People tend to forget their duties but remember their rights.
Indira Gandhi

Goodnight everyone, sleep well.

So, there we suddenly were in Israel. Mrs M. on a freebie but having to work. Me paying my way and free to wander, subject only to the mandatory attendance at the concerts ever ready to offer the usual ‘you were all wonderful and, don’t worry, I don’t think that the audience noticed a thing.’

The chorus had been invited by the Israel Broadcasting Authority for reasons which will, I hope, become clear at a later date. Two formal pieces, ‘Belshazzer’s Feast’ by Sir William Walton and ‘Israel in Egypt’ by George Frideric Handel. Three performances in conventional surroundings, as I recall, and one utterly memorable performance of which, again, more later. Continue reading “What I did on my Holidays at Christmas 1981 -Part 2”

Cleo Laine, John Williams – Imagine

I still want one

A report on the progress of the Flying Car is here

Continue reading “Frenchie 2”

And now, excuse me while I interrupt myself.
Murray Walker

Goodnight everyone, sleep well.

http://coldwaterjohn.wordpress.com/?attachment_id=184

Stopped going through a small village south of Glasgow, by the Police, siren wailing, and blue lights flashing, en route to Ireland in March, driving my LHD BMW. (No, I don’t have personalised plate, but changed it for posting on web!)
Right Brain was on the phone to son.
I stepped out of nearside door, and walked back to the police car, with Right Brain still on the phone:
“What’s the problem, Constable? ”
“Please return to the car and ask the driver to drive through the village and pull over. A chargeable offence has been committed – using a mobile phone whilst driving. ”
“But I AM the driver…”
Gradual dawning that the person using the mobile phone did not have a steering wheel – cue for:
“My apologies, Sir, I see it’s a Left Hand Drive….” but at least he did apologise politely, and didn’t scuttle around the car trying to find something else to book me for – all credit to the Strathclyde Police.

Scott Walker, this time

It’s strange what can bring the memories rushing back. Finding a clip of Sir William Walton’s ‘Belshazzar’s Feast’ for another purpose this morning did it for me.

In 1981, the Scottish National Orchestra Chorus were invited to tour Israel. The chorus needed augmenting and the call went out to the Embra Festival Chorus. Mrs M. signed up. More importantly, hangers-on were encouraged and I signed up too. Continue reading “What I did on my Holidays at Christmas 1981 -Part 1”

History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.
Winston Churchill

Goodnight everyone, sleep well.