Meeting Planting Up SunnisideAnother floral display from Planting Up Sunniside. The group have taken on the role of brightening the village by planting up containers and verges. They are meeting shortly and I've been invited to attend. The Sunniside Christmas tree and the switch on event will be on the agenda. I will have to report that there will be only one donkey for the switch on. We had three last year but this (more) |
Goodbye DollySad news: Dolly Parton has passed away. I saw her in concert at the O2 about a decade ago. She was one of the greatest singers and entertainers of the last 6 decades. The world will be a less colourful place without her. She accepted people for what they are and she was a great success in a male dominated world. RIP Dolly. (more) |
Argent: Hold Your Head UpI loved this when it came out when I was 11, but it now makes me remember seeing The Zombies at Market Harborough Leisure Centre in 2011. After he had played his keyboard solo on this, Rod Argent was shaking hands with people in the front row of the audience. I do like small venues. Also in the band that night was Rod Argent's cousin, the late Jim Rodford. He is also playing on this original recording. (more) |
A mystery in Church Stretton and the most picturesque tin tabernacle of them all in Little StrettonThis is the last of these brief posts on where I have been that day, as I'm going home to Leicestershire tomorrow. They will remind me of what I got up to on holiday and of some possible longer posts about the places I've been to that I may write later in the year. Today it was the town of Church Stretton and the village of Little Stretton. I saw several emergency vehicles in Church Stretton and a helicopter landed in the centre, all of which made me fear that someone had met with an accident on the Long Mynd, ... (more) |
Why do different species have a different lifespan (two potential reasons)People who regularly read my blog will know my hypothesis that ageing results primarily from damage to mitochondrial DNA. Details of this can be found here. A question that arises, of course, is given that the laws of chemistry and physics are the same why do different species have different average lifespans. Obviously there are quite a few things that could make a difference. The process of (more) |
Are the Liberal Democrats invisible?The Liberal Democrats are currently a significant force in British politics, attracting millions of votes. We hold a substantial number of parliamentary seats, control local councils across the country and have a loyal base of support. Yet, listening to the news or watching political programmes, you could often be forgiven for thinking there are only two major parties. Is this something we should worry about? I have voted Liberal and Liberal Democrat for around 60 years, and in all that time I have never had my own candidate win. That is quite a sobering thought. It also makes me wonder ... (more) |
Can Reform UK even organise a booze-up?Reform UK have been floundering of late. Not only are they slipping in the polls, but Farage is a much diminished figure after his little resignation stunt left him humiliated by a man with a bin on his head, and the attempt to nullify the investigation into his finances ended in failure. As a result he appears to have gone into hiding. Now the Mirror reports that the party can't even organise a booze-up properly, with the organisers of Nigel Farage's Clacton by-election victory rally, dubbed "Farage Fest", being investigated for failing to get permission to hold it. This was ... (more) |