It's now August 2021. Lizzy has been gone for almost 16 months and I still miss her a lot. I also lost my lovely Dad in November 2020 - he was aged 96 but still as bright as a button mentally. I know that practically everyone has lost someone during these horrendous times but that doesn't make it any easier. I'm trying not to lose myself to grief and anxiety but I do feel fairly lost. There's a new track by Jake Bugg doing the rounds - "Lost" -  and I keep singing it to myself.

Suddenly, I see you everywhere

You're always in my head

Never been so lost

Talk to me, it's like you're never there

It's like you never care 

That I've been so lost 

That I've been so lost

I'm also seeing someone - a counsellor - second session this afternoon. First session last week and just talking about my overall situation has started to help. I don't want to spell out the entire story of my life here as it wouldn't be fair on other still living people. I'm hoping the counselling will help me see a path through - maybe a path I haven't even considered before. Whatever happens, I'm glad I've worked out how to access this blog again. It was a big help to me back in the 2000s when my life changed quite considerably. Change is difficult but sometimes it's what is needed - radical change.

I thought I'd lost this blog for good but have finally figured out how to get back into it, a mere 9 plus years after my last post.It's an intersting historical document now. My lovely friend and partner in crime Lizzy B died almost one year ago, on 26 April 2020. I miss her everyday but am so glad we got to do so many fabulous things together, most of which are chronicled here. Life definitely isn't a rehearsal. RIP Lizzy xxx

Wow, I really haven't been here for a while

Over two years in point of fact. Lots of stuff has happened, lots of stuff pretty much the same.Got to see the Magic Band again, a bit of a highlight. Had to cancel a holiday due to family illness, a bit of a lowlight. Jim now living in his own house, pleased to say its only two miles away. Quite a few babies born and nobody close has died, although my Mum now lives in a nursing home and her brain is slowly melting away.

Life goes on

Sky Saxon died today

I find it quite hard to compehend. I'm the administrator for a Facebook group for the California 66 revue tour due to happen in August - Sky was going to be a huge part of that. Another 6os survivor bites the dust



RIP Sky

I've got a new tent!

I don't blog any more

I mean to - but I don't.

But I am running a fantastic Facebook group.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=86265642408

I'd love it if you joined.

And I am working on setting myself up in a new post-redundancy career as a viral / virtual marketeer for 60s rock bands. Its going OK so far.

Swiss Toni's Shuffleathon

My CD has finally been reviewed!!

http://coornelius.blogspot.com/2009/03/shuffleathon-2009.html

I've been waiting for this before posting my letter to Charlie, so here is is.

Dear Charlie

My name is Tina, and I’m pleased to be your Shuffler for 2008!

You can find me at http://yourmindandwe.blogspot.com/ virtually, and at the address above in reality.

Anyway, without further ado, here is your Shuffleathon CD and a bit of explanation. I’ve decided to call my CD

Distinctive voices from Northern UK and North America

16 tracks – 8 from each continent. Exactly an hour long, more by accident than by design. About 40 years between the earliest and the latest (somewhat longer than you’ve been alive I see from your blog) – I’ve decided that I’m not actually going to put when each track is from because I don’t think it’s relevant. I’ve seen a number of these artists perform live but when I count up I’ve actually seen more of the American ones than the UK ones - strange. I am something of a US West Coast fan and have had a couple of visits over there. So here goes:

1) All Of My Heart - ABC. From Sheffield. I love the voice of Martin Fry, the lead singer.

2) I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor - Arctic Monkeys. From Sheffield again. I don’t have any particular connection with Sheffield , but the place has produced some good bands.

3) Grounds For Divorce – Elbow. From Bury, Lancashire.

4) Tonight - Richard Hawley. From Sheffield once more.

5) Weeds – Pulp. Yeah, Sheffield. I’ve seen Pulp perform live, in the middle of Sherwood Forest (yes, where Robin Hood lived), and also Jarvis Cocker as part of a Sgt Pepper concert in Milan.

6) Regret - New Order. North West England this time.

7) Being Boring - Pet Shop Boys. The lead singer, Neil Tennant, comes from South Shields in the North East of England, near to where I was born and bred. Have seen them, in Nottingham, fairly recently.

8) Sunworshipper – Mylo. Mylo comes from the Island of Skye, off the north of Scotland – he produced the album “Destroy Rock and Roll” that this track comes from in his bedroom. It provides the link between the UK and North American sections of the CD.

9) See How Good It Feels - The Quarter After. From Los Angeles. I saw these guys in a tiny venue in Nottingham recently. Two brothers, Rob and Dom Campanella – Rob is also a member of and producer for Brian Jonestown Massacre, another Californian band that I’m very partial to.

10) My First Night Without You - Maria McKee. From Los Angeles. Sister of the late Bryan Macleanof the La band Love, my alltime favourite band – I had to be physically restrained from putting any of their stuff on this CD. Best known for “Show me Heaven”. Another artist seen at a pretty small venue in Nottingham

11) I'm Your Man - Leonard Cohen. From Montreal, Canada. I’ve had the great good fortune to see Leonard Cohen perform twice during 2008, the man was truly born with the gift of a golden voice. He’s somewhat past the tiny club stage.

12) The Needle And The Damage Done - Neil Young. Another Canadian. Never seen him perform live unfortunately, but I’m definitely a long time fan.

13) La Valse De Balfa - Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir. From Calgary in Canada. Another great band that I’ve seen performing in a tiny club in Nottingham, very distinctive sound.

14) Abba Zaba - Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band. From California again. The Captain is a genius as far as I am concerned. I‘ve seen the Captain plus Band perform twice, and the Band minus Captain once - all amazingly memorable performances.

15) How Can You Mend A Broken Heart? - Al Green. The Reverend Al. Hails from Michigan according to Wikipedia. Gospel tinged soul. I saw him recently performing in Birmingham.

16) I Say A Little Prayer - Aretha Franklin. In November 2008, Franklin was named by The Rolling Stone magazine. as the #1 all time best singer of the rock era. She came in ahead of Ray Charles at No. 2, Elvis Presley at No. 3, Sam Cooke at No. 4 and John Lennon at No. 5, according to the magazine's survey of 179 musicians, producers, Rolling Stone editors, and other music-industry insiders. (So says Wikipedia). And I thin k she’s pretty good too.

So there you are. Hope you like it.

P.S. Since thay letter was written in December, I've booked to see one of my long time musical heroes, Neil Young, in June. I'm also off to see Kraftwerk in July - another band I've wanted to see for ever - with my brother , in Manchester. Now he's a real fan and has travelled to Poland and Norway to see them perform - I've never travelled further than Aberdeen for a gig, although Lizzy and I did go to Sweden to see a film. But it was about Love so that's quite understandable.