London Parks

After all the excitement of the previous evening a quiet wander through Hyde Park was just what was required. I've not had an alcoholic drink since September 15th so today might prove a bit of a challenge as I love a London pub. A decent breakfast was had first at the hotel and Mrs A was most put out that some young American tourists had filled their rucksacks with hastily made rolls and croissants from the buffet table to see them through the day. Not the sort of thing you would catch me doing, i'm far to quick and practised at that game .....

 

 I've seen Parakeets before in London flying over Hampstead Heath in the past but the ones in Hyde Park were something else! They are actually 'Ring Necked Parakeets' and extremely tame. To the point where they will actually feed out of your hand and pose for pictures on your head. I didn't get that close as they preferred fruit to my dried bread.

 

 The Parakeets escaped from a private collection some time ago and have thrived in the mild temperature of the Capital. The park was a scene of activity with all the joggers , walkers and cyclists and the lakes were full of bird life.

 

We stumbled upon the 'Peter Pan' statue in Kensington Gardens in the same spot as Peter lands his bird-nest boat in the story, ‘The Little White Bird.’ Peter Pan creator and local resident JM Barrie was inspired by Kensington Gardens. He commissioned Sir George Frampton to build the statue which has been a favourite feature of the gardens since 1912.

 

Coming to the edge of Kensington Gardens on Albert Memorial Road opposite the Royal Albert Hall is one of London's most ornate and impressive monuments, designed by George Gilbert Scott. 'The Albert Memorial' is stunning and in my opinion very overlooked , not getting the mentions it deserves. Unveiled in 1872, The Albert Memorial commemorates the death of Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband, who died of typhoid fever at the age of 42. Influenced by the series of 13th Century Eleanor Crosses (Charing Cross perhaps being the most famous but we also have one in Northampton don't forget). Marble figures representing Europe, Asia, Africa and America stand at each corner of the memorial, near the top, are gilded bronze statues of the angels and virtues. Around the base celebrated painters, poets sculptors, musicians and architects are depicted, reflecting Albert's enthusiasm for the arts. As monuments go this is a beauty.



From the peace of the parks we caught the tube to the hustle and bustle of Covent Garden, another of my favourite places to wander around. As always there is the the usual mixture of street entertainers and 'living statues' to amuse and bemuse the tourists. One in particualrreally caught our attention 'Master Yogilaser'. Internationally and nationally known as a yogi-contortionist extraordinaire, he wiggles and writhes his muscular physique into and out of seemingly impossible yoga postures. It made my poor old back and knees wince just watching him.

 

His 'pièce de résistance' as you might say is to fit his entire body inside a box measuring 20 x 17.5 inches...Something He completed in a time of 5.35 seconds, breaking the previous Guinness World Record of 9 seconds. He brought his act to a stunning finale by recreating this amazing feat for us today. He richly deserved the donation we put into his hat afterwards.

We walked from Covent Garden through Theatre District and along The Strand past Trafalgar Square down to Westminster. We cut through Horse Guard's Parade into St James Park and enjoyed a pic-nic lunch. Another of the 'Royal Park's' and is surrounded by landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Whitehall. Once again there is a lot of bird activity and some more unusual ones in the form of Pelicans. First introduced to the park in 1664 as a gift from the Russian Ambassador, over 40 pelicans have since made the park home. They are free to leave if they wish but seem very happy where they are.



 The Blue Bridge provides spectacular views across St James's Park Lake to Buckingham Palace to the west and Horse Guards Parade, Big Ben and the London Eye towards the east.



Duck Island Cottage Garden dates from the original use of St James's Park as a hunting park. It is something of a rural retreat and the picturesque lodge now serves as offices of the London Historic Parks and Gardens Trust. It is a real throwback to times gone by with the home grown crops and cottage garden plants and flowers.
 

Making our way through the Park we arrived on the Mall and splendour of Buckingham Palace. The view back down St James Park was more my thing though with the tress showing their stunning Autumn colour.



Altogether a lovely day spent in contrasting peace and nature to the hustle and bustle of central London , and still no alcohol consumed despite being in at least three different pubs.

Marillion - Royal Albert Hall

This could potentially be my longest concert review since starting this blog. It was just one of those most special of occasions where Marillion making their Royal Albert Hall debut gave us everything. However the night didn't get off to the best of starts....

Our view

Staying at a hotel in Lancaster Gate it was a short hop across Hyde Park to get to the venue , twenty minutes they said. Perhaps following the line of the Serpentine was not such a good idea? Nearly an hour after we set off we emerged opposite Hyde Park Corner tube station. Another detour was needed as we made our way past Harrods in Knightsbridge to get back on course. Thankfully time was on our side and we took our seats with half an hour to spare.



The 5,000 tickets had sold out in less than four minutes with several times as many fans left disappointed. The atmosphere was electric and there was the sense that we were about to witness something epic. I had already spotted a couple of musical celebrities on the row in front of ours. Producer and Prog Rock musician Steven Wilson along with his band member and ex Kajagoogo bassist Nick Beggs. Marillion have an amazing and loyal following from across the world and is continually growing.  This was not a young audience and I was reminded of something Ian Anderson (Jethro  Tull) once said to his audience 'It's wonderful to see so many young faces out there ,some of you hardly look a day over 50'. The majority of whom have been there since the first album was released in 1984.

Steve Hogarth

The light show never dipped all night and along with the massive screen backdrop it made for a cinematic feel even in an auditorium this size. Frontman Steve Hogarth announced that the first set would compromise entirely of the latest album 'FEAR'. Something of a work of art ,hailed as the best album in 20 years from the band. Where each of the five tracks seems to melt into the next one it does take some listening to for the uninitiated. A dark message about political corruption and greed the changing fortunes of the country. It starts with in the quiet and peace  of an English country garden. It slowly builds into an emotional and explosive realisation that 'The New Kings' hold the power and why is 'Nothing ever true'.

Set 2 kicked off with with 'The Space' from 1889's 'Seasons End' the first album with Steve Hogarth on vocals after the departure of 'Fish'. It was followed by another of my favourites 'Afraid of Sunlight' from the album of the same name (1995).
I should also mention at this stage that for the second part they were joined by a string quartet, plus a flute and French horn. 'H' did promise us something special for part 2 and we were not to be disappointed.
I don't think the song 'Easter' has ever sounded better than it did under the fantastic acoustics of the RAH and guitarist Steve Rothery was playing out of his skin (as always).

Steve Rothery

A much anticipated moment was to be during the song 'Go'. when the entire audience who equipped with finger lights were to 'switch on' and light the place up. The effect, along with the lasers was absolutely stunning and unfortunately the photos do not in anyway do justice to the spectacle. It is well worth a 'Google' if you get a minute or two.

  'Man of a Thousand of a Thousand Faces' brought the second half to a rapturous ending. But of course  this was never really going to be the end as in time honoured fashion the band returned for a n encore. The highlight for me and many of the audience I would guess was 'Neverland'. Even Mr Hogarth ' said' we've got a good one  for you now'.

 The performance culminated with the final track of the evening ‘The Leavers V: One Tonight’ and just seemed like the perfect piece of music to bring this magical evening to a close.
The band were then showered and that isn't doing it justice really by the confetti cannons. With all the excitement I hadn't even realised that today was Friday 13th. A day associated with bad luck and misfortune. Well it really would have been terrible bad luck to have missed Marillion tonight at the peak of their powers.

There are still those out there who think that without Fish there is no Marillion ... Fish is a great performer in his own right but please can we all move on . Similarly those who say did they do Kayleigh ? That was a different era do yourself a huge favour and catch up with the catalogue of work since Steve Hogarth joined the band. Also for that matter the fantastic solo work by Fish. Thank you I feel much better now i've said that in the most polite way possible.
   

Marillion really the complete band in everything they do , and don't forget they have done it the hard way. No private jets for these lads , the last few albums have all been 'pledge funded' , something they pioneered.
It was a fantastic night at the RAH in every respect and I can't wait to see it all again as it was being recorded for future DVD release.
The night did indeed have a happy ending as we managed to navigate ourselves back to the hotel via the road that goes through Hyde Park via Alexandra Gate. Thankfully the park was all locked up so impossible to get lost....This time it did indeed take us 20 mins, just in time for last orders  at a local pub.

Set List 
El Dorado: I. Long-Shadowed Sun
El Dorado: II. The Gold
El Dorado: III. Demolished Lives
El Dorado: IV. F E A R
El Dorado: V. The Grandchildren of Apes
Living in F E A R
The Leavers: I. Wake Up in Music
The Leavers: II. The Remainers
The Leavers: III. Vapour Trails in the Sky
The Leavers: IV. The Jumble of Days
The Leavers: V. One Tonight
White Paper
The New Kings: I. Fuck Everyone and Run
The New Kings: II. Russia’s Locked Doors
The New Kings: III. A Scary Sky
The New Kings: IV. Why Is Nothing Ever True?

Interval 

The Space…
Afraid of Sunlight
The Great Escape
Easter
Go!
Man of a Thousand Faces

Encores

Waiting to Happen
Neverland
The Leavers: V. One Tonight

'Blowers' Althorp Literary Festival 2017

'Blowers' 'My Dear Old Thing'

Enjoying some sun

The 14th Annual Althorp Literary Festival and my second visit to the event. Regulars may recall my seeing 'Paul Gambaccini' last year. This year the Festival has moved to a later date in the early Autumn rather than mid Summer. This years contributors include; John Challis, Judy Murray, Pam Ayres, Chris Ryan, Clare Balding, The Rev Richard Coles and Henry Blofeld. Personally I think I prefer the Festival at this time of the year but it was a nice day and I might think differently had it been a howling wind and driving rain. A lovely day though for a wander through the grounds taking the 'Roman' approach of going wherever we pleased until told otherwise....Rather than the 'Napoleonic' approach of waiting to be told where one can go and must not go. Walking past the marquee we bumped into 'Bernie Keith' of Radio Northampton who was with 'Rev Richard Coles'. Richard had been on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing show the night before and was talking about his varied life from pop star to Parish Priest.

''The Oval' Lake

Our walk talk us to the 'Round Oval' as the lake is known, constructed in 1868. The summer house at the lakeside was bought in 1901 by John Poyntz, Fifth Earl Spencer, from Admiralty House gardens, London, for the sum of £3.00 and moved to the south of the Round Oval in 1926. It is now dedicated to Diana, Princess of Wales, with a central silhouette in black marble upon white marble, and on the left a tablet with a quotation from Diana on her willingness to undertake charitable works.

 

It is said that Princess Diana is buried on the island since her death in 1997. My wife for one would argue differently though believing Diana is with her father in the Church at Great Brington. Who knows? Certainly not me that is for sure but personally I think I would rather be on the lake surrounded by the birds and flowers.

'Round Oval'  from The Summer house

The Wendy House

We made our way back to the marquees and the crowd passing the outdoor swimming pool, tennis court and games room and it was almost impossible not to conjure up images of Diana enjoying herself growing up in this idyllic landscape. There was also probably the largest Wendy House you will ever see! I'm sure you could live in it.

It was time to start queuing for Blowers, only there wasn't a queue so we walked straight in sitting close to the front. Blowers has recently retired after over 40 years of broadcasting with TMS (Test Match Special) as well as writing for many other publications. He explained that at the age of 78 he felt that it was time to hang up the microphone before someone possibly suggested it was time to. He told tales from the commentary box both home and abroad paying tribute to colleagues past and present. After which he gave a question and answer session from the gathered audience. 





 As the questions started to drop off someone asked a horrible question about standards dropping off and some of the new TMS  team not being as good as the old ones. It was clearly an embarrassing moment for both the interviewer and Blowers. I thought that asking a follow up question about Pigeons would lighten the mood once again which it did. He told me afterwards that he very much liked my question. Afterwards came the chance to get his new book 'Over and Out' signed by the man himself.

We made our way out as the sun started to set on another Althorp Literary Festival. A lovely setting once again and the chance to take a few more photos of the house and landscape. Walking down the tree lined drive the stags in the fields had started their rut, Squirrels darted across the grass hurriedly hiding their stash off sweet chestnuts and acorns before winter arrives.

 

UFO - Northampton Roadmender

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At  last seeing UFO was finally going to happen , it had been a long wait. For a variety of reasons, cancellations, illness, holidays to name but three we have consistently avoided each other over the years. And there have been some years ! Vocalist Phil Mogg, guitarist Mick Bolton, bassist Pete Way, and drummer Andy Parker formed the British metal outfit band in 1969.Originally known as Hocus Pocus, the group, which took the name UFO in honour of a London club, debuted in 1971 with UFO 1.

Even better then that the gig should be taking place in my home town of Northampton. Particularly as we have only jetted in from Menorca a few hours previously. A nice surprise was to find that Wayward Sons were the support band. With former 'Little Angels' frontman Toby Jebson the new album 'Ghosts Of Yet To
 Come' has been getting a lot of airplay on Planet Rock.

 
They did remind me in some ways of 80's UFO and went down very well with the crowd. Set list as follows;
By the time UFO hit the stage the Roadmender had filled up very nicely. Being on the front rail it was difficult to tell how full and I wasn't moving. It was a bit of a shock to see 'Veteran' Phil Mogg with his shaved head, something he later drew reference to by saying 'it was brought to his attention that one publication stated that he now has a 'shiny head' ..... All very different from the 80's heydays. My worry was that his distinctive voice may well have voice may well have gone the same way has his hair?

 

 I needn't have worried as the band launched staright into 'We belong to the Night' from the 1982 album 'Mechanix'. This was followed by 'Run Boy Run' from 21st and the latest album (2015) 'A Conspiracy of Stars'. One of two tracks taken from this album on the night. The first 'big song' was the fourth one 'Lights Out' which got the crowd rocking.

 

This was followed by another classic 'Only You can Rock me' and ''Burn Your House Down' from 'Seven Deadly' (2012).Vinnie Moore has been Lead Guitarist since 2003. On Bass is another American Rob De Luca, Paul Raymond on Rhythm Guitar and Keyboards and Andy Parker on drums.

 

 In my opinion it was a great set list with two more crackers back to back 'Love to Love' and 'Too hot to handle'. But the best was yet to come with two of my all time favourite songs. The final song before the encore was 'Rock Bottom' with Moore showcasing just what a fantastic player he is. The band returned to the stage to treat us to 'Doctor Doctor' before finishing the set with 'Shoot Shoot'. A truly exceptional evening and one that will live long in the memory . I can at long last say I have seen UFO !

Bassist Rob De Luca

Goodnight from Phil Mogg

Set List

• We belong to the night
• Run boy run
• Ain't no baby
• Lights out
• Only you can rock me
• Burn your house down
• Cheery
• Love to love
• Too hot to handle 
• Messiah of love
• Rock Bottom

Encore

• Doctor Doctor
• Shoot Shoot