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The Eton Mess question shows your embracement of British Humour. It is none of those 4. ;-) (Pavlova, shakes head)
the PM question is tricky Maggie is the only woman Justin is a PM from Canada Boris is the only PM confirmed as a liar by fellow MPs, by an employer, by senior Civil Servants and by people I know Winston is the only PM to have changed parties |
Originally Posted by ms_go
(Post 17472915)
Spoon has been favorite of ours for many years. We've seen them a few times. I have a photo somewhere of mr_go shaking hands with Britt Daniel before a show in Chicago. We've also seen the Black Keys a few times. Funny thing, this trip started because of the MLB series. We had tickets in 2020, and of course that was cancelled. Then, we heard about the Peter Gabriel show in Manchester just before the baseball games, so we got tickets for that and planned our travel accordingly. And more recently, we discovered that the Spoon/BK show is the evening before Peter Gabriel and the day of our arrival in Manchester. Hopefully flights will be on time and jet lag isn't too much of an issue.
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oh, zebec, what an amazing TR! A multi-media experience extraordinaire! Loving the characterful photos, the videos and your wonderful wit! This is a good reminder that it's time to go back to London and focus on the East End, which we only explored for one day.
Love all your photos, but that little darling at the wedding -perfect moment. |
Yo RG, no problem at all. You did not 'hijack' anything. I've always felt that sometimes, travel site forums get a bit too rigid regarding such things. We are having a conversation of sorts here and I now hand the free pass over to you with the understanding that you share some of your own London impressions. Someone needs to be our fresh new input 'gatekeeper' here.
(sound of whistling along with creaky rocking chair...'Thick as a Brick' in the background) (awaits gatekeeper, does nails in meantime) |
Yo fellow travelers,
See also the current TRs by Progol (Jordan/Egypt), Annhig (Paris) and Ade (Switzerland) among others. Bilbo's TR on his recent |
Wow. What a wonderful report! I'm going to have to go over it several more times. So much, so good.
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What an extravaganza indeed zebec! You have outdone yourself, if such a thing is possible.
The hand sequence is brilliant, as one example. Tull is not in the R&R Hall of Fame?! YMBFKM! Those guys below the Amy photo sometimes show up on tee shirts worn by young people. I might inform them they they will never amount to anything, and receive a wide variety of looks in return. (Thanks for mentioning my contributions to your prior TR invitations. I have London photos but they will only serve to make yours look better, which is of course completely unnecessary.) Looking forward to the Cotswolds installment. Musical interludes. |
Excellent photo essay zebec. Having spent a fair promotion of my life in London I have visited many of those places but also reminds me of how much I haven't seen that is right on the doorstep. Brought back some happy memories. Loved the rock section. In the early 70s I spent many a happy night at gigs by a whole range of artists. The album cover for Bowie's Ziggy Stardust was especially poignant. Lost count of the number of Bowie gigs I have been to the first in a pub in Kilburn in 72/73 on his Ziggy tour, the last, his Serious Moonlight tour at Milton Keynes Bowl and lots in between. Last year we had Sunday Brunch @ Ziggy Green in 1 Heddon Street - the same building on the front of the album covers. Worth a visit if you are ever back in town.
Thanks for posting |
Sorry if this has been covered, but how did you learn the lingo? Cockney friends, a previous life ……?
Also, ‘back to brick’ = Legos? Trying to keep up. |
:-) always like a name shout out
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Folks, see also thecurrent French TR by Cheska.
NYSE, I have close friends who were born in Manchester, Newcastle, and Glasgow. Although those places are far removed from London, they nonetheless made their way there many times both for travel and also for business. Those buddies were the source for that Cockney, with a nod to our Bilbo for also having once provided some clarification. As for 'Back to Brick', Amy Winehouse's 2nd Lp had a song called 'Back to Black'. She is still a much-admired/missed musical heroine in certain parts of London, and given that our trip was a long-awaited return and happened to base in Brick Lane....we figured that title would work. *Note that her lyrics to that song are quite graphic. I shant reveal them here, I simply shant. Next: Flowers and like that---Kew Gardens and Golders Hill Gardens (Hampstead), plus the special Jubilee floral display at the Tower of London, also Richmond Park's 'Isabella Plantation'. |
Aah, those two above temples to The Flower (plus their cousin gardens).
IF YOU ARE NOT INTERESTED IN FLOWERS BEST SKIP THIS. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...42977d24db.jpg This friendly lady was about to retire from her career at Kew at noon that day! We congratulated her and also shared how impressed we were to have been able to smell the (then in-season) roses even outside Victoria Gate on Kew Road prior to our entry! *We were glad for her friendliness, having just had an odd, unfriendly moment with one of the volunteers there planting allium. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...d982876484.jpg We'd months earlier bout a membership to Kew (84 pounds per couple). That allowed for earlier entry, at 8am, when there were few other folks around. The irony is the Cockney slang for flowers is 'early hours'. The membership also included the marvelous Kew magazine, one of the most useful publications that I've ever seen. And such fragrant roses. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...f69ccbc1f7.jpg It was a School Visit day, and one of the classes of 6 year-olds hailed from Battersea PS. Pink Floyd fans will recognize that as the school whose make-shift choir sang the infamous chorus 'WE DON'T NEED NO EDUCATION!!' in their hit 'Another Brick in the Wall.' One of that class's chaperones was a woman our age. She explained that it was some of the of these very kids' actual grandparents heard on the record. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...637736f81d.jpg Kew Palace (aka Dutch House) has its own Parterre Garden, the Queens garden. It has a pergola, betel nut Palms plus elements of a French-style design. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...4c932d22c3.jpg Rose fans may want to search YouTube for the wonderful Rose Garden tour by young staffer Andrew. His calming voice is perfectly matched to these special flowers. He describes his faves (inc. a number of David Austen types) among the countless different breeds. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...a9eb4c2362.jpg The pelican plant seems to be a cousin to the infamous stink plant, in that it emits a rotting meat odor in order to attract doomed flying insects. This specimen was at the front of the Waterlily House, which had a sign near the entry. The sign warned entrants that live filming was happening, a permanent feature after some bizarre thefts of tiny rare lilies. It was also extremely humid inside, so we warned some frail folks who were approaching as we left that glass house. *Bring your camera here https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...960abf07f3.jpg Verbascum Chaxii 'Album'', a tall, elegant, upright summer perennial located by the Orangery. Its cool, calming white (heraldic name=argent) apparently stands out at night. Its neighbours were the 'Sydney Pearce' trees planted all along the Great Broad Walk borders by Princess Alexandria. She did so in fall 2012 for the Diamond Jubilee. Some incredible irises completed that procession of colour. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...5b6f2aca48.jpg Bolivian cactus in the Princess of Wales Conservatory. Nearby was the Hive, the unusual metal creation by a Dutch artist. Meant to simulate an actual beehive, its constant drone reminded us of a Pink Floyd song! When we mentioned that to a close-by 60-something staff gardener, he responded, "Aah. You've just revealed your age!" https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...2a02b5bdda.jpg Detail of the ornate steps inside the iconic Palm House. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...769a55da4b.jpg A Chinese lion statue oversees the beautiful pond. In the distance by the Palm House entry is the line of Portland stone (replicas) of the 'Queen's Beasts' heraldic statuary. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...1b4d0a2b30.jpg The Palm House's popular lizard mascot 'Rocky' has passed away. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...aab5f2d966.jpg Our aforementioned neighbour used to have similar waterlilies in their backyard koi pond. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...39d2950582.jpg Nymphae Georginae. https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...8cd42a7649.jpg Saint Louis Gold. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...d65a4fc845.jpg Murasaki shikibu. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...af1b372043.jpg Tropic Sunset. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...324361942f.jpg Whereas in the wild, giant waterlilies are pollinated by a beetle (Georgeus Harrisonicus), at Kew the process is instead done by hand, using a delicate paintbrush. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...6417bce2f6.jpg Can someone please ID this exotic flower? https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...320d93d51a.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...0eea6ac409.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...055989afd5.jpg Shutterbug heaven, is Kew gardens. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...9fa2e1739b.jpg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...57fb8c09fc.jpg Endless Tropical plants. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...9e84982c28.jpg One of the school groups were intrigued by this unusual species. https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...5ae5bdcbbd.jpg Now we switch to Hampstead heath's little sister, Golders Hill. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...1adf24479e.jpg An incredible coincidence. This lovely teen bridesmaid at a photo shoot there, was not only a student from the old elementary school that I once attended in Toronto, but she lived a block away from my childhood home! What were the odds? https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...5c7ea84522.jpg The chief gardener was most friendly and unprompted, showed us a photo op or two. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...c131af09f4.jpg The sun finally came out. https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...e52cb07396.jpg This garden too, had some rarities that Mrs Z and I had never seen before. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...2f45274f53.jpg Richmond Park's 'Isabella Plantation'---add this to your list if you like to seek out the untypical. Its a bit of a walk through the parched grasslands of this vast park (all the while looking over your shoulder for lions, its so African-esque). But you will not regret the effort. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...e17d626fb8.jpg Its known for this flower---azaleas, am I right? https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...96eb2efc95.jpg Its also known for its ponds. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...6d9d3bee14.jpg Cala lily. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...5d2446c738.jpg zeebekia nikonicus. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...b39e3fbb76.jpg eugeneicus fodoriacus https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...ddcc08d441.jpg Finally, the Tower of London and its 'Superbloom' Jubilee garden. It was a wildflower meadow featuring a giant, mock wicker garden basket. https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...5bcc98fe07.jpg The south-facing part of that new garden displayed a series of coloured-glass abstract flowers plus this replica of the Crown Jewels. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...b510b7dbe0.jpg Maitaitom had requested that this imagery be posted a while back, but we were held up by some family tragedies. |
A bit of sloppiness above. The zig-zag fence rails and golden mushroom shots were from the Towpath Thames walk that we took from Kew down to Richmond.
I am done. the explanation |
Wonderfully creative, zebec! More soon, please.
FWIW, my first DH was stationed near London when the rock opera "Tommy" came out. |
Yo TDude, did he actually go see it? The husbear of one of Mrs Z's friends saw Tommy's debut at his college north of London. A small crowd gig it seems.
Yo Crellston, I recalled your London roots and was hoping that you'd have some input here. Please feel free to add as much as you want, your advice to visitors, your opinions, your imagery...and as for Bowie, Rush used to perform 'Suffragette City' as their encore when they were a young bar band playing clubs and high schools. Yo ANUJ, our above-shown driver Ian 'Cookie' Cook, took us to our Chipping Campden rental via Chipping Norton, the upscalish town where Duran Duran has a recording studio---the one where Radiohead recorded 'OK Computer'. The Porcupine Tree song below goes to Mr and MsGo, as well as MikeBeebe (from RS). MrGo and I have something in common, having both recently lost beloved parents. Here's something funny about that Rough Trade store Q&A 'An Evening with Porcupine Tree'. Interviewer Alexander Milas was in charge of the lineup of us who wanted to ask a question. Alexander told us each to introduce ourselves by name and city. Unbeknownst to any of us, the next person after myself to ask a question was also a Canuck, no less than one of Rush's former lighting crew named Mr. Hopkins. He'd also brought along Liam, his 14 yr old drummer-phenom son (see the lad play PT songs on the Interwank---incredible talent). Then 2 of the next 3 questioners in-line just happened to be Canucks too. LOL! It got to the point where Steve Wilson eventually asked the following questioner (even before they'd introduced themselves) whether they too were from Canada. He quickly added, "WHY NOT?!" before that Delhi-born questioner could get a word in. Hilarious. |
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And for those who have not yet witnessed the 11 yr old Japanese drummer-phenom girl Yoyoka playing along to this famously-difficult song on YouTube---do so immediately if not sooner.
Absolutely INCREDIBLE!! Btw, she has a London-based counterpart 'talented young girl', a multi-instrumentalist whom the Foo Fighters have feted live. |
Speaking of Bonzo, he once called Jethro Tull's Barrie Barlow 'the Best rock drummer in Britain'. Here is one of Barrie's finest moments. Live in '75.
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A couple days after that above-referenced photo session at Kew Gardens, and the subsequent celebration at that ancient nearby pub (then called The Fox and the Firkin; now named 'Tap on the Line'), Jimi Hendrix had a row with his girlfriend Kathy Etchingham. To try to appease her, he wrote this song below. The following day when there was 20 minutes left in their time at a recording studio, the Hendrix Experience did a run-through of this classic ballad. Jimi's 2 bandmates had never heard the song. Despite later trying to improve on it, none of the subsequent takes were nearly as good as that first, spontaneous effort.
*Speaking of London, Etchingham has given interviews where she said that one may detect London-isms or local references within the lyrics. |
The east end band 'Joi' once merged techno stylings with themes from the subcontinent (their parents' heritage). There is a historic blue plaque in the middle of Brick Lane commemorating their world music efforts and their late leader, who died young.
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