harryc

RADIO DAYS !!

                         

                                     

I love to read Beeker's blog and recently she did a piece on Radio as a medium - you will find it here :- http://beeker.typepad.com/beeker_ideas/2007/01/theres_lots_of_.html

In it she says " there's something about it (Radio) that means tradition and nostalgia in a good way"..................

Radio for me conjures up all sorts of memories of life in the late 40s and 50s growing up in Ireland.

My father, who was in the British Merchant Navy brought home our very first radio in 1947. It was an American 'Philco' and was, of course electric.But we didn't have electricity in those days (we used gas supplied by the local gasworks) - so we sat and admired the radio for a few days. Then amid great excitement my Uncle Mike changed the transformer and rigged up a collection of wet and dry batteries, switched on, and we were in business !!

Me and my brothers loved that old radio - it opened up a whole new world of entertainment to us. We got the Radio Times every week and there was sport,music,plays and radio serials like ' Dick Barton - Special Agent'. I remember listening to a crackly broadcast from America of the world heavyweight title fight between the legendary Joe Louis and Jersey Joe Walcott in 1947.

By today's standards reception was not great. Unfortunately, the batteries ran down regularly and usually when there was something special to listen to.

When "Rural Electrification" came to town and the old Philco with its batteries bit the dust and we acquired our first electric "Pye" radio.Thereafter radio became an integral part of our lives.

Sunday mornings when my mother would be preparing lunch or baking a cake she would always listen to Family Favourites on the BBC (this was a request program for soldiers serving in Germany). This was followed by the Billy Cotton Band Show. In the Summer days in June at teatime we would listen to the broadcasts from Wimbledon with players such as Jaroslav Drobney,Pancho Gonzales,Hoad and Rosewall - long before Bjorn, Connors or McEnroe came along.

There were some revolutionary comedy programs like 'Round the Horne' ,Hancock's Half Hour and the Goon Show. Later Radio Luxembourg arrived with the Top Twenty and then came Pirate Radio operating from various ships off-shore. I heard Elvis, Johnny Cash, Bill Haley and the Comets and the Beatles for the first time on radio.

Apart from all the nostalgic memories I still love radio and I was delighted when my wife gave me a DAB radio at Christmas last year - perfect reception and no batteries...!!!!

SURPRISE , SURPRISE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was going to be one of those quiet weekends - apart from John and

Cathy's party on Saturday night I would have plenty of time to work on my next post.

I had spent the previous weekend celebrating my birthday - out to lunch with the family and then a lovely relaxed afternoon in the garden with them.

I should have seen it coming though!!

Over the past few weeks the signs were there along the way - the phone calls when the caller hung up as soon as I answered - the old friends who would normally linger for a chat, were suddenly having to dash off. OK I thought, maybe I am just getting old and paranoid - not to worry I'll just get on with what I do.

So on Saturday evening I got into my version of glad rags and set off with " Joanski" (my wife) for John and Cathy's party at the golf club.

When we walked in through the curtains an enormous cheer went up -  and I still thought they were mistaking us for someone else - and then they sang a rousing version of " Happy Birthday Dear Harry " ................ and then the penny dropped !!!!!!

It was a wonderful evening - and I was so touched that so many people travelled long distances to come and celebrate with me. Debbie our eldest daughter came all the way from Bermuda with the family and hid out in an hotel for a couple of days trying to avoid my usual haunts. There was a large contingent from Ireland including my brother and his wife,nephews and nieces and some other old and valued friends. There were all our close friends and many of my golfing mates.

Many stayed over for the weekend so the socialising continued into Tuesday.

I never got my post written  - but I had the time of my life !!!! .

I marvel now at Joanski's organisational skills ably assisted by our family. So many people were in on it that it was a miracle nobody dropped a clue .

Or maybe I'm just getting slow ...................................

Clarinet Hero

YouTube is a treasure trove of musical videos and I'm enjoying the search for some of my favourite musicians. Here is one of my real clarinet heros. He has his own style, wonderful technique and a tone to die for.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61WTC4vTot0

I had hoped to embed the video - without success so far - but I hope the link works.

THE RUMOUR IS TRUE ..........!!!!!!

Yep, the rumour is true - I've got a blog. Paul gave it to me as a present for my birthday last Sunday.

I have no idea yet what I'm going to write about. I love the challenge of it but I must admit to strong feelings of apprehension at this stage. I suppose the worst that can happen is that nobody reads it, although I can pretty well rely on the family !

A few facts at the outset :

I've just turned 70 and whereas I have no intention of winding down, there will be times when I may not know what I'm talking about. As Groucho said ' if I'd known I was going to live this long I would have taken better care of myself' !!

I have failed dismally so far to embed a video despite Paul's list of instructions - I need serious help....................!

and finally I work on a PC , not your white hot Mac - but I'll press on, there's much to be done.

See you around !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!