05/01/2012 by Russell.

Christmas and Into 2012 with a quiet night…

Christmas came and went very quickly, luckily Christmas fell over the weekend, otherwise it would have work everyday at the schools here.

Fortunately, we three wise comrades (Tom, Tam, and me) set off for Ninh Binh very early Christmas eve, we set of for the 7.30am bus. Arriving at 7.23am, only to discover the erstwhile bus driver had decided to head off before 7.30am…I shouted, I hissed and booed at the woman behind the counter, she looked back with a shrug as if to say its our fault, no apology for the driver leaving early, well we are in pantomime season. We even took my huge Christmas cake with us on the journey in a box, presented to me by my students at Tran Phu, it was beautifully decorated.

Undeterred, Tam enquired where another bus could be caught, and so we had a 10 minute trek to another street, only this time it was to be 2 buses for out 100km journey.

At least we were heading out of Hai Phong for a short break. 3 hours later we were off the bus, being tapped up by a moto driver for a hotel from $3 a night. Off we followed the salesman on his moto for a quarter of a mile walking at a brisk pace. No snow, no icicles, no Widow Twanky, just another lookalike city in Vietnam.

Our hotel down a side street was full of Europeans, how did they find this place, the new Queen Hotel? After a quick break, we decided to head off with a hired driver to sea the wonders of Ninh Binh.

First stop a historic King Le(surname) Emperors Palace site, full of school children on day trips and tourists in the cool but clear blue skies, it had a chill in the air, which made me think of Christmasses past. I of course was the centre of attention with my floppy Father Christmas hat and had to pose for photographs with the locals.

Lunch was not befitting Scrooge, very expensive, so much so Scrooge would have choked on the soup alone, costing $12 and the goat meat costing a similar amount, boy did Christmas arrive all in one day for the restaurant owner.

Following a hearty lunch we took to the peace and quiet of the waters, a boat rowed by a woman (they do all the manual work here) she rowed away with her feet like a proper Santa’s helper. The tour took in 9 caves, on the clearest water amongst limestone outcrops (like Ha Long Bay). Very tranquil and felt the peace and quiet of Christmas and the Christian spirit of Jesus on the 2 hour trip. Peaceful in December, perhaps rather more busy in Summer, but you have to make the effort to get to Ninh Binh, it is not many people’s itineries who visit Vietnam, but it soon will be.

After this trip, rather cream crackered, but more waters to float on and hills to climb, ancient temples to see, but the clock was ticking. We took another baot trip, before we retired back to the hotel for a short nap and sharing a Christmas drink with the hotel’s proprierters…what was missing was mince pies, sherry, Slade, Band Aid, but there was soccer on tv…you can’t escape the Premiership reruns out here.

Christmas eve was further enjoyed with a short walk to the Catholic church nearby. It was very busy with a huge screen showing some Catholic dignatory on the screen, beautiful lights, a tree and everyone semed to want to see, the whole town of Ninh Binh on moto’s had turned up..but did they know it was more than Father Christmas? It was a religious festival? who is Jesus? We had an little BBQ at our table for warmth and cooked pork and beef for dinner.

Christmas Day and we were off to Cuc Phuong National Park, some 60km away. An early Breakfast, and a driver for another $25.

Upon arrival we took a hike to the 1,000 year old tree, Tam in flip flops, me and Tom in regular footwear and we were accompanied by German George on our visit.

In the afternoon after a visit to the Monkey sanctuary, funded by many leading Zoo’s we headed back to Ninh Binh and our 3 hour journey.

Boxing day – normal working day, teaching, but, the week ahd a little surprise in store. I had been giving private lessons to Viinh (22yrs Old) who was leaving for the UK to do a Masters course at Birmingham University. His parents treated Tam and I to a slap up meal (well that’s what you used read in the Sparky comic, cica 1970’s)

we had 4 Lobster (expensive), Hai Sam (soup – translated to sea cucumber) ($400 a kilogram), wine a bottle of 12 year old Chivas regal whisky…in other words the works, all very delicious…so I did get a Christmas dinner of sorts.

The new year….passed off with Tom, his woman of the hour, her friend and Vinh and his wife (our landlord), we scoffed some crab and soup -Karaoke, and a roof top cafe for midnight….no Big Ben, no balloons, streamers, or party music, just techno pop, and when the moment arrived, the DJ played ‘Happy New Year’ a tchno version of Abba’s song…a few quick steps on the dance floor and off to bed.

New Years Day? Well you go to a wedding of course….off we three trotted to a wedding, drank some beer, karaoke and ate some more food.

And so what does 2011 leave behind?

Some recent sad losses?, Harry Morgan (aka Sherman Potter in M*A*S*H), Gary Speed (why?), Colonel Gadaffi, Osama Bin Laden, Kim jung Il, Jane Russell, Joe Frazier, Neil Young (MCFC scorer of FA cup winning goal 1969), Michael Jackson, Clarence Clemons (E street Band), Russian Ice Hockey team in September plane crash…and finally John, the husband of my great work colleague Freda Richardson also passed away..so many.

What will 2012 bring?

Hopefully the greatest sporting event - the Olympics - will be a triumph for London and Great Britain, pity I will not be a part of it, I really wanted to say I went to the stadium to watch at least one event, but its all too much, good luck to the ticket holders for an event to treasure.

A Man City league triumph? A Real Madrid Champions League win? Usain Bolt centre stage? An economic recovery or collapse of the Euro?

China government to buy into Apple? Terry Wogan to host Strictly come Dancing? Who knows and that is the beauty of the future..

A final Happy new year to Emily, Gregory, Phillip, Kirsten, ex-work colleagues Rob Fletcher, Geoff Nicholson, John Malamatenios, Anne Waring, not forgetting Basil and Pete and David Opperman…and Enid Skelhorn, inseperable part of my life many years ago..

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19/06/2011 by Russell.

“….is it a bird” audience responds “NO”

“….is it a plane” more noise from the audience “No”

“..It’s Big Man - Clarence Clemons” cue cheering, Bruce continues with “….Big Man joined the band, From the coastline to the city…” (Tenth Avenue Freeze Out, Springsteen 1974)

Or…see the youtube intro from London

And the rock and roll party continues with the E Street Band, entertaining thousands of Bruce Fans the world over, but you didn’t need me to tell you that, you knew already.Bruce’s stage sidekick, Clarence Clemons died after a stroke a week ago and left him paralysed and the surgeons operated 4 times on his brain, I guess his body could only take so much.

But what of my connection to him?

I first saw the E Steeters in a 4 hour marthon show around March 1982 at the NEC in Birmingham, what a show. My first Bruce concert, I went along with Barry and Ian Sargeant, who afterwards were not that enthralled, the music and show was just something else to me, energy, music and a real connection with his audience, and throughout the E street band pumped provided the sound. Memorably the first half of the show closed with Bruce stood on one set of speakers and Clarence on another pile of PA’s blasting the Thunder Raod solo, with the audience in raptures.

Ever since I have always managed to catch Bruce for 2 or 3 nights on a tour of the UK, have obly missed his one nighter at the Albert Hall, sometimes I confess am I too old to chasing Bruce up and down the country, can I be bothered? I ask myself and everytime the show is like a homecoming, Just great.

Clarence has always been there, and his presence is huge, I always look out for tracks with the saxaphone, because I love how it is intermingled with the sound of the songs.  The turn of the nineties was a disappointment when ‘Human Touch and Lucky Town were released, albums without the e streeters, previously, Tunnel of Love was more of a solo effort but Bruce toured with the E streeters, and I had begun to wonder if the saxaphone was going down the list of sounds bruce was moving towards.

Thankfully not, as recent interviews suggest he always looked at ways of getting the sound of the E street band into his records, and that included the saxophone of Clarence .

I often saw Clarence Clemons with Pete, my good friend from Congleton, one year at the MEN, Manchester he had 2nd row seats for us. WOW!  The evening was the re-union tour, and I took my little Kirsten with us - 10 at the time - she was at her first concert.

Being so close to the front we attracted Clarence Clemons to her presence (stupidly waving arms and pointing to her) but he did notice and came to the front of the stage and smiled at her (not me and Pete) and acknowledged her presence.  LAter in the show, he got Bruce to come over and acknowlege her, with a smile and eye contact and a pointed finger.  Double Wow! it just proved to us, Bruce and Clarence do make a connection every night with the audience.

Would I miss a show? never, he is the Boss, now he has lost a friend and a great musician, already Danny Federici has been lost to cancer, 2 down, Max Weinburg, Steve Van Zandt, Garry Talent and Professor Roy Bittan remain from the old line up of the 1970’s - will they continue? my guess is yes, but how and when I don’t know.  Bruce was down to tour Australia this year for the first time since Born in the USA album.

Clarence Clemons - Big man, big sound, big voice, big loss.

This is what Bruce said 18/June : “Clarence lived a wonderful life. He carried within him a love of people that made them love him. He created a wondrous and extended family. He loved the saxophone, loved our fans and gave everything he had every night he stepped on stage. His loss is immeasurable and we are honored and thankful to have known him and had the opportunity to stand beside him for nearly forty years. He was my great friend, my partner, and with Clarence at my side, my band and I were able to tell a story far deeper than those simply contained in our music. His life, his memory, and his love will live on in that story and in our band” (source:brucespringsteen.net)

Long live the ‘heart stopping, true rocking, greatest house band, the world famous E…Street…Band…. ‘

(Source of picture: www.morethings.com/music/springsteen/bruce_springsteen_photos/born-to=run.jpg)

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12/08/2009 by Russell.

Ah well number 1 beckons once more, electrician, house clearance, and a carpet man, all coming to give me final quotes or when they can complete the jobs to hand.  More importantly the garden is getting back in control once more.  I have my machete and garden fork to hand, ready for the battle ahead.

I  am coming towards the end of my 4 week holiday, so need to blitz as much as I can whilst time is available.  The football season is upon us, Chesham Strides, u15s, I wonder how many players I will get? I have the new South Africa Worls Cup Ball for our matches, chuffed with that, we will have the best ball in the division.

Somehow the professional football season doesn’t excite me as in previous years, I don’t think its the Ronaldo effect, just lack of drive and interest, albeit I read the papers online everyday to keep in touch.

Some birthday wishes to be announced:

Barry on 9th August, hope it was a good day last Sunday

Peter on 11th August, hope he enjoyed his day too, so greetings to you both.  I hope each family sang happy Birthday to youoooo! and the cake was shared by many.

I am also off to see United for the first match of the season, ho hum - will our new number 7 score? Will he be as sharp as this swordfish in the Aquarium, Oddysseum, Montpellier, sorry about camera shake as fish do move around!

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