Sky news

I met with my good friend Steve yesterday for a spot of breakfast. Where once we'd have hooked up for a lunchtime pint, these days you've more chance of finding us in the greasy spoon round the corner supping nothing stronger than builder's tea. We were planning our next excursion so dates, locations, bands were all high on the agenda (that and the breaking news that Football Focus has been put out to pasture). Really looking forward to spending a few days away with him again. Our last trip set the bar extraordinarily high so 2026 has got a lot to live up to.  

Returning back to base I took a bit of a detour and stumbled upon the place where they make the sky. Who knew it was made in Leicester? Also, it got me thinking, how many sky songs must there be out there? I have no clue. Rol Hirst mightn't either but pound to a penny I bet he's compiled a Top 10 of 'em. And if he hasn't he should. And if he has and it hasn't got this belter in there, then, I'm sorry, but the man's a damn fool.  

However, dig a little deeper in that barrel (who said scraping?) and you'll find this little curio. It's from 1975 - but you don't need me to tell you that as it's plastered all over the backdrop. And one look at the medallions, the dangerously wide white silk flares and the singing drummer will also alert you to the fact that you've entered another world: a world where chicken in a basket and journeymen cabaret acts collide. I give you... 

Jigsaw - Sky High (1975)

And talking of sky high...

Matt Berry - Toast of London

Curvaceous

A state of the art theatre in the heart of Leicester's vibrant Culture Quarter and a former American model dubbed 'the pinup with the impossible waist'. I was torn as I sat down at my Mac today as to what to share with you - The Curve or Betty Brosmer. Both are pretty incredible. I was in Leicester last Friday and took a few photos of the former. From the outside this incredible art space put me in mind of Preston Bus Station. 

Betty Weider (née Brosmer) on the other hand doesn't remind me of Preston Bus Station. She was born in 1929 and via a lucrative modelling career in the 1950s built a fitness empire and became both a physical health and bodybuilding spokesperson. She's 96 and still looks amazing. Leicester's Curve on the other hand was only built in 2008. Whether it will survive as long as Betty is anyone's guess.