Amsterdam Russ

View from the balcony just before we called it a day and came indoors after a gloriously sunny day. Steve - there's one of those parakeets for you albeit in silhouette.

It's not right to mock little people!

Today marks the 70th anniversary of liberation from the German occupying forces in the Netherlands. Coincidentally, the German war machine had its Dutch HQ in Aalsmeer, which is where I live. In celebration of Liberation day, we had a convoy of WWII military vehicles start off on a mission, possibly a trip to the nearby town of Amstelveen. I shot a few video clips and strung them together. You can see the result here...

Still amazed by the sighting of the osprey. Funnily enough, my older brother is a postie in Scotland and spends as much time up the mountains as he can. He told me a couple of years back that when first seeing an osprey he thought it was a heron in both flight and shape. That description always stuck with me and he's right. After expecting a buzzard (because we see them frequently here) my first thought on actually seeing the bird was that it was just a heron - except that the wings, which are just as long, are considerably narrower at the ends. And of course, the markings gave it away as soon as I could see the bird's underside properly. As for the swifts, they were screaming brilliantly as they shot close passed the house at the speed of sound or whatever it is they fly at. With their arrival summer is here as far as I'm concerned.

Sincere condolences to you, her family, and all her friends.

Typing this while sitting on the back balcony where we've had the most amazing sighting just a few minutes ago. Heard the warning cries of a gull overhead. Presuming it to be harrying something, I looked skyward expecting to see a buzzard. No, unbelieveably it was a flippin' osprey. Iread a couple of years back that they were occasionally seen in this region, but aren't common visitors. Never seen one before (Dad took us to Loch Garten once when we lived in Scotland about 40 years ago, but the birds had quite literally flown), so I'm absolutely amazed to see one from the comfort of our own home. And I can also report a first sighting of swifts, although that was somewhat tame by comparison!

Excellent article I read about a year or so ago about Mr Tefteller. It's entitled "Why I paid $37,100 for one record." As the story explains, there was only one other known copy of this particular blues 78 and it was already in his collection! https://www.fuse.tv/2013/10/why-i-paid-37100-for-one-record

Could be good timing. I keep hearing 'boogie' the next big thing.

Took a cycle ride onto the Amsterdam woods today on what was a very grey afternoon. I made a special point of going to Bloesempark to see the display of cherry trees. Most of the blossom had gone, unfortunately. Lots of wild flowers to be seen elsewhere, though. On this pic I desaturated the greens and left only the pink of the blossom and the colours of the bark. It makes for a nice effect, I thought. These were taken in a tiny nature reserve called Vogeleiland (Bird Island). The woodland authorities haven't put any signs up to the reserve, so you either know of its existence or you don't, which I think is a great idea in a place that receives something like four million visitors a year. This heron came swooping in very close to me and was slow enough for me to fire off a few shots as it came in to land.

Obviously a dab hand with the puns. Trying to think of some only makes me flounder. Best get me skates on then...

Jeez, that's terrible. On the up side though, how the hell do you safely move 700,000 fish? Anyone who says "carefully" will get a slap with a wet haddock!

I did ask if Monsieur Uptite, who's knowledgable about the French language, if he might fill us in with some more information since he's clearly in the know…

Approaching the windmills at Zaanse Schans in the Netherlands. Taken in July 2007 on a month-long holiday after I'd quit my job in London after nearly 16 years. Three and a half months after this was taken I moved to the Netherlands permanently and have never looked back.

Considering all the records I've seen branded as 'Northern Soul' on eBay, I reckon at least seven million, possibly more.

My 2nd set of the night as guest DJ at the Amsterdam Soul Club is now - thanks to the wonders of modern technology - available to listen online. Classics all the way. Here's the playlist... 2nd set: Mack Rice - Baby I'm coming home Larry Hall - Rebel heart Ronnie Forte - That was whiskey talkin' Tony Middleton - Spanish maiden Jerry Williams - If you ask me Rhonda Davis - Can you remember The Dells - It's all up to you Bobby Sheen - Something new to do Jimmy Ruffin - Gonna give her all the love I've got Cajun Heart - Got to find a way Larry Laster - Go for yourself The Royal Five - Say it to my face Larry Williams - You ask for one good reason Sam & Kitty - I've got something good The Limitations - I'm lonely, I'm troubled Johnny D - Strange love Edwin Starr - I have faith in you By the way, if any of you are looking to come over to the Amsterdam and want to take in the soul club, do give me a shout and I'll point you towards all the useful info. https://www.mixcloud.com/LomaRuss/amsterdam-soul-club-mix-april-pt2/

Don Cornelius used two syllables in his dodgy pronunciation and he was definitely trying to say it en français in my book. My comment was based on that. Let's move on to something a bit more interesting such as Soussan's second coming… What do you know?

The two syllable pronunciation was exactly what I was trying to get across… See-mon. Simone is also two syllables, hence my point!

One just come up for sale here... https://www.raresoul45s.co.uk/shop/new-arrivals/harrold-melvin?product_id=2178&category_id=2

That's how you'd pronounce "Simon" in French. I guess SS was playing up that part of his heritage.

Lovely story and pics - thanks for sharing.

"Get the money" - a cracking boogaloo release from Amsterdam band The Mighty Typhoons and released as a 45 on the recently formed Tardam record label just a few weeks ago. I played this out at the Amsterdam Soul Club last week and it went down a storm. The name Tardam combines the names Taranto in Italy and Amsterdam, the respective homes of the label's founders which include collector and DJ Goffredo Santovito. By the way, the 2nd track on this three track 45 ISN'T that Snake!

Just uploaded to Mixcloud - my first set at the Amsterdam Soul Club last Saturday night (18th April). Loma Russ Playlist – 1st set: Ben Aiken - Satisfied Darrell Banks - Somebody (Somewhere) needs you Edwin Star - SOS Stop her on sight Eddie Parker - Love you baby The Five Beltones - I can't believe it (Acetate) The Mighty Typhoons - Get the money Speedometer - Happy Maxine Brown - It's torture Inez & Charlie Foxx - Tightrope AC Reed - My baby's been cheating Carl Douglas - Something for nothing Roscoe Shelton - Running for my life Lawanda Bell - Down, down, down (Acetate) Vince Apollo - I bear witness Bobby Garrett - I can't get away NA Allen - Open the door to your heart Joe Turner - Two loves have I Jo Stance - Hey girl https://www.mixcloud.com/LomaRuss/amsterdam-soul-club-mix-april-2015-pt1/

Here you go...

The one sold by JM last December had the year 1973 on it.

For almost a year now I've been taking regular pics of the scenery through the same front window using my iPad. What I eventually want to do is string them together in a rapid slide show in the hope that the changing of the seasons might be readily apparent. If so, I'll load it up to YouTube. Had my iPad pressed up against the glass just a few minutes ago when a jackdaw came flying in my direction (there's roosting space above the windows and under the eaves). The bird got very close, suddenly saw me on the other side of the glass, did an emergency mid-air break and flew away. Nice capture, I thought!