If the pressure of first having to choose between Brexit or Brexin, then the mental turmoil of Donald verses Hillary wasn’t enough, I’m now faced with a decision that frankly completely eclipses these political events. Over the last two days I, like I’m sure most of the rest of the country, have been mentally wrestling…
Autumn arrives
First frost on my Sedum Spectabile this morning
The times they were a changing ( with apologies to the the 2016 Nobel prize winner for literature )
I’ve been on a roll with old photos recently, and as this period of my life was about the only time I could ever be described as even remotely cute, I thought I’d post this picture of a chubby thighed me in around 1951 Taken on a farm, tucked underneath the Downs near Wiston…
Mike Hugg’s drum stick.
February 1968 and the buzz was that, none other than, Manfred Mann would be appearing at Sussex University, students union. For the purists and also most all the women I knew, the loss of Paul Jones as lead vocalist had destroyed the band, but I was a Mike d’Abo fan and the material they…
Bond 2 – The story continues
The reality of my Bond ownership was that I actually had another Bond before I bought the MkG. and I now have to admit I skipped over that bit in my previous post.. Even by late 1966 my interest in motorbikes was increasingly at odds with a new and more pressing desire and this…
A way of Life
1967 was one of those milestone years for me. After living in Patcham since the age of 5¾, things were about to change. I’d just turned 18 and was about to leave home, or to be more accurate home was about to leave me, as Mum and Dad were at last to realise their long…
Death in the Afternoon
Oh what a tragedy, my magnificent 15ft high and 15ft wide Sumach brought from my old house in Oakdale 17 years ago as a 9 inch rooted sucker has fallen foul of today’s stormy weather, the victim of a summer squall. Classically vulnerable, in full leaf, so with maximum sail effect and following a long…
Dress Sense
In 1968 dress code for the younger man in Brighton tended to be post hippie transitional and wide flairs were very much the trend. Most men’s clothes shops still didn’t really stock such fancy strides and even Sammy Gordon who, if you looked through the window of his Duke Street emporium for more than…
Conversations with Adam Faith
I used to see Adam Faith quite regularly on Saturday mornings, usually round the Clock Tower or in Churchill Square or sometimes wandering down Duke Street towards the Lanes. This was during his Budgie years when he had a house just outside Brighton. He always went out dressed the same way as he appeared in…
Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine.
Back in the late 70’s when we lived in Brighton we went on holiday to Diano Marina in Italy one summer. Among our fellow holiday companions were a couple of mates from Manchester who shared our breakfast table each morning. As you do, we struck up a holiday friendship but that was all…
Coincidences
Last week, I got talking to a chap who was taking his 2 dogs for a walk down the lane. I picked up from his accent that he wasn’t local and he told me he’d been living in the village about 9 years, just round the corner from us. I asked him where he was…
Nettles
In my garden this year I’ve decided to leave a clump of nettles. As well as the basis for an amazing liquid feed, these remarkable plants are brilliant for wildlife and among the insects that lay their egg on them are some of our most iconic butterflies including both the Peacock and Red Admiral….
Almost John 