tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574244939174327228.post3930945942944493219..comments2024-03-28T15:38:54.673+08:00Comments on .: Letter From Springtime England Amid Covid: Allan ThompsonANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. ©http://www.blogger.com/profile/10946638825812052608noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574244939174327228.post-40162156549724387642020-04-06T15:17:52.379+08:002020-04-06T15:17:52.379+08:00Cedric Collars Who Writes From Australia:
Hi Cedr...Cedric Collars Who Writes From Australia:<br /><br />Hi Cedric,<br />I asked you for a slice of your cake and you gave me your bakery!<br />Thanks so much for the detailed and sumptuous comment you provided so generously.<br />Also for the latest news on the internationally well-renowned music makers who have just passed away.<br /><br />I cannot thank you enough.<br /><br />**********<br /><br />An Ode To Spring<br /><br />I must also thank EDDY ENG who so willingly contributes to this blog.<br />Busy as this engineer is, he spares time always to write tributes and anecdotes for us to read.<br />Eddy is an SG 60's music fan, having attended most of our Silver Strings Concerts on this island.<br /><br />These two gentlemen have a special way with words.<br /><br />Thanks to my readers and friends very much for response.<br /><br />6.4.20ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. ©https://www.blogger.com/profile/10946638825812052608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574244939174327228.post-56024227647620729702020-04-06T15:04:43.042+08:002020-04-06T15:04:43.042+08:00Yes, a beautiful country indeed.
I was on the M1 H...Yes, a beautiful country indeed.<br />I was on the M1 Highway and stopped by a Patrol car.<br />Slowing down at the side, the police officer shouted, "Drive faster, you're going too slowly! This is a 110 kmh. zone!"<br />My wife and I laughed thinking we could have been summoned for speeding.<br />Thanks Peter.ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. ©https://www.blogger.com/profile/10946638825812052608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574244939174327228.post-33662340862282289412020-04-06T14:59:32.452+08:002020-04-06T14:59:32.452+08:00yes Visit UK many times.
My sis lives in Luton.
...yes Visit UK many times. <br />My sis lives in Luton. <br />Last visited in March last yrPETER CHEONGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574244939174327228.post-41523861292238271422020-04-06T14:51:34.962+08:002020-04-06T14:51:34.962+08:00Thanks Peter for your interesting tale of your Eng...Thanks Peter for your interesting tale of your English tour. <br />I am sure Allan would be glad to read it. <br />I'll have it posted on the blog. <br />Wow! <br />A Vauxhall is indeed a guzzler. <br />And you still remember the places you visited. <br />Yes, Wales is special. <br />It's easier to read Scottish road signs.ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. ©https://www.blogger.com/profile/10946638825812052608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574244939174327228.post-8032212935555068122020-04-06T14:49:36.764+08:002020-04-06T14:49:36.764+08:00I was in Watford for 14 mths to study printing tec...I was in Watford for 14 mths to study printing technology. <br />It's a small town town abt 2x AMK. <br />Nice n quiet place abt 30 to40 mins fr London's Victoria Stn. <br />Was there wif 2 colleagues lived in an old hse wif a garden, paid by coy. <br />Each of us was paid £25 per day, except Sunday. <br />That was $75. <br />Gd money. <br />Flowers will bloom during springtime. <br />Nice surroundings. <br />Kampong like. <br />People were friendly. <br />Aft 3 months we bought an old Vauxhall for £500. <br />It was a fuel guzzler. <br />With a car we were able to drive to Nottingham, Liverpool, Sunderland, Manchester, Wales, Chester, Preston, Blackpool n some cities. <br />I love Wales. <br />Always got lost in Wales. <br />Can't read their road signs. <br />Came back in 1980 early winter.PETER CHEONGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574244939174327228.post-90105818098447663702020-04-05T19:59:25.824+08:002020-04-05T19:59:25.824+08:00Hi Jimmy,
thanks for your compliment; coming from...Hi Jimmy, <br />thanks for your compliment; coming from a personality like you it means a lot to me. <br />I'm grateful I could contribute a little. <br />Do write in anytime. <br />I think messenger is best. <br />We can chat from there. <br />Let's all hope for a better tomorrow. <br />Slow and steady...ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. ©https://www.blogger.com/profile/10946638825812052608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574244939174327228.post-58902829476709836182020-04-05T18:53:01.406+08:002020-04-05T18:53:01.406+08:00Wow. It is so descriptive that I thought I was the...Wow. It is so descriptive that I thought I was there. Thanks for sharing. More please.<br /><br />My home corridor with a few pots of plant is my so called 'garden' but I m happy with it while staying at home during this Covid period. <br /><br />Wishing all stay well. :)Yenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03537033373164098862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574244939174327228.post-80639428141524069902020-04-05T17:52:46.578+08:002020-04-05T17:52:46.578+08:00Hi Andy time has slipped by and I have had the tim...Hi Andy time has slipped by and I have had the time to reflect on nature's teachings. The COVID-19 had to appear before people could start to remember how to communicate again, be happy with the least of things, recognise their lost human feelings and compassion. Yes as your friend Allan Thompson reflected people are now hearing nature!! Birds chirping, flowers scent and the wonders all around are things people have forgotten or forgot to appreciate due to the pressures of daily living. Yes amidst all of the going on we sadly lost Kenny Rogers, Ellis Marsalis and Bill Withers to name a few. They were the poet's and artists who painted us pictures of our lives in music and songs and with their passing, we can always remember what it was like when their music calmed our troubled minds and hearts. As I sit at my Yamaha keyboards and play songs that the seniors love I feel that the virus will pass but the "Music and Songs" will remain to calm and heal future generations. Yes Andy sometimes this is why we are musicians and dispensers of comfort and calm in troubled times. Stay safe my friends and keep your hands washed and sanitized but most of all keep dispensing the music 🎤🎷🎼👍 Cedric Collarshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13781645102120196797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574244939174327228.post-61330329113515912342020-04-05T15:18:37.754+08:002020-04-05T15:18:37.754+08:00Bro,
I would love to contribute to a veteran like...Bro, <br />I would love to contribute to a veteran like you anytime. <br />Just let me know how?? <br />Your selfless action already had me admired all the way from Melbourne from a while back. <br />Keep on shining Bro, the music world needs more selfless people like you especially in times like this. <br />🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻<br />JIMMY FONG (SINGER/MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574244939174327228.post-81495721747672756432020-04-05T14:59:21.470+08:002020-04-05T14:59:21.470+08:00You have friends far and wide and they come from a...You have friends far and wide and they come from all walks of life.<br />Your contacts are phenomenal.<br />To businessmen, contacts are part of capital.<br />You made no attempt to capitalise but just to do a social good.<br />Hormat, Andy.EDDIE ENGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574244939174327228.post-44454889930421391652020-04-05T14:54:51.169+08:002020-04-05T14:54:51.169+08:00Your friend Mr Thompson is no casual ordinary writ...Your friend Mr Thompson is no casual ordinary writer. His words are crafted to bring out the best of the English language. Like any consummate writer, he uses the pen like a painter uses the brush to convey vivid images of colours, sound,mood and flavours. The scenery conjured is like a page from Jane Austen's novels.<br /><br />If I may, his writing should be titled, 'An Ode To Spring'.<br /><br />EDDIE ENGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574244939174327228.post-34531166688332577372020-04-05T14:07:40.584+08:002020-04-05T14:07:40.584+08:00Hey Peter thanks.
Tell us more about Watford.
Sh...Hey Peter thanks. <br />Tell us more about Watford. <br />Should be interesting. <br />Anyone else too, welcome to relate your stories about England or any other place?<br /><br />Thanks for the Facebook chats.ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. ©https://www.blogger.com/profile/10946638825812052608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574244939174327228.post-52583962844929762642020-04-05T14:06:09.869+08:002020-04-05T14:06:09.869+08:00Lovely springtime I enjoyed when I was doing a cou...Lovely springtime I enjoyed when I was doing a course in Watford, UK IN1979.PETER CHEONGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574244939174327228.post-82501141665737329732020-04-05T10:49:54.903+08:002020-04-05T10:49:54.903+08:00Freda Hanum:
That's an inspiring springtime in...Freda Hanum:<br />That's an inspiring springtime in England, can feel the freshness of greens and sounds of birds chirping... wonderful indeed.<br /><br />Andy Young<br />Freda, I see the poetry in your writing. Cheers!<br /><br />Hiroshi Deguchi<br />I can still recall one spring day in England when I wen into a Wimpy Bar for lunch and got a job there as a waiter on the very first day i went up to London from Devonshire. The England spring, everything was looking up. It was back in 72.<br /><br />Andy Young <br />Yes, Hiroshi, it's always the looking back at yonder days. You are quite a traveller, aren't you? England too!!! Wow. Nothing like experience during a visit and the important stay where you meet the folks around. Thanks for sharing your experience<br /><br />Stephen Han <br />Lockdown is good for people living in the country side with garden.With the serenity one can smell the scented flowers and enjoy the chirping sounde from birds and other insects<br /><br />Andy Young <br />Hi Stephen, thanks again, one of the bastions of the blog and this FB post. Yes, lucky Allan with his countryside surroundings. Appreciate your own description of a springtime frolic. Cheers.<br /><br />**********<br />Andy Young <br />Ah you kindly people, without which my FB connection would have crumbled a long time ago, thank you so much for your presence during this very unstable and tumultuous times. <br /><br />Grateful indeed to FREDA, HIROSHI and STEPHEN and others who have contributed. <br />Thanks.facebook chatsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574244939174327228.post-59507685425080261632020-04-05T10:32:52.164+08:002020-04-05T10:32:52.164+08:00Not a poet myself, here's one I remember durin...Not a poet myself, here's one I remember during the lovely Literature classes not too long ago:<br /><br />William Blake, ‘Spring‘.<br /><br />Sound the flute!<br />Now it’s mute!<br />Bird’s delight,<br />Day and night,<br />Nightingale,<br />In the dale,<br />Lark in sky,—<br />Merrily,<br />Merrily merrily, <br />To welcome in the year…ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. ©https://www.blogger.com/profile/10946638825812052608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574244939174327228.post-67530863487466629352020-04-05T10:19:10.081+08:002020-04-05T10:19:10.081+08:00Was just reading it.
Very tranquil reading.
Seems ...Was just reading it.<br />Very tranquil reading.<br />Seems to describe an old England in spring that seems to have disappeared but happily still exists in this topsy turvy times.<br />Guess he lives around a small village or town.<br /><br />Yes, I eard the birds sing and the smell of fresh blssoms with the occasional wafting of cool breeze.<br /><br />(Reminded me to check on an old English friend to see he was OK. Yup, in self isolation.)HORACE WEE (LIVING LEGEND. RADIO 7 TV GUITARIST)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574244939174327228.post-70224987901181296062020-04-05T10:15:49.507+08:002020-04-05T10:15:49.507+08:00Yes, he's written about two dozen pieces for t...Yes, he's written about two dozen pieces for this blog.<br />You can check Allan on the CONTENT column.<br />Thanks SL for your contribution.<br />And Richard too, an old music friend.ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. ©https://www.blogger.com/profile/10946638825812052608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574244939174327228.post-18920346393141536162020-04-05T10:14:22.059+08:002020-04-05T10:14:22.059+08:00Allan Thompson sounds familiar.Allan Thompson sounds familiar.SWEE LENG (CONTRIBUTING WRITER)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574244939174327228.post-53823182780345653752020-04-05T10:13:36.972+08:002020-04-05T10:13:36.972+08:00Bring us all back to our growing up years.
Walkin&...Bring us all back to our growing up years.<br />Walkin' down the avenue, up the street,<br />So nice and relaxed way of life...RICHARD RAJOOnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574244939174327228.post-62257251127978627642020-04-05T10:12:11.421+08:002020-04-05T10:12:11.421+08:00Dear Andy,
Thanks to you and your followers for a...Dear Andy, <br />Thanks to you and your followers for all their kind words about my quirky contributions to your Blog. As you know by now, I regularly recall events from days of old (should that be daze of old?) and jot them down for you to edit and illustrate with most appropriate pictures and songs. <br /><br />I hope that all your fans will come through this terrible time safely, and it is thanks to you that your contributors have a platform from which to air their views and entertain us all. <br /><br />God bless, <br />Allan.ALLAN THOMPSON (BLOG CONTRIBUTOR)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574244939174327228.post-59868739266743218142020-04-04T20:57:43.502+08:002020-04-04T20:57:43.502+08:00Yes, they are on the blog Sui Pang. Thanks for wri...Yes, they are on the blog Sui Pang. Thanks for writing in.ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. ©https://www.blogger.com/profile/10946638825812052608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574244939174327228.post-91709341002929424452020-04-04T20:57:16.918+08:002020-04-04T20:57:16.918+08:00Wow blooming flowers and spring songs... love if w...Wow blooming flowers and spring songs... love if we can listen to some.KOH SUI PANG (K.L. MALAYSIA)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574244939174327228.post-38934837896356656092020-04-04T20:55:39.381+08:002020-04-04T20:55:39.381+08:00Thanks to Andrew, Belinda, Sui Pang and Ann for LI...Thanks to Andrew, Belinda, Sui Pang and Ann for LIKING this post on Facebook.facebook chatsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574244939174327228.post-18569613796889838502020-04-04T20:37:02.062+08:002020-04-04T20:37:02.062+08:00You write so well, all the bees are attracted to y...You write so well, all the bees are attracted to your pot of honey.<br />I feel ashamed of my own writing when I read your well expressed stories.<br />You write anytime you wish Allan.<br /><br />Thanks.<br /><br />Many thanks to my friends and readers too for their immediate comments.<br />I think Allan could've have had lots of books published now if he hadn't come to Singapore in uniform.<br /><br />He has written nearly two dozen articles for this blog. Just click his name under the content page and you'll get all his contribution. You can't miss him. He looks like Mr Putin. <br /><br />Cheers.<br />ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. ©https://www.blogger.com/profile/10946638825812052608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574244939174327228.post-21829813861763760022020-04-04T20:30:55.765+08:002020-04-04T20:30:55.765+08:00Dear Andy,
I just remembered that when I was 15 y...Dear Andy,<br /><br />I just remembered that when I was 15 years old, I had a poem published in Stranraer High School Magazine, 1958, called "Arrival Of Spring". I was so embarrassed to be writing about something so non-macho (macho was not in current use way back then) that I submitted it under the pseudonym "A Spectator". Here it is in all its original corniness:<br /><br /><br />The blue-tinged slopes, the moss-bound trees,<br /><br />The chanting birds, the searching bees.<br /><br />The creepers round the age-old bark,<br /><br />The willow spreading shadows dark.<br /><br /><br /><br />A brook flows here, a wren lands there<br /><br />On a patch of woodland bare.<br /><br />It's now that Nature has her fling -<br /><br />For Winter's past and this is Spring.<br /><br />In spite of writing that corn, 1958 was also the year when I won the prestigious Lyall Memorial Prize at school with an essay called "The Return" which was loosely based on the death of James Dean. My prize was One Guinea's worth of books selected from Collins Publishers pocket editions catalogue. The books I selected (and still possess) were the complete works of Robert Burns and two volumes by O. Henry.<br /><br />That's all (enough?) for now.<br /><br />Regards<br /><br />ALLAN THOMPSON (BLOG CONTRIBUTOR)noreply@blogger.com