Now I’m posting the big reveal, it feels a lot less a disclosure and a lot more like a post about nothing of import and of little interest to very few. That being said, it is nonetheless incumbent on me to record the sad loss of a reliable and trustworthy friend of just over ten years – despite the years of loyal service, it was decided we had to update to a newer model or drive our current ally into the ground and hope he lasted longer than we will..
redandwhiterag
Not Again Surely….
I hear you all cry….and so soon after the last visit to Center Parcs (Eleveden Forest) back in July of this very same year. All the reservations hold good, but then so do all the benefits of the attraction, along with the fact that it’s a great place to meet up with our long standing friends from London; and fair is fair, at least Center Parcs provides the facilities required by the couple with whom we were taking the four night break.
Sisterhood….and a touch more
Back to Jazz At The Fleece last Wednesday and also a return for Sarah Jane Morris, who told us quite early on that she had been performing here for nigh on twenty five years. Well, we have certainly not been going to the venue for that length of time, but we did see her in July 2023 when, on that occasion, she was performing the songs of John Martyn – we enjoyed that one so much, we bought the CD on the night.
A Film Review…Surely not!
Yes, it’s true, back to the Riverside for the first time in three years to see & Sons. As usual, we were drawn by the cast rather than the story arc, as we knew little of its premise or the book upon which it is based. But, it had an ensemble cast headed by Bill Nighy and Imelda Staunton, which is attraction enough for me
So Soon (….Old Man)
One long overdue return to a hallowed speedway track and here we are again. I got lucky with this one as I thought I would miss out on seeing Sheffield Tigers at the Foxhall Stadium; they were scheduled to race the week we were up in Sunderland but it got rained off and was rearranged for Monday night. I know, a chance to see Sheffield in action and not on a normal Thursday race night – I was as excited as a very excited thing.
Catsitters Forever…
Or at least it starts to feel like it. 🙂 Third time this year for me, fourth for Mrs. No Name and as we now approach these visits like some sort of ritual the posts are going to get increasingly repetitive. Especially as on this occasion we revisited an increasingly familiar haunt on our return, as well as the usual stop off on the way up.
“Increase” Your Collection….💿
Following on from my belated return to my youth by attending the recent Ipswich Witches speedway meeting, I now find myself reviewing an LP / Cassette / CD series that I first encountered around fifty years ago! But, as it is very much part of the history of R&B, is novel in conception and very well executed, I have no intention of harking back to ‘former glories‘. One word of warning – the sound quality across the series is questionable (variable would also be a fair assessment) so probably not a blindingly obvious choice for any audiophiles out there. However, this is not about the sound, which is very much of its time, but about what the series represents.
A Different Fleece
Back to Fleece Jazz last Wednesday but a very different vibe as we saw the Steely Jazz Quintet who, as the name implies, reimagined a range of Steely Dan numbers within the jazz environment. Actually not that much of a stretch really, as Becker and Fagan were rooted as much in jazz as they were in rock, pop, blues and even a little funk; and of course, they were really immersed in jazz big time by the release of ‘Aja’, when Dan were in essence Becker and Fagan with an assortment of session players and sidemen.
Well It’s…Back To Schooldays!
With heartfelt apologies to all Graham Parker fans out there, a long overdue return to my childhood passion, although this was of course to Foxhall Stadium (home of the Ipswich Witches speedway team) and not to Sheffield Tigers Owlerton Stadium, who were of course my home team throughout my childhood; however my earliest actual, genuine memory was the World Speedway Championship of 1965, when the great Bjorn Knutson was the victor at London Wembley Stadium and which I attended with my extended family. However, I do remember going to Owlerton in the days of the great Billy Bales, who rode for Sheffield from 1965 onwards, so I’m guessing I must have first gone to watch the Tigers from about the age of nine onwards.
Paul Jones And Friends (Ipswich Jazz & Blues)
Sunday afternoon and there we were off to a gig at a new venue for us, hosted by the Ipswich Jazz And Blues Club at Venue 16 and, specifically, in the Willow Suite. No, we have not abandoned “Jazz At The Fleece” and there are gigs lined up there as well, but we thought there was no harm in overviewing the local Fleece equivalent to check it all out. As far as the location is concerned, the venue gets a big thumbs up. A short car journey, plenty of parking and a 250 seater venue at capacity. Excellent bar included!
Or Even Thirds…
Although this title makes no sense unless you’ve been watching very closely indeed…..oh you haven’t, well I forgive you anyway. Our third visit to Center Parcs (Elveden Forest) was a relatively last minute affair, prompted by the news that our friends had booked to go and that, following a frankly horrible series of medical setbacks, it looked as though they would actually be able to make it.
Landguard Point….but not as we know it!
Landguard Point is a historic and scenic headland at the southern tip of Suffolk, England, featuring a fort, nature reserve, and coastal walking. Apparently it is the southernmost point of Suffolk, immediately south of the Port of Felixstowe, and faces Harwich to the west and the reason there is a short passenger ferry crossing from the Fort coastline. But, in big news, Landguard Fort was not the reason for our visit.