A short announcement

We are off on our travels at the weekend, so the blog will be taking an 11 day break.

I intend to write whilst away, so all our adventures will be documented, as well as lots and lots of pictures.

Anyway, so the last blog for a while will be on Friday evening.

Happy days.

Sunday 22nd February 2026

After the sunshine on Saturday, Sunday was to be damper and more suited for staying indoors,. So it was just as well there was a feat of football on the tellybox in the afternoon.

Being a Sunday, and there being no huge lunch to prepare, we go to the gym at seven, after drinking coffee and feeding the cats.

Sunday is the best day in the gym, only fools like us venture out at seven, so the equipment is pretty much empty, and even the radio turned down.

I listen to Bendy and Waldy's Adventures in Art while I peddle. I like them both, Waldy especially. Not sure discussing a visual medium on an audio only podcast works, but it is good to hear two experts, chewing the fat on the latest news. And top of the list was Michelangelo's Foot being sold for $27million, not the two million expected.

As Waldy pointed out, such sums could be better spent helping mankind, not feathering some rich bloke's man cave, or sitting in a bank vault for decades.

Oh well.

Back home at eight, for a morning of music as usual, and in time brews and breakfast.

I have a shower, and so all fragrant for the midday kickoff between the two Sheffield clubs: Utd and Wednesday.

Wednesday had to win to avoid being the club relegated earliest in any season in the history of the game. They put in a good showing, losing 2-1, not helped by conceding in the first minute.

Then came Forest v Liverpool, which was heading for a 0-0 draw until there was a bizarre goal in the 96th minute, in off an elbow, to seal the win for Liverpool.

Finally, there was the North London Derby, men against mice, with Arsenal top of the league, and Spurs near the bottom. Would changing manager help Spurs to an unlikely win?

No.

Another 4-1 drubbing for Spurs, and so sink deeper into trouble.

At some point we had lunch: vegetables with the rest of the cheesy mustard sauce, pork pie, pigs in blankets left from the day before, and the reheated crispy bits from the beef also from Saturday.

It was wonderful, but we couldn't eat the pie, so that lives to fight another day.

And that was the weekend.

Again.

Next weekend will be very different indeed.

With the Beatles (1963)

With the Beatles was also released in 1963, a mere eight months after Please Please Me. And this was just a couple of months before Beatlemania hit the US.

It was released the day before news that JFK was shot reached the UK, 23rd was also the day that Dr Who first aired on television. So quite a couple of days in popular culture.

Like like Please Please Me, With the Beatles had several rockan roll as well as soul cover versions, and so had two less Lennon /McCartney originals due to an extra cover and the inclusion of the first George Harrison original.

It was recorded over the summer and early autumn at Abbey Road, between tours, and the sessions also produced the non-album single, "I Want to Hold Your Hand".

I have to admit to being underwhelmed by Please Please Me, and I think I might feel the same way about With the Beatles. We shall see.

"It Won't Be Long"
"All I've Got to Do"
"All My Loving"
"Don't Bother Me"
"Little Child"
"Till There Was You"
"Please Mr. Postman"

Side 2

"Roll Over Beethoven"
"Hold Me Tight"
"You Really Got a Hold on Me"
"I Wanna Be Your Man"
"Devil in Her Heart"
"Not a Second Time"
"Money (That's What I Want)"

"It Won't be Long" opens side one, and already there is an increase in maturity on show. The Paul and John harmonies are perfect, and instrumantation only has a slight nostalgic hint, it rattles along in a most pleasant way, and short enough (as most eatly Beatles tracks were), so doesn't over stay it's welcome.

"All I've Got to Do" opens mid-tempo, but builds to a more powerful creshendo leading tot he chorus, before repeating the trick again. The fade out, at forst I thought was the bridge, with McCartney humming, but fades to silence.

"All My Loving" arrives next, like an old familiar friend, which it is. This is, I suppose, "classic" early period Beatles, it is a wonder, really. What else can I say about a song that we all know so well, and an orignal that hints at the greater songs yet to come on subsequent albums and singles.

The George Harrison penned "Don't Bother Me" comes next. In what would be a familiar pattern, he gets just one composition per album here, and on most that floow. There's nothing wrong with it as a song, but is clearly second division when compared to "All my Loving". George also sings.

"Little Child" is a harmonica driven Lennon/McCartney original that seems to owe more to the past than it does lokking to the golden future that was soon to be theirs. That being said, that is me looking back, rather than hearing this at the time when surrounded on the radio with what passed as popular music. And remember, another self-penned tune, as all the first five tracks were. A remarkable achievement.

"Till There Was You" is the first cover on the record, and is very much in the mid-tempo camp once again. A gentle guitar lead song, with Pauls lament over the top. It's OK. But I'm getting to the point where only Lennon/McCarney originals will do. Maybe the next track will change my mind?

Over familirarity might be another problem, doubly so with a song with so many other versions out in the world, but The Beatles version of "Please Mr. Postman" might well be the best and the most well known. What is wonderful is the playful way the backing vocals play around Lennon's lead, and the backing track compliments the song. A fine way to close side 1.

Side 2 is cover version heavy, and another Ringo Starr vocal lurks there too.

There is only one version of "Roll Over Beethoven" you ever need, and that's Chuck's. That being said, after the poor opening guitar, it settles down ino a song The Beatles made their own, and I soon forgot the original. Of course, this is another the world and his wife i familiar with, and maybe for some fans at the time, the first time they might have heard the song. Made Chuck a few pennies too, I expect.

If I were to think of a typical early period Beatle song, it might sound something like "Hold Me Tight". Another Lennon/McCartney original, and is full of backing vocals, full musical backing and Paul's lead. Seems to me he loses note a couple of times near the end, but that's maybe the charm?

Almost certainly the first time I have heard their version of Smokey Robinson's "You Really Got a Hold on Me" , and another they put their own take on another's song. I don't think I have heard Smokey's version either, but seems a little odd hering a Beatle backing to a clear soul song. I like it, mind. And at a nat's crochet over three minutes, the longest track out of the 14 on the album. OK, just listening to the original, and I love the yearning in Robinson's voice.

Imagine having a good singing voice, and in a band with a recording contract, but having the fourth best voice. Of the two Ringo sung songs, one on each of the first two albus, I like them both. Maybe he's best suited to high tempto numbered, but I can imagine him singing, whilst playing, head nodding and air all a blur. Stays, does its thing, then leaves. Great. That's "I Wanna Be Your Man".

George sings lead again on the cover of "Devil in Her Heart". It features pefect backing vocals, even its not the most inspiring of songs, it does show how the band was now able to sprinkle Beatle magic dst on many different songs and make it theirs.

"Not a Second Time" is the penultimate track, and the last original. The Beatles now clearly have a sound, especially, for me, with the backing vocals. Always a pleasure, even in these early days of their recording career. This isn't their finest moment, but clearly them. A bit too slow for me, but what do I know?

Familiarity breeds contempt, it is said. Well, we all know "Money (That's What I Want)" in various version, co-written by Berry Gordy and Janie Bradford, though probably Gordy just wanted half the writing royalties. Probably. John is on lead vocals, it stretches it to near breaking point, a wonderous thing. With a percussion heavy backing its really is a fine way to close the record.

And to close this first part of their history, because after this it sets serious, glorious and wonderful.

Starts slow, but soon the band find their unique voice, and were on top of their (early) game.

An improvement on Please Please Me.

Saturday 21st February 2026

Our good friend, Fran, mentioned that if we were ever going near to Dungeness, she would like to come along.

In addition, we invited her to lunch on Sunday, but as it turned out the weather was to be better on Saturday, so why not combine the two, if she was free?

She was, so a plan was made, she would arrive at ten past nine, we would drive to Dungeness, do some light birding, then come back to Chez Jelltex for dinner.

However, this meant some preparation.

Meat was bought during the week from Preston, so instead of going to the gym, I stayed home while Jools went swimming, seasoned and prepared the beef. Potatoes were peeled, left to soak for an hour, then boiled almost to destruction. Batter for Yorkshire puddings was mixed and left in the fridge for the lactic acid to weaken.

With all that done, we could go out and enjoy nature.

Jools came home at half eight, there was just enough time for breakfast and a brew, and have time to get to Priory to meet Fran off the train.

From there we went up Old Folkestone Road, onto the A20 at Capel, then up the motorway to Hythe, before turning off and once through the town, along the coast road to Dymchurch, New Romney and out onto the otherworldliness of Dungeness, Britain's only designated desert.

Through Lydd, then once we were among the pools left from aggregate extraction, before turning off along the long track to the reserve centre.

Dungeness is dominated by the two now decommissioned nuclear power stations, and rows of pylons and power lines marching across the flat Romney Marsh.

We park, go in and so after paying the parking fee, walk onto the reserve, taking in two hides: one open looking at the main lake, and the second, closed looking at a smaller pool.

There were a huge variety of water fowl to see: Teal, Tufted Ducks, Pochards, Goldeneye, as well as cormorants, gulls, egrets, whilst nearby smaller birds like Chiff chaffs, Long-tailed tits, a kingfisher, Great and Blue tits could be seen.

Cloud was expected, but at first clouds parted and blessed us with sunshine, but the wind was building, and my decision to skip a layer of clothing proved to be misconceived, I grew cold. So, left Fran and Jools to walk to the third hide, while I returned to the covered one, then back to the welcome centre for a coffee and a large cookie, which I ate and drank whilst sipping fresh coffee, sitting in an armchair.

Time was ticking by, so at half twelve we left, driving back, and a second destination scrubbed as it would be half one by the time we got home, and there was dinner to cook. And Fran had to get home in Herne Bay after eating.

Back home back along the coast road in sun, then up to the motorway. We turn off and drive up the Alkham Valley, where the Drellingore winterbourne was flowing well.

Once inside Chez Jelltex, the ovens were fired up, the fat for potatoes heated to sizzling hot, and the beef put in to roast.

Vegetables were prepared while Jools and Fran talked, so I could listen to the football on the radio, whilst first the kitchen, then the rest of the house filled with the smell of roast beef.

Lovely.

It was all done for four, I dish up, so we could eat with radio 5 babbling in the background.

Readers, it was another magnificent meal: lots of vegetables, perfectly cooked meat, pigs in blankets, Yorkshire puddings and lashings of home made gravy.

Sadly, Norwich could not match this magnificence, losing 2-1 at home to Birmingham.

I said I would wash and tidy up if Jools took Fran home, which is what happened. Me listening to the later game while I scrubbed, buffed and dried up.

Once Jools came back, we had a brew and the last of the pistachio cookies bought for her craft group.

Phew: rock and roll.

Friday 20th February 2026

It is Friday again.

I feel better, which is nice, which is why I was up at five, getting dressed, drinking coffee, and doing the bins. So that come six, I could drop Jools off at Oddfellows Hall for her yoga class, then I would go up to Whitfield for some phys.

Traffic was quiet, its half term week after all, so we made it into town safely, then turn round and go up Connaught Hill to the Duke of Yorks and left at the roundabout to Whitfield.

The gym was quiet, so I got on the bike, did my forty minutes, then drove round to Tesco, filled with fuel, and went shopping.

Jools was going to catch a bus after her class, for the eleven minute ride up to Whitfield, to meet me in the car park.

Just who would be waiting?

Tesco was quiet, full of Mother's Day tat, which I don't have to think about now, and go round buying stuff for our last week in Blighty before our first trip of the year next weekend.

I remember most of the stuff, so go and pay, loaded the car and was waiting for a couple of minutes when Jools's bus turned up.

Waiting long?

Not really.

So we went home.

And being half term, the usual traffic jams just were not there, so we arrived home at eight.

We pack the shopping away, have a brew, then breakfast, so that by nine we were nice and relaxed and ready for the rest of the day.

Jools went to the library for her craft and gossip morning. I stayed home, had a shower, shave and so was all lovely and smelling gorgeous when she came back home at quarter past midday.

We have sausage rolls from the butcher for lunch, before driving to Deal for a lecture.

The U3A isn't all about churchcrawling and bridge, they do some stuff to improve our understanding. But this is the first lecture we had been to.

It was about AI, and the host came up from Guildford to deliver us a rather rose-tinted view of AI.

We found a place to park on the sea front, walked through the narrow lanes to the High Street, then down to the Astor Theatre, before taking seats on the back row.

It was free, so there's that.

Should we go to either The Berry or Freed Man? Tempting, but last time we ended up having fish and chips afterwards.

So, we drove home in the gathering gloom, turning up Station Road and arriving home at four, just enough time to make tagine for dinner. The chicken had been marinating since breakfast, so was fragrant. I make a pot of tagine, let it simmer for an hour before grilling the thigh steaks.

As a bonus there was six portions for the freezer, so once cool I packed the boxes away. By then we had eaten, and were stuffed.

I messed up the music quiz, so it goes. But am still in second place going towards the last round of the month.

Blackburn played Preston on the telly, I stayed awake.

And Blackburn scored a last minute winner.

Thursday 19th February 2026

I did feel better after nearly ten hours sleep.

That being said, it some getting up, and as Jools had a swimming session booked, she left me in bed with Cleo, then me struggling with gravity as I peeled myself out of bed.

Once up, I wanted, nay, needed coffee, so went down to make it, and amazingly, it came out perfect, a perfect balance of caffeine and sweetness.

I checked on the world, it was pretty messed up, though would get worse if you name was Andrew and it was your birthday.

Ahem.

It was another dreary day, low cloud and steady drizzle. I failed to take a shot of the day until I had a beer in the evening.

After ten, we drove over to Sandwich Bay to drop off some books on North American birds, butterflies and flowers, as as long as Trump is in power, I don't think we'll be heading back any time soon.

Guys were repairing pot holes in the track leading to the observatory.

There was no one there I knew, so I left the books, filled in a form, and bought some chocolate, and we left.

Back along the partially flooded roads to Whitfield to pick up a new cat basket we had ordered, as in a week the moggies will be going to kitty prison as we jet off for sunshine and orchids.

Finally, we went to see Jen, as cards seems to have died a death, so we had a brew while we talked, before we said goodbye and we came home so I could peel some potatoes for hash later.

The wind and rain continued, so we did little other than stare out the windows, then I prepared the hash and cooked it, so come two, we sat down to a Spanish feast.

Lovely.

I had another small migraine, but nothing to worry about, outside the day faded. And inside Jools watched more of A Handmaidens Tale, which I have no interest in.

No footy on the tellybox, so early to bed, as for a change, I would be physing it on a Friday morning. And we would have to do the bins.

Wednesday 18th February 2026

Life has been pretty stress free for the past eleven months. I have relaxed, slept well, and even been going to the gym.

But my body has been stopping me from going to sleep, cramps when I lay on my left hand side, meaning that I get less than seven or eight hours sleep despite being in bed.

Normally, this happens on just a couple of nights a week, but Tuesday night was the third in a row, and whilst I have one ocular migraine on Tuesday, Wednesday was another matter.

One in the morning and another late in the afternoon meant I was feeling washed out, and on the run to collect Jools at Priory Station, oncoming headlights seemed too bright.

Anyway, as I write this on Thursday morning, after nearly ten hours sleep, I feel better. Certainly better than I did this time yesterday.

Anyway.

Wednesday.

I was going to go with Jools to Bromley when she went to her craft and chat group up there, but when I took her into town for her class, it was so cold. Being tired didn't help, but there was no way was I going to wander the streets up there going to the church, so I bailed. Jools would go on the train, alone, after her class, and I would stay home.

The wind was in the perfect direction to blow the cat flap open, so it was bitterly cold in the kitchen and living room. I should have gone upstairs to the office, but didn't, instead did stuff on the computer until the first migraine hit.

I took to the sofa and sat with my eyes closed for half an hour, and the migraine drifted away. My eyes were achey, and I had a headache.

Not much computing until darkness began to fall, and as I edited some shots, dots appeared before my eyes and the second arrived.

The cold wind was now accompanied by the first of the rain, which made the drive into town to collect Jools at six all the more unpleasant.

However, I got it done, then once Jools had got off the train, she climbed in the car and we drove home, with the rain falling harder and harder.

Supper was pizza and beer, so not much clearing up. I was going to watch the Wolves v Arse game, but I was so tired, so went to bed instead, so missing the dramatic Wolves comeback to draw 2-2.