Sunday 15th March 2026

Day two of the weekend. Though every day is a weekend now, of course.

Another bright start with the promise of cloud and rain later.

And after the only coffee of the day, its on with the shorts and off to the gym for some early morning phys.

Papers are full of possible fuel shortages, so we fill the car up just to be sure, and do this on the way to the gym. Hopefully the madness of the Iran war might die down soon. as the Orange One seems to have so little international support. Coming a few days after saying he needed no support.

Anyway.

Peddle. Peddle. Peddle.

And my earphone go crazy, turning the volume up and down, activating voice commands, fast forwarding the podcast.

I have to give up and just pull up a new city to ride round, and there's a new one to enjoy riding round Manhattan.

Time dragged.

We were done by ten to eight, and back home for eight and the start of Radcliffe and Maconie.

We were to have a quieter day, so we listened to the radio for a couple of hours. Jools then went to sow seeds for some summer colour, and I fired the mower up to get rid of some of the lusher grass caused by seeds falling from the feeders.

That took all of ten minutes, and it looked a tad neater.

I looked to the small pond, and see two frogs sticking their heads out, probably males on the lookout for lady frogs. We have no spawn yet, so I take a shot with the phone.

And then it is lunchtime, so thoughts turn to food.

We are low on fresh supplies, so I defrost some ragu, but to make it a meal, I find a recipe for quick Italian bread online. It required adding honey to the water/yeast mix. We didn't have any, so I made do with black treacle, which will give it colour!

Anyway, the bread is all risen and baked for half one, the pasta cooked, mixed with the ragu, and using some of the pasta water, ensures that the ragu sticks to the pasta for a really splendid meal.

We done in time for football, and with the reputation of the Premier League taking a bashing in Europe midweek, two dreadful games on Sunday didn't help things, But Spurs did somehow score an equaliser against Liverpool in injury time to break their losing streak. Though they haven't won a game in 2026 yet.

A Hard Day's Night (1964)

The Beatles redefined what it was to be (in) a band. And they also redefined what an album was.

Bands did't write their own songs, not until the Beatles did, and from now on, all tracks on all the albums were written by one, two or more of The Fab Four. Albus too used to have one or two singles, and the rest filler. Until The Beatles came along.

Even as Beatlemania swept across Britain and around the rest of the world, no one knew how long the ride would last. A two year career is as good as many acts of the time had, so would The Beatles be any different?

As stated in previous posts, most British pop acts would make a film after a year or so of hits, usually with a young photogenic American actress for the international sales, and this is where real money could be made.

The Beatles were approached many times with proposals for a film, but went with Richard Lester. The distributor elected to go with black and white film, something that gives the film a timeless quality.

Ampification of the time was very basic. A simple amp of a few watts was OK for rehersal rooms of the back room of a pub, but in a theatre or cinema where there would be 80% screaming young ladies, The Beatles couldn't hear themselves play, let alone the audience. The only place other than fairs where music could be heard loud was in a cinema. So for many fans, the first time they heard The Beatles loud was in the cinema when they went to see this film.

Coupled with images of the band as large as the side of a house, this was heady stuff.

And on top of this, The Beatles were a gang. A gang the girls wanted to flirt with, and a gang the boys wanted to be a part of, or have something similar. Their easy going interactions with each other, and their humour, quick wits could not be acted, it was real. And this came over loudly and on the silver screens up and down the country.

The album that tied in with the film had the first side featuring music from the film, and new songs on the reverse. All tracks were written by the band themselves, and just Lennon and McCartney. Geoege Harrison also played a 12 string Rickenbacker 360/12, an instrument that would influence popular music well into the next decade. Most heard it on this album first.

Side 1

1. "A Hard Day's Night"
2. "I Should Have Known Better"
3. "If I Fell"
4. "I'm Happy Just to Dance with You"
5. "And I Love Her"
6. "Tell Me Why"
7. "Can't Buy Me Love"

Side 2

1. "Any Time at All"
2. "I'll Cry Instead"
3. "Things We Said Today"
4. "When I Get Home"
5. "You Can't Do That"
6. "I'll Be Back"

The album opens with the world's most famous opening chord. And gets better from then on it. "A Hard Day's Night" is so well known now, and yet it is clear that it was a step change from the two albums that came before. Better production, fuller sould, and a band rich in confidence. The track is one of the best moments in popular music, and yet for The Beatles they would get better and better.

Of course, nothing could etter that opening, but the familiar "I Should Have Known Better" follows, and keeps up the quality, if not the pace. Again, great production, fuller sound fills the ears.

"If I Fell" is, perhaps, the only hint on side 1 of a sound that could have come on either of the first two records. Not one of my favourites.

"I'm Happy Just to Dance with You" perks this up a notch. Though as Jools said as we listened, their subject matter for sings is rather limited. An up temp toe-tapper that rattles along and is gone before you know it. All in under two minutes.

"And I Love Her" opens with some wonderful guitar work, and is, in my opinion, a hint of the wonderful ballards to come in the following years. A song that is some 64 years old, and yet could have been recorded last week, its so timeless.

Next up is "Tell Me Why", an ensomble work, with all bar Ringo on vocals, and the way the three of them compliment each other is just literal music to the ears. A joy from start to finish. Another song about a broken heart.

Side one ends with the other worldwide hit of "Can't Buy Me Love". Can I say anything new about this? I don't think so. The song seems to define the 60s in its short running time, you can imagine all of Europe nodding their heads to this as it played on Radio Luxembourg. A great bluesy guitar break, then building to a fine finish! And we're only at the halfway point.

"Any Time at All" opens side two, with more up tempo foot-tapping, with a key change leading into the chorus. John sings, as he does on the majority of tracks on the album, slightly nasal, which is obvious on the verses, but loses it in the brighter chorus.

"I'll Cry Instead" is an amazing track. Sounding American, that might be that 12 string hard at work under George's fingers. This is probably the best "unknown" Beatle song this far to me. You can hear it's echos in music for a decade or more to come. I love it.

"Things We Said Today" sounds like two songs joined together, with downbeat verses, and upbeat chorus, matching the lyric. The upbeat part is one of those Beatle melodies that other writers and bands would kill for. And they just pulled it out of the air, and made it the tenth track on the album.

Can you imagine being in The Beatles? I mean, a song like "When I Get Home" would be a hit single for most other bands, a driving beat, strained vocals by John again, and the second longest track on the record at just over two and a half minutes. I mean, by now they were a music writing and recording machine, the world would never be the same again, and in north Kent, Jagger and Richards were listening.

I honestly thought side two would be very much in the shade of side 1, but a third in a row of bangers, "You Can't Do That" rattless along, and is another stonker. A warning to John's girlfriend about what talking to another boy would bring. A fine song, great harmonies, and so effortless.

Lennon and McCartney close the record with "I'll Be Back", taking things down a notch, and is another song about a broken love. A stripped back sound, vocal lead rather than the beat. What would the next record bring, we wonders.

Saturday 14th March 2026

It am the weekend again. And we're back home.

And being a Saturday, that means up early to go to the gym for seven. Not that its busy then, just to get it out of the way, and back home for a brew and the day of radio shows and football.

For a change, I did 400k/cal at level 14. It wasn't that hard, and the time soon slipped by, but soon I was nearing 40 minutes, but instead of stopping, I carried on for another five minutes and forty five seconds.

Phew.

Back down to the car where the early morning frost had burned off, and it was going to be a glorious day. For most of it.

We go back home, put the kettle on, while I put the seed out as the birds are chirping angrily. Might be lack of food, or about the birds and bees, who knows?

A shower and shave to feel human again, get dressed and then out for a walk to top the steps up.

Not much rain since we came back, and the ground was fairly firm, so I walked over the field to Fleet House, seeing nothing really new in flower. Other than the Alexanders that were reaching higher for the sky,

I had a choice, down past the farm or look at The Dip.

I realised its a couple of years since I visited The Dip, and guessed its fan club was missing it.

Seems like a few delivery drivers have been following their sat navs and trying to get across the valley on it, only to get stuck. One was a truck that took some towing to free. Anyway, a nice clear sign now warning people.

Seems that not even the farmer uses it much now, as the mud had turned green with grass and other plants. I walk to the top of the slope and take some shots.

I turn round to Fleet House, then along Collingwood so to check on the Coltsfoot, before reaching Station Road, turning left and left so back to home.

Jools had been working in the garden all morning, clearing the upper bed and annoying the two frogs waiting for love there.

No cooking for me today: pork pie and pickles for lunch, just enough to take the edge of hunger before the footy began.

Outside Spring gave way to winter. Dark clouds swept over and darkened. Suddenly, hail began to fall, heavily and getting worse.

Jools was caught out putting her tools away, and was like an eskimo caught in a blizzard.

In half an hour, hail turned to sleet, eased, and the clouds parted once again, and we got some late afternoon sunshine.

Southampton won at Coventry on the telly at half twelve, then on the radio following Norwich, who won again, beating Preston 2-0, thus winning nine from the last eleven games.

And ended the day in the top half of the table (just)closer to the play offs than the relegation places.

Arsenal beat Everton 2-0. So ended the day.

Friday 13th March 2026

Six years ago this very day, I drove back from North Wales along strangely quiet motorways back home. On the radio after numerous footballers had come down ill, the whole season had been suspended until into April.

It took Johnson ten more days to lockdown, whereas Ireland locked down before St Patrick's Day, so Johnson ensured thousands of extra deaths in those early days.

Reading my words now, it seems like something from a movie, but I already guessed that Johnson would be two steps behind the virus and evidence.

And so it proved.

And yet he is not in prison for manslaughter for the tens of thousands he killed though his dillying and dallying.

But Friday.

Friday was bright, but cold.

Jools went to yoga, and so I stayed in bed for a while, then did the bins and made coffee.

When Jools went to her craft morning, I promised I would vacuum, and so I did.

Eventually.

Mulder was a poor boy, so we booked him in at the vets, only for his senses triggered something was afoot, and he vanished. Though we did take him later and nothing serious was found.

We skipped lunch, and instead Jen was coming for an early dinner, which was spatchcock chicken with maple syrup, roast potatoes, creamed spinach, and sprouts with guanciale.

Not as strenuous as cooking a roast, as the chicken only took and hour, but was incredible, and juicy.

The potatoes were perfect. Of course.

And all together it was rather good.

Jen arrived just as I was dishing up, accepting a glass of wine before we sat down to eat.

Then there was the quiz, which I failed on, so the day was rounded off by football: Hollywood FC v Swansea, and being a tired boy, I went to bed at half time.

Pooped.

Thursday 12th March 2026

Thursday marked the day when the holiday really ended, as we woke at five and were off back to the gym for some phys just after six.

There was some light showing around the curtains. Weak milky light, but daylight. In two weeks light will beat darkness, and the days will be longer.

But not quite yet.

To the centre, where the car park was pretty full, then up to the gym where the ripped and beautiful were already glowing. We took the two bikes, set up something to listen to, and off we went.

I decided to try the same level and time as before I went. It was tough, but I did it.

When we emerged back outside, it was light, the sun was up although it didn't feel springlike, though it would warm up later, but then there would be gales.

We drove back home, made a brew, topped up the feeders and then relaxed with our drinks, catching up on the madness of the world.

No fry up today, just cereal and milk, then a shower and a shave, so I looked and feel human again.

Still no cowslips open yet, but one spike is close. And elsewhere there are rosettes and spikes showing. Though the Imperialis are now down to two spikes, and slugs have eaten one almost to the ground.

The wind did blow, but the rain didn't come until late afternoon. But it felt cold, so we didn't go out.

Lunch was chicken, stir-fry and noodles, all good healthy stuff, though we did eat a bit early meaning we were hungry again at six, so snacked on stinky cheese and crackers, along with the last of the red wine.

Mulder is looking a poor thing. Didn't eat, so he may go to the vet on Friday, he hardly purred, though did come to sit on my lap to stop we reading WSC during the afternoon.

Not much else to report.

Back to reality.

Wednesday 11th March 2026

Our vacation will continue until Thursday, on which day we will set the alarm for five and go back to the gym.

But until then.....

After getting up and feeding the cats, having breakfast and the rest. Jools went to the tip to drop stuff off.

Because as we decorate the house, we find fresh stashes of stuff, this time sheets, duvets and duvet covers. So some went to the laundrette whilst the others went to the tip.

Jools returned at nine, and I asked if she was hungry.

She was.

Fried breakfast.

Yes.

So we high tailed it into Dover for a plateful at Chaplins.

We must be regulars now, as the waitress knows our order by heart now.

It was a glorious spring day, and people rushing around doing their chores.

We ate, then dashed to M&S for some basil, then rushed home as there was a delivery coming.

I watch football on my laptop through a portal called NOW TV. It used to be through the TV, but they stopped supporting our model, so I just got used to the laptop.

But turns out NOW is nearly 50% more expensive than Sky, and with Sky you get more channels. So, I ordered their Sky Glass puck thing, and it was to be delivered.

Back home, and the birds are returning to the garden after the feeders being empty for a week, so just standing and watching is great.

The package arrived at two, but we were to visit Jen, so setting it up would have to wait, as we drove over to Whitfield for our first meeting since saying goodbye at Gatwick on the 28th of last month.

Not much to tell. We fixed some phone issues, then came back home to set up Sky.

I connected the puck, plugged it in. Entered the wi-fi password. And it did the rest.

And so we entered a new word of television. High definition television.

I turned if off until the football later.

Supper was insalata caprese, with the basil bought earlier, and stuff from Tesco. And a loaf of sourdough wholemeal bread.

It was delicious.

And then football: Norwich v Sheffield Utd.

Norwich no longer play like a relegation threatened team, but after the cup defeat to Leeds at the weekend, only three days before, it would be a tough game.

And Utd took the lead early in the game, but Norwich grew into it, and peppered the goal with shots. After some second half substitutions, Norwich scored two, to cruise to a win, lifting them to 48 points, just nine shy of the play-offs, and all but safe.

Players are coming back from injury, and soon there won't be spaces in the team or the bench for them all.

Things are looking good for next season.

Tuesday 10th March 2026

Those of you with long memories might remember that the day before we left for Cyprus, work began on replacing our bathroom.

When we left on the last day on February, all that was left was the walls, window, floor joists and flat roof.

New flooring was laid, and vinyl on top of that. A new shower, sink and toilet, walls painted and a set of blinds fitted.

Walls treated with mould killer, and a new fan installed to reduce condensation.

When we came back Monday evening all was one except the vinyl.

The flooring guy came in the afternoon and was done in an hour.

Easy peasy, lemon squeasy.

Before then, we had tried to lay in, but were up at quarter to six, so while Jools did more washing, I went to Tesco for supplies, as we were out of beer (!).

Tesco is at least empty at seven in the morning, but it is quite different from Cyprus. But with added Marmite.

Back home to put stuff away, have breakfast, then Jools went to collect the cats, where they had been no trouble. Including Scully.

Once back home, they all claimed they hadn't been fed at all. Not just that day, but since we left. Scully doubly so. So we checked her bloods, and that was OK, so we did feed them some, then tried to ignore them the rest of the day.

Just eight hours until dinner time for them, and how many times can four cats meow in that time?

Lots is the answer.

So many it drives Jools mad, so she retreats upstairs, and I play meow/no with Scully.

She doesn't get bored.

When we give the other three kibbles, we have to close the kitchen door to keep Scully away, as she can't eat those. This triggers fears of being put in a basket again, so we have four spooked cats.

However, once we feed them and test and jab Scully, the cats calm down, and go to sleep and something close to normality returned to Chez Jelltex.

One of the most looked forward to things upon our return is to see what had grown in the garden and would be flowering.

No new flowers in bloom, and the Cowslips hadn't put up spikes.

It was a sunny day, but cool. We should have gone out, but didn't.

Dinner was our old favourite of chorizo hash, eaten at four, when it was still daylight. In fact it was daylight until well after six.

For the evening there was the return of football. Ipswich on the radio whilst listening to the car crash that is Tottenham Hotspur, who were 3-0 down after 16 minutes in Spain.