Yesterday evening was the excellent Threepenny Bit in ceilidh action. Sadly I was not having managed to do some sort of catastrophic damage to my left foot just as I was leaving Winchester...
December 21, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Yesterday evening was the excellent Threepenny Bit in ceilidh action. Sadly I was not having managed to do some sort of catastrophic damage to my left foot just as I was leaving Winchester...
Yesterday I had two choral gigs in Winchester cathedral, and managed to fit in a visit to the William, Jane and May Morris exhibition at the Arc too (which was so good that I plan to return). I even had a look at the Xmas tree I the City Mill and found the only fragment of Roman Wall!
December 21, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Yesterday I had two choral gigs in Winchester cathedral, and managed to fit in a visit to the William, Jane and May Morris exhibition at the Arc too (which was so good that I plan to return). I even had a look at the Xmas tree I the City Mill and found the only fragment of Roman Wall!
From the Centurion Way I switched to the West Sussex Literary Trail to head over the Trundle to Singleton and a particularly excellent half of Harvey's Best at the Partridge Inn (sadly not enough time for the full pint before my bus)
December 21, 2025 at 3:22 PM
From the Centurion Way I switched to the West Sussex Literary Trail to head over the Trundle to Singleton and a particularly excellent half of Harvey's Best at the Partridge Inn (sadly not enough time for the full pint before my bus)
After the gallery, my boots took me up the Centurion Way: straight (ish) but thanks to Victorian railway engineers and not the Romans!
December 21, 2025 at 3:06 PM
After the gallery, my boots took me up the Centurion Way: straight (ish) but thanks to Victorian railway engineers and not the Romans!
On Friday I finally achieved my plans for 10 days earlier, the trains having recovered. I started with the William Nicholson exhibition at the Pallant House gallery: which was excellent and well worth a visit...
December 21, 2025 at 2:58 PM
On Friday I finally achieved my plans for 10 days earlier, the trains having recovered. I started with the William Nicholson exhibition at the Pallant House gallery: which was excellent and well worth a visit...
A duo of folk duos at Playlist last night. A very enjoyable evening, Planet Sounds was looking rather fine and I had a decidedly comfy chair at the front: living the dream!
December 18, 2025 at 3:10 PM
A duo of folk duos at Playlist last night. A very enjoyable evening, Planet Sounds was looking rather fine and I had a decidedly comfy chair at the front: living the dream!
K'ehleyr's Accessories: satifsying the needs of Klingon tween and teen girls...
December 17, 2025 at 6:54 PM
K'ehleyr's Accessories: satifsying the needs of Klingon tween and teen girls...
Christmas and brass seem to go together and never more so than in the hands (mouths?) of Connaught Brass. A wonderfully cheery and seasonal gig at Turner Sims last night and my first time seeing a piccolo trumpet up close!
December 17, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Christmas and brass seem to go together and never more so than in the hands (mouths?) of Connaught Brass. A wonderfully cheery and seasonal gig at Turner Sims last night and my first time seeing a piccolo trumpet up close!
Greetings from the Southampton Donor Centre where, in addition to giving blood, I'm doing my level best to reduce the size of their mince pie mountain...
#GiveBlood
#GiveBlood
December 17, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Greetings from the Southampton Donor Centre where, in addition to giving blood, I'm doing my level best to reduce the size of their mince pie mountain...
#GiveBlood
#GiveBlood
As it was in town I visited the Railway 200 Inspiration train and its attendant sheds. My favourite element was the gloriously suggestive names for almost every part of the TBM...
December 16, 2025 at 3:26 PM
As it was in town I visited the Railway 200 Inspiration train and its attendant sheds. My favourite element was the gloriously suggestive names for almost every part of the TBM...
This is a school hall but unlike those I frequented in the distant past it lacks pitch/court markings and wall bars: I guess that's private education. The piano is also a lot fancier and was played with exceptional skill by Jeneba Kanneh-Mason. Despite her EP title, it was not Jane Austen's...
December 15, 2025 at 10:24 PM
This is a school hall but unlike those I frequented in the distant past it lacks pitch/court markings and wall bars: I guess that's private education. The piano is also a lot fancier and was played with exceptional skill by Jeneba Kanneh-Mason. Despite her EP title, it was not Jane Austen's...
It was no Muppet Christmas Carol but not at all bad. The FB Pocket Orchestra creating the full soundtrack live, with just three people, was incredible...
December 14, 2025 at 10:44 PM
It was no Muppet Christmas Carol but not at all bad. The FB Pocket Orchestra creating the full soundtrack live, with just three people, was incredible...
A proper choral Christmas concert from Southern Voices at St Cross tonight with audience carols too. A lot of head voice needed from yours truly and some rather unexpected verses In The Deep Midwinter: possibly omitted from my childhood thanks to references to both 'breast' and 'ass'...
December 13, 2025 at 11:04 PM
A proper choral Christmas concert from Southern Voices at St Cross tonight with audience carols too. A lot of head voice needed from yours truly and some rather unexpected verses In The Deep Midwinter: possibly omitted from my childhood thanks to references to both 'breast' and 'ass'...
Getting properly into the Christmas vibe with the panto themed decorations of Hinton Ampner House. You would be correct to assume my thigh was slapped (by me) and much was discovered behind me...
December 12, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Getting properly into the Christmas vibe with the panto themed decorations of Hinton Ampner House. You would be correct to assume my thigh was slapped (by me) and much was discovered behind me...
A very enjoyable evening being gaslit by the Pegs (and others) at the Platform Tavern...
December 12, 2025 at 1:09 PM
A very enjoyable evening being gaslit by the Pegs (and others) at the Platform Tavern...
Given the total collapse of rail services to Brighton, an emergency walk had to be implemented. Whilst rather muddy and at times fully flooded, the views from Old Winchester Hill were glorious and the passing zephyrs bracing!
December 10, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Given the total collapse of rail services to Brighton, an emergency walk had to be implemented. Whilst rather muddy and at times fully flooded, the views from Old Winchester Hill were glorious and the passing zephyrs bracing!
It is both showtime and Snowtime at the Theatre Royal with the Spitfire Sisters (and band) about to take to the Puss in Boots stage...
December 9, 2025 at 9:39 PM
It is both showtime and Snowtime at the Theatre Royal with the Spitfire Sisters (and band) about to take to the Puss in Boots stage...
Witheridge Hay may, or may not, have been a Shakespearen actor/manager but he is definitely a cheese a chose based on the name in Waitrose on Thursday (20% off at the cheese counter). Having sampled his nose this evening, I can confirm he is delicious
December 7, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Witheridge Hay may, or may not, have been a Shakespearen actor/manager but he is definitely a cheese a chose based on the name in Waitrose on Thursday (20% off at the cheese counter). Having sampled his nose this evening, I can confirm he is delicious
My musical afternoon started in Stockbridge with JS Bach with Wachet Auf and Der Gerechte kömmt um followed by driving like the wind (Force 4 or 5 as conditions allowed) to enjoy the Smugglers Band essay acoustic versions of various heavy rock/metal classics. Very satisfactory!
December 7, 2025 at 10:30 PM
My musical afternoon started in Stockbridge with JS Bach with Wachet Auf and Der Gerechte kömmt um followed by driving like the wind (Force 4 or 5 as conditions allowed) to enjoy the Smugglers Band essay acoustic versions of various heavy rock/metal classics. Very satisfactory!
Last night's band in a bar were the very entertaining Dr Beatroot at Belgium and Blues. It also gave me the chance to sample JW Lees resurrection of Boddingtons. I can report that, unlike many things from that era, it was inoffensive...
December 7, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Last night's band in a bar were the very entertaining Dr Beatroot at Belgium and Blues. It also gave me the chance to sample JW Lees resurrection of Boddingtons. I can report that, unlike many things from that era, it was inoffensive...
The Solent provided more than the usual degree of drama this morning thanks to the wind. It also provided a good range of ducks and waders...
December 6, 2025 at 7:59 PM
The Solent provided more than the usual degree of drama this morning thanks to the wind. It also provided a good range of ducks and waders...
Thursday evening I had a lovely time in the Witch's Brew before catching the bus down to the Platform to see The Henrys. I'd forgotten just how ridiculously good they are and a couple of pints of Hophead sitting on a couch in front of a roaring fire made for an excellent night out
December 6, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Thursday evening I had a lovely time in the Witch's Brew before catching the bus down to the Platform to see The Henrys. I'd forgotten just how ridiculously good they are and a couple of pints of Hophead sitting on a couch in front of a roaring fire made for an excellent night out
Today's visit to Fishlake Meadows was mostly about long-tailed tits, gadwalls and rainbows: make of this what you will...
December 3, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Today's visit to Fishlake Meadows was mostly about long-tailed tits, gadwalls and rainbows: make of this what you will...
Time to learn about matters polar, useful prep for winter, with Anne Strathie...
December 2, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Time to learn about matters polar, useful prep for winter, with Anne Strathie...
This is Arthur Bell who joined me as part of a swift watching adventure. This is the third time he's flowered this year, to my knowledge, and the least appropriate given the weather. He is clearly a very bold rose...
December 2, 2025 at 6:38 PM
This is Arthur Bell who joined me as part of a swift watching adventure. This is the third time he's flowered this year, to my knowledge, and the least appropriate given the weather. He is clearly a very bold rose...