Just a short while ago, I posted about attending my ex son-in-laws funeral.
And just this week, we attended another. This time, for a friend and colleague of my wife’s, from her days working at the Kenwood site in Havant.
Two funerals in quick succession, a dark start to 2024, had me thinking that, given my age, I shouldn’t be surprised. After all, I will be 72 this year, God willing.
But that’s not right. Yes, as we get older, we start to say goodbye to others in our age group however, neither Dave nor Ali are in my age group. Dave was 56 while Ali was not yet 55. Too young by any measure, showing that cancer does not respect age.
RIP Ali, my condolences to Martin and Cameron.
Alison “Ali” Davis 12th August 1969 – 20th January 2024
My personal favourite is Red Right Hand by Nick Cave and the Lightning Seeds,
closely followed by Led Zeppelins Immigrant Song
I chose the YouTube links based on their reference to the shows that used the tunes.
Other versions are available.
Do you have a favourite classic track that has been given a new lease of life, or introduced to a new audience due to its appearance in a film or TV show ?
With its unique location, virtually on the beach, and magnificent views.
Overlooking the busy Solent with its everchanging maritime views the Osborne View was the ideal location to sit and absorb the action. Watching people on the beach, the ships, or the myriad sailing boats. Never boring.
Over many years, this pub was the venue for evening meals, lunches, and just for drinks with friends and family.
Around 12pm on Wednesday 14 February, a man entered the store, putting around £1,000 worth of sun cream products into a tote bag and leaving again without paying.
Officers have launched an investigation following the incident at the Boots store in Whiteley Shopping Centre this Wednesday (February 14). Police have released a CCTV image of a male as part of their enquiries.
What I want to know is where on earth he is headed that he needs that quantity of sun cream.
Is he off on his hollibobs ? If so is he going to the centre of the sun ?
Or perhaps he is concerned that the world is rushing headlong into WWIII and believes the sun slop will protect him from a thermonuclear flash.
By my calculation, at the expensive end of the scale £1000 could buy over 30 bottles of La Roche-Posay Anthelios Age Correction SPF50+, which is 1.5l of sun slop. Alternatively, at the cheaper end, over 285 bottles of Soltan Protect & Moisturise SPF50+ 75ml Mini Sun Cream Spray could be had. Which is over 21l of sun slop.
That’s enough to bathe in.
I know I’m taking the mickey, but shoplifting is no joke. There seems to be an epidemic in this country. Our papers are full of stories of shop staff being threatened when they confront these thieves.
My granddaughter was working a store where a shoplifter had grabbed a load of booze who then faced her and told her he was stealing it.
I, myself have witnessed a female clear a chiller cabinet of meat and then walk straight out of the store.
And it is the blatant manner of this thievery almost like it is becoming acceptable.
I can sort of understand stealing food to be able to feed your family.
But is there any nutritional value to sun tan lotion ?
I don’t know about anyone else, but I am embarrassed for our Royal Navy. Especially for those currently deployed aboard the aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales .
HMS Queen Elizabeth
My perception may be wrong, but it seems to me that these carriers have spent more time in port than they have at sea since their initial launch in 2014 and 2017 respectively.
Just 18 months ago, HMS Prince of Wales broke down off the Isle of Wight. A fault with a propeller shaft coupling took nine months to resolve.
HMS Prince of Wales
HMS Queen Elizabeth was due to participate in a major naval exercise, but the February 4th sailing, from Portsmouth,was cancelled due to a mechanical fault discovered during pre-sailing checks. This new fault is said to be propeller shaft based but not related to HMS Prince of Wales’ earlier problem.
So HMS Prince of Wales was scheduled to replace her sister ship and set sail on February 11th. At the last minute, this sailing was cancelled. The MOD has not divulged the reason for the delay, but HMS Prince of Wales did, in fact, set sail yesterday, 12th February.
There must be many red faces in both the Admiralty and the MOD.
HMS Prince of Wales cost around £3.2bn and does not appear to be good value for money. The Admiralty, MOD, British Government should be pursuing Babcocks, the ship builders, for a refund or some form of compensation.
It is not acceptable that the British taxpayer should fund these repairs. If Babcock have supplied substandard quality product then they should be held liable.
The government needs to get a grip before the RN and the UK become a total laughing stock.
For me, this song has always been associated with the war in Vietnam, an anti war protest song.
How wrong could I be. I have only recently come to understand that the song was referencing the “Sunset Strip curfew riots in Los Angeles,” which took place between police and young people in 1966. It was these events that inspired Stephen Stills to write the song.
I believe my misconception was fed by numerous documentaries of that era, using this song as a musical backdrop.
The lyrics are here …..
There’s something happening here But what it is ain’t exactly clear There’s a man with a gun over there Telling me I got to beware
I think it’s time we stop Children, what’s that sound? Everybody look, what’s going down?
There’s battle lines being drawn Nobody’s right if everybody’s wrong Young people speaking their minds Getting so much resistance from behind
It’s time we stop Hey, what’s that sound? Everybody look, what’s going down?
What a field day for the heat (Ooh ooh ooh) A thousand people in the street (Ooh ooh ooh) Singing songs and they carrying signs (Ooh ooh ooh) Mostly say, “Hooray for our side” (Ooh ooh ooh)
It’s time we stop Hey, what’s that sound? Everybody look, what’s going down?
Paranoia strikes deep Into your life it will creep It starts when you’re always afraid Step out of line, the men come and take you away
We better stop Hey, what’s that sound? Everybody look, what’s going down?
You better stop Hey, what’s that sound? Everybody look, what’s going down?
You better stop Now, what’s that sound? Everybody look, what’s going down?
You better stop Children, what’s that sound? Everybody look, what’s going down?
WrAnTz 