Speaking of diving expeditions, here’s a bit of lovely George Michael

Mentioning the diving expedition to Belize that I took part in in an earlier post brought this to mind.

A week before I set off I was browsing around the sale rack in Monsoon searching for funky shorts, when this tune came on. I immediately loved it, which is quite unusual for me, and dashed across to the tills to ask who was singing, and what it was. Having been furnished with the answer I shot off to HMV to buy a copy of the album Listen Without Prejudice, which turned out to be utterly FAB! Even though I’d never taken any notice at all of GM prior to that.

I listened to this tune almost all the way from Manchester to Belize City. (I’m a bit obsessive, like that *g*) I’ll never forget touching down in what was then (and is still) prolly the most exotic place I’ve ever visited, with this great song echoing through my head.

I love the whole album, but the next one is my second favourite. It’s a Stevie Wonder song, I think. He’s another fabulous writer, IMO.

In fact, here’s the Stevie Wonder version too, just for the sake of completeness and the joy of comparison *g*

Some tidied up phone pics — various walks

I’ve finally got round to transferring the pics from my phone to my computer, and saving the ones I liked.

I’ve tidied them up a bit in PSP. Here’s a selection of the ones I liked best, including some clearer pics of the monster conger we met on the beach this morning.

Hmmm… if it’s not one thing it’s another! I’ve noticed that for some reason WordPress doesn’t seem to have recognised them all. It’s made a gallery, but it doesn’t appear to be working properly. I’ll post it and then have a fiddle. Ho hum…

Huge fish!

P’s barking alerted me to the presence of a huge fish–3 feet long, or more–at the edge of the water.

The waves were turning it in the sandy surf, and although it was clearly stricken I wasn’t sure that it was dead until the waves spun it once again, and I saw that one large, baleful eye was missing.

P refused to approach it. She’s become a bit of a scaredy dog recently, possibly as a result of having been attacked down here a month or so ago.

Morning on the beach

So here we are again, adhering to our new ‘early walk’ plan

The sea is rushing in. P exhilarated.

Another great tune :) And on Phil, from Location, Location, Location…

Very different from the last one, but another of my favourite tunez.

I’m just watching Phil Spencer in Oz, and it occurs to me to ask whether anybody has another Phil at hand, and unattached. If so, please send him over here. I think he’s really lovely *g*

Phil from Location, Location etc

(Piglet and Piss-Puss like him too.)

Beautiful guitar tune

 

Here’s a tune I love, but I’d forgotten about it until I heard John Williams, classical guitarist, on Great Lives this evening as I was walking Piggly. His chosen ‘great life’ was that of the Paraguayan guitarist, Agustin Barrios Mangore, and the podcast is still available via the link for those who get there before the next episode is broadcast sometime next week.

‘Una Limosna Por el Amor de Dios’ means ‘An offering, for the love of God’, and John Williams explained that blind beggars would say it in order to urge people to make a donation. He explained that the staccato notes are meant to represent the tapping of the beggar’s stick on the ground. It’s quite sublimely beautiful.

Environmentalists — Bad For the Planet?

For those not quite sure what to make of the melee that calls itself the environmental debate–and maybe even for those who reckon they have it sussed–there was a very interesting edition of Analysis on Radio 4 this week. Here’s the blurb.

Mon, 25 Jan 10

Duration: 29 mins

The BBC’s Ethical Man Justin Rowlatt asks if environmentalists are bad for the planet. Are they being distracted from the urgent task of tackling climate change by a more radical agenda for changing society?

Clive James has touched upon aspects of this debate a couple of times recently, in (Radio 4 again) A Point of View. See Climate Change — A Story Too Often Told the Same Way and In Praise of Scepticism. The podcasts of his broadcasts are no longer available, but I think I may still have them on my HD. (Read: I have them. If you’d like to hear them then email me.)

I’m not yet sure what to make of the debate, not having paid sufficient attention and not having a scientific background. I do believe that the stifling of discussion is not generally A Good Thing, though, so I’m concerned to hear people who are clearly better informed than me, and appear to lack an ulterior motive, expressing doubt about the way in which reality is being represented.

Anyway, dash across and listen to Analysis (or download the podcast) here, if interested. Radio 4 podcasts are only available for a week, so best make haste if you’d like to hear it.

Oops!

How did I miss this? I never have a clue what’s going on!

Well I thought it was funny, but apparently the speaker (Peter Jefferson, the voice behind the Shipping Forecast) is no longer working for the BBC as a continuity announcer.

The BBC says that’s a coincidence. I hope it is. It’d be a real shame for them to have given somebody the push for a trivial error that must have brought a smile to many faces.

Another great new blog

Do dash along to take a peep at Hawthorns’ Byeways, peeps, if you’ve not already been. Lovely pics and some great writing to be found there.

Aaagh…

Baby PW -- My last good night's sleep!

I have to get a new bed.

Now that Piglet, Piss-Piss and I share sty space, my existing bed is no longer large enough. Nor is it comfy enough. And the duvet is too small.

I keep waking up with Piglet lying right in the middle of the bed, hogging the covers, and having to try to drape my legs around her. As soon as I get comfy the cat comes to lie on my head on the pillow, and drools on my hair!

*rubs eyes*

I’ve been up since 3am. This has to stop!

I’m now thinking of buying an ultra-comfy bed to last me years and years and years. Once I have it I plan to get in and stay there. Quite possibly permanently, if I don’t catch up on sleep soon…

I’m thinking Vi-Spring. Any other recommendations, peeps?

This was quite a good one too