Saturday, December 31, 2022

Senses working overtime #399

The combination of time spent in London, Bury, and Los Angeles during this week provided a real contrast in sensual stimuli.

Here's a short selection...

1  Palisades Park and Santa Monica beach


Jacky, Wozza, Fanfa and Drew.




2 Santa Monica


Santa Monica dinosaur fountain


3  Amoeba Music




4  Barrington Avenue and Sunset Boulevard walk


Outside 'The Ugly House'


5  Last fish and chips and mushy peas before USA


At The Three Magpies before flying to LA


Overtime:  Buckingham Palace and Caffe Nero (Upper Street)



Upper Street's home away from home - Caffe Nero.

Friday, December 23, 2022

Senses working overtime #398

UK tour

This week is devoted to glimpses of our sensual delights over the last week or so as we trekked around before seeing Irene and Christine - taking in Tintagel Castle, Blenheim Palace, amid visits to Appledore, Oxford, Bury, and south Wales.

1 Clouds and snow


On the way from London to Devon


2 Appledore


Brekkie at the Royal George 

3 Blenheim Palace








4 Burr's Country Park (Bury)



Peel monument from Burr's


5 Tintagel Castle





Overtime: Irene and Christine


Irene (101), Christine and me

Saturday, December 17, 2022

Friday, December 2, 2022

Senses working overtime #395

1 The best TV theme songs



2 The one sentence that will make you are a more effective speaker




3 The best way to pack your suitcase





4 Best of pocket 2022


5 Time for Christmas Favourites again!


Overtime: 

“In an age of speed, I began to think, nothing could be more invigorating than going slow. In an age of distraction, nothing can feel more luxurious than paying attention.”

Pico Iyer

Friday, November 25, 2022

Senses working overtime #394

1 Qatar's stadiums for the World Cup




2 New Beatle videos



I'm Only Sleeping and Taxman get stunning new animated videos.


3 Why we love the music we love




4 Walt Whitman and what makes life worth living




He would have added the FIFA World Cup every four years if it was around back in the day.


5 What happens to spelling bee champions when they get old (a.k.a. the story of Brad Williams, now 62 years old)


Brad age 12


Overtime: All of those controversies around Qatar's World Cup laid out for you here

Friday, November 18, 2022

Senses working overtime #393

1 Ten ways to calm anxious thoughts and soothe your nervous system




2 How the philosophy behind the Japanese art form of kintsugi can help us navigate failure




3 A technique to get unstuck





4 The virtue of owning books you haven't read





5 Lox




A word that has not changed in 800 years. Love this!


Overtime: Contentment 


"If you want a golden rule that will fit everything, this is it: Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful."

William Morris (via James Clear)

Friday, November 11, 2022

Senses working overtime #392

1 Hollow City




Edward Hooper's portraits of urban alienation.


2 The Beatles' Revolver redux.



An article cunningly title 'How Peter Jackson broke up The Beatles'


3 Too many songs, not enough hits

And no stars. What's wrong with today's pop world!





4 Awareness and acceptance



Why it's important to build a bridge.


5 The CD revival





Overtime: Commitment

"One good day does not mean you can coast tomorrow. You never have it fully licked. Making good choices is an endless process. Many areas of life that we value most—our relationships, our fitness, our craft—require a continual commitment."

James Clear

Friday, November 4, 2022

Senses working overtime #391

1 Invisible things


2 Note by note: The making of a Steinway piano

A superlative documentary film that you can watch here


3 In praise of Andor




4 What happened to Rod McKuen?




5 The Anti-Woodstock ’99”: An Oral History of the Tibetan Freedom Concert


Tibetan Buddhist monk Palden Gyatso meets Flea. Yes - Flea.


Overtime: Starting

"In some areas of life, value is unlocked by starting. Even a five-minute workout or a short walk can reset your mood and benefit your body.

In other areas, value is unlocked by finishing. It does you no good to build a bridge halfway across the river. You need to complete the project to realize the value.

Do you need to start or finish? Are you building a body or building a bridge?"

James Clear