The Swingle Singers, J S Bach Fugue in D Major

When I was at school it was stated in no uncertain terms that much of our education would concentrate on Classics, Cricket, and Christianity; known as the three C's. I think this says more about our blinkered Headmaster than our actual education.

The other important subject was Music. The playing of, singing of, and studying of which occupied much of our time. I am still eternally grateful that I was introduced to the works of Schoenberg, Stravinsky, Dvorjak, and of course J S Bach.

I suppose as a young whipper-snapper I was bound to like The Swingle Singers, and their interpretations of Bach. I even bought their album. The group was formed in 1962 in Paris, and I believe has continued in one form or another ever since.

Here they are with Bach's Fugue in D. Every time I listen to it I become 15 years old again.

Yesterday

Yesterday it rained and snowed. Not a huge amount, but enough to be annoying. Here is the front of our bijou home after some confused person had left their wandering tracks.

What could be better on a cold evening than a cosy blazing fire on the TV. Amazingly it did actually warm us up; or maybe that was the central heating.

It was Billy's birthday yesterday; he is now 4. He had a good run with his chums in what remained of the snow, then some treats for lunch. He's a happy boy.

I am not a fan of snow, or of rain, and the combination of the two is a nightmare. No more thank you!

Dr Brighton

Of all the notables resting in our nearby churchyard, one stands out above the others.

Sake (Sheikh) Dean Mahomed (a.k.a. Dr Brighton) was an Anglo-Indian surgeon and entrepreneur. He was one of the most famous early non-European immigrants to the western world, and was responsible for introducing the west to Indian cuisine, at The Hindoostane Coffee House which he opened in 1810 at 34 George St W1; a road in which I actually lived for a while.

He also introduced England to steam baths and massage (Mahomed's Baths) at his establishment on Brighton's seafront.

Mahomed was born in 1759 in Patna India, and died in Brighton in 1851.

There are several pictures of Mahomed, but I particularly like this very primitive attempt (below), which refers to him as an 'East Indian'.

His gravestone is in a fenced area of the churchyard, otherwise I would have taken a photo.

Most of the information above comes from Wiki, and if you should wish to know more about him it's all there.

Two weeks to go....

 

I've already bought a really nice frozen (not too big) Turkey, the Cranberry Sauce, those bacon wrapped sausage things, some vacuum packed Chestnuts, a jar of nice Piccalilli, a tiny tin of Caviar, several bottles of Prosecco, Port, Sherry, and red wine, and the Plum Pud'.

Lady M has supplied the usual 'Luxury' Christmas crackers, put-up the tree, and has bought some new table decorations.

When the time comes, we shall go down the road to the Christmas Eve Carol Service at St Nicholas Church, we went last year, and really enjoyed it. Sometime, either before or after, we shall go for Christmas Eve dinner with Kimbo.

It's the buying of presents that is always the biggest problem at Christmas. I've never been good at buying presents for people. This year I've been buying for just three people and a dog, all others will receive cash and can choose something for themselves.

Lady M has been giving me clues over the past month or two, and all those clues have been noted and respected (dutiful husband). My oldest, Kimbo, has almost everything he really wants or needs, so it's a matter of finding something suitable that he won't hate and put directly in the dustbin; I think I've succeeded. His wife, Susie, is more difficult, but again I think I've done OK. Billy is easier, I've bought him a packet of his favourite treats. I was going to buy him a flashing collar, but decided that they look more amusing on other people's dogs.

We're now twiddling fingers as we await the arrival of the big day, and our two nice guests. It'll be a quieter Christmas this year, I can hardly wait.

Note to self: Dec 24th, sprouts, spuds, smoked salmon, large game or pork pie, and plenty of thick Cream for the Pud'.

Blood pressure

I take my blood pressure readings most mornings, just to make sure I'm not off the scale.

Yes I do have high blood pressure and it usually circulates around the 135 over 78 ish. As you can see it was a tad higher this morning with 145 over 80; still nothing to worry about.

I use a very simply wrist monitor, which I'm told are not very accurate, but as it offers much the same readings most of the time I would have thought it was good enough. 

I was taking a drug called Amlodipine, but it made my legs and feet swell so I quit. At some time I might ask if there's a non-swelling alternative. Otherwise I'm told that I need to loose some weight, reduce my red wine intake, eat less salt, and exercise more. All the usual killjoy remedies.

My only blood pressure remedy at present is a glass of Beetroot juice every morning, which was recommended by a witch doctor in far-away Norfolk. No more swollen legs!

Public Declaration.

I am more Sussex than the Sussexes ever could be. I was born on the cusp of Surrey, overlooking Sussex, and have spent more time in Sussex than any other English County. My late Father was 100% Sussex, and I presently live in East Sussex (and elsewhere).

Therefore I think I am in a good position to speak on behalf of Sussex; the UK's finest County.

I hereby declare that Harry and Meghan should no longer have the right to call themselves Duke and Duchess of my county. In future they must be referred to as plain Mr and Mrs Mountbatten-Windsor.

They have brought shame upon themselves, and attempted to shame our Royal Family, but I will not have them bringing any further shame on the name of Sussex. They must now go away, live as commoners, and keep their potty-mouths as tightly shut as possible.

Harry may be an old-Etonian, a graduate of Sandhurst, and an ex-Army Officer; but he's certainly no gentleman. I'm surprised that an equerry hasn't left a loaded revolver on his desk and told him to do the decent thing!

The current load of nonsense from his-n-her 'docu-series' is a total and utter disgrace. I see that MM's former aides are asking the palace to scrap their 'non-disclosure arrangements' so that they can at last tell the truth concerning her dreadful arrogant bullying. About bloody time too!

I think we all know what prima-donna MM's agenda is, but why Harry should be her willing puppet we may never know.

N.B. Back in 2018 I generously offered the pair a guided tour of Sussex (as a wedding present).

Magnon's Meanderings: To the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex. (magnonsmeanderings.blogspot.com) ; 

That offer has now been withdrawn.

 

Brrrr.

The central heating has been turned on, silly hats, scarves, and gloves, are being worn, and those trusty thermal vests have emerged from their hibernation. Yup, Winter is definitely with us.

With temperatures around -4 C forecast for the rest of this week, we are hunkering down and concentrating on keeping warm. Hot cockle-warming soups for lunch.  A toasted crumpet or mince pie with our afternoon cup of Lapsang. And Lady M has even placed the electric blanket under the bed. We are suddenly warmer than we need to be, but we're not complaining.

As Alexander Pope assured us 'Hope springs eternal in the human breast', and here is a photo that I took yesterday morning of Daffs in the Churchyard. I think the plants have more foolish aspirations than are warranted, but it's lovely to see them even if it is a tad rash on their behalf!

It looks as if we even have a light (-2 C) frost this morning. I shall go prepared.