Glad you're warm and toasty today ...



Please may I request Can't Get Enough by Bad Company ...



Have a toasty Friday all x

Mornin' all...



It might not be a Christmas tune, but James Bond movies/tunes always remind me of this time of year - one of the highlights of the year was sitting down as a family to watch James Bond on Christmas Day (plus my aunt was an extra in two of them).



So how about a Bond theme? I'll go Wings - Live And Let Die.



TTFN.

Hooray ... didn't know I was number 1 :-)

Must've beaten me by seconds... :-)

Morning Simon and Morning All,



A brief visit from me this morning! I agree Simon, love Christmas and all that but was brought up in a household that didn't put the Christmas decorations up until the week before Christmas day at the earliest!



So my ARF (if you would kindly consider it) IS:



MARIANA by THE GIBSON BROTHERS



Have a brilliant weekend, enjoy the heatwave while it lasts!!!



Mcw x



PS I may need to pass Deebee a cold flannel before she reads your post this morning!! ;-)

Hmmm. Bit too early for a Christmas Toon methinks. Donning thinking cap now to come up with an absolute stonker, so that the nice man in the lift can ignore it!



Deevs

x

Morning all



Glad your heating is now sorted Simon, just in time for the big thaw!



I won't be choosing an ARF choon today, but I have the crown polished and ready to hand over to this week's lucky blogger!



Back later



Tortie x



PS Last night's Confession has put me off peppermint creams for life!

#7 Me too, Tortie. Wont be buying any this Christmas!

morning from a tropical Lincolnshire :-D



stop being a Grinch and play a Christmas song...;-)



DARLEN LOVE 'CHRISTMAS BABY PLEASE COME ON HOME' from the rather splendid album 'A gift for Christmas for you from Phil Spector'



thank you

PSL

Well if its to be a Christmas tune next week, then I guess that its my last chance of 2010 to get in with my ARF.



Failing that, it will become a double rollover.



I have been requesting this since 2009 ( yes since Chris' days!)



Will I be back here in 2011 doing the same? :(



So, for one night only.....



Could you please play......



*** Twilight *** by ELO.



Thank you.



MTF.xx

Morning all



I'm with Deev's in that its a bit early for a Christmas toon.



Can I suggest



Ray Charles - What'd I say.



I just thought Simon's confession was v funny and I still love Peppermint Creams! Also I think Foxy must have led a very sheltered life if that's the grossest thing she's ever heard!



A

#11 Me too, Andy -I thought it was very funny, but "skin things" always me feel a bit queasy!

Ps, put some clothes on Simon!



MTF.xx

pps....



A very 'Good Morning' everyone.



MTF.xx

Glass of Champagne by SAILOR

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeISAc9j0WE

Good morning Simon, Team, Nice Young Man and fellow blogpoppets!



Positively mild. This morning, not only were the gloves discarded, but the hat too. At least the rest of me was fully clad, unlike others I could mention whose pic is at the top of this page. At least put some socks on, Simon!



I believe that this week it HAS to be the turn of TWILIGHT. Nice Young Man - you met our lovely Tooth Fairy and you know how wondrous she is. Make her day. Please.



In the unlikely event that you ignore our plea, a tiny suggestion for:



CRACKLIN' ROSIE - NEIL DIAMOND



For my Rosie, cos she is.



Will have to read the confession - missed the whole show but did have a lovely evening with the wee poppets.



Working from home this pm so will be able to join in with the banter.



Alex-Girl

x

Morning All



It's a bit hot in here this morning too...



;o)

Ah, thanks Mcw - that's much better!



Anyway, I agree that it's too early for a Christmas ARF (although I must confess I've been listening to a few festive toons on my dog walks this week). So, I'm going to take a slightly differnt tack to my usual SRF and suggest:



PRIDE by U2, as a suitably rousing song for the start of the weekend.



Deebee X

Morning All,



Hopefully this weeks ARF will be Twilight for MTF,



but will suggest my SRF 'Dignity' by Deacon Blue



Hope its a good day for everybody

OK, so I've thinked and thunked, had a coffee, made up a couple of client files (yes, I am so wasted here!) and have come up with the rather splendiferous glamtastic ....



BALLROOM BLITZ - THE SWEET



Go baby!!



Deevs

x

Morning!



Glad you've recovered Deebee!



Can I have GOLD - Spandau Ballet. WOuldn't normally do requests but it's my dear Mum & Dad's golden wedding today. My lovely boss is letting me finish early to spend the afternoon with them. Should be back around 5ish. Will try to catch up on the confessions over the weekend.



Glad everyone feeling a bit warmer today.



Mo xx

Morning all



ARF suggestion: Can you please play "REMEDY" by the BLACK CROWES.

Good morning (only just)



Well... If that nice young man won't make MTF's wish come true:



TWLIGHT by ELO



then I feel I ought to suggest HEATWAVE by MARTHA and the VANDELLAS again.



Have a lovely weekend.x

Good morning all



great news on the heat even if it is too hot now!!!!



I agree too early for christmas song, next week good timing as most schools are breaking up for christmas



kks

My tuppenceworth re the team confessions: Sally's was the best, with or without the double entendre! Matt's was okay. Rebecca's sounded like she'd tried too hard to think of something (sorry, Rebecca). Simon's just made me feel a bit sick.



Deebee X

It's oh so quiet....shhh....shhh...

LOL Deebee. I thought you'd all snuckled off to do some shopping!



x

It is quiet Deebee!



Following on from yesterday's theme, it's our Christmas 'do' tonight, but as I'm the organiser, I will (as usual) be on my best behaviour!



Off to get my hair cut and sorted soon - in my own car - for the first time this week, I;ve been able to get off our drive and manouvre round the moguls that are lying in the road!

#28 Good luck with that Tortie - the driving and the haircut. And the Christmas party. I'm sure you can allow yourself to let your hair down (whatever isn't cut off!) just a little bit!



X

#29 - I might just manage a sip of champers, Deebee - to be sociable, you understand! : )

Talking of which - I'm off to say goodbye to some colleagues who are leaving today. Back later - good luck everybody with the ARF.



Deebee X

Afternoon all



Hope you all enjoy your respective Christmas/anniversary festivities ... I'm off to a cocktail night ... a friend has bought a Del Boy style cocktail bar and has been practising all sorts of concoctions ... chink chink ...

Oooh Alison - enjoy! My faves are a Singapore Sling and a Mojito. Delish!



Tortie - have you got the spreadsheet with who's ordered what food on it ........!



;-)



Deevs

x

Afternoon all!



Enjoy your Christmas do, Tortie. When I first read your post, I thought you were getting your hair cut in your car. What a great service that would be - a drive thru hair do!



And Alison, you enjoy the cocktails! Don't mix the base liquor or you will be feeling rough in the morning!



Howdy Deevs! How are you?



Sitting at the kitchen table, trying to do some work but I am somewhat smothered in cats. Talking of which, I had my cousin, his wife and their poppets to stay last night. Cousin never had pets when growing up so was somewhat perplexed by our 4 cats. He got used to it though, until bedtime. Off he went to the spare room and 10 minutes later there was a loud yelp. Poor cousin had got into bed, snuggled down and felt a furry mass under the duvet. Furry mass turned out to be eldest cat who had also snuggled down for the night. Not sure who was more surprised!



A-G

Hi Alex



I'm fine, thank you. Just a bit bored now. Been in the office by myself for most of the day and have now run out of "proper" things to do. There's a few bits I could fill the last hour with but to be honest, I CBA!



Your post made me smile - I was only thinking the other day how much I miss my cat (I had to leave her behind when I moved to my new life in January as she's an old lady cat and very set in her ways so it would have been unfair to uproot her). On cold nights she always used to sleep curled up in a little ball in the crook of my knees. Her snoring was louder than the ex-Mr Deevs but she was better than any hot water bottle!



Deevs

x

Christmas tree needles already!! Only bought it today but it is a spednid tree! First carol service last night.....another on Sunday, outside on the Village Green.....

Think it's about time we had "Yellow snow, yellow snow, yellow snow" by Bob Rivers ... :-)

Revster - are you the Village Green Preservation Society!?



x

# 33 & 34 Having established that I'm allergic to wine (or is it the quantity?) cocktails should be interesting ... will let you know more over the weekend x

# 38 Now how astute of you Deeves! There is a society in our village called HABCOS - which stands for The Havering-atte-Bower Preservation Society. But apart from keeping an eye on buildings and signs and what not, they want to get people out of their homes meeting one another and for the village to become true community once more...so amopng other activities, at this time of year we have CAROLS ON THE GREEN... and last year over 200 people came!

That's fantastic Revster. I think it's a shame now that neighbours aren't neighbourly anymore - particularly in small rural communities.



Good luck with that, and good for you!



x

#35 Best hot water bottle in the world! Last night I had one curled under the duvet leaning against my back, and one on top of the duvet lying across my feet - cosy warm!



#40 That is lovely, Revster. Nice to hear that some villages are still communities and enjoy traditional things together. Our small part of South London has started a Residents Association with similar aims - so far this year, we have had a caeligh (sp?), open gardens and Mr P has joined the music group which has performed twice in the church hall. Next week is the carol singing.



Only half an hour to ARF! Who will it be? If Simon plays Twilight, I will probably go into shock!

If he plays The Sweet can someone text me as I'll be en route to Cannock Station to catch the tain(s) to Wolverhmapton!



Ta muchly.



x

Will do Deevs.





Why hasn't Simon's confession been posted yet? I am intrigued and want to read it!!!

I thought Billie was going to be around this afternoon?



Cooee Billie!

The evening ends up with mulled wine and mince pies and last year one HABCOS member even transported a huge Christmas tree on the back of a trailer!! But I'm wondering - should we ring the church bells and wake everyone up!!

#46 Of course you should!! No one will be asleep anyway - they will all be on the Green, singing carols and drinking mulled wine!

Can I sneak to the 50?

Maybe............

Hurrah!

Its the little things........



Time to feed the cats so that I can listen to Twilight or The Sweet or any of the other super choices without interruption and without kitty harmonies.



Laters



A-G

x

And who is Charlotte?

#52 I've done a bit of detective work - she's a tweeter.

No blogpoppet ARF crown today, but here's a hat for Alex-G for the 50th post!



...............„ø¤º°¨♥¨°º¤ø„...........

...............„ø¤º°¨♥¨°º¤ø„...........

...............„ø¤º°¨♥¨°º¤ø„...........

...............„ø¤º°¨♥¨°º¤ø„...........

„ø¤º°¨¨°º¤ø¸„ø¤º°¨¨°º¤ø„„ø¤º°¨¨°º¤ø„

„ø¤º°¨¨°º¤ø¸„ø¤º°¨¨°º¤ø„„ø¤º°¨¨°º¤ø„

....................◒ . ◒...............

.................... ╰╯ ................

I thank you Deebee!



Yay - Tortie keeps the crown for another week!!

I've been trying to design a blogpoppet Christmas tree using the hat as a basis. But I don't have KatyMac's skill - so far I've failed miserably. Never mind - I won't be defeated.

Clever Deebee!!



Mr P's birthday today. I want him to open his presents but he has disappeared into the cellar. I think I am more excited about his birthday than he is! It's his 45rpm birthday - the next rpm birthday I have to look forward to is 78!!!

Good Evening All



Shucks - it was my intention to be here this afternoon. Best laid plans etc.



From yesterday's blog -



#127 Mo. Thank you. Good to hear you're enjoying Jools.



#128 Deevs. So sorry.



#45 AlexG So Sorry. Congrats on the #50

#57 Happy Birthday Mr P! But what's a rpm birthday?



#58 Hi Billie!

Hi Deebee -



I've C&P this from yesterday -



"John & Deevs and anyone else who's interested - I have a day off tomorrow so I'm going to give some in-put into the discussion about favourite music and where it comes from. Friday's blog is often quiet so it might be a good day to do it. I've put it off for so long 'cos I've a lot to say. (I think I'm supposed to say LOL then!)"



Well, it all went wrong but I've got this stuff ready so I'm going to post it now. It'll be in 3 parts.

Here it is then ……….





I was born into an Irish Catholic family - 2 brothers, 2 sisters, grandparents, uncles, aunts, loads of cousins. Brought up on Music. Irish Folk songs, Rebel songs, Classical - Caruso, Mario Lanza, Paul Robeson, Strauss Waltzes, Holywood Musicals, American Comedy like Spike Jones.

Anything and Everything all the time.



At Christmas times, Birthdays and such, all the extended family would get together and - as is traditional in Irish Communities (Sir Terry has written about this in one of his autobiogs) - we all did a turn. So aged about 4, I discovered I could sing and I haven’t stopped singing since.



At school we had traditional music lessons and I learnt English Folk Songs.

We were introduced to reading music and I lapped it up. I also realised that learning lyrics was no problem. I didn’t do it - God did - but I can remember lyrics so easily, even from donkeys’ years ago. I know lyrics from songs I don’t ever remember hearing! So then, school choirs and solo singing. And as an adult, more choirs and singing to earn some dosh in a duo, trio and groups. Then teaching - running school choirs and Am Dram. So all in all I was exposed to the widest possible variety of music - Bach, Beatles, other pop, Musicals, Madrigals, Ancient & Modern Hymns - and I loved it all and still do.

My collection is a bit big! And it covers all the genres mentioned above.

Over the last 12 months I’ve added stuff from TT, Westlife, Susan Boyle, Shirley Bassey, Fyfe Dangerfield, Eg, Leonard Cohen, Michael Bublé,

Squeeze, Elaine Page, Crosby Stills & Nash, The Four Seasons and more!

It’s now mostly on CD. I used to have some 78 singles and albums on vinyl but they were lost in a flood (very sad) but I have loads of 45s - and we can still play them.



I’m saying I love it all - there is just one exception and that’s modern Jazz.

Trad. Jazz is fine. I do try - for example, to listen to Jamie Cullum’s programme and I’ll enjoy the first 2 or 3 tracks and then something will come on which loses me. It’ll just sound like NOISE! I just don’t get it!

Just one more thing - my keyboard.



My piano playing has always been poor. I could manage the right hand

fine but not the left. It has been a personal frustration but it didn’t really impact on my teaching cos I would conduct and I’d always be able to get someone to accompany the choir.



Then, just over 3 years ago I did a course to gain an extra qualification “Teaching Music in the Community” and I was introduced to the keyboard.

Magic!



For those who don’t know, it can be played like a piano or you can play it with programmed chords and set backings. You do need some knowledge - to be able to read the music and understand rhythms and to play the tune in your right hand and be able to decide which “voice” to use - but if you’ve got a duff left hand like mine you only need to use 1 finger for a major chord, 2 for a minor or 7 chord and 3 fingers for more complicated chords like Gm7. I was quite a novice when I first got it. I remember struggling to play “Spanish Eyes” with 3 chords, but I practice almost every day and I’m now playing Broadway Hits like “Night & Day”.

It’s amazing what you can do and it’s such fun. I love messing around with styles - for example - playing Kylie’s “Can’t get you out of my head” to it’s normal EuroTrash backing and a techno voice then playing it again with an Arpeggio backing with strings so it sounds like a classical piece. Kylie should do a version like that! You’d be amazed what goes with a Garba backing - Mud’s “Lean on Me” !



So that’s me and my music.



And I think that’s enough from me.

Good ARFternoon Each! Or, is it evening, now. I suppose it is. The builders rendered us temporarily internetless today. It was unavoidable, but I thought briefly that today would be the first day since Simon took over drivetime that I would be unable to join in with this lovely blog, but I should have had more faith. They aint let me down, yet.



Really enjoying the show, despite the fact that MTF was joined in her default position of unsuccessful ARFer by every other blogger today, but I reckon the twits deserve a look in too. I surprised myself by enjoying S.W. too. I usually find him a bit irritating these days, but todays oldies transported me back to my yoof. Memories!



Laters. potaters!

#59. As in records - I had a 33 1/3 birthday a number of years ago, then there is the 45 single then the 78!!!!

#61 - #63 Thanks so much for sharing that Billie.



#64 Paul - have you really never missed a blog? That deserves some kind of medal.



#65 Thanks for the explanation, Alex! Our next rpm birthday will be my Mum's next year.

Evening all



Not been around at all today.



#57 Deebee - It's also Mrs BG's birthday today - also 45rpm. Separated at birth? So I've had a day off, shopping, culture, lunch out, watching mini BG #3 singing carols round the tree in town, and a nice dinner.



Am feeling in the spirit now. We also have a rule that the tree cannot be bought, cards may not be written, Xmas music may not be heard, the halls cannot be decked (?) until after her big day. So it all kicks off tomorrow.



Billie - thanks for sharing all your faves. Will read in peace tomorrow



Nice weekend all.

JbG - it was me, not Deebee. And we have the same rule in our house - no Christmas stuff till after the birthday. Happy birthday to Mrs Good! It was obviously a very fine vintage, 1965!



Off to curl up with Mr P ( well, it is his birthday) so will say night night.



Noses please..........



xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx



Sleep well. Sweet dreams.



A-G

X

oops sorry. Happy birthday to Mr Girl! Does he mind being called that?

Hello All,



Back from travels and caught up,



Happy Birthday to Mr P and Mrs JbG.



Tortie, may your merriment be boundless



Alison, cocktail evening sounds, fun have an image of people dressed as 1930's Great Gatsby



Revster, love sound of your community activities



Deebee, when your Christmas tree is up and running, may I suggest you post circa 48 and 97 then it can drop needles to 50 or 100



Paul, thats some record, glad you got webbyness and back with us so to speak



Billie, thank you for your music posts, very imformative, I have a passion for music but nothing singing or playing wise, thats fine and really admire people that are blessed with ability. Have a good friend who is a very talented drummer (one or two bloggers might have read his book), when we was yoofs he could just sit down at the piano and play something like American Pie perfectly off the top of his head,

Morning all



Billie - I enjoyd reading your posts above and you stirred a memory ..... when I was a child (about 6 or 7) my dad had 2 LPs of irish Rebel Songs and he used to play them in the pub my parents ran. The pub was in Essex but I remember some of the punters were Irish.



Thank you for sharing. And I love Fyfe Dangerfield!





John Bishop last night was just one of the funniest stand-up shows I have ver seen! Highly recommend if you get the chance - go see!



Out Christmas Shoping today on my own in Brum. If you don't hear from me by Monday can you plase come find me!



Muchos Amore



Deevs

x

Morning all



Lovely to read your musical background Billie.



Pleased to report cocktail evening was great success and my wine allergy does not extend to mixes with spirits.



Started off with Blue Curacao/gin/soda, passed swiftly onto Bloody Mary, then found the one that hit the spot ... vodka, ginger wine, cranberry and lime ... so stayed on that for rest of night.



Been virtuous and just run 7 miles to collect car from last night and off shortly for walking group Christmas do.



Chink chink x

Atishooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

#73 Bless you

Thank you Brandon. That blew my blurking cover!



MTF.xx

The things you do for them! I have just deposited the offspring outside a pub in Barnsley, where he was meeting up with some of his buddies, for a night out.



A night out consisting of them going on a bus trip from said pub, to spend the evening at Owlerton Stadium, SHEFFIELD, to watch greyhound racing. After which, they return to the bus which whisks them back to Barnsley, and on to do a bit of clubbing. After which, Dad here, then has to drive back to Barnsley, (4.a.m.ish is the guess), drive assorted buddies back to their assorted Barnsley homes, and then bring my own lad back home to Sheffield again. Then I open the shop at 5.30 a.m.



I feel I shall be needing to employ some of my matchsticks.





Btw. RPM birthdays. Don't forget the one at 16. And, the one at 33, you can celebrate again 4 months after the original.

#75 Mine too MTF,



Doff my hat to you Paul

Paul, how old are your offspring?





Ps, its Sunday tomorrow Chuck, do you need to start so early?





MTF.xx

LOL Brandon. Have been pressing the refresh button all day (does that make me sad?)



MTF.xx

#78. He is 20, and he is an only child. He towers over me, and I am over 6 foot. I have tried to explain that when I was the big one, I used to do all in my power to look after him, and now HE is the big one... all to no avail, Im afraid, Still running around after him. I don't mind, really, it's nice that he still needs us oldies.



And, yes, tomorrow is Sunday. Lots of supplements to insert into newspapers etc, etc. If I don't start at 5.30, I wouldn't get it done before the rounds have to go out. However, the day sfter is Monday. I love Mondays.

a/s confuddlement in #80. Obvioualy needing s little aleep.

#79, absolutely not MTF, as I have been doing the same thing!

I loved your post 70 last night Brandon.



I bought your friend Spikes book and recommended it to others who I know, have bought it too.



The reason I bought it initially is, because I thought it was written by our own Spike. However, as wrong as I was, the whole family have really enjoyed reading...



Yikes, my copy has gone missing again!



Brandon, can you poop the title on here.



If not, gooogle Spike Webb, confessions of a drummer!



MTF.xx

#76 Paul, you are not alone. I have just collected my son from University and the washing machine is now grinding away. Bless him, he is driving down to London tomorrow, to pick up his sister from University, no doubt also laden with dirty washing. I know my place......behind the ironing board whilst they are supposed to be revising! Wouldn't have it any other way though! Just call me Dot Cotton! Oooh I say!

#83 Thanks MTF, Mad, Bad and Dangerous



#84 Chickster, pays to read things again slowly, read first bit and thought crikey collected son and put in washing machine!

Now there's a thought, Brandon!

#86 I think Simon and the team would say' Don't try this at Home'

Good Morning All



Sunshine melting the light frost.



Hope weekend is going fine for you all. Thought we were busy here, but reading these posts, PoS, McW, we seem to have nothing to do!



Have Nicetimes



Love



BP

Is there owt on telly? I've only got christmas issues of the telly mags left in the shop, and they don't start until next week..



Actually, the fact that the telly mags start as soon as next Saturday is quite a scary thought.

I have just invented e-pie. I delivered some to Billy Bragg. No idea whether he liked it or not. I hope so. It was a sweet e-pie, but during the course of this missive, as it were, I have invented savoury e-pie. Anyone? Form an orderly queue!

Savour e-pie!©

e-pie, sweet to tweet.©





Am I rich, yet?

#90 #91 ? e-pie ? sweet e-pie? Tweety Pie?

TWEETY:

I am a little, tiny, bird. My name is Tweety Pie

I live inside my bird cage, a-hanging way up high

I like to swing upon my perch and sing my little song

But there's a tat that's after me and won't let me alone



I taut I taw a puddy tat a creepin' up on me

I did! I taw a puddy tat as plain as he could be!



SYLVESTER:

I am that great big bad old cat, Sylvester is my name

I only have one aim in life and that is very plain

I want to catch that little bird and eat him right away

But just as I get close to him, this is what he'll say



I taut I taw a puddy tat a creepin' up on me

You bet he taw a puddy tat, that puddy tat is me!



TWEETY:

That puddy tat is very bad, he sneaks up from behind

I don't think I would like it if I knew what's on his mind

I have a strong suspicion that his plans for me aren't good

I am inclined to think that he would eat me if he could



SYLVESTER:

I'd like to eat that sweetie pie when he leaves his cage

But I can never catch him, It throws me in a rage

You bet I'd eat that little bird if I could just get near

But every time that I approach, this is all I hear



TWEETY:

I taut I taw a puddy tat a creepin' up on me

I did! I taw a puddy tat as plain as he could be!



And when I sing that little song, my mistress knows he's back

She grabs her broom and brings it down upon Sylvester's back

So listen you bad puddy tat, let's both be friends and see

My mistress will not chase you if you sing this song with me



TWEETY (Spoken): Come on now, like a good cat

SYLVESTER (Spoken): Oh, all right. Sufferin' Succotash!



TWEETY & SYLVESTER:

I taut I taw a puddy tat a creepin' up on me

I did! I taw a puddy tat as plain as he could be!

Sorry about that. I was side tracked by Paul's e-pies!



Good Evening Everyone. Hope everyone's fineanddandy.



Busy old day here. Much achieved. Garden tidying and some Christmassy stuff.



Loved the XFactor. Not unhappy with the winner. Matt or Rebecca would have been fine. Glad "One Direction" didn't win.



Just LOVE TT. LOVE Robbie! So - a very happy bunny here.



And Annie Lennox is on with Simon tomorrow. Now Mr. BP will vouch that, happily married as I am, I've always sort of fancied Annie Lennox!



Hope your weekends have been good.



NNGBPGSYITM.



Love



BP

Hello All,



Much done today, slightly satisfying but then always thing about all things not done.



Somebody once told me 'Make a to Do List' then take off half of it and thats realistically what you might achieve.



Johnnie Walker as always good show this afternoon, looking forward to Annie Lennox with Simon tomorrow

Brandon...



You always bring a bit of common sense to the blog.



For that, I thank you.



MTF.xx



(ps, crap day, dont ask!)