A Lark Ascending

And another exploration: Is streaming good for music? I've no idea what the eventual outcome will be. But I could identify immediately with the Metallica chap: Now, I wouldn't want to go back to 1970 - I like the wealth of music available and make major use of what is on offer. But there is no doubt that I knew those records I bought one at a time on a limited budget far more thoroughly than the music I buy (or stream) all too easily today.

http://www.theguardian.com/news/gallery/2015/jul/15/photo-highlights-of-the-day-sunflowers-and-pluto

Wonderfully today - back to proper summer.

I'm waiting for the Japanese re-bakings (with alternative guacamole)

How to Be Bohemian with Victoria Coren Mitchell Been enjoying this series of three programmes over the last few nights. Mitchell is not an 'arty-farty luvvie' (though she interviews a few!) so has just the right amount of scepticism (not to mention prudishness) to not be taken in by the more extreme sillinesses. Fascinating bit about Eric Gill in episode 2 which really pushes your acceptance of taboo breaking to the limits.

The first box set?

Lovely

Currently going out on BBC 4 on a Friday. Nothing you didn't already know but an enjoyable telling of the tale. Good as musical and social history. Three episodes - last due next Friday. Up on iPlayer for about a month. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0615vnf

One Nation prepares for an orgy of ripping small animals to pieces for fun (ripping under-25 humans to pieces for fun is a mission more or less accomplished).

Neil Yates is a marvellous trumpet player. If you ever come across this disc by Arnie Somogyi snap it up (I don't think it's in print any more) - Yates is in superb form. It's a disc based on Somogyi's Hungarian roots. Somogyi used to be the 'other' bass player at Appleby (he and Andy Cleyndert seemed to divide up the slots). Wouldn't be surprised if both of them were not mainstays at Swanage. Might be able to go next year!

Some utterly breathtaking photos here - Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2015 shortlist - in pictures - like this:

Look familiar? http://www.theguardian.com/music/gallery/2015/jun/09/albums-sleeve-art-locations-readers-pictures

Well, this proving rather tiresome now. 600 pages to tell a tale that could have been polished off in 300. Long chapters that seem to go on and on with descriptions of conversations and minor characters. Just want to finish the thing now.

Edward Greenfield obituaryBack in the late 70s when I first became interested in classical music and was using Gramophone and the Penguin guide as navigational instruments, Greenfield was someone I really enjoyed reading. Reviews were still dominated by 'Look what a fine fellow I am because I'm so discriminating, so hard to please' types; Greenfield was a breath of fresh air, just keen to communicate the enjoyment music gave him. I love this quote from the Guardian obituary: RIP

"You should have been there in the summer of '76..."

And lose valuable learning time? I suspect Nicky Morgan would see that as grounds to turn you into an academy or sell you off to a free school. ********************* Clouded over this afternoon and we've had one heavy shower. Suspect there will be more.

There are a few series where the main character likes jazz and it plays a role in the story. There is DCI Banks and also George Gently, although that one doesn't have that much of it I think. About 25 years ago they started to make a series based around John Harvey's Nottingham based detective series - but they didn't go beyond a few programmes. I liked them. He was a keen jazz fan. The main character in 'Case Histories' series mentioned above is a modern country/Americana fan - some good music on those. Ian Rankin's Rebus is a big rock fan. *********************************** A can recommend this series that slipped by a few years back: Again, the landscape is the star. Nice characters with quirky problems. But be warned...there's very little sun! ************************************** Expect a decreasing amount of quality drama from the BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-33360707 All tied in with the approaching government sell-off of the network to the people who funded their election victory, I suspect.

"Out here on the outer fringes of the galaxy it's easy lose track of new additions the Scandi thriller pantheon. Any pointers would be appreciated." Apologies - can't work out how to get rid of the quotes I don't want! You are probably familiar with the big ones: The Krister Henriksson version of Wallendar (though there was an earlier Swedish version I liked too)The Killing I and IIThe Bridge I and IIBorgen (not a thriller but full of intrigue - who'd have though proportional representation could be so involving!). Not noticed much since - the last BBC 4 Swedish thing about murders on an island was dire - I only managed one episode. Maybe they are saving them up for the winter. Thank you, Bev. I've seen all those. I was also taken by ' The Legacy', not a thriller but a great depiction of a family at each others throats over an inheritence. Makes good binge watching. I thought you probably would have. But I've not seen 'The Legacy' so might add that to the rental list.

I particularly like that Broadway building shot, Shawn. Some splendid stuff here: http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2015/jul/01/share-your-art-travel-in-pictures Like: Painting based on an aerial shot over Arizona.

"Out here on the outer fringes of the galaxy it's easy lose track of new additions the Scandi thriller pantheon. Any pointers would be appreciated." Apologies - can't work out how to get rid of the quotes I don't want! You are probably familiar with the big ones: The Krister Henriksson version of Wallendar (though there was an earlier Swedish version I liked too)The Killing I and IIThe Bridge I and IIBorgen (not a thriller but full of intrigue - who'd have though proportional representation could be so involving!). Not noticed much since - the last BBC 4 Swedish thing about murders on an island was dire - I only managed one episode. Maybe they are saving them up for the winter.

Try being indoors at 2.00 with 30 fifteen year olds and no form of ventilation apart from opening the room door to allow a slight breeze. Any government that could guarantee hot weather at weekends would get my vote.

I'd recommend 'Case Histories' too - though the Kate Atkinson books are even better. Really quirky. For Brit thrillers I've seen nothing to beat last year's 'Happy Valley' - way outside the usual plot lines, brilliantly acted and with a wonderful sense of place (Yorkshire). Big Morse fan from days of yore and have enjoyed all the Lewis programmes even if they can be a bit quaint. Oxford is the big star! Love the Scandi-thrillers too. The other one I've really loved is the French 'Spiral' - there have been several series - quite brutal but with interesting lead characters who stray all over the moral map. **************** Having finished up series 2 of 'House of Cards' (I'm impatiently awaiting the arrival of series 3 at the rental site) I've just caught up with series three of: A bit slower than 1 and 2 and the sentimental bits are overdone but the scene where Sloane savages the new IT chap for his stalking app was priceless.

Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict Pink Floyd - Umma Gumma

The second Waters I've read. Enjoyed 'The Little Stranger' very much and this is very engaging. Reminds me in style of someone like Daphne du Maurier (though far more sexually explicit) - that same feeling of discomfort with and anxiety for the main characters. Gives a vivid picture of London just after World War I with the war haunting everything, new thoughts and ideas stirring but not daring to burst forth beyond the curtains.