End of an era

As Matt was rightly saying, nothing is as bad as it seems. I was pondering this saying farewell to a lot of grand people at the Beeb. So many characters, all different, all with a unique asset. And I’ve been lucky to work in such an amazingly exciting era with some genuinely gifted people.

I won’t bore you with the details but if you’re interested in what has demanded most of my attention over the last decade or so, it’s all here (blighted with my ugly mug – what a cringe).

Logging off from internet journalism

Onwards and upwards – really looking forward to getting together with friends and family.

See you soon

Orribledreamiside

Anyone know of an ointment for recurring nightmares?

…or the summertime blues

Crossing paths

Couldn’t sleep last night so got up at the crack of dawn to be greeted by a splendiferous spring morning. What a treat. Might post up some pictures later.

Also had a gander at that Friends Reunited site. It’s compulsive viewing. There were people that hadn’t been in my consciousness for more than 30 years or I only knew by nickname – Stig, Maigo, and I think the woman John charitably referred to as Envelope Face. (Anyone recall any more?) Other names looked vaguely familiar but I couldn’t conjure up an image from the depths of my memory. It reminded me what a brutally judgemental society school really is.

Some of the comments made me smile too, but it’s a bitter-sweet experience. Just browsing through the entries reminds you of the inevitable predictability of all our tracks – “left school, got a job, had kids, started remeniscing about my youth.” I know that sounds a bit pompous but I include myself in the cycle even though I haven’t ticked all of those boxes.

I leave work a week on Thursday. I’m trying to arrange a course in Denmark, learning how to sail a Viking longship. In the meantime, I thought I might pack up my walking boots, camera and banjo and see where my feet take me.

I shall be dropping in for sustenance so make sure you’re well stocked with tea bags and chocolate macaroons. And don’t think you’re safe in France, Spain, Holland or New Zealand. You’ve been warned!

It’s out!

I’ve just been out for a gorgeous sunny walk, listening to the long-awaited album Matt has been producing – it certainly put a spring in my step.

Called Tuesday Blue by Simon LeFort, I particularly liked the title track, ‘If you were me’ and ‘In a perfect world’. I’m hoping to be able to point you to the iTunes collection shortly but in the meantime here’s the artist’s website. Simon LeFort

Poor Matt lost his mum just recently so I’m hoping the record label really takes off as a fitting tribute. Mrs B was one of life’s wondrously cheerful characters and I sure am going to miss her at the Stone House. No doubt, she would have been proud of her boy’s handiwork. As always with Matt’s stuff, the sound quality is superb. I’m not sure how you get a copy just yet but I expect Matt will post up an answer.

Talking of records – the stats went through the roof yesterday so thanks for visiting. (Er, must clean the place up and get rid of all those typos).

Here’s a heart-warming tale. I wrote to Rusell Taylor asking him if, against all the odds, he still had the original of an Alex strip cartoon I’d enjoyed when it appeared in the Telegraph absolutely yonks ago. Amazingly, he e-mailed me straight back with a generously witty reply informing me that I was 15 years too late (yes, 15! How time flies). Anyway, he said he would let me have a signed print for my collection. What a nice fella.

I leave work in a couple of weeks so I will get on with organising the shindig at my house that I’ve been threatening to arrange for months. The bachelor boys may be interested to know that three (yes, three!) very pleasant young ladies have moved in next door. I thought it only polite to invite them.

See soon.