Celia Johnson's Enormous Face

Of QVC and Carrots From ChimesofFreedom in Fat Boy Slim and the Blue Horizon (31 days old)

I can't help myself. It isn't something of which I'm proud. The carrots come later. My "set top box" receives UK TV stations, perhaps entirely illegally, here in the Irish Republic where I live. Wh… more

Jumping Off, Jumping In From ChimesofFreedom in Fat Boy Slim and the Blue Horizon (37 days old)

Some weeks ago, as a result of reading the unfailingly interesting Jante Weight-Reed's "My Life As An Artist" blog on here, I was inpsired to follow her advice. I created my little "painting corner" o… more

A Barrack Room Ballad From ChimesofFreedom in Fat Boy Slim and the Blue Horizon (39 days old)

As most of those in my embarrassingly small (but delightful, and hand picked(?) - each one of you!) readership may already have devined, I have a military background. It was well over twenty years ago… more

Plagiarism, South Dakota. Popn.1 From ChimesofFreedom in Fat Boy Slim and the Blue Horizon (44 days old)

This isn't really much of a post, relying as heavily as it does on the reflected glory of one much more talented than me. Why bother then? Well, as it happens I was moved to post this beautifully w… more

Dinosaur Blues From ChimesofFreedom in Fat Boy Slim and the Blue Horizon (46 days old)

Well, OK, I don't know for absolutely certain that dinosaurs were blue, but since no human ever saw one stride the earth, it follows that we can't know what exact colour they were. So, until categoric… more

For What Its Worth From ChimesofFreedom in Fat Boy Slim and the Blue Horizon (54 days old)

I was running late. I'm not religious. I am spiritual. Spuds and mussels are involved, but only peripherally. Oh, and a trawler in a garden. Don't let your heart sink too much - these s… more

"Seen Anything Good?" - It's A Wrap From ChimesofFreedom in Fat Boy Slim and the Blue Horizon (59 days old)

I'm aware that my reports from the cultural front line that is Edinburgh in August fizzled out to no satisfactory conclusion. Belatedly then, my final thoughts on this year's panoply of...of...of… more

There Is A Happy Land From ChimesofFreedom in Fat Boy Slim and the Blue Horizon (68 days old)

So, as the satirical magazine Private Eye (recommended as an effective Daily Mail antidote) would have it, farewell then Keith Waterhouse. I used to be a nurse in another life. I worked on permanen… more

He's Not My Best Friend Now From ChimesofFreedom in Fat Boy Slim and the Blue Horizon (69 days old)

Another bittersweet song from the underrated Boothby Graffoe. I think that his facility with words and music are masterfully understated. This only gives more weight to what he is saying (pity t… more

"Seen Anything Good?" Episode Three From ChimesofFreedom in Fat Boy Slim and the Blue Horizon (72 days old)

In an attempt to broaden my experience I went, around midday, to an Edwardian styled building on George Street, just yards from the Assembly Rooms mega-venue, to see some Dostoyevsky. The so-called "N… more

"Seen Anything Good?" Episode Two From ChimesofFreedom in Fat Boy Slim and the Blue Horizon (73 days old)

A tron is a communal weighing scale that was used in Scotland to try and make sure that citizens got fair value for money. This explains the name of a pub in Edinburgh where I saw this fellow perform … more

Seen Anything Good?* Episode One From ChimesofFreedom in Fat Boy Slim and the Blue Horizon (74 days old)

It is now a week since I got back from Edinburgh and my Fringe adventure came to an end for another year. In fact, apart from a scattering of shows, today represents the end of everyone's Fringe 2009.… more

My Dance Is Over From ChimesofFreedom in Fat Boy Slim and the Blue Horizon (81 days old)

Although my swirl around Auld Reekie is over for another year, the party there goes on for a further week - including what gets called "The English Weekend" starting next Friday when London comes to E… more

Not Another Flaming Juggler! From ChimesofFreedom in Fat Boy Slim and the Blue Horizon (83 days old)

Well, what a funny day I had yesterday. The friends with whom I'm staying live about six miles outside of the city centre, on the edge of Edinburgh. Thanks to the (usually) excellent public transpo… more

Lost and Foundered From ChimesofFreedom in Fat Boy Slim and the Blue Horizon (84 days old)

I've just spent about 45 minutes writing an entry on my latest Edinburgh reflections. It even had two pictures in it. Then, then, just as I was coming to an end poof! it was gone. The connection here … more

My Journey of a Thousand Miles From ChimesofFreedom in Fat Boy Slim and the Blue Horizon (85 days old)

Yes, of course I remember promising to write! What I had blithely ignored or forgotten when making such a rash statement however, was the sheer exhaustion involved in having a good time at the Fringe.… more

Blue Boat, Pink Bus From ChimesofFreedom in Fat Boy Slim and the Blue Horizon (87 days old)

Well, I'm here! I travelled for ten hours yesterday to get from Donegal to Edinburgh but, such is the intoxicating allure of the city at Festival time that I managed to dive in for short while at th… more

Happy Birthday Woodstock! From ChimesofFreedom in Fat Boy Slim and the Blue Horizon (88 days old)

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My Country 'Tis of Thee From ChimesofFreedom in Fat Boy Slim and the Blue Horizon (89 days old)

A smidge more Wilson Dixon. If you like him, please support him by catching a gig or buying his CD. He is a warm and clever musical comedian with bags of charm and no cheese! http://www.wilsondixon… more

Points North From ChimesofFreedom in Fat Boy Slim and the Blue Horizon (89 days old)

I'm off to the Edinburgh Fringe. Actually, although I live in Southern Ireland, it is in County Donegal that, in the way that only the Irish can manage with their unreliable sang-froid, is further … more

It's Always Winter From ChimesofFreedom in Fat Boy Slim and the Blue Horizon (90 days old)

I would really like it were you to reflect on any part of these finely wrought and densely packed words that may have talked, whispered or mumbled to you. Connected in some way. Gender need not troubl… more

Tears? No, A Smut in My Eye... From ChimesofFreedom in Fat Boy Slim and the Blue Horizon (95 days old)

One last hurrah from Flanders and Swann...for now. This song shows another side of their art. It would have been easy to play 'The Hippopotmus Song", "I'm a Gnu" or "The Transport of Delight", and ind… more

The Perils of 'Getting a Man In' From ChimesofFreedom in Fat Boy Slim and the Blue Horizon (96 days old)

We've all done it. We've all been a victim. No-one however has captured so well the the helpless vulnerability of paying artisan prices whilst praying for a halfway competent tradesman. I give you the… more

Come In To My Parlour... From ChimesofFreedom in Fat Boy Slim and the Blue Horizon (97 days old)

A recent exchange with the very talented artist, Janet Weight-Reed (if you haven't read her blog on here yet then you should... the autobiographical passages are a personal favourite of mine) reminded… more

B Day From ChimesofFreedom in Fat Boy Slim and the Blue Horizon (102 days old)

Well, here it is, my birthday, and I notice that not a lot has changed. No crowds of angels tugged me from my bed this morning and there was no scattering of rose petals at my feet as I made my way … more

B Minus One From ChimesofFreedom in Fat Boy Slim and the Blue Horizon (103 days old)

I have visitors with me now, so I have grabbed a couple of moments whilst they are still struggling to escape the arms of Morpheus in order to post up the second episode of the 'Just William' stor… more

B Minus Two From ChimesofFreedom in Fat Boy Slim and the Blue Horizon (104 days old)

I received my first "happy birthday" message for this year, this morning. There is little that can make you feel more 'old before your time' than someone, with the best of intentions, propelling you… more

It's All Good, Even The Bad Bits From ChimesofFreedom in Fat Boy Slim and the Blue Horizon (105 days old)

Life would be a dull affair without the peaks we occasionally experience, those moments when our cares leave us temporarily, we throw back our heads and just enjoy being alive. What we sometimes forge… more

Mother Had a Tea Chest by the Bed From ChimesofFreedom in Fat Boy Slim and the Blue Horizon (105 days old)

The Edinburgh International Festival of the Arts starts next week. More importantly for me, it's cuckoo, the fringe festival, starts too. To visit "Auld Reekie" as she is also known, at this time of y… more

This One's for Charlotte From ChimesofFreedom in Fat Boy Slim and the Blue Horizon (106 days old)

Within that small, and I like to think select and hand picked, coterie of people who bother to regularly read my blog, I suspect that Charlotte (Jollyweez - for it is she!) needs no introduction. I… more