All our yesterdays 2

 This week we're looking at the week of May 2-8 

On May 2nd, 1980, Pink Floyd's hit single, "Another Brick In The Wall" was banned by the South African government because rebellious black schoolchildren had adopted it as an anthem. The young protesters were chanting the lines: "We don't want no education, we don't want no thought control." Banning the song, however, didn't stop them from singing it!

On May 3rd, 1951, The South Bank of the River Thames was lit up as King George VI and Queen Elizabeth opened the Festival Of Britain. The five-month festival was designed to disperse the grey post-war cloud with a bright vision of Britain's future. Festival entertainments included a large fun-fair, sculptures, a railway and the Festival Pleasure Gardens.

On May 4th, 1970, US National Guardsmen shot and killed four students at Kent State University in Ohio. The dead students, two men and two women were taking part in a massed anti-war protest when the soldiers fired into the unarmed crowd. Nine students were wounded. Two more students were shot dead at Jackson State University, Mississippi. The killings followed three days of student rioting. The demonstrations erupted after President Richard Nixon sent US troops into Cambodia the week previously.

On May 5th, 1821, Napoleon Bonaparte died in exile on the remote British island of St Helena, He was 51. Apparently, his last word was, "Josephine" his empress who he'd rejected in 1810 because she hadn't given him a male heir.

On May 6th, 1954, Roger Bannister a 25-year-old medical student, broke an invisible barrier when he ran a mile in three-fifths of a second less than four minutes. He was running at the Iffley Road track in Oxford, representing the university against the Amateur Athletics Association, with two fellow students setting the pace. Experts had long held the opinion that it was impossible for a man to run a mile in less than four minutes. In doing so, he'd taken two seconds off the previous record, set by Swede, Gunder Hagg in 1945.

On May 7th, 1945, Nazi Germany surrendered to the Allies and the War in Europe was ended. German Chief of staff, General Alfred Jodl signed the instrument od unconditional surrender at 2.40 am and delivered his nation "into the victor's hands, for better or worse." He was met by Britain's General Montgomery, US Chief of staff, General Bedell Smith and Soviet General, Suslapatov at General Eisenhower's headquarters, a small schoolhouse in Rheims, France.

And on May 8th, 1987, Democratic front-runner Gary Hart withdrew his bid for the presidency of the United States following allegations of marital infidelity. The Miami Herald reported HArt's alleged affair with Donna Rice, a 30-year-old model, with whom he was seen in Washington and onboard a yacht named 'Monkey Business.'

And finally in this week in 1969, The Beatles were having their second week at number one in the UK with, "Get Back." It stayed at number one for six weeks in all.

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The Music Of My Life 30

 

This is a bittersweet one for me. I love Shakatak and a group of us went to see them in concert at Baileys in Watford.

This was their album at the time. I can remember them playing all their hits that night and being in my element.

Sadly, less than a fortnight later a friend who was with us that night died aged just 19. That night was the last time I saw him.

Whenever I think of Shakatak, I think of him and how he enjoyed that night.

R.I.P. Henry Manning

If you can't see the video, click here

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It's time to move on.

I don’t know about you, but having gone through the first lockdown unscathed, I found that the second one that lasted from November through to March really pulled me down.

I’m not saying that it made me depressed because I wasn’t close to that, but it certainly drained me of some of my enthusiasm.

Apparently, it’s not been uncommon. Many people have gone through the same thing. It’s felt a bit like treading water, still trying to plod on but feeling as though you’re getting nowhere.

I was reading the other day that the feeling has a name. It’s called languishing. It’s apparently become the dominant emotional state of 2021. I have to say, it’s certainly pulled the motivation and focus out of me.

I’m a dreamer, I’ve always got things that I want to do and I’m always working toward something, and that’s why I’ve felt as though I’ve been walking around in a bit of a fog since the turn of the New Year.

The thing is, if you’re at this stage, you have to try and pull yourself out of it or find ways to alleviate the feelings because if you don’t it’s a possibility that that downward spiral can continue and drag you toward depression.

It’s safe to say that for many of us, each day had drifted into another and all that uncertainty has pulled us down. It's felt as though we're in a void and that we've suffered to maintain focus.

However, there is a way out of it. For many of us, going back to work will be the start. Mind you, that can pull us down too after being at home all the time. Lethargy can make it harder to get back into that groove.

Doing meaningful work is definitely a way out of it. It will give your mind something to focus on, to do. Trying to see the lighter side of life can help too. For me, turning off the news on the telly helped. Starting a new hobby can help as well, or finding a new challenge that will excite you.

If you’re thinking about a new challenge, don’t worry about failing. Often when we're trying to accomplish a new thing, our steps don’t always go right (and often they don’t).

If you’ve been following me or reading my posts, you’ll know that I’ve failed a fair few times at projects I’ve attempted. I always look back to my Mum’s advice over the years to help me and she would often tell me not to look back in regret, but to move on to the next thing.

And that’s so true because if you don’t fail, it really means that you’re not trying; stepping out of your comfort zone. Failure teaches you more than you realize.

And each time you fail something, however small, if you look at it the right way, it’s a stepping stone forward. You can learn from it and use that lesson to propel you onward.

And that’s how I feel at the moment. I’ve got one foot out of the fog of languishing and I’m working my way toward a project that I’d put by the wayside because of the pandemic and I’ve started making steps to see whether I can take it forward.

Maybe I will, maybe I won’t. It doesn’t matter which way it goes really, because the one thing I won’t be left with is regret.

And I’m pretty sure that I’d regret not trying more than I would by failing because at least in failing, you know you gave it a shot. Another lesson is learned. And who knows, success is also a possibility. 

The thing is, if you don't try, you'll never know, and you end up looking back wondering whether it would have worked. That gnaws away at you. I know that from experience.

I truly believe that the obstacles in life are what makes you. The overcoming of obstacles big and small give you an enormous sense of well-being.

You have the choice. You know which one is the right one for you. And no one else has the right to judge you for the choices you make.

For me, however, I’ve looked at starting up two new businesses over the last 5 years, neither of which has come to fruition. I’ve been down at times when I feel as though I’ve wasted so much time.

But is it really a waste? In doing the research for those two projects, I became more knowledgeable and picked up valuable hints and tips that can be applied in whatever I do in the future.

And even though I felt down when I decided I wouldn’t take the project further, it still made me feel good inside that I still have things I want to achieve.

And at this moment in time, I’m back on my path. I’m on my way out of that languishing phase that so many of us have had of late.

My hope is that if you’ve been there with me, that you find something or have something in mind that’s going to help you leave it behind and bring your feeling of enthusiasm and excitement back.

It could be getting a new hobby that does it. It could be planning your next holiday. Maybe, it’s finding a new job or even starting your own business.

Whatever it is, it’s time to try the next thing and leave that languishing feeling behind.

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Stock, AItken, Waterman and the twisty road to music niceness...

In the summer of 1987, I was 27. My son James had been born the previous December and we were living and working in St. Osyth near Clacton-on- Sea in Essex.

At the time, my wife was running a snack bar on the Seawick Holiday Camp and I was basically a relief manager on an amusement complex there. One day I could be in the bingo, the next in one of two amusement arcades and the next looking after a set of Dodgems.

It was a pretty varied working week for me but I most often spent my time in the bingo helping the manager and mixing with the bingo players.

It just so happens that one of the bingo ‘regulars’ owned a mobile home on the camp and would be at the camp every weekend and on all of the school holidays, which meant we saw her often and got to know her well.

She was a typical Eastender, friendly, outgoing and often with a story to tell.  Eventually, as is always the case with me, we got to talking about music and what we liked and didn’t like.

It was during one of those conversations, that she told me that her two nieces were pop stars and in the charts at the time.

Being me, I said to her, “I hope they’re not bloody one of those Stock, Aitken, Waterman groups!” because every other record on the radio seemed to one that originated from their studios.

At the time, I thought of them as formulaic pop rubbish, with the exception of Rick Astley, whose voice I quite liked.

It turned out that her nieces were Mel & Kim, who were indeed a Stock Aitken, Waterman group and were at the time riding high with their hit F.L.M in the top 10.

A week later, she turned up with a copy of their first CD and some signed photos for me and a white dress that one of them had worn in one of their videos for their singles, which she gave to the bingo manager’s daughter.

The reason I’m telling you this is because, this morning, I was taking Debz into town and Kylie Minogue’s, ‘Never too late’ came on and reminded me of this.

And as the song went on I was telling Debz how much I hated SAW at the time but how, over the years, I’d come to realise that it wasn’t actually as bad as I thought and how much I’d come to like pretty much all of their output with the exception of Jason Donovan who’s songs I thought were awful.

What I’ve come to realise is that instead of being the dross that I’d taken it for, it turns out to have been perfectly crafted pop; songs that were upbeat and cheered people up.

All those songs I couldn’t stand, I’ve found that I love now. I know all the words of them; they’ve become classic pop hits after all, and are part of British chart history. I sing along to them (even more out of tune than poor old Jason was) and they bring a smile to my face.

And as much as I was a snob about SAW, I’ve been on the opposite side of the fence when so many others have ridiculed my love of certain artists.

Here are a couple of examples for you.

Let’s start off with Village People. I loved them. Still do. I first came across them in the autumn of 1977 when I walked into a record shop in Ashford, Middlesex, and they were playing a disco 12” called, ‘San Francisco.’ It sounded a bit ‘camp’ but I liked it. After all, I was just getting into disco.

A couple of months later, they released, ‘Macho Man,’ which was even more so.

My friends started asking why I was playing that rubbish. They weren’t prepared for what was to come.

‘YMCA’ was next, followed by ‘In The Navy’ and then ‘Go West.’ All of a sudden they were big in the UK, but maligned by many of my friends.

I didn’t care. I loved them. Their songs were danceable, fun, very, very catchy and suddenly they were being played everywhere.

I bought the album ‘Crusin’ and to this day, I still have it, having bought it again a few years ago.

I couldn’t care less that disco was looked down on because it was ‘gay’ music. I loved it. Always will.

The next one couldn’t be more different.

It’s 1980 and I’ve got my first car. On the cassette you’d hear compilations of 12” singles, UB40’s ‘Signing Off’ album, the Diana Ross album that included, ‘Upside Down,’  ‘I’m Coming Out,’ and ‘My Old Piano’, The Crusaders album, ‘Streetlife,’ ‘Donna Summer’s, ‘Greatest Hits’ compilation and more of that ilk. After all, I’m a 20 year-old ‘cool cat’ with an image to uphold.

But what nobody knew, was that when I was on my own, I very often wouldn’t be listening to any of them, because, under my driver seat, sat a Barry Manilow cassette, called ‘Manilow Magic.’ I’d have been mortified if anyone had found out! After all, this was music my Mum liked.

12 unadulterated schmaltzy classic songs that at 20, I wasn’t going to tell anyone I loved. It was the most uncool, untrendy music on the planet.

But those songs... They grabbed me by the throat, shook me about and had me singing every time. Great songs, well performed (apart from my versions)... an audio treat for me.

I love a song with some soul in it, and his performances are from the heart.

‘Looks Like We Made It,’ ‘Ready To Take A Chance Again,’ Tryin’ To Get That Feeling Again,’ and the wonderful, ‘Weekend in New England,’ still, today, reach me in a way that many other songs don’t: and not in a bad way. And for a bit of fun, you’ve always got ‘Copacabana!’

So who am I to say what’s good and what’s not?

That’s the thing about music. There’s something for everyone. It doesn’t matter what you like because, at the end of the day, it’s yours to like.

There’s plenty of music I can’t stand. Rap (after Rapper’s Delight), Grime, Drum and Bass, anything by U2, Oasis and Abba all come to mind. I could go on.

But here’s the thing. Just because I can’t stand any of them, it doesn’t mean that they’re not any good. It just means that they’re not for me.

They weren’t written for people like me. They have their own audience. It doesn’t mean that I’m right and have superb music taste and that if you like them you don’t. Reading this, you’d probably think the opposite!

Music snobs get on my nerves. They think they know it all. They think that they’re better than the rest of us. It’s not true. And it never will be.

Music touches us all in different ways. Music means something different to all of us.

I’ve loved music all my life. I don’t remember a time when I’ve not collected it. My collection comprises of many genres and many artists, from George Formby and Max Bygraves to Led Zeppelin and The Arctic Monkeys.

I used to hate Stock Aitken and Waterman, I don’t anymore. And I’m glad about that.

I get as much joy from hearing, Kylie’s hits as I do from hearing The Kaiser Chiefs singing, ‘Ruby,’ or The Eagles, ‘Lyin’ Eyes’ and long may that continue.

I love oldies. I’m nostalgic about music. It reminds me of my life, good and bad. I love as much musical naffness as I do the virtuosity of others.

And I feel sorry for those that can’t feel the same; those that are enclosed in their little ‘my genre’ closet and aren’t open to listening to other stuff.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t go out of my way anymore to listen to what’s cool and trendy now. I don’t pretend to like something modern in order to keep a bit of ‘street cred.’ I honestly couldn’t care less anymore. After all, we all have our own journey on this road to musical niceness.

But I love it when I do hear something new that gives me that same feeling that those new singles did when I was growing up.

But somehow, I can’t see it happening too much. And it doesn’t matter, because it’s not been written with my demographic in mind.

But as Kylie Minogue sang this morning, “It’s never too late, we’ve still got time...”

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All our yesterdays...a look back

 I had a reorganisation of my bookcases recently and in doing so, I came across some books I hadn't seen in ages.

Over the years, I've bought books such as Chronicle of the 20th Century, the NME Rock 'n' Roll Years and On This Day, three books that pinpoint different events from our past.

And it struck me that it might be good to take a look back at what's happened this week in years gone by.

So I thought I'd have a look back at history and see for happened during the week of 25th April - 1st of May across the years.

Here are 8 things that you may or may not remember or even know!

1) On 25th April 1939, actor, Al Pacino was born.

2) On 26th April 1994 South Africa went to the polls in its first-ever multi-racial elections. Millions of black South Africans voted for the first time after years of negotiations between FW de Klerks National Party and the African National Congress. Nelson Mandela became President on the 10th of May.

3) On 27th April 1984, The Philadelphia radio station W-WSH started a 'No Michae; Jackson' weekend in reaction to the pop stars overexposure during the past year

4) On 28th 1961 It was revealed that Britain had applied to join the Common Market. They were turned down. It eventually joined on the 1st January 1973. 

5) On 29th April 1987, the musical, Cabaret was performed in London without music when the orchestra went on strike!

6) On 30th April 1945, In a scene straight out of Wagner's epic music-drama The Ring of the Nibelungen, Adolf Hitler, ended his evil reign. After bidding farewell to the few aides remaining with him in his Berlin bunker hideaway, he retired to his suite and shot himself. His wife of just 48 hours, Eva Braun, took a cyanide potassium tablet. In accordance with Hitler's instructions,  both bodies were burnt.

7) On May 1st 1997, Labour leader Tony Blair was elected as Prime Minister of the UK

And finally, on the 26th April 1975, the Bay City Rollers started their 5th and final week as the UK number one with their cover of the Four Season's hit, 'Bye Bye Baby.' R.I.P. Les McKeowen.

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The Music Of My Life 29

Another of those Guilty Pleasures of mine. My love of music started with the four reel-to-reel tapes in the photo. Full of hits of the late 50s and early 60s, they are the first music tracks I ever heard.

I can remember watching the tapes go round and hearing all this marvellous music. Even though these tapes contain hits by the likes of Elvis Presley, The Everly Brothers, Billy Fury, Brenda Lee, Buddy Holly and more, the plinky plonk piano of Russ Conway is right up there with those favourites of mine too.

And one tune in particular, 'Lucky Five' sticks in my mind as a song that reminds me of being a little boy, listening to those tapes. Just hearing it raises my spirits and reminds me of my Mum and Dad. 

If the video doesn't play, click here

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There has to be a better way

I’m a dinosaur.

I’m from a different time. I have different values. I feel like a square peg in a round hole.

I look around me and I see a world in which too many people are thinking only of themselves.

And I hate it.

Perhaps I’m wrong, but I feel as though there has to be a better way.

I come from a world of respect, of caring, of trusting, of discipline and I don’t recognize the way most people feel that it’s their divine right to do what they want, when they want, and if they don’t like it, start witch hunts against anyone who doesn’t fit their sensibilities.

I don’t like so much that I see going on.

Perhaps I’m naive, but there has to be a simpler, better way.

One in which we can respect people’s different opinions and not get bent out of shape. Where we can learn to be nicer to each other. Where we can conduct ourselves with greater decorum.

I may be called old-fashioned but I don’t think I’m alone. I think people, and not just my age group are thinking that the balance has gone too far in the other way.

That perhaps it’s time for a reset. But it starts with us.

I’m going to continue to live my life following those values I was brought up with. To treat people the way I want to be treated. To be nice. To work hard. To be of good charaacter.

I know I can rant and rave, and I do, but I don’t set out to upset people. I’m not underhanded. I try to conduct myself in a certain way.

I try to be open and honest in the way I portray myself. I’d like to think that what you see is what you get with me.

I’m not faultless, I know that.

I know I can be selfish. I know I have a certain way of doing things. I know I have strong opinions on what’s right is right.

But I’m also open-minded enough to be willing to learn from others. I know I’m not the finished article and never will be.

However, in saying that, there are ethics I live by and lines I will not cross.

And this is pretty much true of me. For me to fall out with you, it’s going to take something you’ve done to make it happen.

You see, I not only listen to what you say, but I watch your actions. And those actions tell me pretty much all I need to know. I watch and I take note.

I’m not going to like everyone, that’s only natural, but I’m not going to be the one undermine you. It’s not my style.  I'm also aware enough to realise that not everyone is going to like me.

I’m not going to get jealous if you move on in life. If you move on past me doing something I’ve been planning to do, I’m more likely to be mad at me for not getting on and doing it. But at the same time I’ll applaud you.

You see, if you move on, you become an example to others. You become a beacon to people like me. You become the inspiration to many people who hope. You can be the catalyst for the person who wants more out of life to say to themselves, “That’s it, I’m gonna do it! If they can, I can!”

I believe a rising tide raises all ships.

I believe we need that reset. I think that we can do better.

I believe we can be the guiding light. We’ve just got to go out there and be the example.

And to be honest, you don’t have to move mountains. Being nice, being caring and being thoughtful is just the start. I’m pretty sure that doing so will give people a whole new perspective about you.

And I believe it can be the foundations upon which we can all build a better life.

You see, at the end of the day, what you have isn’t important. We can all have. And to be honest, people couldn’t care less what you have.

But who you are...that’s what it’s about.

That’s the mark you leave in this world.

Yes, my thinking is old-fashioned and it’s naive. But I truly believe it’s better than wanting everything your own way and being bitter if you don’t get it.

And I expect I feel better about myself because of it too.

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I've been sorting out my books...

There's no doubt that me and Debz are big readers, We've had books lurking all over the house and in the garage for ages.

But this week we bit the bullet and bought some bookcases. Up until now, we only had one and that was in my office.

I've built one of the bookcases and its new home is in our bedroom. Our problem is that we don't have enough wall space in the house, so we've had the fit the bookcase where we can.

The other one will go in our living room.

What this means for me is that now, my office bookshelf is now full of business-related and self-development books.

Before I had the sort out this bookcase was full of not only business books but also allsorts of other books which meant the shelves were overloaded and it was a pain to find anything.

Now however, it's nice and neat and easy for me to find everything.

It probably won't last though because I'm always buying more books.

I would imagine it's won't be long before this bookcase is overcrowded again and I won't be able to find what I'm looking for.

The bookcase that now resides in our bedroom is where I'll be putting all the other books I'm interested in.

In this one, you'll find plenty of music-related books. 

Biographies and autobiographies have always been amongst my favourite kinds of books. I've always been interested in what makes people tick and it's always interesting to see how they cope with the challenges of life.

You'll also find books about collecting, 20th-century culture, history, as well as anything else that takes my fancy.

As you can probably tell, I'm not really a fiction reader although I do have a few David Baldacci thriller style books.

Once I get the next bookcase assembled and placed, that'll be the home of the fiction in the house. That's Debz' department.

It won't be long before we're overflowing again though and we'll need to try and find room to put another bookcase.

I wish I was the kind of person who could happily give old books away but it's not going to happen with me because my books generally are full of highlighted sections.

It just makes it easy for me when I'm looking to check something.

It also means that I can re-read a book fairly quickly if I just want to pick out the salient points I'm looking for because all I have to do it go through the book and read all the highlighted sections.

I don't know about you, but I love to go through other people's books to see what they read too.

I've tried reading with a kindle, but it just doesn't feel the same. They're great if you're away on holiday and don't want to carry a load of books but it just doesn't feel the same. I like the feel of a book.  And weirdly, I like the smell of them as well!

I've posted close up photos on my Instagram account if you'd like to see what's on the shelves

As I'm a bit nosey, I'd like to hear about what you read. Feel free to let me know. You can also send me photos of your bookcases and shelves if you want. Just bung 'em on Facebook! I'm looking forward to see what you like.

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It's amazing who you find in your family tree!

This week, I discovered that I’m related to actor, Michael Sheen, who’s a big film star.

His Grandmother, Mary Ann and my Great Grandmother Emma, were sisters, both from a showland family.

Emma married my Great Grandfather Thomas Murphy and travelled fairs all over the UK. Mary Ann, by 18 was a lion tamer with Bostock and Wombwell’s Circus travelling as far as New York with the circus. She eventually married and settled down in Wales working as a market trader.

That means that my Grandfather Charles is First cousin to Mary Ann’s son.

This means that my Dad is second cousin to his son Michael, and as I’m my Dad’s son, I become a second cousin once removed.

Family trees spread widely and you never know where it leads.

Following the links of my family as far back as I can, we’ve come from right across the UK and Ireland. It’s really interesting how we’re all linked.

Of course, we weren’t always showmen. For example, the Murphy side of the family in Ireland were apparently horse dealers, but we can trace links back to showmen as far as the early 1800s.

I’m lucky, as the Freeman-Biddall line of my family is well researched and there is a book about the family going back as far as 1710 when John Freeman died.

On my Mum’s side of the family, I don’t really know too much but I do know that in the 1920s, her mum, my Grandmother was a fortune teller on Great Yarmouth seafront.

So you can pretty much assume the showman bloodline runs strongly through me.

About 10 years ago, I discovered that Billy Freeman, one of my Welsh relatives is the founder of R&B group, Drizabone who had hits in the 1990s and early 2000s.

It really makes me wish that when I was younger, I’d not only listened to but recorded my conversations with my elders.

When I was in my late teens, we spent our winters living in a showman’s winter quarters in Ashford, Middlesex, owned by my Dad’s Uncle Charlie Hyatt.

He’d have been in his late 70s or early 80s then and I’d go and have a cup of tea with him and he used to tell me the stories of when he was a boy and a young man. They were wondrous stories of days that we can’t even imagine.

In those days, people didn’t have a lot of money, but they were hard working and in my family at least, entrepreneurial, and the things they used to get up to used to have me in fits of laughter.

I wish I could recall those stories. I suppose that at 18 and 19, I was more interested in finding my way in the world than documenting their past.

As you get older though, for me at least, those stories become more important as they tell me where I came from.

One thing I do know though is that I’m absolutely proud of my heritage. Their story is one of endeavour, of hope, of togetherness and with a never say die spirit.

I’d like to think I’ve inherited their attitudes because I’m the same. Like them, I’ve suffered failures in my life. I’ve lost all my savings twice and had to start over again.

And at my age, I’m still dreaming, looking forward and with things I still want to accomplish.

My goals are big, bigger than the amount of money I've got to achieve them. However, I’m like a little terrier dog that’s forever snapping at your ankles. I just don’t know when to give up. So you never know!

What about you? Have you chased your family tree back and found out where you come from.

I’ll guarantee that you’ll find stories that you wouldn’t have imagined and end up being so proud of your heritage.

Each of us has a heritage worth sharing. A history to tell and pass down to our families and in the finding out about your past, will help you to understand yourself more.

It’s a truly amazing journey to take.

As for me, well I’m wondering whether ‘our Michael’ would be interested in being a silent partner in my newest business plan!

Well, I can dream, can’t I?

UPDATE: 18/4/21 - Having done further research, I've found out that he's not as closely related as we originally thought.

He's actually my 3rd cousin, once removed.

Nonetheless....we're still related.

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The Music Of My Life 28

I've chosen the Greatest Hits album, but it could have easily been one of the multitude of his albums.

I swear I'd never have had a love life without Al Green. His was the soundtrack to my days of 'courting' as it was called back then.

The perfect accompaniment to a kiss and a cuddle........

You know what I'm talkin' about!

If you can't see the video, click here

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'Why' is more important than 'how'

I’ve often talked about people wanting you to get on but not in front of them and it seems to be the way of the world. However, it doesn’t have to be.

It’s often someone’s low self-esteem that causes them to feel that way and being like that doesn't make them feel better, it only pulls their self-esteem down even more.

Competition is healthy and someone’s success, particularly in your field of enterprise can weigh you down but it should inspire you because if someone else can do it, it means that you can too.

You may have to learn different practices, change your way of thinking and change your approach but competition is healthy and with the right attitude, it can raise your game and help you to move on.

However, for me, the main competition isn’t with anyone else, it’s with myself.

I tend to look at it this way. My goal in life isn’t to be better than you. I’m not here to beat you. The only person I’m interested in improving on is me.

I have dreams and goals and by getting better than I was, it will help me move forward towards them. It means that if I improve my attitude, work smarter and harder and keep the reasons why I want to achieve in front of me, I’ve more chance to do so.

The reasons why I still want to move on and achieve more are the things that are going to help me on my path. If I don’t lose sight of the reasons why I want to move forward, the challenges in front of me won’t seem as bad and won’t stop me from facing them, stepping out of my comfort zone and working towards them.

If you have everything you want out of life, and I’m not necessarily talking about a bigger house or car, more money in the bank, the ability to travel where and what you want to, then what I’m saying probably won’t apply to you. After all, we all don’t want the same. It doesn’t mean that I’m right and that you’re wrong, it’s all about what makes you happy.

For me, I have this desire deep down to be better than I was yesterday. I have this constant desire to be a better me. It’s not about being better than you. It’s not about being better off than you or having nicer things. It’s not about me being better-known or more liked.

I enjoy learning more, understanding more. I’m curious...about all sorts of things. I enjoy reading self-improvement books and getting those, “aah! I get it!” moments. I want to be a more rounded, nicer person.

But I don’t want to be better than anyone else. That’s not me.

But here’s the thing. The ‘why’ is the most important thing for all of us. Everything starts with a ‘why?’

Ask yourself why you do what you do on a regular basis? Do you love your job or are you just doing it for the money? Why do you go out jogging whether it’s raining or not? Why are you sitting on the edge of a riverbank at 5 in the morning?

The problem is that so many of us stop asking ourselves that question. We get into a groove and on we go without any thought.

As children, we dreamed big dreams. As we got older, often we got talked out of chasing after them, told to be more practical.

How many of us started work in a job that we thought would do to get us into the workforce only to find ourselves on a path that wasn’t what we wanted to be on? Sadly, far too many.

Life tends to get in the way for so many of us.

However, it doesn’t have to be that way. I’ve noticed that even in times of recession, some people still move on. And I’ll say this bluntly – it isn’t just luck!

Those who continually move on in life, tend to keep their eye on the prize. And the prize is their ‘why?’

Yes, some will get there using underhanded tactics, without ethical practices and some will even do it illegally. People are people.

But most will work diligently toward their goal, failing often on their path, but using the experience as a lesson, dusting themselves off and moving on. Often it will 2 steps forward and 3 steps back but they'll keep ploughing on until the obstacle is overcome and they proceed toward their goal.

Some may never reach their ultimate goal no matter how hard they try but they’ll be a whole lot further toward it than they would have been if they hadn’t had a reason to keep trying.

I’ve been trying for years. I’ve lost everything twice and had to start over but I learned so much during those times of failure, that it’s helped me in the long run. Will I reach my goals? Only time will tell. I’m not finished yet. I still have my ‘why’ that keeps me going though.

But it’s not about me, it’s about you.

As I said earlier if you’re happy with your life and where you want to be then I’m pleased for you. It’s a great place to be.

If, however, you’re not, then take a look at your ‘why.’ It’s never too late to make a fresh start. Colonel Sanders didn’t even start selling his mother’s chicken recipe until he’d retired from work and was struggling on his retirement income. Had he not struggled, we’d probably never have heard of Kentuck Fried Chicken.

My hope is that if you haven’t achieved what you want yet, you still have the desire to keep going. There’s still plenty to live for. 

If you’re not satisfied with your life, have a think about your ‘why.’

I truly believe we’re all capable of getting more out of life if we know what we really want from it, and apply ourselves in search of a way to move toward it, we can take more and more steps toward it.

And if you’re on that road and you’ve faced challenges, congratulations! You’re learning things that will help in the long run.

And if you are facing challenges, I’ll leave you with this poem that’s helped me when times have been tough.

Don't Quit

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit-
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a fellow turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out.
Don't give up though the pace seems slow -
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man;
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor's cup;
And he learned too late when the night came down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out -
The silver tint in the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It might be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

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Why are we nostalgic?

 

Everywhere you look these days, you are starting to see retro-this and vintage-that. Why?

I know that I love the nostalgic vibe. I love the music I grew up with, I love to see old films and TV programmes and I love looking back at things from those days.

But it’s more than that I think.

For me, it feels like an escape to a less complicated time, a time of different morals and values, a slower-paced way of living my life. Don't get me wrong, I know the past wasn't perfect, I'm not saying that it was.

Perhaps it’s my age. Perhaps it’s not. I think in this hectic non-stop, be in contact with the World all the time life we have today, the past seems to be one place that seems to make sense.

Not only to those of my age, but I see it everywhere. When watching the TV, listen to the music used in advertising. I’m hearing so many old songs. See how many programmes are set in the 50s, 60s and 70s. Shows such as Endeavour and WPC56  are just two examples.

We’ve witnessed a resurgence in vinyl of late. Records seem to have come back from the dead. Some modern music makers are even releasing albums in the cassette format.

It’s seen as cool and trendy to buy records again. Who would ever have thought that?

Vintage shops are springing up all over the country. I’m starting to see vintage clothing on teenagers. In a world full of cheaply produced, mass-marketed clothing, it’s becoming apparent, even to youth that you can buy something of better quality and what’s more, it’s unique compared to everyone else. You can be more individual.

It’s a bit like a circle starting again.

In a world where we’re almost constantly contactable 24/7, now that we carry computers in our pockets, vintage and retro just remind us that it wasn’t always like this. It feels like people want to slow down a bit, to take more time.

I know we’ve been locked down for pretty much a year, but it’s not all been bad.

I think I’m seeing people beginning to appreciate the simple things more. Even though when you see the media, they continue to show us the worst sides of life, I think many people would like to see a return to a more courteous, less hectic way of life, and not just those of our age.

Even in my world, the world of the showman, one of the most popular companies in the UK are Carter’s Amusements.

With rides as old as the late 1800’s, they’re successfully standing alongside the modern-day equivalent rides and holding their own.

Their fairgrounds seem to be more full than many others, they’re always frequented by families, all revelling in a time gone by. They're in-demand with television and film companies, and enthusiasts of fairgrounds love them. They can go to the fairground and look at how it used to be. See the older rides and the attractions, look admiringly at the fairground art and enjoy the ambience.

Myself and Debz generally go to  a bi-annual event in Cambridgeshire called The 1940s weekend. It’d attended by people of all ages, many of whom dress up in 40’s clothing.  There are jitterbug sessions, various bands playing 1940s music, and an amazing amount of vehicles are displayed from that period.

There are many businesses selling 40s merchandise from clothing to memorabilia, all of them enjoying good trade.

And what’s more, over half the people attending when I’ve been there seem to be younger than 30.

There really does seem a growing amount of people who are harking back to those times.

Over the last 10 years, I’ve increasingly noticed more and more of these kinds of events become part of the annual calendar.

And I don’t see any slowing down of this trend.

I also think there’s a deeper reason for people harking back nostalgically. I think when we look back, for many of us it makes us feel better. The sights and the smells remind us of so many times, some memories happy and some bittersweet. But they can also link us to family and friends, no matter what your age.

When I'm miserable, I look back, even at bad times,  and I inevitably feel better than I did before.

Nostalgia tends to make people think better about themselves and sometimes even less alone. I know for me, it reminds me of friends and family and good times. Yes, I see my past through rose-tinted glasses and I think many others do. It’s why it leaves us with a warm glow and leaves a sense of well-being. 

For me, it provided links to my roots and continuity to it. It makes me feel good about myself and my relationships. It provides the consistency of my life and helps me move forward.

I certainly see that when I attend any nostalgia events. I see the smiles of the old and young, it seems to make people more social. 

I can remember Debz complimenting a lady on her 1940s hairstyle and it turned into a ten-minute conversation. And there were examples of that wherever I looked.

And perhaps that’s what it is at the end of the day. Nostalgia can help us feel good in a way that the world we live in at its breakneck speed, can’t.

And as far as I’m concerned. That’ll do for me.

I’d love to hear why you think nostalgia seems to be making its mark these days.

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Download this app - why you need what3words

A postcode or a street address isn't always the best way of pinpointing an exact location - what3words has given every 3m squared in the world a unique three-word address.

This means that in an emergency situation, you log into your app and share the what3words location with the emergency services and they will be able to find you. It's worth downloading for that alone.

This year already, the emergency services in my local county, have already rescued two people through the app, one who was stuck in a flood, and the other who was reporting an outdoor fire.

But there's more to it than that. Suppose you're going to the beach and you're meeting friends there. When you've found your spot, all you need to do is send them your what3words and they know exactly where to find you.

Imagine you're looking for a shop in an unfamiliar town. You no longer would need to hunt up and down until you found it. Just use the stores what3words and you'll be able to find them with ease.

More and more retailers are starting to use this app as a way of being found.

Personally, I love the app. You will too once you start using it.

You can get it from iTunes and the Play store for download onto your mobile phone.

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My Top 10s - Cover Versions

I thought I’d just give you a rundown of 10 of my favourite cover versions. This isn’t a definitive compilation, just some of my favourites.

There are far too many that I could have added to this list,

10 Wonderwall by Mike Flowers Pops (1995) – original by Oasis (1995)

I can’t stand Oasis but I love this quirky version of their massive hit.

if you can't see the video, click here

9 How Sweet It Is by James Taylor (1975) – original by Marvin Gaye (1964)
I love that James totally changed the song and did it his own way.

If you can't see the video, click here

8 The Wonder Of You by Elvis Presley (1970) – original by Ray Petersen (1959)

Elvis turned a very bland song into an epic and it’s all the better for it.

If you can't see the video, click here

7 Can’t Get Used To Losing You by The Beat (1983) – original by Andy Williams (1963)
I love the way The Beat turned an already great song into a more modern ska-infused version

If you can't see the video, click here

6 The Day Before You Came by Blancmange (1984) – original by Abba (1982)
I absolutely hate Abba. However there are a couple of songs of theirs that I don’t mind. This is one, but I love Blancmange’s version. And the vocal!

If you can't see the video, click here

5 I Hear You Knocking by Dave Edmunds (1970) – original by Smiley Lewis (1955)
From 50s R&B to 70’s pop – just brilliant.

If you can't see the video, click here

4 Midnight Rider by Paul Davison (1975) – original by Allman Brothers Band (1971) I love Paul’s reggae version of a Southern Rock classic

If you can't see the video, click here

3 Tainted Love by Soft Cell (1981) – original by Gloria Jones (1965)
I’m not a Northern Soul lover and Tainted Love is a good example of why. Soft Cell’s 80s take on it improved it no end.

If you can't see the video, click here

2 Misty by Ray Stevens (1975) – original by Errol Garner (1950)
From Jazz to Country! And Ray Stevens’ upbeat version always brings a smile to my face.

If you can't see the video, click here

1 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough by Diana Ross (1970)  – original by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (1967)
A perfect example of how you can change an already great song into something of epic proportions.
Diana Ross’ version is a masterpiece!

If you can't see the video, click here

I'd love to know what you're favourite cover versions are - why not let me know?

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