Author Archives: garylongden

Dear England – Nottingham Royal Theatre, 24/09/25

Posted on September 25, 2025 by garylongden

***** A fan once said to legendary Liverpool football manager Bill Shankly: ‘To you football is a matter of life or death!’ , he replied:  ‘Listen, it’s more important than that’. The two great loves of my life are football … Continue reading →

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David Gilmour Live at the Circus Maximus  Rome- film review 17/9/25

Posted on September 18, 2025 by garylongden

I went to the same school as Gilmour ( Perse) and lived in the city ( Cambridge). We were not contemporaries at school, but I recall seeing Syd Barrett around Cherry Hinton, a Cambridge suburb and pink Floyd were very … Continue reading →

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Murder at Midnight

Posted on September 10, 2025 by garylongden

It is September  , the children are back at school, temperatures are falling and Derby Theatre has a scorching world premier  tour from leading contemporary playwright Torben Betts to open the autumn  season. A strong cast of television veterans includes … Continue reading →

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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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