San Diego

I have family in San Diego and have had the privelage of visiting there on more than one occassion, it is without doubt one of my my favourite places.

The San Diego-Coronado Bridge, as pictured above, locally referred to as the Coronado Bridge, is a “prestressed concrete/steel” girder bridge, crossing over San Diego Bay in the United States, linking San Diego, California with Coronado, California. The bridge is signed as part of State Route 75.

The Hotel del Coronado (also known as the The Del to local residents) is a beachfront luxury hotel in the city of Coronado, just across the San Diego Bay from San Diego, California. It is one of the few surviving examples of an American architectural genre: the wooden Victorian beach resort. It is one of the oldest and largest all-wooden buildings in California and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1977.

When it opened in 1888, it was the largest resort hotel in the world and the first to use electrical lighting. It has hosted presidents, royalty, and celebrities throughout the years. The hotel has been featured in numerous movies and books.

The hotel first was featured in a film during 1927 when it was used as a backdrop for the film The Flying Fleet. Since then, it has been featured in at least twelve other films, including: Some Like It Hot (which starred Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon, and Tony Curtis), The Stunt Man (which starred Peter O’Toole), the 1973 film Wicked, Wicked (which was completely filmed on location there), and the 1990 version of My Blue Heaven (which starred Steve Martin).

I have experienced the famous Sunday Lunch served up in the room below.

Anyway back to the bridge!

The 11,179-foot-long (3,407 m or 2.1 mi) bridge ascends from Coronado at a 4.67 percent grade before curving 80 degrees toward San Diego.

The span reaches a maximum height of 200 feet (61m), allowing the U.S. Navy ships which operate out of the nearby Naval Station San Diego to pass underneath it. The five-lane bridge featured the longest box girder in the world until it was surpassed by a bridge in Chonqing, China in 2008.

The Coronado Bridge construction started in February 1967, and the bridge was opened to traffic on August 3, 1969, during the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the founding of San Diego.

Originally, the toll was $0.60 in each direction and the curve was said to have been required to ensure the length of crossing was long enough to be tolled.

Several years later, this was changed to a $1 toll collected for traffic going westbound to Coronado only. Although the bridge was supposed to become “toll-free” once the original bridge bond was paid (which occurred in 1986), the tolls continued for sixteen additional years. In 2002, it became the last toll bridge in Southern California to discontinue tolls. The original toll booths remained intact for a short while, and were temporarily replaced with newer, more modern-looking toll booths for the filming of a car commercial in April 2007.

The islands upon which the toll booths sat, as well as the canopy over the toll plaza area, are still intact, located at the western end of the bridge in the westbound lanes. Though tolls are no longer collected, beginning February 19th, 2009 there was talk of resuming westbound toll collection.

All of which is really just an excuse to post this film of Tom Waits performing “San Diego Serenade”. 

I never saw the morning ’til I stayed up all night
I never saw the sunshine ’til you turned out the light
I never saw my hometown until I stayed away too long
I never heard the melody, until I needed a song.

I never saw the white line, ’til I was leaving you behind
I never knew I needed you ’til I was caught up in a bind
I never spoke ‘I love you’ ’til I cursed you in vain,
I never felt my heartstrings until I nearly went insane.

I never saw the east coast ’til I move to the west
I never saw the moonlight until it shone off your breast
I never saw your heart ’til someone tried to steal,
Tried to steal it away
I never saw your tears until they rolled down your face.

Remember Remember…the 5th of November

Guy Fawkes

Penny For The Guy

“He’s My Guy” – Peggy Lee

The fireworks I remember as a kid rarely produced a display like the one above, however, some of the photos below can still trigger some happy memories from cold nights in the back garden.

The Brock's Big Box

Jack In The Box

Standard Fireworks Box

“Fire Brigade” – The Move

 

Birthday Co-incidence?

Yesterday was my old man’s 75th Birthday and on Sunday the extended family went out for Sunday lunch to mark the occasion.

Obviously with Fiona not there it was a difficult time for us all and you may now think I am mad but I had expected to “experience” some sign which can be put down to co-incidence or otherwise depending I suppose on what you want to believe.

Nothing untoward happened on Sunday and by the time i went to bed last night nothing had happened on the Monday.

I had gone to bed to watch Sportscene and switched the television on early thus catching the last 15min of the Graham Norton Show, something, I never watch, and discovered that two of the guests on the show were Katherine Jenkins and Harry Connick Jr both of whom Fiona liked.

Nothing really triggered in my thoughts at that moment and then Katherine Jenkins spoke about Catherine Zeta Jones and somehow got on to the subject of where she went to school….it turns out she went to “Dumbarton House School” in Swansea.

I was thus starting to twitch, next up was a silly article about dogs singing “opera” and I nearly fell out of bed when on the screen appeared “Amber” a Weimaraner the spitting image of Bonnie lying on a chair howling to opera!

Fuel was added to the fire when Katherine Jenkins in an attempt to get another dog to howl live on the television sang “O Mio Babbino Caro” which was of course one of the two pieces of music played at Fiona’s funeral.

Finally Harry Connick Jr capped it all by performing “All The Way” one of Fiona’s all time favourite songs.

“All The Way” – Frank Sinatra

When somebody loves you
It’s no good unless he loves you – all the way
Happy to be near you
When you need someone to cheer you – all the way

Taller than the tallest tree is
That’s how it’s got to feel
Deeper than the deep blue sea is
That’s how deep it goes – if it’s real

When somebody needs you
It’s no good unless he needs you – all the way
Through the good or lean years
And for all the in between years – come what may

Who knows where the road will lead us
Only a fool would say
But if you’ll let me love you
It’s for sure I’m gonna love you – all the way, all the way

 

To buy the music of Frank Sinatra click HERE

 

 

The never-before-available Live At The Meadowlands, recorded March 14, 1986, features 18 previously unreleased tracks. In this now-legendary hometown show, where Sinatra wooed a sold-out New Jersey crowd, Sinatra showcased songs from every phase of his stellar career, mixing the likes of “One For My Baby”, “You Make Me Feel So Young” and “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” with late-period classics such as “L.A. Is My Lady” and “Theme From New York, New York.” The long-anticipated release of Live At The Meadowlands holds special significance among Sinatra fans as it’s one of the most sought-after and hard-to-find concert recordings of his career. Hank Cattaneo, Sinatra’s long time production manager and confidante, wrote the set’s liner notes.

 

 

I know I am being daft…..but it helps

Work Is Complete!

The work is done, the music collection re-organised and my favourite 1000 CD’s have been rescued from the upstairs cupboards and drawers and are now close at hand in the living room together with a selection of my favourite albums and books.

It is amazing to think that this:-

 

can be easily stored on this:-

“High Class Music” – Roddy Frame

 

To buy the music of Roddy Frame click HERE

 

“Put Your Records On” – Connie Bailey Rae

 

To buy the music of Connie Bailey Rae click HERE

The Comfort Of Tea

It is funny how when you aren’t feeling well that you resort back to the most basic of basics regarding comfort foods.

For me the last few days have been partly underpinned by copious amounts of tea plus some good old Jacobs Crackers and Heinz Crean of Chicken Soup.

I normally drink coffee but just now tea is my best friend.

“Have A Cuppa Tea” – The Kinks

Granny’s always ravin’ and rantin’
And she’s always puffin’ and pantin’,
And she’s always screaming and shouting,
And she’s always brewing up tea.

Grandpappy’s never late for his dinner,
Cos he loves his leg of beef
And he washes it down with a brandy,
And a fresh made cup of tea.

Chorus:
Have a cuppa tea, have a cuppa tea,
have a cuppa tea, have a cuppa tea,
Halleluja, halleluja, halleluja, Rosie Lea
Halleluja, halleluja, halleluja Rosie Lea.

If you feel a bit under the weather,
If you feel a little bit peeved,
Take granny’s stand-by potion
For any old cough or wheeze.
It’s a cure for hepatitis it’s a cure for chronic insomnia,
It’s a cure for tonsilitis and for water on the knee.

Chorus

Tea in the morning, tea in the evening, tea at supper
time,
You get tea when it’s raining, tea when it’s snowing.
Tea when the weather’s fine,
You get tea as a mid-day stimulant
You get tea with your afternoon tea
For any old ailment or disease
For Christ sake have a cuppa tea.

Chorus,

Whatever the situation whatever the race or creed,
Tea knows no segregation, no class nor pedigree
It knows no motivations, no sect or organisation,
It knows no one religion,
Nor political belief.

Chorus.

To buy the music of The Kinks click HERE

“Tea & Theatre” – The Who

Will you have some tea
At the theatre with me?

We did it all – didn’t we?
Jumped every wall – instinctively
Unravelled codes – ingeniously
Wired all the roads – so seamlessly

We made it work
But one of us failed
That makes it so sad
A great dream derailed

One of us gone
One of us mad
One of us, me
All of us sad

All of us sad – lean on my shoulder now
The story is done – ’s getting colder now
A thousand songs – still smoulder now
We played them as one – we’re older now

All of us sad
All of us free
Before we walk from the stage
Two of us
Will you have some tea?
Will you have some tea
At the theatre with me?

To buy the music of The Who click HERE

Fiona She’s Never Far Away

I have a random screen saver on my computer which picks photographs from my picture file which must have over a thousand pictures in it, this morning it chose the above picture which was taken EXACTLY a year ago today.

Maybe the title of the posting is not as far fetched after all.

“Every Picture Tells A Story” – Rod Stewart

To buy the music of Road Stewart click HERE

Drown In My Own Tears

I was a year ago today that my beloved Fiona received the news that she was suffering from cancer both in her lung plus a secondary spread to her brain.

It was the latter that developed the symptoms whch were at first diagnosed as a minor stroke. She had been referred a day earlier to the hospital by our GP and the hospital confirmed his stroke diagnosis.

A routine chest x-ray the next day revealed the dreaded news and a brain scan confirmed the spread.

I constantly relive those 48hrs and will never be able to forget receiving the call at home to come as soon as is possible to the hospital and on getting there seeing Fiona and a nurse in her room, she was sitting on the edge of the bed and was showing such bravery in holding herself together to enable her to tell me the news herself…………..her words echo in my mind everyday “Darling I’m so sorry I have cancer I don’t want to leave you this soon”

Throughout the next few days once you take in the news and the spirit clings to hope and positivity and right up to the end 106 days later on the 31st December she was and always will be “the bravest of the brave”

As for me and the rest of the family we continue to drown in our own tears, face the world the best we can and try to be as brave as she was.

Here is Ray Charles with “Drown In My Own Tears”

It brings a tear,
Into my eyes,
When I begin,
To realize,
I’ve cried so much,
Since you’ve been gone,
I guess I’m drowning in my own tears,

I sit and cry,
Just like a child
My pouring tears
Are runnin’ wild
If you don’t think
You’ll be home soon
I guess I’ll drown in my own tears

I know it’s true
Into each life
Some rain, rain must pour
I’m so blue
Here without you
It keeps raining
More and more

Why don’t you
Come on home
Oh yes so I won’t
Be all alone
If you don’t think
You’ll be home soon

I guess I’ll
(drown in my own tears)
Ooh, don’t let me
(drown in my own tears)
When I’m in trouble, baby
(drown in my own tears)
Oh, yeah, baby don’t let me
(drown in my own tears)
I guess I’ll drown in my own tears
Oh, mmmmm.

“You know life can be long
And you got to be so strong
And the world is so tough
Sometimes I feel I’ve had enough”      John Lennon  1971

You can shine your shoes and wear a suit
You can comb your hair and look quite cute
You can hide your face behind a smile
One thing you can’t hide
Is when you’re crippled inside

You can wear a mask and paint your face
You can call yourself the human race
You can wear a collar and a tie
One thing you can’t hide
Is when you’re crippled inside

Well now you know that your
Cat has nine lives
Nine lives to itself
But you only got one
And a dog’s life ain’t fun
Mamma take a look outside

You can go to church and sing a hymn
You can judge me by the color of my skin
You can live a lie until you die
One thing you can’t hide
Is when you’re crippled inside

Well now you know that your
Cat has nine lives
Nine lives to itself
But you only got one
And a dog’s life ain’t fun
Mamma take a look outside

You can go to church and sing a hymn
You can judge me by the color of my skin
You can live a lie until you die
One thing you can’t hide
Is when you’re crippled inside

One thing you can’t hide
Is when you’re crippled inside
One thing you can’t hide
Is when you’re crippled inside

Fi,

God Bless

Love always and forever

Gilbey   xxx

Morning Has Broken

Fiona and her sister Jane

Fiona and her sister Jane had much in common, though the picture above is a rare example which illustrates a sister likeness, in addition to Frank Sinatra they both loved Cat Stevens aka Yusuf.

Here is a video of him performing “Morning Has Broken” and I know my hair can get a bit wild at times but checkout the keyboard player!!

Here from the “Matthew & Son” album is “I Love My Dog”

“I Love My Dog” – Cat Stevens

I love my dog as much as I love you
But you may fade, my dog will always come through.

All he asks from me is the food to give him strength
All he ever needs is love and that he knows hell get

So, I love my dog as much as I love you
But you may fade, my dog will always come through.

All the pay I need comes shining through his eyes
I dont need no cold water to make me realize that

I love my dog as much as I love you
But you may fade, my dog will always come through.

Na, na, na, na, na, na, nana…

I love my dog as much as I love you
But you may fade, my dog will always come through.

Na, na, na, na, na, na, nana…

I love my dog, baby, I love my dog. na, na, na…
I love my dog, baby, I love my dog. na, na, na…

To buy the music of Cat Stevens/Yusuf click HERE

Saturday Soul – Old Age

Today I am officially 12 months away from the big 50

Here is Louis Jordan

“Old Age!” – Louis Jordan

To buy the music of Louis Jordan click HERE

circa 1969

Can’t Give Up Now

The above song was sung at Guido’s funeral by his sister Heather and his Aunty Annwenand I can honestly say their  accapela version was BETTER than this 2001 version by Mary Mary, given Friday night’s passing of Bonnie it seems to hit home again.

“Can’t Give Up Now” – Mary Mary

There will be mountains that I will have to climb
And there will be battles that I will have to fight
But victory or defeat, it’s up to me to decide
But how can I expect to win If I never try.

I just can’t give up now
I’ve come too far from where I started from
Nobody told me the road would be easy
and I don’t believe he brought me this far to leave me

Never said there wouldn’t be trials
Never said I would’t fall
Never said that everything would go the way I want it to go
But when my back is against the wall
And i feel all hope is gone,
I’ll just lift my head up to the sky
And say help me to be strong

I just can’t give up now
I’ve come too far from where I started from
Nobody told me the road would be easy
and I don’t believe he brought me this far to leave me

[Hook:]
No you didn’t bring me out here to leave me lonely
Even when I can’t see clearly
I know that you are with me(so I can’t)

I just can’t give up now
I’ve come too far from where I started from
Nobody told me the road would be easy
and I don’t believe he brought me this far to leave me

To buy Mary Mary music click HERE