Author: Jeff

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Love how it hurts – Scouting for Girls


Track of the week 10/12/17

Went to see them on Monday at the Bristol 02 Arena.

Bloomin’ brilliant.

Its ten years since they released their first album. I was vaguely aware of them, but I distinctly remember barreling down the M3, on my own, on the way back from Heathrow, having taken some students to the airport, when I heard them on Radio 2, doing a session for Dermot O’Leary and being blown away by what I heard (Elvis ‘Aint Dead was the hook that got me.) Went out & got the album (possibly for Christmas or birthday, or possibly an early Amazon purchase?) and played it, and played it and played it.

And 10 years on, have now seen them live twice, would go and see them again in a Heartbeat (see what I did there?!) – brilliant musicians, a fantastic live act. Just as in Cardiff in ’15, Elvis ‘Aint Dead was the pick of the pops, although every minute of the show was fantastic.

(Note: A little bit of googling has allowed me to discover that the session I speak of was on Saturday 15 December 2007, but alas,

this episode is not currently available on BBC iPlayer Radio

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… and relax.

Pic of the week 10/12/17

At last, a busy, long term draws to a close and my well deserved holidays begin.

September seems a long time ago, but when I look back on the term, it is with a sense of achievement and satisfaction. I’ve enjoyed this term, I’ve risen to the challenge of being a Senior Tutor and have enjoyed the responsibility it has brought. I’ve been (pleasantly) surprised by the level of autonomy the role requires – I do get the casting vote on a number of matters, although there is enough top cover available when required. I’ve also enjoyed “managing” a team of tutors and the status the position brings. What a shame its only for a year! Who knows what next year will bring – perhaps I will return to “just” being a maths teacher, or perhaps I will seek out bigger and better things … never say never …

And the napping – I put that down to combo of getting older, exercising more and eating less, but I do like a little zizz of an evening. Most refreshing!

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Steal my sunshine – Len


Track of the week 3/12/17

The hook is the sampling of “More, More, More” – Andrea True Connection – but who cares how you’re hooked when the track is as good as this, and the video looks, well, just fun.

A great tune, and feel good song – just what we need now that the sun is stolen from us for most of day.

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Christmas is coming …

Pic of the week 3/12/17

So December has arrived, and the festivities begin to ramp up.  Still a bit too early for my Scrooge-like mind: I’m much more focused on, and excited about, the end of term and the start of the hols at the end of the coming week, but the sparkle of lights and glimmer of red and green is a nice hint of what is to come (and the odd extra chocolate treat doesn’t go amiss, too!)

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Affirmation – Savage Garden


Track of the week 26/11/17

Another spinning track, a regular feature of Jon’s Friday evening classes, normally towards the end – if we’re not warming down, it can’t be far away.

But after 40 minutes pedaling furiously in the saddle,one’s mind might not be as sharp as normal. This week I found myself really trying – but failing – to fathom some sort of meaning out of the opening line:

I believe the sun should never set upon an ornament

I just couldn’t work it out (although the it probably distracted me from the lactic acid induced pain in my thighs.)  I thought that it was, perhaps, in some way analogous to the sun never setting on the (old British) empire. Or, perhaps, the ornament was some sort of garden feature that should always be bathed in the beauty of sunlight.

I really couldn’t work it out, but now I can’t believe that I even thought it could make sense.

It transpires that it is argument, not ornament. And that makes sense, so much sense.

I believe the sun should never set upon an argument

(But don’t get me started on the line:

I believe forgiveness is the key to your unhappiness

‘cos, surely, that can’t be right? But apparently it is.

… the key to your own happiness

now that make sense.)

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Discombobulation

The Cupboard of Doom

Pic of the week 26/11/17

When the family rock wobbles, the impact is felt throughout the household.

Last Sunday, all was well with the world. Becky was busy (as ever), and was putting things away in the cupboard in our room.

She stood up, and the world started spinning.

She was sick. Twice. And then slept for the rest of the day. And the next day. Vertigo, or Labyrinthitis , was the diagnosis of Dr Google. By Tuesday she was back at work, although worrying about moving her head to rapidly to cause a repeat.

And with Becky ill, the household didn’t quite fall apart, but it didn’t run with its normal smooth efficiency, particularly in the kitchen, although Sophie did a sterling job in taking over the catering responsibilities.

As Joni Mitchell sang in “Big Yellow Taxi”

That you don’t know what you’ve got
Till it’s gone

Fortunately our rock didn’t roll away, and the wobble has stopped, earthquake avoided and life has returned to normal (aka wonderful.)

 

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Major Milestone

A day in the pool.
 
A major milestone crossed today as I clocked up 24 hours of swimming this year.
I shall be a long way off my target for the year of 150Km/ 4,500 lengths: notching up my 24th hour in the pool today means I have swum 1908 lengths or 63.6 Km (that’s 39.75 miles in old money.)
Will aim to get a few more lengths in before the end of the year.  Maybe 70K for the year might be a good revised target?
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Trees and leaves

Pic of the week 19/11/17

Perhaps it is a sign of getting old that you begin to appreciate such things.  Or perhaps its just that its taken me 48 years to realise that winter can be quite a long time and a few months of a bleak, barren landscape have nothing to commend them. Or perhaps this is just a “good year” for leaves.

Whatever the reason, I’ve been making a mental note to look at and enjoy the trees in all their splendour as their leaves turn a classic golden hue.  We’re now well into mid-November, and the trees at school are gamely hanging on to their foliage and producing a quite spectacular show. They’ll soon be devoid of leaves for a long time, so I’m making the most of them while I can.

I think I am getting old!

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Wondering Now – The Specials


Track of the week 12/11/17

Growing up, The Specials were my second favourite band, after The Jam.

Not sure that this is my favourite song of theirs, but is certainly good enough (if a little downbeat) to make it as track of the week.