“Dad its a long time since we had a properly red sunset. I can only remember seeing 3 blood red ones.”
He’s right. We are lucky here. It’s a daft thing to say but we have a big sky here. Not much blocking it out. Well apart from Yorkshire Clag – that’s thick low cloud. When we get a clear sunset they are often stunning but very rarely blood red.
But very occasionally we get one.
“I know that a red sky at night is a fisherman’s delight but I think it might be an omen. At the very least I would hope Dracula or the Hammer Horror movies were born from a blood red night. Just think what a nightmare it would have been if the Dracula or Hound of the Baskerville authors had come up with the idea looking at a sunset but finding that they were dyslexic. The stories may have been lost. How many great ideas have been messed up by not being able to write”
Think of all the great stories that have been made by people with Dyslexia. You just have to find different ways of getting things done. Plus what happened if the Dracula author took one look at the red sky and said ‘That reminds me of a cricket ball I’m going to write about a famous cricketer.”
After a puzzled look. “What about if Stoker. You do know Stoker wrote Dracula. If Stoker had said that reminds me of a blood sucking chipmunk called Alvin. The first book would have been called Alvin Prince of Annoying Singing. That’s when you would have wished Stoker was dyslexic.”
Can’t argue with that. Another thing I can’t complain about it he is now starting to find some humour in some of his greatest fears. That’s a step in the right direction. Now what’s the odds on a blood red sky tonight being serenaded by a signing rodent…
Public Apology.
Unfortunately the last few posts have been a tad unfair to a great performer. Picked on him a bit. I do like him a bit really. No not talking about Bono and U2 – not even scratched the surface with them yet. I’m talking about Alvin. I would like to apologise to him and all his brethren. Singing Rodents are welcome here. Not you Bono – you can bugger off…
A L V I NNNNNNN! 👌
LikeLiked by 2 people
And that is the script to 4 movies right there.
LikeLiked by 2 people
You had me at Alvin 😀
Beautiful sunset shot!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you
LikeLiked by 1 person
About time we saw some appreciation for Alvin!
LikeLiked by 2 people
And how breakthrough is their cover of a certain Tom Jones classic?
LikeLiked by 2 people
They even rival The Beatles!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Alvin is the sixth Beatle.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I wonder if Alvin has ladies knickers thrown at him….
LikeLiked by 2 people
Have you seen the Chipettes yet Gary?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Now they take annoying to almost U2 levels.
LikeLiked by 1 person
‘Rival’ the Beatles??
Oh you poor, poor, poor deluded girl! 😦
LikeLiked by 3 people
Bob! Come on I am from Liverpool – we are all for laughs mate! I am trying to haunt Gary with more and more Alvin tracks!
LikeLiked by 3 people
I may live in Australia but i was born in Stoke and have The Potteries sense of humour…. was it too subtle for ya?? 😉
(But that’s still an evil thing to do to the man! ) 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
You must have a sense of humour to watch Stoke play….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Who said I watch??
I listen for the howls of outrage from the Potter’s supporters at the Umpire’s bad decisions to gauge how well we play!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s the spirit
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you mean PASS the spirit??
(Mines a double by the way – makes the squeeking squirrels or whatever, just slightly less wrist-slashingly irksome!)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now I’m tea total I suspect a herbal tea won’t work.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not unless you pour it in the DVD player??? 😈
LikeLiked by 1 person
That might work
LikeLiked by 1 person
Always happy to help! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙏
LikeLiked by 1 person
Alright Duck!
LikeLiked by 2 people
🦆… or as they say in Stoke…. Orrite Duck! 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
🙏
LikeLike
Can you sing like the Beatles or is it more Ricky Tomlinson?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I sing like Julie Andrews!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have a vision of you skipping over the mountain grass now. Like an angel.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Like Maria Von Trapp 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed. Just avoid the cow pats.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They can be lethal if you are not looking where you are going 🙂
LikeLike
Especially when your skipping and singing like an angel….
LikeLike
Could happen
LikeLiked by 1 person
Et tu Brute?? 🔪 🔪 🔪
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bit like what will happen at my club when Rafa walks.
LikeLike
I might have found a good replacement – on my post from yesterday!
He’s got the colour scheme down pat anyway – and a mean look in his eye! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The eyes tell you everything.
LikeLiked by 1 person
As this is a balanced site then Alvin will get some love….
LikeLiked by 2 people
🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
I bet you will get some stunners when your with Goldfinch.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stunning skies? Sunsets?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Both if you have the time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have this horrid feeling that the time I have with Goldfinch is going to fly by horribly fast and before I have time to bat my eye-lashes I am going to be on a place back to England.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cross that bridge if and when it happens… just live for the moment. You never know a volcano may go off somewhere on the ring of fire – grounding all flights for weeks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
lol – part of me wishes that would be the case…
…the other part of me knows I will need to be back at work and to earn something as my bank account is in single figures after buying my ticket for Australia!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s better thinking about the good stuff though. Your going to have a great time. Life changing probably. x
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am going to have a great time Gary 🙂
But I do not believe it will be life changing my friend. I am not pessimistic. I am realistic.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Life changing in the sense that it’s going to one of those great moments in time that become a beacon point from which your life moves on. No idea what I’m prattling on about. Let’s just say I really hope you have a wonderful time. Now I get back behind the sofa….l
LikeLiked by 1 person
lol – I was not trying to be argumentative.
I have had a few people say to me that they don’t think I am ever going to come back from Australia. Or others who seem to think Goldfinch is going to want to get hitched when he sees me. I am going around contradicting everyone.
It will be wonderful though – I have no doubt!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Let’s just see what happens.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are very sweet.
The thing is I know Goldfinch better than all the friends who are getting over-excited for me. I know Goldfinch and I know he will make sure I have a great time when I am with him, and then he will make sure I am safely back at the airport and on the plane back here.
My mission is not to cry at any stage and spoil the time with him.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beards are quite good for hiding tears…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t really want to grow myself a beard. I don’t think I would suit facial hair.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes I suspect the pirate look has had its day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m doing something wrong I’m not going to Australia and my bank account in in single figures…. must be all the beard grooming products.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beards are expensive? Are they more or less expensive than being clean-shaven?
I saw a photo of Goldfinch some years ago (I think ten years ago,) with a kind of trendy beard going on. I have only seen him clean shaven.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Even Ed now…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Even Ed!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh I can’t think anymore. I cheated last night and was found out. So got to start the 3 hours Alvin watch again. My heads gone….
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀 You cheated whilst doing your Chimpmonks forfeit?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I might have had the video playing with no sound and listening to Muse.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Shocking!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m shamed….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Is there a forfeit for cheating on your forfeit?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Always consequences.
LikeLike
If I could get on with this forfeit business – I am in need of a Sherpa. I have to get a huge suitcase and a small suitcase to Heathrow on my own 😦
As a forfeit for cheating on your forfeit, you could carry my large suitcase!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Would I have to trim my beard and deck myself out in a brown cardigan.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No special dress and grooming requirements for this assignment. But you need to be willing to leave my place at 4am in the morning and travel through London with me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I get a nosebleed at Watford.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Errr…that sounds like a poor excuse – I will need a Doctor’s note from you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ok how heavy will it be. Surely not much weight as you are going minimalist.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I reckon it will be exactly 23kg…because I don’t want to pay extra charges.
I have decided to ignore Goldfinch’s advice…I want clothes with me while I am in Australia.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Do I get holiday pay?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Holidays are accrued based on the hours that you work.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That explains a lot then. No wonder I don’t get much time off then.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I need a Sherpa who is a worker not a shirker!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I see it more in terms of life is a performance and I’m slowly building to my Gielgud moment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your son has a lovely sense of humor – no doubt inherited from his Dad.
LikeLiked by 2 people
He does thanks
LikeLiked by 2 people
Great Sunsets!! If you are East of the Pennine Chain it would take an exceptional set of circumstances to occur in order to get one of those! Count your blessings. 😉
Finding humour from your fears is indeed a GREAT step in the right direction – pretty good Dad work there, Dad! (Do you ever listen to your own advice???)
I am assuming from the quality of your writing in this post that you came out of the forfeit in a reasonably sane condition – or have you not had to apply the torture yet?
Finally, given the level of derision being slung here at the lead singer of a certain Irish band that will remain nameless by me and, i presume, You 2, is it not slightly Ironical that you give your post a name made famous by one of unsaid band’s albums?
You can consider this a part of the forfeit:
Hey – if it’s OK for Mel….?
LikeLiked by 3 people
The sun tends to be blocked out by the Lancashire weather….. I cheated and was found out, so it’s starts again tonight
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m SO sorry to hear that…. which is pretty much what you are probably thinking, I’m guessing??? 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooooooh Bob! Is that an actual U2 track? At least I was tormenting Gary with Chipmunk versions of U2 songs!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yup! It is!
If us Aussies are going to haze someone we don’t do it in half measures… we go ALL the way! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Best way really. That’s why they started exporting XXXX lager.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Seemed to be a demand for it – Dunno why?? 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good for fertilising rhubarb probably.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Personally – i wouldn’t risk it.
No telling what could happen??
LikeLike
Can’t think of another use for the stuff then.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It could be worse…could be he Spice Girls.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Easeee… there are some lengths even an Aussie would not go to! 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
I used to tease Goldfinch telling him how proud Australia should be of Kylie and Jason.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Pride goeth before a fall! 😉
I do confess to a fondness for ‘our’ Kylie however. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
I grew up listening to Kylie
LikeLiked by 2 people
Did you know that here in Aus she is sometimes affectionately known as ‘The Singing Budgie’ ( Short for budgerigar – native of Australia ) because of her diminutive size. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Do you know many any our country call Bono an ‘an out of tune tit’. Not sure where the bird likeness comes in.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beats me? Similar brain size perhaps?? 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
She is a tiny tot!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙏
LikeLiked by 1 person
🎶🐤🎵
LikeLiked by 2 people
Do you sing like her?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nope – I sing like Julie Andrews 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wish I could say I sounded like Christopher Plummer but it’s more like the car from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
LikeLiked by 1 person
lol – how about Dick Van Dyke? If you sing like him it would be great – he is kind of halfway point between Plummer and the car.
Is this your way of volunteering to come out to karaoke with me. I think I may have been able to get Kristian (Tales Of From The Mind Of Kristian) to agree to come with me a while back – although I admit, he seems much keener to show me his chickens and share a cuppa with me, which would be kind of awesome 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It would be kinda awesome. I suspect you are better off with the chickens from a pure singing point of view.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And I reckon Kristian makes a mean cuppa!
The best karaokers are those that cannot hold a tune 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s one of my main talents really.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 making a cuppa or not being able to hold a tune 🙂
both are important talents for a Sherpa to possess.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not falling off mountains is another.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You and your lovely wife spent lots of time in the Swiss mountains – you have perfect Sherpa skills 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I liked them…
LikeLiked by 1 person
You liked K&J and you don’t like U2?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes and your point is. I loved Neighbours….
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think we watched a handful of episodes during the first ever series, but then we became too interested in our bikes and wanted to be outside rather than in front of the TV.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Best way.
LikeLiked by 1 person
??????
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fair cop – i lied 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
If you lied then a great career in Politics awaits you my good buddy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have just been forced to live through 5 months of electioneering propaganda and ‘get’ to vote tomorrow (it is compulsory to attend a polling station here if you are a citizen over the age of 18).
The LAST thing on Earth i want right now is a ‘career’ with that lots of tossers. Well qualified though i may be? 😠
LikeLiked by 1 person
We should have a big sporting event. Our tossers v your tossers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
As long as it’s to the death – i’m in! ⚔ 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Obviously
LikeLiked by 1 person
No not sure on that one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, if you like the Spice Girls more than U2 we’re in trouble!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wouldn’t say like. I think I’m just allergic to Bono.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Deep sigh, it’s just online abuse………
LikeLiked by 2 people
Being trolled with U2 videos!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s how far our society has descended into the Abyss…..
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve made my way through a few Alvin movies – even saw two in the theater. If I had to watch them as much as you, I would probably grow a soft spot too 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
You end up entering a catatonic state really.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just laughed out loud 🙂 I think you’re right!
LikeLike
I was watching the cruise ship Alvin movie and the doorbell rang. I remember opening it and just staring blankly at the postman. He had to ask me 3 times to sign for a parcel. Do you get those moments or is it just me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yes. But it happens to me around the kids. When I am thinking about something I have an uncanny ability to turn off others from my mind, but can still nod. And I always end up giving the blank stare when I am being told that I nodded and agreed to do something in one of these states. I swear Catelyn can read it the best, and always knows when to ask for an ice cream trip 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
She is a wise one. Bet that costs a bit over time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great sunsets
LikeLiked by 2 people
Can’t beat a good sunset
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well probably toooo bloody for Dracula 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Especially if he’s on a low carb diet.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😂😂👍
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙏
LikeLike
Excellent insight.:)
LikeLike
Fantastic sunsets.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. I do like a good sunset.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We saw some beauties from the boat
LikeLiked by 1 person
I bet you did. I suspect it made them even better.
LikeLike
It was just so peaceful and serene.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can imagine.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Every time Alvin is mentioned, I hear that voice singing “I still want a hula-hoop!”
Stunning sunsets.
Instead of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, it would be Bram Stoker’s Annoying Alvin.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Probably even more scary than the original
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not to change the subject but, changing the subject, this guy used to write for my hometown paper. He’s retired, now, and blogs occasionally. I did not know Tim Conway was dyslexic:
https://mtaylor.blog/2019/05/14/tim-conway-was-always-funny-always-likable/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like a good person. Just goes to show.
LikeLike
Yeah. First Doris Day, now Tim Conway…
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is sad.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Humor is truly one of the great healers, not to mention coping mechanisms. It’s Bo’s go-to, and while I do occasionally call him out for falling back onto jokes rather than facing something, more often than not humor’s THE way to deal with a shitty situation. Good on you, dad, for helping your son see that laughter can help the world move forward xxxxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d be buggered without my humour. Doesn’t really matter that its a select few who actually find it remotely amusing. xxxxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
So long as it gets you through the day, that’s all that matters xxxxxx
LikeLike
At least I still find myself funny, sometimes. xxxxxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
You should, because you are 🙂
LikeLike
That’s so kind of you. xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
I mean what I say xxxxx
LikeLike
Thank you so much. xxxxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stunning!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you
LikeLike