Roaming

The most amazing warm spring Easter Monday, so a walk in the woods as evening fell was perfect

Sadly no dramatic sunset as a swirly mist was setting in, but beautiful seeing the hills fold away in the distance over to Strines.

and the descent to Grenoside

Luverly

blustery rainbows

Great hike through Greno Woods and up to a blustery St Helena last weekend.

Great company, great views and a great Sunday roast awaited at the end of that rainbow!!

Buzzing

Sheffield just buzzing at the moment with exciting independent traders.

And this Saturday we visited two great ones, morning coffee and cake, and sourdough loaf to take home, from the amazing Depot Bakery at 156 Arundel Street - with Tamper Coffee too!

And a few Fridays ago it was home to the fabulous Peddler Market which was brilliant.

Then a trip over to Nether Edge and Birdhouse tea for some gifts and restock of fabulous teas.

I could go on, and I will - watch this space

First day

Pretty much the first day of Spring today and perfect for a visit to our wonderful Yorkshire Sculpture Park and the current Henry Moore exhibition Back to a Land

and today Dad would also have been 99 and, as he loved that Spring heralded his birthday, I think the balmy sunny day and the budding trees would have been just about perfect for him!

at last we caught the amazing Seizure open - keep visiting on weekdays and missing it.

no pics allowed inside of course, but this is the crate Hiorns built around the room before he started work

and a bit of Miro

 then back to the Moore

and over at the chapel, Ai Weiwei's amazing Iron Tree

catching the late afternoon sun so beautifully

Enjoyed Song for Coal in the chapel

the trees here are so magnificent too - and that amazing sun - reappearing after it's eclipse performance on Friday!

then a wander up to the Bothy where the original old cafe used to be

 and the amazingly hidden underground gallery - top of a Henry Moore peeping out

 and finally off home . . .

Right from the start

One of the best gigs I've ever been to last Friday night in Warrington (first time there too!!) at the beautiful Parr Hall, for part of Joan Armatrading's final tour of small venues, and also her first solo tour - just her, her guitars and her piano and it was sheer magic from start to finish.

I snapped up the tickets a year ago when they first came up and managed to get front row centre stalls - so it felt like she was just singing and talking to us.

Of course, no photos during the performance but these were her guitars lined up ready

and, yes, she was that close to where we sat!

She even gave us all a slide show of pics of her since the 70s which were amazing, and talked us through her musical life - getting special applause for her meetings with Nelson Mandela, who used to listen to her music while in prison.

She showed a shot of the type-written programme from Bob Dylan's Picnic at Blackbushe Airport in 1978, where we first saw Joan perform, below blue skies with pink balloons overhead, brought back some memories - here are some (forever faded!) snaps from my scrapbook, with my original £6 ticket:

 again, we weren't far from the front

 and the crowd stretched way back

Ahhh, happy memories . . .

Anyway, this Friday, Joan played all the old favourites and a sprinkling of new blues material which was incredible.  Just her, solo on the stage - piano and guitars - and that powerful voice as good as ever.

I savoured every note of my favourite - "The Weakness In Me" - take a listen

and we filed out into the night - moon high in the sky -

and drove right up the length of the Mersey - had the dock road all to ourselves  - heads still buzzing with the final song - Willow - lovely clip here from a rehearsal studio:

PS
and if you're wanting more - try Rosie - she sang it with as much vigour and enjoyment as she always has:

Oh I could go on and on - just an incredible and amazing concert - such a maestro.  Singer, song-writer, guitarist, pianist and altogther a lovely warm person with the best smile I've ever seen.  Total privilege to have been there.

home and dry

Yesterday something triggered me remembering this wonderful Pink Floyd track and now I can't get it out of my mind!

Resulted in my getting my old vinyl Atom Heart Mother out and reminiscing on my happy first year in Sheffield . . .  and thankful to say many many happy years followed and I'm still here - and happy!

If Youtube is to be believed, this was the only time they played this track live and it was September 16, 1970 at the Paris Theatre in London.  Enjoy 

"If"

If I were a swan, I'd be gone.
If I were a train, I'd be late.
And if I were a good man, I'd talk with you more often than I do.
If I were to sleep, I could dream.
If I were afraid, I could hide.
If I go insane, please don't put your wires in my brain.
If I were the moon, I'd be cool.
If I were a rule, I would bend.
If I were a good man, I'd understand the spaces between friends.
If I were alone, I would cry.
And if I were with you, I'd be home and dry.
And if I go insane, will you still let me join in with the game?
If I were a swan, I'd be gone.
If I were a train, I'd be late again.
If I were a good man, I'd talk to you more often than I do.