Hours in the day !

Who was it who decided there should be twenty-four hours in the day ?

I am sorry but twenty-for are just  not enough !

If I can get to the end of today with my sanity intact it will be something of a miracle !  The doings list for Tuesday 5th December 2017 is - well there is no a hyperbole able to describe it...............

HE HE HE. Or should that be HO HO HO ?

Anyway..............................

Let's have today Advent Calendar window opened and enjoy a lovely piece of Christmas Music.

I like that song, don't you ?

It was fun playing Christmas music yesterday in the West Bletchley Community Centre's charity shop.  All would have been fine if I had stuck to just playing the music but you now me, I can't leave things simple can I ?

I decided to switch the webcam on and broadcast into Facebook. Fifty-six people logged in and started to watch. The image was OK but NO SOUND.  Oh dear.

Thank you Maplin Electronics. I now have a new webcam which they tell me will do the job today. As well as buying the cam I invested in a lead so the cam can be behind me, looking over my shoulder at the shop. People today will not have to look at my ugly face !

I all goes well I will have the cam broadcasting live into Facebook from 8.30am to 11.30am.

They tell me that Tuesday is the busiest day of the week in the shop.

Immediately I have finished playing music I will be heading to Bletchley Youth Centre for a meeting. I must remember to take off my Santa gear before I go.

This evening I have a treat in store for myself. A bit of indulgence for yours truly. I am going to watch a performance of The Nutcracker by The Royal Ballet Company. I love all kinds of music but I have to say ballet is my favourite. The Royal Ballet Company is not actually my favourite ballet company, that accolade belongs to The Bolshoi in Moscow. Here's a little clip from The Nutcracker.

I will be going to watch The Nutcracker performed by The Bolshoi a little later in the month.

Hang on a minute I am going to stop writing. Be back in a moment.

BACK !  Just spent £20, well £19.99, with Amazon to by the DVD of The Bolshoi performing The Nutcracker. A little pre-Christmas treat for myself.

OK - back to the blog.

THANK YOU to all who sent me details of their first car following yesterday's little feature.

Thank you to: 

Simon Nobes Mine was a Ford Anglia 105E in sky blue. WRO 466E it had a V shaped front where Paul Hale stopped in front of me.  Also XR1 on the boot in 3 inch letters

Richard Ashford: My first car was an Austin 1100, PNT127G and my dream car (vehicle) would be a VW Campervan.

Cherrill Saunders My first car was one of these. Not this particular one, but the same colour and same year.

I did hope a few more people would have responded. I did say I would make a musical presentation for those who did respond but I have not had time yet to do that so, tell you what, I'll let it run for another 24 hours. 

I have everything ready for playing music at Wrigglies Exotic Pets birthday party on Saturday 16th December. Well almost !

I need some help.

Firstly I could do with a hand setting everything up. Mainly putting up the tent which will house the tent. 

Anyone feel strong ?

I need help - wait for it - at 7.30am so we are ready to Rock and Roll well before the shop

opens.

I also need help with something else.

I am putting together a bit of a fun quiz sheet to hand out to people. A quiz people can try to answer from their own knowledge then as Mr Google for help if there are any questions they can not manage solo.

The plan is to have twenty-five animal related music questions. At the moment I have only twenty-one.

These are the questions I have at the moment. Can you come up with another four ?

1.     How many hit songs can you name by the group THE ANIMALS ?  List them.

2.    The were recycling scavengers in SW19…………….

3.    You, Me And A Dog Named ?????? A hit from Lobo.  What was the dog’s name ?

4.    Who had a hit with Doggie In The Window ?

5.    Who lived in a Dutch windmill ?

6.    Deuteronomy was a character in which musical ?

7.    In which Disney film do two Siamese Cats feature.

8.    Who had the original hit with a song about a frog called Barney ?

9.    What was the colour of the horses Jackie Lee sang about ?

10. According to the song which animal was left out of Noah’s Ark ?

11.   Captain Beaky sang about a snake.  What was the snake’s name ?

12. John Williams composed the theme music to the film Jaws. In which year was the film released ?

13. Michael Jackson sang about Ben. Who was Ben ?

14.  Lulu had a feline hit. Name that tune.

15. Which animal dis Rolf Harris want tethered ?

16. Which animal sleeps in the song Wimoweh ?

17. In the song Hole In My Shoe which bird’s back did the singer climb upon ?

18. In Cat Stevens hit which bird has spoken ?

19. Which insects did Buddy Holly sing with ?

20.The Forces Sweetheart sang about what bird flying over the Kent Coast ?

21. What kind of dog did Lonnie Donnegan’s father find in a dustbin ?

The music at Wrigglies on Saturday 16th December began as an OurRebekah event, it still is, but when I joined the team at Radio Secklow 105.5 I opened the event to launch The Secklow Radio Roadshow..  Mayor David Hopkins is coming to spin some discs as DJ to

launch the roadshow.

At the top of my DOINGS LIST before I get into my Santa Suit and head off to play Christmas Music is to e-mail all of the presenters at Secklow 105.5 and invite them to come along.

At the very start of planning The Secklow Radio Roadshow I decided it would have its own theme tune.

Here it is....................

What do you think ?

And with that I'll sign off and end today's blog.  Watch out for the webcam on Facebook. Tell me about your first car. Can you help on the 16th ?  Any ideas for the animal quiz ?

It's a MEGA special blog today

Yes it's a MEGA special blog today.

If we can get enough people to read this page and to respond Ronald McDonald House in Birmingham will receive a donation of £100.

Yesterday we had 271 readers - very nice. Can we smash our all-time record today ? That record currently stands at 302. How close can we get to 500 readers.

If you like what I am about to share please respond and then share the blog with your cyber buddies - get them to do the same and start a chain reaction. How close tio going viral can we take the blog ?

But before that let's open the next window on OurRebekag's advent calendar.

Thank You Shaky - that was fun ! 

OK so onward and upward. Let me play this for you.

Since I spent an hour putting that little video together I have not been able to get the tune out of my head !  WARNING it will do the same to you. 

I popped a preview of today's blog onto Facebook yesterday - already we have three responses !

WOW - thank you.

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR CAR - your first car and your dream car.

Can you remember the registration of your first car ? Do you have a photograph of it ?

There are THREE ways you can tell me, three ways you can help support Ronald McDonald House in Birmingham.

You can scroll down to the bottom of this blog and post a comment.

You can e-mail me at dashford566@gmail.com

OR you can message me on Facebook. If you use this web address it will take you direct to my page

www.patrioticpensioner.com

The picture on the right it the entrance to Brimingham's Childrens Hospital.

Children from all over the country come to this hospital for specialist treatment. Ronald McDonald House provides a loving home from home for sixty-six families who have a child sick in the hospital. Let me play something to tell you more of the incredible work done at Ronald McDonald House in good old Brum.

Don't be shy - tell me about your car.

You can check out the results of this fun survey on tomorrow's blog.

I will play this piece of music as I tell you who had which as their first car...............

CLICK HERE

I'll be playing it on VINYL !  An original 7" single from The Avons.

Today. all morning I will be playing music in West Bletchley Community Centre's Charity Shop.

I'll not be playing vinyl there but using modern technology.

I am only using the modern kit as there isn't room in the shop for my full disco twin deck.I'll let you into a secret - the modern technology is easier to use !  Ooopppsss I never saiid that !

I will report on my adventures with music in the shop on tomorrow's blog.

To bring this edition to an end let me share a picture of a car I used to own. My Austin Maxi. In those days I used to service and maintain my own cars. The Maxi has twin carburetors, I never did manage to balance them properly. 

Playing Music For Some Very Special People

Sunday 3rd December - the third day of Advent and so time to open the third window on OurRebekah's Advent Calendar.

I am playing this piece of Christmas music for families who have a child sick in hospital, families who are staying in a Ronald McDonald Houses anywhere in the world. I am also playing it for all Ronald McDonald House staff, volunteers and supporters.

Today's song is sung in German, not English. I do not speak German but there are some songs which just sound better in that language.

One of those I am playing this song for is Gary Hooper at Sheffield Wednesday FC. Gary scored two goals in yesterday's game against Hull City and so added £10 in Brummie Owl

sponsorship to Ronald McDonald House in Birmingham.

Thank You Gary.  I look forward to seeing you score many more goals when I am next at Hillsborough on Saturday 23rd December. A hat trick from you would really start my Christmas off well !

Yesterday I visited Stony Stratford in Milton Keynes, the northern community in our city which is famous for its light festival. I found there a pipe organ. I have always loved fairground pipe organ music. In my now long-gone old vinyl collection I used to have an LP of fairground music.

Let's listen to the fairground organ from yesterday.

That organ is owned and operated by a fairground family, Emmets. Back in the 1970's I had the privilege of meeting the then owners, Mr & Mrs Emmet.  The Emmet's are a  

celebrated local family of show people.

The high street was packed with people and stalls run by all kinds of groups within the community. It was great fun.

I had my small hand-held reorder with me, I wanted to test it out. It worked well and I made three clips which I have here edited together. I have not got it right yet, I was holding it too close too my mouth but do have a listen to the three clips. In particular please pay attention to the third in the recording.

As I say in the recording I have never heard of Harry's Rainbow Trust but I have now checked it out. You can find the website at http://harrysrainbow.co.uk/ Take a look. I think

this is an organisation which deserves your support.

So much was happening in Stony Stratford High Street yesterday. I am so pleased I was there.

This was the local community in action in a very special way.

Here's another video clip from the day.

I have managed to find a copy of that fairground organ vinyl LP I used to have on e-bay. Yes, I have ordered a copy for my NEW vinyl collection. So for everyone involved in Stony Stratford's day yesterday this is for you.

My collection of vinyl is growing. I have been very busy cataloging it. I think I may be 10% of the way through the task.

Not my vinyl collection but tomorrow morning, Tuesday morning and then on Wednesday morning I am taking my digital collection and disco system into the charity shop at West Bletchley Community Centre to play Christmas music.

Look out for more video and clips from my hand-held recording device on future blogs.

The many groups who use West Bletchley Community Centre have been very supportive of OurRebekah's Secret Santa

project. This is my way of saying THANK YOU.

Santa is still looking for helpers to deliver the love-packed gifts to Ronald McDonald House in Birmingham on Monday 18th December.

Here's another pic from Yesterday in Stony Stratford High Street.

You will not believe my diary for the coming week.

There is a very special entry listed for Thursdsay - GO TO SEE RO.  Ro is the Manager of Wrigglies Exotic Pets in Old Stratford. On Saturday 16th I will be playing the music at his shop's third birthday party. I will have a very special helper and DJ that day - David Hopkins, Mayor of Milton Keynes.

The music will be played from a tent in the car park. Yesterday I purchased a silent running generator rather than run a cable all the way from the shop to the tent.

Music will be played on both my state of the art digital sound system and on a more traditional vinyl twin deck. 

The tent will be filled with beautiful, swimming colours from the light show. There is a bubble machine and a smoke machine. Given the time of the year there is also a snow generator.

We are expecting more than one thousand people to pass by during the course of the day. Nothing has been left to chance in organising a musical extravaganza as part of Wrigglies Exotic Pets Birthday Party.

OurRebekah is providing the cakes and will be the charity of the day.

I know I keep putting this picture on the blog, Mayor David at OurRebekah's Frog Challenge last September hosted by Wrigglies, but it is the most viewed image on Google Reviews for all of Milton Keynes.

Closely followed by Mayoress Susan cuddling a skunk. Nobody told her  its scent glands had not been removed !

Ro tells me that as well and Mayor David's python and Susan's skunk there will be an owl at the party. I think he means the bird owl rather than a Sheffield Wednesday Owl !

Do you remember the My Inspiration interview Frank Scarito did with me recently ?

In that interview he asked me what was my most inspiring piece of music. I had no hesitation in answering Bridge Over Troubled Water.

When the Mayor attends an event it is traditional to give him and the mayoress a thank you gift. This event will be the third to which I have been honoured to welcome Milton Keynes's First Citizens.  I have been very careful each time to give them a gift which is relevant to the event and not just a bunch of flowers. For Wrigglies Birthday Party I have obtained a vinyl copy of the LP Bridge Over Troubled Water and a CD version.

No, nothing has been left to chance for Saturday 16th December. That's the way I like to work. Everything planned to the very last detail.

AH that is not quite true !  The party starts at 9am so all of the equipment and the tent must be up and working no later than half past eight in the morning. I am guessing it will take an hour to unpack the car and set up.  Wriggles closes at half past five when everything then has to be taken down and packed away.

At this moment in time I am asking, in a day or so I will be begging - can you help ? There is no way I can do all of that on my own.

Please, pretty please !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ro, who is Milton Keynes answer to David Attenborough, has asked me to play some ANIMAL MUSIC. Within the playlist of music I a compiling I do have a special section for Animal Music. 

I have this in my collection of 7" vinyl singles.

Ro - is a WOMBLE an ANIMAL ?

Life Is A Game Of Football - So score lots of goals !

Do I support a great football team or do I support a great football team ?

I find it difficult sometimes to understand the passion some people have for the team they support yet fail to cheer their team to victory. Many spend their time moaning about the manager, the directors and the players. If everything is so rubbish then why support the team in the first place ?

I had not one but two e-mails from the director of my club yesterday. I am proud to be a Wednesday fan and proud to enjoy the respect of the club. 

Does the club you support even know you exist ?

Let me take you to Hillsborough in the New Year, come as my guest, and let me show you how a real football club works.

Let me show you how goals should be scored. I am not talking simply about the ball ending up in the net, I am in a philosophical mood today when I say that Life is like a game of football so score some goals.

The word goal means achieving something. I think that nobody anywhere is the world should go to bed at the end of the day without having achieved something, without having scored a goal.

 I am not sure how many goals I will score today. 

This is my celebrated DOINGS LIST. 14 items have been crossed off, they are the goals I scored yesterday. Thirteen have not been crossed off. They are the times when I kicked the ball wide of the net.

A football supporter needs to cheer on his team. A football supporter needs to cheer loudly when goals are not being scored in order to enthuse the players. A football supporter needs to applaud his team when the goals are scored.

Yesterday I received lovely, supportive e-mails from Little Houghton Day Nursery (See yesterday's blog), from Ronald McDonald House in Birmingham, from our Mayor's PA. And, of course, there were the two e-mails from Club Director Trevor at Sheffield Wednesday FC.

Am I making sense ?     Do you follow what I am trying to say ?  Or am I being too deep with my thinking ?

The goals I scored by crossing things off my doings list were achieved because people were cheering me on. Without their voices ringing in my ears I would not have done anything with my day.

I have just crossed off the first item on today's doings list. I have opened the second door in OurRebekah's Advent Calendar.

Yesterday Facebook sent me one a little feature called David's November Moments. It said I had liked 183 posts made by my friends. I am a bit embarrassed about that. My friends "Liked" over 500 of my own posts. Obviously I was not cheering loudly enough.

Picking up on something a friend posted on facebook I clicked to let the robot check my posts and see what Santa thinks of me.  It was, of course, flattering - that's the way Facebook works,  but it was right when it describes be as being a fighter at heart. I am a fighter. Not a fighter with boxing gloves but in a metaphorical sense I will always fight for what I believe to be right. I will fight for what I believe in and I will fight to defend those who need my support.  When I do fight god help anyone who gets in my way.

A football team can only score goals if it fights its way through the opposition's defenders. Their job, of course, is to fight back and stop the ball getting in the net. The last game I watched at Hillsborough as a nil - nil draw.

Life is not intended to be a nil - nil draw.  Every goal scored has to be fought for.  I intend to get out there today and fight today for as many goals as I possibly can.