Calamity Chicks 3.2

You may notice a few pix of drums in the publicity stuff - here's why.

    The long, hot summer of 1976 saw Lin taking on a bigger role at the studios while Granite spent a couple of months touring Scandinavia and Eastern Europe, where their music had taken off after an aggressive marketing campaign.
  Mum’s quartet had a twelve-night stay in Japan booked, and Lin assured both parents she’d be perfectly capable at home with no adults around. She was actually looking forward to some peaceful evenings after assisting in the studio, doing what was necessary to release the engineer from dealing with the day-to-day trivia. Some of the younger lads had huge egos and unreasonable expectations of the minutiae of a recording session.
    Her day ran a lot smoother when the old-timers were booked in, although she occasionally came across what Mindy would have called “wandering hands.” She quickly identified the potential perpetrators and steered clear. But she had no defence when Zac, the lead singer of Rogue, took a fancy to her, chatting her up at every opportunity.
    The band had the studio booked solid for a fortnight while they laid down tracks for their fourth album. After the runaway success of the second, the third, recorded while she was at school, had been a comparative flop. The manager was delighted to see her, calling her a “lucky charm” and a “muse,” insisting she remained close by.
    A hardship this was not as she watched and learnt. The actual mechanics of capturing different sounds baffled her, but she restricted her thirst for knowledge until the end of the sessions, knowing how hard the sound engineer had to concentrate as he constantly tweaked knobs to keep the graphic equalisers within an acceptable level of distortion.

    Then the unthinkable happened during a session as Ken was called away because his wife had gone into labour with their first child. His assistant, Mick, didn’t have the same level of expertise, but no-one seemed too bothered as Rogue rehearsed a brand new song which took them places they’d not been before.
    Many of the new tracks veered away from their previous Glam-Rock stylings, but this ballad was more melodic than anything they’d done, heavily influenced by Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven. But it led to a problem with the drum sound. Although using brushes dampened the snare, no effect Mick applied took the edge off the bass drum. The hard-hitting sound cut through, even when they had it well down in the mix. They tried several different things, adding a muffler to the microphone, altering its position, and even taking it away completely.
    The drummer’s patience wore thin at the number of digs at his inability to “hit it softer.” Finally the band’s manager called a break and they all left except Don, who scrabbled on his knees, trying to adjust the distance from the pedal to the drum skin.
    Lin grabbed a couple of cushions from the sofa in the recording booth and took them through to the studio. “I couldn’t find a pillow, but these may help.”
    Don jumped at the sound of her voice, knocking his head on the snare which tipped into the high-hat, making it wobble, but she caught it.
    “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you. Granite’s drummer used a pillow when the sound needed to be gentler, on a ballad, or in a tiny venue. I don’t know if these will work as well, but it’s worth a try.”
    Waving away her apology, Don watched as she curled the cushion up to fit it through the post-hole in the front drum-skin, and arranged it in the centre.
    He played a couple of beats, then asked her to move it so it was touching the resonant head.
    “What’s that?”
    “The drum-skin at the front.”
    She did as he asked. “Presumably because it resonates.”
    “Yep.” He stamped on the pedal with various rhythms. “See how much difference it makes?”
    “Yeah, do you want me to try it against the other side?”
    “Do it.”
    He got her to try a few more things before settling on one he was happy with, which involved both cushions.
    “If they’re still not happy, I could get a proper pillow from the main house.”
    “Nah, they’ll be cool after a break. We all get a bit wound up during these sessions, trying to get it perfect.”
    “Some more than others. Please don’t let on it was me who suggested this.”
    “Why not? Credit where credit’s due.”
    “I don’t want anyone thinking less of Mick. He’s good at his job, but lacking in experience. It’ll all be back to normal when Ken returns.”
    “Don’t sweat it. We know this is the best studio around, and you’re just the icing on the cake.”
    Lin blushed, suspecting he was simply having her on. She’d seen the kind of groupies Rogue attracted, and Don could have had his pick of any of them.
    Mick walked in, his face suggesting he wasn’t happy about returning to the problem. “Do you have a different beater? Or maybe we could tie a mic windshield around it.”
    “Don’t need to. Listen.” Don demonstrated, and Mick was thrilled when the rest of the band came in, clapping him on the back for finding a solution.
    The next hour saw them making real progress with everything coming together as though charmed. The manager put it all down to her being a lucky mascot, not realising the part she’d played.

    Later on, after eating alone, Lin settled on the sofa with a glass of coke, David Bowie’s Aladdin Sane on the stereo and one of her dad’s Modesty Blaise paperbacks. This one had a collection of short stories featuring the female James Bond character and her cockney sidekick, Willie Garvin, Lin’s all-time favourite fictional character. As the best track, Drive-In Saturday, came on, the doorbell rang. Figuring it was probably Corinne checking to make sure she’d spotted the salad in the fridge, she answered it, standing back as Don asked if he might come in.
    She hesitated and he peered past her. “You must be ready to eat. I promise I won’t take much of your time.”
    “Actually, I’ve not long finished.” She closed the book around her bookmark. Despite Peter O’Donnell’s considerable writing talents, she’d struggled to engage with the first short story as her over-tired brain couldn’t cope with the wealth of detail. Even after such a full-on day, she wasn’t relishing the idea of another long, lonely evening of nothing but her own company. Opening the door fully, she gestured for him to enter.
    He stood in the hallway, gazing at the double staircases flanking the balcony linking them. “Blimey. It’s like one of those stately homes me ma used to drag us around when we were kids.”
    Was this his purpose? To snoop at the sort of posh house he could only dream of living in? Actually, that wasn’t fair – if the next two albums sold as well as the second, he’d be close to affording somewhere grand. And although she might expect such behaviour from others in the band, he seemed much more grounded.
    Folding her arms, she watched him flounder at the evidence of such wealth. Because she’d never acted like the stuck-up snobs at the convent, he had no reason to think she had such a luxurious lifestyle. Studying his plain white tee-shirt, black leather jacket and flared blue-jeans, she thought he looked much more comfortable than in the sparkly gear the manager insisted they wore so he could take publicity shots of them during today’s recording. She figured he didn’t enjoy the outrageous sequined outfits and knee-high platform boots.
    He blinked, and she glanced away, realising she’d been staring at him while he studied the house.
    “I’m … er … I just wanted to say thanks for helping me out earlier. I’ve never had to think about being too loud as we always did belters. I’m chuffed because it’ll give us more scope for ballads.”
    “You’re welcome.” She led him through to the lounge where he removed his jacket, draping it over the sofa.
    They sat, his gaze taking in the framed gold disk hanging above the fireplace. “It must be pretty awesome hanging around with Granite. They were my favourite band when I was at school. I probably wouldn’t have taken up music if it wasn’t for them.”
    Making a non-committal sound, she tried to decide if he was merely angling for an autograph – or maybe a free ticket to one of their gigs.
    He shifted his weight, his eyes darting around.
    Surely he didn’t want a backstage pass? Silly question. Of course he did, but she badly wanted to believe it wasn’t his prime motivation.
    “Um … Zac’s good at the softer stuff.” He was fishing.
    “You think? His voice is too gravelly.”
    “But all the girls go wild for it.”
    She tutted. “You’d think he smoked at least twenty Woodbines a day.” The very idea of the pungent cigarettes made her shudder.
    “He doesn’t; he’s quite precious about his instrument.”
    Twitching her lips, she wondered how come her mind was so much smuttier than his.
    He frowned for an instant before catching on and blushing all the way to the roots of his hair. “You know what I meant. You like him, don’t you?”
    She shrugged. “He’s okay, I suppose. A bit too full of himself for my taste.”
    “He really likes you.”
    Scoffing, she folded her arms. “He’d chat up anything in a skirt. Bless him, he needs a constant reminder of how sexy he is. His massive ego needs a lot of stroking.”
    “Really?” Don’s eyes widened for a split second before clouding over. “I bet you think the same about all the guys who come here to record. They must fall over themselves to chat you up.”
    “Strangely, no.” Her tone mocked herself. “Unless they think I can get them a backstage pass to a Granite gig.”
    “You can do that?” His inner fan leapt to the fore, undermining his attempts to play it cool. “’Course you can. Your boyfriend must be chuffed – assuming he’s a fan.”
    “He’s not.”
    His face dropped at the implied confirmation of her relationship status. “He probably prefers the classical stuff your ma’s into.”
    “Nope.” Keeping her face straight took everything.
    “Don’t tell me he’s into jazz or some other old-folks’ shit. Sorry, I mean stuff.”
    Figuring she’d probably made him squirm enough, she spoke quietly. “I don’t have a boyfriend.”
    “Or middle-of-the-road … you don’t? How come?” A beat. “Sorry. That was rude. But I’m glad. I mean, not for you …” He broke off, squirming.
    “Why did you come here, Don? To make me uncomfortable about being single? Or was it to get a ticket for the next Granite gig? Or better still a backstage pass?”
    His face scrunched up and he stood. “Sorry. I’ve proper cocked this up. I should go.”
    She rose, blocking his exit. “Not until you tell me why you came.”
    His eyes darted around the room and he took a step back, trying to put some distance between them. “I … um … wondered if you could help me again. After being so kind earlier …” He broke off at her relentless glare, but found the courage to continue. “You see, I don’t know anyone else I would trust not to laugh.”
    For some reason, her filthy mind returned to Jack’s little pinky and she bit back the urge to grin. Then she realised the seriousness of her situation, alone in the house with a much older guy.
    Common sense prevailed – Don was a nice guy and if he had evil on his mind like the boy in Helen Reddy’s Angie Baby, he wouldn’t be afraid of people laughing. She narrowed her eyes. “Laugh at what?”

Calamity Chicks 3.1

The third book in the series is Linda’s Lament – here’s a little more about it.

Almost Famous meets 10 Things I Hate About You with elements of Queen's Gambit.
When Jack corners Lin in the playground, she knows exactly what he wants, but she has her own reasons for agreeing. She’s pretty sure Uncle Teddy's daughter never gave those kind of squeezy hugs when she was alive, but if Lin tells anyone, her dad could lose his job. When she finally gets to high school, Jack's back - even more gorgeous and happy to play her leading man in several productions. But the powerful chemistry between Shakespeare's Benedick and Beatrice never makes it off the stage.

By the time she gets to uni, Lin's experienced more sexual awakening than any teenage girl ought to have done, courtesy of touring with her dad’s rock band, a stint at a strict convent school, and an enlightening Spanish holiday. But her biggest education comes from a Hell’s Angel Chapter and a Battle of the Bands contest. Despite kissing a lot of frogs, her prince charming is nowhere in sight, but she can't imagine finding him on a tough engineering degree course.

This cheeky piece of British nostalgia features plucky girls escaping from hairy situations, several handsome hunks, a whole lot of rock bands, and a couple of nasty villains. Feel free to boo and hiss.  

Remembrance Sunday

Remembrance Sunday is held in the United Kingdom as a day to commemorate the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women in the two World Wars and later conflicts. It is held on the second Sunday in November, the Sunday nearest to 11 November, Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of hostilities in World War I in 1918.
The first UK commemoration of the end of the First World War took place at Buckingham Palace, with King George V hosting a "Banquet in Honour of The President of the French Republic" in the evening of 10 November 1919. The first official Armistice Day events were subsequently held in the grounds of the Palace on the morning of 11 November 1919, which included a two-minute silence at 11am as a mark of respect for those who died in the war and those left behind.
I understand there are several strong feelings about this tradition because for some, Armistice Day was a day for recognising the horrors of war, never to be repeated, and there has been criticism that the focus on veterans and military persons who have died, means the vast majority of the casualties of war (civilians) are forgotten.

Poppies were a common sight, especially on the Western Front. They flourished in the soil churned up by the fighting and shelling. The flower provided Canadian doctor John McCrae with inspiration for his poem 'In Flanders Fields', which he wrote whilst serving in Ypres in 1915. Starting in 1921, the Royal British Legion began selling Remembrance poppies to raise funds for ex-servicemen. Personally. I always buy a poppy and observe the two minute silence both on the 11th and the nearest Sunday. Like many others, the day symbolises the honour of military service, and the debt of gratitude we owe to everyone who fought against those tyrants who would oppress our rights and freedoms. I know there’s a tradition at St May’s Church in Warwick of displaying knitted poppies, and have seen something similar in Nuneaton, however, it seems to have caught on in many towns.

It's no accident that I’m releasing the second Time Doctors boxset, Recovery, on 11/11/25. Throughout the series, great importance is set on multiples of 11 – a power number. This boxset features books 4-6, and the tension and adventure really ramp up as our intrepid team meet dragons, angry dwarves and monsters in their D&D missions, while contending with conspiracies, threatening adversaries and a traitor in their midst.  

Bonfire Night

I was pretty convinced I’d done at least one post about this quaint British custom, originally held on 5th November to celebrate the failure of Guy Fawkes and his cronies to blow up the houses of lords in 1605. These Catholic plotters had intended to assassinate Protestant King James I and his parliament. But several searches on different keywords suggested not.

Early childhood memories of this included being allowed to hold a sparkler and make patterns which magically stayed in the air for split-seconds after you’d moved the fizzling wand. Even though we lived above a newsagent with a tiny backyard, we’d always have a small bonfire (handy for burning all the excess cardboard in the storeroom), and Mum would always finish off the baked spuds in the fire after cooking in the oven first. There’d always be sausages and my personal favourite, baked onions, which always caramelised into yummy sweetness. And topped off with toffee apples - yum!

When the flames reached the effigy of Guy Fawkes, made from old clothes stuffed with crumpled up newspaper, we would chant the rhyme:
      Remember, remember!
      The fifth of November,
      The Gunpowder treason and plot;
      I know of no reason
      Why the Gunpowder treason
      Should ever be forgot!
There’s way more than that, but most people stop there.

As Dad lit each firework, we’d have to stand well back – maybe as much as six feet (it was a small yard), but nothing like as far as the safety-conscious public displays these days. There was always at least one Catherine Wheel, a bunch of rockets in weighted bottles and my favourite, the Roman Candle with it’s gentle display of shooting stars. I was never as keen on the loud, bangy-crashy ones.

Fast forward 30 years to when our kids were old enough to hold sparklers, that was pretty much all we’d buy. It was all about the public displays – for several years we’d spend the day at West Midlands Safari Park – always the last day of the season. We'd spend a while on the fairground rides while they packed all the animals away and then the display would begin - it was always awesome.
For a few years, we walked to a display at the local rugby club, which meant I could quaff a pint of lager while we watched. When the club burnt down (nothing to do with fireworks) and lovely hubby was working out of the country, I plucked up the courage to buy sparklers for the kids and set up a few Catherine Wheels, Roman Candles and rockets. Finally, I got to light the blue touch paper and retire!

Little did I know back then quite how involved I’d get in the Gunpowder Plot, as it became known at the time. My research for the second Time Doctors book Just in Time, features a Dungeons and Dragons campaign set in Warwick Castle. The main character an intrepid female ghost hunter and her team’s quest is to uncover which of the many ghosts haunting the castle was causing untold mayhem. Along the way, the feisty medium taps into a little known Gunpowder Plot backup scheme involving nearby Coombe Abbey and James' daughter Elizabeth.
You can read more in the recently released boxset, Discovery – currently less than 50% of the individual books – scarily good value at only £4.99.

Halloween Special

Everywhere I go is thick with cobwebs and giant spiders – not because I haven’t dusted in, like – forever, but it’s that time again.
*shudders*
I just typed in “houses with giant cobwebs and spiders” into google for some pix illustrating what I’m faced with on my daily 6-mile walk around Coundon.
Remind me NEVER to do that again!

Next Friday, 31st Oct, is known as Halloween in several countries, but so many others have their own versions of a celebration where the veils between the worlds of the living and the dead thin. Any with Pagan heritage will be rooted in Samhain – the whole carved root vegetable lanterns thing, and many of the Latino countries celebrate Dia de los Muertos (Day of the dead). Everywhere, we see the prevalence of ghosts, skeletons and especially pumpkins, paying tribute to the original Celtic harvest festival – the final one of three.

What could be more apt for this time of year than stories featuring a dusty, cobweb-filled attic with a hidden secret, and a haunted castle full of drama and horrors? The third one in this boxset takes you from codebreaking at Bletchley Park to a cozy mystery set around the 1966 World Cup, and features the first real hint of romance. Just what you need for a chilly November, settling in front of the fire with the dark nights drawing in.
In brief, the first three Time Doctors stories will soon be available in a single boxset, and the smart among you will keep an eye out for the super-duper deal to coincide with this special festival.

1970s Comics

Living above my folks’ newsagent shop in the 70s, gave me access to a whole host of comics and magazines. Some of the weekly British comics for girls I remember were: Bunty, Tammy, Jackie, Blue Jeans, Patches, Oh Boy! and Fab Hits. Here’s a bit more detail on the top three.

Bunty was published by D. C. Thomson & Co. from 1958 to 2001. It consisted of a collection of many small strips, the stories typically being three to five pages long. In contrast to earlier and contemporary comics, it was aimed primarily at working-class readers under the age of 14, and contained mostly fictional stories. Well-known regular strips from Bunty include The Four Marys, Bunty — A Girl Like You, Moira Kent, Lorna Drake, Luv, Lisa, The Comp, and Penny’s Place. I've included a cover from the 1990 issue to illustrate how the artwork changed in a couple of decades.

Tammy was published by Fleetway, and at its height, Tammy sold 250,000 copies per week. Every Tammy issue was a collection of stories, usually serial instalments, that lasted three or four pages and often focussed on bleak Cinderella themes: a working class heroine, constantly thwarted hope, and overt violence against girls, usually from an older authority figure. Many stories were full of cruelty and adversity, based on the understanding that girls wanted stories that made them cry. Tammy's merge with Misty brought darker, horror tones, and the merge with Jinty brought more science-fiction. Tammy published 689 issues from 6 February 1971 to 23 June 1984, when it merged with Girl volume 2. Other titles which had merged with Tammy include Sally, June, Sandie and Princess (vol. 2).

Jackie was published by D. C. Thomson & Co. Ltd from 11 January 1964 until its closure on 3 July 1993 – a total of 1,538 issues. It was the best-selling teen magazine in Britain for ten years, with sales rising from an initial 350,000 to 605,947 in 1976. The best-ever selling single issue was the 1972 special edition to coincide with the UK tour of American singer David Cassidy. Jackie published a mix of fashion and beauty tips, gossip, short stories, and comic strips. The latter were usually illustrated with line drawings or posed photographs, especially if the story involved a "reader's true-life experience." Both the comics and the short stories invariably dealt with either romance or family issues.
The centre pages of the magazine usually contained a pull-out poster of a popular band or film star. The magazine featured a section called Silly Star File, a humorous interview with figures from the world of pop music. Jackie became very popular with young teenage girls, not least because of the Cathy and Claire problem page, which received 400 reader letters a week and dealt with controversial issues that were nonetheless relevant to the readership. However, the subjects covered in the column were not reflective of the majority of readers' letters, which focused on sex-related issues — DC Thomson as a result kept the editorial brief, but created a series of help leaflets which they sent to letter writers. In 1974 the NHS made the contraceptive pill free on prescription, and so under editor Nina Myskow, the magazine introduced a Dear Doctor column, which covered what were termed as "below the waist issues".

Calamity Chicks 2.3

Meet the Cast
Here are some of the main players in Chloe's Chaos. Most of them appear in one or more other books in the series.

Chloe Bell
Chloe wishes she’d been bright enough to go to grammar school, but her folks placed more emphasis on her looking good enough to catch a rich husband who would look after her. She makes several poor choices – particularly concerning the guys she dates, resulting in her becoming embroiled in several dangerous situations. 
Tina reckons Chloe has more spunk than all of the boys put together, and that people don’t see courage and spirit hiding under her sweet smile and humble manner.

Tina Meredith
Chloe describes her best friend Tina as a bold courageous adventurer, who turns into a what the Chartwell nasties would call a spotty, four-eyed swot. Although they drift apart when they go to different high schools, Tina returns just when Chloe hits rock bottom and pulls her through a tough patch.

Drew Masters
Something happened to Drew that summer in France. He’d picked up a sophisticated air, talking about drinking espressos in bars. His style had changed considerably, with long, floppy hair and an arty scarf which he kept on until one of the teachers demanded he remove it. His mannerisms were similarly flamboyant, resulting in him earning an unsavoury label. Unfortunately, he didn’t do himself any favours, leading to horrid consequences.
Justin felt threatened by him, suggesting she introduce her fashion consultant. Caught wrong-footed, Chloe played for time. “Drew, this is Justin. And this is my … friend, Drew.” She dropped the “very good” at the last minute, but the tiny pause had Justin raising an eyebrow.
“Boyfriend?” He leaned closer, using a stage whisper. “Or girlfriend?”

Justin Palmer
After a pre-teen crush, Justin becomes Chloe’s love interest for far longer than a girl ought to tolerate. Here’s what happened when her friends met him:
Penny gestured behind Chloe. “Don’t look now, but that boy’s been staring at you for ages.”
Janet immediately looked. “Which boy?”
“The gorgeous blond talking to your mum.”
“This must be the mystery boy Helen’s been keeping away from us. What a dish.”

Janet Jackson
When Janet and her family moved to Warmington, Chloe was the only one at Oakfield Juniors to welcome Janet, and she in turn welcomed Chloe into her family, introducing her to her cousin, Penny, and sister, Helen.

Helen Jackson
Helen was dating Justin when Chloe met him for the second time. Jealous of his attraction to the younger girl, Helen made some nasty accusations, resulting in a traumatic return to Copperford Park. But all’s well that ends well.

Skater Steve
Steve, a speed-skater who’d taken a shine to Chloe the last few times she’d been skating, offered to coach her. He seemed uneasy about the attention as her friends stared unashamed at his athletic body filling the figure-hugging jumpsuit to perfection, and Janet raved about his animal magnetism. But he definitely had an eye for the ladies and getting to know him better revealed some major concerns.

Biker Ben
Ben was what most people would refer to as a “greaser,” turning up at the chemist in overalls encrusted with grime and sweat due to his job as a mechanic. But Brenda reckons, “he cleans up rather well. And he’s devoted to his gran.”
He woos Chloe with gentle, old-fashioned courtesy, and his incorrigible Granny Em says “each of you is exactly what the other needs – you will do some marvellous healing. Unfortunately, his demons and loyalty to a nasty Hell’s Angels chapter put all manner of strain on their relationship.

Posh Paul
Paul had bags of confidence and looked like someone off the telly, with an expensive suit, understated gold jewellery and a sculpted body which said he worked out. After charming Chloe and her friends, treating them to fine wine and delicious delicacies. Chloe agrees to accompany him to posh places, but draws the line at being dolled up like a Barbie doll. Despite his lavish generosity, she spotted “something a bit dodgy about him I can’t quite put my finger on.” She had no clue to the deep-seated resentment he held because of horrible incidents at school.

Athletic Andy
Chloe stumbled straight into a tall, well-built stranger, who righted her and then flashed a warrant card. She tried to rein in her natural reaction to this hunk of manhood whose broad shoulders filled out the stylish leather jacket, but her – admittedly drunken – instincts were to flirt outrageously. Several encounters later she was totally smitten, but he too was hiding a startling secret.

Calamity Chicks 2.2

This scene from Chloe's Chaos features most of the major players. Have fun.

    Something happened to Drew that summer in France. He’d picked up a sophisticated air, talking about drinking espressos in bars. His style had changed considerably, with long, floppy hair and an arty scarf which he kept on until one of the teachers demanded he remove it. His mannerisms were similarly flamboyant, and when he called her Chloebelle, she giggled. “That’s not my name.”
    “It so is. Chloe Bell, see. And belle means beautiful in French, which is what you are. When I’m a famous fashion designer, you’ll be my muse.”
    “You mean with wings and a harp?” She loved stories of Roman and Greek gods.
    “No.” He grinned, acknowledging her meaning. “My inspiration. You have the perfect figure and looks for a model, and I will dress you in fabulous clothes. The world will fete us and I will drink champagne from your slipper.”
    She giggled at his dramatic gestures. “It better be made of glass, otherwise it’ll just leak out.”
    “I never had you down as Cinderella.” He fluffed out her hair and held it above her head, dragging down a couple of curls at her ears. “Now you mention it, I can see you in a princess style with tons of chiffon.”
    “Which would make you her fairy godmother.”
    They jumped at Justin’s words – neither had heard his approach. His next words deprived her of deniable plausibility.     “Hi, Chloe. I finally remembered where I’d met you.” His grin smacked of lascivious leer. “You always enjoyed being a princess to my prince charming. Aren’t you going to introduce your fashion consultant? I must say, seeing you at the party, he’s doing a grand job.”
    Drew let go of her hair, his face wobbling as he stood back, folding his arms.
    Caught wrong-footed, she played for time “Drew, this is Justin. And this is my … friend, Drew.” She dropped the “very good” at the last minute, but the tiny pause had Justin raising an eyebrow.
    “Boyfriend?” He leaned closer, using a stage whisper. “Or girlfriend?”
    “Don’t be mean,” vied with “None of your business” in her head, but all she managed was, “Where’s Helen?”
    “Who?”
    “Your girlfriend.”
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” His wink said otherwise as he strutted off.
    Drew’s face was one big question mark as she tried to go for a suitable explanation.
    “I – I met him–”
    “No need to explain.”
    “Yes there is. We were playing kids games. You know, cops and robbers, cowboys and Indians.”
    “With all those princes and princesses.” His dry tone and sceptical expression compelled her to elaborate.
    “With his cousin and my friend, Tina. A few years ago.”
    “If you say so.”
    “I do.” Why wouldn’t he believe her, and why was it so important he did?
    “Listen, Chloebelle, it doesn’t matter. But he looks like bad news and he’s obviously got his mind set on you. I’d warn you to watch out, but it’s not my place.”
    “Of course it’s your place, Drew Masters. Don’t you know you’re my best friend in the whole world–”
    “Apart from Janet and Penny.” He seemed determined to make her feel bad and she had no clue how to convince him of her loyalty. His face was close and it seemed like the most natural thing in the world to press her lips to his.
    Big mistake. Huge.
    He pulled back as though reacting to a slap instead of a kiss and she shrivelled inside, stumbling away from the expression on his face.

    Penny found her in the loos. “Did Janet find you?”
    “Why?”
    “She’s mad as hell – said if she found you she’d give you a warning you wouldn’t forget in a hurry. I didn’t think she meant physical violence, though.”
    “What?” With a sniff, Chloe swiped at her eyes. “What am I supposed to have done?”
    “Made a play for Helen’s boyfriend, that’s all. Nothing major.” Her tone said the opposite.
    She gulped. “I didn’t.” Her voice sounded weak.
    “We all saw you giving him ‘the look’ at the party.”
    “I didn’t know he was going out with Helen.” And he made out to Drew that he wasn’t.
    “I don’t believe it was just innocent childhood games between you two. There was obviously something more – he couldn’t keep his eyes off you.”
    “Except when he was practically making out with Helen on the dance floor.” Why would no one believe her?
    The door burst open and Janet strode in. “What’s going on here?” She rounded on Penny. “What did you tell her?”
    “Just that we didn’t believe her story about meeting Justin at some fictitious den.”
    “I can show you.”
    “Right. We’ll be waiting by the gates, and it better be real if you know what’s good for you.”
    The bell called them back to lessons and she was never so glad to be in a maths class with no one glaring at her, calling her a liar.

    They were waiting for her, joined by Helen and an even grimmer-faced girl everyone knew of as a right hard case. No words were exchanged as they virtually frog-marched her through the small estate past Oakfield Junior School.
    But the worst possible thing happened when they reached Copperford Park – the den was gone. As the older girls swapped triumphant looks, she tried to get her bearings – it was just past the gardens on the left. Wasn’t it? Tina had always found the hidden entrance, and Chloe never took much notice.
    “I knew you were lying.” Helen scowled. “Confess – what really happened?” All four glared in unison.
    Feeling like a criminal, Chloe couldn’t think straight. She closed her eyes, fearing the worst.

    Willing the memories to come back, she tried seeing the route from Tina’s house in her mind and realised they would have come in a different entrance. She needed something which would put it all into context. Opening her eyes, she spotted the old factory roof and took off.
    Oblivious to the startled shouts, she ran. The element of surprise meant she reached the area with enough time to spot the yew tree hiding the entrance. She darted behind it just as Helen’s friend, Charlie, reached out to grab her.
    “Watch out for the root.” Her warning came just in time, but the butch girl’s momentum had her sliding down the slope.     Chloe grabbed her arm to steady her.
    Charlie whooped. “What a ride. Thanks kid. Looks like you weren’t lying after all.” She ran back up to direct the others in, helping them past the tricky bit. They peered at the scene out of a Tolkien novel: wild, overgrown and full of dangers for the unwary.
    Helen strode up, folding her arms. “Okay, so you weren’t lying about this place, but what actually happened here? And don’t bull me about cowboys and Indians.”
    “It started off as that. Tina and I joined in with Justin and Danny – his cousin.”
    “He’s never mentioned him.”
    “They didn’t get on. Justin …” She glanced away.
    “Spit it out. I know he’s no angel.”
    “He used to boss him around. And poor Tina – he always made her and Danny be the bad guys.”
    “I’m getting the picture. So you were the princess and he fought past the other two to rescue you.”
    She nodded. “It was thrilling – he brought along swords and guns and made it really exciting.”
    “So what aren’t you telling me?”
    “Nothing. I swear, that’s everything.”
    “Did he do anything when he rescued you?” Her intense glare said she knew.
    “Once. He demanded a reward. A kiss – just a peck.”
    “That’s it? He didn’t lay a hand on either of you?”
    “What? No!” She flinched. “I promise, it wasn’t like that. Why do you ask?”
    “Fair enough. I had to ask. There was a rumour of a boy forcing young girls to show their knickers.”
    Chloe cringed. “Gross. Well he certainly didn’t do that to us – we only played with them for a few weeks.”
    “I’m sorry to put you through it, but I need to know what kind of boy I’m going out with. Do you fancy him?”
    Chloe shrugged. “What do you think? He’s handsome and charming, and what a mover! But now I know he’s yours, I wouldn’t touch him with a barge pole.”
    Charlie chuckled. “Now that’s something you might wanna try, Hel.”

Calamity Chicks 2.1

The second book in the series is Chloe’s Chaos – here’s a little more about it.

Disappointment, Despair, Betrayal
Chloe’s checkered past is coming back to bite her. After years as a people pleaser, easily swayed by strong personalities, she’s looking back at her poor life choices, resulting in what could be the biggest mistake of her life.
Mean girl? Slag? Blob? All accurate labels as she navigates a dating minefield, leaving behind a trail of guys who she'd (unwittingly) turned into monsters. But she learns something from every one - mostly about what she doesn't want in a partner. And how looks can be deceptive - being the spitting image of Stevie Nicks isn't always an advantage.

Then she does something no true friend would ever do, with the potential to hurt people who’d stuck by her through all her troubles, going out of their way to help and support her.
Was there even a shred of honour or decency left inside her?
Just because Tina was no longer her best friend, did that give Chloe the right to kiss her fiancé? Danny was the only one to get a perfect score on her Rate-a-Mate checklist, and the heart must do what the heart must do – apparently.

This cheeky piece of British nostalgia features a Goldilocks choice, some radical transformations, plenty of girl-power, a couple of unlikely heroes and the nastiest of villains. Feel free to boo and hiss.

Calamity Chicks 1.3

Meet the Cast
Here are some of the main players in Tina's Torment. Most of them appear in one or more other books in the series.

Tina Meredith

Chloe is in awe of Tina’s courage and daring, saying she’s batter than any boy.
Tina describes herself as: “Tall for my age, heavily built with a tendency toward plumpness, a sallow complexion and perpetually untidy dark hair. There were no saving graces. The ugliness of national-health glasses and braces paled into insignificance compared to my contentious nature – a direct consequence of having to fight for every concession.”
She had real body issues. At ten: “Mum’s hairdresser friend chopped all my hair to the same length – ultra-short. So in my shorts and tee-shirt handed down from Simon, and with my height and build, I must have appeared more male than female.”
At 14: “At I was pleased to be wearing a new skirt and a skinny-rib sweater, the effect being quite flattering. I watched his eyes sweep me up and down in the way I’d seen other men stare at pretty girls – the sensation was gratifying.”

Chloe Bell
Chloe was Tina’s best friend all through junior school, but they drifted apart at high school.
Tina says Chloe was a delightful child – petite and feminine with a delicate, rosy-cheeked beauty, topped by golden curls any Miss Pears would have been proud of. Add a winning smile and compliant nature, and it was easy to see why everyone adored her. This should have made her utterly insufferable, but she never had to struggle to get her own way, so on the odd occasion she couldn’t win, she accepted defeat with grace.

Justin Palmer
Tina’s first crush – turns out handsome is as handsome does.
Here’s her first impression: “The other one was taller still, slim and obviously in charge. The sun raised highlights in his blond hair, giving him the appearance of a young Greek god, and I felt a peculiar sensation inside.”

Drew Masters
Drew - one of the few boys in their class Chloe could tolerate, describing the rest as far too loud, obnoxious or both. Tina couldn't help but be jealous: As Drew gazed at her in admiration, I realised even he liked her better than me. It was so unfair because I saw him first.

Danny Thomas
Tina's first impression of Danny: The dark haired, stocky one seemed vaguely familiar – maybe I’d seen him at school. Taller than me, with spotty skin, the dark frown made him mean, moody and tough.
After meeting him years later, and a disastrous first date, Tina had a dilemma:
I couldn’t decide which boy to write to: the strong, cheerful one I’d sailed a boat with; the gentle, caring one who bought me cheesecake; the silent, moody one who took me to the pictures or the angry, reproachful one who brought me back.

Julie Hart
A nasty piece of work who causes problems for both girls.
Tina’s first encounter didn’t go well. I couldn’t help but be aware of the malevolent glares aimed my way from Julie and her cronies. One of the other girls noticed, warning me she was a notorious bully, and not someone to make an enemy of. Julie leapt to her feet, standing toe-to-toe as she tried to tower over me.
“How dare you bring your disgusting lezzie filth in here – you should be banned, you should.”
Several lines ran through my mind, tempting me to suggest she wasn’t my type, or comment on what kind of statement her bovver boots and butch haircut made.

Linda Randall
When she got to college, Tina met Lin, a bubbly, confident girl
In amongst the sea of masculine faces, I spotted one lone female, sitting apart like an outcast. I made a bee-line for the empty seat next to her and our relieved smiles spoke of a common bond. An only child, she lived near Norton, a big town forty miles east. I got the impression her family were well off. She was in digs locally, and they bought her a car so she could go home whenever she wanted.
“I wish I’d got your will-power, but I can’t resist the odd cream cake or bar of chocolate. I’ll always be cuddly, but it’s part of my appeal.”

Calamity Chicks 1.2

 Here's a pivotal scene from Tina's Torment which sets up the entire series. Enjoy. 

    The following summer felt like a huge anti-climax. Pete and Simon spent the first three weeks on a football training scheme. They were too old and far too cool for antics at the den. We rushed down there on the first two days and re-lived old memories, but it wasn’t the same without them. On the third day, I had some errands to run so we arrived late, only to find two unknown boys, a little older than us, treating the place as though they owned it.
    The dark haired, stocky one seemed vaguely familiar – maybe I’d seen him at school. Taller than me, with spotty skin, the dark frown made him mean, moody and tough. The other one was taller still, slim and obviously in charge. The sun raised highlights in his blond hair, giving him the appearance of a young Greek god, and I felt a peculiar sensation inside.
    “Get out of here, this is our den,” he glanced at Chloe, “and no girls allowed.”
    “Get out yourselves, we were here first.” My defiance surprised the dark lad as I continued. “Where were you last year, or even yesterday?”
    “Well, it’s ours now, so beat it.”
    “What are you going to do about it?”
    Even before my challenge was out, he’d leapt across the stream knocking me to the ground. We rolled over as I struggled to get up, fending off his punches.
    “Leave her alone,” screamed Chloe.
    The other lad must have figured it out as he pulled his mate off me with a shout. “Stop it Justin, she’s a girl.”
    I’d been trying to land a few blows of my own, but was outraged by Justin’s next words.
    “Doesn’t look much like one to me.”
    Even through the hurt from his words I could see his point – he wasn’t the first to make that mistake, and it was even more marked than normal. Three weeks earlier, I’d discovered my little sister with a hoard of half-eaten sticky lollies. In my frantic efforts to get them away from her, one got tangled up in my hair, and I’d cut it out in a panic. Mum didn’t throw a fit as I expected, she simply marched me straight down to her hairdresser friend who chopped all my hair to the same length – ultra-short. So in my shorts and tee-shirt handed down from Simon, and with my height and build, I must have appeared more male than female.
    The dark-haired boy had a grim expression as he helped me up, but close up, I saw his eyes were kind. Chloe belatedly registered the situation, hugging me theatrically.
    “Come here, Danny,” commanded Justin.
    He complied with the resignation of one used to obedience. Justin whispered to him for a few minutes, and then planted himself in front of us with an implacable air. “If you want to play here you’ll have to join our gang. But first you must prove yourselves worthy by passing the initiation tests. If you fail any of them you’re out – no second chances. Are you up to it?”
    “Of course we are.” My answer was pure reflex. I didn’t stop to consider Chloe, who seemed doubtful.

    The next few days were tough as he devised new tasks for us: climbing trees and fences; standing one legged on the iron bridge for five minutes; jumping off the top of the stile – the list seemed endless. Each time he made me do it first, and then gave Chloe an easier option – a smaller tree, shorter time – even glancing away when she was at risk of failing. When I pointed out his injustice, he warned that if I wanted to be in his gang I must learn to take orders.
    I wanted so much more than to be in his gang. I wanted him to look at me the way he looked at her – or at least to like me. Lyrics about angels making a dream come true flitted through my head in Karen Carpenter’s velvety voice.
    The final test was to leap across the stream. This time Chloe was first, and he chose the narrowest part for her jump, which she managed easily thanks to previous practice. Then he walked down to where it widened out considerably and pointed to a place where the opposite bank was a foot higher. I took one peek and crossed myself, preparing to die.
    Chloe protested that no-one could jump there. I blinked back the tears of self-pity which sprang to my eyes.
    Justin saw them and taunted, “What’s up cry-baby? It’s easy peasy.” Then, to Danny, “Show her how it’s done.”
    Danny jumped across with ease and held out his hands. “Come on, Tina. I’ll catch you if you fall.” Not mean at all.
    I saw the scorn in Justin’s eyes as I walked away, but it was merely to get a longer run-up. I took a deep breath, counted down from five to psyche myself up, and started running. As I launched myself off the bank, Chloe screamed, ruining my concentration. My first foot landed safely, but the second hit the edge which began to crumble away. Chloe screamed again and hid her face in Justin’s shoulder, but Danny reacted quickly and grabbed my arm, hauling me up. The momentum was too much and we landed in a heap, gasping for breath.
    As we sat up, he touched my arm. “Well done. Knew you could do it.” A rare smile lightened his features.
    Justin sniffed. “Told you it was easy.” He walked away.

    So we were allowed to join, at first as honorary boys, taking the same identities: explorers; cops and robbers; cowboys and Indians – all the usual boys’ games.
    I had to admire Justin’s skill when it came to inventing new situations, making each one more authentic by the props he would provide – guns, swords, hats, even rope and handcuffs. As the days went on, however, Justin devised more and more games where Chloe starred as the heroine; a nurse trapped by the war or a kidnapped film star, and he played the hero who had to fight past Danny and I to rescue her.
    Eventually I got fed up with playing a man and being battered around – he didn’t pull his punches. At the end of one particularly rough game, I complained and surprisingly, instead of his usual sarcasm, he agreed.

    The next day, Chloe played a princess with me as her maid, he ruled as king with Danny a knight at court. Then they were highwaymen who captured us and tied us to a tree for ransom. Justin became a prince, leading to a spectacular fight before he could get to us. Exactly like in an action film, they leapt from bank to bank, up and down tree stumps and in and around the trees. Neither gave an inch as they fought with all their might – a real grudge match. Finally, Danny tripped on an unseen root and Justin made the most of his victory, crowing like Peter Pan.
    Then Danny became his squire and started untying Chloe when Justin stopped him with an imperious raised hand. “Wait – first she has to prove she’s the princess.”
    “How?” Danny seemed as surprised as we were.
    “She has to give me something.” His tone sounded dark.
    “But I haven’t got anything to give you.” Chloe’s expression emphasised her innocent tone.
    “Then you’ll have to give me a kiss.”
    “No,” I shouted. “Mum said you mustn’t.”
    “If you won’t give it to me, I’ll take it.” Justin delivered the line like a hero from a movie as he stepped up boldly and kissed her on the lips. Danny and I watched in a mixture of horror and fascination.
When he released her, his eyes slid over my body. “She’s only the maid. You may kiss her, Squire.” His lip curled as he turned away.     “But only if you want to.”
    This must have presented Danny with an awful dilemma. From what I’d seen of him so far, kissing any girl would be the last thing he wanted to do, but he seemed sufficiently sensitive to realise I would have been insulted if he declined.
    I closed my eyes and received his peck on the cheek with fists clenched against the humiliation of Justin’s stage whisper. “Ugh, it’s like two boys kissing.”

    That night, I cried myself to sleep, dreaming of being a slim, beautiful princess rescued by a prince. It wasn’t Justin, but a strong, handsome Danny who bent to kiss me.

Calamity Chicks 1.1

Some of the books in this series are billed as fairytale, but the entire series is a Cinderella story, because it never got the send off it deserved, overtaken as it was by the Time Doctors.

Calamity Chicks: Endearing, coming-of-age romances with lashings of adventure and a hint of spicy danger. Set in 70's Britain, they provide an immersive experience of growing up in a world without mobile phones and computers, but with the best soundtrack everrr!
#1 Tina's Torment - Ugly Duckling
#2 Chloe's Chaos - Goldilocks
#3 Linda's Lament - Reluctant Rock Star
#4 Helen's Hazard - coming in 2025

The first book in the series is Tina’s Torment – here’s a little more about it.

Would you tell your best friend?
On Chloe’s hen night, Tina has a dilemma: does she reveal what a rat her fiancé is and ruin what should be her happiest day ever? Or stay schtum and let him ruin Chloe’s life?

Best friends since juniors, their bond is threatened when they meet two cousins. Built like a Greek God, Justin is every girl’s heart-throb, but both Tina and Danny suffer his cruelty. High school turns Tina from a frumpy swot into a svelte high-achiever, but revenge is sweet when her inner disco diva attracts Justin’s attention – and Chloe's jealousy.

Tina’s hard work brings rewards as a blast from the past reappears with a mission – to make up for lost time. Being overweight and spotty, Danny never had the courage to stand up to his cousin, but now the girls on the sailing course think he’s a dreamboat. Tina is thrilled as he teaches her far more than how to sail, but his spiteful cousin isn’t done with them.
As college brings new adventures, all four are linked by dark secrets, and danger ensues as the monster seeks his revenge.

She’s All That meets Never Been Kissed with elements of The Duff

This cheeky piece of 70s British nostalgia features no less than three Ugly-duckling transformations, girl-powered escapes from hairy situations, a couple of unlikely heroes and the nastiest of villains. Feel free to boo and hiss.

N.B. A version of this story was previously available (from May 2014-May 2017) as part of a short story anthology called Triple Jeopardy, published under the pen-name Rowanna Green. There are several changes, adding mystery and reinstating all the yummy 70s songs some harsh critic made me take out. Now it's part of a series, you get to spend time with some of the other characters and see the other side of the story.

Back to School-itis

If you’re in England, you can’t fail to have noticed it’s back-to-school time, as evidenced by the plethora of ads for uniforms, stationary and the like.

For the rugrats, this is followed by the whole transition from long, sunny play-days to grey, rainy endless days of getting your soul sucked out by a bunch of thankless tasks. Or am I projecting?

For some kids, going back to school at the end of a long lazy summer can be traumatic. Anticipating a new teacher, classmates, grade, or school can trigger fear, anxiety, and depression - not to mention very real physical symptoms such as stomach aches, headaches, and insomnia. One doctor highlights various reasons for school-related anxiety, including fear of the unknown, academic pressure, social concerns, separation from family, routine changes, or past negative school experiences. He explained that while anxiety is a normal human response, it could affect sleep, appetite, mood, and school attendance if not addressed.

For some of us, this childhood pattern gets set and we never quite get over it, manifesting as weekend-itis, Sunday evening-itis, or my favourite, the Sunday scaries. I was surprised by how many articles I found on the subject, one blogger said "Mondayitis; back-to-work or school blues; the post-holiday comedown – these feelings snap at our heels on a Sunday night throughout life, whether children are in the picture or not."
Another said "Ever since I was a kid, I get a feeling of depression, emptiness and anxiety on Sunday nights. I think its pretty clear why, Monday, work and stress are coming the next day."

My own memories of Sunday evening go way back to being six years old, sitting under the hairdryer hood (which hung off the door because the stand broke), and definitely feeling unsettled. The thin-sandwich engineering degree had us alternating between terms at college and work placements, and I distinctly remember coming the closest I've been to anxious at uni, every time we swapped from one to the other. That is apart from taking exams, when I got so nervous I had to go in early to chuck up before it started.

I was okay through most of the 23 years writing software, apart from the three times I returned from a 6-month maternity leave. Now, of course, being retired means I'll never have to face those kind of stresses again.

My Top Thirteen Anthem Songs

The top 4 are songs which spoke to me on a visceral level – they were telling the story of my life (thanks, Billy J). The next half dozen have similar resonance – but in later years – they didn’t move me so much at the time.
Most of the others are in the list because they’re songs which make you (yeah, it’s not just me!) want to punch the air and sing at the top of your voice in absolute agreement of the song’s sentiment – this, I think, is the definition of an anthem. Some of them were turned into anthems due to their use in popular culture [film/TV/sports].

1. Argent – Hold your Head Up 1971
2. Helen Reddy – Angie Baby 1975
3. Janis Ian – At Seventeen 1975
4. Billy Joel – My Life 1978
5. Journey – Separate Ways 1983
6. Styx – Renegade 1979
7. Tears for Fears – Woman in Chains 1989
8. Waterboys – Whole of the Moon 1985
9. Deacon Blue – Dignity 1994
10. David Bowie – Rebel Rebel 1974
11. Bon Jovi – Livin’ On A Prayer 1986
12. Queen – We are the champions/We will rock you 1977 [A Knight’s Tale]
13. Tina Turner – Simply the best 1991/We don’t need another hero 1985 [Mad Max Thunderdome]

And the didn't-quite-make-its - many of which are quite universal.
Simple Minds – Don’t you forget about me 1985 [Breakfast Club]
Kate Bush – Running up that hill 1985 [Stranger Things]
Neil Diamond – Sweet Caroline 1969 [Big Bang Theory/England Squad]
Status Quo – Caroline 1971
Gloria Gaynor – I will survive 1978
Dexy’s Midnight Runners – Come on Eileen 1982
Bee Gees – Stayin’ Alive 1977
Skinner/Baddiel/Lightning Seeds – Three Lions/It's Coming Home 1996 [England Squad]

For those of you expecting to see things like ELO's Mr Blue Sky, try the Epic list here.
Another work-in-progress post I’ll be adding to as I remember stuff.

Time Travellers – Guess the Year #6

Famous Hatches, Matches and Dispatches from this year
Births:
Cielo Bublé (daughter of Michael Bublé and Luisana Lopilato), ?? (son of Tom Hiddleston and Zawe Ashton), Ilaria Baldwin (daughter of Alec and Hilaria Baldwin), August Cage (daughter of Nicolas Cage and Riko Shibata)

Marriages:
Ewan McGregor and Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Britney Spears and Sam Asghari, Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck

Deaths:
Queen Elizabeth II(96), Olivia Newton-John(74), Ray Liotta(68), Christine McVie(79), Meatloaf(75), Dennis Waterman(74), Angela Landsbury(97), Leslie Phillips(98), Sidney Poitier(95) Irene Cara(63)

Time Travellers – Guess the Year #5

Famous Hatches, Matches and Dispatches from this year
Births: Lily-Rose Depp, Sabrina Carpenter, Brooklyn Beckham, Bailee Madison & Madison Bailey Kiernan Shipka, Morgan Turner

Marriages: Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe, David Arquette and Courteney Cox, Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Gladys Portugues, David Beckham and Victoria Adams, Helen Hunt and Hank Azaria, Fatboy Slim and Zoë Ball

Deaths: Ernie Wise(74), Oliver Reed(61), Dusty Springfield(60) & Curtis Mayfield(57)

My Top Thirteen Epic Songs

It all began because I tried in vain to list my top 13 songs of all time – 130 would be nearer the mark. So then I thought of my top 13 acts and tried to pick one song. I started to write that these are probably the band’s one defining song (think Journey: Don’t Sop Believing, Billy Joel: Piano Man, Meatloaf: Bat Outta Hell), the one most people expect to hear if they go to a live show.
But then I realised those weren’t the ones I’d necessarily pick as a favourite – iconic, for sure, but not my go-to on my comfort-songs playlist – these tend to be longer than normal, usually a story song, huge arrangements bordering on operatic and when the last note dies, you need a pause because you’ve been put through a massive emotional journey.
A Magnum Opus.
I’d intended to call these “Opus” songs, but after a lively debate with my better half, decided on epic instead.

To my mind, these are the exact definition of a magnus opus – “a large and important work of art, music, or literature, especially one regarded as the best work of an artist composer, or writer.” The first one of those, for me, was Keith West’s awesome “Excerpt From a Teenage Opera” in 1967, ending poignantly with a bunch of kids singing:
“Grocer Jack, Grocer Jack, is it true what Mummy said, you won't come back? Oh no, no.”

After that, there were a bunch of standout songs, all the way to Queen’s unashamedly operatic offering in 1975 – which most people would have as their number one. But for me there were a couple which are more personal to me for one reason or another.
This post will be a work in progress as I remember more and more I can’t leave off the list.

1. Blue Oyster Cult – Don’t Fear the Reaper 1978
2. Disturbed – Sound of Silence 2015
3. Whitesnake – Still of the Night 1987
4. Thin Lizzie – Still in Love with You 1974
5. Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody 1975
6. Billy Joel – Scenes from an Italian Restaurant 1977
7. John Miles - Music 1976
8. Richard Harris – MacArthur Park 1968
9. ELO – Mr Blue Sky 1978
10. Ultravox – Vienna 1981
11. Slade – How Does it Feel? 1975
12. Styx – A.D. 1928/Rocking the Paradise 1981
13. Carpenters – Goodbye to Love 1972

Interesting that 8 of them were from my favourite decade – the 70s. And only one from this millenium!
As ever, I had so many, so here’s another bunch:

Journey – Change for the Better 2008
Spandau Ballet – Through the Barricades 1986
David Bowie – As the World Falls Down 1986
City Boy – Ambition 1979
Manfred Man’s Earth Band – Joybringer 1973
Meatloaf – Paradise by the Dashboard Light 1977
My Chemical Romance – Welcome to the Black Parade 2006
Foo Fighters – Everlong 1997
Wings – Live and Let Die 1973
Python Lee Jackson – In a Broken Dream 1972
Richard Marx – Hazard 1991
Hollies – Air that I Breathe 1974
Sad Café –Every Day Hurts 1979
Beach Boys – Good Vibrations 1966
Rush – Spirit of Radio 1980
Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush Don’t Give Up 1986
Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich – Legend Of Xanadu 1968
Keith West – Excerpt From a Teenage Opera 1967
Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballe – Barcelona 1987
Bee Gees – New York Mining Disaster 1941 1967

Time Travellers – Guess the Year #4

Famous Hatches, Matches and Dispatches from this year
Births:
Emma Stone, Vanessa Hudgens, Rupert Grint, Rose McIver, Adele, Rhianna & Jessie J

Marriages:
Mike Tyson and Robin Givens, Mick Fleetwood and Sara Recor, Burt Reynolds and Loni Anderson, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, Jonathan Frakes and Genie Francis, Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan, Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis

Deaths:
Roy Orbison (52), Andy Gibb (30), Kenneth Williams (62), Trevor Howard (75) & Roy Kinnear(54)

Time Travellers – Guess the Year #3

Famous Hatches, Matches and Dispatches from this year
Births:
Adam Sandler, Helena Bonham Carter, Halle Berry, John Cusack, Kiefer Sutherland, David Schwimmer, Rick Astley, Salma Hayek, Janet Jackson, Jon Favreau, Eric Cantona, Mike Tyson, & Gordon Ramsay

Marriages:
George Harrison and Patti Boyd, Sophia Loren and Carlo Ponti, Frank Sinatra and Mia Farrow, Brigitte Bardot and Gunter Sachs, Dolly Parton and Carl Dean

Deaths:
Walt Disney(65), Montgomery Clift(46), Evelyn Waugh (63), Johnny Kidd(31) & Buster Keaton(71)

Guess who's 40 on Sunday 13th July?

If you listen to radio/watch TV in the UK, you can't be unaware that this Sunday marks the 40th anniversary of a rather special day back in 1985.
Where were you when Mr Geldorf was letting loose his potty mouth all over the BBC? If you listen to Greatest Hits Radio (home of Ken Bruce and Simon Mayo), you'll know they're playing all the original recordings from 12 noon on the 13th. Enjoy.

Time Travellers - Guess the year #2

Famous Hatches, Matches and Dispatches from this year:
Births:
Rowan Atkinson, Bruce Willis, Kevin Costner, Kelsey Grammer, Billy Bob Thornton, Bruno Tonioli, Olga Korbut, Simon Rattle and Yo-Yo Ma

Marriages:
Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, Gregory Peck and Veronique Passani, Rock Hudson and Phyllis Gates, Clark Gable and Kay Spreckles, Michael Caine and Patricia Haines

Deaths:
Albert Einstein (76), James Dean (24), Alexander Fleming (74), Charlie Parker (35)

While researching, I noticed some fun coincidences among people born that year, must have been something in the water.
Inventors: Bill Gates (Microsoft), Steve Jobs (Apple) & Tim Berners-Lee (World Wide Web)
Musicians: Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen), Angus Young (AC/DC), Billy Idol (Generation X)
Actresses in Sci-Fi series: Kate Mulgrew (Captain Katherine Janeway), Marina Sirtis (Deanna Troi), Mira Furlan (Ambassador Delenn), Whoopi Goldberg (Guinan) – can you guess the odd one out?