was spent with us nearly five years ago now- an Indian takeaway and "Strictly" - she loved that show...

A massive seizure in the night and it was the beginning of the end...

Dreadful, dreadful times...

That'll do...

Highlight of the Day : Anne's cooking and new discoveries...