I remember seeing one of my musical heroes, Gene Pitney, there when he sang his well known medical song "24 Hours From Ulcers." We had our engagement party there and I was often a judge in talent shows organised by David Valentine, whose surname wasn't Valentine but he took it from his hero Dickie Valentine. I don't think I ever found out what his real name was.
The Talk used to sell chicken or scampi in a basket when those things first became trendy. I remember stopping in a pub on the A17 in Lincolnshire on one of our many trips to Yorkshire. This was a few years ago but the landlord had re-introduced basket meals so I asked him if he did soup in a basket. He didn't seem to find it all that funny.
I can't say the closure of the Talk will leave a hole in my life as I haven't been there for years. It will, however, leave me with plenty of memories.
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Yesterday was a rare day. Norwich City won a football match. They beat Everton 2-1 and played very well. I don't think I've ever heard two sets of supporters all singing the same song. But today they were all singing "sacked in the morning, you're getting sacked in the morning" towards the Everton manager who is obviously unpopular on Merseyside. Having said that I do remember both sets of fans singing the praises of Dean Smith when we played Aston Villa a few weeks ago. Smith is still fondly remembered by the Villa fans despite being sacked earlier this year and taking over at Norwich. Professional football is a fickle game.
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I hate the phrase Binge Watching with reference to television. I have never done it until now. The thought of watching programme after programme of the same series has never appealed to me. But now I see the attraction as it does help you to tune into characters and feel part of their lives.
So I started watching After Life on a lovely visit to cousin Belinda and Clives whilst the other threequarters was on a visit to London. They introduced me to this comedy drama which was written by Ricky Gervais who is not somebody I have a great love of. But the drama is funny, sad, heart-warming and hugely irreverent. If you don't mind four-letter words and dialogue that at times is a bit close to the knuckle, do give it a try. The final episode (episode six of series three) is particularly poignant and quite deep and the music played in the series is wonderful and includes some of my favourites including Rod Stewart's Mandolin Wind, Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now," Nick Cave's "Into My Arms," James Taylor's "You've Got A Friend," Jackson Browne's "These Days," Jimmy Webb's "If These Walls Could Speak (now who knows that Jimmy Webb is a singer as well as a great songwriter?) and much more.
Also watched the newly found tape of the Morecambe and Wise show from 1970. I wondered if it would still be funny all these years later and it was, if a little dated.