Not long ago, I reported on some very bad news about a close friend. Lindsey and I have been feeling very sad.
I’ve found myself becoming suddenly inwardly reflective at unexpected times. A big sigh, and a realisation that everyone’s time on this planet is limited.
I was listening to the radio late the other evening whilst pottering around on the computer. I flicked the dial and ended up at some station with a fairly weak signal, but didn’t bother fine tuning. It was a station from Ireland, and they were playing some very old songs – Anne Shelton and similar. The lilt of the Irish DJ’s voice, the old songs, and the phasing of the signal took me back many, many years to when this was the way we often listened to the radio in the dark. And it was actually very reassuring to have this old-time sound going on in the background.
At Dunedin, England have been playing a Test Match against New Zealand. One of the England openers is Nick Compton, the grandson of Denis Compton who was a flamboyant batsman and sort of the Jimmy Greaves equivalent for cricket. Nick Compton went on to score a century in the second innings at Dunedin, and while he was in the nervous nineties the television cameras focussed on his father, Richard Compton, who was spectating in the crowd. The joy of the father when Nick finally reached three figures was something to behold. People may depart, but there is continuation of sorts.
I heard that No Longer Grim Jim and D have fallen out recently, and have ended their long friendship. The reason seems to be their differing opinions about Scotttish nationalism. 60-plus-year-olds should not be falling out. Life really is too short to let such things happen, so I hope they find a way to make up.
I’ve been helping to write a bid for funding, this past week, which has given me something on which to focus. Eight years ago, when I wrote bids for projects such as ticTOCs and Gold Dust, there was a realisation that each page of the bid was sort of worth £20,000. For this new bid, which is shorter, each word is sort of worth £30. I hope that the bid is successful because it will help us do good, useful and interesting things, but one never, ever knows what is around the corner.
Anne Shelton, a sound I haven’t heard in at least umpty years, along with Joe Loss, Tommy Steele, Kings Singers etc. Even awful music can be a great shortcut into remembered feelings.
I’m sadly imagining the possible scenario referred to in an earlier draft of this post.