Tattoodave

Yes, things do turn up that are presumed lost in the post. I had one arrive 7 months after I'd given up hope and had got a refund, couldn't track down the seller as he'd closed his eBay account to let him have his money either, so I effectively had a freebie.

Ady, if you don't want to go in with a scalpel you can always try a wooden toothpick it's a lot more forgiving, and pushes the vinyl back rather than slicing a bit off, I've done it with quite a few, but you need a good magnifying glass to see what you're do

It says the venue owner is a money grabber, pretty much like Chris Burton and yourself, OK, ban me from any of your venues, I wouldn't give a toss, not even with Benalmadena just up the road from me.

One to put on my Christmas wish list!

Sounds wonderful

Should have been a film!! Wonderful tribute to the early days of Motown

Might be a time traveller Russ, if so, and they are going back to the 60's ever can I give them my wants list?

1. everyone that has survived has become more cynical, mean and often hasn't really grown up, so most resent younger kids coming along and spoiling their game (read the next two before dismissing me as a crackpot ) 2. Not a lot, they didn't get it in the 70's, and progression hasn't shown any significant promise that they will now. 3. Kids are kids, some will see sense and realise that mind numbing crap is just that, mind numbing crap and will see the light, some will be put off by the prospects of the mountain of knowledge that is put in front of them, but the true disciple will carry on in their personal search for development of character and maybe reach the total bliss of living for the weekend, fuelled by illegal chemicals and give up any hope of ever being considered normal again. That's just my cynical and mean view. But if you are serious about writing a screen play you really need to be asking someone young who has just discovered the scene.

Wow, that's some read, kudos to you too Lorraine and Dave

Daffy now gets respect!

I haven't eaten meat or fish since I was a teenager, and the last time I touched any was to feed a guillemot that I rescued when it was covered in oil, surprisingly it liked sardines in tomato sauce, that was all I could find in the convenience store on a Sunday night.

I was sat on a bank eating my lunch when a pair swam past slowly, their teeth were the first thing I noticed as I was going to throw some bread, then I thought that beak is meant for something far more serious than bread. Lovely birds, but they have a prehistoric look to their bills

Done vaguely

Have you ever seen one close up Martyn? Surprisingly they have big teeth!

I have seen one, many years ago caged in New Zealand, I don't know where they got it from though, looked quite perky and obviously well loved.

I still think it could be a robin with too much melanin, I've known it happen before, hopefully I can get a photo if I can find it again. Thanks for having a look Steve, I don't have any bird books here. Dave

OK Steve, I'm not convinced, but I'll take it on board. This bird was jet black all over though.

Yes, Russell, saw it's rump, all black, all over, definitely a robin, seen it twice now, first time I dismissed it as a black redstart, which there is at least one locally, but this is different. We need rain desperately, and I'm happy if it comes about once a fortnight, but when it comes it tends to come in buckets.

Saw a robin this morning, not a juvenile and no red breast, he was all over black. I know there's a black robin native to New Zealand, but wondered if it's just a case of too much melanin, i.e. the reverse of the white melanin deficiency type? If the weather improves I'll take my camera out and try to get a shot if he's still around, but it's wet at the moment and not too inviting.

Every week seems there's another light extinguished from our world, sad news comes too often. My thoughts are with her family at what is usually a joyous time of year for them. RIP Frances.

This is he Peter, sleeps a lot, but goes like a bullet when he needs to, has his own passport too.

Obviously not a countryman! Shame that in such cases the hunter can't be hunted

We are due some rain Steve, and as long as it comes about once a fortnight I don't mind, it's grey at the moment, but warm enough, so I can't complain. The first of the narcissi are in flower, but too far away for me to get to photograph them this year. Just 3 months until the spring flowers start showing, until then the bougainvilleas, bignonias, hibiscus, lantana and aloes will keep me happy.

This is Lantana camara, still in profuse flower here, and a great candidate for bonsai, comes in a myriad of colours now thanks to intense cross breeding, so I'm looking at digging up some established plants this winter to put into pots and train as bonsai, at least that is my plan, it may constitute a move to a bigger place.

Sad news indeed, always chatty, always funny, always smiling, RIP Tony