Jealousy is an UGLY word..

The Motorcycle Diary


.....But today I am indeed jealous! But, I'm happy on the other hand too.

Here is a picture of my old BSA..... Looks pretty cool! - that is not how it looked a couple of months ago though when I sold it. This would be a wonderful bike to own and ride. At least I know it has gone to a good home, and is being cherished in the way that it should......

.....This is how the bike left me. A bare, stripped frame, and everything else in various boxes and baskets. I've had it for years, and never got round to re-building it. Now I sort of regret it.... Especially as the weather has turned at last, and a ride to work would have been a joy.




Oh, well, maybe one day?

The Daily Grind

If you've been reading my BLOG for some time.....and have now realised that I'm back and contributing again but that's another story....

You may recall my horrendous attempts at ridding my garden of bind weed, and in the process destroying a lot of very well established shrubs!!! The patch of land that I obliterated was about 40 ft by 10ft - (and a bit more if truth be known!) we have decided to cut this back and turn it into an extension of the lawn, more play space for the boys.

First step I had to make was to bring the level down to the same as the lawn. I had to dig out about a foot of soil over the whole area to do this, and belive me, it may not sound a lot.... But it bloody well is! Now, I'm no gardening expert, as you have probably already established, and to me dirt is dirt. I didn't know that all the earth I had removed was top-soil, and that the crappy lighter brown stuff underneath is next to useless for growing on..... This, I was advised of, after I had wheeled umpteen tons of the stuff out of my garden and dumped it behind some trees. So, after wheeling it all away, I had to go back, sieve it, taking out all the stones, of which there are lots and lots, and bring it back again.

I have spent the day doing this, and have now sown a load of grass seed, pressed it, raked it, scattered on more to soil, and pressed it again - (only to discover that the topsoil is actually very sticky, and most of it ended up stuck to my shoes. Fortunatley I discovered this before I went back in the house, as that would have created a whole nother story!!!!!!)

I also watered it in, but had to do it with a watering can due to the hosepipe ban that is currently in force.




there.....Now wasn't that interesting?

PS -If you're here looking for my attempts at Illustration Friday. You need to look in The Little Shop Of Horrors.




The Art Project
You'll find this over in the Little Shop of Horrors.

Music
Currently back into 1950's! Rockabilly and Rock'n'Roll Jive.

The Motorcycle Diary

ALL motorcycles now SOLD. end of a chapter.....end of an ERA!

The Art Project
I'm considering taking up on the Illustration Friday thing. I've been doing a few ATCs - (Artist Trading Cards)... I must find something to do to get me out of this un-creative rut!

I am once again obsessed

My Current Obsession

I am working hard on this novel writing idea - as a result - (added to the fact that I have met so many of my old freinds over on MySpace), I am unlikely to update this Blog on a regular basis.

The novel currently stands at just over 4,500 words - So, a long way to go yet. But, it's taking shape, gradually.

I've enjoyed meeting everyone that I have here, and will of course make regularish visits to read through soem of the updates.

all the best to all

Jayster

Soul Legend passes away!

Music
I just read today that Soul legend Wilson Picket passed away - Very sad news indeed. He was probably one of the Soul names that EVERYBODY knows - whether into 60's music or not. - so close on the heels of Lou Rawls too!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4630184.stm

The Novel - The Soulville Project - and continuation of NY Resolutions.

Today’s post is going to be brief. Busy at work –with work….. also my other projects are blossoming, and starting to become time consuming.

1 – The Novel – I have now put over 2,000 words together, and although it is still mostly a load of old rubbish, it is starting to take shape.. Still a shed load of work to do, so don’t anybody hold their breath!

2 – Soulville – I have just received the first completed questionnaire, and although the responses do not help me in my original pursuit of knowledge regarding my own record collection – (a small and insignificant project, I think you’ll agree) – it has opened my eyes to a much wider issue. That being the interest and appreciation of music as a whole by the population from every genre, by a diverse audience from the youth of today, through to older, dedicated music specialists…… I haven’t explained that very well at all. Mainly because I am still thinking about it as I write, and the thoughts are spilling out onto the keyboard.

For the project to meet it’s criteria, I am going to have to enlist the aid of one or more National magazines, but more than that I cannot say at this stage – as and when anything progresses on this, I will of course post details.

I once had a dream about launching a record company…. I’ve done that – Then I had a dream about running a successful magazine, which I also achieved – THIS is my new dream – (that and the novel of course) – Both of which will be brought into reality in the fullness of time


Still clean shaven……So that part of my New Years Resoltion is still intact – ALSO – I have not bought nay new records. The Howard Peters single arrived safe and sound from Dubai today, and I’m still waiting for a single to arrive from America, which I actually bought in the summer last year – but events intervened to slow everything down – All’s going well though. Once that materializes – That Is It…..!!!!

Technology SO simple - A Two year old could use it!

The Daily Grind
Well – that’s all good and well, but is it something we really want?

We have just bought a new washing machine -I’m not going into all the ins and outs of that story, it’s already well documented over the past 3 months, being involved with the flooded kitchen floor and so forth! If you’ve been a regular reader of this Blog, you already know the background. Anyway, we have this new washing machine, and it’s wonderful. Things that I never thought would be clean again are indeed clean again!!!! – And it has technology so simple that even a two year old can use it. This is indeed true, as our ‘not quite’ two year old has proven on more than one occasion……. But is this simple technology something we really want? – It’s all very well, him being able to twiddle the knobs and turn it on, set the wash cycle, alter the heat settings and select whether the load consists of ultra dirty hard wearing denim, or very delicate woollens – (Even apparently mid cycle!). Now, that’s all good and well, but let’s be honest. How many 2 year olds do you know that really know that you should separate red underwear from white shirts. That mohair jumpers do not go in the same load as greasy, oil stained jeans, or even know that you can’t substitute Persil washing Powder for Ready Brek? – Not many would be my guess – so perhaps the next leap forward in technology should be - Technology so advanced, a Two year old CAN’T use it!

On a completley different subject, I started to write the book last night. I managed a good 1,000 words - All of which are shit.....Well, actually, the words themselves are OK, it's the way I've thrown them all together that needs work!

New Years Resolutions

Thought For The Day

1 – Try to stay clean shaven
2 – Cut down on record buying
3 – Write a short story or start a novel
4 – Be more tidy at home and at work

So I can’t stop smoking or drinking really, as I don’t do either…. OK so I drink a little, but hardly enough to make it a worthwhile resolution!. The resolutions I’m attempting are all going to be pretty hard for me to keep, but I will try. The idea of writing something is coming on stronger at the moment.

Last night I was unable to sleep until the early hours, due to the fact that words, paragraphs, even whole chapters were coming into my head, then drifting away to burst like soap bubbles in a spectactular flurry of nothingness. If only I had some sort of device that I could connect up to my head so that I could dictate my thoughts into a word document instead of writing, or even dictating. I lie in bed and everything comes together in a form that (at least ) I think is a perfectly worded storyline. My style of writing is much like my style of talking – some people like that, some don’t. I’ve certainly read books, proper published books that are more sloppily written – so we’ll see.

2- Record buying. OK, now here’s a toughie! – I am a true addict, and perhaps by admitting that then I’m halfway through the problem, even as I write this. I’m writing out a cheque for £25 for a record that I said I would buy before Christmas – (It’s OK, I haven’t welched on a deal. – I did say from the outset that I could not pay for it until after Christmas.) – BUT, I’m going to try to make that the last one for a while

IN OTHER NEWS

I need to change some of my BLOG. I’m no longer keeping the MOTORCYCLE DIARY, as I have sold the last of my ‘good’ bikes, and only have an old Honda 125 to get rid of now. I’m unlikely to do anything with regards to an ART PROJECT, unless I do manage to start writing more than a BLOG. I'm sure there are other changes as well - It is bound to evolve during the coming year. Perhaps if I'm giving up the record buying I can dedicate more time to the Blog and to MySpace. - We'll see.

Merry Christmas and Thank-you ARGOS very f***ing much!

Christmas Day was going well. First thing in the morning (read this as about 6.00am, so we had a bit of a lie in!) The boys came in with their stockings to open the presents that Santa brought. Then, downstairs to open a few of the other presents from relatives, breakfast and so forth. So far everything is going fine – Even up to the point where the boys were just starting to get agitated about opening the rest of their presents, when lo and behold Grandma and Grandad arrive. Next it’s Christmas Dinner, and Mrs Jayster had done a wonderful job. The beef and vegetables were perfect, and even though, being a vegetarian, she wasn’t able to sample it herself, it was all done to perfection – Then we could all go and open the rest of the presents – adults and children alike.

Now, at this point I have to back track in time a little – Mrs Jayster wanted a new wedding ring for Christmas. Not an expensive ring, nothing grand, just a simple band to replace the original one which unfortunately had some sort of chemical reaction to her finger which swelled and hurt - so she couldn’t wear it much. The ring she wanted was in Argos, she had seen it, been in, tried it on and had the size written down. All Jayster has to do, is go in, tell them what he wants, pay for it and pick it up. Simple! Everything went OK – OH, except that the store I drove to didn’t have the right size in stock, and wouldn’t have one until after Christmas. However, help was at hand, the store in the town centre did have one, and they would put it on reserve for me. I ran out of time that lunchtime though, so would have to get on the bus the next lunchtime to pick it up – No problem. Next day was a bit of a rush, and I only had enough time to dash down to the store, grab the ring, and get back on the last bus to work – PHEW, now that’s a relief. The main present is sorted.

Now, I reisted the urge to look at the ring. I thought it would be a nice surprise for me on Christmas day to see it fresh out of the box. Perhaps, in retrospect, that was not such a bright notion. I carefully wrapped it in a plastic bag from a different shop, hid it inside an oven glove to disguise it, then wrapped it in pretty Christmas paper. Of course Mrs Jayster knew what it was straight away and left it till last. Then opened it to find………Nothing! - - that’s right, nothing. Nothing but an empty ring box. Of course she was quite understandably very, very upset. Almost in tears. I was also pretty damned upset.. I was sure I hadn’t taken it out. But then maybe I had, and put it somewhere else –I couldn’t think where though, and certainly didn’t remember actually seeing the ring in the flesh as it were. Now I’m in a bit of a flat spin, I thought that Mummy and oldest son were playing a trick on me, having hidden the ring, but no, it really was not there. OK – I can’t do anything about it now, and the rest of Christmas day was a little shall we say chillier than the morning! As was Boxing Day. – You see the problem is this. How do you take back something you haven’t actually got? – Fine, Argos have a very consumer friendly policy with regards to returns. If it’s faulty, unsuitable, broken, scratched etc. they will change it, no questions asked – BUT, can that really stretch to taking back an empty box? – Especially since I couldn’t find the receipt either – (that eventually turned up).

Day after Boxing Day, I phoned the store, to see if by some miraculous turn of events the ring I had bought was still on the shelf – it was a long shot, but it was all I could think of. They would look into it for me, and get back to me the next day. I heard nothing for a couple of days, and thought the worst. Mrs Jayster was still upset, but would not let me just buy another ring. Then we got the call – GOOD NEWS, they were very sorry, but it was a mistake – I had indeed been given the wrong box, and if I would just go into the store I could collect the ring. I was very happy with this result, and collected the ring yesterday…. However, it does still annoy me a little that I wasn’t offered anything by way of compensation for what ultimately put a big downer on this years Christmas!

Guanabana? Lychee? Guava?

The Daily Grind

Well – I’ve just had a most unpleasant bacon sandwich, and yes, apparently an unpleasant bacon sandwich really does exist – The company decided to treat us, probably to help some get over hangovers from last nights Christmas party! So they bought a truck load of bacon sandwiches…. We were all looking forward to a lovely bacon sandwich, cooked to our own specific requirements. Crispy bacon with butter, crispy bacon - no butter, smoked back with a smidge of brown sauce, raw bacon with a slice of lemon – (Strange person at that desk!) – I’m sure you get the picture, and then our order arrives – (OK, so it’s over an hour late, but never mind) – Ahh, the smell of bacon hits the nasal passages in a way that only bacon can. Then we start to unwrap. Hmm, Soggy boiled bacon between two crumpled slices of bread which may or may not have been touched by the butterknife? – who ordered that then? – (I think I’d prefer the lemon on raw bacon!!!)……Next one, - Oh good - Soggy boiled bacon between two crumpled slices of bread which may or may not have been touched by the butterknife, followed by Soggy boiled bacon between two crumpled slices of bread which may or may not have been touched by the bu….. I think I see a pattern forming here. Now, those of you that know me from the past, or who have been reading my blog, know that I’m a veritable dustbin when it comes to food, so of course I managed to eat mine, but I must say, I’ve had better food from the bins outside the Kentucky Fried Chicken. But there we go. Credit to the food place though, when we complained, they sent over a full refund, and a bag of goodies which included cakes, and cans of drink…. Any suggestions as to which would be nicer from this selection of exotic fizzy drinks? – Lychee, Guanabana or Guava – (You learn something new every day – I just didn’t know you could get bat-poo flavoured drink.)

Torn............

The Daily Grind

Yes, I’m torn at the moment. I like Blogger a lot, and my page here look’s OK, Plus I’ve been in contact with some pretty cool folks – GW, RobotJam, Scary Duck, Mosher, Mr Whiskers, Ditch Monkey etc.etc. – (If I haven’t mentioned you – Tough!) – so obviously I’m going to be a regular here.

However, even though I don’t like the set up on MySpace as much – my page looks crap, and as I haven’t taken it that seriously, the picture I’ve used looks like my head has been pickled in the gerkin factory! I’ve tracked down a heap of my old friends. These are friends from my old rockin’ days – Belfast Brian, Del, Mouse, Tom and others that are into the rockin’ scene in the USA, so I guess I’m going to be a regular there also. MySapce is down at the moment though, which is a pain in the old duck run!
Couple that with the fact that I’ve still got to try and sell a few of my old records to pay off a small dept – (also caused by buying records.) – And get my Soulville CD project running……… I’m going to be a busy little beaver. I’m going to be cutting out early today – and probably won’t be back online until Jan 3rd.

SO – I wish all of you that read this a
VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS –
and a wonderful
NEW YEAR

Last page of the MOTORCYCLE DIARY!

The Motorcycle Diary
This weekend my old BSA A7 sold. I’m a little sad about it, but at the end of the day I know that I would never have got around to rebuilding it. In that respect I’m happy that it has gone to somebody that, I believe will build it, love it and enjoy it! – I didn’t get quite as much as I had hoped, but again, I’m happy that it has gone to a good home.

I now have to out the Honda, then I’m a bike free zone again. I guess I’ll have to face the fact that I’m unlikely to be back on 2 wheel again in the foreseeable future! – Here endeth the Motorcycle Diary!

In other news – Following the pandemonium caused by the leakage in the kitchen that destroyed our floor, I have pleasure in informing you all that we now have a similar mishap in the downstairs toilet. I ripped up the lino that I put down last year, and the old vinyl tiles that have been there since God Knows When, to find extreme dampness…… Still, it’s not going to cause anywhere near as much of a problem as the kitchen floor…… BUT, I do know now, what I will be spending my money from the bike on!!!!!! – I was hoping to get a couple of bits of software for my video editor, but I guess a new toilet and floor will be just as much fun!

The art of Being LOST

The inspirational ‘Scarey Duck’ has once again given me the inspiration to write something on my BLOG.

Getting Lost….this is something I’ve been pretty good at. Mr Duck says that he has only recently acquired the ability to get lost, suffering from the annoying habit of inbuilt homing up to this point. – I on the other hand, have taken getting lost to new, almost undiscovered extremes. I could indeed be awarded a degree in getting lost!.. What follow are a couple of prime examples –

1 – soon after moving in to a new house with some friends I decided to walk down to the local shop - I walked because the shop was very close. We lived in a cul-de-sac, and you simply walk out of the house, turn right into the road, turn right at the end of the road, then turn right again into a side road…… Then there is the shop on the left hand side. There was actually considerably more turning right than there was walking in a straight line involved. The shop really was very, very close . I remembered the directions easily, after all, it was all right turns, so there was no way I could get lost. – I bought a bag of crisps, and a bar of chocolate – (Not a very healthy lunch I know!), then headed for home. I came out of the shop and turned right – (I couldn’t turn left out of the shop, because it was at the end of another cul-de sac.) – I go to the end of the road and turned right………….. then, I didn’t recognize anything…. Lost. I walked for a while, hoping that eventually something would make sense. When it started to get dark I started to panic. Would I ever find home again? – I only had a bag of crisps and a bar of chocolate….. How long would that last me, Why I might even starve to death unless I could find somebody to help me home! - - I eventually made it!

2 – Put me in a car, and I can get lost in almost epic proportions! – I used to live in Farnham, and once had to deliver a couple of photographs to Alton, and although Alton was only a few miles away, I’d never been there on my own before – (I had passed my driving test a few days earlier.) – Anway, I got to Alton with no problem, delivered the photo’s then headed for home. BUT, I couldn’t remember the way… BUT, I did see a sign for Basingstoke, and I think I knew the way home from there. So that’s the way I went – OK, so it might be a little out of my way, but at least I’d find my way home…..or so I thought!.
Me and the little Wolseley 1500 (1957) trundled into Basingstoke, then I knew that I had to find the M3… this was going to be easy, and I’d only be a little bit longer than expected. The M3 is a long road, and Basingstoke is unfortunately not at one end or the other. I therefore had a choice of whether to drive towards Southampton or London. Now I used a bit of intelligence here. I had often been up to London with friends who drove, and when they came home from London on the M3, they didn’t head towards London, they headed away from it, which is of course what I did! I drove for a long time, and didn’t see any signs for Aldershot or Farnham, I did however see signs for the seaside, and for ferries and things, then panic set in. I pulled off to find a garage where I might be able to phone home and get directions from my dad. The little garage in Eastleigh was manned by a very friendly assistant, who let me use his phone for free. I told him everything that had happened, and where I had been – He then asked if I knew what year it was…… I may have done!
I got home some time after midnight!

3 – I once parked in a street in London, It was a free space….. Nowhere near where I wanted to be, but I wouldn’t get a ticket or have to pay, so it was fine.. I promptly walked off, and did most of my London traveling by tube. Day done, I tried to return to my car. Luckily I remembered the tube station where I started my journey…….Remembering the name of the road where I had parked would have been a bonus! I did the only sane thing to assist in my finding my car. I found a little corner shop that sold cheap London A-Z maps and red pens, then set to work. I walked up a street, looking at the cars on both sides. If my car was not there, I would draw a red line along the length of that road, and move on to the next one. I’ve since lost the book, but I do know that I had pretty much covered three pages with red pen, before I eventually found my car!

4 – Before I had a car, I rode a motorbike, my daily ride between home – (Farnham) to work (Guildford) was pleasant enough, but sometimes I fancied a change, and would take a slightly different route. So one day, I rode out on one of my minor diversions. When I came to a sign saying Guildford 20 miles I was baffled….. that can’t be right….. Farnham is only about 15 miles or so from Guildford, and I hadn’t gone through it! – It was about this time that I realised that there are 2 completely independent variables in the art of finding your way home. Distance and Direction. You can’t just get one of them right!

Feeding the BLOG

I’ve neglected my BLOG for too long…….It’s getting hungry, but I’ve no meaty morsels to feed it.

Here though is a brief and dull list of things.

New kitchen floor is finished – It looks lovely, but is so cold on the feet it hurts… Note to self, get some slippers!

Somebody may be coming to purchase the bike this weekend – HooooRAH!!!!

New Washing machine is installed, Dish washer and dryer all back in place. At last we can get back to a normal way of modern life. No longer needing to out our washing to relatives and friends, have a morning ritual of trying to wash up and everything by hand, or have clothes horses, doors and radiators covered in damp clothes all the time.

My youngest son – (aged 2) has been taken ill. It would appear to be the early onset of Asthma like symptoms, although the doctors won’t call it Asthma at such a young age, and it is quite possible that it is, as suggested, just a chest infection – (Let’s hope.). However, since both me and my wife, and our eldest son all suffer with Asthma in varying degrees, it is quite likely to head in that direction.

I’ve nothing intelligent or witty to add at the moment.

Oh that's filled me with such high self esteem!

Thought For The Day

My blog is worth $Buggar All.
How much is your blog worth?

Music Test

Music

this is just a quick test, to help somebody list records with a music clip. If you click onthe DJ fella, you'll get to hear the great Jimmy Holliday with The New Breed.

The Kitchen Floor - Update

The Daily Grind
Well Last night I was all set to start recording the second part of my Soulville CD’s. – now, it doesn’t take too long to set the lap-top up, connect the cables to the stereo via the special audio box, connect the card readers etc – But it is a bit of a palaver. Then haul my singles case out of the cupboard, and find the records that I have already selected*. Then settle down, put the first disc on the deck and……..knock on the door!

It’s my brother in law, armed with a roller, tray and tub of PVA! – “Hello”, he says to my wife – ( who had incidentally already said it was fine that I would spend my evening recording music in the dining room, while she watched TV in the living room. Normally we would both watch TV at this time of night – Even though I have absolutely no interest in the TV programmes. I don’t generally like going in to listen to records, or do recording until she’s gone to bed, as I feel ignorant and rude!.) – Anyway, I digress! – “Hello” says my brother in law – (this is not a repeat, just going back to where we left off!) “You’ve forwarned Jayster of what he’s doing tonight haven’t you?” – (Ahh, thinks I …This is something that involves me.!) I was then informed that my evening would be spent smoothing out the last little nubblets on the floor, hovering, then painting with a coat of watered down PVA, ready for him to come in and lay the floor tomorrow morning………


YAAAY – we should be getting a new floor in our kitchen tomorrow – Only three months after the old floor was ripped up. The main delay was the time it took for the drying process to be completed. – But that’s all documented elsewhere.

Anyways – The upshot for me is that I didn’t record Soulville Part 2 after all…. Maybe tonight!

*I have found that the recording process for making up CD's is much different from when I used cassettes. I approached the recording of cassettes in much the same way that I would DJ at a dance. That is - select a track, play it, and while it is playing trawl through the box to find a track that would follow it well - Maybe pull out half a dozen records, slot them into the box at jaunty angles, but basically it's a select on the run...... I've found that with the CD route, I've approached it much more like I did for a radio show. That is, make a selection of 30 tracks, write out a list - (This was all done a couple of nights ago.) then put the records in that order, and stick fairly rigidly to the list. Both methods work well, and the CD I have in the car at the momentis probably one of my favourite compilations - (But then they always are until I do the next one!)

A bit of a wheeze!

Thought For The Day
Now, heres a good gag to play on a work colleague. - - AND it’s really simple to pull off, and effective for days!

Couldn’t be simpler. When they come over in your direction, ask why they are ‘mincing’ today. Obviously they’ll deny it, so you just point out the minute differences in their normal walk to the way they are walking today. The more minute the better – (It infers that their normal walk isn’t too far removed from mincing anyway!) - examples would be the slight outward swing of the arms, a hint of a twist to the side – that sort of thing. – (OK – you’re more than halfway there already!). Then, just leave it at that, and watch as they walk away from you –(Notice the more awkward movements? your victim is now concentrating on walking ‘normally’, which actually looks anything but normal.) – then tomorrow, just bring it up again. This time the effects should be even more pronounced, and your victim will have virtually forgotten how to walk, and will have to learn all over again…………
I don’t know if it works on everybody….
……………..
……………
………….
………

But I’m still having trouble walking comfortably!

1960’s Soul Offer – CD. - £3.50

This is a duplicate of a post I have over on Little Shop Of Horrors....

1960’s Soul Offer – CD. - £3.50

OK – Here’s a very special offer for 60’s Soul Fans. – BUT, there’s a catch.

I need the help of 10 Soul / Northern soul fans…….Read on!

a while back I was DJ’ing with some of my 60’s stuff, thinking I was doing a pretty sound Northern set, when somebody came up and said – “I’m normally just into Northern, but you’ve played some blindin’ R&B” – Something I was quite unaware I was doing – it got me to thinking that I obviously don’t know what is Northern, what is R&B, what is even funk or deep soul maybe??????? – I just don’t know anymore!!!! – When I was a rockin’ DJ, I knew what was rockabilly / rock’n’roll / R&B, I knew whether it was a jiver, a bopper or a stroller…….All in all, I was sorted, I could pull a decent set together without even thinking about it – it just came natural!

SO – I’m putting together a CD made up of 30 tracks out of my singles box, some I know about, and are put there just as a yard stick to work by, some are pretty obscure, and I have no idea what category they should go in, and others I have a pretty good idea about, but might be wrong.

I’m doing 10 copies only – so if you are interested – BE QUICK!

What do you get for your £3.50? – Well, you get the CD with 30 tracks – All as far as I know from the 1960s – (Some of the singles may be cheapies, but even the cheapest would have set me back £3 - £4, some will be bigger investments, maybe worth up to £100? – I don’t know what will go on it yet!). You get NO track listing, and NO other track information. You get a questionnaire asking about each track - Artist / Title / Year / Label – If you KNOW the answers you will need to tick a box to say you know it….. If you don’t know it, make an educated guess. You will also need to put down what you would class it as – whether you consider it 1960’s Northern Soul, Garage, Deep Soul, Latin, or Funkadelic jazz with a Go-Go beat etc., plus any additional comments like – “Great track, dance to it often” – “Got this on Kent album Go Go frenzy” or “What a pile of poop, wouldn’t give you the skin of my withered foot for it!” – THEN send the questionnaire back in the stamped addressed envelope that will also be enclosed…….THEN, you will be sent an information insert / booklet for the CD with full track listing, some label scans, and some information that I do already posses. - Sound like fun? – A bit like a pub quiz on a subject you’re already keen on? - Well – what are you waiting for?

This project is really for reference / research purposes only – the payment covers material costs and postage only, Once finished I will leave it to your discretion whether you dispose of the CD or not. Obviously you wouldn’t be allowed to listen to it, purely for entertainment value or heaven forbid dance to the music, as that would clearly be unethical!

No Frills - No Chocolate - No Toy!!!!

Thought For The Day
Whatever happened to standard, no frills, open the door, see a picture advent calendars? – They got too expensive, that’s what happened to them. – SO, you can buy a chocolate filled + a picture advent calendar for LESS!!!! – (How does that work?). Now, call me old fashioned if you like, but I would have preferred my two little boys to have the old type. NOT because I’m old fashioned and If it was good enough for me, it is good enough for you!….NO, the reason is this. If little boy opens calendar door, and the only treat is to see a picture of a jolly little elf, a star, a fairy or a cute little robin or some other 2 minute masterpiece and also know that he is one day closer to Christmas, then he is quite content to open just the one door, and wait till tomorrow for the next.

IF on the other hand he is treated to a chocolate or a toy, he wants another one…… so the routine is. Open door, eat choclolate……Tears and tantrums. – (#1 son is 4 now, so he’s actually very good, he may hint at opening another door, but it’s just a hint because he knows he can’t! - #2 o the other hand is not yet 2 yeasrs old. He doesn’t understand the principle of calendars, so it’s very difficult to explain that you are opening what appears to be a big box of sweets, then only letting him have less than a mouthful.) – Therefore, for the next 23 days, we will no doubt have the same morning routine!


AND That, is why I would prefer a standard, no frills, no chocolate, no toy advent calendar!