Amsterdam Russ

Caught a warming ray of evening sunlight shining through the blinds and partially illuminating one of the sunflowers we've got in a vase on the table... In other news, I've now twice spied a peregrine while on the back balcony. They usually nest on the nearby art deco water tower that's about half a mile from us. Typically it's front page news on the local paper, but don't think I've seen or read anything about them breeding this year. My two sightings in recent days suggests that they did.

Not got many gospel 45s, but thought I'd have a go at putting some of them together in a mix. Sounds range from the proto-R&B gospel revival sound to funkier grooves. Naturally I'm biased, but I have to say I think it makes for great listening. Might not be of much interest to folks on here, but hey, I thought it worth a plug... Track listing: 1. The Story Of Job - The Gospel Pearls 2. Shadrack - Sister Rosetta Tharpe & Marie Knight 3. Where Jesus Is - The Jubilee Hummingbirds 4. Don't You Want To Go - The Meditation Singers 5. Wade In The Water - The Ramada Singers 6. Elijah Rock - Mahalia Jackson 7. You Can Depend On Me - The Salem Travelers 8. Nobody Can Turn Me Around - The Mighty Clouds of Joy 9. Two Little Fishes - The Gospel Pearls 10. It Ain't Necessarily So - Milton Grayson 11. Didn't It Rain - Evelyn Freeman 12. Holy Holy - Daughters of Zion 13. Jericho - Sister Rosetta Tharpe 14. On The Right Road Now - Wanda Talford 15. Same Thing It Took - The Jubilee Hummingbirds 16. Lord, Help Me To Hold Out - Swan Mellarks www.mixcloud.com/LomaRuss/gospel-pearls-to-lift-your-soul/

Yup. Looked very quiet in the clip. I understand that the first nighter there was packed.

Saw a news item & short vid pop up on the BBC News website a little while ago about a Northern Soul club that's just opened in Birmingham. I'm guessing that this is the club mentioned in the "Call out for dancers/original Northern soul fans" thread that attracted so much vitriol recently. Anyway, here's the link to the BBC News story, such as it is. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-33676835

Personally speaking, I think it's a fantastic tune and it's one I've played out in Amsterdam, although not for a good while.

Wonderful Greek blue landscape as seen on hols recently.

That's how events unfolded. Arthur said that Kell was planning to visit the UK at some point in the future to perform. Some time later he told me that this had been cancelled as Kell was unwell. Relative to that CD, which was produced and arranged by Arthur, there's one standout track on it - for me at any rate - called Mr Songwriter. Always had it in mind to get a carver done and play it out somewhere. Might still do that.

You've got a point. Reckon they'd be perfect for doing 'the duck'. Now what's all this about you falling over. Drunk was it???

Flamenco - very fitting. I like the sound of that!

Many say I'm a great wit, Steve. Mind you, my hearing's not as good as it was, so it could be twit. All that Trappist beer?

Much appreciated, Dave. Trumpet vine - think I can even remember that. They add such a great splash of colour wherever they grow. Really nice to see.

Perhaps it's a listed building…

I remember buying the Kell Osborne cd on Arthur Wright's Nonstop Records label about 10 years ago in what was a very early online transaction for me. No idea how it happened, but I ordered one CD and somehow paid for it twice, although I didn't immediately realise that I'd done this. After buying the CD I got a couple of emails from Arthur telling me that there were plans afoot for Kell to perform in the UK. I think this was one of the first times ever that I'd had any sort of interaction with someone actually involved in creating the music that I loved so much, and I was absolutely thrilled at the fact that here I was several 1000 miles away on the other side of the Atlantic exchanging emails with Arthur Wright. Wow! I realised soon after that I'd paid twice for the CD, but just couldn't bring myself to go back and make a fuss about it. Thank you for the music - and for the thrill. RIP.

Thank you!

Likewise, we love Greece and Lesvos in particular. This is our sixth visit to the island. Very difficult being there this year in some respects, although without a doubt we had a great time. We feel for the local people. Not only are they suffering because of the ongoing financial crisis, but tourism is down something like 20% so far this season as a result and the worries people have about the tide of refugees, the latter concerns being unfounded. Unfortunately it seems likely the wonderful locals will be facing a tougher time than they've had already - as if that wasn't bad enough. As for me, don't go thinking that what you see in the pic is my usual attire. It's impossible to dance in flippers!

A few more holiday snaps... By the edge of the sea, a little way from Molyvos, is a freshwater pool where turtles can be found. Although naturally shy, they can be coaxed out with offerings of bread, their hunger for which will bring them right to your feet. As well as turtles there are also frogs. If you sit quietly for long enough they'll venture out of the water and come very close. Make a sudden move and they're back in the water with a single leap. Other forms of aquatic life can also be spotted. This is the rarely spotted Snorkelus Russellum, seen here on what was, unusually, a rainy day. Probably one of the top three sights photographed in Molyvos - moored in the harbour, this former fishing boat is available for private trips courtesy of skipper and friend Stratis. The fresh and totally fabulous local food is a major attraction for us. In this case, calamari... A few glasses of vino and the sound of traditional Greek music played under the watchful stony gaze of Molyvos castle. Simple pleasures greatly enjoyed.

A few snaps from our recent Greek adventure in and around Molyvos on the island of Lesvos... Molyvos harbour. In the mornings I'd occasionally swim from quite a bit out of left of the frame up to the right-hand side of the harbour and back again. Lots of great snorkelling to be had on the way! Setting sun - harbour These flowers (name?) are to be seen everywhere in Molyvos More unspecified flora Glass of wine, anyone? Bus station. Opposite is the coast of Turkey, just six miles away. It's from here that all the refugees set off in unsuitable and dangerously overcrowded dinghies - at a cost of at least 1,000 euros per person. Those supplying the crafts and inferior life jackets are making an absolute fortune.

Well pleased to have spotted a stork when we were in the Amsterdam woods for a bit of a stroll and a bite to eat early evening. Just as Steve's plovers were too far away, so the stork was well out of effective range of my 200mm zoom - hence severe cropping needed.

I'm not long back from three weeks in Molyvos on the Greek island of Lesvos. Having been there a few times now everything is very familiar, so I find myself taking less and less pics. My Nikon hardly saw any action at all and I relied on my ever-present iPad Mini to capture the photographic record. These black & whites are post processed from colour snaps using the somewhat simple but still useful Photoshop app for iOS... Molyvos castle... One-time small fishing boat skippered by friend Stratis Kabanas who takes a max of four people out on snorkelling and pleasure trips locally under the name of "Escape". A local fishing boat heading out for the night from Molyvos' small harbour. The vista from Molyvos' pebbly beach. From this location I'd swim to the outside wall of the harbour (which you can see on the far right) and back again. Lots of great snorkelling to be had on the way in wonderfully clear waters. In spite of the twin financial and refugee crises faced by the island, I have to say that the local people are incredibly generous in their warmth and support of the migrants who are now overwhelming what little facilities exist for them.

Kalimera from Molyvos on the Greek island of Lesvos. Here's the early morning scene as the sun rises over the castle behind our apartment...

​What's written on a birth certificate doesn't always reflect the truth. Let us know how you get on...

In interviews she states that Carl introduced her to Jerry Ragovoy, which eventually led to her cutting her debut album "I got love" with him. That came out in 1980, meaning the relationship with Ragovoy began earlier and that she had known Carl for a longer period of time. In one article on her own website she refers to Carl as "dear late brother/friend". She might use both as terms of endearment, but not at the same time. At least I don't think so, although I wouldn't be prepared to stand on that point alone. As for conflict in timelines, who's to say that they were siblings in the same happy nuclear family? Marriages, divorce, extra-marrital affairs, one-night stands, etc, etc… It could be that they were half brother/sister. More digging definitely needed...

As a further addendum, how about this? It's a playbill of the short-lived theatre production "Truly Blessed - a musical celebration of Mahalia Jackson", which ran for just four weeks. There are two autographs on the cover. One is from the leading lady, Queen Esther Marrow, and the other is… <doh!>

As an addendum, Carl has a sister in the form of Peggi Blu who has some fame as the "American Idol Vocal Coach from Hell"! A quick search for her via your favourite search engine brings up a wealth of information...

I've read comments online from a son of Carl's confirming his father's demise.