In the Costwolds before the cold snap

Bourton-on-the-Water


My husband and I spent last week in Gloucestershire on a long awaited second honeymoon. We literally boarded our train back home to London as the snow started falling. I thought I knew what cold weather was but oh no! So now I do. Very beautiful and very magical. This cold snap hitting the UK is like a scary movie but I can't say I wasn't warned (kind of lovin it actually)!!



Costwold Lane


Sadie at our B&B in Great Rissington


Bell Inn aka The Prancing Pony (also known as the Inn of the Prancing Pony) was an inn where Frodo Baggins first met the Ranger Strider. Tolkien based much of Fellowship on this part of the Cotwold's which you directly access through a train from Paddington that stops off in Oxford along the way.


Quarwood, the Victorian estate built in 1856 and owned by John Entwistle for 27 years. The Ox was my inspiration for first visiting the Costwolds over a decade ago on my second trip to the UK. My husband is wondering, between Stow and Richmond, how many other Who member inspired journeys we will be making. I've told him "many more!"

Heat Seeking Missle Music

I never discuss private stuff like this online but lately, I've been thinking of how pleased I am that The Who, apart from some heavier live stuff, don't make bunk up tunes.

Seriously. Part of me really likes music sub text free so I can own it in my own mind and heart. I think The Who do that better than anyone. Minimal Rhodes (insta-70's) , minimal horns (The Ox kept it simple but dazzling) even some of the dated synth stuff on It's Hard that I worship ultimately starts to sound undated once you read the lyrics.

And yet another smaller part of me loves how music retains memories, creating an instantaneous atavachron between (and within) the ears. And, even a smaller part of me, thinks many of these memories should be erotic.

If you become a devoted wife and a working mum who nonetheless retains a loyal niche following on the internet for a being a You Tube friendly boob-centric entertainer you (hopefully) start to question what 'aspects' of your past shaped the dualities. Hopefully you leave the answers to ambiguity. I'm sure I've made a few males hear The Who and think of me...and hopefully at least a select few turn the station!

It works both ways and one disc of The Stones (Beggars Banquet) is now semi (no pun intended) and sadly mostly unlistenable for this reason yet another one or two still sound really good. Don't get me wrong, if I deigned to put on the Stones before, "good" was not going to an issue, it was a given. And it is not that it takes me "back" it just makes me amused as to why I chose certain background tunes. And I do mean "semi" because despite Banquet I can still listen to much of it; good music outlasts most romances. Nick Lowe definitely makes some sexy stuff as well but I'd be too busy laughing at how critically acerbic and ironic it all was to put in a good performance-even if the performance entailed falling asleep! Nick Lowe sings about the romance gone awry while he's still in love-sometimes about your OWN break up on the way. Yet Steely Dan is ironic as hell and seems playable while playing. Not sure why though.

The music of the UK certainly charges up the romance, especially in London on a Saturday night and Sunday early hours. Tired of all the cack on the US charts? Then come to the UK or download all the non-American artists save for the all-girl bands and X factor (sorry Tweedy...) Coming of age in the East End during the 90's, my husband Kev listened to Ian Dury, Chas and Dave, Ska, tu-tone, Cypress Hill, NWA and loads of Hardcore, drum and bass and House. We were married a year ago and while celebrating he shared with memories of when rave culture all but ameliorated football hooliganism and the single techno pulse started the MDA fuelled beat surrender. We listen to everything.


Anyway here are few of those songs, all by The Stones. All still good: