Ward Thomas and The Shires - pure delight

Bush Hall is an old dance hall. I'm sure it's had many great nights in its 110-year history, but it can't have had many as fun and filled with vocal talent as last Monday night (10 November).

The Shires and then headliners Ward Thomas gave us more than two hours of delightful melodies and wonderful harmonies in their own UK country style.

Solo singer Jess Roberts firstly gave us 20 minutes of songs, backed by Ward Thomas's guitarist Dan Gordon. She did a fine job and was a worthy starter for the evening.

The Shires - Crissie Rhodes and Ben Earle, backed by a three-piece band - are a fairly new act, but could well be destined for bigger things. I had not seen them in action before, but was impressed  by their songs and harmonies and they were a definite hit for this audience. I'll be searching their album out on its release in January.

Headliners for this evening were Ward Thomas - the singing twin sisters Catherine and Lizzy Ward Thomas, from Hampshire - which must by definition be the heart of English country music! Since I discovered these two at Guilfest in July, I have been smitten by their music. Hearing it on CD is one thing, but live it is so much better! Good singers in their own right, the real magic kicks in when they sing together with exquisite harmonies on soaring melodies. It gives you a tingling sensation. I love all their songs, but was particularly delighted to hear 'Wasted Words' live for the first time. Current single 'Way Back When' and 'Push For The Stride' are real crowd pleasers, and the poignant 'From Where I Stand' could almost bring a tear to the eye. A cover off Taylor Swift's 'Shake It Off' was lively and the girls did a cracking job. Their fun demeanour and on-stage charisma helps bring a smile to the faces of all those in the audience. It is pure joy.

I cannot tire of these two, and the evening was always going to be too short!

The Shires joined Ward Thomas on stage for a joint encore of The Striking Matches' 'I Ain't Leavin' Without Your Love' - great fun and a perfect round-off for the evening.

This tour of The Shires and Ward Thomas is tagged #homegrowntour and stretches from London to Belfast, and Bristol to Glasgow. There are points in between - but there are simply not enough! Demand for these two acts will grow and grow. Do yourself a favour and get along to see them as soon as you can.

Roll on the next one!

Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red

I went to London to see the ceramic poppies around the Tower of London on Monday 10 November. What a fantastic display to mark Remembrance 100 years after the First World War began (technically, 96 years after WWI ended).

Stretching around all sides of the Tower walls, each one of the 888,246 ceramic poppies represent a British or Colonial military death in World War One.

It is a moving display, conceived by artist Paul Cummins and set by stage designer Tom Piper, and four million people are expected to have viewed it by the time it is taken down later in November. Deadlines have been extended more than once because of the display's popularity.

Marvellous.

Mad school-run parking is frankly stupid

Last week it was (almost) a pleasure to be out and about in your car. Getting to and from work by car must have been a joy.

This week, however, the madness has returned. The school half-term is over. The school run is back.

So between 8.30 and 9.15 and 2.45 and 3.15, make sure you're not a road anywhere near a school! Because you won't be able to move. In their desperation to park as near as possible to the school gates to avoid junior getting wet hair, they park in ways that can be best described as "stupid".

I've just been out to post a letter (on foot). There's a school not far from the end of our cul-de-sac. I don't mind them parking on our road, but NOT right on the corner at the junction with a busier road! I had a polite word with a mother who had parked in that way and was significantly adding to the chaos. "Oh," she said, "I tried further down, but there was no room."

"Well," I replied, "if you could avoid parking on the corner, it wold help. Look at the chaos you're causing."

On I went to post my letter, and then came back. As I did so, I was hailed by a woman from a car, waiting at traffic light. "I'm glad you had a go at her," she said (obviously referring to my 'polite' word with the bad parker), "she always parks there!" And off she drove as the lights turned green.

So my bad parking friend does it every day, does she?

I might have to have another look tomorrow!

The Serial Thrillers

My band The Serial Thrillers has just opened its new website: The Serial Thrillers.

This is us in action at Guilfest earlier this year.

And here we are in action.

Shameless plug.

Red Pike, High Stile and High Crag - the beauty of Buttermere

Oh my word! The beauty of the Lake District can hardly be surpassed on a gorgeous sunny day, can it?

I recently went walking in Buttermere with a mate and we were so lucky with the weather. We stayed at The Fish and climbed up to Red Pike, walked along the ridge to High Stile, thence to High Crag, down to Scarth Gap Pass, and back down alongside Buttermere back to the Fish and a welcome pint!

Eleven miles, six and a half hours, great pride, wonderful memories and a few photos.

If you're fit and able - do the walk! Good luck with the weather.

The Fish

The path up to Red Pike (it was a tough climb!)

Bleaberry Tarn

Looking down onto Bleaberry Tarn from the path up to Red Pike.

Red Pike peak - nearly there!

Looking back to Red Pike from the ridge path to High Stile.

Bleaberry Tarn and Crummock Water from High Stile.

High Stile from the path to High Crag.

Beautiful Buttermere (south east end).

Fleetwith Pike from High Crag.

Looking back up to High Crag from the path down to Scarth Gap.

Haystacks (not on today's itinerary) from Scarth Gap Pass.

Looking across Buttermere - nearly back on low level ground.

A deserved reward!

Faith restored after parking ticket challenge was accepted

I hate paying for parking. Don't we all!

It's another form of tax for motorists that councils seem to be able to increase willy-nilly without any justification at all.

Double yellow lines and single yellow lines abound to make sure that you have to pay. It's not about traffic flow or road safety - it's about raising money, plain and simple.

But left without any alternative, of course I stump up the charges whenever I have to.

Last week I was in the New Forest for a couple of days with my wife. On Tuesday we drove down to Milford-on-Sea to walk the two miles to Hurst Castle along the shingle spit. We paid £3 for a four-hour stop in Hurst Road East car park at 10:26.

We walked the mile and a bit to Hurst Castle, looked round, had a cup of coffee, then walked back, arriving back at the car at 13:25. Plenty of time to change our shoes and go to the nearby cafe to have lunch.

We arrived back at the car again at around 13:55, still well inside the four hours. Imagine my stupefaction then, when I sat down in the driver's seat and saw a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) stuck to the windscreen! I boiled with anger! How could this be when I had paid £3 for a ticket. It was then that I noticed the ticket that I had paid for lying face down on the dashboard about a foot from where I had placed it more then three hours earlier.

When I placed the ticket on the dashboard after I'd bought it, it blew away in the breeze from the driver's door until I managed to shut the door without it blowing away. It was perfectly placed as we left for our walk. (Notice that the ticket was not one of the stickable variety.)

I can only think that when we changed our shoes - only ever opening the back door - that there was breeze enough to blow the ticket and flip it over. Thus when the traffic warden came by at 13:43 (s)he must have been gleeful in seeing the ticket upside down on the dashboard: "Parked in a car park without clearly displaying a valid pay & display ticket or voucher or parking clock".

The fine was £50, with a reduction to £25 if you pay within 14 days.

Returning home I wrote to the email address to challenge the PCN, explaining what did happen and what I assumed must have happened. I sent them a scan of my valid parking ticket. (Incidentally, there was plenty of space in the car park every time we were back there throughout the day (10:26, 13:25, 13:55) so we could never have been denying another road user a space. It's just about making money.)

I was set fair for an argument and further emails if they denied my challenge.

BUT THEY ACCEPTED IT!

Quite right too, as I had paid for a valid ticket and was a victim of a stray breath of wind.

My faith in human kindness was restored.

Ward Thomas will be BIG!

I made an amazing discovery recently. At Guilfest on Saturday 19th July I went with some friends to try out a band on the second stage called Ward Thomas. We knew nothing about them.

On stage came two girls (20) who were announced as twins and having a "Nashville" sound. Oh dear, I'm not much of a country music fan.

Boy oh boy! Twins Lizzy and Cathy Ward Thomas blew me away. They were amazing. Beautiful voices in perfect harmony, backed by three lads on drums, guitar and bass.

Mark my words, these girls are going to go far. Keep an eye out for them. I can't wait to see them again.

www.http://wardthomasmusic.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Ward.Thomas4?fref=ts
@wardthomasmusic

Maybe I am a country music fan!

Hotel California - but where is it?

Does anyone know where this is?

Images of Rome

Just a few:

St Peter's Square and basilica.

And St Peter's Square from the top of the dome.

Gorgeous views, lovely day in June 2014.

Rome - the eternal city

I've just been to Rome on holiday and seen sights as magnificent as the Colosseum (above). It's 1,934 years old.

Do you think Wembley Stadium will still be standing in 3941? The last incarnation lasted less than 80 years!

And what about the Pantheon?

St Paul's has lasted since it was finished in 1720 - that's getting on for 300 years. But the Pantheon in Rome is 1,888 years old.

Rome - the eternal city - marvellous. If Wembley lasts till 3941 the Colosseum will be 3,861 years old!

Guilfest returns in 2014

Guilfest was last seen in the wet summer of 2012. It was replaced by the anodyne, corporate 'Magic Live' last year, but Guildford Borough Council wisely saw fit to bring back the music festival to the slopes of Stoke Park in Guildford.

YES, Guilfest is back!

The line-up consists of:
The Boomtown Rats, Kool & The Gang, The Human League, Naughty Boy, Sam Bailey, Sigma, Fun Lovin’ Criminals, The Enemy, Soulfly, Norman Jay MBE, Friction ft. P Money & Linguistics, The Sugarhill Gang, The Farm, Ms. Dynamite, The Blackout, Gallows, Space, Sham 69 (original line up), Buzzcocks, Boney M, The Fureys, Dreadzone, Slim Chance, Public Service Broadcasting, Shadow Child, The Other Tribe, Ruts D.C., Feed The Rhino, Canterbury, Itch, Chelsea, The Skints, Hannah Wants, B.Traits, Fred V & Grafix, Kidnap Kid, My Nu Leng, Jamie Lenman, Shane Richie & The Prelude, Ward Thomas, Gnarwolves, The Correspondents, Mak and Pasteman, Mr B., The Vibrators, Imperial Leisure, Jedward, Arcane Roots, I See Monstas, The Algorithm and many more…

"Many more" includes my own band The Serial Thrillers.

On the weekend of 18 - 20 July, it's going to be an exciting occasion. Why not come along?

http://www.guilfest.co.uk/index.php

Why 'No Junk Mail' is not helping the economy

I know that not everyone likes "junk mail" - those unaddressed envelopes that come through your door, those exhortations to take out a loan from your bank, the shiny supermarket leaflets that fall from your free local newspaper.

However, I think this 'No Junk Mail' kind of thing is unhelpful to the economy:

- especially with regard to leaflets posted on behalf of small local businesses.

I sometimes deliver leaflets to help out a friend who runs this business: Just Deliveries.
It is frustrating when you walk down a driveway to be confronted by such a rejection.

But how does it affect the economy?
1. The fewer leaflets we deliver, the less we are paid.
2. It's less advertising for the small businesses on whose behalf we are delivering, meaning less business potential.
3. It will result in less printing for the local printer.
4. Further down the chain: ink, paper.
5. Down a different chain: shoes for the deliverer; a break at the local independent coffee shop.

So, think again before you hang up your sign:

Indeed, consider the future, when you may be running your own small business and may need to advertise it with leaflets. You'll quickly remove your sign then!

Big companies must now show compassion to flood victims

When our backs are against the wall, that's when the British usually show their best.

Well, now - with floods affecting so many people across whole swathes of the country - is one of those occasions.

And we hear heart-warming stories:

• Yorkshire farmers - who have donated animal feed and bedding to farmers in the south
• The army - inevitably doing a fantastic job
• Prince William and Prince Harry - lending a hand to pile up sandbags in Datchett
• Many neighbours and communities coming together to help others through the situation.

Let us hope that institutions that hold many of the keys will be similarly helpful. These would include:

• Water companies
• Electricity and gas suppliers
• Insurance companies

For once, show some compassion to people who need help, and don't just think of how you can turn other people's misfortune into profit.

Who knows, perhaps a kind deed or two might stand you in good stead.

It will be bye-bye to the Co-op

Of course, it all started to go downhill in 2008 with the financial crash and all that.

I had an account with Britannia Building Society. All fine.

Interest rates dropped of course, but we all took that in our stride.

But then Britannia got taken over by the Co-op Bank. Colours changed (red to blue) - not a problem at all. Then I noticed on my visits - probably once or twice a month - that the old staff weren't there any more. Who were these new cashiers?

Soon got used to the new staff, I guess.

Late last year they suddenly changed the Saturday opening time from 9 to 9.30. Not very helpful to us early Saturday starters.

Then last Friday came a letter saying they were closing my local branch in April. Final straw.

I went in on Saturday morning (after 9.30) with intent to complain (with some sympathy) to the now familiar new(ish) staff. But even the new staff were gone. Was it a coincidence? Were these new new people temporary, or plants from head office? I didn't bother to say anything.

Action will speak louder than words. I'll be closing all my family's accounts with the Co-op.

Charity should begin at home for flood victims

It's tragic to read and hear about people who have been affected by the latest floods, mainly coastal this time. The same goes for previous flood victims - many not far from where I live in Surrey.

I hope that insurance companies can help them out - after all, this is just the kind of thing that we all pay into the insurance pot for.

Whether councils can or should do more to help victims or even take preventive measures, I don't know, but, again, I hope they are doing all they can to help people out.

What events like this in our country do bring to mind is the amount of money we often send abroad to victims of natural disasters. That is all very well and I wouldn't like to see that stopped, but do we ever send money to victims in our own country?

If not, we should do. Charity should begin at home.