Tuesday 23rd June 2026

Before going to bed Monday night, I checked the weather forecast and saw there was a 50% chance of rain at some point overnight.

So I got the washing in, closed the windows on the car. During the afternoon and evening, a strong storm crept over Bristol and Somerset, with lightning flashes at an astonishing rate.

London suffered a large electrical storm in the early hours of Tuesday. I woke up just after four with rain hammering down, and soon after the thunder began.

The rain and the storm continued until nearly nine in the morning, totally unforecasted so unexpected

But we were well awake before the alarm went off.

The car was due to go into the garage to have its air con looked at, if i were to go to the gym and be back before seven, so Jools could drop the car off then catch a bus to the centre, meant that it was easier, and less stressful not to go.

We didn't go Sunday either, and I will probably not go Saturday either. I'll pick up the pieces next week, no worries.

So instead of phys I had a lazy morning. Helped Jools with the chores, drank coffee, took out the trash once the rain stopped.

There was podcasts to listen to, so instead of listening to David and Mark on the bike, I sat on the patio once the rain stopped with Mulder and Scully, the storm had cleared by was cloudy with a fine, cooling breeze.

Jools was out until after one, so once back we had a slice of tart and a coffee. I would regret the coffee that night as I lay in bed and sleep wouldn't come.

The sun broke through the clouds at about three, and it got very warm indeed. The heatwave had arrived.

Later, the breeze dies, and the humidity lay on Chez Jelltex like a heavy blanket.

I make chorizo hash for dinner. The peppers needed using up, otherwise I wouldn't have cooked. But we have cold beers/cider when we sit down to eat.

For the evening there was England's second game. A poor 0-0 draw with Ghana, and England unable to unpick their locked defence.

A reality check after the demolition of Croatia last week.

Monday 22nd June 2026

The UK is to suffer the second major heatwave of the summer this week. It should peak on Wednesday and temperatures in and around London might top 40 degrees.

It won't be so hot here, of course. We live near the coast and up on the downs near to the cliffs, so we get our own unique weather, different even from Dover or Deal.

So, it won't be hot as that here, but maybe 30 on Wednesday, and so if there was any orchiding to be done, it would have to be done before then, which is why I was driving to Temple Ewell at half six Monday morning, wearing my new walking shoes and camera in the boot.

It was hot overnight, so despite needing more than six hours sleep, that would have to do, so after coffee I was up and out, while Jools said she had no intention of coming along.

The reason for going is that in good years there are thousands of Chalk fragant orchids up there. Plenty of Common spotteds too, as well as Pyramidal. And there is a chance of a hybrid between any of the them.

I parked behind the old George and Dragon, slung my camera round my neck, and began to climb the rough steps into the wood. At least I was only going up to Temple Ewell Down, not Lydden Down, which would involve a climb three times as far.

In the lower meadow, there was a host, hundreds, of Pyramidals. Something I have not seen before. But despite looking hard, I found no pure white ones, but plenty of light pink.

Up through the second wood and out onto the open downland, I climbed up the cuts made by sheep above the path Seeing plenty of Chalk fragrants on the way.

At the top there is a footpath that goes round the gentle summit in a graceful arc, and on the gently slopes there can be the thousands of Chalk fragrants.

Numbers well down this year, and many already starting to brown off, the CSOs were already just dried spikes, pointing to the sky. A few small Pyramidals were among them, but I saw no obvious hybrids, and with it being humid but cloudy, there were no butterflies on the wing.

Orchids are not the only plants up there. Eyebrights, Scabious, Ox-eye daises, Fairy flax and to my delight, close to the ground, Squinancywort.

I have no idea how to pronounce it either.

So, I turned back down the slope to the pat, through the gate and back down to the lower meadow and to the car.

I drove home, Jools was going to take the car and run chores, while I had a brew and then breakfast.

I spent the morning preparing and baking a Limoncello and Grappa tart, something I make this time every year. It has 12 egg yolks, three punnets of raspberries, ground almonds, zest and juice of three lemons. And the booze too, and is a king among tarts.

As that cooked, I had to go into town for an injection. First in a series of six injections in fact.

My last blood test showed very low levels of vitamin B12, so I have to have injections on three days over two weeks.

I drive to Morrison's, park there and walk to the surgery.

Once I was called, the nurse asked me how I was, then told me the jab would hurt as the dose was like a syrup.

I looked away, she jabbed.

And that was it.

See you in two days, I say.

I walk back to Morrison's, get some ciders for Jools as their offers are so good, then drive back home where Jools had turned the oven off once the tart was cooked.

I sat in the garden to read. Something caught my eye, and there was a pigeon.

It had rings on each foot, and seemed tameish.

It would not fly away, just hung round, walking up and down, pecking at the ground looking for food.

I came inside to look on Google about what to do with a racing pigeon. It said give it food and will probably fly off. as well, approach the bird, slowly, throw a towel over it and read the numbers on the rings and report to the society.

I tried, and freaked the pigeon out with the throwing a towel.

But it came back, so I put some seed out, and it happily pecked and ate.

Problem was that the cats were very interested in it, and tried to catch it several times. Maybe it will fly off after being fed?

Maybe.

We tried a slice of the tart for supper, along with a brew, just for QC purposes. Good news is that it passed the test.

Argentina on the tellybox in the evening, with the boy Messi scoring two more goals.

Rubber Soul (1965)

Rubber sould was released less than four months after Help!

Think about that for a minute.

Having watched the Anthology TV series, its clear that the relentlessness of their schedule, the writing, recording, TV appearances, touring home and overseas, the constant demands must have been wearing. Something that might have been novel in 1963, but three years on, almost unbearable. No time to be themselves, to walk among is aas mere mortals, these were Beatles, Gods of popular music.

And then the pressure for something new.

These were the times when releasing three albums a year was written into contracts, and so artists had to deliver. But on top of that, was the expectations of the whole world: where would The Beatles go and do now?

It was recorded during October, when the band was free of any other commitments, which must have been for the first time in their short career.

The album was preceded by the double A side single, "We Can Work it Out"/ "Day Tripper". "We Can Work it Out" was my entry point into the band, and a single I bought second hand in about 1980, during my heavy metal period.

I no Longer have it.

Side 1.

1. "Drive My Car"
2. "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)"
3. "You Won't See Me"
4. "Nowhere Man"
5. "Think for Yourself"
6. "The Word"
7. "Michelle"

Side 2.

1. "What Goes On"
2. "Girl"
3. "I'm Looking Through You"
4. "In My Life"
5. "Wait"
6. "If I Needed Someone"
7. "Run for Your Life"

The album's 14 tracks clocks in at a second under 36 minutes. Songs arrive, but never overstay their welcome. "Drive my Car" kicks things off, a familiar Beatles song for sure, but listening to it on this their sixth album, the progression is obvious. Again this is a song that could have been recorded sixty years ago, or sixty hours ago. It has a good beat, twangy guitars, especiall at the end, and Lennon and McCartney's shared vocals. It all seemed so easy. And all songs on the record are penned by either the Fab duo, or my Harrison or with Ringo a joint-writer. Just four months after their last album. And film. Remarkable.

We are so used to eastern musical instruments being played on western pop records, we hardly notice. But what must have it been like to be in 1965 and hear "Norwegian Wood" for the first time, sitar and all? George had taight himself to play after hearing Ravi Shankar, and it complements the accousitic guitar perfectly, and Lennon's vocals. This song is so perfect, I could cry. I could feel emotions rising as it played. I first heard this in 1979 when my friend, owen, brough Beatles Rarities to a house party. It sounded like nothing else then, and still does now.

"You Won't See Me" is the only tack on the record longer than three minutes, and even still, when it does fade, you wish it would carry on for much, much longer. Here's the thing: I thought I would enjoy their earlier material more, but the depth and sophistication of this and the Help! is just mindblowing. You can see how the band and George Martin were now using technology for multi-tracking allowing the band to harmonise with themselved between the vocal and backing track. Again, a modern song, sixty years old.

"Nowhere Man" rolls along next. Familiar and yet stange. A simple song, little over two minutes long, with a simple break before the chorus comes back and fades. We've come a long way in the three yeas since "Love me Do". As perfect as its possible to get, he says before the next banger comes along. I think it has been good to listen to these albums in order, to appreciate how they developed, rather than having an entire body of work to plough through.

"Think for Yourself" is a Harrison penned and sung track, laden with "dirty" guitar. It rattles along. And again, think how it must have been to feel that not only were you the youngest member of the group, third singer and third song-writing too, allowed to have one or two tracks per album.

Next track, "The Word", is as 60s as its possible to be. That organ backing dates it pretty well. Not that its a bad thing, just saying.More layered vocals, trangy guitars. Would have been a hit single for anyone else, here's it's the sixth track on side one.

"Michelle" closes side 1. Paul singing, simple backing track. Pop perfection. I thought I knew the song, heard it a million times, but then just to listen, to appreciate. The yearning in the final verse. My belle.

Side two opens with "What Goes On" co written and sung by Starr. It is a step up from songs on previous albums he sang on. Starr has a good voice, and yet is the worst or fourth best vocalist in the band. But he was the best drummer, so alls good.

"Girl" is a down-tempo tune with Lennon on vocals, a simple strummed backing. Few Beatles songs seem to feature happy relationships, mostly mourn for lost love or love unrequited. Just an observation.

Paul returns to vocals on "I'm Looking Through You", starts with simple accoustic backing, then picks up after the first verse. Twangy guitar and organ features once again. Love has a nasty habit of disappearing overnight. See what I mean.

"In My Life" has a lyric older than Paul and John's tender years. Another astonishing song, timeless. And beyond my words.

"Wait" has Paul and John on vocals, and clatters along with more jangly guitars. I've been good, as good as I can be, is hardly a ringing endorsement, guys.

13th track is the Harrison written and sang "If I Needed Someone", whch shows a clear direction his writing would lead in the years to come. I would venture to say The Byrds listened to this a few times. This is wonderful, first time I have heard it. Glorious harmonies.

The album closes with "Run for Your Life", not Run for Your Wife, and an altogether scary vibe on this.

The Anthology documentary skipped over Rubber Soul and Revolver period, focussing rather an whole episode on the recording of "Free as a Bird", which is odd. These two albums were hugely influential, and its clear to see why, at least for Rubber Soul. An album showing the band maturing quickly, with Martin's studio techniques struggling to keep up with the ideas.

This is a record showing a band at the peak of their powers, but hints of future glories to come.

Sunday 21st June 2026

Our room at the UJC faced east, so when the sun rose on the summer solstice, it shone into our room.

Maybe not so hot at first, but we woke at just before six after less than six hour's sleep, the view out of the window was sensational.

We have a shower and get dressed, thinking that breakfast was at half six, but being a weekend was an hour later. We sat in the lobby for half an hour until the restaurant was open.

Long gone are the days when you could stay here for less than sixty quid, and have breakfast the next morning for well under a tenner. Breakfast now costs £14.00, but there is lots of it, and unlimited.

We have fruit and yogurt before having a little of the bad fried stuff, and a couple of cups of tea.

We go back up to the room, to discover it now as hot as the surface of the sun, and unbearable.

We pack our few things and leave, deciding a bench on a shady platform would be cool.

Cool is a relative term, of course. We cross the road, go up into the station, then up again so to access Waterloo East.

We had half an hour, but truth is, it was darned hot on the platform too, so much so even the waiting room was hot.

This is London in summer, and the worse thing is that it is going to top forty degrees by Wednesday, and humid with it, so dangerous too.

I was glad to get on the train when it arrived, and found plenty of seats from which to choose.

At London Bridge, half of London got on, getting out of the city for the coast. The train was full, and people standing as well.

As the high speed line was closed, a few "classic" services were "fast", or in NSE terms, semi-fast, only stopping at Tonbridge on our way to Ashford.

Few people got off until we reached Folkestone, then families wit push chairs and bags of stuff for their kids got off.

And more joined us in getting of at Dover, including the German/Japanese couple on our table, who were going to the castle for the afternoon.

How much time is needed to explore the castle, they ased when we said we lived in the town?

At least a day I said

They were young and would nip round double quick I'm sure.

Jen came to collect us from the station as she had an errand to run, so took us back to Whitfield to collect the car. And after some brief chit chat we left in our car for the final leg home, getting inside at just gone eleven.

Obviously the cats claimed not to have been fed, so we gave them some morsels, unpacked and poured an ice cold drink.

Home.

A deep sigh of relief.

Too hot for a brew, so pints of cold juice were poured and enjoyed sitting in the shade of the living room.

It was too hot to cook, so lunch was more cheese and crackers and a beer. Perfect.

The entertainment in the five o'clock kick off was Belgium v Iran, which ended 0-0 and drives another nail through the heart of another golden generation.

Generations should only be called golden if they win something. As with England too.

There was an hour between games, time to partake in #WildflowerHour. post shots and make a few comments before it was kick off in the Spain v Saudi game, with Spain 3-0 up before the first half drinks break, should have gone to bed then, instead I sit up and see just one more Spanish goal.

Rejoin the EU?

Last weekend in London, there was another march in support of the UK rejoining the UK.

And an official from the EU stated that of course the EU wanted the UK to rejoin.

And Michael Barnier suggested that the UK could rejoin on the same terms it left on.

All sound fine.

But.

We must remember the time and cost that the EU spent on Brexit. And the fact that it wasn't just Brexit, but the rejection of decades of European unity that the UK threw in the bin.

I have said this before, that for the UK to be in a position to rejoin, as a nation we must have an honest conversation about what Brexit was, and how much it has cost the country. With people like Farage suggesting still that Brexit wasn't done properly or hard enough, we're clearly not there yet.

And for the EU to be happy to readmit the UK, there would have to be overwhelming political support for rejoining. And with Labour and the Conservatives both against joining the SM or CU, there is no political will for rejoining, regardless for over 60% of voters wanting it, and more supporting closer relations.

There can be no real growth in the economy until there are closer ties.

And the media could hold those responsible for Brexit to account, by going back through interviews and quotes over the last ten years about how Brexit would only have uupsides. Until then, we just go round in circlies, circling the drain of doom.

Saturday 20th June 2026

I first heard of The B52s back in July 1979 when it was featured on BBC's ill-advised reboot of Juke Box Jury. If I remember correctly, it was panned.

And I didn't get it either.

A year later, and Give Me Back my Man was featured on Radio 1's Roundtable.

I loved its driving bass, and Cindy's lead vocal. Years later I found a 7 inch and bought it. Over the years I have grown to love it.

And then in 1983, Song For a Future Generation bewitched me. I bought the 12 inch and played it to death. It was as kitsch as heck, fun and brilliant.

In 1989, their career when through the roof when Cosmic Thing was released, and two singles, Love Shack and Roam were huge global hits.

But never saw them live.

And then a couple of years back they announced their final tour, so I thought I had lost the chance of seeing them perform. But the tour carried on: residencies in Vegas, appearances on TV shows, and a double-headed tour with Devo across America last year was carried on into 2026 with a show at the old Millennium Dome, the O2.

I forgot about the release of the tickets until and hour later, when there were a few of the more expensive seats left. But as Jools liked them too, we stumped up the cash, over £400 for two tickets, but the cost softened by the fact that Lene Lovich and The Rezillos would play on the bill too.

We booked a room at the Union Jack Club, and all we had to do was autumn, winter and spring to pass, and us remember that the gig was on.

As it happened, the O2 and their partners never let me forget as the e mails came tumbling in as the day of the gig approached.

Jen was going to look after the cats, we briefed her on Friday night. So all was set.

We woke up on Saturday as usual at about half five. After the usual chores we went to the gym to do a session as we would miss out on Sunday.

Then back home for breakfast, a brew and a shower, so we could leave the house just before ten to go to Jen's where we would leave the car then catch the electric bus into town to the station.

We briefed Jen some more, and she was happy. So we left her and Sylv and walked to the bus stop at the end of her street, and on time was the bus.

It took us via Richmond Park, Tesco and the two new roads and overbridge down past the castle and round the town before dumping us off at the station. Buses are time to link up with the main London trains.

We bought our ticket to Waterloo East, then sat on the platform to wait.

It was a glorious day, sunny and a light wind, enough that it was cooling.

Though when the train left the portal of Harbour Tunnel, we were greeted with fog, which had just rolled in.

It cleared by the time we got to Folkestone, so after that it was a trundle up through the Kent countryside through Ashford, Tonbridge, Sevenoaks along the UK's longest piece of straight line, and through long tunnels in the North Downs and into suburbia.

We got out at Waterloo East, where it didn't feel hot. Warm, but again with a breeze.

Up the slope and down the side exit onto Waterloo Road, with the station's latticed glass frontage in front of us. Over the road, and then along until we came to the junction, where a GSV search had revealed a gastro-pub, two sushi restaurants, several pizza places, and a Cuban place.

That sounded interesting, so we went there.

Jools had pulled beef, and I ordered pulled pork. Both came with beans, rice and plantain.

We both had a cocktail, and me a beer. Then waited for the food to arrive.

Not as spicy as expected, though the beef had better flavour.

We walked back to the Union Jack Club, as our room should have been ready for three. We were twenty minutes early, so were told that could we wait for quarter of an hour?

We could.

So, we retired to the bar, where the rugby was just beginning, the final between Exeter and Northampton. As it started, it became clearer that there aren't rules as such, players tackle each other, ruck and mauls form, and sometimes the referee blows, sometimes not. Two players were carried off within ten minutes with serious leg injuries, while the game carried on round them.

We went back to reception, got our key, so went up to the 18th floor. We had views over Waterloo West and to the City and St Pauls beyond. I spent half an hour watching trains arriving and departing, before snoozing for an hour.

At five we got our stuff together, and walked from the UJC to Waterloo, then down two sets of escalators down to the Jubilee Line to catch a train for the six stops to North Greenwich.

The train was pretty full, but we got seats. And sadly, for a railway completed in the 1970s, its trains do not have air conditioning. But as I wrote that, I realise that the 1970s were not last decade, but 50 years ago!

We go to the surface, where there was a nice cooling breeze blowing, making it much fresher than expected.

We went to a small Sainsbury's to get a sandwich and drink, then sat outside eating and people watching, as it was a target rich environment.

Doors opened at six, so we walk to the O2 arena, and joined the line to get through security, then up another escalator to the first concourse, where there was food, drink and merchandise, but at prices you would not believe!

A thin t shirt would cost you £49, and a pint of lager in a plastic glass would rip you off £9.50.

There were queues at all sections, with those doors not opening until half six.

It was hot and humid, as it would be in the arena. When they let us in.

At seven we were let in, and our seats were three rows from the front in posh seats that kind of reclined but also had holders for drinks. Maybe they had a tad more legroom.

But being one block along from the side of the stage meant we had great views. And as we sat, familiar tunes played as the final touches were made to the stage for the first turn.

I have written about Lene Lovich before. I first heard Lucky Number whilst staying with a family friend in Leytonstone. She was on one of the London magazine news shows, and I loved the song, even if it was unconventional, and her more so.

It was a huge hit, but she couldn't really follow it up, though New Toy and Say When did trouble the top forty.

The mixing desk had all settings turned up to 11, and it was loud.

LOUD.

Adjustments were made, and it was better. Lene came out covered in a metallic shawl, but after the first song took it off.

Being bottom of the bill they did a short set, maybe six songs, and s played to a half empty arena. But Lucky Number obviously got a good reception, and the band did at the end of their set, with Lene overcome by the great reception.

A half hour wait while roadies clear one quarter of the equipment from the stage, and then Scotland's Rezillos took the stage, bloody loud too.

The band are best know for a punk-pop hit, Top of the Pops, but are so much more than that, having supported The Ramones in 1977 and themselves having played CBGB's too at that time.

The two singers, Faye Fife and Eugene stalk the stage. Eugene, with a huge leather jacket making him look like a small ogre growing at the audience when Faye was singing.

They have new material out in the autumn, and did a couple of tracks from that as well as the better know songs. And were gone after little more than half an hour, leaving us with our ears ringing.

Next up were Devo.

Devo, I thought I knew from Jocko Home, Whip It and a few other tracks, but bloody hell, they took the stage and grabbed the night by the throat and did not let go.

Incessant beats, driving bass lines, and angular guitars, while well thought out graphics played out on the large screen behind.

There was barely a pause between songs, and their sheer brilliance had me won over very quickly.

There was a pause, then they came back without keyboards to cover their earlier work, and again battered us into submission.

No doubt one of the top five gigs I have seen. And such a surprise. Devo are still brilliant, maybe better than they ever have been.

See them now!

And so to the main act, from Athens, GA: The B52s.

Only three original members left now, and the vocals of Cindy Wilson didn't seem to be a clear as before.

That aside, it was a party night, lots of huge, fun-filled tunes, songs from all periods of their career. As before, the huge screen behind them showed graphics and clips of videos from their career, thus showing how old they are now.

Fred isn't so mobile, and at one point sit on the drum riser as the Cindy and Kate took lead vocals on at least two songs back to back.

We got Roam, then Love Shack and an encore of Rock Lobster. And was done.

Huge cheers died down as the house lights came up.

Refreshment proces were so high, we did not eat or drink since we joined the queue at six, so after climbing up to the concourse, then down onto the main floor of the O2, we traipsed round, but saw a pub open, playing B52s tunes loudly.

In order to let the queues at the Underground station die down, we stopped for a beer/coder, but after paying I found that Budvar was off, so got a pint of La Chouffe for the same price!

That went down well.

After downing that, we walked across the plaza to the tube station, then down to the platforms where hundreds were waiting for the next train. But we all got on, though it was like an oven on board.

Six stops later we get off the crowded train, and make our way back to street level, over Waterloo Road and back inside the club.

I went to the bar for a night cap, a large Glenmorangie, at quarter to midnight. On the large screen TV the Germany game had just finished, so I took the rest of the wee dram up to the room, and from the room window looked out over the city scape towards The City.

It was still hot.

All change at Number 10. Again.

So, Sir Keir has resigned as Labour Leader.

Last week Andy Burnham won the by-election, so can enter the Commons, and be elected as PM if there were to be a contest.

There will be.

Or, there could just be a coronation.

Starmer has not resigned as PM, as the country has to have a leader, only when there is a new Labour leader can he be replaced.

Starmer, despite what the right wing press and chattering classes might say, is a good man.

However, all he had to do was not be as bad as the 15 previous years of Conservative rule, and make the country a better place.

It is hard to see how he has improved on things, since he won a handsome majority two years ago, and so a mandate to implement his Party's manifesto pledges.

It is hard to see how things are much better. Even his reset with the EU is bogged down and the next meeting with the EU is probably going to be cancelled in July, even before his resignation.

He has supported continuing arms sales to Israel even as they continue a genocidal war against Palestine, committing numerous war crimes in the process. Starmer, let's not forget is a human rights lawyer, then made it a terrorist offence to support Palestine and not Israel. History will not be kind.

The main reason should have been when he lost the confidence of the House of Commons on national security issues during the Mandleson scandal. When the Commons doesn't believe you, then you should have resigned then.

Although you wouldn't believe it reading the papers or listening to the BBC, numbers corssing the Channel in boats is nearly 40% down on last year, but such stories don't suit the narrative that is expected to carry Farage into Number 10 come the next election.

And as the multiple resignations by Tory PM's in the last decade didn't trigger and election, they have no claim for the higher moral ground when they call for one now.

No Prime Minister has lasted a full five year term in a decade now, and it is hard to come to the conclusion that the UK is ungovernable.