very sad now

Heard this morning from my little brother that big John died yesterday

he's been a part of my ears for the last thirty one years, I'll really miss him.

Juli asked him to come and play at our wedding, he couldn't: but he sent some stuff instead, he was played off CDs at the next wedding and I doubt there's been a day when he hasn't been heard at our house at some time during the day, his stuff is on heavy rotation here.

Thanks John, it's been a blast. I feel grateful to have caught you once live [still sad though]


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It's funny, but there are days I miss the old girl

Oak House
Originally uploaded by ahisgett.

We used to play bowls on the crown green behind the house. Ian Knight lived just over the road, and there were a couple of early dates that went around the gardens. Good times :-)

Compare and contrast

I subscribe to a tool that lets me see photos that are uploaded tagged with West Bromwich sometimes it's just "the Public" which is very popular amongst the local photographers. But every now and again a gem comes across my desk and today it's a very amusing one [to me at least].

The juxtaposition of allotments and the beach.

I used to live in front of some waste land we optimistically called The Allottments and whilst it's full on summer here and coming into winter there here's two images, both taken in winter:

One from the UK...


Oldbury Allotment
Originally uploaded by Michael C Clark.

And one from NZ...


From the winter bedroom
Originally uploaded by ninefish.

This is why I haven't been back yet.

If you're in Oldbury or Tipton, please go visit my mum, she's just fallen over and broken her ankle, she might like a sherry and a kind word right now

GLOATING [reasons to be glad I'm not you]

Because right now it's 30 degrees,I'm lounging on the upstairs balcony outside my bedroom, I can see the inland Kaikouras, the ocean and the Southern Alps without straining my neck,it's quiet, I have a wireless laptop keeping my nuts warm, dinner is cooking and the kids are remarkably quiet after a surf and swim this afternoon.

The ice cream van's music hasn't changed in the time and distance shift to NZ, it's still playing Greensleeves in an effort to entice us all out to buy one tonight.

Queenstown break is booked and almost organised and someone is playing the Eurythmics a little too loud somewhere in the street

I will chase the ice cream van pretty soon if he doesn't move on though



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No! I am tigger!

I thought I was the only one?