Saturday 1 January 2022

Chasing Rainbows


Much has been written (and is still being written as we speak) about the year just gone; for once it won't just be historians who will end up poring over the events of 2021 - last year was a game-changer for so many of us. I only have to read my fellow bloggers' posts from the last 12 months to realise that for some they know, they actually know, their old lives will never come back. And it's true. You can't step in the same river twice.

And I'm no different. Like a lot of people, 2021 changed me. But I still go to bed each night and list three good things that have happened to me that day (I still like to chase rainbows); tho' some days are easier than others. As usual I sought solace in books: Milan Kundera's The Unbearable Lightness of Being and a bunch of Chekhov short stories have helped: like someone holding your hand on a long walk. And music; always music. Tunes - tons and tons of tunes - many of which have been played and talked about here in the last few months. A lot of you will know that I resurrected my vinyl sessions earlier this year* - two really successful nights in October and November followed by a break in December and we're back raring to go later this month. We'll be listening to - and talking about - Elvis Costello's debut from 1977 - 'My Aim Is True'. The orange vinyl below is a three track sampler we'll be playing as part of the Elvis night. It's an American 12" import and as well as Costello's 'Radio, Radio' it's also got Mink DeVille's 'Soul Twist' and Nick Lowe's 'Cruel to be Kind' on there. The yellow vinyl on the left was a Crimbo present: Curse of Lono's 'People in Cars'.


* Like something out of a Magnus Mills** novel, my old Sunday Vinyl became Monday Vinyl. And from January this year we will become, wait for it, Thursday Vinyl; I know, I think I've out-Mills'd Mills!

** I gave a copy of The Forensic Records Society to my good friend, Vladka, and scribbled in it: "It may not be Chekhov, but I think you'll like it." Turns out she does... 

Shed Seven - Chasing Rainbows (1998)

.....

It's customary at this point to offer up a huge thank you to everyone who stopped by last year; even if you don't leave a comment I'm so glad you took the time. I started this blog way back in 2010 (who remembers 'Even Monkeys Fall out of Trees'?) when the world was a completely different place. Twelve years later and, despite everything, I'm still here. I may not be as prolific these days (who is?) but I do still get that thrill when faced with a blank page and just half an idea about what my next 500 words will be about. And, as we all know, the future is unwritten...

Happy New Year!

John x


14 comments:

  1. I'm not sure the three good things would work for me I'd be awake half the night thinking of them!

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    1. Like I said, some days are easier than others.

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  2. Ah the Swedey McSwedeface goes coloured vinyl! Very nice.
    Happy New Year to you and yours, John. Please may it be a better one for all.

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    1. Hard to imagine, but the Swedey McSwedeface will be five years old this year.

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  3. I like the idea of coming up with three good things that have happened on a given day, prior to drifting off into the land of nod. Very positive. I'm going to give that a go. Happy new year John - I really hope I can make it to another vinyl session (whatever day of the week it happens to fall on) in 2022.

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    1. Give it a go; what have you got to lose?
      We'd love to see you back in Nottingham, TS! Thursday 27 January is Elvis Costello - I'll post the next couple after that when I've got the running order sorted in my head. HNY to you too.

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  4. Happy New Year John. My idea for this year is to recalibrate - I know my old life won't come back, as too many changes now, and too much water under the bridge but there are still some good aspects that are still there which can be built on. That's my 2022 starting point anyway and like you I have walks, books, telly and discovering lots of new music. Wish I could organise a vinyl session up here, but would be tough I feel, and your one is too far away. Well done on out-Millsing Mills by the way, but he knew what he was writing about it seems.

    Hope your 2022 is a good one.

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    1. Thank you, Alyson. And to you.
      Walks, books, telly - all great distractions. But if something fundamental is missing then it's not as simple as pushing a reset button after two years and expecting everything to be just as it was before; you're right, it never will be.
      Why not road test the vinyl night on some close friends (or neighbours) and take it from there? We could compare notes! J

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    2. I said far too much there, but over the last couple of years I have kind of lost most of my close local friends/regular routines, for a variety of awful reasons, not just pandemic related. No I can't just press reset and replace friends of 30 years standing, but I'm working on it.

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    3. Thank you for sharing, Alyson; I really appreciate your candour.
      We've never met but our online exchanges over the last few years would lead me to believe you're a very resilient person; I'm sure you'll come out the other side stronger.

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    4. "Over-sharing" methinks. Apologies but done now.

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    1. Thank you, Adam. And all the best to you and yours from everyone at Medd Towers. Any plans/resolutions for the new year ahead?

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