Happy New Year to everyone who visits here. I am conscious of the fact many of you visit without ever leaving a comment – Don’t be shy about joining in with the discussion that often arises. It might sometimes seem as if we have a whole private members thing going on, but trust me, it’s not like that at all. I for one just like writing about the music that’s formed the soundtrack to my life, and when you do that, the stories just start to pour out.
What to write about today though? I did wonder at the end of 2018 whether I could carry on as I have done for yet another year. My posts do tend to be quite wordy and often require a lot of research. The received wisdom however is just to do what feels right. I don’t think I’ll ever get back to writing as many posts as I did in this blog’s first year, as all I did in 2016 was go to work and blog – Amazing Mr WIAA didn’t find himself a new wife really. Fewer posts from me in 2017, as that was the year of big changes at my workplace, which resulted in me throwing in the towel. Would I have done that if I hadn’t become so besotted by blogging? Not sure. As it turns out, my mum’s deteriorating health in 2018 would have probably necessitated my leaving anyway, so just hastened my departure.
So, here we are entering 2019, and as yet we have no idea what the hot topics will be this year in the blogging world. Three years ago, we were just days away from hearing of the death of David Bowie and for the following twelve months, the tributes just kept on flowing for other iconic artists. It was a brutal year in terms of loss.
It has been a relief, that very few bloggers around here have mentioned the “B” word over the last year. We are all sick and tired of the political shenanigans that dominate the news channels, and fortunately we had a welcome respite from it over the festive period. I have a feeling it’s about to ramp up to a whole new level however, so watch this space, as I do feel a one-off rant coming on!
In the meantime here is a heart-warming picture. No Hogmanay parties for us this year as most of the neighbours were either away or had grandchildren to stay. Changed days indeed, but time for the younger generation to take over perhaps, so DD and her boyfriend decided to host their very own shindig to bring in the New Year. In this digital age she has gone old skool, and now takes most of her pictures with a Polaroid Instax. In the years to come there will be tangible evidence of what they got up to back in the day, as opposed to having thousands of images lost in some virtual cloud.
And here is where I made a wonderful observation. Looking as this array of pics, I realised most of the local friends had managed to come along, and these local friends included people she has known since school-days along with more recent friends made through college and work. Amongst them, there was a brother and sister from Poland, the brother’s Lithuanian fiancée and two forestry students from The Netherlands. It may well be getting ugly out there, but I know for my daughter and her friends, they will remain staunchly European whatever. Many in her group have lived in the Highlands since junior school, and despite the challenge of studying in what would essentially have been a foreign language, they have already achieved great things both academically and professionally. A massive asset to our community.
My featured song is therefore going to be this one – My earworm of the week. Mr WIAA has taken to watching YouTube music clips whilst having his morning coffee, and sometimes falls down that rabbit hole, ending up far from where he started. One day last week he ended up listening to this song – You by Ten Sharp. It was from the time when we were still just “dating”, so it conjured up memories of a more carefree time. Back then, like DD, we had a big circle of local friends, but none of them were from anywhere other than Scotland – Changed days indeed.
You by Ten Sharp:
But the main reason for choosing You as my featured song, is because it’s by a Dutch band, something I hadn’t realised back in 1991 when the song became a big hit for them peaking at No. 10 in the UK Singles Chart. The two Ten Sharp band members are Marcel Kapteijn (vocals) and Niels Hermes (keyboards). The song itself was produced by Michiel Hoogenboezem (almost worth writing this post just to find an excuse to mention that great name).
My American Odyssey in Song series seems to have stalled, so perhaps it’s now time to champion some of the music made by our European neighbours over the years. DD’s Dutch friends were able to arrange a welcoming committee for her ahead of her trip to Amsterdam last year. Meant she spent a few days with a lovely couple of girls who have now become firm friends. Let’s hope none of that camaraderie will be jeopardised by what is to happen in the first few months of 2019.
Until next time….
You Lyrics
(Song by Ton Groen/Niels Hermes)
It’s all right with me
as long as you
are by my side
Talk or just say nothing
I don’t mind your looks never lie
I was always on the run
finding out, what I was looking for
And I was always insecure
just until I found
Words often don’t come easy
I never learned
to show you the inside of me
Oh no my baby
You were always patient
dragging out what I try to hide
I was always on the run
finding out what I was looking for
and I was always insecure
until I found
You, you were always on my mind
you, you’re the one I’ve been living for
you, you’re my everlasting fire
you’re my always shining star
The night’s always a good friend
a glass of wine, and the lights are low
you lying beside me, me full of love and…
and filled with hope…
You, you were always on my mind
you, you’re the one I’ve been living for
you, you’re my everlasting fire
you, ooh
you’re my always shining star
always on my mind
you, you’re the one I’ve been living for
you, you’re my everlasting fire
ooh, ooh
you’re my always shining star
you’re my always…
you’re my always shining star
What's It All About? 
Polaroid Instamatic? I haven’t heard about Polaroid in a long time. Is this a rebirth, like vinyl albums? Or is her camera an “antique”?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely not an antique Neil, brand new and like vinyl they’ve made a comeback. Polaroid Instax Mini 8 – The film is quite expensive but nice to have something physical rather than digital for a change.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice song. Those 90s one-hit wonders are special. I could reel off a handful of them such as Chesney Hawkes but that’s for another post. Hope you have a great 2019 despite the dreaded B word looming around every corner!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my – I wasn’t expecting Ten Sharp and Chesney Hawkes to pop up in the same comment! Poor old Chesney became a bit of a figure of fun after his heyday, but ran with it and is still in the business. His dad was in a ‘60s band called the Tremeloes.
No political borders when it comes to blogging fortunately and it’s been a joy to have so many visitors to this place from all over Europe and the rest of the world. Happy New Year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I didn’t know Chesney’s dad was in a band called the Tremeloes
The blogosphere is very international. I’ve been in contact with people from US, UK,New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Canada, India, Romania, Poland, Holland. Belgium. A global community!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are so right – I recognise some of those countries and probably know who you mean as well! We all kind of find each other through our blogs which has been great. A real international community.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting how each year has been distinctly different for you since you started blogging! I hope that by the time it comes to December you’ll be able to reflect positively on this one. God knows what the situation will be re. the B word by then… I don’t dare think about it too much, but I’ll look forward to your rant if you decide to have a good vent. I’m pretty sure I’ll be agreeing with every word!
It’s great about the ‘international relations’ in your daughter’s local circle of friends, and it just makes life so much more interesting and heartwarming. Long may it remain that way. I’ve probably mentioned it before but I had a real ‘thing’ about different countries when I was a child, I was just so fascinated and interested in other lands and their people, with a beloved world map on my bedroom wall, a collection of European dolls in their national costumes and penfriends (that dates me!) from Jamaica, Sweden, Germany, Australia and New Zealand (a Maori girl from Rotorua, I loved that!). I guess that blogging is not so far removed really!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi C – Yes, it seems that life over the last three years has been quite a rollercoaster with a big change happening every year for me. I do sometimes worry that the blogging changed the balance in my life, which led to me giving up my job, but as it turns out my mum’s condition probably meant I would have had to anyway. No more rants from me about that situation but just noticed this morning on the news that a few new health initiatives are underway via our wonderful NHS – Great news, as lives will be extended, but from experience the long-term care is just no longer out there for many older people, so all very disjointed and leads to some desperate situations for families. The NHS giveth but the Local Authority taketh away it seems.
Yes, my daughter has always had a very international group of friends and it’s become even more so in recent years. These are young adults who often don’t even remember living in their country of origin, as they moved here as children, but whose parents are now seriously thinking they should return “home” – Sad.
As for being fascinated by different countries as a child, so was I! It all started when I got a globe and then an atlas from Santa – My dad and I used to play that game of spinning the globe, stopping it with our finger, and finding the country we would then go and virtually (via books) visit. It invariable turned out to be Sumatra! Although terribly non-PC nowadays I always used to love the Miss World contests as at some point they would parade in a very stylised version of their national costume. All so very different and lost to us now as we all pretty much wear the same. I also collected the dolls, had European penpals and even chose Geography as my subject at University (all very disappointing when we studied climatology and hydrology but managed to specialise in human geography by the end of it). You are right though, blogging is all very international and like you we get stats telling us where our visitors come from – Of the 197 countries in the world, I have now had visits from 3/4 of them and from some very obscure territories. Makes for a fascinating read at times!
LikeLike
My first comment for far too long. I feel woefully out of touch with what’s been going on here and in other parts of our little corner of the internet. I was so sorry to hear about your Mum’s health issues and trust things are looking up for her now.
I’m shocked to discover that I have absolutely no memory of Ten Sharp whatsoever, given that I must’ve sold plenty of their records back in the early 90s. Not my musical bag as you’d imagine, but even so I thought the name at least would ring a few bells in the ol’ grey matter – nothing at all though! Old age is officially creeping up on me.
Happy new year to you and yours Alyson.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely to have you drop by – I know the world of work has encroached on your computer time of late (quite rightly) but nice of you to read this post despite the featured song being one that, as you say, is not your “bag”. To be honest, I started playing to the audience a bit over the last year, and stopped writing about the songs that do form the “tracks of my years”, but think I need to return to what this blog was always supposed to be about. As I said above, I don’t think I’ll ever manage to write as much as I did in that first year when I was all enthusiastic about this new hobby, but will definitely keep going (and not make too much of a thing of it if I ever need a break).
Yes last year was pretty tough with everything that happened in relation to my mum – Think we have a resolution of sorts but still many issues that need to be sorted out. Tough when you are totally responsible for a loved one’s welfare, and want to do the best for them, but can’t do the 24 hour care yourself. Was initially happy with the new care home but a few issues are creeping in already, so need to get them sensitively dealt with.
Ten Sharp, a bit of a one-hit wonder here in the UK, but quite successful elsewhere in Europe. I don’t think I would have remembered the name either but when it cropped up on the YouTube sidebar, it all came flooding back. Apt week for it to form an earworm as DD spent time with her Dutch friends (and of course the whole “B” thing going on 24/7).
LikeLike
Gentlemen Take Polaroids features on my newly required Best of Japan!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It certainly does – Think I’d like that album as always enjoyed David Sylvian and Japan. They came along during the whole New Romantic period so got lumped in with it, but were so much more. I suspect you were never a New Romantic CC?
Polaroid cameras have made a comeback – Who would have thought!
LikeLike
Correct – never a New Romantic – never had the hair for it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
No I can’t imagine you ever wore ribbons in your hair!!
LikeLike
Very late to this post, sorry. Happy New Year, Alyson. I always liked that Ten Sharp song, but I’m a sucker for piano. It reminds me of Randy Edelman.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes Happy New Year but no need to be sorry – One of my NY resolutions is to be a bit more relaxed about blogging. If I don’t put anything new up for a while it’s not a problem and if I don’t have time to visit all my favourite blogs it’s not the end of the world either.
I’d forgotten all about Ten Sharp, but I too liked that song. No deep lyrics but nice piano as you say.
LikeLike