News you might have missed: January 2017

From rail fares to sex education, and UKIP on HE to Hamilton...

Here's the news you might have missed in January...

My 2017 objectives

Here are my objectives for 2017. My cunning plan is that if i publicise them, then hopefully i will achieve them...

1 Hit my fitbit target (10,000 steps per day) 90% of the time
I received a fitbit for Christmas 2015 and a year of using it (and the associated app) has taught me many things including how immobile i can be on some days (especially working from home days). The 90% target is equivalent to just over 6 days a week so i can still have some slack days!

2 Lose 5kg (~11 lbs)
Thanks to an exercise routine, healthier eating and a great personal trainer (thanks Alex), I have lost some weight over the last two years (although not as much as some people think!). Losing another 5kg will drop my weight below a symbolic weight (which i'm not going to publicise!).

3 Run 5k in a race
So far my running has included doing a Couch to 5K programme, 30 minute runs on a road, and 5K runs on a running machine. I think the next stage is to actually run in a proper race (probably slowly but surely).

4 Go to at least two Lib Dem meetings
I have been rather a passive activist for the last few years. I supported the coalition but didn't do much for the 2015 general election or the Brexit referendum. However the cumulative effect of Brexit, unrestrained Tories, incompetent Labour and the Lib Dems coming back will hopefully motivate me to get more active. I have normally managed to make one meeting a year (either locally or nationally) so two meetings will be progress!

5 Deliver leaflets for someone standing for election
Being politically active means more than just going to meetings. This year there are county council elections and i'm sure they will be plenty of candidates that i will want to support. Delivering leaflets will also help me meet my daily step goal so definitely a win-win!

6 Get paid by 6 people to give them a massage
I completed my aromatherapy massage qualification in 2015 and proceeded to do nothing with it except massage a few friends on holiday. I enjoy massaging so plan to get back into it properly.

7 Write 6 blog posts (that are not just News You Might Have Missed)
My blogging has been sporadic over the years but i have managed a news round-up each month. As part of being more politically active, i want to find my voice and express myself in more than just facebook or twitter updates.

8 Go to one genealogy-related event
I've dipped in and out of researching my family tree over the years. I definitely think it is time to get back into it as i have many brick walls to break through (including finding the birth of my Irish great-grandmother). I can do internet searches easily enough but want to go to a real-world event to get motivated.

Why have eight objectives? Because eight is great!

News you might have missed: December 2016

From a shock by-election result to a dodgy loan, and from student visas to a graduate suing for bad teaching...

Here's the news you might have missed in December...

News you might have missed: November 2016

Apart from the US election and it's ongoing fallout, there has been some other news...

Here's the news you might have missed in November...

News you might have missed: September 2016

From Brexit plans (or lack thereof) to Justin Trudeau, and from Freshers to algorithms...

Here's the news you might have missed in September...

News you might have missed: June 2016

Ignoring the Brexit referendum and its fallout, there was a tiny bit of other news...

Here's the news you might have missed in June...

Lessons from going to the gym

One of my new year's resolutions was to get fit. I joined a gym at the end of January and have managed to go three times a week since then. Here are the lessons I've learnt in that time...

1. There is normally someone fatter than you there - don't stress about your body. They are doing their own thing so you can too.

2. There is always someone older and someone younger than you there.

3. There is always some eye candy - either in person or on the TV screens.

4. I'd like to thank the designers of revealing singlets and the muscle boys who wear them.

5. Stairmasters are evil but do wonders to your legs and bum

6. Hipster beards are still in

7. So are Celtic tattoos

8. Gyms are full of homosocials - men and women rarely talk to each other

9. The more guys inflate their bodies, the smaller other bits of their anatomy look (I'm obviously talking about their heads!)

10. Thanks to music tv, I can confirm that I know more songs by The Saturdays than I thought I did.

11. 90s dance music is very motivating. Modern dance music is just noise...

12. Personal Trainers are worth the money, if you can afford them.


And finally, just because I like the video...

Loving some Taylor Swift

I received Taylor Swift's new album (1989) for Christmas so have been listening it a lot.

My favorite tracks are both catchy, well-written yet also self-mocking songs (or with self-mocking videos):

Blank Space

Shake it off

From her previous albums i am also a big fan of:

22 (from "Red")

When i was 22, i was had started my PhD so my social life consisted of other research students, other friends from Aston (LGBT and from the Guild), and friends from Birmingham uni (LGBT and course mates who were still around) - I was a social butterfly!

Love Story (from "Fearless")

I think this was the first Taylor Swift song i was aware of - very catchy!

Ben Cohen on Strictly - All the dances

For your viewing pleasure, I present all of Ben Cohen's dances on Strictly...

Week 1 - Love Me Again - Cha Cha Cha

Week 2 - What the World Needs Is Love - Waltz

Week 3 - Make You Feel My Love - Rumba

Week 4 - Hard to Handle - Salsa

Week 5 - I'll Be There For You - Quickstep

Week 6 - Supermassive Black Hole - Paso Doble

Week 7 - Jump, Jive an' Wail - Jive

Week 8 - Fallin' - American Smooth

Week 9 - No Diggity - Charleston

Picture from: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/11/03/strictly-come-dancing-ben-cohen-topless_n_4207610.html

It's time for Cher

Image from her website

In light of Cher posting her campest video yet, i thought i would post some of my favourite Cher songs/videos.

First of all, here's that camp extravaganza... (and the song isn't too bad)

Two images of Cher come immediately to mind. The first is her 1980s image, sat astride a cannon, wearing leather, surrounded by sailors (insert your own innuendo here)

The second is her 1960's image, very much the hippy chick

As my clubbing days peaked in the late 90s and early 00s, the Cher song i have probably danced to most is "Believe"

Other 1990's songs i like include "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in his kiss)" and "Walking in Memphis" - both covers but also definitive versions...

And to finish, last month Cher was on the Graham Norton Show recently where she was praised by Jennifer Saunders and then sang - great TV...

Music from my freshers (1994!)

Whilst i was out on a run tonight (go me!), it was clear that i live in a very studenty area. The badly parked cars and fast food rubbish gave it away! The new Northampton Uni students arrived last weekend so i also ran past various groups of teenagers looking lost (or looking for an off-licence). 

I was reminded that 19 years ago (19!) I was one of those freshers, finding my way around Birmingham Uni and my Hall of Residence (Griffin Hall - a series of ugly blocks of 1960s flats - now fortunately demolished). 

So here for my benefit is some of the music that i associate with that time (1994/95)...

Whigfield - Saturday Night

My strongest memory of my Freshers Week was going to the Dome nightclub on the Monday night, losing the people from my hall that i went with within five minutes, bumping into a random friend from home, and watching what felt like the entire nightclub doing the dance routine to this song...

Doop - Doop

Although Doop came out earlier in 1994, it was still going strong when i went to uni. Based on the charleston, i soon learnt that i was not cut out to dance quickly...

Rednex - Cotton Eye Joe

The mid-90s was definitely the time for novelty pop songs sampling other types of music, and this was no exception. Again, most clubbers tried, and failed, to dance in time to this...

Nicki French - Total eclipse of the heart

I may not have been out at the time, but i knew a gay disco classic when i heard it...

Boo Radleys - Wake up Boo

"Wake up, its a beautiful morning..."

My first year at uni was not the best time in my life. But whenever i felt down, songs like this cheered me up

December 2012 stats

Here are the stats for posterity...

Pageviews: 133

Top posts:
Five Equal Marriage predictions for 2013
November 2012 stats
Read this... Student loans




And finally - Happy New Year...

Music from our wedding day - Part 3 - The meal (cont.)

On our wedding day, we wanted to have songs that meant something to us. Here is a sample of those songs. The links are to versions on YouTube - let me know if they don't work

Background music from the meal (cont.):

Dusty Springfield - Son of a Preacher man

The son of a painter man met a son of a 'puter man...


Eartha Kitt - My Heart Belongs to Daddy

Eartha Kitt - I want to be evil

Florence and the Machine - You've got the love

ABBA - I do, I do, I do, I do, I do

Pet Shop Boys - Absolutely Fabulous

"Just a screen washer i picked up at the lights..."


Bananarama - Help

The Beach Boys - Sloop John B

Dolly Parton - I will always love you

Elvis Presley - Burning Love

Previous posts:

Music from our wedding day - Part 1 - The ceremony
Music from our wedding day - Part 2 - The meal

Music from our wedding day - Part 2 - The meal

On our wedding day, we wanted to have songs that meant something to us. Here is a sample of those songs. The links are to versions on YouTube - let me know if they don't work

Background music from the meal:

John Paul Young - Love is in the air

Tiffany - I think we're alone now 
(played the night we met)

Angry Anderson - Suddenly
(from Scott and Charlene's wedding)

Glen Medeiros - Nothing's gonna change my love for you

Savage Garden - I knew i loved you

 Voice of the Beehive - I think i love you

Sonny and Cher - I got you babe

The Puppini Sisters - Wuthering Heights

Mama Cass Elliot - Make your own kind of music
(from Beautiful Thing - a sweet film)

Ethel Merman - There's no business like show business
(from her disco album!)

Related posts:

Music from our wedding day - Part 1 - The ceremony
Music from our wedding day - Part 2 - The meal
Music from our wedding day - Part 3 - The meal (cont.)

Music from our wedding day - Part 1 - The ceremony

On our wedding day, we wanted to have songs that meant something to us. Here is a sample of those songs. The links are to versions on YouTube - let me know if they don't work

From the ceremony (played on a lovely piano):


ABBA - Arrival

Because it sounds Scottish but is actually ABBA - an essential song for a civil partnership in Scotland ;-)


Highland Cathedral

A lovely piece of music (although it does go on for longer than you think!)


Ode to Joy

The ceremony ended with "Ode to Joy" - the classical version rather than the Muppet version!

Related posts:

Music from our wedding day - Part 1 - The ceremony
Music from our wedding day - Part 2 - The meal
Music from our wedding day - Part 3 - The meal (cont.)

Bee Gees and me

Following the sad news about Donna Summer, there is more sad news that Robin Gibb, from the Bee Gees has also died. I thought i would add my memories of their music.

Saturday Night Fever

Given that the film launched a lot of their songs, i don't really remember the plot or many of the characters!


Staying Alive

This is such a disco classic, it doesn't have any specific memories for me - i just picture lots of dance floors, and lots of pointing!


Tragedy

Although this was a big hit for the Bee Gees, the cover by Steps means far more to me...

Two memories come flooding back:
1) Saturday nights at the Route 2 bar in Birmingham (RIP) when the whole bar failed to resist the urge to do the moves
2) Being dragged onto the dance floor at my friends' wedding to the pleasure of the DJ ("I love to watch guys doing it on the dance floor"!!)


Chain Reaction

This was released in 1985 and i think i remember it coming out at the time - an early introduction to Diana Ross and the Bee Gees! The Steps cover was not as good (especially as they edited the lyrics) .


Immortality

Not one of their more famous songs, this was a big hit for Celine Dion. An ex-housemate was a huge Celine fan and used to play this a lot. Although i grew sick of it at the time, i now look back fondly on those days when i was younger and thinner than i am now!

Donna Summer and me!

Donna Summer has passed away at the age of 63.

Lots of people have posted lots of posts about this tragic news so i thought i would add my memories.

As i was born in 1976, i don't really remember any of the songs from when they first came out but the music has lasted this long and will be with us for many years to come.


This Time I Know It Is For Real (1989)

This i do remember the first time round. I guess it must of been one of the first of her songs i was aware of. It sounds a bit generic Stock Aitken and Waterman. This reminds me of 80s music club nights in the 90s when i was discovering lots of types of music but kept coming back to cheesy pop!


Hot Stuff (1979)

Although i must have danced to this plenty of times, this song is strongly connected to the film "The Full Monty" in 1997. A film about male strippers - what's not to like!



I  Feel Love (1977)

This song is one of the gay disco classics although i only really heard it in gay clubs in the late 90s. It is a strange mix of slow vocals but speedy bass line aka hard to dance to!



Love to Love You Baby (1975)

This is radio music for me, rather than dancing music, but the girl can clearly sing! A great legacy!