Music Monday: A Winning Song?

I haven't done a Music Monday post for quite a while. However, as the time of year when music fever hits Europe is fast approaching, it's time for me to get back on track.

When I say music fever hits Europe - I mean the annual joviality called the Eurovision Song Contest.

Now us Brits have always laughed at the Eurovision contest. Basically, we think it's a load of tripe performed by folks dressed in clogs and silly hats trying to tap dance their way to success whilst singing either an appallingly bland ballad or a ridiculously geeky tune about everyone in Europe holding hands. The winning song will usually have a chorus which starts something like La, La, Hip Bop, Do Do, Da Da, and may mention something to the effect of we all love each other, I love you, Let's Marry And Have Eurovision Babies - in a kind of bullshit, stick your fingers down your throat kind of way. Or, to put it simply, it's a bit like a Police record - only without Sting and without any musical ability.

Right, you should be getting a picture of how us Brits think about Eurovsion night now - an evening of sheer comic entertainment, fuelled by copious amounts of alcohol and unadulterated jingoism...punctuated by some slow hand clapping every time the French produce another ballad.

Now, just to give you an overview, in the early days of Eurovision, we took it more seriously and even fielded big names like Cliff Richard, Sandi Shaw and Mary Hopkins. Then we went on a long phase of entering relative unknowns or groups put together especially for the occasion and yet we still had success  - and then everything changed. Europe ( in fact it's not just Europe, pretty much anyone can participate) stopped having fun, stopped voting for the best song and it all got political. Consequently, as us Brits are hugely unpopular and an island nation with no neighbours to cuddle up to, we get bugger all votes.

Look, it's not that I'm bitter...

Yeah, yeah alright I am bitter! I like having Euro fun! But it's got to be fair fun. Otherwise I can get into a HUGE sulk.

Anyway, why are us Brits so unpopular? Come on, aren't we really, really sweet, kind and charitable? I thought we were! And if that isn't enough - we also make fabulous cucumber sandwiches and jelly trifles, we have a Queen with a nice sparkly hat and a Prime Minister with only a small double chin who is actually quite good looking and... and...and... we make lots of spectacular costume dramas.

Oh and last, but not least, we practically saved Europe from Hitler all by ourselves!

 Why, why, why are we so hated???? Oh, it's just not fair...what have we ever done wrong?

(Nobody mention we exported David and Victoria Beckham please.)

Anyway,  in the last few years we've done so badly at Eurovision it's embarrassing. We are the country that produced The Beatles for goodness sake and we take our music seriously! Yes - everything from opera to rap is serious business and yet, despite this, we've haven't won since 1997 when Katrina and the Waves sang Love Shine A Light. Yep, since 1997 then we've barely got off zero. In fact, we've come last three times which is unbelievable! Now, some of these results are due to politics - poor Andy Abraham, who served up a great disco song in 2008, came last with a pathetic 14 points - but some of the results are because we've tried to stay in tune with Europe and, sadly, fielded some really awful tunes.

But the last few years things have started to change in the UK, we're fed up with losing and we've started to bring in experienced commercial writers - in 2009 we brought in Andrew Lloyd Webber and in 2010 Pete Waterman. Andrew Lloyd Webber's entry came fifth and Pete Waterman's came last. Soooooo not very good results from our millionaire record makers then!  The problem, as I see it, is we are still trying to beat the others at their own game - ie producing material in the same vein was never, ever, going to work.

But things are going to be different this year. Oh yes!

Well maybe....

Anyway, we are fielding Blue Yes, Blue. I talked about Blue back here. If you haven't heard of Blue let me tell you they are a classy British pop act. Four blokes who can genuinely sing and who have sold 14 million albums and have had 40 number ones across Europe. They wrote a song, I Can, which they were originally contemplating as an anthem for a sporting event. However, when an invitation to perform at Eurovision came through they decided to accept the challenge and use I Can. So, at last, after many, many years, we have an experienced, successful pop act with a sophisticated pop tune representing us - will it make any difference though? We'll have to wait and see!  In the meantime, judge for yourselves whether this is the winning song;

BLUE - I CAN

Three years, Three Hundred Posts and a Caption Competition!

Just after Christmas I realised I've actually been blogging for three years and today marks my three hundredth post. Hoorah!

It's actually quite hard to believe I'm still scribing this blog, which started out as nothing more than a whimsical notion to find a creative outlet, but I am. I'd like to think there's something meaningful in that achievement but the best I can come up with is -  I probably like the sound of my own voice too much!

Anyway, in honour of this momentous occasion, my original intention was to write a short summary of the highs and lows of my life and blog over the last three years - of which they have been many. However, I'll be honest, that's too much like hard work and I'm far too lazy. So instead I'm having a caption competition!

(However, if you really want to find out more about My Witty Ways it's all here in my blog posts - over three years of madcap but hopefully humorous ramblings, punctuated by the occasional moments of despair, melancholy and even on rare occasions, sanity.)

So, back to the caption competition.

The picture below is one I came across at my friend Eddie's photography blog The Cliffwalk - so thanks to Eddie for letting me have use of it. Now, I'm expecting some active audience participation on this post. So, as an extra incentive, I will award some grossly cheap and tasteless prize to the winner- as well as writing them a blog post on any subject they choose!

I will also arrange for you to have a signed copy of The Ascent of Isaac Steward the debut novel of my editor at The View From Here, Mike French, which is due for publication later in the year.

How's that for an attractive proposition?!

Now be warned, Readers, I have already come up with some captions and I am not adverse to awarding myself prizes - so you've got to get your thinking caps on. Don't forget you can comment anonymously - but if you think up a highly original name for yourself as well, you'll be upping your chances of winning!

Okay, so here's the picture and some of my captions:

Bruce apologized to his owner for mistaking her for a bush.

Bruce had an appointment with the pet psychologist - and not a moment too soon.

Bruce knew he'd done wrong when he saw the red hot poker coming at him.

Bruce wanted to join the army but they didn't accept three-legged dogs.

Bruce plonked his arse on the coin; another fifty pence and he could afford a coffee in Costas.

Bruce thought he was a dog and then he saw his lead; he made another appointment with his psychologist.

Bruce remembered that old saying pets look like their owners. He looked at his owner's legs and then at his own... and sighed.

Bruce wanted to raise his ears but he was worried he might take-off.

***************************************

Right, that should give you an idea of what I'm after - so give it your best shot!

Ps - Thanks for reading!

A Letter To Phil Collins

Dear Phil,

I'm not one to beat about the bush, so I'm going to get straight to the point. What is it with this retiring business? You're only 60 - don't you know the government has plans for us to work until we're at least 75? Look, I know you've got a heap of cash but if folks like you don't pay enough in taxes people like me will get our old age pensions reduced from a mere miserly pension to a non-existent pension. And I fancy eating more than beans on toast in my old age.

Is it the reviews of Going Back? Is that it? Was it the negative feedback about not producing new material and covering Motown tracks? I really don't think you should worry Phil - the album went to No 1 and I loved it! Besides, all the albums reviews were written by jumped-up youths barely out of their nappies. They weren't even born before you started losing your hair. I mean, what do they know about music? They think rap is good whereas we old timers know that rap is pap and, in the main part, written by some failed Caribbean poets who just so happened to have a cheap set of drums.

Now, I know it says on your website you're retiring because you want to spend time with your kids but I'm a full time mother and I still find time to write my blog, protest at government cutbacks and pretend I'm writing a novel. Surely, surely, you can pen a few notes in between building train sets and playing Cowboys and Indians? Oh, and I really don't care if you think you were an Indian at the Alamo in a previous life. However, can I just ask - Do you think that's where the drumming influence came from? Anyway, I've got three boys; if you ever want some spare dressing up costumes just ask. I have a great Indian headdress.

By the way, I really recommend Thomas the Tank Engine as reading for your boys. In fact, how about putting it to music? Make it into a musical?  You'd be doing the world a favour if you could drown out Ringo Starr's voice. Huh... The Beatles I bet you never really rated them either. Jumped up Liverpudlians.

Maybe it's the Genesis thing. Is that it? Look, you're getting older - no one expects you to make an album in 7 days anymore. Just get out the drumsticks and start tapping on the kid's Lego boxes. Put some nursery rhymes to music - let's face it Ba, Ba Black Sheep could do with a bit of an overhaul and as for The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round - I think that has great musical potential. Stick in a bit of synthesizer and getting Philip Bailey to the backing track and you have a sequel to Easy Lover.

Okay, so I know you've got problems with movement in the hands but, come on, I reckon you could clamp the drumsticks between your teeth and still outshine some of today's drummers. You could still write music though and get someone else to the drumming, couldn't you?. I guess you could even ask Ringo - so long as you make sure his microphone is cut off.  I know you've had problems with your hearing too -but it's okay now isn't it? I hope so - otherwise you won't know when you're shouting at your kids and they may end up hating you. It would be a pity if the fatherhood thing backfired...

Anyway, what I'm trying to say Phil is - I really don't think you should retire. You're a legend! You've had more hit records than I've cooked burnt meals - and that's really saying something. So, please, please have a great time with your kids whilst they're young and then think about making some more music will you? I'm not going to beg because that's not my style but I would be prepared to send you some of my jam as a token of my affection.

Yours admiringly

Mrs T.

Ps - I forgive you for the Tarzan soundtrack.

*************

Ladies and Gentlemen - The One and Only Retired Phil Collins (with guest appearance by Philip Bailey!)

Insomina, Babies, Celebrity Mothers and Husbands Who Snore

Why, why, why do I have insomnia? I am cursed!

Earlier tonight I woke up in the early hours - again. I stayed in bed thinking for a while hoping I'd drift off but, alas, nothing happened. Time passed, so eventually I got up and wandered downstairs to use the bathroom.

Now, currently, I'm wearing a watch that doesn't have a back light or luminous hands. Frankly, the watch is a nuisance as I like to track my insomnia (call me Mrs Peculiar) but it's new and it was soooo attractive underneath that glass display counter that I forgot that being able to tell the time in the night is a fetish of mine. Okay... so I know it's an odd fetish but well it's not as bad as it could be; I don't smear my body in mackerel oil and ask anyone to lick it off for example. That would be really peculiar - anyway I didn't get any applicants.

So I went downstairs and looked at the clock - it was nearly 5 am. Hoorah! Sleeping till 5am is a whole night's sleep; it was time to start the day! No more mooching around the house waiting to start crashing around in the kitchen and burning my toast.

Incidentally, I did a spectacular burning session earlier in the week; I managed to boil a pan of pasta completely dry and smoke out the entire downstairs. In fact when Mr T got home, nearly 5 hours later, he could still smell it. I told him I'd forgotten the pan it because I was doing the vacuuming. Which wasn't wholly truthful - as I didn't add on that I was actually vacuuming up the showbiz columns of the Daily Mail.

Yes, yes, I know it was the Daily Mail which is hardly the high brow reading you expect from someone as as intelligent and sophisticated as me but every once in a while I like to go over there and see if they have a column explaining who Kim Cardigan  Kim Cardisgan Kim Kardisgan - anyway someone called Kim Something - explaining who the hell she is. Basically, I have no idea who she is and nor can I be bothered to click on the articles to find out - because all the little pictures that accompany the bye lines about her seem to involve her in some sort state of undress.

Not interested.

Yes, so anyway I scroll down the twenty or so little bye lines and pictures that they have on the Daily Mail and think to myself now what looks interesting enough to read? Usually, I come to the deduction that there's absolutely nothing interesting - although yesterday, to be fair, there was a nice piece by Joan Collins about Elizabeth Taylor. Now that's what I call showbiz news; the death of a screen icon, fondly remembered in words by someone who is also arguably a pretty big name in her own right.

Anyway, back to the insomnia (wherever that was leading to) - so I was celebrating it was nearly 5 am and then I remembered that Mr T had already put the kitchen clock forward....and that if I'd already been awake for a while that probably amounted to... 4 and half hours sleep at best.

Damn.

So I went back to bed and tried to sleep. Nope. It was not happening. Now, unfortunately, one of the many reasons I can't sleep (especially after I've woken up) is noise. And well... I'm not one to complain too much but when the good Mr T has had a bit of beer things can get a little...noisy. The optimum time for this is Friday and Saturday nights of course but then sometimes he likes to break with tradition and go for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday nights as well.

 It's a tough life being a middle aged executive.

Now anyway Readers... I have a cunning plan which may be my salvation. Okay, so I know you parents out there have heard about that routine you're supposed to implement with crying babies..,Yes, you know the one...the one where you stand next to the cot and then gradually you move away over the course of a fortnight, leaving your baby crying, until they finally get used to being alone.

Yes, that's right ...The My Kid's A Nightmare and I'm a Ruthless Hard Bitch Routine or perhaps, put more simply, The I'm so F***** Desperate I'll Try Anything Routine.

Anyway, that's the routine. I'm sure Sheila Kitzinger has some proper name for it and no doubt she thinks we should all be having orgasms as a result of it - but let me tell you readers I don't think Sheila Kitzinger has ever had a baby. The woman's nuts.

Hmm. And whilst I've touched on the subject of mother and baby manuals, I just want to say that celebrity mother manuals really get up my arse. Ones titled like;

 I've Just Had My First Baby and I Want to Tell You All About It For Just £14.99! By A.Moneygrabber

or

I've Got A Housekeeper, A Personal Trainer and A Dietician And A New Baby and I Still Look Fabulous By E.Gomaniac

or

One Baby and I Know It All by A. Showoff

I await such a book from Kim Kardishgan in due course. (Still can't spell her name and can't be bothered to check either.)

What the world actually needs is a book from a proper mother. Like me. Obviously.

Anyway, once again, back to the original post, ( I apologize for the inconsistency the lack of sleep sends me a bit doolally at times) so I'm thinking of implementing The I'm So F***** Desperate I'll Try Anything Routine on Mr T. You see Readers, Mrs T is actually a wise woman and knows that marriage is a very delicate matter ( that's why I'm blogging about it) and the subject of I WANT TO SLEEP IN ANOTHER ROOM has to be broached very, very delicately. Right, so here's what I'm thinking;

Day one: I go to bed as normal and say; "Have you grown Mr T? The bed feels a little small."

Day two; I go to bed, curl up at the bottom of my side of the bed and say: "I'm sure you've grown Mr T."

Day three: At 3 am I purposely fall out of bed. I wake Mr T up and say. "You just pushed me out of bed!"

Day four: I sleep in a sleeping bag by the side of the bed and say to Mr T; "I expect it's really cosy with more room in the bed."

Day five: I sleep in my sleeping bag at the bottom of the bed and say "Are you cosy my Sweet Love?"

Day Six;  I take my pillows from my side of the bed, and sleep in my sleeping bag by the door. I say "Sweet Dreams My Darling! Sleep well in your cosy bed!"

Day 7: I camp down in my sleeping bag with pillows in the hallway adjacent to our bedroom. I say "I've bought you a new teddy bear My Darling!"

And so on.... by Day 14 I reckon I will have moved to our third floor and will be ensconced in Master Sam's loft room.

What d'you reckon Readers? Will it work?

When the Mighty Fall

Over the past two weeks, I'm sure I've been one of many contemplating the devastating events in Japan. As restoration at the Fukushima nuclear power plant continues to make slow progress one cannot help but wonder how bad this disaster has yet to come.

In terms of actual deaths already over 9,000 are confirmed dead and many more are still missing. In all probability, these early estimates will prove conservative. However, whilst each death is an individual tragedy, on a global scale these are comparatively small figures - the latest estimate for the Haiti disaster is 316,000 deaths with up to 3 million affected, the estimate for 2004 Tsunami is 230,000 deaths with another 1.3 million displaced and perhaps it is worth mentioning that everyday hundreds of children die from starvation and disease. In fact, according to Save the Children every year 3.1 million children die from the effects of malnutrition.

Those are, quite simply, staggering figures.

Yet, despite the relatively minor losses, the events in Japan may prove to be one of the most significant events of the early 21st century. It's the first time a leading global economic power has been seriously affected by a major natural disaster in recent times and it's becoming clear that Japan's infrastructure is been severely tested as food and power shortages add to the already immense problems.

It's an illustration to those of us who live privileged lives that we are not immune from natural disasters. One only needs to look at the ruins of the Japanese coastline to see how quickly industry and civilization can be washed away in the wake of nature's wrath. Many of the world's greatest economies and cities are situated on coastlines due to the very fact that cities grow where, over the course of history, trade has flourished. In fact, at least 17 of the 26 world's mega cities are situated on coastlines and Tokyo with a population of nearly 35 million, although not on the coast, is situated on a major fault line. As a point of interest, prior to the Tohoku earthquake some scientists had predicted a 30% chance of a category 7 or above earthquake under Tokyo in the next 30 years - In the light of recent events and the knowledge that earthquakes often follow each other in close proximity those estimates may have to be revised. The result may be even more alarming.

I don't think we can ever immunize ourselves from natural disasters; nature is both the beauty and the beast. Probably, one day, a meteorite will come hurtling out of the sky and take us back to the beginning again. That is the circle of life and death. From old life, new life grows. I don't think we should live in fear of it but, perhaps, on a day to day basis, it makes sense to better prepare ourselves against more frequent natural disasters and, of course, our own many man-made disasters.

Setting aside the infrequent horrors of tsunamis and earthquakes for a moment, if predictions about global warming are correct, all coastline cities will be under threat from flooding over the course of the 21st century, particularly those in Asia. Many scientists accept that there is a degree of climate change that is already unpreventable. However, we can help to limit the impact by making changes in the way we live and caring about our impact on the environment. Working towards economies that work alongside nature, and not against it, would be a huge step forwards. I certainly hope that the scepticism about nuclear power that has gained momentum after the Japanese catastrophe continues to grow. If the disaster at Fukushima helps to pave the way for increased investment in green energy then that at least that will be one positive thing to come out of this whole sad episode. We need to strike the right balance between using and abusing the world we live in and adopt a less ruthless and neanderthal approach to our existence. Whilst it's fairly obvious the world cannot support its population of around 7 billion without taking some risks we do need to think more carefully about the methods and impact of many of our current practices.

Our human lives are comparatively short so keep safe and well. And if you can spare some change for our friends in Japan, you can donate to the any number of disaster funds. Help to build new life.

Save The Children



Red Cross UK

Notes;

1.) A mega city is defined as having a population of over 10 million. I believe at least 17 mega cities lie on the coast. (Geography isn't my strong point, so correct me if I'm wrong.)
2) Blogger Sachiko is from the area struck by the tsunami and has family there. You can follow her personal account on her blog, Tea Rose Home.
3) To find out more on climate change read my interview with Paul Brown or/and my review of his book Global Warning, Last Chance for Change here

Danger in the Bathroom

I know I shouldn't laugh but this may possibly one of the funniest stories I've ever read. Apparently, some poor woman fell over in her bathroom and impaled herself on her loo roll holder.

Okay, I hope the unlucky woman makes a full recovery obviously. I mean you wouldn't want an epitaph like "speared by a loo roll holder" on your gravestone would you? It doesn't really have that certain ring to it, does it?

Anyway, what's really creased me up is the quote from the fire officer:

She apparently fell and the toilet paper holder just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.


I don't know about you, but I kinda like my loo roll in the bathroom. I mean, I could put it in the kitchen but it's not really that handy situated next to the spice rack.

Hmm... I guess instead of having a free standing loo roll or one that's attached to the wall this woman could hang hers from the ceiling.

No wait a minute... she might end up hanging herself or knocking herself out.

Still, at least it only speared her. Imagine if she'd just fallen with her face flat on it. She could have been smothered to death by a loo roll. Now that would take some beating.

I am going to be really careful in the bathroom from now on. Danger lurks everywhere you know.

My First Attempt at Jam

Is the full moon over yet folks? I couldn't tell with all that cloud cover last night. But I can't stand much more of this cleaning lark. Yesterday, I was forced to clean out the fridge and, as a consequence, for the first time in my 46 years I did what millions of women have done before me - I made jam.

Now, come on, avoiding making jam for 46 years is pretty good isn't it? Especially when you're a full time housewife. If it takes me another 46 years to build up the courage for a second batch - I wouldn't actually do it - as I'd be dead. A comforting thought.

I should say that I made jam because we had a surplus of strawberries in the fridge due to the boys having a sudden desire for fruit smoothies - and then suddenly not having a desire for fruit smoothies. Kids they're so fickle aren't they? So I had three tubs of strawberries, including one mega box from Costco. That's a lot of strawberries.

Anyway, I followed this recipe which was the first hit that came up on Google (you can tell I did a lot of research) and I made the sticky stuff. I got a bit confused with how long I had to boil the fruit and sugar for until after about 90 mins I realised that the preparation time said 70 minutes so by a process of deduction if it was 60 mins for simmering the strawberries before adding the sugar, the boiling time need only be 10 mins. So since I'd already simmered the strawberries for 90 minutes (just to be on the safe side), boiled it for a further 90 minutes, plus another 15- 30 for generally making a sticky mess, making little paper thingies and and sterilizing jars, all in all, it was just short of 4 hours for 3 and a half pots of jam.

Hmmm.... it's probably just as well I don't do this kind of stuff often. I wouldn't win any prizes for output.

So here's a piccy of my first attempt at jam:

I should point out that I had none of those pretty paper things your suppose to put over the top so I made my own with some Star Wars wrapping paper. George Lucas would be proud of me.

Now, I did think about auctioning off my jam for charity but then I got a little worried that during transportation things might get a little...runny. I'll check it out tomorrow - since it's boiled for so long it might actually be so hard that folks will break their teeth on it.

Anyway, the boys ate the half jar last night. All of it. Master Jacob said it was "the best jam I've ever tasted."

Hmm... I not sure what he's after but no doubt I'll find out soon enough. Either that or he's got sinusitis.