Monthly Archives: August 2025

From the Caribbean to the Mediterranean 2025

Posted on August 31, 2025 by garylongden

My fifth cruise, my third transatlantic repositioning cruise from the Caribbean to the mediterranean on Voyager, my first journey on her. Once again we were starting from Barbados, a long haul flight from Birmingham Uk and finishing with a relatively … Continue reading →

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Buddy- Birmingham Hippodrome 28/8/25

Posted on August 28, 2025 by garylongden

**** This is my fourth visit to the show, the first being over two decades ago. In 1975 Jon Landau proclaimed Bruce Springsteen as the future of rock n roll. In 1958 Buddy Holly was the progenitor of the genre. … Continue reading →

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At a stroke

Posted on August 26, 2025 by garylongden

In the morning I had been playing in the woods with pre school age  grandchildren. I was booked into the hospital for the afternoon for a routine echo sound in response to a feeling of general malaise. An unremarkable day. … Continue reading →

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Southampton- poem

Posted on August 25, 2025 by garylongden

Southampton The  brass band played Streamers cascaded Klaxons blared We lined the rails overlooking the quay New York far off, Distant Rule Britannia,  A life on the ocean wave The British grenadiers ,and ,as we cast off God save the … Continue reading →

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Heaven 17, Robin, Bilston, Wolverhampton,14/8/25

Posted on August 22, 2025 by garylongden

A gig almost exactly a year on from the last time, on  very hot summer night, a warm up show for the festival season before their full autumn tour. The venue was once agin packed, a place they clearly enjoy … Continue reading →

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David Bowie , Heroes- an appreciation

Posted on August 13, 2025 by garylongden

Great songs transcend their immediate space and morph into something grander, greater and immortal. “Somewhere Over the rainbow” and “My Way” are obvious examples of music standards that have enjoyed that rite of passage. “Heroes” is edging its way into … Continue reading →

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Rocky Horror show -Royal Concert hall Nottingham

Posted on August 10, 2025 by garylongden

This was my fourth time over the years that I have seen Rocky Horror. Like a fine wine it improves with age Jason Donovan slips on the heels   as Frank N Furter, supported by  Lauren Chia as Janet, Connor Carson … Continue reading →

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Football season 2025/26

Posted on August 9, 2025 by garylongden

This is the third successive season that I have seen Mansfield’s opening game, First at Crewe, then at Barnsley. Mansfield are always well supported away from home, and a crowd of 5170 which may prove to be Burton’s highest home … Continue reading →

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The Salt Path- film review

Posted on August 7, 2025 by garylongden

*** Lovely contrived schmaltz. I watched this knowing that the real life protagonists were fraudulent grifters and enjoyed it far more as a result. Every device that you can think of is wheeled out, Gillian Anderson as dodgy Wyn and  … Continue reading →

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Ten Years a Dad- Tom Allsopp Midland Fringe Festival 2025

Posted on August 6, 2025 by garylongden

Tom is the Black Country’s answer to Tim Minchin. Now if you don’t like Minchin I accept that is faint praise .But I do- and I like Tom’s work very much. Tom is a membrer of Lichfield Poets, Tim Minchin … Continue reading →

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