Today is quite a big day for me and one I am strangely excited about. It’s not often that you celebrate getting older but when it comes with a monthly remuneration attached, not quite so bad. To be clear, it’s not my birthday, it’s just that anyone born after the 6th of April 1960 is part of the generation that will now miss getting their monthly remuneration at age 66. By 6th April 2028 everyone will have to be 67, but they’re doing it incrementally until then. To celebrate we’re going out for lunch with DD and Mr DD. She will no doubt be telling me all about the new album she purchased yesterday, Like A Virgin, by Madonna. It came out 10 years before she was born but she has a really good knowledge of older (to her) music, so much so that whilst on holiday recently she and Mr DD won the music quiz held one night in their hotel. They were up against teams of up to seven people of all ages. I was very proud!
But what else has been happening this week? We’re getting ready to go on our first big adventure post-“remuneration” (I can’t bring myself to say what it’s really called). Going on holiday used to be simple – just pack the kind of clothes you think you’ll need, some toiletries, money, your passport and you were set. Now everything is booked online so you need many, many apps, but you also need a photoshot of what’s on the app in case you can’t get a signal, and ideally a hard copy in case you run out of charge. Talking of which you need to make sure your phone will work abroad with the correct roaming settings and source an extra powerpack with connectors for the charge issue. Special front-facing, anti-theft bags have to be acquired to thwart sneaky pickpockets and multiple credit cards taken in case the one you usually use doesn’t work! Whatever happened to traveller’s cheques? Where am I going I hear you ask. Well here is a clue featuring one of Mr WIAA’s favourite songs and by the end of this post I’ll fill you in.
Last time I wrote a tribute to Dolly Parton who very sadly passed away at the end of August. There was an awful lot of news coverage about her life and legacy in the days afterwards and it must have had an effect on the great British public as it was looking for a while as if she might finally make it to the No. 1 spot on the UK Singles Chart. But no, that was not to be, although she did reach the No. 5 and the No. 6 spots with 9 To 5 and Jolene respectively. Unbelievably the highest chart positions she ever reached.
So if Dolly isn’t No. 1, what is? After 23 weeks at the top spot, it is no longer Rein Me In by Sam and Olivia, it is this song, Choosin’ Texas, by Ella Langley. I wasn’t surprised as it’s been gradually creeping up the chart since January, but now, perhaps because so many of us have enjoyed hearing an abundance of country music courtesy of Dolly’s sad demise, it’s top dog. The song was written by Ella with help from Miranda Lambert amongst others, and is about the sting of watching someone choose the open road and the Lone Star State, over the relationship. Maybe I’m wrong but it feels like quite a while since someone who performs country music has topped the UK chart. It must have something to do with Dolly as not many of us on this side of the pond will ever have had to drink “jack” all on our own because our Texan, cowboy boyfriend just can’t cope with living in the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee.
But back to my forthcoming trip. As you will probably have guessed, I’m not going to Tennessee or Texas, but somewhere a lot closer to home, relatively speaking. Later on this week I’m heading to Rome for a few days after which we head down to Naples and then on to Sorrento for a more relaxing holiday. Troublingly, the weather there has been at heatwave levels for quite some time but it seems as soon as we arrive, the temperature is going to drop and it will rain for the following 10 days. In some ways that’s great for my fair Scottish skin but I get plenty of rain at home so I did hope for some blue skies. Long-range weather forecasts are notoriously inaccurate though, so cross-fingers we’ll get both the lower temperatures and less rain.
If anyone has been to either of these places, do let me know. You may have some hints and tips we’ve not discovered yet. Our trips to the Vatican and to Pompeii have already been booked and our attempts at picking up basic Italian phrases are going well (although Mr WIAA keeps mixing up his Italian with his Spanish). All being well I shall return here in two weeks with tales of our trip. As I’m not an expert in the pop music of Italy, I’m going to finish off with a clip of a band I had all but forgotten about. Way back in 1983, Roman Holiday had a hit with the song Don’t Try To Stop It. Very upbeat and jaunty – just the thing to listen to whilst getting the suitcases packed.
Until next time…
Choosin’ Texas Lyrics
(Song by Ella Langley/Joybeth Taylor/Luke Dick/Miranda Lambert)
Just when I thought I got him to fall in love with Tennessee
I shoulda known better than to take him back to Abilene
I put him right back into her arms
I wasn’t a match for that kinda spark
She’s from Texas, I can tell by the way
He’s two steppin’ ’round the room
And judgin’ by the smile that’s written on his face
There’s nothin’ I can do
It doesn’t take a crystal ball to see
A cowboy always finds a way to leave
Drinkin’ Jack all by myself
He’s choosin’ Texas, I can tell
Well, I guess he forgot about the Smoky Mountain rain
Them old Hank tunes, the Memphis blues we used to sing
He always loved Amarillo By Morning
I shoulda taken that as a warning
She’s from Texas, I can tell by the way
He’s two steppin’ ’round the room
And judgin’ by the smile that’s written on his face
There’s nothin’ I can do
It doesn’t take a crystal ball to see
A cowboy always finds a way to leave
Drinkin’ Jack all by myself
He’s choosin’ Texas, I can tell
When I’m eastbound and down and I can’t help but cry
‘Cause I-40 gets lonelier with every mile
I’ll know that his mind wasn’t ever gonna change
‘Cause his heart still belongs to the Lone Star State
She’s from Texas, I can tell by the way
He’s two steppin’ ’round the room
And judgin’ by the smile that’s written on his face
There’s nothin’ I can do, nah, yeah
It doesn’t take a crystal ball to see
A cowboy always finds a way to leave
Drinkin’ Jack all by myself
He’s choosing Texas, I can tell, no
Drinkin’ Jack all by myself
He’s choosin’ Texas, I can tell
Come on, baby
Oh, yeah
Just when I thought I got him to fall in love with Tennessee
Your Italian vacation will be a winner. In Rome, don’t miss the Pantheon. It was built two thousand years ago and still looks great. It is fully intact. An amazing building.
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I thought you might have been. Yes the Pantheon is on our list of things to see – looks amazing inside. Incredible how advanced the Romans were 2000 years ago whereas we in Scotland were living a very different subsistence kind of life. We weren’t even Scots back then as they came across from Ireland, we were Picts!
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I don’t understand this peculiar delusion of yours that you are anywhere near old enough to qualify for this remuneration, but never mind.
It sounds like you have a great break coming up. I’ve been lucky enough to visit all three places, but Napoli only on a day trip from Sorrento when I spent a week there about 15 years ago.
From Sorrento you should definitely take the winding road along the coast to Amalfi and Positano. I took a local bus but if you have limited time there will be plenty of coach trips. Another option is getting the boat over to Capri which is worth it for the views of the Bay of Naples. But if you go take a packed lunch because everything on the island is ludicrously expensive.
As for Napoli, if you have a taste for the macabre the ‘lower church’ of Santa Maria Delle Anime Del Purgatorio ad Arco is worth a visit – lots of skulls including one in a wedding veil.
There are far more things to do in Rome than you will possibly be able to manage, but if you fancy a change from the ancient stuff for something more modern (well, Renaissance) the Villa Farnesina is rather splendid:
https://www.villafarnesina.it/en/
The villa is across the river from most of the main sights next to the Trastevere district which is probably my favourite bit of the city for just wandering about – it is especially nice in the evening for a meal.
Whatever you end up doing I’m sure you’ll both have a great time. Look forward to hearing all about it.
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‘Fraid so Ernie, but quite happy about it as I said above.
As for our Italy adventure I suspected it would have been a location for one of your “missions”. Positano and Amalfi are definitely on our agenda, we just haven’t booked them yet. Will wait until we arrive I think. Capri is a maybe so again we’ll wait and see.
As you say there is just too much to see in Rome so we’ll cherry pick what tickles our fancy and make multiple stops for delicious pasta and gelato. I had already planned the Trastevere district but hadn’t heard of that villa. Sounds like a wonderful change from all the ruins – on my list now.
Hopefully it won’t be too hot as I don’t do well in high temperatures. Also, I have been known to get attacked by mosquitos of an evening so we’ll be taking a fair few lotions and potions with us – the Scots abroad. I won’t be taking a See You Jimmy hat though!
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Fantastic, Alyson! Have a brilliant time. Oh, it’s going to be so beautiful and… the food, mmmm yes! I realised though on reading your description of all the things you have to do and have now in preparation for a trip that it’s been so long since I’ve done anything like it (nearly 20 years and that was to Italy too) and I would be completely stressed by that stuff – well done on having mastered all the extra things you need to sort, it will be worth it, I know. Look forward to hearing all about it. Buon viaggio!
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It should be good but would you believe it, I came down with another chesty cold yesterday and not feeling great today at all. I’m supposed to be getting my packing done today too. Maybe it’s the stress of modern-day travelling with all the apps etc that’s done it! DD doesn’t blink an eye about this because it’s all she’s known but like you we’ve not been on a proper abroad holiday for over 10 years and times have changed.
On the plus side, once I get there it will no doubt be really wonderful (temperatures permitting). Neither of us had ever been down into the boot of Italy before so that’s why we chose it and like I said to YAB above, it’s incredible to think that when the Romans had such a sophisticated society, my neck of the woods just had tribes of Picts living in primitive tent-like dwellings. The Amalfi coast must be one of the most beautiful places in the world so looking forward to that.
I’m afraid I’m going to miss two editions of Saturday Snapshots but I’ll be thinking of you all as I savour my Italian breakfast!
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Hello Alyson
I do like your ramblings from you on WIAA! Always give me a warm feeling.
I’m sure I have said before we have very similar like minded tastes in tunes, always cheers me up, possibly an age thang?
I qualify as a last year entry og Boomer Gen, you can find DOB from that.
As I’ve gotten old from say 20-30+ music taste certainly broadened, I can appearite all genres for sure.
Anuways the MM tune is an absoltue banger!
What a voice
What an arrangemnet
What a film
What a car
What great sunglasses
I dream of being able to do it myself one day having won the Euro Lottery!
Have a nice holiday/break!
You’re also right about the complexity of just going abroad too, a right dogs dinner of organising!
Regards
Richard
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Thanks for dropping by Richard – we always wonder if anyone reads our blogs other than the regulars who comment!
I discovered recently that if you were born in the 60s you don’t really have the same characteristics as the post-war boomers, you’re part of Generation Jones – those who were always trying to keep up with the mythical Joneses. If so, I failed miserably.
Great music though as we have experienced everything from the 60s onward and probably know a fair bit from before then. Glad you like Matt’s song – it’s a beauty and ties in so well with the car driving along that perilous looking road. Hope the driver taking us from Naples to Sorrento doesn’t go too fast otherwise I will be hanging on to the seat for dear life.
As for the organisation, yes, it’s been A Lot as they say nowadays. Think I’ve got it all done now though although only time will tell if I have or not!
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