Is This Country?
an English Gentleman is someone who doesn’t know how to play the banjo
I have a friend who drove across country to the Ozarks last weekend. Even with my extensive and eclectic knowledge of geography I have only the vaguest knowledge of where the Ozarks are, let alone WTF you get when you arrive. I have the vaguest suspicion that it’s the kind of area where brothers and sisters date and cousins get married. If you tell me so I will accept that I’m utterly wrong. But and here’s the thing, is that where this kind of music comes from? And, is this country?
The Staggerwing was fabulous, but a Vincent is a legend.
Please listen knowledgeably.
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jack collier
jackcollier7@talktalk
better looking than some
sexier than most
Monochrome Monday ~ Wilderness
the wilderness is a necessity for the human spirit
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jack collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
sometimes when you lose your way
you find your true self
Monochrome Monday ~ Zzyzx
some places are even emptier than the back of beyond
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jack collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
four and a half miles to nowhere
Songs on Saturday ~ Lindisfarne
the more violent the storm, the quicker it passes
Last night I dreamed of this song from the days of my youth. I’ve chosen it for today because meeting someone on the corner, just as it’s getting dark, is just about the only way on can get to be with a close friend. Lockdown has a lot to answer for.
The acoustic guitar player has just about the coolest facial hair ever, if you like that kind of thing. Reminds me of a certain muppet.
Please listen with a smile.
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jack collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
Lindisfarne is a magical place
one day I will take you there
California Wildfires
sometimes all you have left is prayer
Here in England we almost never get wildfires, instead we sometimes have devastating floods, and every few years a hell of a lot of snow. Sadly, my friends out on the USA’s West Coast are in real physical danger from the bush fires burning out of control through California, Oregon, and Washington State.
The fire services are doing the very best they can, and President Trump is due to visit California tomorrow to see for himself the scale of destruction. But when fires even threaten the freeways and interstate highways, things are obviously our of control. Some of the fires may have been caused by arson, or smokers casually discarding their butts, or by electrical faults, or even lightning. But they have spread so far and wide because of a 20 year mega-drought.
The only thing that will end these fires is heavy rain. And all the rest of the world can offer is our thoughts and prayers.
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jack collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
perhaps now it is time to pray for heavy rain in Southern California
Scenes on Sunday ~ Desert
when you’re in the desert, you look into infinity
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jack collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
big wide horizons out there
Scenes on Sunday ~ Oludeniz
some places were made for relaxing vacations
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jack collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
a nice pool helps when it’s 100 in the shade
Vacation Thoughts
I’m busy doing nothing, working hard at finding things not to do.
The view from my balcony ~ the water is really warm
A vacation in Turkey has a lot going for it. Nice hotels, brilliant blue skies, great food, not having to do anything I don’t want to do. And it’s really good value for money. Today I had a great lunch in a nice beach restaurant ~ about $7.50 all in.
And last night I slept like a hibernating teddybear.
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Jack Collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
a twin room is fine if you’re travelling alone
Vacation Hiatus
vacations are a break from our usual activities
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As you get to read this I will be preparing to get aboard an aluminium tube that’s going to take me a couple of thousand miles from Newcastle upon Tyne to Dalaman in Turkey.
The chances are I will be too busy doing nothing to write anything on this blog until my return to the garret.
I will be taking some cool photographs I’ll post later.
Have a great time while I’m away.
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jack collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
in my absence Marmaduke will be looking after the garret
Tunes on Tuesday ~ Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Zulus to the Southwest ~ thousands of ’em
In all the turbulent history of the Natal in Southern Africa, one thing stands out, the respect the British have for the wider Zulu nation. I think this is a fabulous track. Tremendous bass baritones.
The town of Ladysmith on the Klip River in Natal also has a special place in British history.
The Ladysmith Black Mambazo featured prominently on the Paul Simon Album ‘Graceland’.
Please listen with respect.
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jack collier
jackcollier7@talktalk.net
Zulu singers at Drakensberg Mountains
