Author Archives: John S

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About John S

I'm blogging about the things I love: music, sport, culture, London, with some photos to illustrate aspects of our wonderful city. I’ve written a novel called “The Decision”, a futuristic political thriller, and first of a trilogy. I’m also the author of a book on music since the 1970s called “ I Was There - A Musical Journey” and a volume of poetry about youth, “Growin’ Up - Snapshots/ Fragments”. All available on Amazon and Kindle.

Have You Heard? – (89) “The Third Degree” by Honeyblood

Posted on February 16, 2019 by John S

This is the first new music by Honeyblood in quite a while, and is a taster for the forthcoming third album “In Plain Sight”. We have to wait until 24 May for that. Anyone who reads the musical reviews in … Continue reading →

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Rival Sons at the Roundhouse, 6 February 2019

Posted on February 13, 2019 by John S

Last Wednesday, I went along with my friends Dave and Tony to the Roundhouse to witness some ROCK! The band were Rival Sons, who I’d never heard of, until Dave suggested them. Apparently Jimmy Page rates them, and that’s no … Continue reading →

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Chvrches at Alexandra Palace, 7 February 2019

Posted on February 11, 2019 by John S

Chvrches played at Alexandra Palace last Thursday, the first leg of their UK tour, promoting last year’s album – their third – “Love is Dead”. “Ally Pally” is up in North London, perched on a hill which affords amazing views … Continue reading →

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lovelondonscenes 157 – Under the Bridge, the City

Posted on February 8, 2019 by John S

Just walking up to the Tate Modern, to do a bit of writing, I stopped under the Blackfriars railway bridge and took a few shots. I liked the way the underside of the bridge framed St Paul’s and the City … Continue reading →

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lovelondonscenes 156 – A walk from Greenwich to London Bridge

Posted on February 3, 2019 by John S

Over the past three years, Kath and I and our friends Jon and Maggie have been walking the length of the Thames. Today, in glorious winter sunshine, we filled a little London gap, which just leaves a stretch in Oxfordshire … Continue reading →

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Line of Best Fit’s “Five Day Forecast” and Adrianne Lenker at the Union Chapel, 14-16 January 2019

Posted on January 22, 2019 by John S

Last week I found myself in North London on three successive nights for my first concerts of 2019. Monday and Wednesday were both at the Lexington in Pentonville aRoad and were part of the Line of Best Fit’s (link) “Five … Continue reading →

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Suffolk walks – photos from late December

Posted on January 13, 2019 by John S

My wife Kath and I spent a few days, up to and including the New Year, with our friends Jon and Maggie in Aldeburgh on the Suffolk coast. It’s not the best known part of England – East Anglia generally … Continue reading →

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Beauty in small things

Posted on January 4, 2019 by John S

Back in the early 2000s, when I’d recently become a senior civil servant, I went on a two week leadership course. It was brilliant, and one of the highlights was a day on creativity (yes, in the civil service!) where … Continue reading →

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2018 – A Year in Music

Posted on December 27, 2018 by John S

2018 – what a year!. Politically it has been turbulent around the world, and in the UK our politicians appear either to have lost their minds or their nerve, as we head towards a break with the European Union which … Continue reading →

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lovelondonscenes 155 – The Thames at low tide near Chiswick Mall

Posted on December 21, 2018 by John S

Last Sunday afternoon I went for a walk along the Thames from Hammersmith to Kew. Another cobweb-clearing exercise after a lively birthday dinner the night before with a few old friends in our favourite Chinese restaurant, Maxim’s, in Ealing. It … Continue reading →

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