I have created a new Category for this site, Repertoire, to keep a record of songs that I play in public for the first time. It only includes songs that I have committed to memory and played in front of other people in a public space. It will not surprise anyone who knows me that… Continue reading Repertoire: A Summary for 2024
Last month, for the first time ever, I visited a hospice. I have visited people in hospital hundreds of times, but had never even seen the outside of a hospice. One of my favourite cousins on my mother’s side had taken ill. She told us many years ago that she had cancer that was “incurable… Continue reading Word of the week: Hospice
Happy New Year to you. 2025 is a square number, 45 squared to be exact. The last time that I wrote about the mathematical properties of a New Year was in 2017, the most recent year that was prime. 2027 is the next time that the year will be a prime number. The last year… Continue reading 2025 is a square number
Here’s a list of the songs that I performed in public for the first time during December 2024. Each month I aim to play at least one new song from each of the following repertoires: Songs that reached #1 in the UK. Songs that reached #1 somewhere else. Songs that have not reached #1 anywhere.… Continue reading Repertoire: Songs debuted in December 2024
Since September I have been hosting quiz nights on Sundays at a local pub, as explained in this piece. Here’s a record of the 10 rounds of questions for the quiz on Sunday 22 December 2024, most of them Christmas-themed. Round 1: Christmas winners and losers What is this year’s Christmas #1? Which athlete won… Continue reading A Quiz from Sunday 22 December 2024
Since September I have been hosting quiz nights on Sundays at a local pub, as explained in this piece. Here’s a record of the 10 rounds of questions for the quiz on Sunday 15 December 2024. Round 1: Pot Luck with a Christmas theme According to the New Testament, in which city was Jesus born? Viscum… Continue reading A Quiz from Sunday 15 December 2024
My children are now past the age when they might need Fake IDs to get served in bars. I wrote about their first experiences of buying alcoholic drinks in this piece last month. Two years ago, when he turned 18, my son bought me a pint of London Pride on his birthday. In October my… Continue reading Fake IDs
Since September I have been hosting quiz nights on Sundays at a local pub, as explained in this piece. Here’s a record of the 10 rounds of questions for the quiz on Sunday 1 December 2024. Round 1: General Knowledge What is the capital city of Barbados? Who is the current leader of the Conservative party?… Continue reading A Quiz from Sunday 1 December 2024
A few people I know are regular users of Duolingo, an App designed to help you to learn new languages. It is described on the Duolingo website as “The world’s best way to learn a language”. The App keeps a record of users’ “streaks”, how many consecutive days they complete at least one lesson. I… Continue reading Word of the week: Streak
Since September I have been hosting quiz nights on Sundays at a local pub, as explained in this piece. Here’s a record of the 10 rounds of questions for the quiz on Sunday 24 November 2024. Round 1: General Knowledge What is the capital city of Venezuela? Which former Labour MP and Deputy Prime Minister died… Continue reading A Quiz from Sunday 24 November 2024
The Compartments 