Whistlebinkies

I don’t reckon I’ll forget this September

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Sadly there was no gold

September has been quite balmy in Edinburgh, great for some late afternoon brambling in the park; well, just for idling in the park generally, making the most of the end of summer. I haven’t picked as many brambles as last year, but then I’m not going to make any wine this time, just lots of jam! Time for a terrible segue, Jed Potts was the guest host at the Handsome House Jam at Stramash on the first Sunday of the month, a fine evening of the blues. It was the second time seeing him that weekend as he and Nicole Smit were doing their thing in the Jazz Bar early Saturday evening, an interesting change from Binkies!

The next HHJ is this Sunday evening, I haven’t seen who the guest host will be; but I do know the Scat Rats are playing after that at ten o’clock, yay! That’s the only music noted on my calendar now until the end of the month – unless something pops up soon. I had toyed with the idea of a wee Highland trip up around Inverness to coincide with Carl Marah‘s gig at the Market Bar (this Saturday), but by the time I thought about it again everywhere cheaper than very expensive was gone, Inverness is obviously going to be very busy this weekend!

Ho hum, shouldn’t grumble, last week was ridiculously great fun; Glasgow on Wednesday for some blues harmonica, the Scat Rats twice on Thursday night (early in Stramash, midnight in Whistlebinkies), they were back in Binkies on the Saturday afternoon, mid-evening spot was Louis Crosland plus two, he was back in Binkies Sunday midnight with two others, that was after he’d played the ten o’clock slot in Stramash with the Moanin‘ Bones; and I didn’t miss a thing (apart from a few opening numbers, as per usual).

Saturday night
Sunday midnight

Friday evening I was in Peebles for Show Don’t Tell, an evening of five short films from the Tweed Valley, by rural filmmakers, with live music afterwards. Okay, so the live music was a short set by Logan’s Close, they also starred in one of the short films, of course I went along! It was held in the Eastgate Theatre, an arts centre in a converted church. Wow, what a great place they’ve created! The auditorium is the actual church (there’s a studio area and cafe too) with well tiered seating (with plenty of leg room!) that can all be retracted back leaving the floor cleared, stairs on both sides up to the three-sided balcony. After the films were shown there was a long break while the band set up and the seating was just taken back a few rows, so that there was room for standing and sitting. I mean, what an amazing use of space! I would definitely go back.

Logan’s Close: Live at Maryhill was up first, quite a gothic feel to it, the lads performing in an old empty theatre, flouncy shirts, and a freaky, disturbing side storyline involving Scott and a surgeon (I would tell you more about it, but it was just really odd, okay?) The songs in it were Costume Changes, Chillz and Dans Le Jardin, beautifully shot in a slightly disorientating way. It was directed by Aidan Duckworth, our host for the evening and also director of GIMP the last film shown (his party, so why not two?). The others were Antlers, Cover-up and Cernunnos; short films, they throw you in at the deep end and expect you to survive confusion, gore, drama, BDSM, old gods and antlers (not just in Antlers!). Fun, but I definitely needed a drink afterwards!

I took a stroll down the main street to the Bridge Inn, a real ale pub that I visited some years ago, yay, they had a Stewart’s ale in. Just a half for me seeing as I was driving, then the stroll back to the theatre took me to almost time to head back into the auditorium and some music. Due to the first part of the evening lasting longer than expected, it was a shorter set than planned just five songs, opening with Babestation on to Costume Changes, Hot Blondes, very new one Cuck Chair, then with the crowd yelling for one more, the lads got the nod to go ahead, so they went out with the bloody magnificent Mock Marble Linoleum, yay! Needless to say, my soundtrack for the drive back to Edinburgh was my Logan’s Close Live at LimbicTV cd. All in all, a damn fine evening!

Ha, since I started this, then paused a while for my tea, I’ve discovered that Louis Crosland (and whoever!) is playing the half nine slot at Whistlebinkies on Saturday, yay. Ha, a Binkies usual, a band was listed as playing that slot on the month’s list poster and the website, and then this week it was TBC on social media – but hey, that’s me happy! There was also confusion over last Sunday’s midnight slot; towards the end of the Scat Rats Saturday afternoon set Carl announced they’d be back the following night, a back and forth ensued between the Rats and George on sound as he was down to play bass with Louis then, I piped up that he was right, erm, they ended up playing Rock, Paper, Scissors for it, hahaha. All friendly banter, the Rats were having a great afternoon, a good, appreciative audience, they never sounded better (in part, thanks to George, he really knows his stuff), Funnel of Love was particularly exquisite 💛 Oh, and we even got an encore of two extra songs over time, sweet!

And on that note I shall bid you goodnight, bonne nuit, gute Nacht, buonanotte!

Musings, music and a movie

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Yesterday evening I took myself off to the cinema to see Casino, showing as part of a Scorcese season at Cineworld, oh boy, such a brilliant film, so full-on and powerful (and a great soundtrack). Walking back along towards the Grassmarket I was definitely in need of something light and fun, it was very nearly eleven o’clock, so I took a right at Hoots @ the Apex and went to see Beatlesjuice again! Yay! Okay, so Rob’s voice is starting to go a tad from the nightly singing, but for one, it’s fine for Beatlesjuice’s raspy tones, and second, with his exuberant performance it’s kinda endearing (to this moose, anyway).

《Edit Oops, I thought I’d written a review for Beatlesjuice when I saw it last week, nope! Well, it’s so brilliant I went back for more, nuff said ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️》

Afterwards, heading down the Cowgate it occurred to me that it would be possible for someone out Fringing to see Bad Santa and the Angry Elves which finishes at eleven at the Caves, to then walk smartly along to the Apex for Beatlesjuice at ten past. Honestly, ten minutes is enough, and besides the first five minutes is, Hello, has everyone seen Beetlejuice? Does everyone know the Beatles? Even the more obscure tracks? Like the ones by Ringo? And a bit more banter before starting proper. It’s doable, and wow, what a double bill!

Yesterday was one of those Tuesdays, so I headed up Niddry Street to Whistlebinkies and the Scat Rats for a couple of hours, sweet. I’ll be finishing off tonight in there as well, it’s Louis Crosland and whoever he’s rustled up to play bass and drums. Friday midnight sees Louis back in there with the Moanin’ Bones to bring in the weekend, yeah, the English bank holiday weekend and start of the Fringe fizzle down. Actually, a thought occurred to me the other day when yet another person asked how long the Fringe would be going on for, people, it always ends on the English Bank Holiday Monday, well, the few final bits of Fringe finish up. Why not, instead of a fixed ending, fix the start instead? Have it so that 241 Monday in the first full week is on the Scottish Bank Holiday Monday, ergo, more local and Scottish folk generally to come and see more shows and spread the word on what’s good? That way the end will be three sundays after that, no silly sad Monday leftovers. And breathe.

While I’m tapping away here I suppose I might mention a few more shows I’ve seen. It’s been some years since I saw Felicity Ward so I popped along to Cabaret Voltaire for an entertaining hour, and she says at the beginning it may be in the afternoon but some content is well, more for evening after a few cocktails with the girls. She is funny, just not as much my cup of tea anymore, palates change you know (still some howling funny moments for sure). Maybe if I’d had a cocktail on my way in ⭐️⭐️⭐️½

Mind, I was also not long out of God’s Longest, one of the most darkly funny improvised comedy sketch shows I’ve seen. I went twice last year, this year they’re across from last year’s venue, in Supercube Cowgate, it’s one of those creepy karaoke room places (well, I think they’re creepy). Yeah, following that, Ms Ward had her work cut out. Yeah, this is one weird bunch, just hang on and enjoy the ride, oh, they have no clue where they’re headed either but they’ll go there and beyond. It’s part of the PBH’S Free Fringe so no particular prior planning is needed, Cowgate at half two. Yes, it’s ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ again.

If you’ve been paying attention you’ll know I went to see Will & Noah: Dinner Dinner Chicken Winner after chilling in the Park yesterday. Sadly Peregrine were just closing up as I went past, so I didn’t get to have a cake, dammit, but I did make it to George Square Gardens in plenty of time. Will and Noah play off each other well, obviously having fun with the material, then they’d pair up together against some unfortunate audience member, haha. No no, they’re gentle with them, although it was hilarious how an audience member interpreted the sketch he was pulled into; note, I kinda picked up on it at the time so was not as surprised as Will and Noah, but I wasn’t surprised that the sketch had never been taken that way before (nope, I’m going to leave you wondering!). I think they’re trying new areas and pushing their boundaries, and why not, but for me it didn’t always land as well it might. Oh, I did enjoy it aside my niggles, these guys are very funny together and their interactions with the audience are brilliantly played out; the show has won an award, so why not check it out for yourself? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Anyhoo, I’ve been tapping this out through the day, time for Binkies again. More musings tomorrow.

Toodle pip!

Possibilities of laughter

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I’ve been away to Yorkshireland again, got back Sunday evening, a very drizzly drive up, but hey, the rain was needed, and looking at the forecast, the rain gods are getting some practice in ready for August! If you’re coming to Edinburgh for the Fringe don’t forget your brolly, and don’t go leaving it in a pub like I almost did Sunday evening; well, after that long drive I needed a drink and it just so happened that Louis Crosland was playing in George IV Bar. It’s a nice enough bar but it’s very much a place folk eat then head off elsewhere, few stay longer. Louis will be back there on Friday evening, then, contrary to any websites, he’ll be playing in Whistlebinkies with whoever he can round-up at short notice. That’s my Friday evening sorted.

Yes, very nice, moose, but what about Comedy? Well, there’s a lot of it, and it does seem like prices have increased plenty. Yes, I know there’s plenty of good reasons, I get it, but I also want to see shows, whittling them down to even fewer is really hard. And all the lovely flyerers, what to say to them? Yes, that sounds great but which other show should I drop from my list in order to afford it? Actually, that could be quite interesting, kinda mean but a fun experiment, hmmm.

Surprisingly, I have only Free Fringe show cut-outs from Comedy, unsurprisingly one is John Robertson’s latest stand-up show; and there’s another magic show by David Alnwick, like why? Why isn’t that one also listed in Cabaret and Variety with the other two? Any logic there?! Oh yeah, on C&V, I missed mentioning (overlooked, it was a double-sided cut-out) Bad Clowns and Good Friends, their late night show with various guest comedians is back at Eve, I might get round to popping in this time round, I kept saying I would last year but,!? (it’s in the Cowgate, not exactly a tricky location)

The majority of my Comedy possibilities are the hybrid PWYC and PWYW, take a gamble that you’ll get in without a ticket and pay when you leave. Two shows I won’t just chance are Ed Byrne: Work In Progress and Luke Rollason: Alas! (WIP), both short runs and no doubt will sell out. John-Luke Roberts and Nish Kumar have full Fringe runs at Monkey Barrel so I reckon I’ll be fine seeing them early on. Then there’s the ticketed shows I’d like to see, well, some only if they get listed on the Half Price Hut. Unfortunately way too many of my choices clashed timewise, so they wouldn’t all fit during the preview period (oh, a mini rant about that at some point).

I haven’t been the forthcoming with my choices in this post, so I’ll put in some pics of my possibilities. Next time, more on the Comedy section, the shows I’m definitely going to see.

Toodle pip!

It’s so thick!

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The first of July (though not much of it left) and I haven’t made any mention yet of this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival, I know a bit different to previous years. Have you seen the programme this year?! It’s huge. Lug that around in your bag? Probably not. When I popped into the Fringe shop to pick up a couple, I was actually taken aback by the size, the assistant enthusiastically told me how many shows there are this year, I just meekly smiled back.

What I really wanted to do was point out that quantity itself is not impressive; and unfortunately too much quantity makes finding the quality (that is, whatever a person considers quality) that much more difficult. Now I’m a seasoned Fringer, I have my methods for wading through and finding the nuggets, but this year’s programme is intimidating for me, how’s the novice Fringer gonna feel?. I can’t imagine trying to randomly find shows online, there’s no algorithms for a moose mind (oh, they probably think they’re getting it right, haha, really, no), that why I prefer a printed version, but jeez, it’s been a trawl.

I’m sure that once I commit to plunging in proper, cutting out, finding the precious previews, I’ll be fine, and that starts tomorrow! Oh, I have made one sweep through, plenty queried mark-ups. I’ve noticed that this year there’s a lot in the Theatre section that aren’t even up for a full week, oh crikey, oh well, as long as they get something out of the experience besides an overdraft, I suppose. Sorry, I’m being quite a negative Nancy, aren’t I? But while I’ve felt for a while that the Fringe was getting a tad too big, this is the first time I thought, oh jeez, at seeing the size of the programme.

And on that note I will leave you for some other more uplifting notes in Whistlebinkies. The Hollow aka Louis Crosland and band (whoever that may be tonight) are playing in about ten minutes time. Toodle pip!

On a rainy night in Graz

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Hello you! I know, it’s been a while since my last post but I do have an excuse for May and hey, five posts in April up to that point, a blooming record for me outside of Fringe! The excuse? I’ll get back to that, for now a quick trawl through the last third of April…

I hinted at the end of my last post that Louis Crosland may play guitar alongside blues harmonica player Giles Robson again sometime; it’s definitely happening, folks! That’s through August (and into September, I think), so fairly extensive through the UK. Hmmm, if it ends anywhere northish I may have to go, that should, will, be pretty damned awesome. That’s if the tour does go through to September, I have priorities, you know.

He may not be around Edinburgh in August, but July sees Louis’s debut at the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival where his Trio will be playing as one of three bands at a Blues Afternoon in the George Square Spiegeltent. Yes, a whole afternoon of blues (I think they have them each weekend of the Festival), you can catch the Louis Crosland Trio on Sunday 19th July. [Quick edit, there’s also a gig 12th June at Pilgrim in Newcastle]

That will probably (or possibly, you can never quite tell with musicians) the last time the Trio as it is, play together. Louis is planning on taking stock of things, a good time to, what with being away awhile with Robson. It will fun speculating what the new autumn season outfit will be. The final Whistlebinkies gig was great, a very lively crowd, cracking tunes and I love that of late Rob Henderson‘s bass line has been up in the mix, Max was on fine form on drums too. A decent finale for Binkies.

I said final gig, so was surprised when it was on Instagram that Louis was playing Binkies, huh?! Definitely wasn’t scheduled (mind, it was Binkies), ah, a last minute call up. Last minute, so it was a trio but for all the combinations I’ve seen, this was new. It may have been, who the hell is available now? The universal forces played ball, and how, it worked well, better than well, for a first time? it was ridiculously fine; and they weren’t done after Binkies, immediately packing up double quick to play at the Jazz Bar straight afterwards! Of course I went along! Already, just a second time round things were gelling nicely. Will this be a one night only (both musicians are usually very busy), certainly the three played together and Louis was clearly enjoying himself. It will certainly have added another dollop to the mulling mix; this cake could be sublime.

I could finish this post here, but as I’ve just poured myself another glass of a rather nice grüner veitliner, I shall continue…

Last post Carl Marah was about to take part in the semi-final of Mam Talent! this time taking a band with him. He didn’t make it through to the final, but no matter, it was a great experience and will have definitely opened up new avenues for him; and he used the opportunity to play his newly released single (just the day before, nicely done) You’re Always Right. The video is also out with Carl not only wearing his love for the Beatles on his sleeve, it’s more like an arm tattoo (done with such charm and gentle grace, tis a wonderful thing).

The Edinburgh launch of the new EP had been announced before, but now all the dates for the EP tour have been announced, which is how I came to be tapping this out on my phone in Austria. The first gig is Tuesday 19th at The Finsbury in London, aha. I’ve been meaning to get round to using an Interrail Pass that I bought end of last August when there was a discount, meaning to, but never quite succeeding; Carl’s London gig gave me an anchor point, yay. I’ll be on a Eurostar back to London on the Monday afternoon, Carl on Tuesday evening, next day a train back to Edinburgh in nice time for two Logan’s Close gigs, how excellent is that?!!

My glass is just about empty, time to sleep. Next time, probably a postcard or two.

Auf wiedersehen, meine Freunde!

Here, there and even on the telly!

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As promised last post a catch up on Messrs Marah and Rough, oh, they’ve been busy! There’s been the usual Tuesday midnights at Whistlebinkies, I say usual but I’d swear they’ve gotten even better recently, how? I know, right! Maybe it’s from recent activity with the rest of Logan’s Close and the anticipation of summer gigs.

At the end of March, LC played down in Norwich and then Glasgow supporting one Ghost Funk Orchestra; I did consider going over to Glasgow, but after a busy week, yeah, no. But Brucie, it was Logan’s Close?? Ah, but they’re playing two nights in Edinburgh next month, yay (got to get some money together to make the second album, you know). Just one night was announced but the lads already had plans for another gig the following night, and indeed, ticket sales were excellent, all snapped up in less than a month. I’m not sure if they realised the date or decided it would be a funny twist – the sell out and second gig were announced on 1st April, err, April Fools Day, guys!? Did anyone hang fire to make sure it was genuine, I wonder? Anyhoo, the second night is Friday 22nd May at Leith Cricket Club.

Oo, I see badge potential here

Scotty went even further than Norwich with his other band last month. Dr Salad were out playing a few gigs in Cambodia (as you do!?) That was quite a surprise when Scott told me late one night in Binkies, had I heard right? I was like, Cambodia? Huh? Yes really. A trifle bizarre, but then, it is Dr Salad, goes with the territory. When I caught up with him after his return, Scott was certainly buzzing from the whole experience, oh, he’d definitely go back for more.

Carl has also been playing his own music overseas on Mam Talent! Poland’s version of Britain’s Got Talent. He does visit Poland plenty with his Polish fiancée, and last year friends over there suggested he should enter, he did, et voilà …. he’s only gone and made it to the semi-finals!! The live show will be on Polish telly 25th April, like wow. Always busy, the date for the launch show of Carl’s debut Me, Myself and I EP has been announced as Wednesday 10th June, at the Voodoo Rooms, where else?! And it’ll be a four piece band this time – added keyboards. Tickets are available now on Carl’s website (there’s options with a signed cd or signed vinyl, nice).

He did tell me that there’ll be tour dates north and south, but that’s as much as I know, no more details were forthcoming. I wonder if he’s waiting to see how Mam Talent! goes before setting everything in stone? Meantime there’s plenty to watch on Carl’s Instagram, including some great studio diary videos. In a video last Thursday it was mentioned that Carl looks more like George Harrison than the actor in the new upcoming film; I almost choked on my IPA when an hour after I saw it, a chap sat next to me in Stramash exclaimed, “Bloody’ell, George Harrison!” pointing at Carl on stage. Actually, he does do a beautiful version of While My Guitar Gently Weeps at his solo pub gigs.

Time to crash, but I’ll leave you with a couple of pics from the day Carl was shooting a video à la Beatles on the rooftop of an Edinburgh tenement. Next time, when you’ve got the blues make sure you have good support. Toodle pip!

One day fans will flock to this spot
The man himself, or George Harrison?

Blossom ‘n’ Blues

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Yay! The tree in Gullan’s Close is back in bloom, beautiful as always. Had a wander past in today while the sun was out, almost springlike. The temperature is forecast to drop to -1° tonight, just to catch out those fooled by the sunshine, jackets will be required. I’ll be toddling up to the Jazz Bar to catch Louis Crosland, he’s the featured musician at tonight’s Blues at the Jazz Bar, a monthly do to showcase Edinburgh’s Blues scene.

Louis will be on stage at seven for an hours set, then there’s an Open Blues Jam until eleven when Louis returns plus the other two of the Trio to play the night out. Should be fun! I’ve only seen him at the Jazz Bar once before a while ago, it was after midnight, I seem to recall it was one of those bit odd nights, the feeling just wasn’t quite right, know what I mean? Ah, haha, yes, I’ve just remembered more about that evening, no, I’m not going to share.

After this evening, he’s next back playing with the Moanin’ Bones at Whistlebinkies on Saturday at seven, and then the following Saturday at midnight. That’s after supporting the Cinelli Brothers at the Voodoo Rooms, should be another great evening of blues, I have my ticket! Louis’s also supporting Giles Robson on the Scottish part of his UK tour (and playing guitar for him), eight dates from the 7th through to the 18th April, with a Louis Crosland Trio date at Stramash slipped in halfway. I’ve seen that the Inverness gig is at the Castle Tavern (14th April), a cracking pub I discovered when I was up there last year, and the food was divine. I’m almost tempted to pay Inverness another visit!!

After that busyness there’s two more midnight appearances for the Trio at Whistlebinkies in April. I know all this because the dear boy put up a list of his gigs up until the end of April, on Instagram, very handy to know. Of course, there may well be additions towards the end of April, as is often the way of things. I do know Louis is stepping into the studio in May to get some of his new material recorded (apparently twenty new songs to date), nice!

Anyhoo, I need to eat if I’m going to be in the Jazz Bar ’til the small hours. Toodle pip!

Of course, I had a photo took, duh

What’s ahead this weekend?

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It’s Friday late afternoon, another weekend of excellent sounds and a little rugby looms. Kicking off with tonight’s 7pm slot at Stramash is Louis Crosland plus trio, yes, the keyboards are back! I’m looking forward to that (not that I don’t always enjoy the band! but, you know). Louis plus two will also be rounding off the weekend in the midnight slot in Whistlebinkies; and in-between, he’s playing there at midnight on Saturday with the Moanin’ Bones. Busy guy!

Tomorrow afternoon sees Jed Potts and Nicole Smit and their assortment of blues, country, jazz, rock’n’roll numbers in Whistlebinkies. A delicious pick’n’mix of music genres, you never know what’s coming next but you do know it’ll be something great. Yeah, definitely Jed and Nicole over the first Six Nations game (England v Ireland), the later game is Scotland v Wales, much more interesting! Can Scotland play like they did last weekend?!

Last weekend Edinburgh went nuts after Scotland soundly beat England, and as Stramash shows the rugby there was a buoyed up crowd ready and waiting for the Moanin’ Bones. Bloody excellent it was to see them again!! The usual bag of great covers with the occasional original thrown in. And we’ll do it all again tomorrow night, yay. Thank goodness the matches alternate, so Scotland are away in Cardiff this time (though it’s always fun when the Welsh are up), town won’t be quite as mental. I say, not quite, but there’s still many, many out to watch in the pubs, it’s tradition!

I’d thought after the Saturday night madness, that Binkies wouldn’t be so busy last Sunday midnight for the Scat Rats, it wasn’t, but the ones that did come out were loons. Honestly, it was one of those times, like a very strange Fringe show when I haven’t a clue what’s happening or why, or is there nothing to comprehend, I’m meant to just appreciate the oddliness?! I ended up surmising that Valentine’s Day had been a disappointment, so each was out determined to finish the weekend, erm, with a bang?!

Oops, time to eat before heading oot. Enjoy your weekend, folks. Toodle pip!

It’s gonna be a fine weekend

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It’s been a while, I know, miss me? I was down in the old country (Yorkshireland) for a while, to catch up with family, seeing how I stayed in Edinburgh for Christmas. Like most of the country just now, it was very wet and very cold, but it was lovely to see everyone. After a very dry summer the weather changed with a vengeance, as illustrated below…

So low for so long the banks became like meadows
Back to it’s darkest, dankest self

Anyhoo, this is merely a quick wave before I head out into the wet night. Carl Marah is playing at the Auld Hundred this evening and at midnight the Louis Crosland Trio are at Whistlebinkies, yay. It’s quite a weekend ahead, plenty good music and a Six Nations Rugby weekend too (the Scotland v England game, yikes). Louis is solo at the Canons’ Gait tomorrow evening, I may pop along, or save myself for Saturday…

There’s Chris Buckley in Binkies at two, he should be fairly buzzing as he’s got a new single out tomorrow. The Scotland v England game is late afternoon, watch at home, or in a pub? Hmmm. Seven o’clock Chris will be down at Stramash with Louis and the rest of the Moanin’ Bones, wow, it’s been ages since they last played together, or it feels like it. Midnight it’ll be back up to Binkies and the Louis Crosland Trio, yes, twice in one week!

Sunday may be quite a lazy day, get myself recovered enough for the Scat Rats to round off the weekend in Binkies midnight slot. Oh, and they’ll be back in 48 hours later, it’s one of those Tuesdays.

I do intend to write more tomorrow, honest. Now where’s my brolly? Toodle pip!

It’s Tuesday again…

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It’s evening on 20th January 2026, that’s Tuesday, one of those Tuesdays, yay. Whistlebinkies calendar shows that next Tuesday is as well, two in a row? Indeed, confirmed by Mr Marah himself. Tonight will be the fourth time I’ve seen the Scat Rats this month, then there’s Stramash at 7pm this Saturday too, yays. The Louis Crosland Trio were on the late night slot a couple of weeks ago at Stramash, that was a lot of fun!

I hadn’t been out at that late at Stramash in a while, the LC3 hadn’t played that slot before, didn’t quite know what to expect, I told them, students, lots of them, I wasn’t far wrong. As students go, they were a good crowd, enthusiastic dancing going on, I include myself in that, I couldn’t resist, being a bystander really wasn’t an option. The final number 7 Nation Army was an awesome ending to the night. Since then they’ve played Binkies twice, and they’ll be back there again on Thursday at 9.30pm. Yes, I’m having a rather fine January!

Last Tuesday was cinema time, I took myself off to see Marty Supreme. It’s a long film but it keeps up such a frenetic pace, it didn’t feel as long as it might have. I enjoyed it, fascinated by the place of table tennis in 20th century cultural history; partly because my mother and her sibling were keen players when they were young, sadly, though I was briefly keen, my abilities were seriously lacking. It is based on a real table tennis player, one Marty Reisman, I have a good dive into the facts behind the fiction and having watched clips of Reisman, yeah, Timothée Chalamet’s character wasn’t far removed from the reality.

Other bits this month, hmmm. Oo, jam on crumpets, it works! Or, at least my bramble jam does. One lucky recipient of a jar, mentioned that he spread it on crumpets. This appalled me, being a buttered crumpet fan, but, I decided later that I should at least give it a try, just a dollop so not to waste a whole crumpet if it was awful. Reader, it wasn’t, not quite a green eggs and ham moment, but certainly much better than I’d anticipated. I may even try it again sometime!

Must dash, toodle pip!