Election Day - Arcadia

#DryJanuary - Day -1 - Message

Lyric:- 'We're coming up on Re-Election day' - Le Bon, Rhodes & Taylor

Well it's a Happy New Year to all my Blog Readers and here's the first of my #DryJanuary Blogs that will accompany my 'Greatest Hits' of music that I've loved over the years that you might just have forgotten or never replaced on CD or MP3.

How about 'Election Day' from Arcadia eh, remember this one, what were you doing in October 1985, when this one came out I wonder? I think I was drinking cheap Safeway Lager at 39p a tin... Anyway Mr. Le Bon et Al were a great combo and made some great tunes and with a bit of mad Grace Jones chucked in for good measure, I just love this track.

Anyway...it's the 'Re-Election' lyric that really grabs me here especially as are going into a 'New Year' and hopefully you are starting it with a 'New You'. Just think if you were up for your own 'Re-Election', would you get your own vote?

I don't know but it's the worth the question? Would you be in your own New Year's Honours List?

Do you think that you are doing a good job at being yourself or are you letting yourself down. It's a really simple question and a great way of challenging your inner thoughts on how well you are doing, well at being YOU.

As we go into 2016 how about questioning your 'Eliteness'. Take a step back and just think about how bloody good you really are. Hmm, maybe time to Sober Up and smell the coffee and trim down the waistline perhaps...

For those whom have already seen the light, going into another month long Alcohol abstinence won't make them bat an eyelid - yet for others, it will be one of the hardest things they have done ever - we bolster ourselves up with some very heavy narcotics, that patch over the cracks, anaesthetise and erase things that have messed us up. Well tomorrow's Day One of Sorting your 'Shit Out'...

If that's you, I'd like to help you as it's actually a lot easier when you do it with other people supporting you and helping you through the darker moments, when it's far too easy to give in and go back to your old ways. The magical thing is that when you have dried out, you'll realise that there's more to life than getting smashed and there are a million positive things you can do in your time on this planet.

Go on, have a go at #DryJanuary - #DryFebruary - #DryForFuckingEver - As you never know where it will lead you.

#HappyNewYear to one and All xxx

More tomorrow...

Gimme all your Loving' - ZZ Top

Frank Beard is without the Beard

Lyric:- 'I got to have a shot of what you got is oh so sweet' - Gibbons, Hill & Beard

Song Choice - After Lemmy's demise and a week of Durge Straits, (I'd forgotten just how dull they were), I've decided to do a month of ‘Greatest Hits’ blogs. Err, that’s my 'Greatest Hits’ or rather some of my favourite tracks from bands that I’ve loved over the years, that time has possibly forgotten.

The first is a 1983 hit for the American Rock Trio ZZ Top from Houston, USA. You’ll need to listen to it on a decent hi-fi or with headphones with dynamic bass as it’s the bass that I love the most along with the heavy snare and driving lead guitar. The video is just darn fabulous and very dated but please take a look for yourself here and have yourself a chuckle.

Anyway, the lyric reminds me of the When Harry met Sally Film and the, 'I’ll have what she’s having’ line. It’s a brilliant scene if you’ve seen it. And as we go into a New Year you too CAN in fact have what anyone else is having as long as you really want it or you want to do it. You just have to be determined and totally bloody minded and funnily enough it can all come true.

Yes I know it sounds good and I assure you it works but it’s just talk and talk is cheap. We are full of bravado at the start of any journey and very happy to point out our failings before we set out BUT bugger that for once and how about getting your butt into action in 2016, throw caution to the wind and have a shot of a life that can be so sweet, if you let it.

More tomorrow...

Ace of Spades - Motorhead

Lyric:- 'You know I'm born to lose, and gambling's for fools, but that's the way I like it baby, I don't wanna live for ever' - Kilmister, Clarke & Taylor

Seems only right to mark 'Lemmy's' exit from this world into the next with the 1980 classic ‘Ace of Spades’. A real crash bang wallop of a 2.49 minute thrash that always got the party going. Much better than another Dire Straits Blurge (That’s a Blog and Durge) I’ve been writing for a lifetime now and I’m going for some ZZ Top tomorrow to lighten my mood. Anyway it’s time to up the ante at the end of a year that has finished off more celebrities and musicians than I can remember - Even Lemmy finally bit the dust yesterday.

The line ‘That’s the way I like it baby, I don’t want live forever’ goes for most of them but is most apt for Mr. Kilmister as in true Lemmy style the cancer that finally killed him off (where constant Jack Daniels, Amphetamines and Cigarettes couldn’t) lasted a mere two days. Live Young, Die Fast summed hi, up…or is that ‘Live 100 years in 70 and then Die Fast’ who knows eh?

He certainly got value for money during his 70 years and my thoughts are that with a life of sobriety he would have made 100+ even more I bet, but without the extremes and high’s of a Rockers lifestyle, maybe it wouldn’t have been worth living.

It’s a shame that we can’t just live the life we’re given and that some of us are always looking for that next challenge or dream that will drive us on. Maybe that’s the 'Achilles Heel' of the Addict.

But then life’s a Gamble and you play it with, your Life sometimes: 'You win some, lose some, all the same to me'…

Thing is do you stick or twist?…

Easy - TWIST!

Rory Coleman - 952 Marathons - 238 Ultras

12 Marathon des Sables - 9 Guinness World Records - 22 Years' Cigarette Free.

The Man's too Strong - Dire Straits

Lyric:- 'I have lived behind walls' - Knopfler

Well it's Day Seven (feels more like seventy-bloody-seven, if I'm being honest) of my 'Brothers in Arms' set of Blogs and what starts out as a bit of a 'Dylan Tribute Band Durge' of a track...turns into a brilliant hook and contains the most pleasing lyric about 'Living behind Walls'.

You see living 'Behind Walls' is what most of us do most of the time as there are very few people who have the balls to live without them in complete simplicity. Well, that's what I'm told I do, so I feel most happy about that and my having a clear picture of the future is a far cry from the massive wall that was right in front of my eyes way back in 1994.

You see having a clear vision is the key. It has to be yours and not someone else's as I for one can't work for someone else's vision. Then again being 'United' in a vision can be very different and very rare thing as it's unusual to find that perfect partner with whom you can make your mark with on this world. If you think about all the double acts, there's always a straight man/comic or musician/lyricist in there battling away for top billing. 

So here's a question for you...Have you found your Ant or Dec yet?

Hmm there's one to ponder....

As for the Man being too weak or too strong - it's actually about the 'People' being equal and being able to listen, speak simply and clearly so what's being heard can be simply understood.

If it was only that easy eh? Life would be a lot simpler and there'd be more time to do adventure! 'Cos that's what we all need isn't it?

More tomorrow and how many more Dire Straits tracks are there to go as this is killing me!

Rory Coleman - 952 Marathons - 238 Ultras

12 Marathon des Sables - 9 Guinness World Records - 22 Years' Cigarette Free.

Ride Across the River

Lyric:- 'I'm a soldier of freedom' - Knopfler

Song Choice:- It's day seven of my 'Brother's in Arms' Blogs and the rather apt track 'Ride Across the River'. I'm not sure how it is in the north with the floods up there but I'm a good 500ft above sea level here and feel in danger of being flooded out even here down in Cymru, as it's never rained this much here before and that's saying something.

Anyway, less of the bloody weather and more about being 'A Soldier of Freedom'. It's a great line and 'Freedom' is a luxury that we take for granted as we are all in fact 'Free' here in the UK. It's a very privileged place to live - but some how we manage to f*ck it up quiet nicely.

The problem is that we imprison ourselves with a series of choices that seem right at the time that over the years can make life become feel restricted indeed. We then and either surrender to the consequences or take a deep breath and fight.

Fighting a way out of our darkness. It takes a huge amount of energy and half the battle is taking the first step to the freedom of a new life can bring. A place where we can take some fresh choices which can hopefully lead to a more fulfilling existence on the planet. 

My battles with Nicotine and Alcohol covered up the fact that I was desperately unhappy in life and rather than take that first step to freedom, I decided to numb the pain with a couple of extremely powerful narcotics. 

Taking the drugs away 22 years ago, gave me the clarity and the chance to become 'A Soldier of Freedom'.

What are you fighting for today? Are you scared of the Battle ahead - Please let me know if you are or How you are getting on...

More Tomorrow...

Rory Coleman - 952 Marathons - 238 Ultras
12 Marathon des Sables - 9 Guinness World Records - 22 Years' Cigarette Free.

Location:Capel Gwilym Road,Cardiff,United Kingdom

Why Worry - Dire Straits

Lyric:- 'Why worry, there should be laughter after pain' - Knopfler

Well it's the next in a series of rather dour and wrist slashing 'Brothers in Arms' Blogs, and I'd forgotten just how dark this dirty from old the 'Head-Banded One' really was and I now know why I only ever played a few of the tracks on the album. Then again listening to this one, the lyrics seem to fit my mood as it's 22 years to the day since I stubbed out my last cigarette and rather than just say 'Why Worry' about the cost of smoking to my health , I did, and my whole world changed for the better.

You see it's far too easy to have it 'Now' and pay 'Later' in both 'Health' and in 'Wealth' it seems. The figures say it all, as at an average £5 per 20 pack for the 8036 days I would be a cool £40,180 worse off and at 11 minutes less living for each per cigarette, I'd be a whopping 1,767,920 minutes or 1227 days or 3.36 years* earlier into my coffin or is that coughin!* 

The stats are bloody frightening!

Yet 25% of the Adult Population down here in Cymru still do it and will continue to do so for the rest of their lives. The £40k stat is really frightening as it's a huge price to pay for an early death.

There is another stat though that says after five years ones lungs are pretty much rejuvenated and you stand as much chance of lung cancer as anyone who has never smoked - So theres a great reason to give up today.

So don't worry, like most things in life, after the pain of quitting, there's only laughter and better times ahead - there always is. So don't let it all go up in smoke.

I'm going to enjoy my 1227 days of 'extra life' - Will You?

Rory Coleman - 952 Marathons - 238 Ultras
12 Marathon des Sables - 9 Guinness World Records - 22 Years' Cigarette Free.

Location:Capel Gwilym Road,Cardiff,United Kingdom

*  Please check my maths, as I love numbers but my 'C' in O Level Maths was a bit shaky. 
** Nothing like a death joke to warm things up.

Your Latest Trick - Dire Straits

'Now it's past last call for alcohol' - Knopfler

And it's days like today that can challenge one's inner resolve. With the combined pressure of the festivities and family woes compressed into a tight spot, its' not surprising that a lot of folk buckle in their 'Alcohol Abstention' and get profoundly clattered. For some it will be well into 2016 and beyond before they clean up their acts and pluck up courage to get back on the wagon again, it's a real shame.

Anyway, less of my preaching about the booze and whether you are at 1, 80 or 8000+ days on your journey,I hope you feel on your way to freedom.

So without more ado, here's the next in my 'Brothers in Arms' blogs and  'Your latest trick'.

T's a mix of the theme tunes of 'Crossroads' and 'Triangle', (yup it's a duffer) if you remember either TV show and rather dreary. It's not one of Dire Straits best songs if I'm being honest, however, it does have that late night boozy bar feeling which I wanted to have as a backdrop to the blog. Been there and got the T-Shirt many times over...

When the song was written back in 1985, it was all about getting the beers lined up before 11pm in my experience, and getting them down by ten past. I'm sure the younger reader won't remember the bell being rung by the Pub Landlord accompanied by 'Last Orders at the Bar' and 'Time Gentlemen Please' at 11pm or even earlier at 10.30pm on a Sunday...(Wow, there's a thing, 'Gentlemen', that dates it).

Thirty years on it's far too easy and all you have to do is to go the all-night ASDA or TESCO and get some more - 24/7 - 52 weeks a year. I wouldn't be here today if it had been like that in my day. It's SO immoral for those trying to clean up their acts as it's bloody difficult to avoid as the booze hits you as soon as you go through the doors in any of the  supermarkets I use.

Somehow, that has to change in the future Mr. Cameron!

So my Christmas Message this year to anyone who has sat their way through Christmas Day dry when they really wanted to be drinking, is a FUCKING BIG WELL DONE. As it ain't easy in a society that thinks getting wasted is still a cool thing to do and that still doesn't recognise that Alcohol is a serious issue in the UK, especially in Wales.

I know I sound 'Bar-humbug' but I know I'm right...

A Merry 'Sober' Christmas to all of you.

Rory Coleman - 952 Marathons - 238 Ultras - 12 Marathon des Sables

9 Guinness World Records - 21 Years' Alcohol Free.

Location:Capel Gwilym Road,Cardiff,United Kingdom

Walk of Life - Dire Straits

Lyric:- 'Dedication, devotion, turning all the night time into the day' - Knopfler

Well, it's Christmas Eve and its seems only right that 'Walk of Life' is the next in my 'Brothers in Arms' set of blogs.

You see in my book you can 'Race' life or 'Walk' it. If you could ask a Higgins, a Reed or a Best if they 'Raced' life,  they'd probably say they 'Sprinted' theirs as I was before my 1994 epiphany. 

Over the past 8,023 days I'd like to think that I've strolled it and in places lifted the pace to a nothing more than a light 'Fartlek'. You see, it's all about the pace we lead our lives at that counts and it means you can get more bang for your buck.

Watching the Eve of Christmas unfold in Cardiff, that famous Pagan Festival of Light in the Darkness all I see is folk 'Racing' their Lives and their bank balances away to in a vain bid to make tomorrow as painless as possible.

For me Christmas has become a time of reflection and also to consider the twelve months ahead, so I can stroll on towards my goals and dreams.

I don't know what you really need this year, but funnily enough there's nothing I really need for Christmas as you can't buy what I already have and I have enough of it. Hopefully you feel the same and will enjoy 'Christmas' too in its full meaning and will not be thinking how crazy God was deciding Jesus was born on a Bank Holiday.

Makes you think eh?

So from the heart have a Strolling, not Racing or Walking Good Christmas, my faithful Blog Readers...

More tomorrow...

Rory Coleman - 952 Marathons - 238 Ultras - 12 Marathon des Sables

9 Guinness World Records - 8,023 Days' Alcohol Free.

Location: Caerdydd

Telegraph Road - Dire Straits

Lyric:- 'And the birds up on the wires and the telegraph poles, they can always fly away from this rain and this cold' - Knopfler

If you were expecting 'Walk of Life' well you'll have to wait for tomorrow as a good friend of mine, Colin Neilson has asked me to write tonight in honour of his late brother who sadly died on the 23rd December, as did my childhood friend Trevor, way back in 1969 at the age of just 10 years old.

Even though it's 46 years ago, it still is a sad reminder of a life that was sadly never lived. 

So the music matches my mood today and I bought a copy of the 'Love Over Gold' album on Chrome Oxide Cassette in 1982 and wondered then at it's clarity (virtually hiss free) - You can wonder here too.

At a rather long 14 minutes and 20 seconds this track is actually a reflection of a bus trip taken by Knopfler himself. The lyrics narrate a tale of changing land development over a span of many decades along Telegraph Road in suburban Detroit, Michigan. OMG - slash my wrists...

Anyway, I like to think about the lyrics more as a narration on life itself, and for some the 'Telegraph Road' in question can be indeed be as long, hard or as harsh as Knopfler describes, but I for one believe that the road is as long or as hard as you want to make it and sadly for some, their road is far shorter and due to no fault of their own as in the cases above.

It makes me think of my own life journey and the long road that went on forever in Spain when I ran to Lisbon some eleven years ago. The 43 days out on that 'Telegraph Road' were just brilliant from dawn till dusk and whilst not every day in my life is full of fireworks, I do find it amazing that some folk find their own 'Telegraph Roads' boring and uninspiring, as mine certainly isn't.

Makes you wonder eh? And next time you find yourself hating your life, think about those whom could have done with a few more days loving theirs.

More tomorrow...

Rory Coleman - The UK's Leading ULTRAmarathon Coach

Money for Nothing - Dire Straits

'Now that ain't working' - Sting & Knopfler

Well, it's Day Two of the Dire Straits 'Money for Nothing' Blogs and here's the extended 8 minute 25 seconds title track if you've forgotten just how good it was back in 1985, even if Sting did sing on it.

Let's forget the money as a value as Knopfler's right that that you don't get 'Money for Nothing' but I believe you can get paid to follow your 'Passion'. I'm sure you've heard the saying, 'If follow your passion, you'll never work a day in your life'. 

Well I'm the definition of that one eh?

Money is an interesting concept though as it puts a value against EVERYTHING. One look at EBAY and you'll see what I mean. However can you put a value against Health, Love or one's Children? Health is especially 'price less', in other words it is above the realms of Money, hence 'Priceless'. I was talking about Gainsborough's 'Mr & Mrs Andrews' the other day and I would imagine that's priceless too, so I won't save be saving up this year's Christmas Money for that one. 

It's a shame as I'd love to look at it every day if I could as it's just totally awesome.

But that's a material thing and I love the things that money just can buy. I bet you love them too and I've love to know what you consider to be 'Priceless' in your world.

More tomorrow...

So Far Away - Dire Straits

Well here we goes with yet another set of Album Blogs and this time it's the DDD recorded, 'Brothers in Arms'. 

The fifth studio album by the British Rock band Dire Straits. Released a million light years ago on 13 May 1985. It was a breath of fresh air on my hi-fi back then as it was my one of my first CD purchases and played to death on my Phillips CD104. A temperamental beast of a CD Player which you certainly play a CD with a fingerprint on, yet alone one with jam spread on it, like on Tomorrow's World.

Anyway, here goes with the first track, 'So Far Away', surprisingly a Carole King penned ditty and not one from the the Glaswegian Head-banded, Mark Knopfler. A great album opener but a track many times skipped by me to get to  track #2 'Money for Nothing'.

Now I could bang on about being so far away from a loved one, especially at this time of year BUT the furthest thing we are from in my Hemisphere right now is the SUN. Yet rather ironically the earth is closer to the sun right now. How the hell does that work? 

Yes folks from all this drivel you might derive, today is 2112 day...The 'Winter Bloody Solstice'...

One of the worst days of the year in my opinion. 

With the sun lazily rising at 0816hrs and setting at a super-early 1606hrs it's no wonder the world felt rather dark today, was it a dark one for you. My thoughts are that it can only get brighter from now on and that we are heading towards brighter and sunnier times. Roll on the warm days of April and May...If you know me well, you'll know these are my favourite months and the cornfields of early summer dreams feel rather distant right now.

The darkness is a good time to plan though and 2016 could well be a very bright year if you start lining up your dominoes. There' no time to waste and tomorrow, whatever it is you want will be one day closer.

How cool is that?

So F*ck the Winter Solstice, get your act into gear and get jiggy...Summer is just around the Corner!

More tomorrow...

Echoes - The Pink Floyd

Lyric:- 'Strangers passing in the street, by chance two separate glances meet' - Gilmour, Mason, Waters & Wright

Well it's the last of my 'Meddle' Blogs and what a belter to finish off with the 23.32 minute monster of a Prog Rocker - Echoes. The 1972 filmed version is here and the 2006 version is here if you want to hear it for yourself. Sadly no Waters on bass in 2006 and sadly no more Richard Wright on keyboards either, or planet earth for that matter.

Anyway, the track is one you have to really listen to and get 'familiar' with and when you do, you'll simply LOVE it, hopefully as much as I do. It's a far cry from the 'Strangers passing in the street, by chance two separate glances meet'; where two people in a moment just stare into each other's eyes, just for that millisecond. A real 'Chance' of a Glance, and the word that I find really interesting in the whole song if I'm being honest.

You see we could substitute 'Chance' with 'Accident,' or 'Unforeseen', or even 'Fortunate'. 

It makes me wonder how much of life could all be about 'Luck' or about 'The Moment', so neatly put in one simple line by 'The Floyd'. 

If life is down to the turn of a Monopoly kind of 'Chance' card, then the deck could well be stacked against us. If we are rolling the dice for a better life but waiting ages for your roll, this might take a lot of time depending how many people you are playing with.

We could of course all be going from one 'Accident' to another. Accidents usually end up in A&E in my experience and are seldom happy ones. In that case we should lump  'Unforeseen' in with 'Accident' too, as it's all so negative to me. 

'Fortunate' seems a much better option though and I often wonder in the song whether they ever did, 'Take each other's hand and reach the land' but I suppose we'll never know. 

All we can do is to rejoice in their 'Chance' meeting and it's the thing that dreams and 1971, 23 minute songs are made of.

More tomorrow.

Seamus - The Pink Floyd

Lyrics:- 'Well, you know the sun was sinking slowly' - Gilmour, Mason, Waters & Wright

Song Choice:- Day five of my 'Meddle' Blogs and it's one of The Floyd's shortest songs across any album at two minutes and sixteen seconds and a very bluesy track that preludes tomorrow's twenty three minute, 'Echoes'.

I like the guitar work and the howling dog fits the style of the song perfectly. The part though that I really love is the above lyric which was most apt today as I clocked up my 71st marathon of the year as the sun went down across the sand in Merthyr Mawr.

It also went down metaphorically on my year as there are no more clients and no more marathons to inspire, manage or complete until the 4th January. That means there's time for recovery and some planning for 2016 and beyond.

Exciting times eh? All mixed in with Christmas Turkey including the traditional lorry-load of roast potatoes.

What could be better!

More tomorrow.

Location: Planet Cardiff

952 Marathons - 238 Ultras - 12 MdS - 9 Guinness World Records - 8017 Days' Dry

San Tropez - The Pink Floyd

Lyric:- 'Sooner than wait for a break in the weather, I'll gather my far-flung thoughts together.' - Waters

Song choice:- Day Four of my Pink Floyd 'Meddle' Blogs and Track Four is 'St. Tropez' a place that probably had a much higher profile back in 1971 as being THE destination to go and do a mini Grand Tour back then. It represents how a lazy day in St. Tropez might pan out and represents the only wholly penned Waters song on this album.

It's wonderful Jazzy lyrics (Jazz Club...Smooooth), and the wonderful acoustic guitar really give it that fantastic 'Summer Sun' feeling. Back then, there were some amazing long hot summers as I remember, reflected in great British Films like the 'The Day of the Jackal' and brilliant 'The Go Between'.

Anyway, back to St. Tropez and having spent time on the French Riviera myself, I'm not sure how a 'Lazy Day' would ever pan out as I can't remember my last ever 'Lazy Day'. Let's face it, if you waited for a break in the weather in Cardiff, you'd be waiting a very long time to anything. It was something I couldn't wait for today as I clocked up my 70th 42.2km of the year with the most interesting 'Clowner', Mark Curtis.

Son of mine is 25 tomorrow, (yikes that makes me old) and Friday sees my last 42.2km of the year. Then it's Christmas in my own St.Tropez, where I can gather my far-flung thoughts together for a couple of weeks.

And relax...

More tomorrow.

Fearless - The Pink Floyd

Lyric:- 'You say the hills to steep to climb, climb it' - Waters & Gilmour

Day three of my 'Meddle' blogs and 'Fearless' is a beautifully written song of encouragement for anyone who's knees are knocking at the thought of what lies ahead of them in 2016.

Let's face it, if we all knew what the next twelve months had in store for each and every one of us, we might just stay in bed or consider our life options a whole lot deeper. As along the way we are bound to f*** it up a bit...

The song has some great lines to ponder on:- 'I climb that hill in my own way'...Well there's some wise words as no one will climb it for you BUT if someone has climbed theirs before - use their expertise eh? All those MdS Runners, think on.

It also has the 'Just waiting a while for the right time', is totally open to procrastination in anyone's book if you ask me. I'm very much of the 'If you have to do it, then do it brigade.

It's all about becoming 'FEARLESS'.

Anyway, being 'Fearless' isn't as easy as it sounds but when the brown stuff hits the fan, it comes in super-handy.

Are you 'Fearless' or do you live in 'Fear'?

Is it time to be 'Strong'? Do you need some hand holding? If you do, then please call me.

More tomorrow...

Rory Coleman - 950 Marathons - 238 Ultras - 12 Marathon des Sables

9 Guinness World Records - 8014 Days' Alcohol Free.

Location:Caerdydd

A Pillow of Winds - The Pink Floyd

Lyric:- 'Green fields, a cold rain is falling' - Waters & Gilmour

Song Choice:- Well it's the second of my 'Meddle Blogs' and the next track is the wonderful 'Pillow of Winds'. It sounds so gentle and this is a rare 'Love Song' from 'The Floyd' and has some great layers of music and lyrics that just run over your mind and body, especially if you listen in full stereophonic sound in some good quality headphones.

Funnily enough, the Green fields evaded us today on a 42.2km with the amazing Paul Scullion but the cold rain of Wales was certainly falling as we attacked the Welsh Coastal Path around Penarh, Lavernock and Sully.

Anyway, back to the 'Pillow of Winds' and the it's the lyrics, 'As darkness falls the waves roll by the seasons change, the wind is warm', that I love the most and it provides some light at the end of the 'Tunnel of December' that drives me in particular to distraction.

The New Year, A New You is always a bright spot on the horizon and I'm 22 on the 5th January. 22 years' dry of course, and I know I bang on about it but without it, I wouldn't be here waxing lyrical on here right now.

On that day, 'I'll rise like a bird, in the haze and the first rays touch the sky' as I have done ever since.

It was my 950th today and that rocks on my Pillow of Winds...

More from my cloud tomorrow...

One of These Days - The Pink Floyd

Album choice:- Well it's time for another series of Blogs and this time they are based on the 1971 'Meddle' Album from The Pink Floyd. Surprisingly only reaching #3 in the UK Charts it's sold well over 2 million world wide (200,000+ UK of which about five of which are mine). Apart from some great songs it has the amazing 'Echoes' (which for all of us oldies is all of side two of the album), lasting a monumental 23.32 minutes giving just enough time to get pretty wasted if you were that way inclined some 44 years ago - 

Luckily for me I was only NINE...

The reason I've chose this album is that it's from a year when the world expanded for me and went decimalised for everyone else in the UK. It's such a long time ago, that folk have lived their entire lives within this time and luckily for me, I'm still alive and kicking.

Anyway, here goes...

Lyric:- 'One of these day's I'm going to cut you into pieces' - Gilmour, Mason, Waters & Wright.

Bloody Hell! It's the only lyric in the song and a hard hitting one too as the rest of the track is extremely melodic, well I think so and Waters Bass is mezmorizing. I remember seeing the song on 'The Old Grey Whistle Test' with a cartoon as a visual, watching it on a fuzzy black and white portable. There's a great live version here you see and hear for yourself focussing in on a very young looking Nick Mason on Drums.

I just love it...

That's the thing you see with Pink Floyd...The music provides a canvas to paint the rest of your life's ups and downs on. Sometimes in giant chunks and sometimes cut up into little pieces. Wherever you go and whatever you do there will always be an amazing back catalogue of music to help you through.

Thank heavens for the Floyd...and it's not One of these Days, it's ALL of these days. Well all of them since 1971 for some of us :-)

More tomorrow.

Throw down the Sword - Wishbone Ash

Lyric:- 'The fight is done and over, neither lost, neither won' - Powell, Turner, Turner & Upton

Song choice:- Well it's the last day of my 'Wishbone Ash - Argus' blogs and 'Throw down the Sword' makes a great last track on the multi-million copy selling album and it's one I've always enjoyed listening to, right to the very end. My Vinyl copy used to really wow and flutter which I miss...

Anyway It follows on nicely after the ferocity of 'Warrior' and has the 'The fight is done and over, neither lost, neither won' which sums up so many of our personal battles that we deal with on a daily basis it seems and also reflects the stalemate that conflict often brings.

We call it 'Compromise' nowadays and when somebody said the other day that 'We'll have to agree to differ' on a certain subject, my thoughts were 'Actually, we bloody well won't, as I'm right and you're not!' What a plonker!

Then again, maybe a spoonful of 'Compromise' would help me sometimes.

You see, I do wonder if I'm ever seen to Throw Down the Sword? I don't when it's my experience and opinion that's put into question and my specialist subjects (and multi-day running is one of 'em). I believe I've earned my stripes and know what's best to help others on to an injury free life of running. To say, 'We'll have to agree to differ', is such a 'Cop-Out' and reflects the 'Average' way that some folk lead their lives to me. It does ruck a few feathers but I find it hard not to say something when I really know that I'm 100% right. Do you?

It's called having an opinion. It makes you Opinionated and that's ok by me. I'd rather live and die by the sword and be someone that 'did' something rather than didtn't and be known as the 'Stalemate Cop-Out Kid'.

What's been your Stalemate today? And is it time to pick up the sword and 'Carry on Fighting?'

More tomorrow and a New Classic Album set of Blogs to start...Hmm what to choose...

Something Rocky!