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Tedious links….

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ Leave a comment

In my last blog post I decided that my mantra for my Half-marathon PB Challenge would simply be 'Get Better' and then posted the video from Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip of the track 'Get Better' (see what I'd done there?). Now I'm not normally a fan of electro hip-hop rap, but Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip have written some fabulous stuff, and lyrically they are very good.

It was listening to the lyrics of 'Get Better' that got me thinking and ultimately the reason why I am blogging today. The lyrics include these lines:

“Like Billy says, whether you have or you not have wealth, the system might fail you so don't fail yourself”

This is a reference to the mighty Billy Bragg and the track 'To Have And To Have Not' from the album Life's a Riot with Spy vs Spy. In the past this would have caused me to dig out the CD and whack it on the stereo, although nowadays a quick search on YouTube is all you need to do to. So here you have it, a classic track from the Bard of Barking circa 1985…..

As if that link wasn't tedious enough, I recalled another recent artist who mention the mighty Bragg: Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. The track is 'Hand Me Downs' from the album Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly and includes the lines:

“I'd learnt more from transit vans and Bragg, than I'd ever learnt in class, a lifelong education, from punk rock 101”

So, may I present the fabulous Sam Duckworth in the guise of GCWCF, although no video of 'Hand Me Downs' (sometimes it is possible that youtube can let you down), instead 'Find The Time'…..

To complete a trio of videos today, and a link so tedious it barely actually exists, we have Mumford & Sons. I came across this fantastic video today whilst reading some blogs, that is the link, I saw it on a blog! First time I've seen this video, not sure how I've missed it up to this point. 'Hopeless Wanderer'….absolutely brilliant…..

Cushty!

 

A British Summer?

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ Leave a comment

A nice summer's walk with dog….didn't quite go to plan….

It was late afternoon, the sun was shining, it all seemed set for a nice walk with the dog in the Lincolnshire countryside. All began well, it was reasonably warm, so decided to skirt the edge of the field and head towards the woods so that Billy Boy could chase some squirrels.

The nice gentle walk soon turned into a mad dash for cover as an almighty storm came from nowhere. Finding cover in the woods seemed like the best plan, if the rain had started that quickly surely it wouldn't last that long. However, the rain grew heavier and heavier, it grew darker and darker, and staying dry became harder and harder…

It wasn't long before it became impossible to stay dry and a decision was needed as to whether to head home. I was already drenched so the ten minute walk home surely wouldn't make much difference.

I was by now deep in the woods, it was time to make my way home. It took me some time to negotiate various sodden muddy paths and fallen trees to reach the edge of the woods, which meant by the time I finally reached the fields the rain had subsided. I think the cows in the field were quite surprised to see me emerge from the woods….

By the time I had traversed the field and made it back to the ponds and the path that would take me back into town the sun had come out, although it was still raining….

We finally made it back home after nearly 2 hours, rather wet, but we made it….

Are we ever going to get a summer?

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ Leave a comment

Here’s a great blog – if you fancy a good day out in London

lindalengthorn's avatarFreedom Ladies

Tuesday 14th February – sixth walk of 2012

This week we went to the Museum of London to look at the ‘Dickens and London’ exhibition which commemorates 200 years since his birth. We planned to meet at Cannon Street but by coincidence meet each other at London Bridge when changing trains.

As it was a nice, sunny, bright day we decided to walk to St Paul’s Cathedral for a coffee on the way to the Museum.  The protesters were still there and the whole area was full of tents and, in fact, had a village feel with library, lounge rooms, food tents and even a piano!  Unfortunately, due to the protesters, the Crypt Cafe was closed. We were really disappointed and decided to carry on walking straight to the Museum and there made the cafe our first stop for coffee and cake!

We purchased our timed tickets for entry into the exhibition. Entry into the Museum is free but the…

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Billy Bragg…..top bloke!

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ Leave a comment

Billy Bragg and the new lyrics for ‘Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards……

It may have been Camelot for Clegg and Cameron
But on Coalition Cul-de-Sac there’s not much business going on
Youth unemployment’s rising and factories are failing,
Public servants marching, Europeans need help bailing
Things have not been this bad since the days of Margaret Thatcher
So keep calm and carry on watching X Factor

In the former Soviet Union the citizens demand
To know why they’re still the target of Strategic Air Command
And they shake their fist in anger and respectfully suggest
We take the money from Trident and spend it on the NHS

High up in the Stock Exchange they’re knocking back the champers
While Boris Johnson Boulevard has been colonized by campers
Who want to ask some questions about the way that we do business
In the twilight of the capitalist system

The world wide web is wonderful if you’ve got something to sell
But opinions often summon up a focus group from Hell
Best not to be distracted, stay focused on your goals
And take my advice – don’t feed the trolls

Jumble sales are organized and charity shops open
The Tories keep on telling us that it’s Britain that is broken
Time to get active with the activists so switch off World of Warcraft
And start working for the Great Leap Forwards

One leap forwards, two leaps back
Chuck out Berlusconi and put in a technocrat
Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards

Here comes the future and you can’t run back from it
If you’ve got a smartphone, I’ve got an app for it
Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards

In a perfect world we’d all sing in tune
But this is reality so switch off the auto-tune
Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards

It’s a mighty long way down rock’n’roll
From Top of the Pops to Strictly Come Pole Dancing
Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards

If no-one out there understands,
Start your own Occupation and cut out the middleman
Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards

So join the struggle while you may
The revolution is just a tea towel away…