I started to take an interest in music in the late 70′s – about the same time that Rod Stewart was taking bad taste to previously un-dreamed of extremes. Rod’s satin, leopard print, peroxide and “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy” excesses had ruled him out of any serious consideration from me. Strange then to appreciate so much later just how monstrously talented he used to be… Continue reading 'Middle Age Dread – Appreciating Rod Stewart'»
I’m worried about the amount of nostalgia that’s creeping into this blog but I couldn’t let the inaugural Colne Chopper Dash cycle race pass without a mention. Enthusiasts of the crazily-designed 70′s kids bikes gathered to race around the Town Centre on Wednesday night, with all proceeds going to the Leukaemia and Lymphoma Trust.
According to the Lancashire Telegraph, chopper enthusiast Carl Pawson stated “if you’re a closet chopper rider, then it’s time to come out”. No such bashfulness from him though – he commutes to work on his.
For the un-initiated, the chopper was a bicycle produced by the firm Raleigh in the 1970′s. It was a slightly bizaare attempt to bring American motorcycle cool (big news at the time what with the Easy Rider movie and the exploits of the stuntman Evel Knievel) to the British school playground. I never owned one but I do remember riding a chopper and finding it’s steering wildly unpredictable and the trademark “stickshift” gear lever a bit tricky. Maybe I should buy one and really get to grips with this beast…and I see there is a nice example on eBay for 60 quid….
I thought about adding a new tab to the blog just to accomodate this video “weird shit I remember seeing on Top of the Pops in the 70′s”. I still just might. Anyhoo – content this good needs no justification so sit back and enjoy French, proto-futurist band Space and their 1977 mega-hit “Magic Fly”.
And if I had just 50% of the high-octane enthusiasm that their drummer is clearly feeling I would be a happy man indeed.
I recently got put on a mild dose of thyroxine due to having an inactive thyroid. I posted about the first three weeks – thought it was about time for an update.
The first month was all pretty much as I posted back then – a mild but welcome improvement in energy levels – but the second month the benefits just seemed to fade away and I felt pretty much the same as before. Round about that time a project we had been labouring away on at work went live and did not go particularly well. This resulted in extra work and stress and just when I could have used some extra energy it seemed like my puny 50 mg daily dose of thyroxine had given up the ghost. Continue reading 'Three months on Thyroxine'»
I have flirted with the horrible realization of middle age in this blog before, what with my concerns about cholesterol, getting nostalgic about 1970′s TV and thinking mid 90′s music is still “current” – but now its official and there can be no meaningful doubt. The last taboo has been broken…
I have bought a cardigan.
Whilst I am having this “mea culpa” moment I may as well come clean and confess to now owning TWO cardigans – purchased last Saturday at Harbour Town in a too-good-to-miss buy one get one free deal. And – do you know what? I REGRET NOTHING – cardigans rock!
If you discount the uncomfortable moments when you feel like a freeze-dried version of a 1960′s Hugh Hefner I can whole-heartedly recommend cardigan wearing for todays swinging bachelor (and married men alike). I was prompted to get a cardy by the Australian winter and the variable heating regime in the office I work in. The cardigan can easily be slipped on and off as temperature dictates and also -in some strange way – does have a perverse element of style that eludes the sweater or zip-up tracky / hoody. It will do for me.
I am linking to this examination of 70′s school dinners some 6 years after Diamond Geezer posted it so I am definitely not getting it whilst its hot (!!!). However it is absolutely bang on the money and well worth a read.
As an aside, does anyone know what the difference between “flan” and “quiche” is? If there is no difference, at what point did the solidly dependable flan become the pretentious middle-class quiche?
I recently got diagnosed with inactive thyroid and have been put on a low dose (50mg) of thyroxine to give it a bit of a kickstart. I had been feeling run down and lacking in energy prior to going to the Doc’s but it had been going on for so long I felt that may be that was my natural state. Or that it was just a consequence of stress and tough times and the like. Continue reading 'Three weeks on Thyroxine'»
I got the results from my blood test yesterday and my cholesterol has gone up, my blood pressure has gone UP and my thyroid function (of all things) has gone way down. So there’s a nice “triple threat” to be baled up with on a Friday morning! The upshot of this is that I have to change my diet, exercise & alcohol routine pretty radically. Continue reading 'Middle Aged Dread – farewell to the Aussie BBQ…'»
Sorry for the lack of activity on this blog lately – it has been a testing couple of weeks. Just wanted to share this excellent and funny guide to midlife crisis with you which I read whilst speed-eating my cornflakes this morning. Not that I think you will need it, of course…
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