Strange questions that sometimes need answering (or not asking in the first place really).

[Slugjc]

Sorry, double post, but different topic, so to speak.
Old Trafford for an ashes test match.
Why oh ******* why?
Manchester?
Might just rain...
Bright blue skies this morning.

It's grim up north!!!

 

[NuttySquirrel]

Sorry, double post, but different topic, so to speak.
Old Trafford for an ashes test match.
Why oh ******* why?
Manchester?
Might just rain...
Bright blue skies this morning.

James Anderson was once asked to name the coldest place he'd ever played cricket.

He said Manchester.

 

[BarryZola]

OK, so weird things happen sometimes with myself. It could absolutely be co-incidence, and it probably is, but I seem to take an interest in musical artists sometimes out of the blue before they die. The weird thing is, is that it's usually artists that arent in the limelight at the current time or whatever, but I just stumble across their name and then look through their back catalogue and it's just a ridiculous talent behind the curtain that should never have been there. Now look, I'm not saying that Judy Collins is unknown or anything, but her voice has come into my world over the last year in only a way that Nanci Griffith (the angelic voiced country singer who died before her time) has done before her. This woman (Collins) has been an immense talent and she's now (according to Wiki) 84 years old. I'm not playing the odds, I just like the music that I like. I'm also starting to recognise a weird pattern of people dying after I take a real interest in their back catalogue of music. Could well be chance.. Anyway, this is one of my fave chilled Judy Collins songs (you'll need to be pretty relaxed for this one though):
From: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqdNp0Jwsqs

 

[rob666]

And I thought dippy dave was the grim reaper...

 

[Slugjc]

OK, so weird things happen sometimes with myself. It could absolutely be co-incidence, and it probably is, but I seem to take an interest in musical artists sometimes out of the blue before they die. The weird thing is, is that it's usually artists that arent in the limelight at the current time or whatever, but I just stumble across their name and then look through their back catalogue and it's just a ridiculous talent behind the curtain that should never have been there. Now look, I'm not saying that Judy Collins is unknown or anything, but her voice has come into my world over the last year in only a way that Nanci Griffith (the angelic voiced country singer who died before her time) has done before her. This woman (Collins) has been an immense talent and she's now (according to Wiki) 84 years old. I'm not playing the odds, I just like the music that I like. I'm also starting to recognise a weird pattern of people dying after I take a real interest in their back catalogue of music. Could well be chance.. Anyway, this is one of my fave chilled Judy Collins songs (you'll need to be pretty relaxed for this one though):
From: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqdNp0Jwsqs

Rumour is. That you were banging out nothing compares 2 u the other day. Could you for the purpose of the tape, confirm or deny those rumours?

 

[BarryZola]

Rumour is. That you were banging out nothing compares 2 u the other day. Could you for the purpose of the tape, confirm or deny those rumours?

Strangely enough, I wasn't. Not sure how my theory holds up now in light of this development

 

[BarryZola]

Why is this one of the best songs ever, I hear you ask? (Christopher Cross - Sailing - See bottom) Well, maybe it's one of those tracks that can be interpreted in a few different ways for different listeners. I was a fan of this track in my late teens (although my main love was rap/hip/hop). It filled me with a relaxing sound and message that whatever is happening there is always a chance that you can get away and have a bit of alone time. I reckon that most of the people who enjoy this track have never gone out sailing in any meaningful fashion. And that's absolutely fine. It's probably something that Christopher Cross absolutely loves.

From: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PnXcP8ZI7M

When I was about 21 me and my mates went out to some local club type thing, and we'd always been a bit naughty when it comes to the fighting and stuff. We didn't start them, but we loved to finish them, if anyone was looking for it. We were known around our little area, if you know what I mean. We'd got away with many altercations over the past several years and more so we thought it was par for the course and we were a bit untouchable, and nothing serious would ever happen. Anyway, we were at the night place and some stuff kicked off. Some of our lot ended up outside with a couple of their lot, and some of their lot ended up with a couple of our's inside. One of their lads got a few digs and boots outside but he walked away. Some of our lads were still inside receiving a few fists so there were a few bins etc being chucked at the windows from our side as the security guards were blocking the door by this point. In the end, no-one was seriously injured and all would walk away the next day with nothing worse than a black eye.

This was unfortunate timing though. Tony Blair had just announced a new fangled anti-social order type thing and wanted to make a few examples. Step up, us. This isn't a ridiculous claim looking back in time or anything. Our few different lawyers warned us of this exact thing at the time. Were they wrong?

It turns out that they weren't wrong at all. Around 8 of us turned up at our local magistrates court a couple of months later (after being on bail, having to report periodically to the local police station to confirm that we hadn't left the country and weren't overly ******). We were a bit ****** though, some of us. We all plead guilty (as advised by our solicitors or lawyers or whatever they were in our cases) as the CCTV did not paint us in a light of anything other than guilty of the charges (Assault and/or affray). Mostly both of the afore mentioned. A couple of our mates were clearly not seen doing anything after the CCTV footage was reviewed so they were free to get on with their lives after their mental scare.

Bad times for me and my mates though. We'd done something stupid. We were being stupid. We'd been caught on this occasion. Caught good and proper.

By the time we were standing in the dock I had already learned my lesson. It had scared the absolute **** out of me that I would have to go to prison. You only fully appreciate how much your life will be thrown up in the air when you're stupid enough to get to the brink of it happening. I was brought up well, my parents didn't deserve it. I could handle it even though I wouldn't like it, but my family are good people. They didn't deserve to have a kid in prison for assault.

Anyway, on the way to court for our sentencing, before we knew if we'd hopefully get away with community service or whatever, my dad had told me that people never get sent down for this type of thing (he wasn't an expert, he was a paramedic, but he was trying to make me feel better, but he did actually believe it). My brother drove to court in my car as his plan was to hand me the keys once I'd hopefully walked out after the proceedings. He watched us from the public gallery inside court.

I was driven to court along with a couple of my other co-defendants in one of my mates cars and the last track (chosen by myself - because I've always been the music chooser guy) was Sailing by Christopher Cross. Once again, the song that gives me the feelings of relaxation and freedom. There's always a music guy in any multitude of people, and that guy was me.

So that was it. Time to face the music. Not Christopher Cross, the actual law. How dare those guys actually catch up with me/them?

Every one of the last 6 (I think) of us were sent to prison. Most of us were sentenced to 4 months apart from one of our mates who got 6 months as he was the apparent ringleader. One of my close mates got 4 months in prison for just being with us and throwing a bin at the window (affray). He had a clean record and a good job and a new family to look after. I had a uni offer and that was dashed as I was in prison when I was supposed to start. At least I'd stupidly thrown a punch or two.

In prison a lot of things went on (no, nothing too dodgy), but in one place there was a bloke who was sort of 'respected' and one of the days I remembered what he said. The bottom line was that every one of us probably deserved to be in there for a while if we added up the **** we'd done over the years. Maybe he was right. He probably was. My only problem with that was, what about the others who have got away with being pricks over the years?

Anyway, I did 2 months in the proper prison (Blakenhurst), then a couple of months on tag. Tag was great, I love my own company anyway. Prison? An absolute shithole. Full of schemers and or people with no hope. Suicide is real inside prisons. I spoke to one guy on the landing who was inside for blackmailing his own mother. He told me to chill and everything was cool. This dude was found hanging in his cell the next night. It's not a holiday camp, whatever people may say. Unless you're into being locked in a cell 23 hours a day.

My parents came to visit me in the 'proper' prison and then my mom and my brother visited me in the 'open' prison in the second month. I learned a lot in that time as an early 20 odd year old. Family means A LOT.

I think I like my boring life 20 years on. I made my mom cry when I got sent down and she was in no position to help me. I was so upset when I heard that I'd caused that.

And then, when I was picked up on my day of freedom, this was playing:


From: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PnXcP8ZI7M

 

[Poisson]

Nothing wrong with a song with open meaning. Some songs speak to you at certain times, others stay with you and mean different things. A year ago on this very day I started a pretty horrendous mental breakdown from lots of issues in my life piling up, barely any sleep and extreme back pain taking their toll (looking forward to the 13th to celebrate a year since the worst passed and the lines between the end and not became clearer again. Cry in the gardens at Towers, it helps)

Anyway, Johnny Cash's rendition of Nine inch Nails' Hurt became something of a song that moved with me on the road to recovery, a road that took months. I could put a face on within a couple of days, but the full process took several months. I upset several friends with my outburst at the time and made them think I was going to throw myself off a cliff (no intention, was just playing with my phone camera whilst out to cool down and try and sort myself out, we were just staying near the coast). The start of the song, speaking of the pain really spoke in the raw first days, but as time went on, the reconciliation with myself and my actions were reflected in the almost positive ending. I'd do it again, to be where I am today. I'm not proud of my reaction to everything, but that can't be changed and it's something to learn from.

I will let you down. I will make you hurt. Everyone will do it at some stage to someone. But it is how anything is dealt with that speaks on the long term effects of what anyone does. It makes me reflect that everyone can make mistakes and it's not the worst thing, as long as they atone for what they have done. I have apologised to those involved, given them space where required and redirected my energy from the self destruction of me to pushing for my goals in my life. I still hate myself, always will do, but it isn't destructive anymore.

From: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AHCfZTRGiI

 

[BarryZola]

"I will let you down. I will make you hurt. Everyone will do it at some stage to someone. But it is how anything is dealt with that speaks on the long term effects of what anyone does. It makes me reflect that everyone can make mistakes and it's not the worst thing, as long as they atone for what they have done. I have apologised to those involved, given them space where required and redirected my energy from the self destruction of me to pushing for my goals in my life". You're speaking the truth there mate. And you're not a bad guy. Try not to be so hard on yourself.

 

[Poisson]

The worst bits require the worst treatment. Nip the destruction in the bud. It hurts, it really does but it works out for the best. A painful but true learning curve. Lots of things you can't control, but sorting the bits you can helps sort the bits you can't.

 

[BarryZola]

I know what you mean mate. A lesson for all in life. Everything in moderation. And sometimes, knowingly have a **** time for a period in order to have a decent time further down the line.

 

[rob666]

Nothing wrong with a song with open meaning. Some songs speak to you at certain times, others stay with you and mean different things. A year ago on this very day I started a pretty horrendous mental breakdown from lots of issues in my life piling up, barely any sleep and extreme back pain taking their toll (looking forward to the 13th to celebrate a year since the worst passed and the lines between the end and not became clearer again. Cry in the gardens at Towers, it helps)

Anyway, Johnny Cash's rendition of Nine inch Nails' Hurt became something of a song that moved with me on the road to recovery, a road that took months. I could put a face on within a couple of days, but the full process took several months. I upset several friends with my outburst at the time and made them think I was going to throw myself off a cliff (no intention, was just playing with my phone camera whilst out to cool down and try and sort myself out, we were just staying near the coast). The start of the song, speaking of the pain really spoke in the raw first days, but as time went on, the reconciliation with myself and my actions were reflected in the almost positive ending. I'd do it again, to be where I am today. I'm not proud of my reaction to everything, but that can't be changed and it's something to learn from.

I will let you down. I will make you hurt. Everyone will do it at some stage to someone. But it is how anything is dealt with that speaks on the long term effects of what anyone does. It makes me reflect that everyone can make mistakes and it's not the worst thing, as long as they atone for what they have done. I have apologised to those involved, given them space where required and redirected my energy from the self destruction of me to pushing for my goals in my life. I still hate myself, always will do, but it isn't destructive anymore.

From: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AHCfZTRGiI

Probably one of the best songs ever.

 

[Poisson]

Probably one of the best songs ever.

I like the live version of the original, just a shame the studio version isn't as good.

 

[Slugjc]

It's incredible how a certain track/album or even sound can trigger emotions in ourselves.

I went for a night out with my mates and then girlfriend for a night out round cas vagas. There was another lass on that night. A cougar. Loved the younger chaps. I got doing some Sambucas with her and we ended up smooching. I did at the time think it was current missies. They did look alike and I was far too drunk.

The night ended with the then mother In law driving us back, as I was throwing up. After a Saturday recovery I went to hers on the Sunday and she broke us up. Heart broken. Struggled alot of years after that, going out. Getting hammered and sleeping with any female that would pay attention. Upsetting someone and his mates for knocking around with his missies. Causing me to end up in hospital with an ear hanging off. A month later I was on the mend and starting to see the now wife who put me straight.

Anyway. The night of the dumping I got back in the car and drove round and round trying to get my head straight. The cd in the player was All Change by cast. My band from 90s. Loved them to death but couldn't shake the memories that album brought up. 6 years ago, walking through the old HMV store in Leeds. I saw the album and bought it. I was happy with my life. On the verge of marriage **** job but still working on that, and I now have my band back. Should have kept with them. Spotify informed me in my yearly round up I was in the 0.00001% of People who listened to cast.

When the ex and a mate got together (after being suspicious of them at the time) the album has a track that would have picked me up after. Seem them a couple of times since lockdown and will see John Power In Leeds in October.




From: https://youtu.be/fbYkYKQdL7I?si=20Qxp0CR9bJ9hWDI

 

[BarryZola]

I used to listen to that album too back in the day. My brother had actually bought it but I used to borrow it, or ripped a copy or something. Need to give it a listen again some time

 

[Slugjc]

I used to listen to that album too back in the day. My brother had actually bought it but I used to borrow it, or ripped a copy or something. Need to give it a listen again some time

Fine time to do it aswell!!!

 

[BarryZola]

For tonight's ****** up offering, I've got a track that I've had in my pocket for a little (long) while. It's mostly the beat and bassline that I like, if I'm honest, but the added bonus is that there's a nice message that goes along with the song. I'm not a fan of gospel or anything like that. Good beat etc though and is a feel good type track. A good all round package that you won't usually catch on the radio. One to stick in your mp3 collection maybe...

From: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvE1WR7oF_Y

 

[Slugjc]

Soulful.

Currently when I ****** off at work I will take 5 mins to watch the below clip. Perks me up no end.

Also, watch out for the build up of a cupboard door being slammed only for it to be a rather large anti climax.


From: https://youtu.be/Jt03pb_FUhY?si=kvrMf7l-uzi2TtzK

 

[BarryZola]

I have absolutely no idea what that was all about, but I liked it. I appreciated the sample for Biggie's Hypnotize in there too about two thirds in.

 

[Slugjc]

I've got obsessed with the bloke. List down a rabbit hole on you tube watching him. Pure joy