Happy New Year, Folks...

Not a real posting today; simply a message wishing you all a very Happy, Peaceful, and Prosperous New Year!  Oh, and a video of course!

In Memoriam...

As with any year, we have lost a number of notable individuals during 2014.  I know we have a couple of days of the year left, but I thought that today would be a good time to pay tribute to some of those who didn't necessarily receive the coverage that others may have done.  As a result, I am not including those who I have featured in this blog.

Eric and Ernie...

Here is my last Christmas post for the year.  I did mention the name a couple of days ago, and here is one of the all-time classics; the Morecambe and Wise Christmas Special from 1971.

'Tis the Season...

The big day is almost here, and my final pre-Christmas post explores the seasonal differences between Great Britain and the United States, and the way that the British celebrate - or used to, anyway - the most wonderful time of the year.

You're My Number One...

It's that time of year, so I am about to embark on the first Christmas post of the season!  One of the highlights of years past (I'm not really interested in recent years, thanks to a decline in musical standards - just my opinion) was the race to hit the Top Spot in the UK Charts at Christmas.

Peter Warlock

Eighty-four years ago today, the world said goodbye to Philip Heseltine.  Better known under the pseudonym of Peter Warlock, Heseltine was one of Britain's foremost composers of the early twentieth century.  Although concentrated largely on songs and other vocal music, Heseltine did produce some fine orchestral works.

The Heart of London...

I am not talking about a particular area of the capital city, but a huge part of London's infrastructure, without which, the city would - literally - grind to a halt.  I am, of course, talking about the London Underground system, or as we call it, "the tube".  I know Londoners are quite happy to complain about the overcrowding, delays etc, but I really don't know what they would do without it; I know I miss it...

Oaks Colliery Disaster...

On the 5th of March, 1847, the Oaks Colliery suffered its first major accident, when an explosion of firedamp (methane) claimed the lives of 73 men and boys.  Nineteen years later, this incident would tragically be overshadowed by what was to be the worst mining disaster in English history.

Compose Yourself...

Apologies for not posting anything yesterday, but I was a little busy.

One of the strange things about classical music is that, other than a handful of notables like Elgar and Holst, the British are not known for their composers.  While there was something of a lean spell following individuals like Purcell and Arne, from the late 1800's, there was a great resurgence in the popularity of classical music, and the British provided some of the best 20th century classical music out there.

Music for the Season...

No, I'm not posting Christmas music quite yet; that will come later!  However, there are some fine British examples of winter music, and here are a couple of pieces.  The first may be familiar, but the second undoubtedly less so.

What I Always Wanted...

...was a train set.  Not a silly little one with a miniscule circular track, but a huge layout, with steam locomotives, signal boxes, and roads and rivers!  Okay, I can still dream, I suppose...

I have some wonderful memories, you see, of the set my grandfather set up in his attic.  Sure, it wasn't as big and impressive as some you see, but it was like heaven to me,  Sadly, to avoid any ugly conflicts between the grandchildren, he sold it a short while before he died.

Have a Drink on Me...

Of course, the British are known for their love of alcoholic beverages - particularly beer - but there is also an interesting variety of soft drinks available too.  Unlike the American market, which revolves largely around the various sodas, a fair amount of the British soft drinks market is taken up by...

Risca Black Vein Pit Disaster

Today, Risca is part of the Newport conurbation in Gwent, South Wales.  In 1860, it was a typical, small Welsh mining town, home to the Risca Iron and Coal Company.  The Company's local colliery worked the rich "Black Vein" coal seam, hence the name.