Porte de Menin

I was 14 years old and on a school trip when I was taken to Ypres to see the Menin gate. All I remember was how big it was and so many names….

I’ve since discovered that the names are of missing soldiers and there wasn’t enough room for them all. Bodies are still being found today (from 1914-18) and if they are identified the names are removed. Every evening at 8 o’clock the last post is sounded. This done by the perpetual endowment of Rudyard Kipling whose son John was killed in 1915. The only years missed were during the occupation in the second world war.

Soldier’s Dream

I dreamed kind Jesus fouled the big-gun gears;
And caused a permanent stoppage in all bolts;
And buckled with a smile Mausers and Colts;
And rusted every bayonet with His tears.

And there were no more bombs, of ours or theirs,
Not even an old flint-lock, nor even a pikel.
But God was vexed and gave all power to Michael;
And when I woke he’d seen to our repairs.

Wilfred Owen

Another post on Time and Oft.

'Cellos

As I did on my previous blog, I’m killing two birds with one stone by including Nick Drake’s ‘Cello Song’. When I was at secondary school (as it was called in those days) I was fortunate enough to have ‘cello lessons. I really loved playing the ‘cello and took part in several evenings at school, performing to the parents in the school orchestra. One year we performed in the area school orchestra: All of the school orchestras got together for a morning. It is a most incredible sensation to be playing as part of a big orchestra. As ‘o’ levels approached I gave up playing, something I really, really regret. When we win the lotto I’m going to buy a cello and look for a teacher…

I rediscovered Nick Drake in recent years, thanks to having access to more music on the internet. When I Googled his name to find out what he had become I was really upset to discover that he died from an overdose of amitriptyline back in 1974. Like many brilliant people, he paid the price with depression. Like many other brilliant people from the past he wasn’t really appreciated during his lifetime as he should have been.

the documentary of his life is on YouTube

Discover Nick Drake!

Catch a Falling Star...

First off for my Desert Island Discs choice is a song that I especially loved as a child “Catch a falling Star” recorded by Perry Como in 1957, it was his first gold record. The idea of catching a star and keeping it for a special occasion caught my imagination – it still does!

Lyrics to Catch A Falling Star :

catch a falling star
and put it in your pocket
never let it fade away

catch a falling star
and put it in your pocket
save it for a rainy day

for love may come
and tap you on the shoulder
some starless night

just in case you feel
you wanna hold her
you'll have a pocket full of starlight

catch a falling star
and put it in your pocket
never let it fade away

catch a falling star
and put it in your pocket
save it for a rainy day

for love may come
and tap you on the shoulder
some starless night

just in case you feel
you wanna hold her
you'll have a pocket full of starlight
(mmmmm hmmm)

catch a falling star
and put it in your pocket
never let it fade away

catch a falling star
and put it in your pocket
save it for a rainy day

for when your troubles
start multipling
and they just might

its easy to forget them
without trying
with just a pocket full of starlight


catch a falling star
and put it in your pocket
never let it fade away

catch a falling star
and put it in your pocket
save it for a rainy day
save it for a rainy day
[ Catch A Falling Star Lyrics on http://www.lyricsmania.com/ ]

Now you can listen to it too, I’ve discovered how to do that kind of thing…

Discover Perry Como!

Or have I?

Sœur Emmanuelle

Sœur Emmanuelle died on Monday. She was almost 100 years old. There has been almost nothing else on TV these last two days. She was such a popular figure. She was always urging people to smile and be happy, setting a good example herself.

The first time I saw her on French TV years ago she was being interviewed by our most famous TV journalist, a pretty pompous man at the best of times. She would have non of his questions. On the way to the studios she came across some prostitutes and she wanted to tell us about them. She just had so much energy, a bossy little lady who will be missed by a lot of people from all faiths.

So that's why!

You thought that inventers just sat around all day at home (or in the laboratory or workshop) inventing, didn’t you? Well you’re wrong, they have to go to special academies of invention and work for their diploma first. These academies are all over the world and there are more and more being opened as countries like Japan and India catch up and overtake ‘the West’.

Every year there is a special competition in every academy for the first year student inventors. They have to design a device for pouring liquid from a cardboard carton. The winner gets to see their work applied to cartons in their part of the world. Have you ever noticed that these things never work? Juice or milk gets spilled everywhere either in the opening process or in the pouring. Like I said, they are only first year students.

Desert Island Discs revisited

Just before the BlogCharm plug was pulled out, I wrote a series of posts on my ‘Learn Something New Everyday’ blog about a radio programme called Desert Island Discs. A guest is asked to imagine that they have been shipwrecked on a desert island. They must take 8 pieces of music with them. They also have the Bible (or other religious work), the Complete Works of Shakespeare, a book of their choice and a luxury item. This is a novel way to encourage famous and distinguished people to talk about their lives. Nearly everyone associates music with special moments in their life.

I’d finished my Desert Island Discs and deleted all of the notes I’d made, so my posts were lost for ever. I thought that it would be fun to do them again. Some I know will be the same and others – we shall see. The BBC have kept records on who has been on over the last few years and their choices too. Jeremy Irons, back in 2006 is the celebrity whose musical choices I identified with the most.

Which 8 pieces of music would you choose?

Missing the Last Boat Home

Neutron has recently been writing about the joys of touring what used to be East Germany. Thanks to him I realised I hadn’t looked to see what my cousin Paul was up to recently (he plays in Germany sometimes too and I’m sure they will meet up). Well, there was quite a lot to catch up on and you can listen to some of his tracks here as well as Missing the Last Boat Home and others and not forgetting my all time favourite Give Me Your Wings. He was scheduled to perform on Loose Ends a couple of years ago. I’m still waiting…