bigdaddystevieB

John Martyn died on 29 January, aged 60. Although I’d come across his music over the years, it wasn’t really until a couple of summers ago ,...

Amused, but also very depressed, by this image of a trillion dollar Zimbabwean bank note (yes, trillion !) which was introduced a couple of ...

Our lovely Scottish friends Alan+Gareth (Gareth was actually born in India but her parents were Scots!) invited Merry-Carol+Gerry+Moira+I ro...

Really moved by yesterday’s inaugural speech by President Obama. A measured speech, but containing some inspirational and yet quite humble a...

“Nature still offers her bounty and human efforts have multiplied it. Plenty is at our doorstep, but a generous use of it languishes in the ...

This weekend’s Observer+Guardian newspapers included the first two supplements (of seven) entitled “1,000 Novels Everyone Must Read”. If one...

Gareth+Alan+Moira+I went to the Watershed again this afternoon to see Danny Boyle’s wonderful “Slum Dog Millionaire”. Just brilliant! Some p...

Thought this extract from an article by Liz Ford in last Saturday’s “Guardian” (“Work” supplement) was pretty pertinent: “Students who expec...

In this week’s “ Something Understood ” on Radio4 (introduced by “The Kitchen Sisters”?), I was amused and intrigued by a brief clip from Br...

Sorry – another posting on education! I spend some of my time at school sitting down with individual pupils - listening to their problems an...

I’ve been thinking quite a lot recently about a particular Year 11 boy at school. He’s being sensitively mentored by another teacher. He’s i...

Moira+I went to the cinema for the first time this year to see “The Reader” at The Watershed (no, I didn’t have another “bed day”!). Very gl...

As those you who know me will be aware, I’m normally not one for staying in bed in the morning (understatement!). The last time I can actual...

Gerry pointed out this link on the BBC website last night. I just can’t wait for Obama to become president but, having been reminded of som...

With the new school term starting today, it seemed a little strange to spend last night at the theatre instead of getting books ready or iro...

Had a rather unusual, but very enjoyable morning yesterday. Unremarkably, I got up pretty early and messed around downstairs but then, very ...

Went to the Earth Abbey “Mid-winter Celebration” at Faithspace in Stackpool Road yesterday afternoon. EarthAbbey is a movement of people he...

Pathetically, I only played golf TWICE during the whole of 2008. I’m pleased to say that 2009 is looking far more positive as Steve and I ma...

Had a really enjoyable New Year’s Eve at Chris+Lal’s (eating/drinking/laughing and watching the city centre fireworks) and then tried to get...

My collection of books, DVDs and CDs has been greatly enhanced by an influx of some excellent new stuff over the Christmas period. I’ve watc...