There was something about Berlin. At school I did not understand how the Soviet Union blockaded Berlin as I assumed that it was on the border between East and West Germany as it was split between the NATO powers and the Warsaw Pact nations. When I finally saw a map then I realised how itContinue reading “This means nothing to me”
Tag Archives: 80s
Let bitter silence infect the wound
It is hard to imagine how much grief Marillion got in the music press when they started out. A prog rock band in 1981/82? The music press thought that punk had killed off prog rock and now this band appear who are playing a 17-minute track based on Anglo-Saxon folklore called Grendel. What did SidContinue reading “Let bitter silence infect the wound”
To flow inside the spiral tide
John Bonney had introduced me to Stephen King with ‘Salems Lot. I caught up with his back catalogue by the time I got to university, buying the books second hand for a fraction of the new price. The Stand left a big impression on me. It was the story of the world after a massiveContinue reading “To flow inside the spiral tide”
Rain keeps falling
The very last of the Oscar entries is about the 1980s. A decade when the arrival of video tapes and rental stores meant that you could see a lot more films. For me going to university and then access to transport meant more chances to see first run movies too. I am pretty disappointed withContinue reading “Rain keeps falling”
And nothing’s ever worth the cost
I am not much of a sportsman. I blame the school system for my lack of interest when I was younger. Greneway focused on basketball, hockey and athletics (try high jumping in a sand pit). At Meridian it was a term of football, a term of rugby and a term of athletics, with cross-country (badContinue reading “And nothing’s ever worth the cost”
Something always fires a light that gets in your eyes
This is a big thank-you to Graham Wright. Living in the musical wasteland that was most of Brightlingsea he sent me a tape of two Rush albums. I had only heard of them just before I left Royston when our maths teacher, Mr Stevens, let us do an end of year quiz and one personContinue reading “Something always fires a light that gets in your eyes”
Rollergirl, don’t worry
Dire Straits were never fashionable. They emerged from South London with two albums – Dire Straits and Communique – in a post punk scene where their melodic rock and Mark Knopfler’s virtuosity were totally out of place. These two albums are not really worth searching out, apart from the song that looked like it wouldContinue reading “Rollergirl, don’t worry”
Silent the terror that reigned
It is funny how music connects different people. If you asked 100 people in the street if they are Altered Images fans, I doubt that any would say yes and yet I know two – Mike and John. Iron Maiden were a band that linked my friends in Royston (John Bonney and others) with BrightlingseaContinue reading “Silent the terror that reigned”
Across your face my friend
It was only recently that I talked about British exceptionalism as it related to intervening abroad (https://wordpress.com/post/fivemilesout.home.blog/2123 ). The UK has elected to leave the European Union (https://wordpress.com/post/fivemilesout.home.blog/2007 ) and will need to exercise power on the world stage without a 28-country bloc to help. The reaction of the government was to pour money intoContinue reading “Across your face my friend”
They Said I’d Be Impressed
After Cairo (https://wordpress.com/post/fivemilesout.home.blog/1896 ) we flew down to Luxor. It would have been great to be able to start the cruise from Cairo, but the desert was full of bandits and it was not considered safe then. You can do it now. We were on the MS Tulip. The boat was designed for over 100Continue reading “They Said I’d Be Impressed”
Five Miles Out 