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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March 2022: Uig Bay in the Isle of Skye was very calm on this particular spring day. Picture taken with iPhone 13 Pro Max in RAW (DNG).
I recently found myself in the highly unusual position of being able to purchase some rather good tomatoes from a greengrocer, that actually smell and taste like tomatoes. I was reminded that, in general, our ‘choice’ in terms of the quality and range of food has been diminishing since the advent of supermarkets whilst the choice of video entertainment has increased exponentially. Have we got our priorities right?
(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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I have enjoyed a great day of listening to music on my HiFi, mostly records but also a bit of streaming too. Whilst on a nostalgia streak I was reminded of the excellent and underrated Graham Parker.
My second featured 45 from my collection is the first chart-topping version of a 1952 song written by Leiber & Stoller. Back in the days when R&B was raw and ballsy…
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 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 