Good Morning Simon, Team and Blogpoppets



Have to start with:



LIFE ON MARS by David Bowie



VENUS by Bananarama



~X~

Or



PLANET EARTH by Duran Duran



SPACE by Magic Fly



JUPITER by Earth Wind and Fire



STAR by Kiki Dee



STARS by Simply Red



~X~

Morning all



Busy day for me today!



STARMAN - David Bowie



Back later



T x

Last ones from me:



FAR AWAY by Nickleback



SO FAR AWAY by Dire Straits



~X~

Morning all,



VENUS & MARS - Paul McCartney



SUBWAY TO VENUS - Red Hot Chilli Peppers

Morning all, halfway to the weekend... :)



Above the Clouds - ELO

Bad Moon Rising - CCR

Brave New World - Jeff Wayne (War of the Worlds)

Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me - Elton John

Stars - Simply Red

Life On Mars - David Bowie

In The Air Tonight - Phil Collins

Man On The Moon - REM

Stardust - Nat King Cole

Walking On The Moon - The Police



That's all for now...

MERCURY - Counting Crows



JUPITER - Earth Wind & Fire



HEY JUPITER - Tori Amos



SATURN - Stevie Wonder



SATURN RETURN - R.E.M.



VALLEYS OF NEPTUNE - Jimi Hendrix



NEPTUNE'S DAUGHTER - Divine Comedy



PLUTO - Bjork



HALLUCINATING PLUTO - B 52s

Morning everyone



VENUS AND MARS ~ Paul McCartney & Wings



IT'S WRITTEN IN THE STARS ~ Paul Weller



STARRY EYED ~ Ellie Goulding



WISHING ON A STAR ~ Rose Royce



LUCKY STAR ~ Madonna



STARDUST ~ David Essex



UNDERNEATH THE STARS ~ Maria Carey



SHOOTING STAR ~ Bad Company

ST JUDY'S COMET - Paul Simon



GALAXY BOUNCE - Chemical Brothers



SHOOTING STAR - The Mamas and the Papas



A SHOOTING STAR IS NOT A STAR - They Might Be Giants



CELESTIAL THE QUEEN - Blue Oyster Cult

HARVEST MOON ~ Neil Young



THE WHOLE OF THE MOON ~ Waterboys



MOONDANCE ~ Van Morrison

SOLAR SYSTEM - Beach Boys

Just remembered this one with the Hair revival....



AQUARIUS ~ Cast of Hair



"When the moon is in the Seventh House

And Jupiter aligns with Mars

Then peace will guide the planets

And love will steer the stars"

Good Morning Simon and Poppeteers



Too many people speaking to me this morning and probably the best tunes have already been taken.



URBAN SPACEMAN - BONZO DOG DOODA BAND

Morning Sir, team, NYM, Matt of the BAIU and celestial bloggers,



Well, since I missed it yesterday as a "water carrying" suggestion, let's try again under the banner of "astronomical and astrological"....



AQUARIUS - Fifth Dimension



I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU - The Flamingos

("Are the stars out tonight, I don't know if it's cloudy or bright")



2000 LIGHT YEARS FROM HOME - Rolling Stones

ASH - Girl From Mars



I may be back, but wanted to get that one in before anyone else did!

Morning all. A couple of oldies suggestions for now and I'll be back later to catch up and chat.



Life on Mars - David Bowie

Another Girl, Another Planet - The Only Ones

Venus and Mars - Wings

Drops of Jupiter - Train (?)

Moondance - Van Morrison

VENUS - SHOCKING BLUE



MOONDANCE - VAN MORRISON



THE NIGHT HAS A THOUSAND EYES - BOBBY VEE



ASTRAL WEEKS - VAN MORRISON



IF I SAID YOU HAD A BEAUTIFUL (CELESTIAL) BODY WOULD YOU HOLD IT AGAINST ME - BELAMY BROS.



Catch you all later



Shona x

STEVIE WONDER - Saturn



SHOCKING BLUE - Venus



MICHAEL JACKSON - Earth Song



CURIOSITY KILLED THE CAT - Down To Earth



THE ONLY ONES - Another Girl, Another Planet

TASMIN ARCHER - Sleeping Satellite



LOU REED - Satellite of Love



THE HOOTERS - Satellite

HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN - ANIMALS



VENUS IN BLUE JEANS - MARK WYNTER



BLUE MOON - THE MARCELS



MOON SHADOW - CAT STEVENS



DARK SIDE OF THE MOON - PINK FLOYD

Morning All,



How the devil are you all? Not been around much tho I have attempted to lurk, I couldn't even manage that properly. Who'd thunk that having the decorators in at work would cause so much more kerfuffle than normal?



Anyways, a semblance of normality is returning so hopefully I'll be able to join in more.



Song for today:-



Venus in Blue Jeans - Jimmy Clanton



As for the film...the book was recommended to me a while back but the blurb just didn't grab me. Maybes its the kids doing horrid things to win what did it. Perhaps I shall get it and give it a go any way...just to see what the fuss is about. Has anyone one here read it? A part from our esteemed leader, of course.



Well off to have a proper think.



Maybes laters



A.

Venus - Bananarama

Atmosphere - Joy Division

Champagne Supernova - Oasis

Girl from Mars - Ash

Invisible Sun - Police

Life on Mars - Bowie

Man on the Moon - REM

Moon Dance - Van Morrison

Stars - Simply Red

Good morning all!



EYE IN THE SKY - Alan Parsons Project

Hi Simon and everyone.



I liked "The Entertainer" it reminds me of the snooker!



That X factor styley book reminds me of that book Ben Elton wrote which was a bit Big Brotheresque, title escapes me!



Now to go celestial:



1. DROPS OF JUPITER - Train

2. VENUS - Banarama

3. VENUS - Shocking blue

4. PLANET EARTH - Duran Duran

5. SPACER - Sheila B and Devotion

6. OUT OF SPACE - Prodigy

7. Dancing Tight - GALAXY

8. SILVER STAR - The Four Seasons

9. LUCKY STAR - Dean Freidman

10. LIFE ON MARS - David Bowie



Oh well better slip off.



Catch ya later.



Mandy ;)

GOOD MORNING STARSHINE - OLIVER

Mornin everyone,



Pretty much everything has been mentioned already, but we have a few alternatives:



GALAXY - WAR



JOYBRINGER - MANFRED MANN'S EARTH BAND



SHINING STAR - EW&F



ACROSS THE UNIVERSE - BEATLES

Good Morning All :)



I've been AWOL for a few days, due to being quite ill with a cold/flu thingy. I'm alright now though, except for a lingering cough, and a sore nose! Anyway, I can't linger as we've got yet another meeting to attend this morning. But hopefully I'll be back later for a bit of a catch up.



Oldie suggestions...



DROPS OF JUPITER - TRAIN



WALKING ON THE MILKY WAY - O.M.D



STAR - ERASURE

Back again,



The planets bend between us - Snowpatrol

February Stars - Foo Fighters from the excellent The Colour and the Shape Album. Off to revisit it now.



A.

Morning all from The Shire :-)



Looking forward to tonights guests.....can't think of any tunes at the moment



PSL xxx

Good morning everyone.



I have a favour to ask the collective which may tax all your brains but I'll come back to that after the mensh-chase has slowed down to a snail's pace.



For the theme, how about:



GALAXY SONG by MONTY PYTHON



one of Eric Idle's greatest in my opinion :-)



Be back later

I second:



DROPS OF JUPITER - Train



and add



CLOSE TO YOU - The Carpenters

Re the proximity of the two planets:



RIGHT BY YOUR SIDE - Eurythmics



NEARER THAN HEAVEN - The Delays



CLOSER - Travis



And did Venus say this to Jupiter....?



MOVE IN A LITTLE CLOSER, BABY - Mama Cass



MOVE CLOSER - Phyllis Nelson

Morning one and all.........just caught the Four Tops on BBC Breakfast singing live....they were very good..............................quick couple of oldies........



RIGHT BY YOUR SIDE - EURYTHMICS



CLOSE TO YOU - THE CARPENTERS



Be back later........................................................................................



Dougal x.....................................hope all is well with everyone....................



P.S When will the blog be fixed..........still getting green boxes.........................

And as if this isn't gettin enough airplay at the moment;



NEXT TO ME - EMELI SANDE

Morning All



'Moondance' Van Morrison



Have a good day everybody

Ok...........some more.........................................................................



JUPITER CRASH - THE CURE



JUPITER'S CHILD - STEPPENWOLF



JUPITER - TRAIN



PLANETS OF THE UNIVERSE - STEVIE NICKS



VENUS IN BLUE JEANS - JIMMY CLANTON



VENUS - FRANKIE AVALON



Dougal x.............................................................................................

'Calling Occupants of Interplanetary-craft' The Carpenters

CLOUDY......AVERAGE WHITE BAND



GET OF MY CLOUD.....THE ROLLING STONES



PSL xx

Good morning, everybody.



DROPS OF JUPITER - TRAIN

LIFE ON MARS - DAVID BOWIE

VENUS - BANANARAMA/SHOCKING BLUE

IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE - PINK FLOYD

SATURN RETURN - REM



Out of thoughts for now - off to get another coffee then...

A couple more oldie suggestions...



VENUS - FRANKIE AVALON



TWILIGHT TIME - THE PLATTERS

Not read back yet, but has anyone gone with...



WHOLE OF THE MOON - WATERBOYS

THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH - GARBAGE

DROPE OF JUPITER - TRAIN



Speak for youself about the cloud Mr Mayo, here 'up north' weve had an uninterupted view of said planets for several nights. My 82 yr old mother became quite taken with the sight of them last Thurday when I was driving her home.

Still not sure which is which though. Is Venus the brighter one or Jupiter?



~gill~

ATMOSPHERE - RUSS ABBOTT

Coat (check)

Hat (check)

shall I close the door on my way out?...

~gill~

peeps head round the door., Hubbs reckons he can 'top' mine...



CLOUDS ACROSS THE MOON - THE RAH BAND

SILK SATURN N LACE ?



Hubbs, I think theres room out here on the step for two :-)

~gill~

Hello Old Friend - Eric Clapton



Willy the Shake

x

Morning,



Another girl another planet - The Only Ones



Planet telex - Radiohead



Guiding star - Cast



My Star - Ian Brown



Venus as a boy - Bjork



Moonshadow - Cat Stevens



Bad moon rising - Creedence Clearwater Revival



The killing moon - Echo and the Bunnymen



Man on the Moon - REM



Moondance - Van Morrison



Whole of the moon - The Waterboys

Morning,



CLOUDS ACROSS THE MOON by The RAH BAND



madchick x

'Walking On The Moon' The Police

How about.....................................................................................





LET'S STICK TOGETHER - BRYAN FERRY



LET'S SPEND THE NIGHT TOGETHER - ROLLING STONES



COME TOGETHER - BEATLES



MOVE CLOSER - PHYLLIS NELSON





and for Mr D............................................................................................





JUPITER - EARTH WIND & FIRE





Dougal x....................................................................................................

Zoe - sorry to hear you've been feeling ill - I hope you're on the mend.



A couple more suggestions from me:



Always the Sun - The Stranglers (is the sun a planet or a star?)

Fly Me to the Moon - Frank Sinatra

Planet Earth - Duran Duran

Well Did You Evah - Frank Sinatra & Bing Crosby

Captain Crash and the Beauty Queen from Mrs - Bon Jovi



I'm allowing myself to be distracted from work - anything to get out of marking! ;o

VINCENT (STARRY STARRY NIGHT) - DON MCLEAN



FLOAT ON - THE FLOATERS

(star signs of the zodiac)

We have had clear skies the last few nights and it's been possible to see Venus and Jupiter quite clearly. Of course, the clear skies make it chilly so we've done so from the comfort of the sitting room.



Odd to think that it's possible to view something that's roughly 400 million miles away with the naked eye.

Happy Wacky Wednesday!



Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds ~ Beatles

Venus and Mars ~ Paul McCartney



LB, x

Had a bit of a giggle reading back some of the suggestions. It would be funny if Simon chose some of them. X E.G. #42 Gill, Atmosphere - Russ Abbott.



Yellow banana safely in tummy and feeling suitably refreshed. (It was a banana today).

Ah Shona..... I was talking about you today (indirectly).... I was discussing 'trading blocs' with my A-level Economics class and we were looking at some case studies on "banana wars" with regards to the EUs preferential tariffs on bananas from ex-colonial countries (keep awake at the back!)



Anyway - I mentioned how much less of a problem it would be if we all just ate "red bananas" instead - much to the confusion of my class .... they giggled at the tale :)

Morning all



Flying visit so apologies if any repeats. My cosmic contribution:



'Planet Clare' - The B52s

'Venus As a Boy' - Bjork

'Planet Earth' - Duran Duran

'Walking On The Sun' - Smash Mouth



Must dash.



N xx

#40 Zoe, the Platter's song is one of my Mum's favourites!

#54 Glad to have helped add to the humour in any lesson Autumn_Gale. X Sometimes wish I was back in a school as egos seem to get in the way of humour in these parts. Except for us naughty ones at the back ;)

HOIB alert:



Star Trekking Across The Universe - The Firm.



I'll get my coat...

Good morning again!



Snuck in earlier with a tune suggestion but didn't hang around - chores to do.



Well done for the menshes last night. I think the Billie mention was for a CLP blogger, not our Billie. Could be wrong.



From yesterday, John, the green boxes are nowt to do with me!!



Harry, looking forward to hearing your favour - my brain needs taxing.

OK, bloggers, I need some help.



The Town Council wants all businesses to decorate their premises in a “patriotic” way for the whole of June. Not only is it the Jubilee but the Olympic torch will be passing through on the 21st.



Now, as some of you who have been here a while will know, I’m a staunch republican. I don’t want to create a display which celebrates the monarchy. But, I don’t want to let down my friends in the town or cause any controversy. I’ve already ruled out concentrating on Oliver Cromwell and the Civil War and I don’t really want to do the Olympics or sport.



I love the United Kingdom, although I struggle with the idea of being proud of something which is purely accidental, and I would support the home nations against Johnny Foreigner in any way I can (except when it comes to rugby - I’ll be French between 2.45 and 5 on Saturday! LOL).



So, do you have any suggestions for decorating/theming my windows which is patriotic but not monarchist or controversial?

WHEN WILL I SEE YOU AGAIN...THE THREE DEGREES





PSL xx

HtS



How about focussing on "Britishness" in the sense of either traditions (cream teas, Wimbleon/picnics/flora & fauna or ... is it a bookshop?? A big display about British authors through the ages ....

#60 ..... A p*nguin cover deck chair, straw boater hat, picnic basket and a selection of classic books...reading in the garden on a summers day?



just a thought :-)



PSL x

#62 snap!

#60 Hello Harry



I just collected my free latte from that coffee place which started in Seattle, so am settling down to ponder your question...



An obvious idea would be for you to focus on British literature - famous authors like Chaucer and Shakespeare and Dickens. Perhaps you could print out some of their classic lines from their most famous works?



Or maybe find references to GB/UK/Blighty/Albion in literature and print those quotes out. Would make a nice display. Maybe make it a quiz to get people to linger longer.



Or classic British characters from literature like Sherlock Holmes?



Just thinking out loud..

I've been racking my brains over this for days and you guys come up with some brilliant ideas in seconds!



Thank you .............. please keep them coming :-)

Harry, really interesting question and I can see your dilemma.



I think Autumn-Gale, PSL and John have got it bang on. Celebrate literature - it is what you do everyday! I suppose it depends how big your windows are as to how you could manage a display. Really like PSL's deckchair, picnic basket and books.



You could go simple and do the red, white and blue - bunting, hanging baskets/window boxes.



I will ponder............

Hi Harry



What about the flags of the nations of Great Britain and famous characters from books from each of the nations e.g. Oor Wullie sitting on his bucket or Desperate Dan for Scotland for example.



Or the national emblems, Thistle, Rose, Leek, Dragon, Shamrock, etc

Yes, I like Autumn's picnic and PSL's deckchair idea ............... perhaps with an umbrella, too. Or is that, given the weather down south, an outdated view of the British summer. Bring in JBG's quotations from literature and it's beginning to take shape.



I don't usually stock a great deal of fiction. It's only a small shop, although it is double-fronted, with about 2000 books. I decided early on that I couldn't do justice (or compete with the charity shops) with fiction so I concentrate on collectible non-fiction titles.



But, it's only for a month so I'm sure I can find enough books to fill the windows. And, besides, it's such a great idea.



But, if anyone else wants to chip in, I'd love to hear your ideas.



THANK YOU.

Could you also tempt people into your shop with tasters of food from all the nations such as pie, beans and chips for Scotland - or was that just the Dundee diet?



Pieces of Scottish fudge and other nibbles?

Hi Harry



Perhaps you could combine the two (and get a bit of free promotion too)



Do a "summertime reading" display as suggested by PSL and Autumn_Gale. And announce that every day during June you'll include in the window display a new quote from classic British literature (and ideally which describes a quintessential British scene - landscape, cricket, London, Oxford, coast, etc etc). A bit like an advent calendar, so that people see something new every day. And if they need to catch up with the old ones that they missed, they have to come in to your shop to look through them in a folder, or on a wall if you have space.



The winner is the one who gets the most right. And they win a British book! Might get you some publicity. Let the local schools and library know so that they tell the kids.



It might get people talking too. At the very worst, they'll try and swap info with each other "I couldn't get the one on the 7th - I'll swap you for answer number 10"

Oooh another thought Harry. If we all sent some scenic postcards from our piece of the country to you, you could decorate part of your window with them?

#71 I like the idea of a treasure hunt style activity from the display in the shop window for children and adults. Then they have to come into your shop to get the answers? Or to drop of their answers into a box in the shop. First correct one pulled out wins a book!

Hi Harry,



Depending on the space you have available, for you window display might it be possible to create a union jack out of books using the colours on the covers? You could try and use only books relating to Britain in some way. Or maybe create the (rough) outline of the British Isles using books and try and place books relating to a particular area/region in the appropriate place?



N xx

Oooo this is taking shape nicely :-D



I like Nadine's idea...Harry you posted a video a while ago on colour co-ordinating books on shelves



PSL

At the risk of sounding like a character from "The Fast Show", BRILLIANT! :-)



So many great ideas. Once again, thank you.

Hi Harry,



Drawing from the ideas from everyone above:



You said you deal predominantly in non-fiction, so perhaps you could use some good old British non-fiction literature as a basis for the treasure hunt/quiz?



--

cBzz

Harry, for some reason I now have "Three Men in a Boat" going through my head! Quintessential British summer story. May have to have a rummage through the shelves to find it. The scene with Harris and the pie - superb.



I have been thinking about your town council. By making the brief "patriotic", they are really running the risk of having an untidy looking town if every shop is free to decorate their shop front how they want. At least the broadness of the brief works in your favour.



You have 2 windows? A ladies one (PSL's summer picnic, deckchair etc) and a man's one.....cricket. A bat, a ball, some stumps and some books about British cricket players? Also very summery, very British and would draw in a different customer.



And then, as background music in the shop, British folk music.... Would mean you have to turn off R2 though. Hmm, maybe not.



Blogpoppets, I think a trip to Cumbria in June to inspect the shop is called for!

#60 Harry - I know where you work now as I shall also be in the vicinity on that self same day. The day has been booked off to decorate the floating caravan with bunting and sound air horns as the flame travels down past my mooring to Bowness. Have a look on various chandlery websites for pre-made streams of it. 'Swallows & Amazons' theme comes into my head.





Also is it too late to recommend LEE MARVIN - WANDRIN' STAR?

'cos the Greek for wandering star is planet. Off to stamp some bananas.

The torch is coming through my village too, not sure if the parish council are expecting us to do anything for it? It'll be the closest I'll get to the Olympics along with the mens' hockey team captain being an old boy of my old school.



PSL

The torch is coming through our neighbouring village and I haven't heard a whisper about anything being done. I suspect people will look up from their daily chores and say "ooh look, there be the Olympic torch" and then carry on as normal!!



I really can't get excited about it. I am still full of rage at the mess they have made of Greenwich Park when Badminton would have done just as well, if not better. No need to cut down oak trees that have been standing for 100's of years. Rant over.

The torch is coming through here too. I'm keeping my head down about it as I rather suspect it will mean more work for me. Looking to fill my diary that day mmmmmmmmm, how much is a train ticket to Cumbria?

I hope Simon plays nicely with tonights guests as he isn't exactly renouned as a lover of soul music. My mum who is 78 sent me a text this morning to say they were on breakfast tv! Hope he plays 'baby I need your loving' by The Four Tops and 'ain't oo proud to beg' by The Temptations



PSL xx

Hi all - my sick note may have got lost in the rainbow box hell - bad back again! Walking like a 99 year old on a walking frame at the moment. Would love to stand upright for a change!



Harry - only suggestion for your display is to get the local schools involved in some way or other - illustrations from their fav books maybe? Pictures voted on by customers, passersby etc and the winner gets a book? Good luck with it - sounds fun!



JW

Good Afternoon Each! Ooh, I like todays theme. Pity I'm too late.



#60. Harry, I'd be willing to bet you've got a few James Bond books knocking about.

#84 Sorry about your back Jennie. Take care. I do agree with you to get the local schools involved. X

#2 Deebee - a bit late in the day, but I'd like to second SPACE - Magic Fly. Haven't heard that in simply ages.



I remember a video of them - three guys in space suits. One of them is now the bass player with Status Quo! #uselesspoptrivia

#87. The other two were Lawrence Dallaglio. #inaccuratepoptrivia ;0)

#87 #88 and the other was Bob Holeness ;)

Hi All



Another hectic day - don't you think it's a bit unreasonable of my employers to keep me so busy with other stuff when there's blogging to be done... ;o)



Jennie and Zoe - and any other poorly blogpoppets - hope you feel better soon.



Harry, I can't add anything to the brilliant suggestions for your patriotic displays! I especially like PSL's seaside idea, and Shona's postcard one. I'll gladly send you a postcard of Cambridge if it will help. I'm sure the local shops here will have one or two available to choose from...



~X~

#90 I know what you mean about employers being unreasonable keeping us busy Deebee. This will be my last chance til the ARFO for a choon chase and a chat. Out and about all day tomorrow - still it will be nice to get out in the fresh air for a bit.



Home soon methinks. If I don't see you before, good luck with the choons and menshes. X

I want to go to Harry's! I love all the ideas offered - so clever!



#83, I'm sure Simon will be on best behaviour. ;)



LB,x

Afternoon! Hectic day - welcomed the chance to sit down just now and read back. Looks like everyone's going to be heading north to see Harry's display. Some brill suggestions - can't wait to find out what Harry decides upon in the end - will you keep us informed Harry?!



No tune suggestions now but wanted to say that I am looking forward to Simon's views on the Hunger Games movie. The books have been a huge hit with my eldest son and he is very keen to see the film. Incredibly difficult subject to portray - intrigued to see whether Simon thinks it works or not.



The whole film certificate thing is a mystery to me. I was surprised at 12A for Woman in Black - lots of my son's friends went along expecting Daniel Radcliffe in a slightly more grown up Harry Potter film and then had the pants scared off them when it wasn't!



Hoping to catch more of the show tonight than I have managed to this week so far. Good luck with the menshes. Maybe see you tomorrow x



Ps. Zoe, hope you feel better soon and that your meeting was OK today xx

Afternoon all - another hectic blogger here!



Trying to get all my work done today as I've got 2 days off; going to London for my birthday tomorrow, to see Sweeney Todd!



I definitely want to go and see Harry's shop - the ideas sound great!



Back to the grindstone for the last 15 mins - 'see' you on Friday evening.



Zoe - hope you soon feel better. And Jennie, hope your back problems ease.



Tortie x

HELLO!





No green box!





HELLO!

Evening all !



Some fantastic suggestions for Harry's windows. I think Sherlock Holmes in a deckchair, drinking an iced tea would look spiffing frankly.



I think I rather fancy going to see the Four Tops, Temptations, Tavares & Crystals all on the same bill. Sounds like a cracking night out for this Wigan Lass :-)

~gill~

:-( the news is upsetting me at the mo...

Those poor children... So sad :-(

BILLIEE!!

Planetary Oldies?



Obvious one: VENUS - BANANARAMA

How about...?

MAN ON THE MOON - REM

DROPS OF JUPITER - TRAIN

SPACEMAN - BABYLON ZOO

STARMAN - DAVID BOWIE

SPINNING AROUND - KYLIE (orbiting?)

INTERGALACTIC - BEASTIE BOYS

#97 - Really sad. Awful. Doesn't bear thinking about.