tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24923419272267699482024-03-19T09:16:31.076+00:00Give 'em the old Razzle Dazzle<i><b>Welcome to Dolores Delargo Towers</b></i>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15501010362663971583noreply@blogger.comBlogger6710125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2492341927226769948.post-47752021948316313892024-03-19T07:30:00.003+00:002024-03-19T07:30:00.149+00:00You've done it all, you've broken every code<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WMkVOybT4jwVoHFuzdyb-yW7XaUAbxIgRzgj7Az4NjAGTqioVFUYw_glzIj5yuZWFbI0PXdYgAtdszBcnj5fxs_CS3G6KL6C5xouZl5BGzmu4vUvuONknHHuGLgWW-S2dEBiuzEidygszoWR9nXwVaRxtTeU4n3RxK_tCmuPUVEVGqydI1_s6x5T8d6P/s1600/Steve%20Harley%201.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1129" data-original-width="847" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2WMkVOybT4jwVoHFuzdyb-yW7XaUAbxIgRzgj7Az4NjAGTqioVFUYw_glzIj5yuZWFbI0PXdYgAtdszBcnj5fxs_CS3G6KL6C5xouZl5BGzmu4vUvuONknHHuGLgWW-S2dEBiuzEidygszoWR9nXwVaRxtTeU4n3RxK_tCmuPUVEVGqydI1_s6x5T8d6P/s1600/Steve%20Harley%201.jpg"width="500"></a><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBpe9G8UK_oorCWeAk5pQSK6foWugKuySIWZBxXrEj5NUd6wLYD44y_90nvfbDDJI9seBWQcra4XfFpl9UelD7x9yyrFIFJJy5YR0TY7hyphenhyphenX2FxDW0Te4xd9MzF3PY5YaOUuBtmCV2p9C97PhMm9oskoRThzVlYY95W0q4_US6KM4bRTYs1kPu0OV2CA6-W/s1600/Steve%20Harley%202.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1013" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBpe9G8UK_oorCWeAk5pQSK6foWugKuySIWZBxXrEj5NUd6wLYD44y_90nvfbDDJI9seBWQcra4XfFpl9UelD7x9yyrFIFJJy5YR0TY7hyphenhyphenX2FxDW0Te4xd9MzF3PY5YaOUuBtmCV2p9C97PhMm9oskoRThzVlYY95W0q4_US6KM4bRTYs1kPu0OV2CA6-W/s1600/Steve%20Harley%202.jpg"width="600"></a><p>The music world lost another great talent on the weekend - Mr Steve Harley, the peacock-strutting founder and lead singer of Cockney Rebel.<p>Many, many panegyrics are out there dedicated to this faboo man, so I will simply just pay my own little tribute with some classics from his musical repertoire, starting with the band's breakthrough hit...<p><div style="text-align:left;"><a class="youtube-lazy-link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQ5Ra-sln-s" style="width: 640px;height:360px;" title="Click to play!">Cockney Rebel - <i>Judy Teen</i></a></div><p><div style="text-align:left;"><a class="youtube-lazy-link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5NPfHk5Ycs" style="width: 640px;height:360px;" title="Click to play!">Cockney Rebel - <i>Mr Soft</i></a></div><p><div style="text-align:left;"><a class="youtube-lazy-link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAoaVU3-ve0" style="width: 640px;height:360px;" title="Click to play!">Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - <i>Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)</i></a></div><p>The latter song - one of the most-played songs in British broadcasting history - has been covered hundreds of times since its success in 1975, including by Duran Duran, The Wedding Present, Suzi Quatro, Robbie Williams with Tom Jones, and this lot!<p><div style="text-align:left;"><a class="youtube-lazy-link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbkmWb5bH-8" style="width: 640px;height:360px;" title="Click to play!">Erasure - <i>Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)</i></a></div><p>RIP, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/mar/18/steve-harley-obituary" target="_blank">Steve Harley</a> (born Stephen Malcolm Ronald Nice, 27th February 1951 – 17th March 2024)Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15501010362663971583noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2492341927226769948.post-11104920630851844952024-03-18T08:01:00.005+00:002024-03-18T08:01:00.140+00:00Dead cat dance<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqGIB7mh0izV-UVHbUOVqO0mMEjSevkPScALd0aLBQSsKAq7MgarDXaSkMRYtTV1b1dR1vg31bSL1CY2iVm14AXY1r2gOzaIPDemIxfxQte84rUIATDETViF2x3NuLAlQTpCK-6JR8qTnKD41pRi4TJMkJFZKjip-q3AcaivdF5_tuTuG83Ak6T5VRGAcv/s1600/Dramatic%20fainting.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="255" data-original-width="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqGIB7mh0izV-UVHbUOVqO0mMEjSevkPScALd0aLBQSsKAq7MgarDXaSkMRYtTV1b1dR1vg31bSL1CY2iVm14AXY1r2gOzaIPDemIxfxQte84rUIATDETViF2x3NuLAlQTpCK-6JR8qTnKD41pRi4TJMkJFZKjip-q3AcaivdF5_tuTuG83Ak6T5VRGAcv/s1600/Dramatic%20fainting.gif" width="400" /></a><p>Oh, yes. Monday again!</p><p>Thankfully the weather this weekend wasn't a complete washout (for once). I managed to get a few jobs done out in the garden on Saturday - in some quite warm sunshine on occasions! - and had a good chill-out yesterday.</p><p>Unfortunately work rears its ugly head once more - but at least I am happier than usual, as there's just these five days to go and I am off again until after Easter!</p><p>On this Tacky Music Monday, have another mindfuck, dear reader, courtesy of an old Italian TV spectacular:
</p><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><a class="youtube-lazy-link" href="https://youtu.be/rCqdO-k3SAY" style="height: 360px; width: 640px;" title="Click to play!">Stefania Rotolo - <em>Marameo</em> (Da Tilt)</a></div><p>Apparently <a href="https://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=887" target="_blank">it's a song about a dead cat</a>. Bugger only knows why...</p><p>Have a good week, peeps.Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15501010362663971583noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2492341927226769948.post-52609719323111735462024-03-17T08:38:00.014+00:002024-03-17T17:36:24.483+00:00Sláinte Agus Táinte!Do you have any Irish in you?<p>Would you like some..?<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_h3VEhGMqeFmhooAWb4E8j5di6avaLFdN7fYNlyc7ETi_WaLnt55O-szS_euehpeG6cnZJ41Y2wBCHLAiJ4OxyosOb9-WiKiuhbsNrcljVp_3MnB_PFSHN0_6CX7Gj7MoM2eaPKqQW_1Itjdr2GK9zV8M0qH0Rxj9ZCEkMwu58_UdF4vqeJOEQxFVZD9/s1600/1%20Jamie%20Dornan.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_h3VEhGMqeFmhooAWb4E8j5di6avaLFdN7fYNlyc7ETi_WaLnt55O-szS_euehpeG6cnZJ41Y2wBCHLAiJ4OxyosOb9-WiKiuhbsNrcljVp_3MnB_PFSHN0_6CX7Gj7MoM2eaPKqQW_1Itjdr2GK9zV8M0qH0Rxj9ZCEkMwu58_UdF4vqeJOEQxFVZD9/s1600/1%20Jamie%20Dornan.jpg"height="450"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMAV2kf9HV_lEGun4bu5YDdc_yUDxetvQKJsnG19xGWqXpK_xWDNXhqexcpnW7-WoSJHoOWEjim86tVhjgLWR9zKa543zo1L1PmfY34JoBmPrOvE8W7wdKKp99qGtn0XJrwTZDDQ4QLJuPUc1-HOUwYvKg5T_XPu-yaP6plAYanXzs0vP0BVT9rt9XLePA/s1600/3%20Cillian%20Murphy.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1620" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMAV2kf9HV_lEGun4bu5YDdc_yUDxetvQKJsnG19xGWqXpK_xWDNXhqexcpnW7-WoSJHoOWEjim86tVhjgLWR9zKa543zo1L1PmfY34JoBmPrOvE8W7wdKKp99qGtn0XJrwTZDDQ4QLJuPUc1-HOUwYvKg5T_XPu-yaP6plAYanXzs0vP0BVT9rt9XLePA/s1600/3%20Cillian%20Murphy.jpg"height="450"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AmnkHeRx-0YloQulY6soSyBzHcsnYmYrR-UFc_TAAcRONb1DkvZCunD81Bs9_kIQO0_1-qCCRek01DYIc8vNA1ETpkjSFoGdr31y350m-jH2xDT3vrYNVxaq47ALfQI1DOB1FgsjpD2AMn0IVwpuOv7twDAWmHJyM-tbSJ6DSsEa4Lk8GtMvJ_k87xvB/s1600/2%20Aiden%20Turner%20towel.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="493" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6AmnkHeRx-0YloQulY6soSyBzHcsnYmYrR-UFc_TAAcRONb1DkvZCunD81Bs9_kIQO0_1-qCCRek01DYIc8vNA1ETpkjSFoGdr31y350m-jH2xDT3vrYNVxaq47ALfQI1DOB1FgsjpD2AMn0IVwpuOv7twDAWmHJyM-tbSJ6DSsEa4Lk8GtMvJ_k87xvB/s1600/2%20Aiden%20Turner%20towel.jpg"height="450"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJk_gc3NXdjfbhDVUy4HgaBG1vCBPGKSzVZGdPzpxXe0K9yVm_WVm3p7iIGTjaD0l7XuEEgFozc-e85rB58-Zz2jbcQ8vYB_FW1yunZD7CurUjxOn1-0Qq9aEWEkglN3feLoV9yurCmSIIWygItMBzizOP-uIZuuw6ZrY1S6J75gvUgJaGavjJQrhSsja/s1600/4%20Colin%20Farrell.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1650" data-original-width="1100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJk_gc3NXdjfbhDVUy4HgaBG1vCBPGKSzVZGdPzpxXe0K9yVm_WVm3p7iIGTjaD0l7XuEEgFozc-e85rB58-Zz2jbcQ8vYB_FW1yunZD7CurUjxOn1-0Qq9aEWEkglN3feLoV9yurCmSIIWygItMBzizOP-uIZuuw6ZrY1S6J75gvUgJaGavjJQrhSsja/s1600/4%20Colin%20Farrell.jpg"height="450"></a><br><small><em>[clockwise from top left: Jamie Dornan*, Cillian Murphy, Colin Farrell, Aidan Turner]</em></small><p>Happy Paddy's Day, dear reader!<p>By way of a celebration, here are two proud Irish boys, showing off their quite remarkable - ahem - talents...
<div style="text-align:left;"><a class="youtube-lazy-link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8gVXz8ZlHI" style="width: 640px;height:360px;" title="Click to play!">Gardiner Brothers celebrating Ireland on St Patrick's Day</a></div><p>And here, something a bit tackier...<p><div style="text-align:left;"><a class="youtube-lazy-link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvjLgjtJKsc" style="width: 640px;height:360px;" title="Click to play!">B*Witched - <i>C'est la vie</i></a></div>
<p>Myth-busting facts about <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Saint-Patricks-Day"target="_blank">Paddy's Day</a> "traditions":<br />
<ul><li>Porter or stout is a drink invented in London around the 1720s (possibly earlier); Arthur Guinness only started marketing his brand of the drink in Dublin in 1778.</li>
<li>Saint Patrick was <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-31912199"target="_blank">Welsh</a>.</li>
<li>There was no real link between the 5th century missionary activities of St Patrick and the Shamrock until a botanist wrote about it in 1726.</li>
<li>Scotland as whole has a higher percentage of ginger people than Ireland.</li>
<li>Many believe that the Paddy's Day celebrations in March were in fact invented as a way to lift the usual fasting restrictions of Lent and provide an excuse for a day's drinking.</li>
<li>St Patrick's Day parades began in North America in the 18th century but did not spread to Ireland until the 20th century.</li></ul><p>I raise a glass of <a href="https://whiskyandfoodpairing.quora.com/RISE-OF-THE-IRISH-WHISKEY-ON-THE-WORLD-STAGE" target="_blank">"the amber nectar"</a> - clink, clink!<p><small><em>[*Yes, I know Jamie Dornan was born in <b>Northern</b> Ireland, so is British, but...how could I resist?]</em></small>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15501010362663971583noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2492341927226769948.post-5753168212162694232024-03-16T15:27:00.001+00:002024-03-16T15:27:35.428+00:00Words to live by<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrcUaH3XgVPpDjluIF6qhRNvHIO0gth9Ek2IYk9KL21mPTZ6iec-27Rw8jC20ngZg3fFHtWgwZb88WH1qWxQvYAYFi-aIaJpIh01ra0F3K5iQGMPqGChbY2-Fk68C1EPTxqPAqjCiYklBVuMRRThroHZ1VSLm19s4q-Yv-bDKH1YKp_Q6G8WZQE1wQhuSN/s1600/Oh,%20tis%20the%20refuge%20we%20take%200.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrcUaH3XgVPpDjluIF6qhRNvHIO0gth9Ek2IYk9KL21mPTZ6iec-27Rw8jC20ngZg3fFHtWgwZb88WH1qWxQvYAYFi-aIaJpIh01ra0F3K5iQGMPqGChbY2-Fk68C1EPTxqPAqjCiYklBVuMRRThroHZ1VSLm19s4q-Yv-bDKH1YKp_Q6G8WZQE1wQhuSN/s1600/Oh,%20tis%20the%20refuge%20we%20take%200.gif"/></a><br><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfhFNQnqtXW-IWZ48-xP7wQNncHTd6Cl9hZFyU2yYEXfUjmWYWXpZz7JAwEaEkEnoZzBXDIBQPLSK2XPs8Su3KyrKKDoGoGtSrw0e5q_Db5-zqP064eJWDLZsK-ds53g77IF0QZjPHcRhApFayxZhgS554ycKuKDuUW7bdsxb6x2iiHP2ZyyqDVE8QbGod/s1600/Oh,%20tis%20the%20refuge%20we%20take%201.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfhFNQnqtXW-IWZ48-xP7wQNncHTd6Cl9hZFyU2yYEXfUjmWYWXpZz7JAwEaEkEnoZzBXDIBQPLSK2XPs8Su3KyrKKDoGoGtSrw0e5q_Db5-zqP064eJWDLZsK-ds53g77IF0QZjPHcRhApFayxZhgS554ycKuKDuUW7bdsxb6x2iiHP2ZyyqDVE8QbGod/s1600/Oh,%20tis%20the%20refuge%20we%20take%201.gif"/></a><br><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzmJvJ5UaVVED9GWSjUq4Go0wzTkaZZpsdX_PPtsO7wGYZOVdYed0LvBKxhSa9QYjFn1afut0ifb0TAsZGO0nSE6ChGWdNLOnWxtE02n7jfL6UjEoNOpH_FZFEeiCSpmJENlRJfvwxA60ZjqYy7tYpnoBkbxcJHFe-2yvjz37k3TkjULSm1iYMDvsYivfD/s1600/Oh,%20tis%20the%20refuge%20we%20take%202.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzmJvJ5UaVVED9GWSjUq4Go0wzTkaZZpsdX_PPtsO7wGYZOVdYed0LvBKxhSa9QYjFn1afut0ifb0TAsZGO0nSE6ChGWdNLOnWxtE02n7jfL6UjEoNOpH_FZFEeiCSpmJENlRJfvwxA60ZjqYy7tYpnoBkbxcJHFe-2yvjz37k3TkjULSm1iYMDvsYivfD/s1600/Oh,%20tis%20the%20refuge%20we%20take%202.gif"/></a><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who%27s_Afraid_of_Virginia_Woolf%3F_%28film%29" target="_blank"><em>Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?</em></a><p><small>[More about this magnificent film <a href="https://doloresdelargotowers.blogspot.com/2016/09/holding-that-mirror-up-to-people.html" target="_blank">here</a>]</small>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15501010362663971583noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2492341927226769948.post-33620204338798948962024-03-15T08:37:00.006+00:002024-03-15T19:13:50.244+00:00Too. Much. Lycra!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJIDnaKDlnI7V4A3hxKbVV_z6eR7hFa3v3y3yrNjBVttLjGzQCXn3gMjc7klucCoH6iklFEM6HkNMkEoVguCY8umZ_wBm-aNK1PRqFlcs7ATgboQkLFRR043RUeIt1DLy2REilfvNCpJVecaGHZpT34jdCao95fPVQCXikbfoNqVekMWo5MJMgfbLQjXok/s1600/Crazy%20pink%20dancers.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJIDnaKDlnI7V4A3hxKbVV_z6eR7hFa3v3y3yrNjBVttLjGzQCXn3gMjc7klucCoH6iklFEM6HkNMkEoVguCY8umZ_wBm-aNK1PRqFlcs7ATgboQkLFRR043RUeIt1DLy2REilfvNCpJVecaGHZpT34jdCao95fPVQCXikbfoNqVekMWo5MJMgfbLQjXok/s1600/Crazy%20pink%20dancers.gif" width="500" /></a><br><small><em>Yeah, Baby, Yeah!</em></small><p>TFFT. Another frustrating and stressful working week staggers slowly to its conclusion - and we need to get the celebrations off to a flying start!<p>Well, maybe not quite as frenetically as this...<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='640' height='360' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyFxHc3apINJp8CvxS4bw_N7dp7m8eE_6GkAsqHULttG-6Li-oDht4F_qLcEJkpwAkRkhLDasqFOgUQf1k3lQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p>Thank Disco It's Friday!<p>Have a great one, dear reader!<p><hr><p><b>PS</b><p>Beware the <a href="https://www.stneotsmuseum.org.uk/articles/the-ides-of-march-a-quick-lesson-on-the-roman-calendar/" target="_blank">Ides of March</a>...<p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='640' height='360' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxU78zUuKWXGJD6R0OzVWPIituFolaVwB_tyhTqrEjuyX-3kpMyxs1UAAtqOq8GxOuK0z1unUwFEk-CyH7s_w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15501010362663971583noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2492341927226769948.post-21998957692957748992024-03-14T17:08:00.013+00:002024-03-14T22:47:27.750+00:00Wet totty, music, mud and old boozers<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aTU3ighuwsY/Xqit7YlLDJI/AAAAAAAAwvs/CHP6NIS35BA1L5A0Zkwm-ZolZf0d5yKSwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Ansel%2BElgort.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aTU3ighuwsY/Xqit7YlLDJI/AAAAAAAAwvs/CHP6NIS35BA1L5A0Zkwm-ZolZf0d5yKSwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Ansel%2BElgort.jpg"width="500"></a><br><small><em>Gratuitous totty shot? As if. Happy 30th birthday today to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ansel_Elgort" target="_blank">Ansel Elgort</a> [whose name actually sounds like an anagram]!</em></small><p>Another "snippets" post today, dear reader...<ul><li>Good news: One of <a href="https://jon-doloresdelargo.blogspot.com/search/label/Friday%20Night%20is%20Music%20Night" target="_blank">our favourite shows on radio <em>Friday Night is Music Night</em></a> - <b>the world's longest-running live orchestral music radio programme</b> - [which was unceremoniously moved to Sundays, and then surreptitiously killed-off last November by the gnomes at BBC Radio 2] will be <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2024/new-classical-music-programming-tv-radio" target="_blank">revived by Auntie Beeb's classical station Radio 3</a> this April! I cannot wait...</li><li>Dancing in a muddy field news: Dua Lipa (yawn), Coldplay (even bigger yawn!) and SZA (nope, not a clue; sounds like an energy drink) <a href="https://www.nme.com/news/music/glastonbury-2024-line-up-revealed-who-playing-poster-3600775" target="_blank">have been announced as headliners</a> at this year's Glastonbury Festival. Even the news that Shania Twain will be taking the closing top-of-the bill "Legends" slot, or the fact that Cyndi Lauper's there as well (for the first time), would ever tempt me to go - even if the tickets hadn't sold-out completely within half an hour of being put on sale last Autumn!</li><li>More muck news: The UK is apparently in the middle of <a href="https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/compost-week-uk-2024/" target="_blank">National Compost Week</a>, which is literally a load of old crap. Recycled by worms, of course.</li><li>More good news: Our "house band" here at Dolores Delargo Towers, <a href="https://postmodernjukebox.com/postmodern-jukebox/" target="_blank">Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox</a> are back in the UK this May, and - thanks to a Ticketmaster voucher card from Baby Steve and Houseboy Alex for my 60th last year - Madam Arcati and I have booked to go and see them live at the prestigious London Palladium!</li><li>And, finally: Maverick Soho members' club The Groucho <small>[named after the Groucho Marx quote: <i>“I don’t want to belong to any club that will accept me as a member”</i>]</small>, second home of the likes of Terry Pratchett, Francis Bacon, Jeffrey Bernard, Jarvis Cocker, Anthony Bourdain, Lily Allen, Melvyn Bragg, Blur’s Alex James, Rachel Weisz, Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin, Robbie Coltrane, Nick Grimshaw, Stephen Fry, Julie Burchill and even Harry Styles - which <a href="https://jon-doloresdelargo.blogspot.com/2009/07/house-wine-what-house-council.html" target="_blank">we were honoured to visit</a> way back in 2009 - has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/mar/14/london-groucho-club-to-open-west-yorkshire-wakefield" target="_blank">opened its very first "out-of-town" outpost</a> near Wakefield in Yorkshire!</li></ul><p>And the weather? More Spring-like than it has been in ages...Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15501010362663971583noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2492341927226769948.post-9239428264779538552024-03-13T13:26:00.001+00:002024-03-13T21:56:00.465+00:00By the power of the adjustable spanner!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicGr4DdxnEG60fZvMQxUwfmoMMAW-8V8fn3I44n_ca4NzAgtZmOOEIh_Hjv7zQ6yeFHasbrEyjYWbe1JrWm8g6IM5cCVE4kuHni3TFQMnd_VFSuaIKHZcEKL0BdAno1duCBABkf9gzSpMhCGvdB5p6z-T0sMr9oNrAc3Jeg8fSQBmpKLMiy2RCc_5UtuPt/s1600/Plumber%20stock%20photo.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="889" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicGr4DdxnEG60fZvMQxUwfmoMMAW-8V8fn3I44n_ca4NzAgtZmOOEIh_Hjv7zQ6yeFHasbrEyjYWbe1JrWm8g6IM5cCVE4kuHni3TFQMnd_VFSuaIKHZcEKL0BdAno1duCBABkf9gzSpMhCGvdB5p6z-T0sMr9oNrAc3Jeg8fSQBmpKLMiy2RCc_5UtuPt/s1600/Plumber%20stock%20photo.jpg"width="500"></a><p><blockquote>An emergency plumber with an exorbitant call-out fee and a string of desperate clients is feeling more powerful than Zeus, he has confirmed.<p>Due to offering a round-the-clock service, Bill McKay can toy with the fates of normal humans like a supreme deity looking down from Mount Olympus while holding an adjustable spanner.<p>McKay said: <i>“Got a burst pipe and need urgent help? Water pouring through the ceiling at 2am? Call me, feeble underlings, and I will decide whether to bestow my mercy upon you.<p>“If I’m honest, being richer than Croesus simply because I know how to tighten the hose on a washing machine gets a little dull. To keep things interesting I have considered asking a man with a blocked toilet to fight a family with a flooded basement for who gets my services first.<p>“However, my missus says that would be even more morally dubious than tripling my hourly rate for a client just because I arrived at their place a second after 5pm on a Friday, when I should be down the pub.<p>“But it’s hard not to feel contempt for the pitiful idiots who could sort most of this shit out themselves if they learned what a stopcock is. So until they do I will continue to rule as an almighty king, while charging £320 an hour, plus VAT.”</i></blockquote><p><a href="https://www.thedailymash.co.uk/" target="_blank"><i>The Daily Mash</i></a><p>Of course.<p>I know who I'd call...<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6CZTO975B33pN02FeHK7C7FxOryICYzkkOGB59sN0mN9KZ6RLnDn-WUQrdCfZDDXsciIREYd-ziCTQuf2UW11k5LJ__gCzeer85rRJCYBiksS9Smx5ovxpuxxceMcN9OMGusf48wWtlG1yfpeOFrBgJEy7x2MxhraI0lt6L3mDGazwyr3m2a-c8uNA0fh/s1600/U-Benders.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="446" data-original-width="634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6CZTO975B33pN02FeHK7C7FxOryICYzkkOGB59sN0mN9KZ6RLnDn-WUQrdCfZDDXsciIREYd-ziCTQuf2UW11k5LJ__gCzeer85rRJCYBiksS9Smx5ovxpuxxceMcN9OMGusf48wWtlG1yfpeOFrBgJEy7x2MxhraI0lt6L3mDGazwyr3m2a-c8uNA0fh/s1600/U-Benders.jpg"width="500"></a>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15501010362663971583noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2492341927226769948.post-26040190793527235032024-03-12T16:57:00.021+00:002024-03-12T21:14:39.871+00:00Paradisum ex Chelsea<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilGqJi5c5_m49ljIGEPJmSopYYI3dsDNS9GZoH9U-2SAOXjyeEHx7B9w75nA3OzPUZ8-GimvWGBkqJSLlMGaBCl4WwkfXKKTZhM__e72dQ35Ry8eg-ksxC8htZQRjyOkmrJ0raXgTCAv6T6qqsJgJPBhb4_sX1NXuqBk18IOvqJmVQRkGegisHHGvaHAiC/s1600/Cadogan%20Hall%201%20-%20Tower.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1250" data-original-width="938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilGqJi5c5_m49ljIGEPJmSopYYI3dsDNS9GZoH9U-2SAOXjyeEHx7B9w75nA3OzPUZ8-GimvWGBkqJSLlMGaBCl4WwkfXKKTZhM__e72dQ35Ry8eg-ksxC8htZQRjyOkmrJ0raXgTCAv6T6qqsJgJPBhb4_sX1NXuqBk18IOvqJmVQRkGegisHHGvaHAiC/s1600/Cadogan%20Hall%201%20-%20Tower.jpg" width="400" /></a><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Gr31vEmYjfaxIP9mBCkDHWTWheIkI9OiuOfKBla0PyG-v8pScEUL-yaLFmnnD68Om04FRXlRgA_sG_3BGEvZJJpl4baY2G2Sp8rz8CN_Sr7iQyCfpP5xAcpYg5nZqS2RZYUmWZlaNW8DoKzc6HIUUnPPy8lnU2EXrMNoovqKlcHynd98MuGjdcl8VBKk/s1600/Cadogan%20Hall%202%20-%20Auditorium.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1878" data-original-width="2500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Gr31vEmYjfaxIP9mBCkDHWTWheIkI9OiuOfKBla0PyG-v8pScEUL-yaLFmnnD68Om04FRXlRgA_sG_3BGEvZJJpl4baY2G2Sp8rz8CN_Sr7iQyCfpP5xAcpYg5nZqS2RZYUmWZlaNW8DoKzc6HIUUnPPy8lnU2EXrMNoovqKlcHynd98MuGjdcl8VBKk/s1600/Cadogan%20Hall%202%20-%20Auditorium.jpg" width="600" /></a><p><a href="https://cadoganhall.com/" target="_blank">Cadogan Hall</a> in swanky Sloane Square, Chelsea is a fascinating oddity. Originally built in 1907 as a Christian Scientist church, it was designed in the radical "Byzantine Revival" fashion by architect Robert Fellowes Chisholm - and its singular style was obviously an influence on later Art Deco building designs.</p><p>Christian Science <small>[fiction, double feature?]</small> having declined dramatically in the later 20th century the church's congregation dwindled, and it closed in 1996. Enter, stage left, mega-rich, mega-loony Mohammed Al-Fayed (then-owner of Harrods and father of Princess Diana's last lover Dodi) who bought it and wanted to turn it into a luxury private mansion(!). Thankfully the council turned the plans down - this is <i>a Grade II listed building</i>, after all - with the unfortunate result that the building ended up in serious danger of dilapidation.</p><p>Thank heavens for the British nobility! The Earls of Cadogan have <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1ewIqf1mgfQvUDI0UpjqXNPPKPUo&femb=1&ll=51.498139348150794%2C-0.12111617109575645&z=14" target="_blank">owned most of the prime lands in the area</a> - basically everything from just above the Royal Hospital Chelsea (home of the famous Flower Show) to the King's Road, to just south of Harvey Nicks, sweetie - since 1753, and it was their estates management company that bought the building in 2000 and transformed it into the magnificent concert venue it is today.</p><p>And so it was, for the first time since <a href="https://jon-doloresdelargo.blogspot.com/2020/03/it-dont-mean-thing-if.html" target="_blank">the very last weekend before London went into lockdown because of COVID</a> way back in 2020, that Madam Arcati and I ventured through its illustrious portals on Saturday evening, for a performance by Wimbledon Choral of the lovely <em>Requiem</em> by Gabriel Fauré.</p><p>And here, for your delectation, dear reader, is a beautiful version of it...</p><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><a class="youtube-lazy-link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8X5_j766tdc" style="height: 360px; width: 640px;" title="Click to play!">Orchestre de Paris, cond. Paavo Järvi, soprano Chen Reiss, baritone Matthias Goern - <i>Requiem</i> [Fauré]</a></div><p>It's about time this den of depravity got some class! <small>[With a capital "K", of course.]</small>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15501010362663971583noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2492341927226769948.post-40606667782754565242024-03-11T13:26:00.003+00:002024-03-11T19:09:22.900+00:00Speaking of "Tacky"......at <a href="https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2024" target="_blank">the Oscars</a> last night, <b>this</b> happened...<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWngaMJirIyLo46Y65iP8t_0ahr6NUi3n3V6ot9rHYFiVctKnP2ISz3Kt63kzl1XX9qHI3KoMIQ23uJJKlQCUUXtuSbMoxVXkGrHNOz6AiUdqzkQJk142iZpldpRxW6jcw5WQiEIT4-nla_Pl8r4JK_ylSeNy9De98NDAnhkx3xjJjsNCl-lldmaMrnKgn/s1600/John%20Cena%20Oscars%202024.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWngaMJirIyLo46Y65iP8t_0ahr6NUi3n3V6ot9rHYFiVctKnP2ISz3Kt63kzl1XX9qHI3KoMIQ23uJJKlQCUUXtuSbMoxVXkGrHNOz6AiUdqzkQJk142iZpldpRxW6jcw5WQiEIT4-nla_Pl8r4JK_ylSeNy9De98NDAnhkx3xjJjsNCl-lldmaMrnKgn/s1600/John%20Cena%20Oscars%202024.jpg"width="600"></a><p>...and <b>this</b>!!<p><div style="text-align:left;"><a class="youtube-lazy-link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUxu3E7PXrE" style="width: 640px;height:360px;" title="Click to play!">Ryan Gosling - <i>I'm Just Ken</i> [Academy Awards 2024]</a></div><p>Kenergy!!Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15501010362663971583noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2492341927226769948.post-24288733619869995922024-03-11T07:31:00.012+00:002024-03-11T19:09:06.215+00:00Um samba como esse tão lega<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEufmN3cRgtPGeNGZK_LNEg5Grz2TDvzQPW9pTF73g3qkTIi2EK4tgNRk0UPDX06OqBlrbwT8UBZfBVZN5317vokrshkjomze4uFfOOTXkg6HnKreHns3fta2mov9S4Bra-Yrf6WgCBFq3WP387Y17Wa9d8Fln9-yfdDqgNRW2LbRwfV28F08Y_YkSeML6/s1600/Wakey%20Wakey.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEufmN3cRgtPGeNGZK_LNEg5Grz2TDvzQPW9pTF73g3qkTIi2EK4tgNRk0UPDX06OqBlrbwT8UBZfBVZN5317vokrshkjomze4uFfOOTXkg6HnKreHns3fta2mov9S4Bra-Yrf6WgCBFq3WP387Y17Wa9d8Fln9-yfdDqgNRW2LbRwfV28F08Y_YkSeML6/s1600/Wakey%20Wakey.gif"width="400"></a><br><small><em>Wakey, wakey! It's Monday again...</em></small><p>After a weekend that saw Madam A and I in Cadogan Hall for a performance of Fauré's <i>Requiem</i>, followed by a day of basically monging-around - because the fine weather on Saturday turned to utterly dismal rain yesterday - it's all over again, and off we go to the hurly-burly of another working week... <p>Sigh.<p>Thank heavens, on this Tacky Music Monday, for our long-time house faves here at Dolores Delargo Towers, the Kessler Twins!! <small>[...and their safety gays, of course...]</small><p><div style="text-align:left;"><a class="youtube-lazy-link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdnfjxjN0h8" style="width: 640px;height:360px;" title="Click to play!">Kessler Twins - <em>Mas Que Nada/The Look Of Love</em></a></div><p>Have a good week, dear reader.Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15501010362663971583noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2492341927226769948.post-73609155419680243192024-03-10T08:53:00.021+00:002024-03-10T08:53:00.125+00:00La Mamma<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2aGMYVXAPkAEtbXHTABfSuE18puqjo_MckAzlMhWA5HLi6hQhqAl1a2Sc7RPSENUUJfjXnEoG0ym42EAOlShJhi56l_cvMIcZTTDJxNcmotfViO3Dg2cSUcU3Bv1aWV2TXCDpaboPidH43K0zR_CkzlgINZNCFfCIyDaQBELrnrP1iVX-A-HxZF5KpKfy/s1600/Beete%20Davis%20The%20Anniversary%201.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="269" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2aGMYVXAPkAEtbXHTABfSuE18puqjo_MckAzlMhWA5HLi6hQhqAl1a2Sc7RPSENUUJfjXnEoG0ym42EAOlShJhi56l_cvMIcZTTDJxNcmotfViO3Dg2cSUcU3Bv1aWV2TXCDpaboPidH43K0zR_CkzlgINZNCFfCIyDaQBELrnrP1iVX-A-HxZF5KpKfy/s1600/Beete%20Davis%20The%20Anniversary%201.gif"width="600"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFJJuyWd2l9Ej2IUYzykPy0yIHYvQfHjk2aaKcq5P9KQwINaibYO5nvAmSgh0VK0fzzChVWlKMGlOfpRMtqL7EKVIrl_DWFgKisrn3GYZyrLcEyzoujbtsI_Ha_BqvgBlxPtid8ho991dA3q7STbD9swuzrVMKexRl_UJYJXQ6oThWH8w8IMZRPYnA7ri/s1600/Beete%20Davis%20The%20Anniversary%202.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="274" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFJJuyWd2l9Ej2IUYzykPy0yIHYvQfHjk2aaKcq5P9KQwINaibYO5nvAmSgh0VK0fzzChVWlKMGlOfpRMtqL7EKVIrl_DWFgKisrn3GYZyrLcEyzoujbtsI_Ha_BqvgBlxPtid8ho991dA3q7STbD9swuzrVMKexRl_UJYJXQ6oThWH8w8IMZRPYnA7ri/s1600/Beete%20Davis%20The%20Anniversary%202.gif"width="600"></a><p>It's Mothers' Day - <em><small>[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mothering_Sunday" target="_blank">Mothering Sunday</a>, the original British version]</small></em> - so you'd better be good to her, or else!<p>In one of my convoluted connections, as is my wont, I was scanning the "recent departures board" for anyone notable and found an intriguing one that deserved investigation.<p><a href="https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2024/03/361265/moroccan-singer-abdou-cherif-dies-due-to-heart-attack" target="_blank">Abdou Cherif</a> [for it is he], who has departed for the "Exotica Lounge" in Fabulon, was one of Tunisia's most renowned and admired singers, whose remarkable vocal style blended the Western "crooner" genre with traditional North African music.<p>And on this cover of an old Charles Aznavour number, he provides a most appropriate choon for today:<div style="text-align:left;"><a class="youtube-lazy-link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiy-aLZFHnY" style="width: 640px;height:360px;" title="Click to play!">Abdou Cherif - <i>La Mamma</i></a></div><p>In case you needed a little more "Sunday Music", here's another from Monsieur Cherif:<p><div style="text-align:left;"><a class="youtube-lazy-link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvM66SxNfJY" style="width: 640px;height:360px;" title="Click to play!">Abdou Cherif - <i>La Bohème</i></a></div><p>Adieu, en effet.Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15501010362663971583noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2492341927226769948.post-65885462812964627782024-03-09T11:46:00.005+00:002024-03-09T23:41:06.659+00:00When stars collide<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQI4F1LrPiC2MAaL2ztX_N66mEeMIcd48_zxNr533a-DzAqjkWEMVGklT4aVb-5IjTISkFHcQAKy3TSLDtWe4Yryd47bh86K4cX07lDoDSjfv2OTm3XOlVrI2xCXI6YOKb0dtRgFUDx2iufUJ27ZPpukXomveFiZM6reXiHoaEo1zbfZ0Ehu0hjLbB1aX1/s1600/Overexcited.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="282" data-original-width="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQI4F1LrPiC2MAaL2ztX_N66mEeMIcd48_zxNr533a-DzAqjkWEMVGklT4aVb-5IjTISkFHcQAKy3TSLDtWe4Yryd47bh86K4cX07lDoDSjfv2OTm3XOlVrI2xCXI6YOKb0dtRgFUDx2iufUJ27ZPpukXomveFiZM6reXiHoaEo1zbfZ0Ehu0hjLbB1aX1/s1600/Overexcited.gif"width="350"></a><p>Mere words cannot describe how many queens across the globe wet their knickers when <b>THIS</b> happened...<p>
<div style="text-align:left;"><a class="youtube-lazy-link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1RAd9hPhUU" style="width: 640px;height:360px;" title="Click to play!">Madonna and Kylie Minogue - <i>I Will Survive/Can't Get You Out Of My Head</i> [Live on stage, Los Angeles 2024]</a></div><p>Oh, wow... I'm in awe.Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15501010362663971583noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2492341927226769948.post-5854864739919940132024-03-08T08:01:00.004+00:002024-03-08T20:26:15.511+00:00I've got it, I've got it, yeah<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k_tx1yYxc3k/WqGljdMppMI/AAAAAAAAmo8/HJK0ITHQ4NI-1GmE_vQHYAz6aCPa1LlAwCLcBGAs/s1600/Womens%2BDay.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k_tx1yYxc3k/WqGljdMppMI/AAAAAAAAmo8/HJK0ITHQ4NI-1GmE_vQHYAz6aCPa1LlAwCLcBGAs/s1600/Womens%2BDay.jpg"width="550"></a><br />
<br />
After one of the most gruelling weeks of my life <small>[first week back after the holiday]</small>, to get us in the mood there is only one song to play on <a href="https://www.internationalwomensday.com/"target="_blank">International Women's Day</a>, really...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align:left;"><a class="youtube-lazy-link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVDCNmdi7QI" style="width: 640px;height:360px;" title="Click to play!">Chaka Khan - <em>I'm Every Woman</em></a></div><br />
<i>I'm every woman, it's all in me<br />
Anything you want done, baby<br />
I'll do it naturally<br />
I'm every woman, it's all in me<br />
I can read your thoughts right now<br />
Every one from A to Z<br />
<br />
I can cast a spell<br />
With secrets you can't tell<br />
Mix a special brew<br />
Put fire inside of you<br />
But anytime you feel<br />
Danger or fear<br />
Instantly I will appear, 'cause<br />
<br />
I'm every woman, it's all in me<br />
Anything you want done, baby<br />
I'll do it naturally<br />
I'm every woman, it's all in me<br />
I can read your thoughts right now<br />
Every one from A to Z<br />
<br />
I can sense your needs<br />
Like rain on to the seeds<br />
I can make a rhyme<br />
Of confusion in your mind<br />
And when it comes down<br />
To some good old fashioned love<br />
That's what I've got plenty of, 'cause<br />
<br />
I'm every woman, it's all in me<br />
Anything you want done, baby<br />
I'll do it naturally<br />
I'm every woman, it's all in me<br />
I can read your thoughts right now<br />
Every one from A to Z<br />
<br />
I ain't braggin' 'cause I'm the one<br />
You just ask me ooh and it shall be done<br />
And don't bother to compare<br />
'Cause I've got it<br />
I've got it, I've got it, yeah</i><br />
<br />
Yeah.<p>Thank Disco It's Friday!<p>Have a good one, dear reader!Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15501010362663971583noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2492341927226769948.post-40012891864855881962024-03-07T13:11:00.001+00:002024-03-07T17:53:27.594+00:00It's World Book Day......and we maintain an extensive library of classics here at Dolores Delargo Towers... <br />
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<img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-GgLZt2kXDa0/UmQIcIEMUTI/AAAAAAAAPzM/P72lW7kt-V4/s1600/xdevilisgay.jpg"width="450"> <br />
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<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-rMJkz8hHblk/UmQIcDt9wXI/AAAAAAAAPy0/rnKeSoQAiBI/s1600/xgayrebels.jpg"width="450"> <br />
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<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-g7UTCZ5o7FA/UmQIcJG5DII/AAAAAAAAPys/x2Ms2FB_k-w/s1600/xgaywhore.jpg"width="450"> <br />
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<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-2oxOlw254y0/UmQIc8OWZrI/AAAAAAAAPzI/kd2lXmOuF4M/s1600/xmansionofmen.jpg"width="450"><br />
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<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-HjOCcdlYGd8/UmQIcyeYPiI/AAAAAAAAPzQ/xZJuU2BYMVw/s1600/xqueensareintheparlor.jpg"width="450"><br />
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<img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-LXVUc_uGLXM/UmQIdD4Tj3I/AAAAAAAAPzE/KBicU8gvelw/s1600/xvillaofqueens.jpg"width="450"> <br />
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<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-sJeiXye1XOw/UmQIdm9HOkI/AAAAAAAAPzY/LDo-Cp5KBf0/s1600/xwatercressfile.jpg"width="450"> <br />
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Happy Reading! <br />
<br />
More at <a href="https://www.gayontherange.com/"target="_blank">Gay On The Range</a>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15501010362663971583noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2492341927226769948.post-33154159520913452682024-03-06T07:44:00.002+00:002024-03-06T07:44:00.149+00:00Spring! Spring! Spring!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBYAxbEZk-nkxeaytBf_qNeUqJEDU3Wjk6JvegMMyd2K1eiRBFdxzzFKkXD_5JU_Oo1e5wQXxg5xTLkwTBTxrtm0NJu-xa37vMFn0nzL1BazEZCKgmz3vtR9LE7RQbeVDhOZ_RM-kTnQb3MxQDWccrf-zf2CbRgBsBAnQ-QZSUkgelhQPhovffm8VcqILL/s1600/Cruising%20park.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBYAxbEZk-nkxeaytBf_qNeUqJEDU3Wjk6JvegMMyd2K1eiRBFdxzzFKkXD_5JU_Oo1e5wQXxg5xTLkwTBTxrtm0NJu-xa37vMFn0nzL1BazEZCKgmz3vtR9LE7RQbeVDhOZ_RM-kTnQb3MxQDWccrf-zf2CbRgBsBAnQ-QZSUkgelhQPhovffm8VcqILL/s1600/Cruising%20park.jpg"width="550"></a><p><blockquote>An area of idyllic urban parkland has bloomed with spring’s first latex sign of illicit outdoor sex, it has emerged.<p>Resident Carolyn Ryan was walking her dogs when she spotted the used Durex Thin Feel condom knotted to the branch where it had blossomed overnight.<p>She said: <i>“In the country you’d look for the first bluebells or bumblebees of the year to announce the arrival of spring. But here in a city park, the first sign is when doggers deem it warm enough for a furtive quickie against an oak tree.<p>“These migratory shaggers spend winter humping in public toilets and parked cars before emerging as the weather improves to make glorious al fresco love within sight of sheltered housing.<p>“You country folk think it’s obscene to have small bags of semen scattered around the park but it’s just part of nature’s cycle. Besides, flowers are a plant’s genitals and you’re fine with them waving their erect stamens about.<p>“Though the effect of climate change is concerning. The first outdoor fucks of the year used to only take place at the end of the month, but now it’s clement enough to expose your thrusting buttocks to the air at the very beginning of March.<p>“By 2035 this could be a year-round hook-up spot. I’d hate to see condoms force out the park’s other wonderful flora, like Special Brew cans and disposable vapes.”</i></blockquote><p><a href="https://www.thedailymash.co.uk/" target="_blank"><i>The Daily Mash</i></a><p>Of course.Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15501010362663971583noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2492341927226769948.post-21059395404479074512024-03-05T07:41:00.001+00:002024-03-05T07:41:00.136+00:00All me friends call me Fanny!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnMcUCBf6GhxSHvjGQDrAVYg_TSOHw9onaRl1VIDuzEmvAtYlOmL_ZXzTJ_Zl9-_RDCyxNuvWVE3Rc2AQixmCkIdO_ZM7aFZmm_t5gJPUjUVtycY4WeNhjicwzf0OIL-9VJTU8Fu6ru69D6cnwRJqlvSVk8b7D179HDlEUQ0LKe4x8NRcLfQg2SKhOuxtj/s1600/Matt%20Lucas.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2080" data-original-width="2774" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnMcUCBf6GhxSHvjGQDrAVYg_TSOHw9onaRl1VIDuzEmvAtYlOmL_ZXzTJ_Zl9-_RDCyxNuvWVE3Rc2AQixmCkIdO_ZM7aFZmm_t5gJPUjUVtycY4WeNhjicwzf0OIL-9VJTU8Fu6ru69D6cnwRJqlvSVk8b7D179HDlEUQ0LKe4x8NRcLfQg2SKhOuxtj/s1600/Matt%20Lucas.jpg"width="550"></a><p>Happy <b>50th</b> birthday today to Mr <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Lucas" target="_blank">Matt Lucas</a>, one of Britain's favourite funnymen.<p>A perfect excuse (if any were needed) to feature a compilaatiuon of "best bits" featuring what is probably his most memorable character...<p><div style="text-align:left;"><a class="youtube-lazy-link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMnWbNGbz38" style="width: 640px;height:360px;" title="Click to play!">Matt Lucas - <i>Little Britain</i> - "The Only Gay In The Village" compilation</a></div><p>Minge!Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15501010362663971583noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2492341927226769948.post-605743566215428612024-03-04T07:45:00.020+00:002024-03-04T18:47:33.142+00:00Every morning you greet me<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oveuDKEzUvF30WUGbErdzlu_NTRBop1K8WH71Tq8TUHsB7uaUX1-Y2uniHA-ef93gB-MfUjXQWCRhww41ebNrNBkZAiG91JoLHOuaky-MG6fKCvBsVdUldMHTGd8ss6yZsjDbmUfYaUyBubisBE1JfEG6juslo4dyD0Bqu-THphHpNMXysvSZBzx9Wtn/s1600/Scream%20-%20House%20on%20Haunted%20Hill.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="286" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oveuDKEzUvF30WUGbErdzlu_NTRBop1K8WH71Tq8TUHsB7uaUX1-Y2uniHA-ef93gB-MfUjXQWCRhww41ebNrNBkZAiG91JoLHOuaky-MG6fKCvBsVdUldMHTGd8ss6yZsjDbmUfYaUyBubisBE1JfEG6juslo4dyD0Bqu-THphHpNMXysvSZBzx9Wtn/s1600/Scream%20-%20House%20on%20Haunted%20Hill.gif"width="550"></a><p>Aaaaaaargggghh!<p>After a wonderfully hedonistic fortnight away from it all, the alarm has sounded its shrill screech, and it's time to get back to work again. I am not ready for this.<p>Hey ho. It pays the bills - and for our next holiday, of course!<p>Meanwhile, to serve as the wake-up call this Tacky Music Monday, a genuine oddity <small>[that I was reminded of when the saintly Michelle Visage played the band's unsuccessful follow-up single on <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001955m" target="_blank">her BBC Radio 2 show</a>; they remain a "one-hit wonder" here in the UK]</small>...<p><div style="text-align:left;"><a class="youtube-lazy-link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuWrg80dXeU" style="width: 640px;height:360px;" title="Click to play!">Edelweiss - <i>Bring Me Edelweiss</i></a></div><p>If that hasn't got you moving (if only to the "mute" button), nothing will!<p>Have a good week, dear reader. I won't.Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15501010362663971583noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2492341927226769948.post-67354479674948342122024-03-03T09:56:00.027+00:002024-03-03T09:56:00.131+00:00All that joy can bring<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_i0IwyA7LP-oTQiKfL505226hbELyy30-X5bCbx3lD-UaaEnbfBTHF8sRy-oVpmJQu7_ngNE3aK6DST3w0Rq-8LNLYJmOSbkxmFAODUco7Y9kIr2iaPcPuPva9II0wPmvcUeSPlY-etRrHrGez2GVz_Eb0Bz7tqXIof_xmqbR-AimAO5zhzdPfMGob67/s1600/Endora%20-%20how%20to%20exit%20a%20room.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_i0IwyA7LP-oTQiKfL505226hbELyy30-X5bCbx3lD-UaaEnbfBTHF8sRy-oVpmJQu7_ngNE3aK6DST3w0Rq-8LNLYJmOSbkxmFAODUco7Y9kIr2iaPcPuPva9II0wPmvcUeSPlY-etRrHrGez2GVz_Eb0Bz7tqXIof_xmqbR-AimAO5zhzdPfMGob67/s1600/Endora%20-%20how%20to%20exit%20a%20room.gif"width="550"></a><br><small><em>Poof! A holiday disappears...</em></small><p>Just as the weather starts to turn from freezing cold, pissing-down rain and gloom to something a bit more Spring-like (well, double-figure temperatures <small>[Celsius]</small>, anyhow), and our faboo week in Spain seems to be aeons ago, 'tis the last day of freedom, dear reader...<p>We need some "Sunday Music", methinks. Who better to provide it than our "house band" Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox?<p><div style="text-align:left;"><a class="youtube-lazy-link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWQzyl9fg1Y" style="width: 640px;height:360px;" title="Click to play!">Postmodern Jukebox ft. Kyndle Wylde, Tawanda, and Tatum Langley - <i>Say You'll Be There</i> [Spice Girls vintage cover]</a></div><p>Love it!Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15501010362663971583noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2492341927226769948.post-24035952350452622452024-03-02T11:38:00.010+00:002024-03-02T22:02:56.485+00:00DizzyingIt's another "snippets" post today, dear reader!<p><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9o7PJUYHEZY/YSt8ap9vWBI/AAAAAAAA1D8/C3OtXL0c3sgSCD8IVueoqAhindD4y8Z6ACNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Iris%2BApfel%2Bcheers.jpg"target="_blank"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9o7PJUYHEZY/YSt8ap9vWBI/AAAAAAAA1D8/C3OtXL0c3sgSCD8IVueoqAhindD4y8Z6ACNcBGAsYHQ/s0/Iris%2BApfel%2Bcheers.jpg"width="600"></a><p><ul><li>Sad news: We raise our glasses in tribute, as the world bids a fond farewell to eccentric centenarian style maven Iris Apfel, "Patron Saint" here at Dolores Delargo Towers, doyenne of magazine covers and fashion shoots across the globe at an age when most grannies are content to put their feet up and watch daytime telly, <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68455510" target="_blank">who has departed to preside over Fabulon</a>. <em>"I don't do minimal"</em> was her watchword. Amen to that! <small>[More Iris <a href="https://doloresdelargotowers.blogspot.com/2011/06/i-dont-do-minimal.html" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="https://doloresdelargotowers.blogspot.com/2012/09/hairspray-confessions.html" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="https://doloresdelargotowers.blogspot.com/2012/10/cover-star.html" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="https://doloresdelargotowers.blogspot.com/2013/08/this-weekend-im-mostly-dressing-casual_30.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="https://doloresdelargotowers.blogspot.com/2021/08/ageless-style.html" target="_blank">here</a>]</small></li><li>"Woke gone mad" news: Children's classic <em>Mary Poppins</em> is the latest film to be subject to the seemingly never-ending tide of revisionist editing of history, as the British Board of film classification has <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/just-in-jest/popping-the-poppins-non-pc-bubble/articleshow/108116571.cms" target="_blank">increased its rating from "U" (unclassified) to "PG" (parental guidance needed)</a>, due to that fact that it uses the word "Hottenot" to describe South African native tribesmen. WTF?!</li><li>Rimming on TV news: <i>Queer As Folk</i> - the original UK Channel 4 series, not the tacky American remake that went on far, far too long - is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/feb/23/queer-as-folk-tv-show-gay-men-channel-4" target="_blank">celebrating <b>25 years</b></a> since it shocked, and changed, the television-viewing world. <a href="https://www.xvideos.com/video10355101/queer_as_folk_uk_-_charlie_hunnam" target="_blank">Here's <b>that</b> rimming scene</a>, for your delectation. You're welcome.</li><li>Dubious "gay allies" news: None other than millionaire thug Mike Tyson, after <a href="https://www.petertatchell.net/sport/tysonambush/" target="_blank">being challenged by the utterly fearless Peter Tatchell</a>, has made a surprisingly positive statement about gay rights, saying: <i>“I oppose all discrimination against gay people, OK?”</i>.</li></ul><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix1PrcmQ2L7vRlMoVRwGojZ5Yrdnl7IypHfZceiwyXj1TPj0678GFrbRNsoNd6iUMZskgi8Kp9t4naeXzgZ6ohFcTJxlZ373lOqAkA0F-6OPTkfIOovms4PzJFT5u-enjo81BEMUPI_dcADLZ65RUy8qE42SpEK133Jp6fy7jRbMMP3r-olkA-FcgGki_a/s1600/Olly%20Alexander%20seductive.jpg" target="_vlank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="1126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix1PrcmQ2L7vRlMoVRwGojZ5Yrdnl7IypHfZceiwyXj1TPj0678GFrbRNsoNd6iUMZskgi8Kp9t4naeXzgZ6ohFcTJxlZ373lOqAkA0F-6OPTkfIOovms4PzJFT5u-enjo81BEMUPI_dcADLZ65RUy8qE42SpEK133Jp6fy7jRbMMP3r-olkA-FcgGki_a/s1600/Olly%20Alexander%20seductive.jpg"width="600"></a><p><ul><li>And finally: Britain's favourite sexy gay pop-minx Olly Alexander has finally released the video (and full version) of his UK entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024! Verrrry Pet Shop Boys...</li></ul><p><div style="text-align:left;"><a class="youtube-lazy-link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLNUj7kvn2w" style="width: 640px;height:360px;" title="Click to play!">Olly Alexander - <i>Dizzy</i></a></div><p>I would give you an update on today's weather, but it's shit, so I won't bother... Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15501010362663971583noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2492341927226769948.post-63464497471671130632024-03-01T10:04:00.002+00:002024-03-01T10:04:00.126+00:00Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbdidDKuN6mzlfSZNzCIk6lk2ic7w5SR3qDgMEF3KT3uMh1b-1Yym6pqi9O48SFEiamtTdSv-fSwKffy9bSbTdNk8xUpYg8e8cZfzaezmEhNZRacUY7FENMQLuWNP3edYS_W2Wmm36quZxCy8-j2v1u8X1zb1n82PWDlw3OYtuNBVUKViQv9p5k-rX51O/s1600/PXL_20240211_123129820%20crop.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="3171" data-original-width="4228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbdidDKuN6mzlfSZNzCIk6lk2ic7w5SR3qDgMEF3KT3uMh1b-1Yym6pqi9O48SFEiamtTdSv-fSwKffy9bSbTdNk8xUpYg8e8cZfzaezmEhNZRacUY7FENMQLuWNP3edYS_W2Wmm36quZxCy8-j2v1u8X1zb1n82PWDlw3OYtuNBVUKViQv9p5k-rX51O/s1600/PXL_20240211_123129820%20crop.jpg"width="600"></a><br><small><em>Daffs in the extensive gardens here at Dolores Delargo Towers</em></small><p>Happy <a href="https://www.visitwales.com/info/history-heritage-and-traditions/have-happy-st-davids-day-celebration" target="_blank">St David's Day</a>, dear reader!<p>On this day of all things Welsh, how fortuitous it is that one of our fave bands - whose repertoire often featured on our "getting-ready-to-go-out" playlist while we were in Spain - has not one, but <em>two</em> members who were born in the Principality (Ian "H" Watkins and Lisa Scott-Lee).<p>That gives me a perfect excuse to lead the party mood for the weekend <small>[OK, I know I've been off all week, but it's still worth celebrating]</small> - with this!<p><div style="text-align:left;"><a class="youtube-lazy-link" href="hhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnN3YATAe7o" style="width: 640px;height:360px;" title="Click to play!">Steps - <i>Last Thing On My Mind</i></a></div><p>Thank <del>Disco</del> <a href="https://www.stepsofficial.co.uk/" target="_blank">Steps</a> It's Friday!Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15501010362663971583noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2492341927226769948.post-69686801686295305442024-02-29T12:10:00.002+00:002024-02-29T18:31:05.201+00:00Look before you...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgccvslYZPlukHs2UIlMBlrDOdVsS9j8ep7aEFo3-2ZWftB15pcN6xRHcV03a7UqufXtUNfDPyUV0SXNlyhi2buxa5El4rSyrr60HNUR7EwZa7kjmTc3iLdAvGn3aveafc5O_vwBsYZeI1yhYeO7UXmU2E2L2XzMjJqCC_PUbqKaPKqCvaSOnEnZismrtWX/s1600/Camp%20leap.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgccvslYZPlukHs2UIlMBlrDOdVsS9j8ep7aEFo3-2ZWftB15pcN6xRHcV03a7UqufXtUNfDPyUV0SXNlyhi2buxa5El4rSyrr60HNUR7EwZa7kjmTc3iLdAvGn3aveafc5O_vwBsYZeI1yhYeO7UXmU2E2L2XzMjJqCC_PUbqKaPKqCvaSOnEnZismrtWX/s1600/Camp%20leap.gif"width="600"></a><br><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje4K25bMKFNYb2XYfvljt60Zysgm13qLPueNmkRb0skH8Z3W-kJoIo84rSEIzit4SyUh3XRPjL_SLxPj-FaANPAXBvrxQFbrqIftBIt4Gkyn6oiWH9PyNT2e2MCNN6pSZU0LiI7uUVT0IX0XzSotuBF5kamDZrfEZ_UjnPk6nDcTAR-a35kefUidc_LgZR/s1600/Lost%20in%20Motion%20leap.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="283" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje4K25bMKFNYb2XYfvljt60Zysgm13qLPueNmkRb0skH8Z3W-kJoIo84rSEIzit4SyUh3XRPjL_SLxPj-FaANPAXBvrxQFbrqIftBIt4Gkyn6oiWH9PyNT2e2MCNN6pSZU0LiI7uUVT0IX0XzSotuBF5kamDZrfEZ_UjnPk6nDcTAR-a35kefUidc_LgZR/s1600/Lost%20in%20Motion%20leap.gif"width="600"></a><p><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_K_jf8i8KOo/XlpUevgQ0zI/AAAAAAAAwUE/_Xth7cgrizIzijUPHMjrzU4TGb7vN3QVQCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Leaping%2B4.gif" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_K_jf8i8KOo/XlpUevgQ0zI/AAAAAAAAwUE/_Xth7cgrizIzijUPHMjrzU4TGb7vN3QVQCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Leaping%2B4.gif"width="300"></a><br><small><em>[Yes! <a href="https://jon-doloresdelargo.blogspot.com/2020/02/hoorah.html" target="_blank">He's back again</a>...]</em></small><p>It's a leap year, dear reader!<p>Once again, our thoughts go out to those poor unfortunates whose real birthday only ever comes around every four years, including the late, great Joss Ackland, burlesque legend Tempest Storm, <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-68425223" target="_blank">banned</a> rapper Ja Rule, British Royal James Ogilvy, Gioachino Rossini, Dinah Shore, and...<p>...born 120 years ago today, Mr Jimmy Dorsey:<p><div style="text-align:left;"><a class="youtube-lazy-link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9C4551gtgQ" style="width: 640px;height:360px;" title="Click to play!">Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra (1938)</a></div><p>Ah, <em>that's</em> better...Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15501010362663971583noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2492341927226769948.post-61381933538236937082024-02-28T11:57:00.005+00:002024-02-28T15:43:17.356+00:00Try Tower Hamlets, my dear, before you go home<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOXELGTIl6zhCP0BNkhB1ITU1RQxqbcIq37ug_pmsjM9gOoWLu-BnWFxtJBRBZ3ZJZvhXp-EJTB1cpz9X8LWlnHRiDC0xpNiIyRAB07L7LUl6MgbEybumbTDrmb3K9NFZ7snfy5HVz3et2mbaUdgNhyx_Cd30LV6KgwZL4eVPLGvb8M5IQ-RvaCmbLjL3A/s1600/Barry-Island-Postcard.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="900" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOXELGTIl6zhCP0BNkhB1ITU1RQxqbcIq37ug_pmsjM9gOoWLu-BnWFxtJBRBZ3ZJZvhXp-EJTB1cpz9X8LWlnHRiDC0xpNiIyRAB07L7LUl6MgbEybumbTDrmb3K9NFZ7snfy5HVz3et2mbaUdgNhyx_Cd30LV6KgwZL4eVPLGvb8M5IQ-RvaCmbLjL3A/s1600/Barry-Island-Postcard.jpg"width="550"></a><p><blockquote>Right-wingers say parts of the UK have become ‘no-go areas’ due to immigration, but they’re wrong. Here are the British places you should never set foot in, simply because they are irretrievably dreadful:<p><b>Butlin’s</b><br>You might get E. coli from the waterslides or bedbugs from the holiday cottages, but the true horror of Butlin’s holiday parks, whether in Bognor Regis, Skegness or Minehead, lies in the fact that they are haunted by Z-list celebrities from the 90s who will crush your spirit by caterwauling at you during the evening ‘entertainment’. Don’t risk it.<p><b>Luton Airport</b><br>The town is horrifying enough, but Luton’s airport represents a true crime against humanity. Deceptively called ‘London Luton’, people accidentally fly here expecting to step off the plane right onto Oxford Street. They instead find themselves in the arse-end of nowhere and have to navigate Europe’s worst railway system to actually get to their destination, which takes a further hour and a half and costs £300.<p><b>Cheltenham Literary Festival</b><br>Cheltenham is posh most of the year, but it’s during the annual book festival that it sucks in the worst of society’s upper echelons. No normal person can enter a café without being deafened by a braying conversation between two women called Bunty, who both simply adored the latest Ian McEwan. And you can’t walk down some streets after dark without accidentally wandering into a dangerously middle-class discussion between David Mitchell and Fi Glover. Stay in your car and lock the doors.<p><b>The Trafford Centre</b><br>Huge, windowless American-style shopping malls fill most people with dread, and there is certainly no place more scary than this gaudily outfitted Northern shopping centre on the last weekend of half term. For people with a weak constitution, a single minute in the massive JD Sports could prove fatal.<p><b>Reading and Leeds festivals</b><br>Forget Birmingham, if you truly want to go somewhere it feels like your life is in danger, try the Saturday night at Reading or Leeds. Everything is on fire, everyone is off their face and the security team have locked themselves in a portakabin rather than face 50,000 drunk, marauding teenagers wearing Billie Eilish t-shirts and trying to push the toilets over.<p><b>The Royal Mile, Edinburgh</b><br>It’s crammed with people, the shops are stuffed with tartan-themed tat and everywhere you turn there is some poor bastard in a kilt trying to make a living by pumping out tunes on the bagpipes nine hours a day. On top of this are the hoards of Harry Potter freaks and American tourists convinced their ancestors were born in the castle. Go on holiday to Tower Hamlets, you’ll have a much nicer time.</blockquote><p><a href="https://www.thedailymash.co.uk/" target="_blank"><i>The Daily Mash</i></a><p>Of course. Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15501010362663971583noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2492341927226769948.post-63467705303476105872024-02-27T19:14:00.001+00:002024-02-28T10:29:10.448+00:00Música nueva<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDNOc_oRQ7xYNyD3m28zXyUHmI8jttEwomh1hMNXvrScNSbtU7FBxpOx0xxXRAlq60HO8re8Hcg4iLxYLGAIf5mmtsnl9BE7txV_8WwuVXoogYGcLtuuj-6IRBLVVSLwlKaOrs8nAm11NQ7CHrd74XkjNS_kwdHH2qquI7Ldd6S-eyfHdUCLAClJPc-yw/s1600/Reset.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDNOc_oRQ7xYNyD3m28zXyUHmI8jttEwomh1hMNXvrScNSbtU7FBxpOx0xxXRAlq60HO8re8Hcg4iLxYLGAIf5mmtsnl9BE7txV_8WwuVXoogYGcLtuuj-6IRBLVVSLwlKaOrs8nAm11NQ7CHrd74XkjNS_kwdHH2qquI7Ldd6S-eyfHdUCLAClJPc-yw/s1600/Reset.gif"/></a><p>Still in a bit of a lazy mood, catching up after the holiday...<p>...but there's always time for some of the "newer" music that has caught my ear of late!<p>First up, the welcome return of an old crush of mine...<p><div style="text-align:left;"><a class="youtube-lazy-link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFrHZPJ7IRo" style="width: 640px;height:360px;" title="Click to play!">MIKA - <i>Jane Birkin</i></a></div><p>One that I have adored ever since <a href="https://inexplicabledevice.blogspot.com/2024/01/im-never-gonna-let-you-see-that-part.html" target="_blank">Mr DeVice first featured it</a> a while back:<p><div style="text-align:left;"><a class="youtube-lazy-link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rnPoYOyV20" style="width: 640px;height:360px;" title="Click to play!">Bright Light Bright Light - <i>You Want My...</i></a></div><p>It doesn't get much gayer than that - or does it?<p><div style="text-align:left;"><a class="youtube-lazy-link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUVfoybVqIg" style="width: 640px;height:360px;" title="Click to play!">Pet Shop Boys - <i>Loneliness</i></a></div><p>Now, here's a lad who knows how to dance all that sadness off!<p><div style="text-align:left;"><a class="youtube-lazy-link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1LeJjI2qZ0" style="width: 640px;height:360px;" title="Click to play!">Conan Gray - <i>Lonely Dancers</i></a></div><p>Speaking of welcome returns, here's an utterly faboo new number from our favourite Bristolian belles:<p><div style="text-align:left;"><a class="youtube-lazy-link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoSVnzrMIIc" style="width: 640px;height:360px;" title="Click to play!">Bananarama - <i>Supernova</i></a></div><p>Apparently Radio 1's <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-67708762" target="_blank">"Hottest Record of the Year" 2023</a>, this is a catchy little number indeed (though the singer could do with a good diction coach)...<p><div style="text-align:left;"><a class="youtube-lazy-link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3FNUvJYGpE" style="width: 640px;height:360px;" title="Click to play!">Nothing But Thieves - <i>Welcome to the DCC</i></a></div><p>This dancy choon sounds like a remix of a Kraftwerk track from the late 70s/early 80s - with the freakiest video imaginable!<p><div style="text-align:left;"><a class="youtube-lazy-link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7EAtQeQ900" style="width: 640px;height:360px;" title="Click to play!">Camelphat & Ali Love - <i>Compute</i></a></div><p>Saving the best to last, however...this!<p><div style="text-align:left;"><a class="youtube-lazy-link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UEJSbN3PWU" style="width: 640px;height:360px;" title="Click to play!">Ariana DeBose, Boy George, Nile Rodgers - <i>Electric Energy</i> [from <em>Argylle</em>]</a></div><p>As ever, dear reader, let me know your thoughts...Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15501010362663971583noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2492341927226769948.post-66985875566784531692024-02-26T15:00:00.007+00:002024-02-27T00:54:30.399+00:00Amigos para Siempre *<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSZoqKkS3xI1_Mqmw2QYSgMIASmvoug72B6mGnOkicPlhzJ0jFPk5ViM2Nuoc1dinpV-7vnIp4mzOWZyBigrl-kCKTnt3XkYPeMqCMw_ywkmqF59l67ZLJyQFXp0VkNbI_S3Cvstio6vgN1qh1CLwyGkBm59IfPvXuFewBDrdqtlxzc7SrWg1udORm8wFG/s1600/PXL_20240224_095634802%20crop.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2604" data-original-width="3472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSZoqKkS3xI1_Mqmw2QYSgMIASmvoug72B6mGnOkicPlhzJ0jFPk5ViM2Nuoc1dinpV-7vnIp4mzOWZyBigrl-kCKTnt3XkYPeMqCMw_ywkmqF59l67ZLJyQFXp0VkNbI_S3Cvstio6vgN1qh1CLwyGkBm59IfPvXuFewBDrdqtlxzc7SrWg1udORm8wFG/s1600/PXL_20240224_095634802%20crop.jpg"width="640"></a><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncPfCyb6hD6S4hPV6eVr9uiE3NCMxCUbm18Z1frcFlmH55y0E22aZJJ2fINVR1bCNowIRgsxv0RnQ7aOX8QDOKOhy3qh8v5aLBqhdE3TwmuofIs98Xj-sdW8B-yz6kyifVji1dEWWKF8fORd-ZLqqD68cxWS7e_3XNYRQWF8XS8ODceqPCRCcsNAPt-0G/s1600/FB_IMG_1708848900952.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncPfCyb6hD6S4hPV6eVr9uiE3NCMxCUbm18Z1frcFlmH55y0E22aZJJ2fINVR1bCNowIRgsxv0RnQ7aOX8QDOKOhy3qh8v5aLBqhdE3TwmuofIs98Xj-sdW8B-yz6kyifVji1dEWWKF8fORd-ZLqqD68cxWS7e_3XNYRQWF8XS8ODceqPCRCcsNAPt-0G/s1600/FB_IMG_1708848900952.jpg"width="600"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-l8ClO6W2xidpvec3oPGxYzbjZUXFgsp00GU2kCIA3JbnX9fN2kV8wA9xQtNqizMI5ENFF4iVjJi6LVOL2J3UE53LMOKhPUCGAkZT_eD8HB8v96B-40A_vBcGfBuhEGLbUs59o_qAqpRlw2Qcm6WJrERqJiuy-qx2Ib0UAqx8TBZTzM_cef3OxFYlH4T/s1600/PXL_20240220_130312669~2.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2775" data-original-width="3700" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-l8ClO6W2xidpvec3oPGxYzbjZUXFgsp00GU2kCIA3JbnX9fN2kV8wA9xQtNqizMI5ENFF4iVjJi6LVOL2J3UE53LMOKhPUCGAkZT_eD8HB8v96B-40A_vBcGfBuhEGLbUs59o_qAqpRlw2Qcm6WJrERqJiuy-qx2Ib0UAqx8TBZTzM_cef3OxFYlH4T/s1600/PXL_20240220_130312669~2.jpg"width="600"></a><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqqjuRArxrrJpCc7ayx6z9mG_2rCvld_FtrGRzi16eDQA6a5dnhMazqxWsNEstOgpb5WX_GjXJTHzV58VMGEeKXxVuasp0u4JsjKd3kWAyRXg8XAFF6DBROe3vTb_26kpEre-8QIchqrIKDDZPe3Ed_cU8hoj4DJ3j_H6nWmJRER-AjHaLAF19rRj8o-E/s1600/IMG-20240218-WA0003.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="739" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqqjuRArxrrJpCc7ayx6z9mG_2rCvld_FtrGRzi16eDQA6a5dnhMazqxWsNEstOgpb5WX_GjXJTHzV58VMGEeKXxVuasp0u4JsjKd3kWAyRXg8XAFF6DBROe3vTb_26kpEre-8QIchqrIKDDZPe3Ed_cU8hoj4DJ3j_H6nWmJRER-AjHaLAF19rRj8o-E/s1600/IMG-20240218-WA0003.jpg"width="650"></a><br><small><em>[click any pic to embiggen]</em></small><p>Yes, we're back in cold, windy London, after an utterly fantastic week in Benalmadena <i>en familia</i> - me, Madam A, Baby Steve, Houseboy Alex, Carol, Jen, Our Sal and Lou - a week of sunshine, booze, <a href="https://losmellizos.net/en/saint-tropez-2/" target="_blank">good food</a>, great laughs, booze, late nights, indulgence, relaxation and booze!<p>Needless to say, yesterday and today have been rather slow...<p>Did we miss anything while we were away? Not a lot. Ukraine, Yemen and Gaza are all still in utter turmoil, there was a semi-meltdown in the House of Commons over a debate on the latter, the first private spacecraft landed on the Moon, the insane Trump versus senile Biden bore-fest continued Stateside, foreign secretary David Cameron paid a vist to the Falkland Islands amid Argentinian "muscle-flexing" over its sovereignty claims, we are in the final few days of LGBT+ History Month and the only events worth going to were last week, and the most respectable of all department stores <a href="https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/why-is-john-lewis-selling-sex-toys/" target="_blank">John Lewis <i>started selling sex toys</i></a>!<p>We missed the centenaries of Gloria Vanderbilt, Lee Marvin and swing jazz clarinettist and bandleader Buddy DeFranco, the <b>95th birthday</b> of the marvellous Dame Patricia Routledge, what would have been the 90th birthdays of the faboo Rue McClanahan, Barry Humphries/Dame Edna Everage and the gorgeous Alan Bates, the (gulp) <b>70th</b> birthdays of John Travolta, Anthony Head, Plastic Bertrand, Patty Hearst and the legendary DJ and Factory Records executive (who founded M People and discovered Happy Mondays) Mike Pickering, and the 60th of "Brat-Packer" Matt Dillon.<p>Thankfully none of our icons popped their clogs while we were away, but we did miss bidding fond farewells to soap opera legend John Savident aka butcher <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYN34y0t0-I" target="_blank">"Fred Elliott" in <i>Coronation Street</i></a>, and to Iain Kerr, who was one half of "The Brothers Butch" whose pioneering gay number <em>Kay, Why?</em> <a href="https://jon-doloresdelargo.blogspot.com/2022/02/why-did-you-slip-through-my-fingers.html" target="_blank">I featured here a couple of years ago</a>.<p>Did I bring anything back for your delectation, dear reader? Try this - definitely not a new song (it's from 1992), but new to us so that's all that matters:<p><div style="text-align:left;"><a class="youtube-lazy-link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_VcW5XAedE" style="width: 640px;height:360px;" title="Click to play!">Los Manolos - <i>Amigos para Siempre</i></a></div><p>Is it good to be back? NO!!<p>Thank heavens I still have another week off to catch up...<p><small><em>["Amigos para Siempre" = "Friends for life" in Spanish, which seems appropriate]</em></small>Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15501010362663971583noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2492341927226769948.post-55863653771631338302024-02-17T09:06:00.026+00:002024-02-17T09:06:00.258+00:00We've vamos-ed<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRwJxtKc7VUscJ1cI15_G6p5vUtD_zih4xGYFoSUP8prkaINEme6-U4AmfKLNhSd1ybg4QOV9kDYX6P1NYrR-Nr6hWU2NADryEmTg7pu2NhYmzlZNlPkJFqUk0ca0e6s_DPLLfYyKeIkPnKrvop_LwqAN-R_GesN6itMYPj-9_AoCVTa7hjdVuiwnQ0hm/s1600/Sun%20cream.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="374" data-original-width="501" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRwJxtKc7VUscJ1cI15_G6p5vUtD_zih4xGYFoSUP8prkaINEme6-U4AmfKLNhSd1ybg4QOV9kDYX6P1NYrR-Nr6hWU2NADryEmTg7pu2NhYmzlZNlPkJFqUk0ca0e6s_DPLLfYyKeIkPnKrvop_LwqAN-R_GesN6itMYPj-9_AoCVTa7hjdVuiwnQ0hm/s1600/Sun%20cream.gif"/></a><p>By the time you see this, dear reader, our flight should be in the descent to Malaga Airport! I have never needed a holiday more...<p>Here's our "theme tune":<p><div style="text-align:left;"><a class="youtube-lazy-link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTsVJ1PsnMs" style="width: 640px;height:360px;" title="Click to play!">Righeira - <em>Vamos a la Playa</em></a></div><p>It's traditional.<p>Next stop: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Palm5BeachBar/" target="_blank">Palm 5 Beach Bar</a>!<p>"Normal" service should resume in a week (or so)...<p><hr><p>PS - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3sNnVrzlD-8" target="_blank">a parting gift</a>...Jonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15501010362663971583noreply@blogger.com16