Life by Keith Richards (not as we know it!)

Keith Richards has a new autobiography out, and doctors are marvelling at how he has survived the excesses of drug abuse for so long!

Now 66, Richards only gave up cocaine four years ago, after he fell out of a tree and split his head open. Before that he gave up heroin in 1978.

Richards (who changed his name from Richard because everyone kept pluralising his surname) must have,

according to addiction expert Dr Robert Lefever, "the constitution of an ox" to have survived for so long.

The book is called Life (given the discussion, maybe Richards foresaw the irony), and it was released on Monday.

Dr Lefever warns that the lifestyle should not be copied. "It's not something you can take for granted. For every Keith Richards, there are many, many more who die," he said.

Writer and music journalist David Quantick noted the deaths of fellow musicians of Richards - such as Gram Parsons and fellow Stone Brian Jones - and said: "It's almost as though others die so that Keith Richards may live."

"Still, it's not as though any children are going to think he's a good example. Just look at him: He's got a face like a prune's wallet."

Happy shoppers flock to Westfield

I visited the Westfield shopping centre in London's Shepherd's Bush yesterday. I don't know much about it. I've not been there before. I see that it's been open for just about two years.

I also read that the development is on a brownfield site used for the 1908 Franco-British Exhibition and as a  railway depot, which remains, excavated to a lower level and built over.

Two things I did notice: Westfield is massive and it was packed.

The area is big, the centre consists of large spaces and large stores. A shoppers' paradise, no doubt.

Another thing struck me. Despite recessions, unemployment, strikes and cuts, the British appetite for retail continues unchecked. The stores were full (OK, maybe not everyone was buying), but the restaurants and coffee shops were full of queues. Half-term may be a reason why the shops thronged, and of course this is the supposedly affluent south.

But life looked pretty good for these happy shoppers.

Eye-watering mistake not part of government cuts

This news article on the BBC website caught my eye (and brought a tear to it too).

"Surgeon cut off testicle 'by mistake' at Bury hospital " read the headline. Ouch.

A hearing for the General Medical Council (GMC) was told that a surgeon cut off a patient's testicle by mistake. Only supposed to remove a cyst, Dr Sulieman Al Hourani cut off the whole right testicle in error.

He is accused of misconduct and also of stealing medication.

It is also alleged that the doctor injected himself with a drug meant for a patient.

The hearing was adjourned until Tuesday.

I can't bring myself to make a joke about this - do your own - but one hopes this is not the start of some government cuts that really would bring tears to the eye.

CMB Partnership - accountants

It's Friday, and every Friday I'm going to advertise a local business that I use, know, support or like, or all four!

Today it's an accountant in Guildford, Surrey, UK: CMB Partnership.

CMB Partnership  is an independent firm of accountants based in Guildford, Surrey giving accountancy and business advice. They offer the following services:

• accounting
• auditing
• bookkeeping
• business tax
• financial statements
• PAYE
• personal tax
• VAT

Although based in Guildford in Surrey CMB Partnership are happy to discuss your requirements wherever your business is located and whatever size it is.

For a friendly, understanding accountancy service, CMB Partnership is just right.

Row Barge, Guildford - music venue

I play bass guitar in two bands: Sidewinder and MP5, both based in Surrey in the UK.

Here's a recent picture of me in action for Sidewinder.

Last night I went along to an Open Mic night at the Row Barge pub in Guildford with the lead guitarist from MP5, Malcolm Packer. Never been before, but it's a splendid setting for live music, with a small stage, permanent PA and lights. If you live in the Guildford area I'd recommend you check it out for live music.

We didn't join the participants last night, but we aim to take MP5 along there one Wednesday soon to play a few songs at an Open Mic night, and hope to get a weekend gig there in the near future. Check us out!

Remember the charts?

If you are over 30, you'll remember that the music charts used to be important. What was "number one" was an critical matter to youngsters each week. And they used to buy their "7 inch vinyls" regularly.

Does being number in the singles chart matter any more?

Number one this week is "Forget You" by Cee Lo Green. I wonder how many "records" (i.e. single CDs, downloads) you have to sell these days to make number one. Cee Lo is chased in the charts by Bruno Mars, Duck Sauce, Swedish House Mafia Vs Tinie Tempah and Tinie Tempah (on his own).

In days of yore, listening to the chart announcement on a Sunday evening on Radio One was a crucial part of a teenager's week. Although I'm way past being a teenager, I can't imagine it's the same these days.

Maybe the album chart is more important in the modern era (and that's probably no bad thing). Number one this week is Robbie Williams's album "In And Out Of Consciousness: Greatest Hits 1990-2010". He's followed by albums by Tinie Tempah, Cliff Richard, The Script and Magnetic Man.

I'm delighted that live music appears to be more important and prevalent these days. the number of festivals around the country has exploded in recent years. Live music is always a good thing.

But I can't help mourning the fall of the charts.

Are you an arborphile?

Apropos of nothing, this tree is famous in England.

Can anybody say why, what it is and where it is?

No prizes.

There is no word for a tree lover, but I guess if there were, it would be arborphile.

Blair's Journey is an interesting insight

I've just finished reading Tony Blair's memoirs in "A Journey". I've never read any political memoirs before. I'm not a particular fan of Blair, but thought that his book would be interesting. I was right - it is.

It outlines his thoughts and reasoning on decisions and events throughout his time as prime minister, as well as before and after, but it avoids the boredom that we might have got from chronological list (i.e. diary). Of course, as we are enticed as a reader, it is very easy to agree with much of his thinking about New Labour and the policies it pursued over 10 years of his tenure (as well as the build-up to power prior to 1997).

He knew his old mate, but latterly not so chummy, Gordon Brown would not pursue the New Labour path, and would end up in failure (mind you, hindsight is, of course, a wonderful thing).

Blair's thoughts on the media are cystal clear: he thinks they have way too much influence without accountability on politics (on everything really), and if they're out to "get you", then they will stop at nothing until they do.

It's a fascinating insight into Blair's years as premier, and I would recommend it - especially as the proceeds are going to the Royal British Legion (so you don't have to wrestle with a conscience that doesn't want you to line Blair's pockets!).

I also get the feeling we may not have heard the last of Mr Blair. He feels he has unfinished business.

Bisley Wedding Cars

Are you in the UK? Surrey? Near Bisley?

Are you on one of yours getting married?

You'll need a car.

I unashamedly recommend these guys: Bisley Wedding Cars.

Here is their Rolls Royce Silver Shadow.

It's just been resprayed and looks wonderful, but is not their only car. They have several others, all fit to make your wedding the memorable occasion you would want it to be.

Speak at Speakers' Corner - or here

Here is a picture of Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park, which I found in my picture library.

Famously, of course, it a place where public speaking, debate and discussion can take place.

As long as deemed lawful by police people can speak on any subject.

It made me wonder about physical things and places like this. Are they becoming outmoded by the Internet, where people can and do write and 'chat' about anything and everything - not all of it lawful?

Rescue of Chilean miners lifts the spirits

What a wonderful and literally uplifting story is the rescue of the 33 Chilean miners from the San Jose mine in the north of the country.

It is Chile's "Apollo 13" moment.

As I write (0845 BST on Wednesday 13 October) five of the miners have been brought to the surface, with 28 still to come. At just over an hour per rescue, it will be Thursday afternoon (BST) before the last of the miners is finally brought to safety. Let us hope all goes well.

The pictures of the miners emerging from the humble 23" diameter rescue capsule truly lift the spirits. Their loved ones stand by, waiting for the signal to say they can go forward and greet their man - still clad in safety gear, helmet and dark glasses to protect their eyes against the lights (TV lights so far in the night, but sunlight later on).

The human spirit is rarely stronger than when triumph overcomes disaster.

We salute those brave men.

These books are dead good - Peter James's Roy Grace series

I like to read. Every day.

One series of British detective fiction I must bring to your attention is PETER JAMES's "DEAD" novels featuring DSI Roy Grace.

So far there have been six:
Dead Simple, Looking Good Dead, Not Dead Enough, Dead Man's Footsteps, Dead Tomorrow, Dead Like You.

Set in and around the Brighton area on the south coast of England, these books are compulsive reading. Once started, you really can hardly put them down. You simply have to know what's going to happen on the next page.

James had several novels published prior to the Roy Grace series, but he has really found his mark with these.

Personally, I can't wait for Roy Grace to join DCI Banks (author Peter Robinson, on ITV) and Thorne (Mark Billingham, on Sky One) on TV in the near future.

Or perhaps they're reserving Grace for the Big Screen. Oh yes.

Grab yourself a "Dead" novel athe first opprtunity. You won't regret it.

A blog for contemplation

Hi, I've got two other blogs - The Beautiful Game (about football, or soccer, if you will), and The Game of Business (about business), and I update them fairly regularly. The trouble is they're quite specific to their fields.

So I've created this new one, where I can sound off about anything, bring anything to your attention, or say anything. Having said that, it will always be clean and free of all the -isms that we should righly avoid these days.

I'd like you come back and visit as often as you will.

Here's a picture of a windmill in England. Does anyone know where it is?