On our first full day in the Peak District we went for a walk round part of Carsington Water. it was only a couple of miles drive form where we were staying.
Weather was Ok but got better as we walked. Pretty much all laid out proper paths which helped Tara alot. We found a cabin with some over large carved wooden furniture which was fun. Did about 3 miles I think, then b ack to the cottage.
I found another little gem in the loft as I continue to sort it out. Alot of ticket stubs from gigs I'd been to years ago! I thought I'd thrown them away years ago so was pleased to find them. I've even got the first gig I went to ( also blogged about) Penetration in May 1979.
After gathering crap in the loft for something like 20 years I am at last making headway getting it sorted. With the memsahibs help of course, also the threat of being locked in the loft with a plate of cheese sandwiches and a bucket until its done!
There's a few items I was hoping might turn up:
My old cowboy boots. Check!
My old denim waistcoat. Check!
Rock badges that went on the waistcoat. Check!
and finally various band programmes and photos I'd bought and a gig guide I'd written about where I'd been and who I saw. Check!
Particularly pleased about the last two. The gig guide I'd grandly called 'The Morgan Good Gig Guide' and the first entry was on 4th May 1979. Here's photos of what I wrote and then a verbatim account of the first article.
So here it is then, what my 17 year old idiot self thought of his first ever gig:
Gigs that yours truely has witnessed.
Friday 4th May 1979 Brunel University, Uxbridge. Price £1.40
Penetration supported by Cowboys International.
'Went with Mark, Bob, Tim & Phil. A Punk gig started off my round of gigs-it was good. The support were acceptable although the others weren't so keen on them. Penetration were great! The tune I couldn't stop humming for days after was 'Danger Signs.' Actually got up on the stage after they'd just finished! Or what eh!!!'
Not the most cerebral account of a gig you'll find but it was what I thought. Why I've put 'Bob ' as one of my friends names I'll never know. He was Robert or Rob to us, never Bob! I vividly remember climbing up onto the stage along with everyone else, it was really exciting, I seem to recall later it was us taking to the stage that finished the gig rather than the band finishing! There were reports of a riot after which were totally untrue, walking back to the station we saw one policeman who was taking no notice of us. Some of the group I went with were really into Punk, I remember Tim had tri coloured hair & him, Rob & Mark were festooned with safety pins and zips. Me & Phil just normal by comparison with jeans and t shirts. I also remember they'd taken bottles of booze on the train that we necked enroute.
I hadn't really been 'into' music all that long, I was bit of a late developer in that respect and I was looking forward to my first gig. It was a wonderful night and one I'll never forget, it introduced me to live music and I liked it!
I'll give you another taste of my literary prose another time and reveal more about the gigs I went to.
I've not blogged much lately, to be honest I went off the boil. But then talking to Tara, she suggested I write it differently. For instance, if we'd been away for a week I'd feel I had to write something for everyday, well that's a diary not a blog! I have been making heavy weather if it and put myself off doing it!
So here it is, a new blogging idea. Please comment and share as much as you like!
We watched a very interesting online talk about the so called ' Magnificent Seven' Victorian cemeteries in London. We learnt that Highgate, which usually only allows guided tours of the West cemetery have changed their rules during the pandemic. You can, for a charge, walk round both sides of Highgate Cemetery under your own steam.
We decided to take advantage of this probably not to be repeated chance. Guide tours are very good, you can learn alot but its nice to amble along at your own speed. So, booked online off we went on Saturday for a usual Morbid Morgan fun day out!
Weather was cold unfortunately and felt like it got colder as the day went on. After an uneventful drive down we got parked easily in a nearby street as parking restrictions are lifted during the weekends. There's no facilities in the cemetery but I'd packed as a picnic and flask of coffee which we had a cup of before organising ourselves to move off.
The most famous person buried is Karl Marx, though the huge grave he now has was a addition made b y the Soviet Government in the 1960's, the original being far smaller and unassuming. Actress Jean Simmons also is buried in Highgate.
It's a fascinating day out if you fancy it. It's much more than a cemetery & more a history lesson.
Since visiting the rules have gone back to guided tours only of the West cemetery which is the more interesting side with the terraced catacombs etc.
Well I had my Covid jab the week before last, it was the Astra Zeneca, the so called Oxford vaccine. The process of getting the jab was very well managed at the Dunstable Council offices, I was probably in and out in ten minutes. It was all very efficiently carried out.
I felt fine for the first 12 hours and thought I'd got away with it but by evening I was feeling pretty washed out and very achy.
Felt worse the next day and just did what I needed to do. I even went to bed early, some thing I rarely do! Following day a bit better then all of a sudden it seemed back to normal....or as near normal as I'm ever likely to get!
Still, its a small price to pay it we can beat this virus and get back to something like normal. It's been very tough not seeing our family and being able to hug them. I'm a big hugger, it does you good.
Saxon gig in May bounced to next January, no surprise there to be honest but the New Forest Folk Festival has got the green light for July. I do hope it happens, can't tell you how much we are looking forward to it. Stay safe folks!
I haven't written about the joy of a new album for ages and ages. Well today I can change this as over the weekend the latest platter from one of my favourite bands hit the doormat. The mighty Saxon have released a new studio album. An album with a bit of a difference as its cover versions. Some fans don't seem to like cover albums, they'd prefer new music and I get that, but I like the fact that a band can put together songs they like from other people. Songs that have influenced them and I suppose made them what they are today in some ways.
The album opens with Paint it Black originally from The Rolling Stones, not a fave of mine from the Stones but I really like Saxon's version. Its just got that edge of metal that I like, it fairly crackles along.
Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin is next up. Heresy to say it, but I don't much like Led Zep and never much cared for the Immigrant Song...Nothings changed!
Paperback Writer by the Beatles was bit of a surprise inclusion for me. Biffs voice sounds good on it. His voice is best suited to the louder faster songs. He doesn't really get away with slower softer vocals in my humble opinion. Evil Woman originally by Crow I can take or leave to be honest and Stone Free by Hendrix goes the same way.
However Bomber by Motorhead is far more suited to Saxon. Lets be honest Motorhead are their old stable mates anyway and I well remember 40 something years ago actually meeting the Motorhead boys at a Saxon gig!
Saxon make a very good fist of Deep Purples Speed King and I love their go at Thin Lizzys The Rocker. Problem Child from AC/DC is also well executed but perhaps the end track is bit of a damp squib, it being See My Friends from the Kinks.
Overall its a good album and one I'd recommend to any Saxon fan. Looking forward to seeing them in the ever moving gig date of January 2022!
I decided to cook everyone another lockdown cake this weekend. Gary requested another Moroccan Orange & Cardamom cake so I did Gary & Ellie one of those, Alec & Laura got a vegan version of the same, Olly & Laura a Spiced Honey cake and for us a gluten free walnut and date loaf.
Second time I've done this, it just seems a nice way of keeping in touch and hopefully having a nice slice of cake.
Sounds odd doesn't it. But in the woods near Berkhamsted there was (depending on the records you look at!) between seven and a half and thirteen miles of practise trenches dug just over one hundred years ago.
The Inns of Court Officer Training Corps established a camp at Berkhamsted in September 1914 as they had outgrown their London headquarters due to the huge influx of recruits since war was declared but a month earlier. It was a huge tented camp, in exitance until 1919 during which some 12000 officer recruits had passed through the camp, just over 2000 were killed and three were awarded the Victoria Cross:
2nd Lieutenant Jack Harrison VC 11th Bn The East Yorkshire Regiment
Captain Walter Stone VC 3rd Bn The Royal Fusiliers
Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Bushell VC,DSO 7th Bn The Queens (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
So what are practise trenches? Actually it is what it says. The troops were practising how to dig good trenches, its more than just digging a hole. There's the parapet and on the reverse side the parados, the trench itself built in a zig zag or crenelated shape. This reduced the area that shell blasts could effect. The hard digging of flint and clay being practise for what was to come. Although ironically 'The Devils Own' as they were known would be destined to be the officers overseeing the men digging trenches rather than digging themselves! There's a field just behind Berkhamsted Castle called Kitchener's Field, this was their parade ground where arms drill was carried out. Though some of the trenches were filled in there's alot left and much to my pleasure and surprise you get a good idea of what they were. Though really little more than ditches now you can easily discern shape though I couldn't tell which were the front line trenches and which were the reserve and communication trenches, basically which way they'd have been shooting if they were in France!
A good walk, well worth a visit, all socially distanced of course followed by a coffee at the take away cafe at Ashridge College.
