I’ve never had a massive urge to attend the Glastonbury festival, or any of the other biggies that dominate the summer weekends hereabouts. Maybe it is the idea of standing for hours; maybe it’s the risk of mud topping one’s boots, having heard horrors of people, knee deep in gloop, just about ready to embrace the ‘experience’ when a small yet perfectly formed stool pops to the surface next to one’s wellies; maybe it’s the idea of the communal loos and the state they will inevitably be in by the Sunday. It’s all a little Sub Sherlock – ‘It’s Alimentary, Dr Watson’ – for me. But I enjoy watching the broadcasts, bands and artists old and new.
While the Vet and the Pest Controller are there, telling one and all how great it is, I’m entirely happy to be an armchair critic – Paul McCartney’s voice isn’t as bad as I thought it would be but he really does need to give up on Hey Jude; Billie Eilish’s whispering style doesn’t translate to the small screen; Elbow are a fabulous band; and Diana Ross should be told that taffeta isn’t her thing but while her voice still has the wheels she can wear what she likes; and I do like Sam Fender.
While on the subject to music, how splendid is it that Kate Bush’s Running Up That Hill is back in the charts? I remember liking Wuthering Heights in 1978 despite myself. At that time I was a dedicated follower of all things punk, even though my nascent legal career and some genetically indisposed follicles meant I couldn’t carry off the spiky haired punk look. You’d have been more likely to have found me listening to the Ramones, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, the Stranglers, Dr Feelgood, the Pistols, the Jam, the Clash et al. But you couldn’t ignore that extraordinary debut. What I hadn’t realised until this latest moment in the sun for La Bush was how she broke so many glass ceilings in her career to date. I shall have to go to her back catalogue and remind myself of her skills.
For the purposes of balance, I should remind readers that my career as a follower of the modern music genre didn’t start high on the cool spectrum with my first two albums being by, respectively, Gilbert O’Sullivan and the Carpenters. The only way is up, or so they say.
The news that the SCOTUS has repealed Roe v Wade is depressing. I have no affinity for or truck with religious zealotry which seems to be at the root of this change and it is just so regressive. I have early memories of my (Conservative leaning) father moaning about the Labour government that lasted from 1964 to 1970, and naturally assumed he must know a thing or two. But as I look back on the extraordinary achievements during that period, I have to wonder if any government, before or since was as reforming. They didn’t get it all right – their attempts to control rents for private tenants effectively destroyed the private rented sector over the next twenty years. But amongst the legislation that started then we have: Equal Pay, Equality in Race Relations and banning sex discrimination in work, legalising homosexual relationships and Abortion, the ending of the death penalty, criminalising drunk driving and a Prime Minister who defied convention and the Special Relationship and refused to join the US in Vietnam. Harold Wilson may seem like a grey man, more civil servant that dynamic political leader but, in truth, couldn’t we do with some of that clear sighted insightful government right now? All I can say of the current administration is that it shows no signs of trying to reverse any of this hard won progress. That, at least, is something.
The garden continues to be be splendid though we have competition. I was walking Dog back from our morning’s perambulation on Sunday and passed the grand vista that encompasses Dulwich College, one of three large, well endowed and successful private schools hereabout. Around the edge of their playing fields that are overlooked by the stunning Victorian buildings there was this, one part of several strips of wildflowers they have planted.
I may not have the backdrop of a significant gothic pile, but I still think mine are better…
TanGental 
Reblogged this on NEW BLOG HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Thanks for the update, Geoff! Have a good week! xx Michael
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Thanks Michael!
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Those flowers look amazing Geoff.
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They are at some sort of peak (wish that was true of me!)
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I agree Geoff, your wildflower display is far superior. Excuse me now while I go and listen to Dr Feelgood and enjoy, especially, Wilco Johnson’s fantastic playing and movement!
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He was amazing wasn’t he? Sprinting across thr stage as if stung on the plectrum
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He is doing pretty well for someone who had a 3kg tumour removed!
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Did he? Poor bugger. I didn’t know.
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He was, at one time, diagnosed (incorrectly) with incurable, terminal cancer.
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Yuk!
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I was more into Rock and have attended the Download and Isle of Wight festivals in the past. Glastonbury is just too big a festival for me, and the bands now aren’t to my taste. I think that old rock stars should retire gracefully and not keep performing – I’m thinking particularly of Rod Stewart’s voice here when he sang at the Jubilee concert. I missed Macca’s performance on TV, but hope they’ll show it again.
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Hi Stevie. Paul’s set is on the iplayer for a month. At 3 hours it’s worth scrolling through a bit. The ‘duet’ with John is so poignant.
I’m with you on retiring those whose voices have gone. Elton for sure and Rods performance wasn’t great.
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Your display of wild flowers is much better!
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Aw thanks
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Harold Wilson had plenty going on under the surface so was never really grey. My parents (well, my mother) didn’t mind him too much but loathed the people who came with him such as Tony Benn, Michael Foot, Barbara Castle, etc. With Labour there was plenty they didn’t get right and I believe the rot set in there. Their fiscal policy was appalling and so most of their social reforms were dropped. I remember there was a collective sigh of relief in 1970 when they lost the election (although Edward Heath turned out to be even more unpopular and disastrous!).
Wuthering Heights was/is great and I also like ‘Lionheart’, v much reminds me of Brixton days.
But don’t think I’ll bother doing a catch up of Glastonbury on iPlayer! Prefer to keep the memories as they were 🙂
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Your flowers are definitely the best. My husband and I actually thought about going to Woodstock back in the day but decided not, based on all your reservations – and it was so much worse.
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Yes well my daughter loved it but she’s 28 so a different level of tolerance methinks.
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Beautiful garden shots as ever! No dog though!
Glastonbury as always has its moments but I am not keen on Diana Ross or Macca, sorry that’s my bad but please? I’d of loved Kate Bush, Sam Ryder and Imogen Heap head lining. Everyone else was great. I have never done Glastonbury but I have done Reading a few times when younger, like you I left the festival’s to the boys these days even they are getting too old for them!
As for America it is more Gilead than Gilead.
As for our lot ..My dad was a huge fan of Mr Wilson and yes we need someone to lead us out of the wilderness….as for Boris wanting to do two more terms…. arrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!
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Yes Boris… I’m not sure I want to think about it
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Indeed 🥺
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I was never wild about partying with thousands of people either. I prefer small venues with artists like Gordon Lightfoot. Garden still looking mighty fine!
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Yes my horizons, musically are shrinking like my hair..
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Without the slightest trace of bias, I think your flower borders are much more lovely. Setting is everything, and yours is perfect. Frankly, that school border as pictured looks entirely unplanned, like some schoolboy prank, and a little tatty.
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Must be must photography! Their flowers are lovely in truth. And thanks you for the bias!!
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I absolutely love and envy your garden even in the middle of your Winter, Geoff. In fact, I should appropriate it and pretend it’s my own, even if it doesn’t look terribly Australian. My interest in gardening was renewed recently watching a fascinating show about Prince Charles’s garden at Highrove. I can’t recall the precise name of the doco but it was also talking about er recycling on site and his meadows. intrigued and a few gardening bloggers I follow have followed his lead and planted meadows as well whatever that entails.
Meanwhile, I was delighted that orchid I bought a year ago flowered again. Actually, amazed and overjoyed is a better description.
Anyway, after doing so much better on the sleep front, I’m up too late again. It’s 2.00am and I’m not even remotely tired but I’ll be up early in the morning so that’ll be the reset.
Best wishes,
Ro
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It’s so bloody annoying when sleep cheats you. And good news re the orchid. Take every success when you can
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I do take every success that I can, especially with the garden.
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V wise. Never reject a complimemt
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especially from a teenager! Indeed, they need to be immortalised!
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Yes, your flowers are better even though you don’t have the Gothic pile.
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I can’t begin to imagine the heating bills…
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Right now, we are having a thunderstorm going on over here. The photos of your flowers are such a shiny contrast.
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Yours will perk up. We could do with a bit of your rain please
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We will get more rain… on Friday, when I am singing at a festival… oh. well…
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Good luck
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Thank you, Geoff!
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I like the critique, Geoff. I’m always fascinated by older performers like McCartney to see if they’ve still got it. I went to a concert ten years ago where the performer turned the microphone to the audience every time it got to a high note. If I want to hear myself sing, I don’t have to pay, and I can listen in the shower.🤣
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Yes quite. Why don’t they retire gracefully??
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I agree with you, Geoff. Your wild flowers are much better.
It worries me though. What happens in the US often happens eventually here. Granted, we don’t have fanatical Christians here, which seems to be driving the terror that is on the way in the US.
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I hope our courts are less daft and our politicians no stupid. But who knows. They’re well capable of buggering things up
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I think I would like the experience of Glastonbury if I could be dropped down to the front of the audience for the performer of my choice and pulled back up as soon as it was over. Some kind of “Beam me up Scottie” system. Otherwise, no.
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Yep, I’m with you. All the standing and squeezing would do for me.
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I’ve been to Glastonbury many times over the years but not to the actual festival. I find it hard to equate the scenes I see when visiting the area with the festival shots I see in the media but I am listening to a playlist from the festival and enjoying the diversity of music! I agree with you, your flowers are much more impressive 🙂 We’ll be back in the UK in a few week’s time and I’ll drive over to Glastonbury for another look see, it’s something we always do when in the area!
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I’m amazed how they build a city for four days and then it becomes a farm again. Quite the operation.
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So beautiful!
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Thanks
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