If you are into your chart trivia you will probably know the titles of the shortest #1s in UK chart history. They consist of just two characters: “If” (Telly Savalas, 1975) and “19” (Paul Hardcastle, 1985). Recently I asked my son which songs Sara Cox had played on her “Half Wower” slot between 6.30 and… Continue reading More Chart Trivia: #1s with the shortest combination of song title and artist
You might recall the 1985 hit “Trapped” by American singer Colonel Abrams. It reached #3 here in the UK. He had one other Top 40 hit (“I’m Not Gonna Let You Go”) which I am unfamiliar with. When the first of these singles was in the chart, a friend was telling me about his relationship… Continue reading “I’m Diana Ross” (in two ways)
Now that I’ve fessed up about celebrating my 60th birthday recently (Dead at 59, another list) let me tell you the best thing about reaching this milestone: free public transport. Age-related benefits are not cast in stone. Pensionable ages have changed in ways that I have not really kept up with. Most of my friends… Continue reading Word of the week: Twirly
I have been deliberately vague on this Blog about many things and very specific about others. My birthday, for example, is something I have mentioned many times (21 September) but I have not been specific in any post about the year I was born. It’s not a secret. I have simply chosen to leave some… Continue reading Dead at 59, another list
In the autumn of 1994 my mother booked two places on a coach trip to Rome. It was arranged by a Catholic organization that she wasn’t directly involved with. None of us in the family had actively campaigned for it. The trip was essentially a pilgrimage to celebrate the Anno del Famiglia (Year of the… Continue reading Le Quick
In the million-plus words that appear on this Blog, all of them still freely available whenever you want to read them, there has been no mention of either of the UK’s two most recent prime ministers. Until now. The current prime minister, less than a week into the job, is Rishi Sunak, who either believes… Continue reading Leeds United FC and Liz Truss
Just over 30 years ago, in the autumn of 1992, the #1 single in the UK was “Ebeneezer Goode” by The Shamen. The chorus, as you may recall, includes words that sound like “Eezer Goode, Eezer Goode, ‘e’s Ebeneezer Goode”. Or, if you prefer, “E’s are good, E’s are good, ‘e’s Ebeneezer Goode”. The E… Continue reading Got any salmon?
A new series of ITV quiz show “Tenable” began last month. Here are the questions and answers for Friday 21 October 2022, Series 6 Episode 24 (S6Ep24). As with Series 5 last year, I am posting one piece for each episode containing the following: the questions, how the team fared and the answers. The Questions… Continue reading “Tenable” questions, Friday 21 October 2022 [Series 6 Episode 24]
A new series of ITV quiz show “Tenable” began last month. Here are the questions and answers for Thursday 20 October 2022, Series 6 Episode 23 (S6Ep23). As with Series 5 last year, I am posting one piece for each episode containing the following: the questions, how the team fared and the answers. The Questions… Continue reading “Tenable” questions, Thursday 20 October 2022 [Series 6 Episode 23]
A new series of ITV quiz show “Tenable” began last month. Here are the questions and answers for Wednesday 19 October 2022, Series 6 Episode 22 (S6Ep22). As with Series 5 last year, I am posting one piece for each episode containing the following: the questions, how the team fared and the answers. The Questions… Continue reading “Tenable” questions, Wednesday 19 October 2022 [Series 6 Episode 22]
The Compartments 