A Lark Ascending

Superb record. I think you recommended it to me back in Medieval Times. Likewise I think. I've neglected the Italian Jazz scene in recent years by the excellence of Roberto Ottaviano's "Forgotten Matches" with Alex Hawkins has me intrigued again. Lots of new names that don't mean much to me. Yes, ten or so years back it seemed to have a higher profile in the UK - I recall seeing La Banda, Trovesi, Italian Instabile; and then a whole host at the last Appleby (the cost of bringing those across probably helped sink the festival). I enjoyed going through some of the Tiziano Tononi records a few weeks back. Real fire there.

It was mainly due to the limited attention spans of people in the past.

Superb record. I think you recommended it to me back in Medieval Times.

Four hours of gripping TV.

Whenever I see this thread title I expect:

Heard this on the World Service last night. Very enjoyable. Courtney Pine's anchoring suffered from that BBC thing of getting stars to introduce these programmes - sounded like a read script for a BBC educational programme. Always much better when they have professional commentators. However the more natural discussion between Nat Birchall, Finn Peters and Jason Yarde in the second half was very good. Got down to trying to explain the music as music rather than waffling about spirituality (though there was a bit of that). Good programme.

I'm not really a reader of 'literature' as such so quality of prose does not register (consciously, at least). I'm afraid I read fiction for the story lines, characterisation and the social angles. You'll not be surprised that both 'The Waves' and 'Ulysses' utterly defeated me! Orwell was the first 'literature'-type writer who grabbed me. Going through most of his books (including the Penguin volumes of his letters and reviews) between the ages of 15-18 probably had more influence on my view of the world than anything else.

Yes, I noticed the Bullingdon reference (thanks to the copious explanatory notes at the back of my edition). The book actually reminded me of Grand Budapest Hotel (the film). I didn't like that either! Wow, we really are differing today! The only Waugh I don't like is Brideshead. For me its sentimental nostagic romanticism comes as a real disappointment after the incisive, beautifully handled satire of the early novels, of which the best is Decline IMHO. Well, it must be 20 years at least since I read it. Can't have enjoyed it that much as I never followed up on Waugh until now (it was that 'Romantic Moderns' book that made me pick D&F up). I'm happier with Orwell in the 30s. From a pretty similar social background to Waugh but looking a different way. A while since I read anything by him but I always enjoyed Huxley too - he seemed to write about that 'Bright Young Things' world.

I read 'Brideshead' years ago and recall enjoying it. But there was something about 'Decline and Fall' that grated. I'd hoped to enjoy the book and then work through some of the other novels. But I've decided against that.

Just finished that myself a couple of hours back. Didn't care for it at all. Privilege making fun of the world of privilege he was happily luxuriating in.

Chris Wood:The Cottager's Reply (apart from being topical, one of my favourite songs of the last ten years...and that guitar!)

Bet Waitrose wasn't far away! (Had a quick look - the nearest one is in Call-Me-Dave Town) Also worth remembering that the people who live in Moreton-in-the Marsh are probably running KFC, Subway etc and plonking them in everybody else's back yard.

Spring really is magical. Even in my own small garden there's something new every day. I love the Cotswolds. Lived nearby for short periods as a kid - near Gloucester at 12 and Swindon at 17. I really miss my trips to Cheltenham and Bath for the festivals in years past that took me right through that country. Pity they are full of posh people!

Spring is making progress - most of the trees in Derbyshire not quite sprouted yet:

Well, for once the pundits were right. We've just had 5 days of wonderful weather. Barbecue Spring indeed. Sadly looks as if things will break at the weekend.

Marius Neset Quintet in the place in Sheffield where they show the snooker. Marius Neset: sax; Magnus Hjorth: piano; Jim Hart: vibes; Petter Eldh: bass; Joshua Blackmore: drums Excellent couple of sets. Very composed music (but with lots of solo space), tricksy and nervy but full of passion. I've yet to get a sense of Neset as a distinctive saxophone voice but there's no doubting the overall excitement of the group.

Read that one last year - absolutely superb. I don't know a great deal about science in history (or science full stop) - this got me absolutely fascinated, linking it in with Romanticism.

I remember watching that in the late-70s when it was screened on the BBC for the first time since the 60s. I found it overwhelming. It was just as I started teaching and very much coloured the way I taught WWI at the time. It's interesting to read about what influenced it and how it influenced. It's now seen as very much a reflection of the anti-establishment/anti-military-industrial complex mood of the 60s (along with 'Oh What a Lovely War' and the rediscovered [and selectively chosen] war poets). Gary Sheffield's 'Forgotten Victory' has an interesting section on its place in the general historiography of the Great War.

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/apr/06/new-orleans-music-box-jazz-art-shanty-town

Two very different worlds...though both involve self-indulgent arty types. Enjoyable Easter reading.

Second Lawton I've read. Detective series set in 30s/40s Britain (though lots about mainland Europe too). This one takes half the book before the main character (Inspector Troy) takes main stage, moving between the Nazification of Austria and Auschwitz and the Manhattan Project before arriving in post-war Britain. The centre is a Cold War theme. Strong musical references too - the inspector is an amateur pianist with a fondness for Debussy and Art Tatum; a cellist and professional pianist are key characters too. Very enjoyable though not as convincing as Alan Furst.

A million bunnies to you all.

The format was stilted - a bit like watching a repertory band rehearsing it's standards. Except that the 'minor' players seemed to provide the excitement.

Yes, lots of daffs here. And the leaves on the bushes are starting to sprout.

Coalition - a Channel 4 Drama-Doc about the events leading to the formation of the 2010 UK Coalition government. Discovered a few days later that it was written by an ex-student from where I work.