At Grant Thornton our biggest client when I joined was Eastern Counties Farmers. It was a farming collective that existed to serve farmers in the region. It traded in agri-products and equipment as well as providing services to the farming community. It turned over close to £100 million. We all hated it as the staffContinue reading “Nobody’s Ever Taught Ya To Live Out On the Street”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
He Scans the World Outside
The Human League made two albums (Reproduction and Travelogue, both of which are fine examples of synth music and include wonderful tracks like Being Boiled and WXJL Tonight) and then split into Heaven 17 and a new Human League (see post https://fivemilesout.home.blog/2020/10/01/once-we-were-years-ahead-now-those-thoughts-are-dead/). Their synth dominated pop music were in the vanguard of the New RomanticContinue reading “He Scans the World Outside”
He’s Licking His Lips, He’s Ready To Win
The Scorpions are a German heavy Metal band. German heavy metal is a distinct sub-genre, though one I am not too familiar with. For me it is Michael Schenker and a few other guys. The Scorpions track on the Axe Attack compilationis soft, so I had never gone looking for them. My friend Neil wasContinue reading “He’s Licking His Lips, He’s Ready To Win”
You Play Russian Roulette This Way
The 1970s. Hollywood finally threw off the shackles of historical epics and musical extravaganzas and started producing far more interesting material (well it started in 1967/69) but this is when it really hit. Well after 1970 it did. In 1970 Patton – the story of General Patton in World War 2 – won. It feelsContinue reading “You Play Russian Roulette This Way”
All Those Lonely, Lonely Times
If you are going to cover a song then for heaven’s sake do something really different with it. The Pet Shop Boys almost robotic quality renders almost everything different form their contemporaries or other groups. West End Girls was something totally different when it was released late in time at university. There was some scepticismContinue reading “All Those Lonely, Lonely Times”
He Goes, Like, Bag Your Face
Frank Zappa has had a lengthy and innovative career. I am not a fan but there is one track that I really love. When I was staying at Royston between 1981 and 1984 I usually stayed with Graham but a couple of times I stayed with John Bonney. In 1982 I moved from Graham’s toContinue reading “He Goes, Like, Bag Your Face”
Once We Were Years Ahead, Now Those Thoughts Are Dead
They were two thirds of the Human League. When the band split (the Human League went on to release the hugely successful album Dare) they kept 1% of the Human League income for not getting the name. That kept Heaven 17 going in their early days. Their first album was Penthouse and Pavements – quiteContinue reading “Once We Were Years Ahead, Now Those Thoughts Are Dead”
And At Work I Just Take Some Time
Some people are just good people. They are not perfect but their aims and aspirations are for the good. Far fewer are prescient enough to it far enough in advance to make a difference. Paolo came to Monoux as the Vice Principal (Curriculum) in 2010. There is a tremendous problem recruiting Principals of Colleges becauseContinue reading “And At Work I Just Take Some Time”
I Heard a Funny Thing
This is the best track from one of the greatest albums you have never heard of. Forever Changes by Love. Rolling Stone magazine rates it as the fortieth best album ever and, whilst some scepticism is always needed for these lists, it does say that it is widely considered important. A commercial failure almost asContinue reading “I Heard a Funny Thing”
What It Takes To Make A Pro Blush
The summer of 1981. Riots on the streets of the UK. Mass unemployment and in particular youth unemployment as the government closed down failing industries, without putting enough retraining and mitigating actions in place (or any of those things actually). I think it has been hard to imagine how much despair there was, though sadlyContinue reading “What It Takes To Make A Pro Blush”
Five Miles Out 