davidbr1

I’ve been on the nostalgia trail again, and the soundtrack for my excursions has been the work of a true genius.  It makes me feel alive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSTli9JGbd8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzCQdYqRZyo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I2hBLjm3tc

Much as I love the early Black Sabbath, I don’t get round to playing their CDs much these days.  Yet I just heard Iron Man on the radio, and it was good to hear it again.  Oddly enough the lyrics have, for me, a poignancy that was not there before.  I wonder how many people would feel the same.

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/blacksabbath/ironman.html

Of their early material, Paranoid is the album that is best known.  That one is in my collection as well, but it’s the first album that I prefer.

I’ve often thought that the ‘Goth’ genre can be traced back to the title track (though I guess few would openly acknowledge that).  That first album also has on it the song War Pigs.  If only such political statements were more prevalent these days.

Woke up today to discover that “Aujourd’hui il pleut”, as indeed has been the case almost every day since the hosepipe was was introduced.  It won’t be long before the farmers start complaining that the ground is too soggy.

If only the Olympics could be rained off I would be vey happy to discover the same for the rest of the year.

It is to my regret that I never saw Bob Marley live in concert.  I was familiar with Bob Marley & The Wailers in my time at Liverpool University in the early 1970s.  I remember seeing posters around the city advertising their upcoming concert during that first big tour.  I did think about going, but went to another concert instead.  Then I saw this on BBC2.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDMxLbMcjxY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JE3WaSETf8k

What a tragedy it was that this genius, and someone that was truly inspirational, died when he was at the peak of his powers.  Nevertheless his music lives on, and I am sure it always will.  He will always be on my playlist.

It is difficult to choose, but this is my favourite Bob Marley song.  I love this acoustic version.  I first saw this footage in the mid 1980s  at the end of a documentary about him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFGgbT_VasI

This goes out to those in Bahrain that are fighting for democracy.  I hope you get your chace to sing a song of freedom.  As the man says ‘Don’t give up the fight’.  I will never give up my fight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dViJgggo274

There have been many cover versions of Bob Marley’s songs.  Amongst others a pitiful attempt by Annie Lennox that is best placed in the Recycle Bin, an excellent version of Redemption song by Joe Strummer, but most famously Stevie Wonder’s reworking of Jamming.  For me, Black Uhuru’’s version of Natural Mystic is the most fitting homage to the maestro.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swU8YL-hAbw

There have been so many cases of bbrutal inhumanity over the years.  This particular one (not surprisingly) has upset me even more than other hideous crimes.  I had to stop reading after the 1^st 2 paragraphs.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/mum-who-had-her-eyes-gouged-out-794063

It is difficult for me, like most people, to comprehend how anyone could do something like this.  Whatever punishment this monster gets, it will never bring this porr woman’s sight back.  I do hope that she is never asked if she has forgiven her attacke, as other victims of hideous crimes have previously been asked.  This (to me) is something that could never happen, and it should never be expected of anyone that has been on the receiving end of such brutality.

It is far too long since we last visited Campania, and on cold, miserable days such as this I’m feeling nostalgic.   We’ve had some lovely trips there and I can’t wait to go back.  That won’t unfortunately be until we have endured the rigours of moving home.  Still if I can’t go to Campania I can at least bring something of Campania to me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFq_Q3A6IEo&feature=topics

 must confess I always feel very emotional when I listen to this song.  It’s a great performance, but it is also a reminder of a country I fell in love with on my first visit.  My feelings for that country, its culture and its people have never diminished.

Yesterday we celebrated our 21^st anniversary.  It was a fairly muted celebration, as we are gearing up to move home, which will undoubtedly prove to be a costly affair (albeit worthwhile).  Nevertheless we did take time out to celebrate our love for each other, and had a lovely evening.  This featured (not surprisingly) Italian food and drink in convivial surroundings.  I was pretty full by the end of the meal, but there will always be room in my stomach for tiramisu – which yesterday came flambé.  Once we’ve moved normal service will be resumed, and it won’t be long before we spend 06 April in Paris.

On that first night Christie and I were introduced to each other by a mutual friend – someone that we had both become acquainted with (but on different occasions) a few weeks earlier.  Had it not been for these chance events, our paths would never have crossed.  Happily for me they did, and I will forever be grateful to Janey for that.

As we met in a nightclub, we spent some of the time dancing together.  This is 1 of the tracks that we danced to.  It still sounds good to me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX6xrWSc98E&context=C41de45aADvjVQa1PpcFPuiOOV4osiKnSB_bYRrOQ_jju5-80IBzE

Moving forwards, I anticipate that we will celebrate our wedding anniversary.  That will indeed be a special day; but for me 06 April will always be THE anniversary.

The Civil Marriage consultation is now underway.  Those that would prevent progress  have been very keen to cite references from the bible; which whether you are a Christian or not is largely a work of mythology.  Of course some of the underlying principles are sound.  However a set of documents that were written thousands of years ago, and never updated, are not appropriate for use in determining policy in a secular society.  Now that the clergy have spoken out, hopefully the debate will become more rational. 

Some more thoughtful observations on the matter in hand.

http://elancane.livejournal.com/11029.html

I look forward to the day when Chrisitie and I can get married in a manner that is acceptable to both of us.  Not this year, maybe not even the next, but one day soon.

In the meantime our 21^st anniversary is less than 1 month away.  We’ve been together far longer than most married coupes.