3BT: Happy Tunesday

As you know, if you follow me on Twitter (via Blipfm), I had a bit of a Star Wars fest on Saturday (May the fourth etc ...) but it got me thinking about the wonderful composer that is John Williams, and how his memorable themes have graced some of the most iconic movies of a generation. The hard part is reducing them down to a trio. Since you can hear Star Wars here - I've resisted the urge and settled for these instead:

Harrison Ford is probably more synonymous with Indiana Jones now ...

... while this lovable little creature stole our hearts with an uplifting soundtrack - remember the cheering in the cinema, when the bikes took off?

And finally, clever producers knew there was only one man to turn to for the soundtrack to Harry's story.

I'm off to track down his 'Best of' on my Kindle ...

3BT: Happy Tunesday

Today: Reminiscing of school days - I've a school reunion coming up soon and these are three of the songs I associate with the youth centre:

On the cusp of Punk, The Stranglers produced the most often hummed but short harmony with Peaches ...

We followed this on the jukebox (proper old jukebox mind, not your modern rubbish!) with X-Ray Spex and Germ Free Adolescents (gotta love that title, so apt) ...

So far, so punk - which made this next choice quite a strange one. I put it down to the fact that the eighties were so much better than it gets credit for. We could wear what we wanted, listen to what we wanted, we weren't pigeon holed and if we wanted to listen to Diana Ross alongside punk, we damn well did! Here she is with Touch Me In The Morning:

3BT: Wordless Wednesday

I couldn't decide whether to do this as 3bt or Wordless Wednesday. So the only option was to combine them both!

So, this picture shows that ...

My top has developed measles

or,

Polka dots are back in fashion

or,

Someone didn't replace the top of the blackcurrant cordial bottle properly ...

3BT: Merry Christmas everybody

3BT: Open road; a visitor; coffee & chat

It might be cold, but the sky was clear and blue and the road was even clearer for an enjoyable drive home.

Being greeted at home by a wagging tail attached to a happy, friendly Staffie. It's a shame it wasn't actually mine.

Finally meeting a friend for a coffee and a chat after our commitments finally took a break and left us an hour spare.

3BT: The Hobbit; writing; new job

The release of another trailer for The Hobbit this week coincided with the publication of The Hobbit 75 years ago. To celebrate, LOTR fans across the globe held The Hobbit's Second Breakfast at 11am yesterday. An hour's indulgent chat later and I'm gagging to see the film - loving the trailer and thankful I'll enjoy it for the adventure it is rather than constantly harking back to the book.

The local website I was writing for changed their editorial policy so I lost my job. So, because writing is what I do - and writing about my local community in particular - I was asked to populate the new website by James (Become Known), which it was my pleasure to do - see Going On In Medway for local stuff happening, with not a 'hard news' story in sight.

Apart from exciting freelance things in the offing, I'm starting work in an indoor bowls club, as barmaid. I can't wait - I panicked a bit on losing the other job and went mad applying for jobs I had no interest in doing:  data input and telephone centres, which I knew would do my head in. I wanted something where I'd be up on my feet and engaging with people who wanted to be there. I loved working in the leisure industry before and now it feels like I'm coming home - with enough time left over to pursue the writing projects.

3BT: The things they say ...

What I (Matt, age 12, now not-so-littlun) wanted for my birthday:

1. A puppy. It's a given, isn't it, they always want a puppy. They've no interest in scooping the poop or walking in the dark early mornings, but still they want one.

2. A baby *eek* His friend across the road became an uncle recently and we've been able to rib him mercilessly about the cooing and the sheer awe in which he holds baby Evie. When he's holding her; it's worn off a bit now.

3. An alien. He watched Paul. 'Nuff said.

(Thankfully, he settled for an iPod)

3BT: Palladium memories are made of this ...

Having spent a thoroughly enjoyable two hours in front of the telly last night, watching The Story of Musicals and 100 Years of the Palladium on BBC4, I remembered ...

That the first full blown musical I ever saw was 42nd Street.

Seeing Clodagh Rodgers as the eponymous heroine, with Ronnie Corbett as Buttons, in Cinderella, the Palladium Panto in 1971. Ok, my mum helped me remember that one.

That the first time I visited the Palladium on my own was to buy tickets for my parents to see The Two Ronnies. No credit card back then, so I hopped on the Tube, living, as we did, in the East End. I'd emptied my piggy bank, dumped the assorted loose change into a bag and set off. For Argyll Place, King's Cross. The Palladium, as you may know, is in Argyll Street, off Oxford Circus. Anyhoo, so I get out at King's Cross and ask a nice policeman very nicely, where Argyll Place is "you know, where the Palladium is." He looked me all up and down and then said, in a very fatherly way: "I don't think that's the Argyll place you want, love, get back on the tube to Oxford Circus."

I thanked him, as you do. It wasn't till I got home that I found out what kind of show I might have seen in Argyll Place, King's Cross!

3BT: I know what it is! Don’t tell me ...

You know when you hear a song and you can’t quite place what it’s called or who it’s by? That.

Paul Anka swings rock ...

Alexander Stewart turns blonde ...

re:jazz keep things movin' ...

I know, it's been awhile since I posted here and as you can see the blog has had another re-design! I actually really like this template and background, wishing I'd found them sooner now. Lots of stuff's been happening, England are number one cricketing test team in the world, the McLarens are keeping up in F1 - but it's moving to Sky next year, boo, so we'll forget all about it. C'est La Vie Bernie - you wanna be the biggest spectator sport in the world you gotta be on the station most of us watch - BBC. But then, you're probably veiwing on the way to the bank, so whatever.

3BT: Scenes we'd like to see ...

... improbable TV listings.

Sunday 3rd January

3.00pm: David Attenborough's Life
Ecologists, palaeontologists and conservationists gather to celebrate their spiritual leader and God of Man.

3.30pm: Antiques Stage Show
Members of the public challenge Fiona Bruce to utilize their old junk in a tableau homage to Broadway.

4.00pm: "Don't You Know Who I Am?"
The ancestry programme moves to London's West End, as a minor celebrity tries to charm bouncers with their best drunken dialogue and fanny/pecker flashing skills. Spin off show "WhoThe F**k Do They Think They Are?" follows on BBCITV4 at 3.00am.

3bt: Observations

So if FIFA are retrospectively investigating the Thierry Henry handball that knocked out the Irish, will they be doing the same to Diego Maradona for the Hand of God moment in '86?

Our sailors who strayed into Iranian waters did so due to a mechanical failure - so when they were released and the news said they were being towed back into international waters, was I the only one thinking: "Well, hang on, it might happen again if they haven't fixed the boat!"

When the Sex Pistols burst into our lives in the late 70's, did anyone seriously think, 30 years later, that John Lydon would be appearing on the Culture Show?

3BT: Scenes we'd like to see ...

... lines you wouldn't find in the Bible.

The Lord had said unto Abram: "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you, where the women are easy and the booze is cheap."

The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. He obliged and showed them the one he'd nicked off the mens' toilet door, just before the club closed down.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened by the yoke of reality tv.

3BT: Best of Brits

The awesome voice of Miss Lisa Stansfield - Set Your Loving Free

Soulsista Corrine on lead for Swingout Sister - Butterfly

A Matt Bianco one I missed - Cha Cha Cuba - which sits nicely with my dance obsession!

3BT: They say things come in threes ...

And how very right they are! I opened up my emails at work this morning to find I'd won a tenner in the Sports and Social draw! Lovely start to the day - then a lovely finish to the day at our department quiz night. Firstly, we had a Head and Tails game - you know, where they flip a coin and you either have your hands on your head or your bum - last one standing wins half the pot - and it was me! I had a game plan too - I went: heads heads tails heads tails tails - and it worked! And then my team only went and won the quiz itself - and the other half of the pot and, more importantly, a huge tub of Celebrations. Unfortunately, I won't be in the office again till Friday, by which time they'll all be gone. But that's probably a good thing. We're not sure how we won, having guessed at a very random selection of questions, but happily snatched that trophy back from the Post Room by two clear points! Awesome.

4BT: Music - Strictly Songtime

The Strictly Come Dancing Band do a sterling job every Saturday night, so I thought I'd take time out to showcase the singers, Lance, Hayley, Priscilla and Tommy, each of whom bring their own unique style to Strictly.

The band itself also have a new CD out, full of those wonderful songs from across the series, such as Hot Hot Hot, A Time for Us, Sing Sing Sing and Vehicle.

Lance - Don't Ever Leave Me Again - official website here.

Priscilla - Lift Him Up - check out the Prophecy album here.

Hayley's website has samples of the songs on her new album, Just Songs.

And you can hear Tommy here if you click to download the snapshot of his music PLUS - you can see him live at the 606 Club on 7th December!

4BT: Music - I'm sensing a theme ...

3BT: Scenes we'd like to see ...

Alternative opening lines from great books ...

Mr and Mrs Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say they were perfectly normal, thank you very much, and their swinging parties were considered to be the best in the neighbourhood.

When Mr. Bilbo Baggins if Bag End announced that he would shortly be celebrating his eleventy-first birthday with a party of special magnificence, there was much muttering and eye rolling at what the old codger had in mind this time.

Lyra and her Daemon moved through the darkening hall, taking care to keep to one side, out of sight of the Britain's Got Talent judges, lest they were accidentally sent through to the final as the next Kate and Gin.

3BT Music: Big Band Night

With the American Smooth on one side and the Big Band on the other, these are my picks for dancing and singing to:

3BT: Scene's We'd Like To See ...

... lines you wouldn't find in a Harry Potter book (2)

Voldemort lowered his wand, and, unexpectedly tenderly, said: "No, Harry - I am your father!"

"Wow, Minerva," panted Crabbe, surfacing from the quilt. "When you said you were going to teach me a lesson, you weren't joking."

Dobby and Winky's wedding was a marvellous affair - and her bump barely showed through the white lacy tea towel.

3BT: Funky groove thangs ...

Everybody singing ...



Get your own ...



Nassau's gone funky ...