Radio 3 Concert - Light Fantastic

A sweet lickel afternoon concert from the BBC Singers at St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge. Teddy Bears' Picnic was especially fun.

Aled Jones introduced the programme and made a  few quips before the concert began. To a largely elderly audience, he announced. "In case of an emergency, just leave quickly from the exits you came in. Mind you, looking at some of the people here, that might not be as easy as it sounds."

Frankie Boyle eat your heart out!

Gomez - At the Roundhouse

First visit to the Roundhouse since they did it up. Very snazzy and a great venue to watch a band. A lot of the crowd were devotees, singing and swaying along to the band. There was a particularly enthusiastic middle-aged bantamweight who was clearing a path around him as he sliced his way through the audience. I'm afraid I was in a bit of a grumpy mood so didn't enjoy the gig too much. By the way, Ben Ottewell has a great and very distinctive voice, but he does look a lot like Eric Morecombe.
A quick addition. As I type this the Gomez web site are showing a stream of the concert. I'm actually enjoying it more than I did at the live concert. Go figure. I haven't seen meself, thank God - I was tucked away on the side.
He still looks like Eric Morecombe by the way.

Leigh-on-Sea Folk Festival

Very enjoyable day at Leigh-on-Sea Folk Festival. Bizarre mixture of traditional Morris Dancers and the new Salsa and Belly variety. All the young folk singers were so good. Here's a shaky clip of the Street Parade. Watch out for the young apprentice about two-thirds of the way through.

Friday Night is Music Night.

Another freebie from Radio 2; to a performance of the oldest running musical radio show in the world.
It was a Mario Lanza extravaganza with 3 tenors and the BBC Concert Orchestra at the Hackney Empire. Fun, but as Kate remarked the audience seemed to have come from Butlins. Indeed it did feel like you were trapped in the comments section of the Daily Mail.

Battle to Hastings

I forgot to put some photties of our walk from Battle to Hastings on Sunday 5th June. It were a bit wet.

Hastings - View from East Hill

Fields on Batchelor's Bump

Footpath in Fields near Three Oaks

Kate  near Batchelor's Bump

Kate around Westfield

Pylon near Guestling Green

Bobness Walks - Sixth Day

Now up to Crystal Palace to Grove Park. Any decade now it'll be finished.

The Penny Dreadfuls - Revolution.

Another freebie from BBC. An invite to go and see a recording of the 'Penny Dreadfuls' Radio play about the French Revolution called umm.. "Revolution". It was them doing various 'Pythonesque' - even 'Goon-like' - parts while the serious acting was done by their guest stars Richard E Grant and Sally Hawkins. The play was based on a true incident when Robespierre went to visit the imprisoned Marie-Thérèse (the daughter of the executed Louise XVI and Marie Antoinette). Should be broadcast on Radio 4 in July. Well worth listening out for.
Shame you won't hear the outtakes which were very funny. The two stars obviously had a great time too.
By the way, security is very tight at Broadcasting House. They wouldn't allow me to take my cycle tools in with me. They must have thought I might go berserk with my Bicycle Pump.

Ray Davies - Screen Epiphanies

Saw Ray Davies at NFT talking about his choice of film which was 'Z'.  Sad thing, as Ray admitted, was it had no real effect on the situation in Greece at the time.

Cockfosters to Myddelton House

Myddelton House - Plants

Myddelton House

Myddelton House - Plants

Myddelton House Gardens - Pond

Myddelton House - Enfield Market Cross

London Loop -  just outside Enfield

Pleasant walk along small section of London Loop, followed by a visit to a beautiful landscaped Garden in the grounds of a Country House. Only just opened, so well worth a visit.

Yo lo Tengo - Royal Festival Hall

Impossible to define Concert from this amazing 3- piece. I've never seen a Band like them.

Spanish Renaissance Music and the Northern Line

Went to see another (free!) Radio 3 performance last night. It was the BBC singers doing some pieces from the Spanish Renaissance and it was excellent. It was interesting to note that when we got the tube back from Moorgate after the concert, there were a number of them waiting for the train like the rest of us. No Taxis for these people. Obviously the huge salaries the BBC are supposed to pay don't go towards the real artists.

Bobness Walks - Third Day

After weeks of lethargy, I've managed to complete Day 3.

As to when I'll finish the damn thing. I'm as much in the dark as you.

Bit late, But congratulations Barcalona!

Watched the match with my Catalan friend. She claimed to know nothing about football, but said that the problem was due to the Barcelona players operating as a team, whereas 'this Ferguson' should teach his players how to pass to each other. Out of the mouths of innocents.

 She also shouted out every time Valenica clattered into a Barca player. "Who does he think he is, 'Terminator?' Out! Out!" I think she meant 'Off'.