Amsterdam Russ

Two unreleased Charmaines Fraternity tracks here. Not sure why Ace aren’t interested in them still. It’s a shame they don’t get the wider exposure they deserve.

Black-winged stilt nesting

Keb used to play it in the 80s as “The dance of the butterflies”.

I'm friends with Liz on Facebook (as I am with Jo Wallace), so we're able to keep in touch. Graham and Liz moved from the Medway down to Whitstable a few years back and Graham's semi-retired (he was 70 last year), although they both still organise occasional record fairs around the Kent area. I used to go to Graham's record shop every Friday when I lived in Maidstone - it was my day off when I worked in John Colliers soon after leaving school. That would have been 83-84, before I moved to London. Bogarts was the first regular soul club I ever went to - jumping the trains from Maidstone Barracks to Strood and doing the same on the way back every Sunday. Happy days! Back to Doris Troy, I saw her perform in her musical "Mama, I want to sing' in London's West End. Chaka Khan played the young Doris, and Doris took the role of her own mother. Got her autograph on the theatre programme that night.

I asked Graham Sage's wife about the banner. Neither can recall it and intend to ask around. But, she did say Graham did see Doris at a pub in Rochester - that was 1996, though. She sent me an image of the flyer. It's rather small, but you can still make out the details.

In the early 80s, at an alldayer at Bogarts in Strood (just down the road from Chatham), the organisers - Keith Rylatt and Graham Sage - held a competition. One of the prizes was a large banner promoting a gig by Doris. I wonder if that was for the event you mention.

With a drizzle of local olive oil and a bottle of Ouzo on the side!

There are no sizeable predators on the island, and I suspect humans found them to be not worth the trouble - especially when there are so many alternatives. Mind you, somebody has got to have given them a go at some point.

Phew, scorchio! How’s the weather where you are?

You forgot to mention that the person Tony is referring to is Bill 'Bunky' Sheppard...

Black storks - Kalloni salt pans, Lesvos.

Great tune and harder to find as a promo copy. I picked this one up in Amsterdam for the price of a beer a couple of years back.

Flamingos on the salt pans of Kalloni (Greek island of Lesvos).

A legend! There’s a worthy obituary here... https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/23/obituaries/dave-bartholomew-dies-at-100.html

Very Escher-esque!

Superb sardines in Sigri...

Classic Greece...

Have to disagree about that - it’s the nectar of the gods!

These Greek island steps are much, much steeper than they look, and a real bugger when heading back up the hill from the sea in 32 degree heat with a backpack laden with wet swimming gear, snorkel, mask, flippers and a cheeky bottle of Ouzo!

Searling has been acknowledged and honoured for, and I quote... Source: https://www.wigantoday.net/news/people/honour-from-queen-for-wigan-casino-soul-dj-1-9809989 That’s more than about just being DJ! Congratulations to him.

Our local Greek train - have to say we were chuffed to bits!

You can’t beat a good Greek breakfast...

We spent a few hours relaxing at a taverna next to Molyvos castle yesterday. Really enjoyed the music being played by whatever Greek radio station they’d tuned into. It was a great mix of jazz, soul and Latin grooves and very surprised to hear, among others, Barbara Lynn “I’m a good woman”, Joe Bataan “Ordinary guy (Afro-Filipino), and Carlton Jumel Smith’s new release “That’s what love looks like”! With a few glasses of Ouzo and some good food, it was an absolute treat!