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.

Rediscovering music with iPod shuffle

Posted on May 28, 2013 by John S

At work today I had to focus on finishing off a paper, which I’d started writing during the Bank Holiday weekend. Working in an open plan office can be quite noisy, so when you need to focus you have to … Continue reading →

Posted in Music - concerts, lists, reflections, Random stuff | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

Sportsthoughts (76) – Three stories about cycling

Posted on May 23, 2013 by John S

This year I’ve read three excellent books about the lives of professional cyclists. All of them are about brilliant achievements and struggle to get to the top. And in different ways, they are all about the scourge of doping. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, books, theatre, cinema, Sportsthoughts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Jets in the sky, wondering where and why…

Posted on May 19, 2013 by John S

When the weather allows, and the light lasts well into the evening, I can sit in our back garden, glass of wine by my side, book in hand, watching the jets from Heathrow climbing into the sky. There’s one a … Continue reading →

Posted in London, Photos, Random stuff | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Sportsthoughts (75) – Team building, Lions style

Posted on May 15, 2013 by John S

Quote from Adam Jones, Welsh prop, definite first pick for the Lions in Australia: “I have always found beer is the best thing for these sort of things to be honest. I think people get caught up with team-building exercises … Continue reading →

Posted in Sportsthoughts | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Sportsthoughts (74) – Season over for Quins, but the future is bright.

Posted on May 11, 2013 by John S

Quins went up to Leicester for their Premiership playoff semi final. The prize for coming third in the regular season. Lost 33-16. Season over. It was a good game. Quins really took Leicester on in the first half. Good defensive … Continue reading →

Posted in Sportsthoughts | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Sportsthoughts (73) – In praise of Fergie?

Posted on May 8, 2013 by John S

Sir Alex Ferguson has announced his retirement. It looks like David Moyes of Everton is his successor – hewn from the same Scottish block. Like most football fans not of the Man Utd persuasion, I’m normally at best ambiguous about … Continue reading →

Posted in Sportsthoughts | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Have You Heard? – (37) “Amok” by Atoms For Peace

Posted on May 7, 2013 by John S

Atoms for Peace are Thom Yorke, from Radiohead,  Flea from Red Hot Chili peppers, Nigel Godrich, Radiohead’s producer, Joey waronker, who has played with Beck and REM, and Brazilian musician Mauro Refosco. “Amok” is essentially Thom Yorke’s second solo album, … Continue reading →

Posted in Music - Have You Heard? | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Staves at the Scala, Kings Cross

Posted on April 28, 2013 by John S

Readers of this blog will know I love the Staves and have seen them a couple of times in the last year. So of course I had to go and see them on their latest tour. My friends Jon and … Continue reading →

Posted in Music - concerts, lists, reflections | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Sportsthoughts (72) – Sympathy for the Bees

Posted on April 28, 2013 by John S

Brentford FC are my local football team. Most of the time they are in League One, English football’s third tier, though back in the 1950s they spent time in what was then known as the First Division. A few years … Continue reading →

Posted in Sportsthoughts | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

My Top Ten – Bad Company!

Posted on April 27, 2013 by John S

So my stats tell me this is my 200th post! What better way to celebrate that than with  a ROCKING  selection. So get out your denim jackets, puff out your chest, lace up your Doc Marten boots, grab your air … Continue reading →

Posted in Music - Top Tens | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments