Go on, one last post in November

I've done it again, haven't I?! Unintentionally ignored my blog. Well here I am with a music-I'm-in-to-in-the-autumn-months round up. You're excited, I can tell!

Never Forget You - The Noisettes

Kept on hearing it but always missed who sang it. Then one day I managed to Shazam it! Very 60s eh? The song, not Shazam.

Little Lion Man - Mumford and Sons

Love it. Folksy. Except for the swearing possibly.

Breathing - Lifehouse

An iPod on shuffle find. Keeps on sounding like something else, then I realise it's actually just that song.

New York - Paloma Faith

Cracking song. She looks a bit...unique. And does not at all talk like you'd expect.

The Road - Frank Turner

Heard this on Zane Lowe. Surprising as I spend about two seconds a week listening to Zane show before his incessant shouting gets too annoying. But I am on board with this song Zane!

Drumming - Florence and the Machine

I really wasn't sure about her at the start. Bit too specialist for me, but this song has really grown on me.

Wheels - Foo Fighters

I usually don't like Foo Fighters. But I like this song. Makes me want to drive a long trip in America.

The Captain - Biffy Clyro

I have no notion what's this song is about. Like none. And if you follow me on Twitter you'll know my confusion about some of the lyrics, 'I can't walk rat arsed'. Interestingly, I learned this is called a Mondegreen (a mishearing of the ear, usually a song lyric.) So there.

End Credits - Chase and Status

Love it, so calming at the start. And surprisingly underplayed I thought by my beloved Radio 1.

Children in Need - Peter Kay's Animated All Star Band

You already know my feelings on Children in Need. But that's now what Sky+ and BBC London is for. I loved this, although I didn't know half the new characters (Nicky and Heidi gave me an education. We used to live in similar worlds, now theirs is so different to mine!) Clever intertwining of the songs and brilliant video, but no word on whether Chippy Minton was ex-directory though. Bet he was raging.

This next one is a worry and I can only apologise. I know, you used to respect my musical tastes and I hope we can still be friends...

A New Day Has Come - Celine Dion

Ok, before you get all judgemental, let me just explain. It was used on Strictly the other week, Chris and Ola did their Viennese Waltz to it, and I love them and that dance. If makes it any better, if I could have downloaded the BBC version, I would have.

See, isn't it nice?

The last item I have been 'listening' to isn't a song. I know, nearly as shocking as the Celine revelation. It's this video. I used it taking YF last week and love it. Very clever editing, but I think it's the way the words appear on screen that make it. I just wish they'd fade the music at the end.

So that's it, December tomorrow. Bring. It. On.

If I were the daughter of the Director General

I remember ages ago there was a story about how the daughter of a BBC exec saved Neighbours for us all. When it started it was broadcast as a morning show, but kids were all in school, so used to skive off, or come in late so they could watch it. The daughter of this exec told her dad that and, not wanting to miss out potential viewers, it was changed.

On Saturday, I was chuffed beyond belief to be asked was I a researcher for the BBC. I really did have to try hard not to respond with 'no, why, does it look like I could work for the BBC?!'. But I got to thinking, if I did and had any power (which I imagine a researcher would not) this is what I would do on Strictly, my most favourite BBC show of late.

Ditch Bruce

Yes, family viewing, blah blah blah. He's rubbish, end of. There was a report in The Sun (high brow, I know. It came up in my news feed alright) that said:

'Despite Brucie's absence, viewing figures peaked at 10.9million - the highest ratings for the show so far this year.'

No, because of his absence. Tess was much better on her own and Claudia was outstanding backstage. Obviously Ronnie Corbett was a spare part so we'll work on the rest of the team.

Get rid of Alesha

Nice girl and all that, but really? She doesn't really know what she's talking about. And with comments like "You was mesmerizing" and "You was bringing the fun-ness to the jive' you can do without her. Might I suggest that ex-professional dancer from the show Karen Hardy goes in instead. She's brilliant on Choreography Corner on 'It Takes Two'. I know what the BBC were trying to do, combat the Cheryl Factor, but, I say this with a tear in my eye, dance is the real loser.

The XY Factor

So while we're on line ups, I do agree, two girls can't really host the show. If it were two men, we'd all be up in arms, so why not have a guy out front to introduce the couples, have them dance and then over to Tess for the judges' comments. I suggest someone like Anton Du Beke. Surely he's a family favourite, reasonably funny and I don't think anyone would complain if he never danced a Latin again. But if not him, then someone else this side of 60 please.

And I haven't even got started on the Hearts and Minds repeat on a Thursday night when it was just on earlier that same flipping evening!

I'm very proud

I ran 5k. Twice. Not together, on separate days. But still.

Our tomorrow

I'm sure like a lot of people's families yours has people who were in the services. Mine does. My mum's dad was in the Merchant Navy so they always get a big cheer during Remembrance Day. My dad'd dad, Grandpa, was a parachuter in the airborne division. He landed in Normandy six days after D-Day and fought at the Battle of Arnhem. Even though he lived with us for over ten years he didn't really talk about it to me. About all I know of his experiences from the war is that he was fed carrots all the way through it. He was so sick of them by the end of the war he refused to eat them afterwards. Pretty good reason I suppose.

Both my grandfathers made it through the Second World War. During the First World War my mum's grandfather wasn't so lucky.

This is him, James Atkinson. Is it just me or does he remind you slightly of my mum?

One of our family treasures are the letters that the nurse on his ward wrote home after he was hospitalised from a gas attack. The first one was written just two days after the gas attack.

No. 1 Canadian General Hospital

6-8-17

Dear Mrs. Atkinson,

Your husband Rflm. J. Atkinson, was admitted into my ward on the 4th suffering with gas shell poisoning. As this gas effects his eyes I am writing for him. He says he hopes you are all well, and for you not to be too anxious about him. He hopes to be able to write in a few days himself.

Yours sincerely,

E. B. Burpee N.S.

Despite this brave face, thing were clearly not good. On the other side of the letter the nurse wrote this extra note:

P.S.

I am sorry to have to add this note. I read the front page of this letter to my patient but he does not know that we consider him “seriously ill”. The poisoning has affected his lungs and throat and the medical officers are most anxious about.

I hope to write better news within a day or two.

Sincerely

E. B. Burpee

Sister

Just a day later she wrote again. Things were bad.

No. 1 Canadian General Hospital

7-8-17

Dear Mrs. Atkinson:-

We are very anxious about your husband’s condition. He is not too well, as when I last wrote to you. He has developed and very purulent form of pneumonia and his throat condition is not improving. We are giving him our best care, have moved him into a room by himself, where he can get more fresh air, than in the ward.

If you have received permission to visit him from the War Office I would advise you to come immediately. He is really dangerously ill and the next few days are going to be a great test to his strength.

Hoping I may have better news to write tomorrow. This gas poisoning is terrible.

With much sympathy to you during these anxious hours.

Most sincerely yours,

Eleanor B. Burpee

Sister

Then a day later she wrote again with the terrible news.

No. 1 Canadian General Hospital

8-8-17

Dear Mrs. Atkinson:-

It is with sincere sympathy I am writing to you to tell you of the death of your husband Rflm. J. Atkinson. He died this morning at 5.30. The night Sister reports that he was quite delirious during the night. During yesterday afternoon, a Sister sat beside him to give him his oxygen, medicines etc. During the night he had a special Orderly. He had an idea that you had been with him during the day. Repeatedly during the night he told the Orderly that you had been sitting beside him and he wanted the orderly to call you back.

He was a very dear patient and we were so sorry we could not save him. Sister said he began to get weaker after 3 and although the Medical Officer was was with him they could not get any response to their treatment.

I am quite sure he did not realize how very ill he was. His personal effects will be sent to you, through the War Office.

Yours with much sympathy

Eleanor B. Burpee

N.S.

And so that was it. My great-grandmother was left on her own to bring up my grandmother, who was just eighteen months old. The sad thing is we know she wasn't alone.

I hate that the quote is attributed to Stalin, but the death of one man is a tragedy, the death of millions is a statistic really is true.

Today and this week, let's remember the many tragedies of war, not the statistics.

Dear Len and Maggie

Whilst we are pleased to receive your wishes for a merry Christmas and happy new year, we would prefer these at a more seasonal time. We got your card this morning, which means that you probably wrote it at the weekend, when it was still October! That is altogether too early for such passing on of Yuletide merriment. It nearly seems like you don't wish Christmas cheer upon us, but that you are merely working your way through your Christmas to-do list, which diminishes the kind Christmas wishes somewhat. I am sure that was not your intention.

Might I suggest next year, if you write your cards early (which you clearly will, you've proven yourselves to be the sort), that you put them in a drawer until late November. That way you will have completed that item off your to do list, but your greetings will not receive ridicule and mocking from us at the breakfast table, thus being received in the spirit that was intended.

Kind regards and warm autumnal thoughts,

Tina the Princess