A Gentleman's Domain

Wouldn't it be luverly!

2013-03-27T16:59:26-04:00

Nicholas

Fun

2013-02-06T22:45:40-05:00

Nicholas

2012-12-21T20:24:48-05:00

The Second Amendment is dangerous, obsolete crap. Dump it!

Black Friday Prank

2012-12-02T21:31:18-05:00

This was a harmless and rather charming Black Friday prank. There's a sort of feel-good about it.

Billy Cotton & his Band, "That Lindy Hop" 1931

2012-09-27T18:55:24-04:00

The late Brian Rust described this as one of the most exciting recordings made in Britain between the wars. In the early 1930s, Billy Cotton's Band put out some very hot music indeed, especially when they were recording for Columbia, and this is an excellent example. The band included Nat Gonella and Sid Buckman on trumpets, Joe Ferrie on trombone (before all three were poached by Roy Fox later that year), Syd Lipton on violin and Joe Gibson on string bass, right up front.

This programme used to be my regular Sunday evening entertainment

2012-06-23T19:21:47-04:00

My friend Brian Rust died last year. His knowledge of vintage jazz was unsurpassed.

One sunny afternoon on County Road 232...

2012-04-12T02:50:28-04:00

Actually this is the ventilation system for a huge milking shed. I suppose I should have guessed that, what with all those cows and all.

I most certainly will!

2012-01-10T09:07:32-05:00

Seen at a rest area off I-75 in north Florida yesterday. The question must be: how badly does one need to use the washroom?

Prioities!

2011-10-15T02:27:30-04:00

The cat lover in me totally agrees!

Thursday Thirteen #96

2011-08-24T19:21:50-04:00

Here’s another selection of titles from my To Be Read shelf. The thing that these ones have in common is that they are the 13 longest books I own but have not yet read. All of these are over 600 pages long – some are considerably longer than that. Maybe it is the sheer size of these books that has put me off reading them. Anyway, friendly TTers, can you tell me anything about any of these? Any that you recommend? Any that you would like to warn me not to bother reading? All opinions and comments will be most welcome.

WARLOCK by Wilbur Smith (642 pages) The third novel of Ancient Egypt that Wilbur Smith has written. The first two were excellent, so I expect good things from this one.

A MAN IN FULL by Tom Wolfe (787 pages) I’ve read a couple of Wolfe’s books and enjoyed them. I’ve had this for a few years and I’m not sure why I haven’t tackled it yet.

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BODYGUARD OF LIES by Anthony Cave Brown (821 pages) This looked very interesting when I saw it on Amazon, and I’m sure it is, but I had no idea it was so long. Small print too.

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UNDER THE DOME by Stephen King (1072 pages) This is one big-ass book! How does he manage to churn them out? Does he have elves typing away in his attic?

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THE BASTARD by John Jakes (634 pages). I have had this one on my TBR shelf for ages. Like, maybe, since 1996. I bought it in a thrift shop in Walnut Creek, CA, when I was taking a holiday in the Bay Area with my ex-wife (before she was ex, of course). It’s the first volume in an eight-book series.

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ONE DOOR AWAY FROM HEAVEN by Dean Koontz (757 pages) A pretty long novel from a writer who seldom disappoints.

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BLEAK HOUSE by Charles Dickens (723 pages) I’ve seen two TV adaptations of this, and enjoyed them both, so I know the story of Jarndyce vs. Jarndyce and the characters involved. One day I’ll tackle the book.

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FALL OF GIANTS by Ken Follett (850 pages) I really enjoyed both of Follett’s medieval novels (The Pillars of the Earth and World Without End) so I’m curious to see how he does with Europe a mere 100 years ago. I suspect he’ll do very well!

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PIECE OF CAKE by Derek Robinson (667 pages) This writer has a reputation, not entirely unjustified, for debunking accepted historical conceptions. When this novel was made for TV it was very controversial. I look forward to finding out.

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A WORLD UNDONE by G. J. Meyer (715 pages) Another history of the First World War, a subject that fascinates me.

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EMPEROR: THE GATES OF ROME by Conn Iggulden (624 pages) I like historical novels (as opposed to period romances - ugh!) and this looks quite good. The author’s name looks like an anagram so it must be genuine!

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NEW YORK by Edward Rutherfurd (1017 pages) This writer specializes in long novels set in one place, over a span of many generations. I’ve read his Sarum and London and enjoyed both. So this should be good.

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THE WAR LORD by Malcolm Bosse (736 pages) See the blurb on the cover comparing this to Shogun ? I didn’t enjoy Shogun, so that has put me off somewhat. Still and all, I suppose I should give it a try.

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Hmmm... That little lot come to 10,045 pages. I’d better get reading!

There's harsh, and then there's harsh!

2011-08-10T14:17:18-04:00

Nicholas

Paws for thought....

2011-06-08T21:31:22-04:00

This is the picture on the packet of cat treats that our three felines enjoy so much. I have to say, I find that image vaguely disturbing!

Thursday Thirteen # 95

2011-05-04T22:01:52-04:00

One of my most prized books is a single-volume edition of the Oxford Universal Dictionary. Longer, of course, than the Shorter Oxford but nowhere as long as the 12-volume Complete Oxford, its 2515 pages nevertheless contain tens of thousands of words that do not reside in a 21st Century Anglophone’s daily vocabulary. I always enjoy opening it at random and seeing how many words completely unknown to me I can find. Sometimes I even commit a few to memory and try to use them – after all, a word is still a word, even if it has fallen into disuse. And so, ignoring the countless botanical, chemical and biological terms in the book, I have found easily enough for many Thursday Thirteens. Here’s one:

  13 Obscure, Obsolete or Otherwise Unusual Words

Exust – To burn up.

Cervelat – A short reed instrument

Cunctator   – Someone who is tardy or delays matters

Porrect   – Stretched out forward

Looby – A lout, clown

Purfle – The embroidered edge of a garment

Fard – White paint used as face make-up

Patefy – To disclose, make open

Roband – Nautical term for a small piece of rope

Shoat – A young pig

Neaf – A fist

Recado – A gift or compliment

Izzard – The letter Z. This has become shortened to Zed in the English speaking world, except in the USA, where for some reason I have never been able to ascertain, it is known as Zee.

Low Down Rhythm

2011-02-27T20:46:43-05:00

Arthur Rosebery & his Band were contracted to the Parlophone record company in 1929, but like a lot of other bands they recoded for different labels under pseudonyms. This recording of “Low Down Rhythm” for the British Homophone Company issued on their Sterno label, was credited to The Florida Club Band. I don’t know if there actually was a Florida Club in London at that time, but if there was, Rosebery’s band did not play there.

This is a nice bluesy treatment of a now-forgotten song that was adaptable to the jazz idiom. The piano solo is a touch too long, but I do like the way the whole band resumes playing once it’s over.
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