w.atching the w.orld unw.ind

Today's lyric:
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"Come with me where the air is free and spirits can in harmony unite
Swim with me in the rainbow sea - we're strangers to catastrophe tonight

Where all the clocks tell different times
And no-one finds the time to be uptight
Where sweet suggestions grow on trees
And love explodes as well indeed it might."

Ian Dury and The Blockheads: "Honeysuckle Highway"
From the album: "Mr Love Pants"

Turned a corner on my way in to the capitol and was struck blind by a brilliant, low sun that was impossible to see against.

And this in what should be one of the darkest months of our Earthyear?

I'd forgotten about the sinking yacht image in the surreal cover for the Blockheads' album (see above) and perchaste for me by Mr and Mrs Buddy1 some moons ago.

Today's lyric:
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"So you stumble into town and hold your stomach in.
Show them what you've got though they've seen everything.
Yeah you're a beauty but they've seen your type before.
You've got no need but still you want,
So go and book that restaurant.
The wine will flow and then you'll just fly away."

Pulp: "I'm a man"
From the album: "This is hardcore"

Bit of a break in transmission, there.

Did not pass Go and collect the 200 quid. Went directly to S6 for training. That's me doing the training, not me being trained, btw.

Six one-on-one sessions of 1 hour+, tailored on the fly to suit each individual.

Veerryy tiring indeed.

Zzzzz....

Today's lyric:
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"Peace with my stomach the sky is inside her
Open the window to let her breathe
Patch up the scars with some cardboard and karma
Trust this is far beyond what I need
Turn around to eat for I will
Blind myself to joyfully kill
One dozen wicked words to find
I know we'll start again sometimes."

Longpigs: "Dozen wicked words"
From the album: "The sun is often out"

So Buddy and I went here again (with what's becoming a traditional pizza meal to see us through the evening session - ta, matey) and were again very glad we'd made the effort.

Terence Stamp introduced the proceedings, with "I'm not a good scuba diver. My (younger) wife is. She's now into free-diving. (long pause) I may lose her..."

Rick Stanton was announced as "a troglodyte who's been deeper in Wookey Hole than Harrison Ford in the gay re-make of Star Wars" and proceeded to improvise during his talk as the slide/video show gremlins struck. The guy's a mentallist, though, because he's not formally scuba-trained but spends weekends underground and in water "not knowing, literally, what's around the next bend, how deep, up or down, whether it's a dead end or not?" And lugging 120kg of kit. Not for the faint-hearted.

Frank Gardner was genuinely un-selfconscious about his disability and drew a graphic image of himself standing (neutrally buoyant) on the deck of the Thistlegorm "in my Leonardo DiCaprio moment."

Monty Halls was his usual, natural comedic self and had taken the time to video the cameramen who filmed his "Great Ocean Adventures Two" ("a title brilliantly created by Peregrine and Tarquin in full creative flow").

The best clip was of a 14' saltwater crocodile, which they decided to film using a shark cage. Trouble is, salties are very flat compared to sharks and it is possible (as we saw) for them to get their gobs three feet into the cage - cue mayhem amongst the snappers!

A great evening - capped by seeing Tony, who taught us both to scuba-dive and who is a mate of Rick Stanton. Lookin' good, Tony!

Enjoy your weekends, y'all.

Labels: scuba

Today's lyric:
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"I'll meet'ya on a bus at dawn - an open top one if it's warm?
And if the flowers are in bloom, I'll lose myself to you.
I'll be whistling down a street - you'll hear our footsteps start to meet?
Then the craziness begins
An' like chalk and cheese, we'll shoot the breeze
Heading up west - in an open top deck
Trying to remember just what for..."
Paul Weller: "Clues"
From the album: "Paul Weller"

as to where buddy and I are going to again tonight...

Labels: scuba

Today's lyric:
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"Through the haze the sun goes down
It's getting late, let's hit the town
Call some friends to paint it red
Feed the animal in your head."

The Levellers: "Just the one"
From the album: "One way of life"

NOD had her 25th bash chez nous last night.

25, eh?

'Normal terms' in motorinsurancespeak.

Who'da thunk it.

No pictures, though. Terribly remiss. Not alone, though..

Today's lyric:
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"I work hard every day of my life
I work till I ache my bones
At the end (of the day) I take home my hard-earned pay
All on my own
I get down on my knees and I start to pray
'Til the tears run down from my eyes
Lord, somebody, ooh somebody, can anybody find me - somebody to love?"

Queen feat. George Michael: "Somebody to love"
From the album: "Greatest Hits Volume 3"

Now that the kittens have learned how to scale the heights that is our bed, we have any permutation of five Burmese sharing our cot at night. (Sometimes, even I think we need sherpas to get us to Base Camp)

And they've also learned the art of purring - although it's more like a cross between a geiger counter and communicating bottle-nose dolphins. So you only have to stir in the night and there's a rattling in one or t'other ear..

Fortunately, Amstel Boy is being taken to learn Pompey on Saturday, so that reduces the combination to four max.

Now maybe it's because I had an alcohol-free evening, I had some odd dreams last night.

The main one was probably sparked by an earlier e-mail from someone.

I was at an open day at The Coven, which seemed to be like some feast happening and I was helping to guard the food tables from marauding locals. As a reward, mr bw showed me what appeared - in a Wallace and Gromit (The Wrong Trousers) moment - to be the bottom half of a bear. And you climbed in and operated it by manipulating a marionette (also bisected). Though why on earth, I have no idea. It wasn't as if you could fly in it - or even run fast?

But his piece de resistance was a thought-operated submersible, just big enough for one person, and just as I climbed in... a bloody kitten started to geigerclick in my ear.

It could just be that - sub-consciously - I was thinking of things to occupy mr bw while the Familiar's away, as they say?

Perhaps a poker evening? Paint-balling day? Lap-dancing clubs?

Anyway, when the alarm went off at 5:45 this morning, Mr Michael's version of "Somebody to love" was on my mind and lips, so that's why you've got that lyric for today. Ok?

Labels: kittens

Today's lyric:
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"Say it if you want to and say it if you will
But if you don't say what you are thinkin'
No, I won't take too kindly to it.
And all I want is something special,
And you can't give it to me,
And all you do is lie to me."

The Cranberries: "Liar"
From the album: "Everybody else is doing it, so why can't we?"

to S6, for a round of meetings, so will have to call on you all later...

Today's lyric:
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"Dark skies fall on black earth and ivory.
Far from your sun, clouds now close over me.

How far to go?
I cannot say.
How many more will journey this way?"

Enya: "Storms in Africa"
From the album: "Watermark"

Well, that were a windy trip home, and no mistake.

But despite the fact that London Bridge station had been closed (part of the roof blown off) and the world and his dog de-camped to Victoria, I was only 15 minutes late home, so could've been worse?

More to come tonight, though, according to the Met?

So batten your hatches and have a great weekend, y'all.

Today's lyric:
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"Japanese god-jesus robots telling teenage fortunes
For all we know and all we care they might as well be Martians
They say gold paint on the palace gates comes from the teeth of pensioners
They're so tired of shooting protest singers that they hardly mention us
While fountains fill with second-hand perfume and sodden trading stamps
They'll hang the bullies and the louts to dampen down the day."

Elvis Costello: "Tokyo Storm Warning"
From the album: "Blood and Chocolate"

With the prescience of a young(ish) Michael Fish, I was yesterday bemoaning the fact that the weather has been foul, ever since Ol' Sparky and me decided to wet the rods?

And now, by all the gods, they've cooked up a Force 9er, straight up the snotter!

Bet you've got a good view from the beach-front, Buddy?

Today's lyric:
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"Life is timeless, days are long when you're young
You used to fall in love with everyone
Any guitar and any bass drum
Life is a drink and you get drunk when you're young
Life is new and there are things to be done
You can't wait to be grown up
Acceptance into the capital world
You pull on some weed, then you pull on someone
When you're young."

The Jam: "When you're young"
From the album: "Live Jam"

It seems that ever since Ol' Sparky and me decided to organise a boat fishing trip, hooligan winds and tempestuous seas have appeared on a daily basis to thwart us?

C'mon, buddy, who do we need to pray to to get us some whiting-bashing weather?

Today's lyric:
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"Darlin', if you would love me, and if you know how I feel
Would you do anything for me, woman?
To help me understand?
To help me live again?
Darlin' it would never, never be the same
Without you."

Spirit: "Darlin', if"
From the album: "The family that plays together"

Way back in pre-history, while I was still a student at college and working in the local brewery during the summer holidays, I happened across another student labourer in the canteen, just finishing reading a massive book.

"Hey, Hack, you into the Bible, then?"

"The foreman* can call me by my surname, but that doesn't give you the right to", he glowered back.

"Er, sorry mate - just thought that was a cool nickname? You know, like Derfy that drives the forklift - 'cos his name's Fred, but he's backward?"**

"Actually, it's called "Lord of the Rings". If you can finish it before the end of the holidays, you can borrow it."

So I did, and I did. And I've read it many, many times since. The latest copy being one that Ol' Sparky gave me.

But back to the thread. Turned out Hack (forgotten his first name) was studying to be a marine biologist - which was cool, back then - and in exchange for the book loan (and now that the name thing confusion was all sorted) I gave him a lift home on the back of my motorbike.***

And he lent me the above album, which I then had to buy for myself, it were that good. Although I still have the vinyl copy, I've been trying for years to get the cd, and it seems that Amazon or whoever are finally re-releasing it, so I've pre-ordered a copy. I recommend it to the House.

* my dad
** yes, I know, very non-PC. But the lad answered to it, so...
*** Passed the test first time, despite turning right (into a dead end) instead of left, after the examiner's first instruction. Fortunately, he'd walked off to meet me elsewhere, which is how bike tests worked back then. Not sure if it's the same today? Can anyone enlighten?

Labels: Music

Today's lyric:
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"I was in love with you, baby, before I learned to call your name
I was in love with you, baby, before I learned to call your name
Now you're in love with someone else, you're bound to drive poor me insane."

Rod Stewart: "Highgate Shuffle"
From the album: "Unplugged ... and seated"

After an extremely inactive weekend, I'm almost over the manflu.

That is all.

Labels: Health

Today's lyric:
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"Your face was blue in the light of the screen
As we watched the speech of an animal scream
The new party army was marching right over our heads."

The Clash: "English Civil War"
From the album: "Give 'em enough rope"

Ooh, I'm feeling well subversive..

I cannot understand how, in a supposedly democratic country, one oleaginous little sh1t of a leech at the top of our greasy pole was able to - virtually single-handedly - drag us into a bunfight with his IQ-challenged mate, who started it (again) just to prove he's better than his old man.

Oh, and maybe grab a couple of cans of crude while we're there? Y'know, just in case the 'Fuel low' light on the limo's dash comes on.

And how that same Texan tw@t can get away - against, belatedly, now the whole of his own country's desires - with sending even more terrorist fodder into the cross-hairs of a rocket grenade launcher. Or a simple Molotov cocktail. Fcuk knows, they've got enough of the stuff to fill a few milk bottles.

I reckon we could get a couple of mouth breathers to wander around with narrow-meshed nets on long sticks, nabbing some of our politicos as they slide out of their electorate-sponsored Yagwaars and hold the b@st@rds to ransom until someone sees sense.

And I hazard that NiC would be just the chap to plan anarchy?

And BW could make honey sandwiches for half-time? Yeah, and those size 8's - properly shod - could be employed for some surreptitious 'rib-tickling' when they're writhing on the deck, begging for the mercy they won't grant to us?

I really must stop watching Question Time on a school night.

But it was great sport watching Jabba The Hut - a.k.a. Lord Falconer - vainly trying to quell an articulately-hostile audience and defend His Tonyness' failure to apologise for rogering this country on a grand scale and daily basis.

Now I love a drinker - especially when he finally admits to being one - and it was worth staying awake to hear Charles Kennedy say to Jabba "Charles, you're an eminent QC, but I wouldn't want you to defend me in court".

So, enjoy your weekends, y'all. And if any of you Witanagemot bods want to meet me at the PoW gates, wearing ski masks, bring a lighter, 'cos I don't smoke.

Read more about things that mystify others at participating Bloghuh? blogs this week:



Alley Kat
Blue Witch
bob's yer uncle
Changing Places
Depthmarker
In the Aquarium
Jen&HerBoat
Kitchen Witch
La Que Sabe
London Daily Photo
Pewari's Prattle
Purple Pen
Quixotic Evil
Santiago Dreaming
Tabula Rasa
Tiger Feet
Who Knows Where Thoughts Come From?
wintermute

Today's lyric:
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"It may look to the untrained eye, I'm sitting on my arse all day
And I'm biding my time until I take you all on.
My Lords and Ladies, I will prevail, I cannot fail.
'Cos I spy."

Pulp: "I spy"
From the album: "Different Class"

Okay, enough maudlinness already. Number One Son will bury the poor mite today, and that's an end of it.

Now. When you build a magnificent structure like the QE2 Bridge, which spans a river which faces the English Channel, you must expect it to get a bit windy up there, betimes.

And therefore potentially dangerous for traffic to use it.

So, bearing in mind the enormous cost of its construction anyway (which, incidentally, has now been fully repaid by the tolls, but Mr Bliar decided to carry on charging anyway - another effin' mystery in itself!) why didn't the architects design sidewalls made from swivelling louvre blades, which could be rotated to deflect and diffuse storm-force gales and prevent the bloody thing from having to be shut down every time they have to reach for the Beaufort Scale?

I spent seven years commuting through the tunnels and over the bridge every day and I know what mayhem there's going to be there today when they divert southbound traffic off the bridge and - against the flow - through one of the northbound tunnels.

The amount of unnecessary pollution and waste of fuel will be incalculable...

Read more about things that mystify others at participating Bloghuh? blogs this week:


Blue Witch
bob's yer uncle
Changing Places
Depthmarker
In the Aquarium
Jen&HerBoat
Kitchen Witch
La Que Sabe
London Daily Photo
Purple Pen
Quixotic Evil
Santiago Dreaming
Tabula Rasa
Who Knows Where Thoughts Come From?

Today's lyric:
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"Stinky weather, fat shaky hands
Dopey morning Doc, grumpy gnomes
Little wonder then, little wonder
You little wonder, little wonder you."

David Bowie: "Little Wonder"
From the album: "Earthling"

So, you poor, sad little bag of bones.

The vet herself didn't give you good odds and, to be truthful, none of us thought you'd make it.

Named after the Lord of the Rings character, because of your crabbed gait, which was caused by your flat-chested kitten problem, and with a heart murmur to boot, it really was only a matter of time. And last night, having given it your best shot, you decided to time out.

You were still the cutest, though..

Labels: kittens

Today's lyric:
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"If I start this small debate
The centre of the universe is gone for sale
So my melody should fall - the tune is unimportant as I said before
If I could tell you how it seems, I would."

Mansun: "Mansun's only love song"
From the album: "Attack of the grey lantern"

Why do the authorities introduce congestion charges, to reduce private traffic and encourage use of public transport, then allow fare hikes on the buses and trains/Tube, which leads you to believe that we should all be commuting by Shank's pony? No-one does this daily grind for the sheer bloody fun of it, doncha know.

(London) businesses will not see their workforce diminish because of fare costs, so will pay their staff more, to compensate for their travel and then will pass the increased expenditure onto their customers, therefore fuelling inflation.

There may well be an element of altruism in every firm but businesses are - strangely enough - there to make money. Their purpose is the pursuit of profit and most will succeed, despite the attempts of government et al to thwart them (and even though corporate taxation helps to keep these very regimes going?)

Can anyone explain the 'logic'?

Read more about things that mystify others at participating Bloghuh? blogs this week:


Blue Witch

bob's yer uncle

Depthmarker

Jen&HerBoat

Kitchen Witch

Purple Pen

Santiago Dreaming

Who Knows Where Thoughts Come From

Today's lyric:
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"Well they want to knock us down 'cos they think we're scum
But we will all be waiting when the bulldozers come
In a neighbourhood like this, you know it's hard to survive
But they'd better come prepared 'cos they won't take us alive."

Space: "Neighbourhood"
From the album: "Spiders"

Picking up from Witchy's lead, I'd like to know how, as we work in completely separate environments, Mrs.D. and I can get the same cold at the same time (rib-busting sneezes, running then blocked noses, inability to sleep unless upright) and recover virtually simultaneously?

I mean, I know that after 35+ years together, we can almost read each other's thoughts, but a parallel virus?

Read more about things that mystify others at participating blogs this week:


Blue Witch

bob's yer uncle

Depthmarker

Jen&HerBoat

Kitchen Witch

Purple Pen

Santiago Dreaming

Who Knows Where Thoughts Come From

Today's lyric:
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"I can't keep my mind off you
No matter what I try and do
You don't know what I'm going through
Maybe you're coming too?
It's up to you."

Tea and Symphony: "Maybe my mind (with egg)"
From the album: "An asylum for the musically insane"

Usually - when you can see it - the dawn appears through the carriage windows, painting the sky in lovely warm tones of crimson, scarlet and purple.

This morning, though, the light was ethereally white, as if a fluorescent tube was being fired up with a dimmer switch.

Even though the winter is still unseasonably mild, it actually looked cold?

Truly, the cold light of day.

But whatever, another dawn means another day. And that can't be all bad.

Enjoy your weekends, y'all.

Labels: Commute

Today's lyric:
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"Blank Frank has a memory that's as cold as an iceberg
The only time he speaks is in incomprehensible proverbs
Blank Frank is the siren, he's the air-raid, he's the crater.
He's on the menu on the table, he's the knife and he's the waiter."

Brian Eno: "Blank Frank"
From the album: "Here come the warm jets"

Not much happening here.. need some inspiration?

Anyone?

Today's lyric:
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"As I stepped out upon the landing my heart was already down the stairs
She's in the bedroom with that boy of hers
Though her face is creased and her eyes seem strange
There's a second-hand emotion on a battered forty-five
My tears were never enough to keep that girl alive
Now she seems contrite will she make the change?"

Elvis Costello: "Next time 'round"
From the album: "Blood and chocolate"

Well. Happy New Year, y'all.

Yes, I know it's already 3/2007, but while I was off slumming it, a new system, product and income stream went stealthily live and on my return yesterday, there were three trainees waiting to be, well, trained.

So that blocked blogging and the site tidying up I'd promised myself I'd get round to.

And now they're here again, so catch ya later?