Elton John, 1970.
It was 40 years ago today...
Your Song
Take Me to the Pilot
The John/Taupin magic working well.
Fantastic string arrangements.
An undeniable talent had appeared in the Music Cosmos.
9/10.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Piano Man The Very Best of Billy Joel CD Review
Billy Joel, 2004.
Not a bad selection of the piano man's hits.
But where is "The Entertainer", his first great foray into the pop world?
And where is Streetlife Serenade?
There are some good things on here, but the collection is a tad predictable.
If you have the albums, stick with those...
5/10.
Not a bad selection of the piano man's hits.
But where is "The Entertainer", his first great foray into the pop world?
And where is Streetlife Serenade?
There are some good things on here, but the collection is a tad predictable.
If you have the albums, stick with those...
5/10.
Thick As A Brick CD review
Jethro Tull, 197?
Trouble with reissues - to find the original release date is a challenge!
This one, along with Aqualung, would be the defining album for the band which continues to perform to this day.
Progressive rock with intelligence, humour, musical sensitivity and variety.
I loved experiencing my sister Plonie's vinyl copy of this - it was released as a newspaper, with various ribald articles and concealed lyrics as part of the package.
When the topicality died out, we were left with a distillation of musical expression which ranges from folky jaunts thru baroque canons, thru heavy rock, thru psychedelia...nothing quite like it!
Worth listening to for sure - just don't worry too much about the lyrics!
8/10.
Trouble with reissues - to find the original release date is a challenge!
This one, along with Aqualung, would be the defining album for the band which continues to perform to this day.
Progressive rock with intelligence, humour, musical sensitivity and variety.
I loved experiencing my sister Plonie's vinyl copy of this - it was released as a newspaper, with various ribald articles and concealed lyrics as part of the package.
When the topicality died out, we were left with a distillation of musical expression which ranges from folky jaunts thru baroque canons, thru heavy rock, thru psychedelia...nothing quite like it!
Worth listening to for sure - just don't worry too much about the lyrics!
8/10.
Are You Experienced? CD review
The Jimi Hendrix Experience, 1967 (?).
All the big(gest)Hendrix stuff is here.
If you haven't tuned into the electric guitar pioneer before, this is the one to do it.
A blaze of electric creativity - no one tops Hendrix in terms of exploring the sound of the electric guitar.
A great backing rhythm section also - virtually psychic support - tight!
Hendrix's vocals are so-so, I reckon, but were never the reason to listen to this stuff anyway.
Too many GREAT songs to have favourites.
9/10
All the big(gest)Hendrix stuff is here.
If you haven't tuned into the electric guitar pioneer before, this is the one to do it.
A blaze of electric creativity - no one tops Hendrix in terms of exploring the sound of the electric guitar.
A great backing rhythm section also - virtually psychic support - tight!
Hendrix's vocals are so-so, I reckon, but were never the reason to listen to this stuff anyway.
Too many GREAT songs to have favourites.
9/10
Brahms Viola CD review
Maxim Rysanov, 2008.
Not only does this have the 2 viola sonatas, it also has arrangements of violin sonata in G, and trio stuff.
Rysanov has gorgeous tone and delivers in all aspects of the music.
This is one to turn up on the stereo and bathe in.
Love the G major sonata too, but a little disorienting if you are wedded to the violin register.
The point being the music is great in its own terms, and Rysanov gives it plenty of welly!
10/10.
Not only does this have the 2 viola sonatas, it also has arrangements of violin sonata in G, and trio stuff.
Rysanov has gorgeous tone and delivers in all aspects of the music.
This is one to turn up on the stereo and bathe in.
Love the G major sonata too, but a little disorienting if you are wedded to the violin register.
The point being the music is great in its own terms, and Rysanov gives it plenty of welly!
10/10.
It is What It Is...
The day is what it is.
Pain or peace.
Fear or Desire.
The gift of itself.
Our perception and attitude provide the frame...
Pain or peace.
Fear or Desire.
The gift of itself.
Our perception and attitude provide the frame...
appointments
personal schedule is delightfully full.
basically i am limiting my apps, so if you would like to visit/abduct me, please do check in good time - I may otherwise already be abducted!
best way is email/land line/cell.
go the Dutch!
basically i am limiting my apps, so if you would like to visit/abduct me, please do check in good time - I may otherwise already be abducted!
best way is email/land line/cell.
go the Dutch!
glitches
Sorry (circumstances beyond, blah blah...)
A few glitches, some lovely comments not thru to us yet.
Kerry making a movie about vB's 9th (it's official - the Viennese loved it - and they didn't dance to it)...followingthe9th.com I THINK is where to go for the trailer.
Jenni L, thank you for the offer of WINZ guidance - we will definitely be in touch if the food parcels fail to appear!!
Don't give up!
G.
A few glitches, some lovely comments not thru to us yet.
Kerry making a movie about vB's 9th (it's official - the Viennese loved it - and they didn't dance to it)...followingthe9th.com I THINK is where to go for the trailer.
Jenni L, thank you for the offer of WINZ guidance - we will definitely be in touch if the food parcels fail to appear!!
Don't give up!
G.
Please 7710
Look after my tum.
Open my eyes to blessings.
Cause me not to be anxious.
Look after Alexander on camp.
Heal me! (in that all-encompassing sense which You know, and I am learning...)
Open my eyes to blessings.
Cause me not to be anxious.
Look after Alexander on camp.
Heal me! (in that all-encompassing sense which You know, and I am learning...)
Thanks 7710
For a few more hours' sleep - 4 + 1.
For the twinkly lights of Onehunga.
For Bill Bryson.
For my wife.
For Brahms.
For the twinkly lights of Onehunga.
For Bill Bryson.
For my wife.
For Brahms.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Book Found!
I have just heard from Lee that she found my book!
Yay!
Good news!
Practise jumping up and down!
I am OVERJOYED!!!
Hallelujah!
Yay!
Good news!
Practise jumping up and down!
I am OVERJOYED!!!
Hallelujah!
Murder Ballads CD Review
Nick Cave, 1996.
Sorry - I am no longer a devoted fan of Mr Cave.
Just a bit too much ugliness and crassness in the mix - whereas this doesn't arise with Van, Bob, etc.
This CD has highlights - Where the Wild Roses Grow with Kylie Minogue, The Kindness of Strangers and Death is Not the End (cover of Bob Dylan song).
There is a lot of macho posturing and swearing and violence going on, and the question you need to ask yourself is is it worth it?
No, it's not, in my opinion - I will be sticking with the more sublime offerings from this talented Australian in future - stuff like No More Shall We Part, Into My Arms...
Call me a wuss, but there you are.
6/10.
Sorry - I am no longer a devoted fan of Mr Cave.
Just a bit too much ugliness and crassness in the mix - whereas this doesn't arise with Van, Bob, etc.
This CD has highlights - Where the Wild Roses Grow with Kylie Minogue, The Kindness of Strangers and Death is Not the End (cover of Bob Dylan song).
There is a lot of macho posturing and swearing and violence going on, and the question you need to ask yourself is is it worth it?
No, it's not, in my opinion - I will be sticking with the more sublime offerings from this talented Australian in future - stuff like No More Shall We Part, Into My Arms...
Call me a wuss, but there you are.
6/10.
Beethoven's 9th CD review
Herbert von Karajan, Berlin Philharmonic, 1986.
I am grateful to have all the symphonies in one set, and played well.
This was Herb's 3rd interpretation with the BPO - he did one in the 60s and one in the 70s.
It's very shiny - not a note misplaced, and with a sense of Vorsprung Durch Technik (progress thru technology)...
And, as I shared in my appreciation blogpost, this is a source of frustration.
I feel like I wanna go up to Herb and mess up his fine, wavy grey hair and say, "let's get dirty with this music!"
But then it may lose something of the stately grandeur element...
A worthwhile intro to the Symphony, for sure, but I would love to hear if anyone out there has some other interpretations that work for them - Simon Rattle conducting the CBSO???
I am grateful to have all the symphonies in one set, and played well.
This was Herb's 3rd interpretation with the BPO - he did one in the 60s and one in the 70s.
It's very shiny - not a note misplaced, and with a sense of Vorsprung Durch Technik (progress thru technology)...
And, as I shared in my appreciation blogpost, this is a source of frustration.
I feel like I wanna go up to Herb and mess up his fine, wavy grey hair and say, "let's get dirty with this music!"
But then it may lose something of the stately grandeur element...
A worthwhile intro to the Symphony, for sure, but I would love to hear if anyone out there has some other interpretations that work for them - Simon Rattle conducting the CBSO???
Beethoven's 9th Symphony - An Appreciation
Phew - wish me luck with this, and also pray I don't bore you to tears with my personal perceptions of this slice of musical heaven!
I remember reading somewhere about Wagner re-orchestrating this, beefing it up for the late 19th Century (it originally appeared in the early 19th), adding extra brass (and probably some Wagnerian plumbing would have featured in this as well)...his answer when questioned was "well, Beethoven was deaf anyway...he wouldn't have thought about the rest"...
Fantasy, spurious, or whatever, the anecdote hints that when we hear this work, perhaps even more so today, when sonic extravaganzas have become even more commonplace than ever, and "loud is good", we want to commune with it as fully as possible...to breathe it, eat it, jump into it and have it swallow us!
Perhaps this is why recordings so far have been on the one hand exciting (I do crank the volume up for this piece) and on the other hand frustrating...not loud enough here, not brio enough there, tooo fast in that place, too pedestrian in that section.
How lovely it would be to conduct this piece! And frustrating...
Why do I love it? The WHOLE thing!
It's magical.
4 movements, the first one beginning with open 5ths, which gives it at once a primal and mystical feel, much much darker than any of the symphonies vB has given us yet, and yet already with a tension between turbulent and stately ideas.
The second movement a scherzo (fast piece in 3/4 time, a mad waltz style) to end all scherzi, blasting from delicate pizzicato strings to full throttle mayhem guided by the galley-beats and thunderblasts of timpany (kettle drums - vB sure was determined to make the percussion section work in this piece).
The 3rd movement the tenderest reflection on a life fully lived and nearing its natural end, acknowledging regrets, tendernesses, beauty and loss...
And the joyous, totally overwhelming, titanic, FUN last movement (yep, here comes the sublime drinking song we all know as the Ode to Joy), introducing SKA (check out the Turkish section, with off-beat chords, cymbals and triangles - definitely a nod to ska, and not surprising, 'cos vB had already prophesied rock'n'roll - Waldstein Sonata, blues and swing - C minor sonata op.111 - my friend Katherine is playing this soon - get to her concert!!)!
The 4th movement "does it" when it works - first we have instrumental echoes/reflections of the first 3 movements (remix?), linked by wonderfully innovative creative glue, then a crash of chords and scales paving the way for the instrumental version of the Ode.
We crash again and it's time for the singing to start - "O, Freunde, nicht dieser Toene" the baritone implores us (Friends! Not these [sad] tones!).
And the drinking begins!
And lasts forever in the Elysian fields we're being called to...
It amazes me that the elements of the song - a simple tune I teach to my Year 9 students 'cos they can play it easily with one hand and it is sufficiently rhythmically dull to "master", and a lusty, carefree drinking song (Schiller?), transform into GREATNESS.
Such is the art of Ludwig van Beethoven (on a good day - not everything he wrote turned to gold - he was not Mozart, but he was cool)...
The symphony, when first performed, must have represented a real head-scratching scenario...about twice as long as conventional symphonies, featuring soloists and a choir and a Turkish Percussion ensemble and ska...
A pity it premiered in Vienna - Kingston, Jamaica would have embraced it as the glorious life-affirming treasure it is (maybe the Viennes did this too, but I am not so sure), and danced to it!
Well, there it is...one person's view of this gorgeous, essential piece that no one must ignore.
Enjoy!
I remember reading somewhere about Wagner re-orchestrating this, beefing it up for the late 19th Century (it originally appeared in the early 19th), adding extra brass (and probably some Wagnerian plumbing would have featured in this as well)...his answer when questioned was "well, Beethoven was deaf anyway...he wouldn't have thought about the rest"...
Fantasy, spurious, or whatever, the anecdote hints that when we hear this work, perhaps even more so today, when sonic extravaganzas have become even more commonplace than ever, and "loud is good", we want to commune with it as fully as possible...to breathe it, eat it, jump into it and have it swallow us!
Perhaps this is why recordings so far have been on the one hand exciting (I do crank the volume up for this piece) and on the other hand frustrating...not loud enough here, not brio enough there, tooo fast in that place, too pedestrian in that section.
How lovely it would be to conduct this piece! And frustrating...
Why do I love it? The WHOLE thing!
It's magical.
4 movements, the first one beginning with open 5ths, which gives it at once a primal and mystical feel, much much darker than any of the symphonies vB has given us yet, and yet already with a tension between turbulent and stately ideas.
The second movement a scherzo (fast piece in 3/4 time, a mad waltz style) to end all scherzi, blasting from delicate pizzicato strings to full throttle mayhem guided by the galley-beats and thunderblasts of timpany (kettle drums - vB sure was determined to make the percussion section work in this piece).
The 3rd movement the tenderest reflection on a life fully lived and nearing its natural end, acknowledging regrets, tendernesses, beauty and loss...
And the joyous, totally overwhelming, titanic, FUN last movement (yep, here comes the sublime drinking song we all know as the Ode to Joy), introducing SKA (check out the Turkish section, with off-beat chords, cymbals and triangles - definitely a nod to ska, and not surprising, 'cos vB had already prophesied rock'n'roll - Waldstein Sonata, blues and swing - C minor sonata op.111 - my friend Katherine is playing this soon - get to her concert!!)!
The 4th movement "does it" when it works - first we have instrumental echoes/reflections of the first 3 movements (remix?), linked by wonderfully innovative creative glue, then a crash of chords and scales paving the way for the instrumental version of the Ode.
We crash again and it's time for the singing to start - "O, Freunde, nicht dieser Toene" the baritone implores us (Friends! Not these [sad] tones!).
And the drinking begins!
And lasts forever in the Elysian fields we're being called to...
It amazes me that the elements of the song - a simple tune I teach to my Year 9 students 'cos they can play it easily with one hand and it is sufficiently rhythmically dull to "master", and a lusty, carefree drinking song (Schiller?), transform into GREATNESS.
Such is the art of Ludwig van Beethoven (on a good day - not everything he wrote turned to gold - he was not Mozart, but he was cool)...
The symphony, when first performed, must have represented a real head-scratching scenario...about twice as long as conventional symphonies, featuring soloists and a choir and a Turkish Percussion ensemble and ska...
A pity it premiered in Vienna - Kingston, Jamaica would have embraced it as the glorious life-affirming treasure it is (maybe the Viennes did this too, but I am not so sure), and danced to it!
Well, there it is...one person's view of this gorgeous, essential piece that no one must ignore.
Enjoy!
Music Box
My coffin is being prepared.
As of today it will be called the Music Box.
My friend Andrew is making it, and helped by Alex and Soph.
I invite you to bring things to stick on it - word messages, photos, pictures.
I guess you could email stuff through to Andrew via me - it will of course be hard copy.
And my body will be disposed by cremation, so be prepared for the stuff to go into the fire, not the soil.
You are welcome to come and check it out - I do appreciate the squeamy aspect to this and not all of us are comfortable with it.
Guess I shouldn't have read Moby Dick at such a young and impressionable age (hmm, do I have time for one more sojourn through the South Seas with Hermann/Moby/Ahab/Ishmael/Queequeg?)...
As of today it will be called the Music Box.
My friend Andrew is making it, and helped by Alex and Soph.
I invite you to bring things to stick on it - word messages, photos, pictures.
I guess you could email stuff through to Andrew via me - it will of course be hard copy.
And my body will be disposed by cremation, so be prepared for the stuff to go into the fire, not the soil.
You are welcome to come and check it out - I do appreciate the squeamy aspect to this and not all of us are comfortable with it.
Guess I shouldn't have read Moby Dick at such a young and impressionable age (hmm, do I have time for one more sojourn through the South Seas with Hermann/Moby/Ahab/Ishmael/Queequeg?)...
Please 6710
Be with me today (I know You are! Ha!)...
Help me find my book.
Guide my druggy aspects.
Help us with WINZ.
Keep my children safe.
Amen!
G.
Help me find my book.
Guide my druggy aspects.
Help us with WINZ.
Keep my children safe.
Amen!
G.
Thank You 6710
...For a slightly better night's sleep, with an extra hour between 4 and 5am.
...For Bill Bryson's At Home getting me thru the sleepless hours...
...for the World Service BBC - informative, reassuring, always there.
...for my children, the undoubted apples of our eyes!
,,,for Sophie's poems - where do they come from, and where are they going?
...for Beethoven, his life, his music, his courage, faith and the glorious 9th!
Love,
G.
...For Bill Bryson's At Home getting me thru the sleepless hours...
...for the World Service BBC - informative, reassuring, always there.
...for my children, the undoubted apples of our eyes!
,,,for Sophie's poems - where do they come from, and where are they going?
...for Beethoven, his life, his music, his courage, faith and the glorious 9th!
Love,
G.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Crisis!
I have lost/misplaced my creative writing book.
It is black and A5/notebook size.
I used it to sing my Resurrection song last Thursday.
It has all the songs I've written over the last 2 years in it - in most cases the only copy!
If you have any clues/advice/encouragement, let me know.
I haven't finished yet!!!
It is black and A5/notebook size.
I used it to sing my Resurrection song last Thursday.
It has all the songs I've written over the last 2 years in it - in most cases the only copy!
If you have any clues/advice/encouragement, let me know.
I haven't finished yet!!!
Elegy CD Review
NZ Chamber Soloists, 2010.
Katherine, Jim and Lara!
Rachmaninoff G minor trio, Babajanian Piano Trio in F sharp minor and Shostakovich piano trio in E minor.
Intense, passionate and uplifting.
Tone is overwhelming...
This is an intense, emotional and joyous set of pieces.
Go and grab it off the Marbeck's shelves NOW and enjoy!
Thanks, guys!
10/10.
Katherine, Jim and Lara!
Rachmaninoff G minor trio, Babajanian Piano Trio in F sharp minor and Shostakovich piano trio in E minor.
Intense, passionate and uplifting.
Tone is overwhelming...
This is an intense, emotional and joyous set of pieces.
Go and grab it off the Marbeck's shelves NOW and enjoy!
Thanks, guys!
10/10.
Numbers CD review
Cat Stevens, 1975.
A prolific guy!
This album contains two of my favourite songs by Cat - Banapple Gas and J'Zero.
Something to do with the accordions.
It tells a story, and of course the artwork that accompanies the album is delightful in that Catty way.
Sweet keyboards, guitars, children's choruses.
Not everyone's cup of tea, but musically delightful.
A prolific guy!
This album contains two of my favourite songs by Cat - Banapple Gas and J'Zero.
Something to do with the accordions.
It tells a story, and of course the artwork that accompanies the album is delightful in that Catty way.
Sweet keyboards, guitars, children's choruses.
Not everyone's cup of tea, but musically delightful.
Poetic Champions Compose CD Review
Van Morrison, 1987.
I was mortified to discover I did not have a copy of this in my Van Morrison section!
Because I love it!
Classy, smooth, soulful - the successor to No Guru etc.
Silky saxophones, unindulgent reveries, and the heartfelt "Sometimes I Fell Like a Motherless Child".
A little different from the sometimes rougher and readier Van we also love.
My other fave on this album is Did Ye Get Healed?
Thoroughly recommend, especially as an intro album - not scary!
I was mortified to discover I did not have a copy of this in my Van Morrison section!
Because I love it!
Classy, smooth, soulful - the successor to No Guru etc.
Silky saxophones, unindulgent reveries, and the heartfelt "Sometimes I Fell Like a Motherless Child".
A little different from the sometimes rougher and readier Van we also love.
My other fave on this album is Did Ye Get Healed?
Thoroughly recommend, especially as an intro album - not scary!
Classical Faves
I guess you may have the impression that I may be more of a pop enthusiast than a classical kid.
That's not quite so - currently I am trying to get tickets for Beethoven's 9th performed by the APO...it is probly my favourite orchestral piece ever (not just the Ode, but the whole dang symphony...by the way if anyone has a recommendation for a really good recording of this, please tell me...I only have Karajan/Philharmonic 70s, and it is unsatisfying).
So, thought I should list my top 5 Classical Faves who fill that same niche as the poppies I also listen to over the weekend.
1. Bach - purity
2. Beethoven - passion
3. Brahms - depth
4. Mozart - delight
5. Schubert - beauty
6. Verdi - testosterone!
That's not quite so - currently I am trying to get tickets for Beethoven's 9th performed by the APO...it is probly my favourite orchestral piece ever (not just the Ode, but the whole dang symphony...by the way if anyone has a recommendation for a really good recording of this, please tell me...I only have Karajan/Philharmonic 70s, and it is unsatisfying).
So, thought I should list my top 5 Classical Faves who fill that same niche as the poppies I also listen to over the weekend.
1. Bach - purity
2. Beethoven - passion
3. Brahms - depth
4. Mozart - delight
5. Schubert - beauty
6. Verdi - testosterone!
Bach Cello Suites CD review
Yo-Yo Ma, 1997.
Begin with this.
End with this.
No matter what, this is music that will sustain your spirit.
Genius composer.
Genius performer.
Wake up with it, fall asleep with it.
A true gift.
Begin with this.
End with this.
No matter what, this is music that will sustain your spirit.
Genius composer.
Genius performer.
Wake up with it, fall asleep with it.
A true gift.
Thank You 1
Roll the credits!
God, I thank You for my life so far.
I thank You for the sleep.
I thank You for my family - Lois, Alexander and Sophie.
I thank You for the music of J.S. Bach, as interpreted this morning by Yo-Yo Ma.
I thank You that it is wet and "yuck" outside, but in here I am warm and cosy!
Amen.
God, I thank You for my life so far.
I thank You for the sleep.
I thank You for my family - Lois, Alexander and Sophie.
I thank You for the music of J.S. Bach, as interpreted this morning by Yo-Yo Ma.
I thank You that it is wet and "yuck" outside, but in here I am warm and cosy!
Amen.
Gratitude Atitude
Sorry about the cheesy rhyme/platitude?
Maybe it's the altitude (dexa 3000 feet and rising!).
Strangely, my thoughts drifted to the aspect of Thanks/Gratitude/Grace/Atitude this morning, and were further provoked by Ian M's question on the Islam/Christianity post (do read and contribute, all of you!)...
Giving thanks - a helpful rite is give thanks when you wake up, and give thanks when you go to bed.
As well as at meal times.
My daughter Sophie will probably shoot me for saying this, but she is our regular Grace-sayer at family meals...her prayer?
"Thank You God for this food. Amen."
What else needs to be said?
We aren't grovelling, obsequious, psychophants trying to score an extra dollop of chips or dash of ketchup.
It's there.
God has provided.
Thank You.
The rite I outlined above gets us to thinking also about the many, many people who touch us with their grace and goodness, sharing it around - even if you still don't believe in God, hopefully you can think of a few people/events who will/have grace(d) your life today.
I was thinking of blogging my thanks - I know I've already done that considerably...so we'll see how that goes (I am really not into setting up routines at all at present except for in relation to my eating).
If you feel the need for a cry/smile/hug/thank you/joke, let me know!
Have a gracious, graceful, grateful day/evening.
Maybe it's the altitude (dexa 3000 feet and rising!).
Strangely, my thoughts drifted to the aspect of Thanks/Gratitude/Grace/Atitude this morning, and were further provoked by Ian M's question on the Islam/Christianity post (do read and contribute, all of you!)...
Giving thanks - a helpful rite is give thanks when you wake up, and give thanks when you go to bed.
As well as at meal times.
My daughter Sophie will probably shoot me for saying this, but she is our regular Grace-sayer at family meals...her prayer?
"Thank You God for this food. Amen."
What else needs to be said?
We aren't grovelling, obsequious, psychophants trying to score an extra dollop of chips or dash of ketchup.
It's there.
God has provided.
Thank You.
The rite I outlined above gets us to thinking also about the many, many people who touch us with their grace and goodness, sharing it around - even if you still don't believe in God, hopefully you can think of a few people/events who will/have grace(d) your life today.
I was thinking of blogging my thanks - I know I've already done that considerably...so we'll see how that goes (I am really not into setting up routines at all at present except for in relation to my eating).
If you feel the need for a cry/smile/hug/thank you/joke, let me know!
Have a gracious, graceful, grateful day/evening.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
And So To Bed...
A long and exciting and slightly out-of-control-at-times day.
Delicious moments (and food!).
Began life story with Jacquie Morris who will be my transcriber (got to Huntly at 7 years old today - 41 years to go!).
Pleasing BMs (bowel movements - I appreciate some of you are uncomfortable with this subject matter, but for me it is literally a life and death thing, so I shall refer to them as BMs and let you know tactfully how it's all going)...
Music galore.
Visual stimulus galore.
All of us back safe and well behind closed doors and snuggled into bed.
See you tomorrow some time (start of official state school hols)...
Delicious moments (and food!).
Began life story with Jacquie Morris who will be my transcriber (got to Huntly at 7 years old today - 41 years to go!).
Pleasing BMs (bowel movements - I appreciate some of you are uncomfortable with this subject matter, but for me it is literally a life and death thing, so I shall refer to them as BMs and let you know tactfully how it's all going)...
Music galore.
Visual stimulus galore.
All of us back safe and well behind closed doors and snuggled into bed.
See you tomorrow some time (start of official state school hols)...
Buddha And The Chocolate Box CD review
Cat Stevens, 1975.
Amazingly, Cat was over and out by 1977...
The absolute gem on this album is Oh Very Young - a hymn to life and its transitory but beautiful nature...
But there are other goodies, melodically and rhythmically catchy and/or haunting.
Jesus is an interesting exercise in comparative theology (with an album title like this you need to be prepared for a bit of that), and King of Trees picks up from where Where Do The Children Play left off...
Artwork by the man himself...
Refreshing.
Amazingly, Cat was over and out by 1977...
The absolute gem on this album is Oh Very Young - a hymn to life and its transitory but beautiful nature...
But there are other goodies, melodically and rhythmically catchy and/or haunting.
Jesus is an interesting exercise in comparative theology (with an album title like this you need to be prepared for a bit of that), and King of Trees picks up from where Where Do The Children Play left off...
Artwork by the man himself...
Refreshing.
Return of the King - Blu Ray review
Peter Jackson, 200?
We all know this movie, don't we?
It was fun watching the theatrical release on Blu Ray today - the pace cracks along but without some of the nifty details from the extended edition (no Saruman??)...
The visuals, on Blu Ray, are of course even more outstanding than previously realised on normal old DVD...
The definition on the oliphaunts, spiders, orcses, Gollum's hairstyle...
The sound thunders along and the sub-woofer threatens to end Middle Earth as we know it...
And there are the eyes - Gandalf, Theoden, Frodo, Sam, Aragorn - capturing eyes in a movie must be a big challenge - well done, Sir Peter!
Now just waiting for Extended Edition on Blu Ray...
We all know this movie, don't we?
It was fun watching the theatrical release on Blu Ray today - the pace cracks along but without some of the nifty details from the extended edition (no Saruman??)...
The visuals, on Blu Ray, are of course even more outstanding than previously realised on normal old DVD...
The definition on the oliphaunts, spiders, orcses, Gollum's hairstyle...
The sound thunders along and the sub-woofer threatens to end Middle Earth as we know it...
And there are the eyes - Gandalf, Theoden, Frodo, Sam, Aragorn - capturing eyes in a movie must be a big challenge - well done, Sir Peter!
Now just waiting for Extended Edition on Blu Ray...
Islam and Christianity
Hmmm...
Where to start?
Both faiths have absolute faith that their One God is the one, loves them, and will take believers into Paradise/Heaven after their mortal days end.
There are many similar values...knowing where you're going is a huge factor!
In the end however, I don't think anyone made quite such outrageous claims as Jesus (I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father but by me)...
This is posted in the hope that maybe some informed/thoughtful discussion might be generated.
So, let's go!
Where to start?
Both faiths have absolute faith that their One God is the one, loves them, and will take believers into Paradise/Heaven after their mortal days end.
There are many similar values...knowing where you're going is a huge factor!
In the end however, I don't think anyone made quite such outrageous claims as Jesus (I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father but by me)...
This is posted in the hope that maybe some informed/thoughtful discussion might be generated.
So, let's go!
Butter Chicken and Steak
Yep.
That's right!
Butter chicken yesterday.
Steak on mash today.
Due to the "dex" (dexamethazone steroid drug) I have a huge appetite which I am trying very hard to control, and Lois is helping me with...
And it's so good to be eating yummy food again!
The Namas, who run Santoor, do excellent Butter Chicken.
And Lois is an excellent steak chef.
Roll on Wednesday and our scheduled trip to restaurant Tabou, with a special French Province wine/food "tour"...
Thank you, God, for a day of being able to enjoy food!
That's right!
Butter chicken yesterday.
Steak on mash today.
Due to the "dex" (dexamethazone steroid drug) I have a huge appetite which I am trying very hard to control, and Lois is helping me with...
And it's so good to be eating yummy food again!
The Namas, who run Santoor, do excellent Butter Chicken.
And Lois is an excellent steak chef.
Roll on Wednesday and our scheduled trip to restaurant Tabou, with a special French Province wine/food "tour"...
Thank you, God, for a day of being able to enjoy food!
Small Change CD review
Tom Waits, 1976.
From Waits's "first phase", the "barfly years"...
Still accessible, with a boozy, bluesy feel, lyrically clever, sharp and very, very funny.
Many highlights - The Piano Has Been Drinking, Step Right Up, Pasties and a G String are but 3...
If you like your Tom Waits with a bit of tone and melodic warmth, rather than the Berlin mutant-megaphone performances he is currently capable of, this is more the era for you (pre Swordfishtrombones).
What's not to like?
From Waits's "first phase", the "barfly years"...
Still accessible, with a boozy, bluesy feel, lyrically clever, sharp and very, very funny.
Many highlights - The Piano Has Been Drinking, Step Right Up, Pasties and a G String are but 3...
If you like your Tom Waits with a bit of tone and melodic warmth, rather than the Berlin mutant-megaphone performances he is currently capable of, this is more the era for you (pre Swordfishtrombones).
What's not to like?
Schindler's List DVD Review
Steven Spielberg, 1993
Spielberg's best movie ever.
He had something big to say, and he said it!
Powerful performances from Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley and Ralph Fiennes.
Black and white.
One of John Williams's best soundtracks also.
The standout feature is how Spielberg never wavers from the authenticity or integrity of the book - we are given a factual account of the incidents in Warsaw through the war, and the film soars with Schindler's monologues at the end...the tears begin to flow with the real-life characters appearing to lay small stones on Schindler's grave at the end of the movie.
If you only ever see one movie about the Holocaust/WW2, make sure this is the one.
10/10.
Spielberg's best movie ever.
He had something big to say, and he said it!
Powerful performances from Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley and Ralph Fiennes.
Black and white.
One of John Williams's best soundtracks also.
The standout feature is how Spielberg never wavers from the authenticity or integrity of the book - we are given a factual account of the incidents in Warsaw through the war, and the film soars with Schindler's monologues at the end...the tears begin to flow with the real-life characters appearing to lay small stones on Schindler's grave at the end of the movie.
If you only ever see one movie about the Holocaust/WW2, make sure this is the one.
10/10.
The Pianist DVD review
Roman Polanski, 2002.
Phew! - finally made it thru the movie...big question - was it worth it?
This is a true story, and in some ways a companion piece to Schindler's List - similar time and space zone, only this time dealing with the solitary reality of the war as opposed to the socio-political arena that Schindler appeared in.
It is NOT for the squeamish, or even mildly squeamish, which is why I ended up watching it alone, I guess...
And really, because it's done well, it's one of the least pleasant things you could experience as "entertainment"...
The soundtrack is beautiful - almost exclusively Chopin (including a memorable rendition of the G minor Ballade towards the end of the movie).
I think I've seen enough holocaust/WW2 movies for my lifetime however.
Adrien Brody's performance as pianist Szpilman is a slow grower, and convincing.
I advise you to watch Schindler's List (prev rev?) first, then think about whether you want/need more of the story - if not, steer well clear and know that Polanski's intentions were good...
9/10.
NOT for young viewers at all...
Phew! - finally made it thru the movie...big question - was it worth it?
This is a true story, and in some ways a companion piece to Schindler's List - similar time and space zone, only this time dealing with the solitary reality of the war as opposed to the socio-political arena that Schindler appeared in.
It is NOT for the squeamish, or even mildly squeamish, which is why I ended up watching it alone, I guess...
And really, because it's done well, it's one of the least pleasant things you could experience as "entertainment"...
The soundtrack is beautiful - almost exclusively Chopin (including a memorable rendition of the G minor Ballade towards the end of the movie).
I think I've seen enough holocaust/WW2 movies for my lifetime however.
Adrien Brody's performance as pianist Szpilman is a slow grower, and convincing.
I advise you to watch Schindler's List (prev rev?) first, then think about whether you want/need more of the story - if not, steer well clear and know that Polanski's intentions were good...
9/10.
NOT for young viewers at all...
I've Loved You So Long DVD review
Philippe Claudel, 2008.
French language film with Kristin Scott Thomas.
Typically French, anti-Hollywood.
About a woman with some deep, dark secrets, revealed through the narrative.
Very impressive performances from the entire cast, particularly Scott Thomas and Elsa Zylberstein, who plays her younger sister.
Script is intelligent, sharp and very convincing.
10/10.
French language film with Kristin Scott Thomas.
Typically French, anti-Hollywood.
About a woman with some deep, dark secrets, revealed through the narrative.
Very impressive performances from the entire cast, particularly Scott Thomas and Elsa Zylberstein, who plays her younger sister.
Script is intelligent, sharp and very convincing.
10/10.
Matthew and Son CD Review
Cat Stevens, 1967.
To come out with an album of 16 songs, at least 4 of which turn into monster hits and dominate the Western pop world beyond belief...
The title track kicks off the collection, and kicks serious butt too with its bass lines, guitar staccatos and everything but the kitchen sink thrown in (actually that may have been the kitchen sink I heard...)
Produced/arranged by Mike Hurst and Alan Tew, and all written by Cat, this was a phenomenal achievement in the age when producers ruled the world (check out Bowie from same period - what marvellous, baroque production values held sway in these years).
Portobello Road gives us a hint of the folkier elements that later abounded in Cat's 70s albums.
A master songwriter/story teller kicks off his career - welcome!
To come out with an album of 16 songs, at least 4 of which turn into monster hits and dominate the Western pop world beyond belief...
The title track kicks off the collection, and kicks serious butt too with its bass lines, guitar staccatos and everything but the kitchen sink thrown in (actually that may have been the kitchen sink I heard...)
Produced/arranged by Mike Hurst and Alan Tew, and all written by Cat, this was a phenomenal achievement in the age when producers ruled the world (check out Bowie from same period - what marvellous, baroque production values held sway in these years).
Portobello Road gives us a hint of the folkier elements that later abounded in Cat's 70s albums.
A master songwriter/story teller kicks off his career - welcome!
I Do Not Want What I Have Not Got CD review
Sinead O'Connor, 1989.
2nd album, featuring THAT hit single (Nothing Compares...)
But it's not the best song on the album.
Her originals, full of heartache, honesty and eventually a peace.
The title track does it for me - a cappella, and about walking thru a desert landscape.
Many treasures on this surprisingly mature 2nd album (and the first album is marvellous too!).
2nd album, featuring THAT hit single (Nothing Compares...)
But it's not the best song on the album.
Her originals, full of heartache, honesty and eventually a peace.
The title track does it for me - a cappella, and about walking thru a desert landscape.
Many treasures on this surprisingly mature 2nd album (and the first album is marvellous too!).
The Hernia...
Henry K, grateful as I am for the hemicolectomy, why oh why do I have this incisional hernia?
It is not physically painful or discomforting.
But it's so UGLY!
Every day I wake up with this little squiggly thing above my belly button, and imagine myself in "that" scene from Alien...
Giving it a pet name doesn't help either...
Bernie, Ernie, Gurney...
And of course it won't be operated on in the near future...
Ignore?
Get over it?
Pray?
Accept?
Ugh!
It is not physically painful or discomforting.
But it's so UGLY!
Every day I wake up with this little squiggly thing above my belly button, and imagine myself in "that" scene from Alien...
Giving it a pet name doesn't help either...
Bernie, Ernie, Gurney...
And of course it won't be operated on in the near future...
Ignore?
Get over it?
Pray?
Accept?
Ugh!
Egypt CD Review
Youssou N'Dour 2004.
An album featuring a full Egyptian orchestra AND traditional Senegalese instruments.
Without doubt Youssou's most devout and explicitly Islamic album, which may be a bit of a stumbling block - his devotion to various prophets with whom we have no connection prevents a sense of direct enjoyment for us Christians!
The music is perfect - as you probly know by now, I love all those strings, xylophones, talking drums, cross rhythms, "different" scales, and the man's voice.
This album was given to me by Walter Moore, a remarkable guitar teacher I've had the privilege of working with for 12 years (the famous sandwich man! I am gonna miss those sandwich days, Walter!), and will be cherished greatly for my remaining mortality.
So, a bit of an acquired taste required for approaching this album (there are some wonderful You Tube clips featuring this material performed live, and the movie I Bring What I Love is largely about its controversial release during Ramadan), BUT you may find it worthwhile...
An album featuring a full Egyptian orchestra AND traditional Senegalese instruments.
Without doubt Youssou's most devout and explicitly Islamic album, which may be a bit of a stumbling block - his devotion to various prophets with whom we have no connection prevents a sense of direct enjoyment for us Christians!
The music is perfect - as you probly know by now, I love all those strings, xylophones, talking drums, cross rhythms, "different" scales, and the man's voice.
This album was given to me by Walter Moore, a remarkable guitar teacher I've had the privilege of working with for 12 years (the famous sandwich man! I am gonna miss those sandwich days, Walter!), and will be cherished greatly for my remaining mortality.
So, a bit of an acquired taste required for approaching this album (there are some wonderful You Tube clips featuring this material performed live, and the movie I Bring What I Love is largely about its controversial release during Ramadan), BUT you may find it worthwhile...
No Guru, No Method, No Teacher CD review
Van Morrison, 198?
Frustratingly little information about release date on the cover of this album!
This features golden oldie musicians Jeff Labes and John Platania, and introduces us to the golden, dulcet tones of Kate St John's oboe and cor anglais melodies - what a find (she stayed with the band for a number of studio albums and some live stuff too, and seriously this album is worth listening to just for her...)!
The songs follow familiar Van themes of professional frustration, homecoming, love and spiritual search, and to this end the song "In The Garden" (featuring the album title in the chorus) is the real gem...
Van takes us into the Garden of Eden, and a scenario where, literally, no guru, method or teacher are present..."Just you and me and the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost"...
And this is where you want to be!
The live version of this song (Live in San Francisco) is exciting to hear also.
Thanks again, Van!
Frustratingly little information about release date on the cover of this album!
This features golden oldie musicians Jeff Labes and John Platania, and introduces us to the golden, dulcet tones of Kate St John's oboe and cor anglais melodies - what a find (she stayed with the band for a number of studio albums and some live stuff too, and seriously this album is worth listening to just for her...)!
The songs follow familiar Van themes of professional frustration, homecoming, love and spiritual search, and to this end the song "In The Garden" (featuring the album title in the chorus) is the real gem...
Van takes us into the Garden of Eden, and a scenario where, literally, no guru, method or teacher are present..."Just you and me and the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost"...
And this is where you want to be!
The live version of this song (Live in San Francisco) is exciting to hear also.
Thanks again, Van!
Soul Rebels CD review
Bob Marley and the Wailers, 197?
JAD Recordings.
That unfortunately mysoginistic cover!
This is a pre-Island-global-greatness release, from when Lee Scratch Perry held considerably more influence over the sound Bob and co were producing.
I love these early JAD recordings.
Stripped down, warm, direct, passionate.
Though Island brought us into Bob's presence in a glorious way, the late recordings lack something of the intimacy captured here, I reckon.
Peter and Bunny's vocals are a delight to hear here, as the band moved from being front men of reggae versions of USA-based r'n'b classics through to a much more socially/spiritually conscious basis.
No rating - this one's here to stay!
JAD Recordings.
That unfortunately mysoginistic cover!
This is a pre-Island-global-greatness release, from when Lee Scratch Perry held considerably more influence over the sound Bob and co were producing.
I love these early JAD recordings.
Stripped down, warm, direct, passionate.
Though Island brought us into Bob's presence in a glorious way, the late recordings lack something of the intimacy captured here, I reckon.
Peter and Bunny's vocals are a delight to hear here, as the band moved from being front men of reggae versions of USA-based r'n'b classics through to a much more socially/spiritually conscious basis.
No rating - this one's here to stay!
Help For Novices
Some people are still finding it hard to use the blog.
Hmm...
All I can say with that is to follow prompts and enjoy.
Recently I discovered that I have to now moderate all comments coming thru, so there may be some delay in seeing your comment appear in the blog...
I will let all genuine comments thru, as long as they feed healthily and positively into the stream.
If you are looking for any/all references to a particular subject (e.g. Jan Garbarek, bowel movements, Alien), there is a funky little window in the top left hand corner where you simply type in the key word and then click on the search icon and the blog spits up all posts related to that word, from most to least recent.
Try it!
Hmm...
All I can say with that is to follow prompts and enjoy.
Recently I discovered that I have to now moderate all comments coming thru, so there may be some delay in seeing your comment appear in the blog...
I will let all genuine comments thru, as long as they feed healthily and positively into the stream.
If you are looking for any/all references to a particular subject (e.g. Jan Garbarek, bowel movements, Alien), there is a funky little window in the top left hand corner where you simply type in the key word and then click on the search icon and the blog spits up all posts related to that word, from most to least recent.
Try it!
Ownership
We own nothing...apart from our perceptions and attitudes.
All else comes from and goes back to God - we are His.
All that we have is His, and therefore to SHARE with all His children.
Ownership is something that has been distorted from the moment the fruit was taken from the tree...
Jesus's story about the bloke (property developer??) building bigger barns is helpful...
WHY build a bigger barn?
Consider carefully.
On our deathbeds, I guarantee, none of us will be saying:
"I'm so glad I built a bigger barn...
Had 10 trips overseas...
20 pina coladas...
38 parties in different themes...
bought those jeans
That car
Those CDs
DVDs"
I'm not trying to kill joy here...as you know, I would LOVE to experience things I just listed!
But our purpose is not to hoard, store or own anything in this world.
Even the love we have is ours to steward and share, not hold on to selfishly.
Happy sharing!
All else comes from and goes back to God - we are His.
All that we have is His, and therefore to SHARE with all His children.
Ownership is something that has been distorted from the moment the fruit was taken from the tree...
Jesus's story about the bloke (property developer??) building bigger barns is helpful...
WHY build a bigger barn?
Consider carefully.
On our deathbeds, I guarantee, none of us will be saying:
"I'm so glad I built a bigger barn...
Had 10 trips overseas...
20 pina coladas...
38 parties in different themes...
bought those jeans
That car
Those CDs
DVDs"
I'm not trying to kill joy here...as you know, I would LOVE to experience things I just listed!
But our purpose is not to hoard, store or own anything in this world.
Even the love we have is ours to steward and share, not hold on to selfishly.
Happy sharing!
Mnemosyne CD review
Jan Garbarek, 1999, with The Hilliard Ensemble.
A follow-up double album to Officium.
Renaissance vocal music combines with Garbarek's sax improvs.
Contemplative, pervasive, spiritual.
When you have this music on you have no obligation to do, speak, or even think.
Not disco!
This is one of the very deep ones...
Any point in grading it?
10/10.
ps, yes most of my CDs will get good grades - why else would I have them????
A follow-up double album to Officium.
Renaissance vocal music combines with Garbarek's sax improvs.
Contemplative, pervasive, spiritual.
When you have this music on you have no obligation to do, speak, or even think.
Not disco!
This is one of the very deep ones...
Any point in grading it?
10/10.
ps, yes most of my CDs will get good grades - why else would I have them????
Another Early Rise...
Will the rhythm/tempo change?
I have had a lovely sleep, but am now "full of energy" and wanting to embrace the day.
Dexamethasone awaits (steroid anti-nausea).
My Sunday morning ritual begins with music...
Something from one of my "Big Five"...
1. Jan Garbarek, or
2. Bob Marley, or
3. Van Morrison, or
4. Sinead O'Connor, or
5. Youssou N'Dour
(not forgetting Yusuf or indeed Nick Cave on a more up-beat Sun am).
(and not forgetting the subsidiary ritual of Born to Run! ...beginning to sound like a one man Catholic Church I suppose!)
Wife and kids not up, Garbarek and Hilliard Ensemble's "Mnemosyne" (sax and renaissance vocal quartet combined) drifts through me...what a way to awake!
Good Morning!
BTW I think it is important not to struggle too much with the lack of sleep or unusual hours - I'm just going with the flow on this, aware that it's a likely combo of things influencing me, and keeping warm (thanks, Joke, for the purple beanie!)
I have had a lovely sleep, but am now "full of energy" and wanting to embrace the day.
Dexamethasone awaits (steroid anti-nausea).
My Sunday morning ritual begins with music...
Something from one of my "Big Five"...
1. Jan Garbarek, or
2. Bob Marley, or
3. Van Morrison, or
4. Sinead O'Connor, or
5. Youssou N'Dour
(not forgetting Yusuf or indeed Nick Cave on a more up-beat Sun am).
(and not forgetting the subsidiary ritual of Born to Run! ...beginning to sound like a one man Catholic Church I suppose!)
Wife and kids not up, Garbarek and Hilliard Ensemble's "Mnemosyne" (sax and renaissance vocal quartet combined) drifts through me...what a way to awake!
Good Morning!
BTW I think it is important not to struggle too much with the lack of sleep or unusual hours - I'm just going with the flow on this, aware that it's a likely combo of things influencing me, and keeping warm (thanks, Joke, for the purple beanie!)
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Joko (From Village to Town) CD review
Youssou N'Dour, 2000.
It's official - I am enraptured with this man's music.
This CD offers a contemporary mix of various Youssou classics, and production from another hero of mine - Wyclef Jean.
A good intro type CD for people unweaned from Western pop.
Enough going on for us N'Dour purists also...
Especially in the vocal department (guest appearance from Sting - he certainly has a knack for appearing on the "right" albums, eh?)
10/10.
It's official - I am enraptured with this man's music.
This CD offers a contemporary mix of various Youssou classics, and production from another hero of mine - Wyclef Jean.
A good intro type CD for people unweaned from Western pop.
Enough going on for us N'Dour purists also...
Especially in the vocal department (guest appearance from Sting - he certainly has a knack for appearing on the "right" albums, eh?)
10/10.
Nothing Is in Vain CD Review
Youssou N'Dour, 2002.
Sublime!
Uplifting, heartfelt, body and soul music.
In vain have I looked for a disappointing N'Dour album - there aren't any!
This album has a number of French lyrics.
Translations are always provided - persevere.
Music uses many traditional instruments and song structures (i.e. not as poppy perhaps as SET or some of the later ones).
Gorgeous!
10/10.
Sublime!
Uplifting, heartfelt, body and soul music.
In vain have I looked for a disappointing N'Dour album - there aren't any!
This album has a number of French lyrics.
Translations are always provided - persevere.
Music uses many traditional instruments and song structures (i.e. not as poppy perhaps as SET or some of the later ones).
Gorgeous!
10/10.
Roadsinger CD review
Yusuf Islam, 2010.
I probably would have reviewed this differently prior to the concert.
Since concert, I have fallen in love with the mood, the melodicism and the gentleness of this album.
The songs continue to give us insights into Yusuf's faith, which to me actually appears as a very clear line/journey from where he was at even in the 60s...
These are songs of positive, life-affirming faith, love, hope and beauty.
There's a particularly lovely bit with a children's chorus in it - and references galore to "Sitting" (originally found on Cat's Catch Bull At Four, one of my favourite Cat albums).
Love the orchestrations too, and looking forward to even a bit more brass in future productions please, Yusuf!
There is a tour release copy of this which has a bonus track called Boots and Sand on it, a song about FBI giving Yusuf a hard time on his last visit to USA, whilst security also begged for his autograph...this was a highlight in the concert.
9/10.
I probably would have reviewed this differently prior to the concert.
Since concert, I have fallen in love with the mood, the melodicism and the gentleness of this album.
The songs continue to give us insights into Yusuf's faith, which to me actually appears as a very clear line/journey from where he was at even in the 60s...
These are songs of positive, life-affirming faith, love, hope and beauty.
There's a particularly lovely bit with a children's chorus in it - and references galore to "Sitting" (originally found on Cat's Catch Bull At Four, one of my favourite Cat albums).
Love the orchestrations too, and looking forward to even a bit more brass in future productions please, Yusuf!
There is a tour release copy of this which has a bonus track called Boots and Sand on it, a song about FBI giving Yusuf a hard time on his last visit to USA, whilst security also begged for his autograph...this was a highlight in the concert.
9/10.
Hunky Dory CD review
David Bowie, 1972/3.
Before he turned into aliens/pop stars/etc. Bowie was simply a superb songwriter.
Hunky Dory is a beautifully produced album (Visconti? Bowie), with the classic singles Life on Mars and Changes, which marked Bowie out as an auteur, and not just a space freak (Space Oddity) - interestingly, very much from the same record production stable as young Cat (Decca/Deram)...
The prime source of instrumental delight is hearing Rick Wakeman (soon to become keyboard player with Yes) do his sublime piano stuff over the 2 mentioned singles, and then more stuff on other tracks.
The other tracks hint of the diversity and eclecticism and also the darkness whose shadow would creep up relentlessly on further albums - Ziggy was round the corner, waiting in the wings, ready to pounce.
But for now, everything was pretty...er, hunky dory (where DOES that phrase come from?)!
9/10.
Before he turned into aliens/pop stars/etc. Bowie was simply a superb songwriter.
Hunky Dory is a beautifully produced album (Visconti? Bowie), with the classic singles Life on Mars and Changes, which marked Bowie out as an auteur, and not just a space freak (Space Oddity) - interestingly, very much from the same record production stable as young Cat (Decca/Deram)...
The prime source of instrumental delight is hearing Rick Wakeman (soon to become keyboard player with Yes) do his sublime piano stuff over the 2 mentioned singles, and then more stuff on other tracks.
The other tracks hint of the diversity and eclecticism and also the darkness whose shadow would creep up relentlessly on further albums - Ziggy was round the corner, waiting in the wings, ready to pounce.
But for now, everything was pretty...er, hunky dory (where DOES that phrase come from?)!
9/10.
I Will Need You (poem)
The time is coming
When I will need you
My friend
My lover
My buddy.
My pain may be great or not...
My struggles with loss or loneliness strong or mild
My sense of humour intact or shattered
My spirit calm or irremediably/irredeemably fractured.
I may well be scared, useless, in pain.
I will no longer be there for you...
THAT is when I will NEED you more than even these words can say...
To hold my hand tenderly,
To smile,
To speak gently,
To wet my lips,
To wish me well,
To pray for peace,
To ease my passage,
To close my eyes to this world.
Please...
be there...
When I will need you
My friend
My lover
My buddy.
My pain may be great or not...
My struggles with loss or loneliness strong or mild
My sense of humour intact or shattered
My spirit calm or irremediably/irredeemably fractured.
I may well be scared, useless, in pain.
I will no longer be there for you...
THAT is when I will NEED you more than even these words can say...
To hold my hand tenderly,
To smile,
To speak gently,
To wet my lips,
To wish me well,
To pray for peace,
To ease my passage,
To close my eyes to this world.
Please...
be there...
My Cat and My God (poem)
My cat speaks to me.
I wish I knew what he was saying!
He trusts me, he walks with me.
The silence is where we communicate.
My God speaks to me.
I wish I could hear Him so clearly - though I know He hears me!
I trust Him, He walks with me, and I with Him.
The silence is where He breaks through...
I wish I knew what he was saying!
He trusts me, he walks with me.
The silence is where we communicate.
My God speaks to me.
I wish I could hear Him so clearly - though I know He hears me!
I trust Him, He walks with me, and I with Him.
The silence is where He breaks through...
Gonna Be Home Soon
These are the lyrics for a song that was sung at the Thank You Concert on 1st July.
For the last 12 years I have organised what came to be known as the Dawn Chorus, a loose group of volunteers (teachers) who would meet up with me at 8am in the Music Department on the last Friday of every term, to prepare and perform for the staff a song with satirical im/complications - some hitting the mark, others hopefully missing with a measure of grace...
On Thursday evening the tables were turned momentarily when a bunch/chorus of teachers (including ALL SMT, which is remarkable for any school - our school has the best musical staff support EVER) came to the front and sang this - the tune is from Crowded House's Better Be Home Soon, and the lyrics are by Malcolm McAllister, a very dear colleague whose humour and support are wondrous and luminous.
Enjoy!
Gonna Be Home Soon (for Gerald)
Somewhere deep inside
You've left your impression
On your friends here at the school
You've been a blessing
And we know it's hard
Leaving a place you love
But we're gonna tell you
You're gonna be home soon
You are the man of the
Whare Puuoro
You'd thrash that guitar and
Leap right across the floor
And some junior kids
Thought you were high on weed
But you were a rocker
On a roll at full speed
You have your faith and your family
And you'll hold all of us
In your memory
Oh...oh, oh
You gave your all
To us here in the PPTA
Defending our jobs
Our dignity and our pay
And those shows you put on,
Bob Marley to Beethoven
Wearing a silly hat
And your wicked grin...
You love lots of styles,
Abba, Yusuf to Vampire Weekend,
And there's those special songs
That you both sung and penned
"Good Golly, Miss Tolley",
"Do the Moderation" you'd shout
And you were the oldest fan
At every year's Big Day Out.
There's so much we'll miss,
Like kids wearing just one shoe,
But your courage and warmth
Is what we prize in you.
And we know it's hard
Leaving a place you love,
But we're gonna tell you,
You're gonna be home soon.
......thanks, guys!!
For the last 12 years I have organised what came to be known as the Dawn Chorus, a loose group of volunteers (teachers) who would meet up with me at 8am in the Music Department on the last Friday of every term, to prepare and perform for the staff a song with satirical im/complications - some hitting the mark, others hopefully missing with a measure of grace...
On Thursday evening the tables were turned momentarily when a bunch/chorus of teachers (including ALL SMT, which is remarkable for any school - our school has the best musical staff support EVER) came to the front and sang this - the tune is from Crowded House's Better Be Home Soon, and the lyrics are by Malcolm McAllister, a very dear colleague whose humour and support are wondrous and luminous.
Enjoy!
Gonna Be Home Soon (for Gerald)
Somewhere deep inside
You've left your impression
On your friends here at the school
You've been a blessing
And we know it's hard
Leaving a place you love
But we're gonna tell you
You're gonna be home soon
You are the man of the
Whare Puuoro
You'd thrash that guitar and
Leap right across the floor
And some junior kids
Thought you were high on weed
But you were a rocker
On a roll at full speed
You have your faith and your family
And you'll hold all of us
In your memory
Oh...oh, oh
You gave your all
To us here in the PPTA
Defending our jobs
Our dignity and our pay
And those shows you put on,
Bob Marley to Beethoven
Wearing a silly hat
And your wicked grin...
You love lots of styles,
Abba, Yusuf to Vampire Weekend,
And there's those special songs
That you both sung and penned
"Good Golly, Miss Tolley",
"Do the Moderation" you'd shout
And you were the oldest fan
At every year's Big Day Out.
There's so much we'll miss,
Like kids wearing just one shoe,
But your courage and warmth
Is what we prize in you.
And we know it's hard
Leaving a place you love,
But we're gonna tell you,
You're gonna be home soon.
......thanks, guys!!
Thunder Road...an appreciation
The first of a series where I go ape over a song that has become part of my bloodstream, and I try to explain why (I DON'T think Judgement Day is gonna be me explaining why I like this song and not the other, unless God has some spare time and we sit down with His CD collection.....)
Thunder Road is the opening song on Bruce Springsteen's world-changing album Born To Run (reviewed prev), released in 1975, at the addled end of country rock, as people were reaching out for a bit of authenticity in their pop (punk and disco were about to really explode, do battle, tear down, but their time had not yet come).
I have discussed the piano playing on this song with Sophie...
G: What do you think?
S: Great, but really difficult!
Yeah...
The piano playing on this song, courtesy of Roy Bittan, who is publicly acclaimed every time he plays with The Boss, is...so many things...
It is symphonic in scope - goes way beyond honky-tonk blues vamping, and sets up a harmonic, melodic and structural foundation, which reappears in the more fully orchestrated sections.
Bittan thinks polyphonically (complex lines) in this intro, and gives us all the musical material we will need for our journey from Mary's front porch along Thunder Road (would YOU hop into a car with Bruce in 1975 and head out into the night???).
Bruce's harmonica is there at the start too - bluesy, uncluttered, soulful - he's actually a very good harmonica player, with a much better strike rate than Dylan (not difficult!), but not the sophisticated brilliance of Stevie Wonder (THE man for harmonica).
The tempo gets set and the lyrics introduce us to Mary, whose screen door slams as she awaits pick-up by the young tearaway, Bruce...
As with ALL of Springsteen's best songs (and there are many - but start here!), the song is a story, with real characters, real situations, real pain, fear and wonder coursing thru their veins as they try to navigate their world...
Most of the songs on Born to Run are about the dream, the wonder, the escape (it's poignant to note the stories where the characters DON'T quite get out of their holes), unlike the follow-up album, where we have the "demons" (emotional) coming out and ripping or melting the dreams away...
And Thunder Road offers that escape.
The song builds and builds and builds...the structure has broken away from a three-chord Status-Quo brickie-bum workout, and, thanks to the Bittan/Springsteen chemistry, transcends the sometimes limited concept of rock'n'roll...
This is demonstrated in the way that the chord patterns, rather than resolve at the end of 4, 8 or 12 bars, actually drop into a surprise chord and suspend the end of the verse (there are not really choruses in a neatly defined sense in this song).
The other neat thing about the build-up is the constant edition of instruments - a simple but very effective way of creating climax.
By the end of Bruce's story per se, the whole of the E Street Band is in there, not chugging but pumping...as much energy into this song as the stereoids (sic) will allow!
The last few sections are simply the band rocking out - all that has been necessary to say has been said.
What else is there?
Escape is the theme - beauty, wonder...
Bruce's lyrics move (and had done on his previous 2 albums - Blinded By the Light is a terribly underrated epic from the first album, Greetings From Asbury Park, New Jersey, done equal measures of harm and good by scoring a number one hit in the hands of Manfred Mann's Earth Band) way beyond anything we were getting in the early 70s - sure, cleverness, detachment, beauty were there, but nobody tells a story like Bruce, or captures a rock'n'roll essence/energy with a line or two...
It's the musical/lyrical combo that makes a song, and when the elements are great, the combo hopefully is terrific (someone once wrote that there can be NO successful marriage between words and music - only some kind of rape, with one element achieving the upper hand in the struggle - this is not true, I BELIEVE - I have to, or it makes nonsense of my favourite occupation of the last 40 years - i.e. songwriting).
Born To Run the title track works similarly, and it's interesting to note that that song kicks off Side 2 (from vinyl days...)
I may give you some views on that one on another day, but here just want to point out that the mood is quite different, tho the aspiration/dream/car/escape stuff is there...
If you have not feasted your ears on Thunder Road, make sure you do before you lose your hearing, your dreams and your rock'n'roll essence.
Small note - Bruce has taken to doing this with only piano backing live (Roy is probably Bruce's most erstwhile musical companion} - while this creates a certain intimacy in what are otherwise wonderfully extravagant concerts, it changes the identity of the song somewhat, and is a less definitive version than the one I've been raving about...
Small note no.2 - Bittan, Tallent (bass) and Weinberg (drums) got paid some good money and are the musical power behing Meatloaf's/Steinman's Bat Out of Hell - whilst a rollicking rock epic, it is a Bruce-clone, and nowhere in the same league as the original stuff you get on Born To Run (these guys also feature on a Bob Dylan song or 2, around the Infidels period)...
So, do you understand why I HAVE to listen to at least this song on a Sat or Sun am at the start of the day???
If you have songs you would like to suggest for appreciation, let me know....
Anyone still reading??
Thunder Road is the opening song on Bruce Springsteen's world-changing album Born To Run (reviewed prev), released in 1975, at the addled end of country rock, as people were reaching out for a bit of authenticity in their pop (punk and disco were about to really explode, do battle, tear down, but their time had not yet come).
I have discussed the piano playing on this song with Sophie...
G: What do you think?
S: Great, but really difficult!
Yeah...
The piano playing on this song, courtesy of Roy Bittan, who is publicly acclaimed every time he plays with The Boss, is...so many things...
It is symphonic in scope - goes way beyond honky-tonk blues vamping, and sets up a harmonic, melodic and structural foundation, which reappears in the more fully orchestrated sections.
Bittan thinks polyphonically (complex lines) in this intro, and gives us all the musical material we will need for our journey from Mary's front porch along Thunder Road (would YOU hop into a car with Bruce in 1975 and head out into the night???).
Bruce's harmonica is there at the start too - bluesy, uncluttered, soulful - he's actually a very good harmonica player, with a much better strike rate than Dylan (not difficult!), but not the sophisticated brilliance of Stevie Wonder (THE man for harmonica).
The tempo gets set and the lyrics introduce us to Mary, whose screen door slams as she awaits pick-up by the young tearaway, Bruce...
As with ALL of Springsteen's best songs (and there are many - but start here!), the song is a story, with real characters, real situations, real pain, fear and wonder coursing thru their veins as they try to navigate their world...
Most of the songs on Born to Run are about the dream, the wonder, the escape (it's poignant to note the stories where the characters DON'T quite get out of their holes), unlike the follow-up album, where we have the "demons" (emotional) coming out and ripping or melting the dreams away...
And Thunder Road offers that escape.
The song builds and builds and builds...the structure has broken away from a three-chord Status-Quo brickie-bum workout, and, thanks to the Bittan/Springsteen chemistry, transcends the sometimes limited concept of rock'n'roll...
This is demonstrated in the way that the chord patterns, rather than resolve at the end of 4, 8 or 12 bars, actually drop into a surprise chord and suspend the end of the verse (there are not really choruses in a neatly defined sense in this song).
The other neat thing about the build-up is the constant edition of instruments - a simple but very effective way of creating climax.
By the end of Bruce's story per se, the whole of the E Street Band is in there, not chugging but pumping...as much energy into this song as the stereoids (sic) will allow!
The last few sections are simply the band rocking out - all that has been necessary to say has been said.
What else is there?
Escape is the theme - beauty, wonder...
Bruce's lyrics move (and had done on his previous 2 albums - Blinded By the Light is a terribly underrated epic from the first album, Greetings From Asbury Park, New Jersey, done equal measures of harm and good by scoring a number one hit in the hands of Manfred Mann's Earth Band) way beyond anything we were getting in the early 70s - sure, cleverness, detachment, beauty were there, but nobody tells a story like Bruce, or captures a rock'n'roll essence/energy with a line or two...
It's the musical/lyrical combo that makes a song, and when the elements are great, the combo hopefully is terrific (someone once wrote that there can be NO successful marriage between words and music - only some kind of rape, with one element achieving the upper hand in the struggle - this is not true, I BELIEVE - I have to, or it makes nonsense of my favourite occupation of the last 40 years - i.e. songwriting).
Born To Run the title track works similarly, and it's interesting to note that that song kicks off Side 2 (from vinyl days...)
I may give you some views on that one on another day, but here just want to point out that the mood is quite different, tho the aspiration/dream/car/escape stuff is there...
If you have not feasted your ears on Thunder Road, make sure you do before you lose your hearing, your dreams and your rock'n'roll essence.
Small note - Bruce has taken to doing this with only piano backing live (Roy is probably Bruce's most erstwhile musical companion} - while this creates a certain intimacy in what are otherwise wonderfully extravagant concerts, it changes the identity of the song somewhat, and is a less definitive version than the one I've been raving about...
Small note no.2 - Bittan, Tallent (bass) and Weinberg (drums) got paid some good money and are the musical power behing Meatloaf's/Steinman's Bat Out of Hell - whilst a rollicking rock epic, it is a Bruce-clone, and nowhere in the same league as the original stuff you get on Born To Run (these guys also feature on a Bob Dylan song or 2, around the Infidels period)...
So, do you understand why I HAVE to listen to at least this song on a Sat or Sun am at the start of the day???
If you have songs you would like to suggest for appreciation, let me know....
Anyone still reading??
Friday, July 2, 2010
Sunshine Cleaning DVD review
2008 (?)
From the team that brought us Little Miss Sunshine.
Comedy-drama about a biohazard cleanup post-murder-suicide business.
Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, Steve Zahn, Alan Arkin.
Low-key, quirky, humorous and a bit poignant.
A movie with breathing space and delicate humour.
8/10
From the team that brought us Little Miss Sunshine.
Comedy-drama about a biohazard cleanup post-murder-suicide business.
Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, Steve Zahn, Alan Arkin.
Low-key, quirky, humorous and a bit poignant.
A movie with breathing space and delicate humour.
8/10
How was Friday?
Up at 6am, well rested (comparatively speaking!).
Springsteen fest (Born to Run I always save for the weekend...)
Off to Alan and Maria for Hospitality and movie - walking! (and back - remember the hill!)
Off to lunch with Lois Heather and Tim - a truly relaxing and delightful lunch at Circus Circus.
Shopping at Countdown with Lois (speak up! What did you write here? what do you mean you don't want those??)
The promise of sitting down at last to watch Adrien Brody do his thing in The Pianist...
Springsteen fest (Born to Run I always save for the weekend...)
Off to Alan and Maria for Hospitality and movie - walking! (and back - remember the hill!)
Off to lunch with Lois Heather and Tim - a truly relaxing and delightful lunch at Circus Circus.
Shopping at Countdown with Lois (speak up! What did you write here? what do you mean you don't want those??)
The promise of sitting down at last to watch Adrien Brody do his thing in The Pianist...
Black Hawk Down DVD review
Ridley Scott, 200?
Based on a real conflict incident in Mogadishu, Somalia.
Bereft of moralising sentiment or derring-do.
American soldiers trying to do their job and falling into a huge mess.
Due to lack of sentiment, powerful and moving.
And, being Scott, beautifully shot (and recorded).
9/10.
Based on a real conflict incident in Mogadishu, Somalia.
Bereft of moralising sentiment or derring-do.
American soldiers trying to do their job and falling into a huge mess.
Due to lack of sentiment, powerful and moving.
And, being Scott, beautifully shot (and recorded).
9/10.
Darkness on the Edge of Town CD review
Springsteen, 1977 (?)
Powerful.
Stripped down.
Brooding.
Outstanding production (should have been like this for Born to Run).
Rock'n'roll, dripping with emotion.
10/10.
Powerful.
Stripped down.
Brooding.
Outstanding production (should have been like this for Born to Run).
Rock'n'roll, dripping with emotion.
10/10.
"One Hand in Heaven...and One Foot in the Grave..." (poem)
I've one hand in Heaven,
And one foot in the grave,
Some days I look up,
And some days I look down.
And when I look up,
The sun shines,
And Arms reach out,
And Warmth awaits in Abundance.
I've one hand in Heaven,
And one foot in the grave,
I could be flying,
And I could be buried...
And when I look down,
Pain and loss,
Tears and loneliness,
Drugs and darkness.
I've one hand in Heaven,
And one foot in the Grave,
Know where I'm going,
Know how to get there...
Which way do I look?
I can't control that,
I look both ways,
Not through fear, through truth...
One hand in Heaven,
One foot in the Grave,
Look down,
Then look UP....
And one foot in the grave,
Some days I look up,
And some days I look down.
And when I look up,
The sun shines,
And Arms reach out,
And Warmth awaits in Abundance.
I've one hand in Heaven,
And one foot in the grave,
I could be flying,
And I could be buried...
And when I look down,
Pain and loss,
Tears and loneliness,
Drugs and darkness.
I've one hand in Heaven,
And one foot in the Grave,
Know where I'm going,
Know how to get there...
Which way do I look?
I can't control that,
I look both ways,
Not through fear, through truth...
One hand in Heaven,
One foot in the Grave,
Look down,
Then look UP....
Memory Almost Full...
I almost feel GLUTTED with joyous memories from this week.
Receiving such blessings from Yusuf/Cat on Tuesday!
And last night, the thank you concert, which in many ways for me was a chance for ME to say thank YOU to the many people who have shared my life over the last 12 years at Otahuhu College...
Yes, my life...
Ups and downs, darkness, light, traumas, delights...
O.C. is probably the place I have felt most at home at as a teacher/musician/friend/adult out of ALL the schools I have been in.
It has spirit in abundance (= wairua in Maori), and what I have noticed is that although the demographic changes, that spirit remains, and ALL the people I have met and shared with add their beauty and love to the community as they pass through.
This was in evidence to me ABUNDANTLY last night - and to be able to sit on a sofa with my beloved wife of 28 years and ENJOY "the fruit of my labours" (and many other peoples') was easily one of the best experiences of my life EVER.
A little bit like Mr Holland's Opus (a movie worth seeing)...
Everything was a highlight and I thank all those who organised presented performed gave shared etc.
If you missed hugs, kisses, donating money to the "keep Gerald happy even though he's unemployed" fund....well, you know where I live and how my blog flows!
And I am always looking out for alien abductions of benign character (aliens took me to a cafe and fed me carrot cake and hot chocolate - honestly!!).
Don't count your blessings - enjoy them!
Apologies if you feel you gave me something which has not been acknowledged - must be the steroids!!
And please continue to pray for my comfort, wellbeing, attitude, family, strength...anything, really (prayer is very simple - just talk away or talk in your head/heart - God listens - he has Big Ears!!)...(in fact many of us pray even without realising it!)
The sun is shining,
The flowers are everywhere,
I have a view over the Manukau,
My cat is beautiful and behaving well,
Bruce Springsteen is singing his heart out from 1973 (Rosalita, come out tonight!)...
What more is there???
Love,
Gerald.
Receiving such blessings from Yusuf/Cat on Tuesday!
And last night, the thank you concert, which in many ways for me was a chance for ME to say thank YOU to the many people who have shared my life over the last 12 years at Otahuhu College...
Yes, my life...
Ups and downs, darkness, light, traumas, delights...
O.C. is probably the place I have felt most at home at as a teacher/musician/friend/adult out of ALL the schools I have been in.
It has spirit in abundance (= wairua in Maori), and what I have noticed is that although the demographic changes, that spirit remains, and ALL the people I have met and shared with add their beauty and love to the community as they pass through.
This was in evidence to me ABUNDANTLY last night - and to be able to sit on a sofa with my beloved wife of 28 years and ENJOY "the fruit of my labours" (and many other peoples') was easily one of the best experiences of my life EVER.
A little bit like Mr Holland's Opus (a movie worth seeing)...
Everything was a highlight and I thank all those who organised presented performed gave shared etc.
If you missed hugs, kisses, donating money to the "keep Gerald happy even though he's unemployed" fund....well, you know where I live and how my blog flows!
And I am always looking out for alien abductions of benign character (aliens took me to a cafe and fed me carrot cake and hot chocolate - honestly!!).
Don't count your blessings - enjoy them!
Apologies if you feel you gave me something which has not been acknowledged - must be the steroids!!
And please continue to pray for my comfort, wellbeing, attitude, family, strength...anything, really (prayer is very simple - just talk away or talk in your head/heart - God listens - he has Big Ears!!)...(in fact many of us pray even without realising it!)
The sun is shining,
The flowers are everywhere,
I have a view over the Manukau,
My cat is beautiful and behaving well,
Bruce Springsteen is singing his heart out from 1973 (Rosalita, come out tonight!)...
What more is there???
Love,
Gerald.
Welcome to Morgan!
Welcome to the blogsite, Morgan - member number 35!
Morgan was a colleague at O.C. over the last few years - a karate king in his own lunchtime (and beyond!).
He lives in Korea with his Korean wife and hopefully having a great time!
Enjoy.
Morgan was a colleague at O.C. over the last few years - a karate king in his own lunchtime (and beyond!).
He lives in Korea with his Korean wife and hopefully having a great time!
Enjoy.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
The Girl Who Came To Stay...
The girl who came to stay,
She never went away,
She put down her roots,
Left on her boots,
And remains here to this day...
She never went away,
She put down her roots,
Left on her boots,
And remains here to this day...
Nola
There once was a woman named Nola
Who lived in a region most polar
Thru the ice fog and snow
She was compelled to go,
When the time came to yank her left molar....
Who lived in a region most polar
Thru the ice fog and snow
She was compelled to go,
When the time came to yank her left molar....
Amadeus DVD review
Milos Forman, 1986??
Stunning soundtrack.
3 hours of well-performed drama.
That laugh!
Sumptuous sets.
Frustrating to unpick for musicologists.
9/10.
Stunning soundtrack.
3 hours of well-performed drama.
That laugh!
Sumptuous sets.
Frustrating to unpick for musicologists.
9/10.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Flashbacks of a Fool DVD review
Baillie Walsh 2008
Covers same ground as When Did You Last See your Father (prev reviewed?)
Daniel Craig in lead adult role.
Childhood crises, coming-of-age, coping with loss...
Crucial role p;layed by Bowie's and Roxy Music's music (if there is something).
Entertaining, a bit crass, tight-ish script.
7/10.
Covers same ground as When Did You Last See your Father (prev reviewed?)
Daniel Craig in lead adult role.
Childhood crises, coming-of-age, coping with loss...
Crucial role p;layed by Bowie's and Roxy Music's music (if there is something).
Entertaining, a bit crass, tight-ish script.
7/10.
Yusuf Islam - concert review
Sublime.
Humble, pure, refreshing.
Genuine energy and humour.
Performers and audience enthralled by the power of song.
Joyous and life-affirming.
20/10.
Humble, pure, refreshing.
Genuine energy and humour.
Performers and audience enthralled by the power of song.
Joyous and life-affirming.
20/10.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Yusuf Islam - A Feast of Miracles!!!
1. Never been to NZ before.
2. Was in "retirement", unlikely to tour ever again.
3. Then he decided to get back on the road!
4. And come to NZ.
5. And Andy got us tickets.
6. Front row.
7. Middle!
8. Incredible concert experience (reviewed later)...
9. And afterwards an audience with Yusuf and his wife and daughter...
10. Big hugs, exchange of gifts, small but significant discussion about life, music and names....
11. A humble, gifted man...a genuine musical prophet...and Yusuf wasn't bad either!!! (:))
12. Floated home.
One of the best nights of my short life...ever....
Miracles, coincidences, luck, providence, divine will?
All thanks to God.
And special thanks to Mr Fixit Chemobuddy Andy for making it possible in a practical way.
Love to all,
Gerald.
(should be some good pics coming up on the right!!)
2. Was in "retirement", unlikely to tour ever again.
3. Then he decided to get back on the road!
4. And come to NZ.
5. And Andy got us tickets.
6. Front row.
7. Middle!
8. Incredible concert experience (reviewed later)...
9. And afterwards an audience with Yusuf and his wife and daughter...
10. Big hugs, exchange of gifts, small but significant discussion about life, music and names....
11. A humble, gifted man...a genuine musical prophet...and Yusuf wasn't bad either!!! (:))
12. Floated home.
One of the best nights of my short life...ever....
Miracles, coincidences, luck, providence, divine will?
All thanks to God.
And special thanks to Mr Fixit Chemobuddy Andy for making it possible in a practical way.
Love to all,
Gerald.
(should be some good pics coming up on the right!!)
monday's blessings
am now pump free...
portacath removed also...
eating and etc. like a true carnivore
first KFC today - very solemn ritual...
Andy looking after me start to finish...a trooooooper!
G.
portacath removed also...
eating and etc. like a true carnivore
first KFC today - very solemn ritual...
Andy looking after me start to finish...a trooooooper!
G.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
the squid and the whale (dvd review)
noah baumbach 2005
a slice of life tale about a new york divorcing family
poignant
superb acting from 16 year old jesse eisenberg
funny, very touching
great soundtrack with pink floyd;s hey you prominent
9/10
a slice of life tale about a new york divorcing family
poignant
superb acting from 16 year old jesse eisenberg
funny, very touching
great soundtrack with pink floyd;s hey you prominent
9/10
Sunday's story
Getting up late
struggling with samson for supremacy of footstool
special afternoon with richard s who sand some beautiful songs
all of which would go down well at a funeral
ian mander delivers copy of giantslayer - a gvw musical
struggling with samson for supremacy of footstool
special afternoon with richard s who sand some beautiful songs
all of which would go down well at a funeral
ian mander delivers copy of giantslayer - a gvw musical
Saturday, June 26, 2010
today's digest
jam donuts!
yay Maria C!
no bowel movements yet...
kids working/chilling at home.
will have night at home...
time with Andy today...
yay Maria C!
no bowel movements yet...
kids working/chilling at home.
will have night at home...
time with Andy today...
King Kong (DVD review)
200? Peter Jackson.
technically superb.
enjoy the humanisation of Kong.
Naomi Watts very attractive.
Island scene way too long.
More editing required, Sir Peter!
7/10
technically superb.
enjoy the humanisation of Kong.
Naomi Watts very attractive.
Island scene way too long.
More editing required, Sir Peter!
7/10
Friday, June 25, 2010
Goldberg Variations (CD review)
Sophie Dinnerstein, 2008?
Phenomenal pianist.
Reminiscent of Perahia and Schiff.
Clarity, sensitivity.
Which worlds will YOU visit in one session?
Highly recommended.
10/10
Phenomenal pianist.
Reminiscent of Perahia and Schiff.
Clarity, sensitivity.
Which worlds will YOU visit in one session?
Highly recommended.
10/10
Friday's doings
miserable weather
heating turned up
drift thru the day
listen to Cat/Yusuf
visit to GP to touch base
Andy looking after me
heating turned up
drift thru the day
listen to Cat/Yusuf
visit to GP to touch base
Andy looking after me
Thursday, June 24, 2010
today so far
Marlene my niece looked after me REALLY well today.
Lorna shared some beautiful scripture.
The icecream continues to find a welcome spot.
Bowel movements progresss.
Elders came and prayed.
Aliens awaits....
Lorna shared some beautiful scripture.
The icecream continues to find a welcome spot.
Bowel movements progresss.
Elders came and prayed.
Aliens awaits....
Cold Mountain (DVD review)
Anthony Minghella, 2000?
Moving.
Beautiful scenery.
Savage war contrasted with sensitive love story.
Outstanding Kidman, Law, Hoffman and Zellwegger.
Gorgeous sountrack.
10/10
Moving.
Beautiful scenery.
Savage war contrasted with sensitive love story.
Outstanding Kidman, Law, Hoffman and Zellwegger.
Gorgeous sountrack.
10/10
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
"Deliverance" (DVD review)
1972, John Boorman.
Chilling.
A trip down the river escalates into a tortured journey of the soul.
John Voight's performance is outstanding.
As are the shots of the canoes going downstream.
A strong moral tone undergirds the movie.
10/10.
Chilling.
A trip down the river escalates into a tortured journey of the soul.
John Voight's performance is outstanding.
As are the shots of the canoes going downstream.
A strong moral tone undergirds the movie.
10/10.
WEDNESDAY
2nd visit from hospice nurse - very nice lady.
Kerry with me most of day - we watched Michael Jackson's this is it.
Rhett Snell new pastor over for visit - a music and coffeee freak also into clash and springsteen.
Michael Barker delivers YUMMY ice cream - sorbet and hokey pokey.
Relaxed time with kids watching Simpsons before Alex off to youth group and Sophie off to more homework.
I have a portacath removal coming up next Mon.
Kerry with me most of day - we watched Michael Jackson's this is it.
Rhett Snell new pastor over for visit - a music and coffeee freak also into clash and springsteen.
Michael Barker delivers YUMMY ice cream - sorbet and hokey pokey.
Relaxed time with kids watching Simpsons before Alex off to youth group and Sophie off to more homework.
I have a portacath removal coming up next Mon.
Monday, June 21, 2010
"Set" (CD review)
Youssou N'Dour, 1990.
This album burst forth after N'Dour's watershed with Peter Gabriel, Montreux, Womad, etc.
The musicianship is phenomenal, featuring the Super Etoile de Dakar.
Talking drums for Africa (doh!).
Some songs with political message.
An underlying, positive, redemptive energy that moves you in every way!
10/10
This album burst forth after N'Dour's watershed with Peter Gabriel, Montreux, Womad, etc.
The musicianship is phenomenal, featuring the Super Etoile de Dakar.
Talking drums for Africa (doh!).
Some songs with political message.
An underlying, positive, redemptive energy that moves you in every way!
10/10
"Temple of Low Men" (CD Review)
Crowded House, 1987 (?)
A mature, accomplished set of songs.
Beautiful harmonies, evocative imagery.
Some unfinished ideas.
"Into Temptation" and "Better Be Home Soon" are standout tracks.
So, for 80s nostalgia...8/10.
A mature, accomplished set of songs.
Beautiful harmonies, evocative imagery.
Some unfinished ideas.
"Into Temptation" and "Better Be Home Soon" are standout tracks.
So, for 80s nostalgia...8/10.
"Booker's Guitar" (CD review)
Eric Bibb, 2010.
The latest golden nugget from this honey-tongued, generous-hearted, silky guitared gospel blues artist.
Based on a real life encounter in which he saw, held and played the legendary Booker White's Steel guitar.
The songs are warm - judt right for these winter months.
A few oldtimers as well - Nobody's Fault But Mine, Poor Wayfaring Stranger.
Beautiful, uplifting, comforting...10/10.
The latest golden nugget from this honey-tongued, generous-hearted, silky guitared gospel blues artist.
Based on a real life encounter in which he saw, held and played the legendary Booker White's Steel guitar.
The songs are warm - judt right for these winter months.
A few oldtimers as well - Nobody's Fault But Mine, Poor Wayfaring Stranger.
Beautiful, uplifting, comforting...10/10.
"Notes From a Small Island" (book review)
...by Bill Bryson, 1995.
Bill Bryson's observations of England before he returned to the U.S.A.
Warmhearted, generous and delightful.
Easy to read, love and imitate in one's heart.
Favourite episodes include Bill's turning up to John O'Groats, his trip through the lake district, and his encounter with cheap Catholic relics in Calais.
But they're all gems!
9/10.
Bill Bryson's observations of England before he returned to the U.S.A.
Warmhearted, generous and delightful.
Easy to read, love and imitate in one's heart.
Favourite episodes include Bill's turning up to John O'Groats, his trip through the lake district, and his encounter with cheap Catholic relics in Calais.
But they're all gems!
9/10.
Return of Zoidberg
This is a reference to Matt Groening's Futurama.
Also to my visible appearance over the last few days, with my nasal-gastric tube still inserted.
All Alien-related life forms are now non-apparent (tumours NOT included in this, of course).
It has been a looonnnnnng week of...
no food,
little sleep,
loads of love,
tiredness,
soccer....
Many thanks to all of you - hopefully more lucid moments remain to me!
G.
Also to my visible appearance over the last few days, with my nasal-gastric tube still inserted.
All Alien-related life forms are now non-apparent (tumours NOT included in this, of course).
It has been a looonnnnnng week of...
no food,
little sleep,
loads of love,
tiredness,
soccer....
Many thanks to all of you - hopefully more lucid moments remain to me!
G.
Coruscating days
Sparkling moments full of brilliance dissolve in showers of metallic shards, getting under the skin and rubbing raw.
Like Gerald arriving home yesterday. (a quiet, uneventful afternoon on the sofa, a safe sleep, going to return to the hospital in an hour or so).
A wonder to be at home together again.
A wonder to absorb how much has changed in a week or so.
And we won, 1-all again (it's gotta be a win to draw with Italy, surely?).
I do love the good mood everyone is in when sport goes well.
L
Like Gerald arriving home yesterday. (a quiet, uneventful afternoon on the sofa, a safe sleep, going to return to the hospital in an hour or so).
A wonder to be at home together again.
A wonder to absorb how much has changed in a week or so.
And we won, 1-all again (it's gotta be a win to draw with Italy, surely?).
I do love the good mood everyone is in when sport goes well.
L
Sunday, June 20, 2010
There is freedom within, there is freedom without
Time out / off / away from hospital this afternoon - I'll be able to pick up Gerald and bring him home for some period of time.
Looking forward to that ... and things are moving. There may be liquids other than water and iceblocks today, even.
As usual, 021 606 115 for updates on whereabouts, visiting etc. Expecting Gerald to be back in hospital later this afternoon.
L
Looking forward to that ... and things are moving. There may be liquids other than water and iceblocks today, even.
As usual, 021 606 115 for updates on whereabouts, visiting etc. Expecting Gerald to be back in hospital later this afternoon.
L
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Seasons of mellow fruitfulness
No change yet.
Still comfortable, still waiting.
Visitors welcome, but if more than one set of you arrives at once it may be best to keep the overlap short (so who made you the visitors police, Lois?).
Just cos Gerald got a bit overtired last night after having had a bit much going on at once.
No news can be good news.
L
Still comfortable, still waiting.
Visitors welcome, but if more than one set of you arrives at once it may be best to keep the overlap short (so who made you the visitors police, Lois?).
Just cos Gerald got a bit overtired last night after having had a bit much going on at once.
No news can be good news.
L
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Shine On, You Crazy Diamond
Yes, it's a repeat lyric, seeming appropriate right now.
Alexander tonight, a careers evening (excellent, 12 passionate parents talking about their extremely varied career paths to a hall full of engaged students and parents).
Sophie and Alex together earlier with Wallace (you've heard of him) and Gro... I mean, Anthony, the palliative care Dr, in a side room at the hospital. Very caring professionals, very quiet children, but such news takes its own time to be processed.
We've made a start.
Grand Central Station today on the ward today, but a very friendly and caring one - then Gerald was moved into a super-deluxe own room with lazyboy, TV and private shower tonight. So this is how taxpayers' money gets spent! One of the better ways, perhaps ...
But the real changes of the day - as follows:
1. Gerald feeling FAR better with the naso-gastric tube down, with the stomach-emptying happening, and (first food for more than 5 days) 2 lemonade iceblocks this afternoon. No adverse affects yet.
2. A visit by the surgical consultant: a definite decision by the surgical team that no operation is possible, on 2 bases: firstly, Gerald's general state of health is not conducive to a "nipples-to-knees" operation, as it was described; secondly it would be like spraying gasoline on a fire to muck around amidst those determinedly metastasizing cells.
3. The understanding that if we can work good magic and get this blockage to resolve itself, more of the same is likely, that the subcut needle may be a permanent feature, and we will have a new normal.
4. Discussion on the same basis as above i.e. given some eventual successful drinking and eating - one scenario would be about 5 or 7 days more in hospital, with a transition between hospital and home, perhaps a hospice sojourn to stabilize and build strength ready for some home stay.
5. Awareness-raising (by us): the medical staff are now aware that their jobs include ensuring Gerald is able to get to the Cat/Yusuf concert with Andy on June 29th Vector Arena, and equally able to take me to Le Tabou's La Tour de Provence (Wine Maker's Dinner) on 7th July. Truly vital life-enhancing events - actually not so much, in the scheme of things, but worthy stretch targets nevertheless.
4 degrees and more warm sunshine in store, unless something different happens.
L
Alexander tonight, a careers evening (excellent, 12 passionate parents talking about their extremely varied career paths to a hall full of engaged students and parents).
Sophie and Alex together earlier with Wallace (you've heard of him) and Gro... I mean, Anthony, the palliative care Dr, in a side room at the hospital. Very caring professionals, very quiet children, but such news takes its own time to be processed.
We've made a start.
Grand Central Station today on the ward today, but a very friendly and caring one - then Gerald was moved into a super-deluxe own room with lazyboy, TV and private shower tonight. So this is how taxpayers' money gets spent! One of the better ways, perhaps ...
But the real changes of the day - as follows:
1. Gerald feeling FAR better with the naso-gastric tube down, with the stomach-emptying happening, and (first food for more than 5 days) 2 lemonade iceblocks this afternoon. No adverse affects yet.
2. A visit by the surgical consultant: a definite decision by the surgical team that no operation is possible, on 2 bases: firstly, Gerald's general state of health is not conducive to a "nipples-to-knees" operation, as it was described; secondly it would be like spraying gasoline on a fire to muck around amidst those determinedly metastasizing cells.
3. The understanding that if we can work good magic and get this blockage to resolve itself, more of the same is likely, that the subcut needle may be a permanent feature, and we will have a new normal.
4. Discussion on the same basis as above i.e. given some eventual successful drinking and eating - one scenario would be about 5 or 7 days more in hospital, with a transition between hospital and home, perhaps a hospice sojourn to stabilize and build strength ready for some home stay.
5. Awareness-raising (by us): the medical staff are now aware that their jobs include ensuring Gerald is able to get to the Cat/Yusuf concert with Andy on June 29th Vector Arena, and equally able to take me to Le Tabou's La Tour de Provence (Wine Maker's Dinner) on 7th July. Truly vital life-enhancing events - actually not so much, in the scheme of things, but worthy stretch targets nevertheless.
4 degrees and more warm sunshine in store, unless something different happens.
L
Systematically stepping on my head
At Gerald's request:
An update.
Quite a day, yesterday.
The details are - well, kind of gross. Maybe best encapsulated by the episode where the nurse (Welsh Michael, already had a mention here, with whom we have a shared sense of humour) and I measuring copious amounts of ummmmm green slushy vomit (I can't quite believe this now, playing it back here!) last evening before it went down the drain. Maybe not quite Guiness book of records material, I guess 1200 ml is chicken feed really ...
But seriously, folks, the reason for the accumulating fluids - and stuff - in the stomach, which has to be got rid of somehow, is that there is growth blocking things up.
Trying to avoid too many medical details: a CT scan confirmed the suspicion that this must be the case. A naso-gastric tube (inserted last night) will hopefully drain the stomach and relieve some of Gerald's symptoms; none of the medication has helped.
The doctor had a couple of serious chats last night. One with me, then one with both of us.
'nuff said.
There is a bad-case scenario (days, not months), and a good case scenario (the stomach drains, the pressure is relieved, the bowel unblocks itself (yes, it can happen), and we all carry on as before for a little while.
And some middle-case scenarios, including the one where there is surgical intervention to relieve symptoms, at least, and our time is complicated by further recovery from major surgery.
K?
Anyway, the delightful Wallace (a young, truly caring doctor without the West Country accent such a name might lead one to suspect) volunteered to take Alex and Sophie through the information - including scans etc - to help them understand what is happening with their Dad better. Hopefully this afternoon, complicated by a maths test (Alex) and an expected busy day on the ward for some reason.
Light relief:
What's wrong with lawyer jokes?
Lawyers don't think they're funny, and no-one else thinks they're jokes.
Anyways, The Big Sing in the Town Hall last night (I didn't get there - excuses as above - till half time) was a great show - secondary schools competing fiercely by SINGING - and Sophie's school did well for themselves.
And Sophie had her second poem published in the College Herald on Tuesday.
And Alex did really well in a calculus test.
And Stu and Maree brought dinner.
And - isn't it chilly these mornings!
Off to hospital. G had morpheine in his drip again last night, or perhaps in the subcutaneous third line he is a attached to (drip, subcut and naso-gastric emptying thingummy) - so hopefully slept some.
Love to all of you carers, wishing you all less interesting times -
L
PS Intending visitors - just check by text 021 606 115 - but G MAY be feeling a little cheerier and weller if the NG tube works well.
An update.
Quite a day, yesterday.
The details are - well, kind of gross. Maybe best encapsulated by the episode where the nurse (Welsh Michael, already had a mention here, with whom we have a shared sense of humour) and I measuring copious amounts of ummmmm green slushy vomit (I can't quite believe this now, playing it back here!) last evening before it went down the drain. Maybe not quite Guiness book of records material, I guess 1200 ml is chicken feed really ...
But seriously, folks, the reason for the accumulating fluids - and stuff - in the stomach, which has to be got rid of somehow, is that there is growth blocking things up.
Trying to avoid too many medical details: a CT scan confirmed the suspicion that this must be the case. A naso-gastric tube (inserted last night) will hopefully drain the stomach and relieve some of Gerald's symptoms; none of the medication has helped.
The doctor had a couple of serious chats last night. One with me, then one with both of us.
'nuff said.
There is a bad-case scenario (days, not months), and a good case scenario (the stomach drains, the pressure is relieved, the bowel unblocks itself (yes, it can happen), and we all carry on as before for a little while.
And some middle-case scenarios, including the one where there is surgical intervention to relieve symptoms, at least, and our time is complicated by further recovery from major surgery.
K?
Anyway, the delightful Wallace (a young, truly caring doctor without the West Country accent such a name might lead one to suspect) volunteered to take Alex and Sophie through the information - including scans etc - to help them understand what is happening with their Dad better. Hopefully this afternoon, complicated by a maths test (Alex) and an expected busy day on the ward for some reason.
Light relief:
What's wrong with lawyer jokes?
Lawyers don't think they're funny, and no-one else thinks they're jokes.
Anyways, The Big Sing in the Town Hall last night (I didn't get there - excuses as above - till half time) was a great show - secondary schools competing fiercely by SINGING - and Sophie's school did well for themselves.
And Sophie had her second poem published in the College Herald on Tuesday.
And Alex did really well in a calculus test.
And Stu and Maree brought dinner.
And - isn't it chilly these mornings!
Off to hospital. G had morpheine in his drip again last night, or perhaps in the subcutaneous third line he is a attached to (drip, subcut and naso-gastric emptying thingummy) - so hopefully slept some.
Love to all of you carers, wishing you all less interesting times -
L
PS Intending visitors - just check by text 021 606 115 - but G MAY be feeling a little cheerier and weller if the NG tube works well.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Somewhere deep inside
... something's got a hold on you. That's why I tell you -
- you'd better be home soon.
Same, more of the same. With variations. More sickness (how can anyone still vomit after 3 days without food and drink? - even the doctors ask).
CT scan is next, perhaps tomorrow if the queues die down.
Hoooope so.
And we all - Doctors, Gerald, me, and marvellous nurse Michael from Wales who understands music, especially of West Africa - hope that the scan might tell us what, if anything, is blocked, where, and by which particular invader.
The likelihood of an extreme chemo reaction diminishes as time goes on without improvement.
I left to get back before Alex's d-teams, and in time to heat up the most delicious lasagne and garlic bread (AND SALAD hallelujah) from Heather and Aniel (with an obviously heartfelt apology for eating a little of the 2 loaves of garlic bread!!!) for Alex and Sophie tonight.
Strange, says Sophie (who has now had her second poem in a row of 2 entries published in the Tuesday College Herald (insert to NZ Herald). "Alice" is a heartrending storyette of teenage angst, as real as can be.
With Dad in hospital, the place where it is all white. Unlike cozy cream Carlton Creek (ok, made that bit up, we live in a street, not a creek).
I've got an evening at school on Thursday you have to come to, says Alex. Don't know what for, don't know when, and I put the flyer on the bench, and if you haven't seen it, it's not my fault, I've done the right thing, why don't you know about it and when it is and what to do and all the other things magic mums do ...
... long answer, Alex ... - but here's a clue - it's in the magic mum bit (I'm not one :-)).
We all rub along very well, I remember hyperaware teenagership like it was today, the world a scourer on a sensitive psyche -
So: back to real info:
Tomorrow, back into hospital early.
Sometime during the day, hopefully a CT scan.
Even more hopefully, perhaps a chat with the doctors (who have promised to wait till I return from skiving off to sit a (ha!) law exam in the afternoon).
Then off to Sophie's Big Sing in the Town Hall at 6:30.
(and as a side note, Alex did a very cool, well-received, i.e high marked - well done my boy, I found calculus hard at school - maths test with results coming in today.)
Off with their heads!
You're nuts, mum.
L
- you'd better be home soon.
Same, more of the same. With variations. More sickness (how can anyone still vomit after 3 days without food and drink? - even the doctors ask).
CT scan is next, perhaps tomorrow if the queues die down.
Hoooope so.
And we all - Doctors, Gerald, me, and marvellous nurse Michael from Wales who understands music, especially of West Africa - hope that the scan might tell us what, if anything, is blocked, where, and by which particular invader.
The likelihood of an extreme chemo reaction diminishes as time goes on without improvement.
I left to get back before Alex's d-teams, and in time to heat up the most delicious lasagne and garlic bread (AND SALAD hallelujah) from Heather and Aniel (with an obviously heartfelt apology for eating a little of the 2 loaves of garlic bread!!!) for Alex and Sophie tonight.
Strange, says Sophie (who has now had her second poem in a row of 2 entries published in the Tuesday College Herald (insert to NZ Herald). "Alice" is a heartrending storyette of teenage angst, as real as can be.
With Dad in hospital, the place where it is all white. Unlike cozy cream Carlton Creek (ok, made that bit up, we live in a street, not a creek).
I've got an evening at school on Thursday you have to come to, says Alex. Don't know what for, don't know when, and I put the flyer on the bench, and if you haven't seen it, it's not my fault, I've done the right thing, why don't you know about it and when it is and what to do and all the other things magic mums do ...
... long answer, Alex ... - but here's a clue - it's in the magic mum bit (I'm not one :-)).
We all rub along very well, I remember hyperaware teenagership like it was today, the world a scourer on a sensitive psyche -
So: back to real info:
Tomorrow, back into hospital early.
Sometime during the day, hopefully a CT scan.
Even more hopefully, perhaps a chat with the doctors (who have promised to wait till I return from skiving off to sit a (ha!) law exam in the afternoon).
Then off to Sophie's Big Sing in the Town Hall at 6:30.
(and as a side note, Alex did a very cool, well-received, i.e high marked - well done my boy, I found calculus hard at school - maths test with results coming in today.)
Off with their heads!
You're nuts, mum.
L
When September ends
Raining, pouring, Gerald is back in Ward 64 ...
After a Saturday - Monday afternoon of fairly extreme sickness, I rang the oncology unit (again!) and was asked to bring G in.
Another battery of tests and exams, and he will probably stay in more than a night this time - but who can tell? Things change quickly.
Most likely a bad reaction to chemotherapy, but we need to exclude other obvious things.
Hopefully Gerald will have rested well, with injections and dripping in of anti-emetics, anti-cramping, anti-pain, pro-life fluids.
I'll be back there soon.
The children / young adults have been great (thanks, A&S).
Andy has helped a lot.
My Mum picked up Sophie yesterday - she is Big Singing in the Town Hall on Wednesday and had a late rehearsal after school.
Heather from Homegroup is bringing a meal tonight.
Mike picked up Sophie and 'Bella on Sunday morning.
And so on ...
Thanks all of you -
L
After a Saturday - Monday afternoon of fairly extreme sickness, I rang the oncology unit (again!) and was asked to bring G in.
Another battery of tests and exams, and he will probably stay in more than a night this time - but who can tell? Things change quickly.
Most likely a bad reaction to chemotherapy, but we need to exclude other obvious things.
Hopefully Gerald will have rested well, with injections and dripping in of anti-emetics, anti-cramping, anti-pain, pro-life fluids.
I'll be back there soon.
The children / young adults have been great (thanks, A&S).
Andy has helped a lot.
My Mum picked up Sophie yesterday - she is Big Singing in the Town Hall on Wednesday and had a late rehearsal after school.
Heather from Homegroup is bringing a meal tonight.
Mike picked up Sophie and 'Bella on Sunday morning.
And so on ...
Thanks all of you -
L
Friday, June 11, 2010
Abundant Life
Jesus promised it.
It doesn't mean long life.
It doesn't mean a wealthy life.
It doesn't mean a safe and secure life.
It doesn't mean a "successful" life.
Abundance?
Peace.
Fruit.
Love.
Joy.
Wholeness.
It doesn't mean long life.
It doesn't mean a wealthy life.
It doesn't mean a safe and secure life.
It doesn't mean a "successful" life.
Abundance?
Peace.
Fruit.
Love.
Joy.
Wholeness.
Free Again!
Into hospital about 7, 7.30 last night.
Not everyone turns up at A and E carrying a throw-up bowl with a copious offering.
Xrays of abdo and chest, then on to saline/morphine drip.
A VERY comfortable night!
Great nursing staff.
Salomi, 2 times survivor of breast cancer, with an 11 year old daughter.
The orderly counting down the days (14) till he is reunited with wife and children in Rarotonga.
The nurse who came in during the night and fixed my drip line (it had folded up on itself due to me not keeping my arm straight.
The lovely Janet, who showed me how to shower while attached to a chemo pump, and organised breakfast, and sorted out the doctors.
The doctors themselves, one attired in a retro-70s brown suit (and I thought I was taking risks as Robin Hood!), and cheerfully informed me they were setting me free!
Free to begin again, this journey of hope, pain, loss, gain, surprises, grace and love!
Many thanks to Lois, Paul, Plonie and Lorna for the visits today, helping to keep boredom at bay (and a lift home and fresh muffins from Lorna), and to the crew at school, especially Lee and Theo, who kept the Whare Puuoro (music house) running.
The sun is shining...
G.
Not everyone turns up at A and E carrying a throw-up bowl with a copious offering.
Xrays of abdo and chest, then on to saline/morphine drip.
A VERY comfortable night!
Great nursing staff.
Salomi, 2 times survivor of breast cancer, with an 11 year old daughter.
The orderly counting down the days (14) till he is reunited with wife and children in Rarotonga.
The nurse who came in during the night and fixed my drip line (it had folded up on itself due to me not keeping my arm straight.
The lovely Janet, who showed me how to shower while attached to a chemo pump, and organised breakfast, and sorted out the doctors.
The doctors themselves, one attired in a retro-70s brown suit (and I thought I was taking risks as Robin Hood!), and cheerfully informed me they were setting me free!
Free to begin again, this journey of hope, pain, loss, gain, surprises, grace and love!
Many thanks to Lois, Paul, Plonie and Lorna for the visits today, helping to keep boredom at bay (and a lift home and fresh muffins from Lorna), and to the crew at school, especially Lee and Theo, who kept the Whare Puuoro (music house) running.
The sun is shining...
G.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
H.mmm..m...
Not sure. Not at all sure.
Life's like that.
Gerald asked me to post, which, as always, is a good way of keeping lots of people in the loop all at once ...
He's in hospital tonight, though I'm expecting he'll be back at home tomorrow. True to form, when told he would spend the night, at least, G tentatively questioned the nurse - "maybe I shouldn't go into school tomorrow then ...?" She paused, perhaps unsure of whether pain had affected brain beyond repair -
Anyway, a bit of a private joke, that one, as Gerald was in humourless misery mode at the time. Being very ill for several hours does that to one.
That is of course easily solved by a a steady drip of morphine, and a few smiles are now back on the horizon, at least.
We'll see what tomorrow brings.
'night.
L
Life's like that.
Gerald asked me to post, which, as always, is a good way of keeping lots of people in the loop all at once ...
He's in hospital tonight, though I'm expecting he'll be back at home tomorrow. True to form, when told he would spend the night, at least, G tentatively questioned the nurse - "maybe I shouldn't go into school tomorrow then ...?" She paused, perhaps unsure of whether pain had affected brain beyond repair -
Anyway, a bit of a private joke, that one, as Gerald was in humourless misery mode at the time. Being very ill for several hours does that to one.
That is of course easily solved by a a steady drip of morphine, and a few smiles are now back on the horizon, at least.
We'll see what tomorrow brings.
'night.
L
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Another Tuesday Afternoon
This time with Sophie waiting in the car.
Up the hill to the hospital, in the cold, cold wind.
Paul Thompson away in Chicago...
The cancer markers have stayed the same...plateaued.
I had cramps this afternoon and had no meds as I had gotten used to no pain!
Paul's sub reckoned to keep going with the chemo...so I will...
Robin Hood and Friar Tuck this Thu, then...
While most cancer counts go down smoothly, mine appears to be stop-starting erratically.
Came home and comforted myself by lying in bed with electric blanket on.
Alexander cooked the meal, and Sophie brought it to me as I lay in bed listening to the BBC talking about world cup soccer and Barack Obama kicking a...
And the orchestra was fun at lunchtime!
G.
Up the hill to the hospital, in the cold, cold wind.
Paul Thompson away in Chicago...
The cancer markers have stayed the same...plateaued.
I had cramps this afternoon and had no meds as I had gotten used to no pain!
Paul's sub reckoned to keep going with the chemo...so I will...
Robin Hood and Friar Tuck this Thu, then...
While most cancer counts go down smoothly, mine appears to be stop-starting erratically.
Came home and comforted myself by lying in bed with electric blanket on.
Alexander cooked the meal, and Sophie brought it to me as I lay in bed listening to the BBC talking about world cup soccer and Barack Obama kicking a...
And the orchestra was fun at lunchtime!
G.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Happy Birthday, Your Majesty...
I live in a flood.
Blue sky snuck out from time to time.
Still, a great excuse to see the Two Towers on Blue Ray.
Samson extremely snuggly today - nearly got himself squashed on the sofa.
Kids working away at school work and house work.
Tomorrow Sophie will do a stint as my assistant at school.
Waited over half an hour for blood test place to open up this morning - not impressed.
Still, the phlebotomists were pleasant.
Enjoying a soundtrack by the transcendental Youssou and the crazed Nick (Cave) today, with generous dollops of Dream Theater c/o vW junior.
So, not out to the West this weekend - maybe next weekend?
In the meantime, travelling with Bill Bryson through the UK of the late 90s - quite a journey!
G.
Blue sky snuck out from time to time.
Still, a great excuse to see the Two Towers on Blue Ray.
Samson extremely snuggly today - nearly got himself squashed on the sofa.
Kids working away at school work and house work.
Tomorrow Sophie will do a stint as my assistant at school.
Waited over half an hour for blood test place to open up this morning - not impressed.
Still, the phlebotomists were pleasant.
Enjoying a soundtrack by the transcendental Youssou and the crazed Nick (Cave) today, with generous dollops of Dream Theater c/o vW junior.
So, not out to the West this weekend - maybe next weekend?
In the meantime, travelling with Bill Bryson through the UK of the late 90s - quite a journey!
G.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Cancer Battle (a kind of poem)
Last time we talked I defied you.
I defy you again - in the strength of my King.
You are unseen.
You are deadly.
You are scary.
Are you laughing at me as you devour me?
I said, are you laughing at me??
Look at my face!
Am I bothered?
Regardez mon visage.
Am I bothered?
My body...
When the time comes, you can take it all...
My new body, my spirit, my essence...
They never were yours, and never will be.
Your sting and victory will pierce dead tissue and ring in emptiness.
I am not yours.
And if the news reads "after a long, brave battle", I wish I could rise up and say "the battle has already been won, and was never my battle"...
I come against you in the Name of the Lord Almighty,
The Lord of Hosts,
The King of Kings.
Wish I could swear at you the way I do in the privacy of my own room,
But it ain't, and never was, my battle.
And I will stand upon your grave and laugh...
I defy you again - in the strength of my King.
You are unseen.
You are deadly.
You are scary.
Are you laughing at me as you devour me?
I said, are you laughing at me??
Look at my face!
Am I bothered?
Regardez mon visage.
Am I bothered?
My body...
When the time comes, you can take it all...
My new body, my spirit, my essence...
They never were yours, and never will be.
Your sting and victory will pierce dead tissue and ring in emptiness.
I am not yours.
And if the news reads "after a long, brave battle", I wish I could rise up and say "the battle has already been won, and was never my battle"...
I come against you in the Name of the Lord Almighty,
The Lord of Hosts,
The King of Kings.
Wish I could swear at you the way I do in the privacy of my own room,
But it ain't, and never was, my battle.
And I will stand upon your grave and laugh...
Sweet Days
Yes, it's windy and wet.
A chance to WATCH DVDs indoors...
I have two very sweet CDs I discovered/purchased yesterday...
Youssou N'Dour's "Dakar - Kingston" which hears him collaborating with several of Uncle Bob's backing musicians (that's Marley) and a set of lyrics contributed by Uncle Yusuf...sweet.
Also the latest offering from Eric Bibb - "Booker's Guitar", a set of yummy acoustic blues featuring EB's delicious vocals, guitar playing and harmonica-blowing.
Sunday morning begins with Bruce Springsteen's Thunder Road cranked up to suitably loud, respectful levels.
Fellowship of the Ring over at Blue Ray Way (Andrew's flat), and James Bond, and a rum and coke, and no pain or nausea, and a walk round the block, and people telling me I look great (no, not total strangers, it has to be said)...
And an extra day of recreation tomorrow...
Life can indeed be very sweet, without having to try to hard at it...
G.
A chance to WATCH DVDs indoors...
I have two very sweet CDs I discovered/purchased yesterday...
Youssou N'Dour's "Dakar - Kingston" which hears him collaborating with several of Uncle Bob's backing musicians (that's Marley) and a set of lyrics contributed by Uncle Yusuf...sweet.
Also the latest offering from Eric Bibb - "Booker's Guitar", a set of yummy acoustic blues featuring EB's delicious vocals, guitar playing and harmonica-blowing.
Sunday morning begins with Bruce Springsteen's Thunder Road cranked up to suitably loud, respectful levels.
Fellowship of the Ring over at Blue Ray Way (Andrew's flat), and James Bond, and a rum and coke, and no pain or nausea, and a walk round the block, and people telling me I look great (no, not total strangers, it has to be said)...
And an extra day of recreation tomorrow...
Life can indeed be very sweet, without having to try to hard at it...
G.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
A Funny Story
We heard from the Principal yesterday that a colleague's father had passed away, and she would probably be away from school for some time.
This morning on the staffroom whiteboard read the happy news "X's Dad is fine...it was her cat that died".
Apparently X had been so upset delivering the news that the DP in charge of relief had heard "Dad" instead of "cat".
Several colleagues spent fruitless hours scanning the Death Notices of the Herald.
X's HoD had rung her on Wed night to commiserate, and had been told by X, "It's all right. We ended up burying him in the front garden"....
Alarm bells began to ring....
Sad about the cat, of course, but relieved to hear Dad is still alive and kicking, and no further leave was required...
This morning on the staffroom whiteboard read the happy news "X's Dad is fine...it was her cat that died".
Apparently X had been so upset delivering the news that the DP in charge of relief had heard "Dad" instead of "cat".
Several colleagues spent fruitless hours scanning the Death Notices of the Herald.
X's HoD had rung her on Wed night to commiserate, and had been told by X, "It's all right. We ended up burying him in the front garden"....
Alarm bells began to ring....
Sad about the cat, of course, but relieved to hear Dad is still alive and kicking, and no further leave was required...
Pretty Darn Good!!
Feeling excellent today!
NEARLY back like the "old days" (blimmin' hernia...)
First, had an excellent sleep (8 hours!).
I have cajoled 5 blokes into being a prayer support team for me (about time?)...
and every night I plan to flick out a short email about what I need/want.
Simple as that!
The sleep was on my prayer list, and I felt so snug this morning, it seemed a shame to get up and go to work.
Work was beautiful.
A hilarious story up in the staffroom, which I will share eventually...
Year 13s performing in groups - confident, expressive, well-rehearsed!
A student teacher doing lovely work with years 11, 9 and 10!
Good mates.
Great weather.
Warm and funny times with wife and kids.
No pain whatsoever - no nausea whatsoever.
Life is a miracle.
Miracles happen.
I give thanks for this beautiful day indeed, and the promise of more beauty and love to come.
A new Simpsons disc to watch!
Welcome to Fenella (Gill?), who has become official follower number 34!
Enjoy the long weekend!
G.
NEARLY back like the "old days" (blimmin' hernia...)
First, had an excellent sleep (8 hours!).
I have cajoled 5 blokes into being a prayer support team for me (about time?)...
and every night I plan to flick out a short email about what I need/want.
Simple as that!
The sleep was on my prayer list, and I felt so snug this morning, it seemed a shame to get up and go to work.
Work was beautiful.
A hilarious story up in the staffroom, which I will share eventually...
Year 13s performing in groups - confident, expressive, well-rehearsed!
A student teacher doing lovely work with years 11, 9 and 10!
Good mates.
Great weather.
Warm and funny times with wife and kids.
No pain whatsoever - no nausea whatsoever.
Life is a miracle.
Miracles happen.
I give thanks for this beautiful day indeed, and the promise of more beauty and love to come.
A new Simpsons disc to watch!
Welcome to Fenella (Gill?), who has become official follower number 34!
Enjoy the long weekend!
G.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
After the Rain...
Spent a lot of today thinking it was time for my feet to dry out.
Attended Restorative Justice training.
No coffee at the start, which was a let-down for those of us who stayed up too late last night!
Eventually the caterers made it in and the sun came out and my world was changed.
There are 4 O.C. teachers who attended this course.
My hope is that our school will implement it fully, not piecemeal, and that our culture will become truly restorative.
I'm still waiting to hear encouraging noises from higher authorities tho - it would have been a shame to have wasted thousands of dollars on our training...
Afric Pepperbird was our driving home soundtrack today - an obscure early album by Garbarek and co, with many odd sounds - took me back to 1986 and my foray into alternative jazz with a group called The Leaonard's Bird's Died Quartet (get it??).
Currently snuggling on sofa with Samson...
I guess he's waiting for his feet to dry out also...
G.
Attended Restorative Justice training.
No coffee at the start, which was a let-down for those of us who stayed up too late last night!
Eventually the caterers made it in and the sun came out and my world was changed.
There are 4 O.C. teachers who attended this course.
My hope is that our school will implement it fully, not piecemeal, and that our culture will become truly restorative.
I'm still waiting to hear encouraging noises from higher authorities tho - it would have been a shame to have wasted thousands of dollars on our training...
Afric Pepperbird was our driving home soundtrack today - an obscure early album by Garbarek and co, with many odd sounds - took me back to 1986 and my foray into alternative jazz with a group called The Leaonard's Bird's Died Quartet (get it??).
Currently snuggling on sofa with Samson...
I guess he's waiting for his feet to dry out also...
G.
"The Marriage of Figaro" (dress rehearsal review)
I took 18 South Auckland novices to this - they enjoyed it.
I loved the sets - they had a Dutch Masters feel to them - vivid wood staining, light that effectively created the different stages of the day, and a pure blue-ish tinge that informed the overall design.
The orchestra played well but was rather subdued - the overture rather low key.
I enjoyed the dance choreography - played for comic effect.
Acting performances pretty average, relying a little too much on convention.
Singing okay but nothing really special - Susanna's role sung well.
Nothing new to report in terms of other vocal interpretations.
Liked "Dove Sono" from the countess - sung with due pathos and beauty.
An entertaining evening out relying on visual gags and the osmotic beauty of Mozart's tunes.
Hard not to like the show - the characters are wonderfully human, even if, on this particular occasion, a little straitjacketed by convention.
So, if you like your Mozart straight and not too challenging, this is the production for you.
7/10.
I loved the sets - they had a Dutch Masters feel to them - vivid wood staining, light that effectively created the different stages of the day, and a pure blue-ish tinge that informed the overall design.
The orchestra played well but was rather subdued - the overture rather low key.
I enjoyed the dance choreography - played for comic effect.
Acting performances pretty average, relying a little too much on convention.
Singing okay but nothing really special - Susanna's role sung well.
Nothing new to report in terms of other vocal interpretations.
Liked "Dove Sono" from the countess - sung with due pathos and beauty.
An entertaining evening out relying on visual gags and the osmotic beauty of Mozart's tunes.
Hard not to like the show - the characters are wonderfully human, even if, on this particular occasion, a little straitjacketed by convention.
So, if you like your Mozart straight and not too challenging, this is the production for you.
7/10.
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