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.

Originally posted on Culture vs Nutella:
La Grande Bretagne est la patrie du rock. Si on en doutait encore, la preuve par l’oreille et l’image nous a été donnée vendredi à la cérémonie d’ouverture des JO de Londres. Danny Boyle…

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Sportsthoughts (34) – The Olympic Road Race

So it didn’t work out for Team GB, and, specifically, Mark Cavendish, who was favourite for gold. What went wrong? Well, the peleton, led by GB, let the breakaway group go too far too fast, until it was uncatchable.  Lots … Continue reading

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Sportsthoughts (33) – Welcome to the Olympics!

Back from a lovely week in Holland just in time for the Olympic opening ceremony. Would it be good?  Would it rain? Would we feel proud at the end? Well the answer was YES! To all three, though thankfully, the … Continue reading

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Latitude Festival 13-15 July – the detail !

You may have read my first thoughts blog on Latitude, which summed up how I felt about the festival. Very good indeed was the answer. This blog goes into a bit more detail about the bands and singers I saw, … Continue reading

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Latitude festival 13-15 July – first thoughts

I and my son Kieran, plus friend Jon and his daughter and niece all went up to Suffolk, near Southwold,  for the Latitude music and arts festival this weekend.  Yes it rained a bit, yes it was very muddy in … Continue reading

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Sportsthoughts (32) – Why I love the Tour de France

July is the the month when football goes to sleep, rugby too.  A very short breather. Friendlies start getting hyped midway through the month, by the TV machine. There’s the tennis and the cricket of course, and the British Open … Continue reading

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The English Summer

Saturday, 7 July, 2.30pm. Mudeford,  on the Dorset Coast, near Christchurch. Height of Summer. Lovely! The walk down the beach to Highcliffe Castle was strangely enjoyable though.  A bracing wind and a fine sea mist.  The kids stayed indoors! These … Continue reading

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Sportsthoughts (31) – Euro 2012: the denouement

There was an odd news story today. England have risen two places to fourth in the FIFA world rankings.  That’s England, knocked out in the quarter finals, outclassed in normal time, by Italy – now sixth. Suggests the rankings don’t … Continue reading

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My Top Ten – Funk

Four to the Floor ! The beat that makes it impossible not to move, or groove. Funk is everywhere. It powers the classic 70s disco sounds, it infiltrates rock, rap is built on samples from the funk. But sometimes a song … Continue reading

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Wembley Stadium on a cloudy June day

Yes, it was 23 June, the height of the English summer, and the grey clouds lay thick in the sky. It was windy, cool, not cold, from time to time a drizzle falling.  But Wembley and its arch looked magnificent. … Continue reading

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