Hail and Farewell John

John and I met up at Poly in Birmingham many moons ago and ended up sharing a room in a house in Rotton Park. We wrote articles and campaigned for Third World First – the campaigning arm of Oxfam.  We met up again for a brief spell with Birmingham Probation Service – Anna, John and I were the “Three Musketeers” of Birmingham Probation direct entrants.

John was a former Choral Scholar at Oxford, he also learned to make and play guitars and dulcimers. Together with Sue they were part of a thriving campus folk club.

They later moved to Market Drayton and became active members of the local community – Sue a proficient artist and musician John with a number of ventures and a driving force of the local choral society they were surrounded by musician friends and family.

After the local Tai Chi teacher left John was asked to take over the class and soon became a master of that art. Unfortunately whilst on a recent trip to China, to take his training to the next level, he contracted pneumonia and died.

It seems strange that the world is now without this multi talented, sweet and endearing guy.

Our Friends in the North

We arrived for the Edinburgh Tattoo the same time as the Fringe contingent. The streets of Auld Reekie were wall to wall humanity - literally.

The half mile or so queue for the Tattoo was chaotic but, eventually, we made it to the Castle concourse, along with tens of thousands of others and took our place on the high tiered seating.

What a mind blowing performance. So many countries represented, such clever choreography, such stirring music. The French contingent marching formally in, side sloping into a heart shape with dozens of can caners storming in. The Kiwis marching in, gently lowering their instruments onto the ground and going into the full Hakka. The Icelandic contingent entering amidst a full snow storm. Caribbean Fiesta, Highland Reel and much much more.

After a rest it was off with Sis, down memory lane, to Blackpool. It's not illumination time but they were testing sections of the lights including the Tower and the section of Prom by our hotel.

Sea, sand and Stanley Park.

The Hot Ice Show was spectacular, as usual, fast n furious but an odd cameo in the middle involving a man, a bath tub, loadsa water and areal acrobatics (don't ask!). Followed by and equally amusing 80's musical at the Grand. Sort of Sing a longa Phileas Fogg 😃. Tram trips to Fleetwood and Clevelys and the odd pint or two.