James Taylor and The Baby Hedgehogs

What a busy 24 hours!

Yesterday afternoon we went down to stay with The Willow Lady and after dinner the 3 of us went to see James Taylor at The BIC in Bournemouth.  It was a beautifully warm summer’s evening (in fact just like the first time I saw James in Cardiff about 10 years ago).  We had reasonably good seats and were delighted to see that he had his band with him … and in particular that he’d brought Arnold McCuller who has a stunning voice and who makes “Shower The People” a spine-tingling experience. “Too Good” according to JT.

He ended the concert with my favourite JT song “You Can Close Your Eyes”.  The whole of the audience by now had been on their feet for some time and as I looked around they were completely spellbound.  Bliss.

A review is in The Bournemouth Daily Echo

Whilst away, I started Dawn French’s book “Dear Fatty” and am at that “good book” stage where I want to rush ahead to see what comes next but at the same time want to slow down so that I can savour it.

So, after a leisurely breakfast this morning, we drove back home and helped the younger Mr Dancing move some of his gear into his new flat.

After lunch we walked  into town to see some of the beautiful open gardens which beckon at this time of year.   We popped into a favourite haunt for a pot of tea and then made our way up to a friend’s open garden and were asked if we could spot the caterpillar (an elongated hedge) and Mrs Thatcher (a stone gargoyle head positioned by the compost bin where she reigns as “Queen of the Compost”)

On our way back, we spotted a young man in the river, fly-fishing ….

Back home, Mr Dancing spotted 2 baby hedgehogs near the summerhouse and then another at the bottom of the garden!

Desert Island MP3s

A little while ago, I was tagged by Jennie over at Jennie’s World Today

1. Name five songs or pieces of music that you would take with you to a desert island for an extended/indefinite stay;
2. Name the book you would take
3. Finally, name one luxury item that you simply couldn’t be without (this sort of assumes that you are dumped on the island with very limited resources and very little in the way of a set up camp).

This was the subject of much discussion between Mr Dancing and me.  To choose only five pieces of music is very difficult but, as it’s only an imaginary island I’m going to, I shan’t worry too much about it.  My decision depends on my mood at the time, so let’s go for it NOW.

My 5 pieces of music are as follows:

1  I just LOVE Eric Bibb and would choose his amusing Panama Hat because the lyrics are so appropriate for a desert island.  I can find neither the song nor the lyrics at the moment so, although it’s cheating, I’ll post this YouTube clip of another song I’ve seen him perform – at least he’s WEARING the panama hat!

2  One of James Taylor’s songs HAS to be included too and I’m going to choose Close Your Eyes from the 1971 album Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon.  I hope he sings it when I see him in June. (The YouTube sound is not great on this rather old clip but you get the idea)

3  Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto – totally beautiful and to be listened to with closed eyes a la James Taylor’s instruction in the  previous song!

4 Something by The Spooky Men’s Chorale of Australia -  probably The Beatles’ And I Love Her… again I hope to see them in the summer.

5 Something by Bruce Springsteen …. Philadelphia would do nicely.

As I enjoy his programmes so much the book will have to be  Ray Mears Outdoor Survival Handbook

My luxury item, given that there probably wouldn’t be an Internet connection,would be a wind-up radio with which I might, with a bit of luck, be able to listen to Radio 4.

Thanks Jennie – that was good fun.

As Jennie mentioned in her post if anyone wants to take part, feel free but do post a comment so I can be nosey too!

7 favourite albums

I was tagged by Carol of Carol for Peace

THE RULES
1. Post your list of the seven best albums, the seven bloggers you will tag, a copy of these rules, and a link back here.
2. Each person tagged will put a URL to their Blogger Album Project post along with a list of the seven best albums in the comment section here.
3. Feel free to post the “I Contributed to the Blogger Album Project” Award Graphic (found here) on your sidebar.
4. Post a link back to the blogger who tagged you.

It was SO difficult to choose JUST seven of my favourite albums … should I include Coldplay, T Rex, Moby, The Eagles and Chicane? In the end I decided to choose my favourite albums of singers I have actually SEEN!  This helped narrow things down  – I was tempted to include The Kinks (I saw them at Exeter University SO long ago – but I never had one of their albums)

So … in no particular order we have …

James Taylor: Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon – a VERY difficult decision but as I LOVE Close Your Eyes and that early James Taylor voice, this had to be it

The Guillemots:  Through the Windowpane - have just seen them and love this CD which is for playing in the car at the moment

Paul Simon:  Graceland 

Eric Bibb:  Roadworks (my copy is signed by him so I like it twice!)

Alan Price:  A Price on His Head – one of the first albums I ever bought – great Randy Newman cover songs - love Living Without You

Scissor Sisters: Scissor Sisters (they were the support band for Elton John … but I think I preferred THEM)

Spooky Men’s Chorale: Stop Scratching It - hilariously funny Aussies who sing a capella beautifully - this was chosen because of Lightpole and The Fiddle and the Drum

In turn, I am going to tag:-

Bloomin’ Myrtle
Lace Hearts
Country Bliss
Dolly Dollop
Mary Poppins
Notes from the Frugal Trenches
Shabby Angel

The Guillemots

I dragged some of my family to see The Guillemots in Bath last evening.  I was going for the title of the oldest member of the audience and I think that I qualified!  I had to stuff cottonwool into my ears due to my tinnitus and did worry about the damage being done to younger ears as the sound was so LOUD (although possibly not as loud as when I went to see Meatloaf years ago).

The Gs were brilliant … Fyfe sang “Little Bear” beautifully (love his voice) - also other favourites of mine: Made Up Love Song No 43 and of course, Trains to Brazil.