Recording my life in diaries and photographs, from heady days as a student in London in the 1970’s to being a pensioner on a low income today. My writing is a mixture of insight – from knowledge & experience – and history. I explore my professional and personal interests – energy & climate change, history, politics, music, film, food & drink… the list goes on!
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June 2014: There is always free entertainment in Newton Abbot through the summer. Hard to believe I took this on iPhone 5!
Day six of April showers – in June, except that today the sky is greyer for longer and the rain is heavier for longer. On the bright side, my leaky pond is full so the fish have more real-estate in which to frolic. I’m pretty sure that fish don’t actually frolic, but at the moment I am too lazy to refer to the thesaurus for a better word. And anyway, it’s mildly amusing.
(more…)The big event of Good Friday was, perhaps surprisingly, a one-hour radio 1 ‘special’ with Johnnie Walker. During the afternoon there was quite a build-up to a ‘mysterious journey’ that would commence at 16:01. I was intrigued enough to unwrap a C60 cassette and cue up my deck to record. I was glad I did – it was the best radio show I had ever heard, and that tape would be played many times over the next few years.
Sadly I no longer have the tape. It would have disappeared some time in the 80’s or perhaps as late as the 90’s, but I treasured it and it was a touchstone for what I would want to do if ever I became a radio DJ rather than just Funky Genghis, the university DJ. The show was essentially themed around summer, sunshine and relaxation and included tracks I would not normally have listened to, with brilliant segues and fades. For example, I was not a fan of the Beach Boys, but within the context of the overall ‘feel’ of the hour they sounded great. George Harrison’s Here Comes the Sun was, of course, featured and sounded great. An astonishing show. I wonder if it is still available somewhere today?
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Very few singles from my days as ‘Funky Genghis’ survive, but some did – and still sound great today! This is ‘What’ by Judy Street, which will be known to most for the 1982 synth version by Soft Cell.
My bank as it was. I was very sorry to see it go, but so many banks have closed in recent years as people stop using them.
After a great Easter weekend I arrived home to find all my possessions on the wrong side of a locked door. The realisation that I was homeless dawned on my only slowly, and all I had were the clothes I stood up in.
My LSE Diary posts – reflecting life as a student in the 1970’s. I was at the Joint School of Geography – King’s College & the London School of Economics.
Not only that but also 30 years living in London – life on a south London council estate… and more!
My home town in Devon since 1956! Many of these blog posts will be featuring Newton Abbot through the years but some will also be from around Devon.
I love music – especially live – and tend to home in on bass, although I also like ambient music which is generally bass-light. Blues, reggae, jazz, funk, soul have been a constant thread throughout my life but you will also find me writing about prog rock, punk and other styles too.
Pictured left: a snap I took at an Ashburton Blues event 2025 – The Robert West Band
Everything from saving energy to gardening, interior design to lighting. I love my home. Sometimes I will feature previous homes, including my 10th. floor flat in a south London council block. You will find useful tips and advice. I love my home!
A Devonian with stories to tell and a love of history, science, philosophy, environment, & entertainment.
An increasing number of people I know are either down the rabbit hole or caught in its event horizon, which I find distressing. I prefer the real world and, like a frantic sponge, I cannot help but soak up knowledge, insight & quality.
Which I like to share…
Colin Anderson 