Twoshoes

Lovely area Andy, I stayed in Plockton about 15 yrs ago, my former neighbours were Scottish and her parents had a holiday home just above the Loch. We had a memorable night in the Plockton Inn with local musicians playing being joined by young people from if memory serves me right a nearby music school. Cheated just looked it up and for once my memory did serve, Sgoil Chiùil na Gàidhealtachd (National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music) at Plockton High School Highland.

Apart from the actual joy of listening to the music those few words some up one of the other delights of collecting, I remember back when I first started my own journey into soul music and the missed heartbeat coming across a Blue Stax record which though common to find were for me as a fourteen year old new to the music with little money was true treasure. Seeing the label today still warms my heart and brings a smile.

Frankie Saunders, great tune and one that had completely slipped my mind, added to wants list cheers Mal

Those were the ones I bought Steve, I found they had good reviews across several sites, I bought the RSPB guide which hopefully should arrive tomorrow. I honestly didn't think I would get as much pleasure as I have done from getting closer to wildlife.

Cheers Andy, thanks for reminding me, I thought about that when I was out walking and looked up some intending to download one when I got home, completely forgot.

Not adding much to the thread but I've seen it listed as such somewhere on Discogs, obviously I mean it's me not adding much to the thread not you.

Down to the photos posted on here I reckoned I didn't need any more records for a day or two so spent my birthday money on a pair of binoculars. Did some research on a few birding sites and followed the advice, didn't want to do my usual trick of buying something expensive then never using it/them so went for one with good reviews. Happy with the ones I bought but maybe would have bought bigger magnification if I'd had the opportunity to test them first. So a big thanks to Steve, Martyn, Russ and everyone who posts up pics, made my walks a lot more enjoyable, resulted in a few conversations I probably would not have had with passing strangers, first day trying them brown bird turned out to be a Greenfinch, who knew them little brown birds had such a variety of markings and shades of brown, now had to send off for bird book to carry with me. Also great for spotting the elusive stile across a field on little used paths...not that there's many of those at the moment. Normally I would not complain but there's an awful lot of tits about 😉 Cheers chaps 👍

It was toss up between Keep and Depends for me. As Russ says it's down to the promoter who should know whether his night and the crowd he caters for warrants a second room. If the promoter knows from the get go that the main room always has a good crowd and there is also a demand for a room playing in whatever way something different plus the Dj's playing in that room are aware they will be playing to a limited audience I see no problem. I've seen it work with the same Dj's playing both rooms, some of the Dj's I know were happy to play and try out tunes in the second room they know would not gain instant acceptance in the main room. Much as I enjoy the tried and tested given the choice I'd go for listening to new, underplayed, rare, whatever just something other than the same old same old. If the promoter is happy with a second room and it does not adversely affect the main room happy days.

Brilliant mix, much enjoyed .

Me too, I once wrote a poem based on it, it's called Pareidolia if you weren't aware, hope the link works https://www.lenstore.co.uk/eyecare/pareidolia-science

My buying pattern during lockdown. Retiring last July has given me more time to browse the well known sites plus sales on here which has given me a far greater knowledge of prices and availability of records within my budget. I only started buying again a couple of years ago so whilst working I was buying every week. A lot of them were impulse buys a substantial amount being previously unknown to me and cheap ,this is something I now try to avoid with a stricter budget, I'm not one of the lucky one with a big pension pot so I try to be more selective. I had a spell of buying tunes I have always loved but once thought would be out of my price range, with time and patience I have managed to get a few at a price I'm comfortable with. I have a wants list on Discogs which I use as a memory jogger, if I hear something on a podcast or media thread on here and initially like it it goes on the list if it's within my budget, alternative list for if I ever have the money ones, were I would have previously probably bought something on first hearing this gives me the chance over time to decide whether I really want the record, some have been on the wants list for eighteen months and will probably stay there. I buy across the whole spectrum though recently I've been buying beat ballads. I also have developed a liking for popcorn and early 60's stuff best that I can describe it as would be the crossover from Doo Wop into soul an example being the Flamingos I Know Better. Being more selective I'm buying fewer records but paying more for the ones I do, where I was buying around three a week at the start of lockdown I've thus far bought five in the last two months. Len's reply came up as I'm typing mine and like him I've also been going through the boxes, yesterday was a day of Deep Soul, the day before Atlantic and Stax, I had a an hour or so last week of chart soul from the 70's and early 80's.

Just dropped through, looks great, quality piece of work , 👍

Like that Andy new one to me, coincidentally I listened to the Truly Smith yesterday, French Ep for sale on ebay, amused me no end, I think the video clip I checked out on Discogs was possibly from a French tv show, she was dancing against a backdrop of a Graffiti wall which had a rude phrase painted on 😵😇

I can't answer that Dave, I'm no expert on birdlife and on the day in question I only had my mobile for the photo, I never learn, I know I've set off out too many thinking should I take the camera and regretted not doing so. I've learnt something again on this thread though, I'd heard of the Goosander but not the Merganser, I'm going to have to pre pack my British Wildlife book and the camera in future though I'm not sure the outcome would be much different.

A few from recent walks, interesting pattern of snow on a fallen tree, old man in the shadows ,

I found a good place to start is to put your wants list on Discogs then all the dealers on there who have the record you want will come up. This gives you a good idea what the records you are after are available for and in what condition. From there search the other sites suggested here plus any others you come across and make the comparisons on price. I've bought off Silverfox several times, always gives good service

The field behind my house is green belt and one of the areas earmarked for possible development by Bury Council. Worryingly the land between the two rows of houses was put up for auction after planning permission had failed twice for one house. The guy lost nigh on twenty grand in eighteen months, we still don't know who has bought the land but as it gives prime access to the field we think it has possibly been bought either by the so called farmer or one of the large housebuilding groups with a view to future development. Rammy Civic also hosted Northern nights for many years initially promoted by Darren Sykes and Phil Wheelhouse who did a sterling job bringing Dj's from further afield ignoring the you do mine and I'll do yours route , latterly by Des Jones continuing the work put in at Rammy Cricket Club for over ten years. Great nights wonderful memories, Talc Gate anyone ☠️

Maybe a subject for discussion on a new thread but the off road bikes are a real problem on the moor opposite my house, there are signs everywhere saying they are not permitted which always has me wondering where do people draw the line as to where the law doesn't apply to them. Paths are becoming unwalkable in some places. Another factor is unless you know the footpaths it is becoming harder for walkers from out of the area I would imagine to distinguish what is a legitimate path and what is a cycle track These photos don't really convey the amount of damage actually being done. I have spoken to two local landowners who have both been threatened with violence confronting bikers. I used to have less of a problem with mountain bikers but on some paths and one in particular that I have walked for the last twenty years which passes through National Trust land because of the nature of the path and restricted area for the path to deviate I can easily see within the next couple of years it being too dangerous to walk. Don't get me wrong I respect peoples right to roam but once water gathers in the tracks left by cyclists or bikers it becomes a slippery slope (no pun intended) to a mud bath and once that happens from what I have witnessed first hand said people move to the left or right and what was once a small footpath becomes a bog to be traversed. Footpaths were once just that and no one I guess could have predicted the rise in Mountain biking as a leisure pursuit, I don't see an easy solution to an ever growing problem and can understand to some extent bikers not seeing anything wrong in how they enjoy the countryside but I honestly believe some areas will eventually become impassable even for them. apologies for the rant,

Good Times Jerry Butler, seller had one on Uk Fontana Mint £5 cheaper than everyone else but accepting offers so cheekily I offered £8 which he refused and promptly relisted at £14.99 . Kicked myself and bought from someone else graded conservative VG+ for £9.99.

94.Alarm? 97. EVIL ONE, oops sorry, song title

49. Race 16. Sun?

A few to end the year from walks in the last couple of days, the tunnel one is the of the subway to Stubbins Halt station on the ELR , you can just about make out the blue tiles, I've passed the large tree one many times and never noticed the size of the branches which are the size of tree trunks on there own.

Tempted to post that sentiment as my highlight of the year soul wise in that thread on here, still some gentleman around thankfully ,restored a bit of faith in human nature on a scene where all too often it's the fast buck that matters 👍

Moody sunset sky behind Holcolmbe Hill Ramsbottom earlier today.

Speaking purely as a listener I wouldn't pay to listen. I already find it annoying that you now cannot backtrack when listening if someone plays a tune you like which I assume you can still do if you pay. I'd be disappointed if someone like Mal whose shows I listen to became unavailable unless I paid as his themed selections are always an interesting mix and much enjoyed. Maybe in time we will have no choice but to pay if not enough people voluntarily cough up, hope it does not come to that