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My brother Scott gave me an Amazon gift certificate which I used to order this excellent cd Box set. I am always visiting Amazon looking for Jazz goodies and this one is really special.
It is a collection of Columbia recordings that cover 1927 to 1962.
Each of the three discs have at least 20 tracks and covers groups of the time span. Disc one has 1927 to 1940. Number two has 1947 to 1952. Disc three has 1956 to 1962. The set is well designed and has an accompanying book containing very complete information about Duke and the music. But the music is the thing . It has (as the Duke said) terpsichorean urge. This probably means its got that swing! It reflects the Duke who is surely one of the most important musicians of the 20th century.

Shapes

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Portmeirion view #4

I am hooked on the original game show What’s my line! The Game Show channel airs it every night. This original version had a run of 17 years from 1950 to 1967. It is considered the longest running and most beloved TV game show. It is not only the game that fascinates me . It is the relationship between the Moderator John Charles Daily and the panel. It seems so sincere and courteous . All of the guests are respected too . The regular panelists ,Bennett Cerf ,Dorothy Kilgallen , Arlene Francis and the rotating guest all project an air of intelligence , sophistication and charm . Then there are the mystery guests . What Mega Stars they were! Nothing like it now. How things have changed! It seems light years between this wonderful , simple old TV show and American Idol .Backwards that is!

My friend Mick”Bomber” Barton is really into cricket .When I met him almost 20 years ago he was simply playing the game. Over the years his involvement has grown . Because he and his wife Anne now have two boys he has become a cricket coach as well. Now he is also involved with the Clumber Park Cricket Club.They maintain and operate cricket related facilities in what once was formerly home to the Dukes of Newcastle.Mick is the Vice Chairman of the organization . At this point I suppose some one is now thinking I am being too serious .They would probably say that all this cricket activity is juat an opportunity to eventually end up at the club having a pint with the lads! Such a cynic! Anyway please note the new link to Clumber Park Cricket Club to the right! Visit the site and contact the Vice Chairman. Tell him to have a pint for Gregg

I know I am trying to be less self absorbed but at least this post is not so serious and seems to be fun to me. One step at a time! I went to buy a couple pairs of knock around shorts today. Just average comfortable draw string shorts to wear around the house. As I was looking around the men’s department I saw something else. I had seen it before in the current Land’s end catalog and it must be fate that Sears now carries Land’s end men’s clothing .Anyway, there it was straight from page 128. I could not resist. It called my name. Gregg BUY ME YOU, KNOW YOU HAVE TO HAVE ME . Many stronger could probably resist a Coral Red Madras shirt. Not me. I will be 60 this weekend but suddenly ,right there in Sears, I was 16 again! That material , the colors and patterns , the button down collar . I quickly grabbed it and headed to the fitting room. It looked great , even my wife Sharon liked it! I am going to wear it to my birthday dinner this week end . I may be turning 60 but it will seem like 1963!

New Name New attitude

I was talking to my friend Anne this morning when I mentioned this blog. She told me that after visiting a few times she found it a bit serious and self absorbed and that it could me more fun.
It may be that being British gives her a different point of view or that being an American automatically makes me self absorbed. Anyway , the conversation got me thinking about all of this.
Without being too serious or self absorbed I wonder how you can produce material for a personal journal without being a little self absorbed . If it is possible I will find a way!
This brings me to the new blog name Notso’s
A few years ago I was talking to a workmate about the many years of bad jokes I heard regarding my last name which is Niceley.He blurted out ,” well I think you are notso Niceley”. This seems a perfect way to change the Attitude of the blog You know ,notso serious ,notso self absorbed .

We shall see.

So thanks Anne, now sod off!

Ah Beer ! What would we do without it? For years I have been exploring and sampling various breweries products. Not downing six packs but searching for quality real beer. This trend started during my first trip to Britain in 1983.It was then I discovered real Ale . This term describes ale that is made from only basic ingredients. Real ale is bottled in such a way that it continues to mature in the bottle. It is also sold in casks that are distributed to Pubs . Over the years I have gravitated to dark beers (or Stout )becauseThey have more character. This brings me to my current favorite . I feel Deschutes Obsidian Stout is the closest thing to Guinness that you can find. Not the Guinness you can buy locally but the real stuff in Ireland. Deschutes is brewed in Bend Oregon .Obsidian Stout is one of eight or so they sell. They also produce a tasty Holiday Ale . Here is another excellent source ( under the real beer link to the right) of information on Ale and Pubs in The U.K.
Cheers!

Robert Louis Stevenson once said “To come down covered with mud and drenched with sweat and rain after some hours in the bush ,change , rubdown, and take a chair in the verandah is to taste a quiet conscience.” He was referring to caring for his 314 acre estate in Samoa. I can relate to that (on a smaller scale) wile working around our 2 acres here in Hawaii. My current short term project is weeding pineapples .These are white pinapples, which are only grown here on the Big Island , Hawaii. They are sweeter and less acidic than the yellow variety and are only available here! After you have tasted one of these ,yellows will never seem quite as good. Last year we had 30 plants and almost every one produced a 5 pound fruit! Each plant also produces Keiki (babies) which may be removed , rooted and planted . After that process last summer our plant inventory jumped from 30 to almost 100. Weeding is quite a project. First there is the Hawaiian Sun. It is intense to say the least! Then some of the weeds are so hard to pull you almost need dynamite! I have to wear safety goggles because the plants are very sharp. And there are centipedes in the soil that have a pretty serious sting. Even so these delicious fruits are worth all the sweat! They will be ripe in about a month .