Tim Robson's Blog 2018

2018 ! Christmas 2018. So, here I stand at the threshold of another Christmas. Joy to the world!

Christmas tunes are playing. Mince pies are waiting to be eaten. Bottles of Cava, Port and whiskeys (sans ice) stand ready to be downed. Hangovers to be endured.

However, the 2018 band is still playing, the dancers are still on the floor and our story has not yet finished.

So over the next few days, I’ll be revisiting the year on this blog. Looking at the hits. The frequent duds. The blogposts where I was on it (like a bonnet). The diatribes where I missed the mark like a current day BBC comedian at a Northern working men’s club in the 70’s.

We’ll review Normandy. Trier. The Lake District. So many places.

My many attempts to capture history on these pages.

The music I listened to, reviewed, included as a YouTube video

And. And. Mick Taylor. Mick Bloody Taylor. That article I wrote a couple of years ago still tops the charts as the most popular thing I’ve ever written. That one article accounts for between 30 - 50% of the traffic on the site.

I’m a one hit wonder. That’s what I am. I’m the bloody Birdies Song. I’m Joe Dolce. I’m Cinderella Rockafella.

Roll with it.

Laters potatas!

Tim

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Corelli's Christmas Concerto

This year, I've been playing my Christmas music, as usual. I only listen to Christmas music - both religious and profane - in the actual month of December. Which is probably why shops who slap on their 'Now that's what I call Xmas' in September annoy me so much. There's something trivial, easy and unthinking about this practise. Does no-one in these stores have any sense or decorum?

They could, of course, adopt the musical policy of Clapham Common tube station who play classical music in their foyer; usually beautiful, restful and uplifting Vivaldi. Because this year I've discovered Arcangelo Corelli's Christmas Concerto. Now, this I could tolerate in September though - like a chastened monk, I'd never play it at home before 1st December.

Yes, a baroque concerto about Christmas. Why have I never found this piece of music before, me who loves to baroque and roll so very much? It's serious, moving, beautiful even. It reminds me that Christmas isn't just about discos when you were 16, or first kisses, or friends who were important at the time but are now a wistful footnote. There's something contemplative about this 12-15 minutes (different groups play it faster or slower at will). For me - since you ask - I like to reflect, remember previous Christmases and, like Marcus Aurelius, come to grips with how very insignificant is my role in the scheme of things.

So, I'm pleased that I've discovered this piece of music. I hope you like it too.

Merry Christmas

Tim

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Amex Sponsors Christmas

It's pretty well known that I used to work for American Express. I think the phrase used in these situations is "Amex is a good company, with a good product, but I've moved on now. Got good memories though." Party line. 

Yeah.

Anyway, Amex does do one good thing which is its annual shop small where, in many small shops and pubs that take Amex, if you spend £10 you get £5 back. Obviously Amex want to prove to merchants the value they bring despite taking a market topping discount rate. Whatever the motive, if you have an Amex card, then these two weeks in early December are a good time to do a pub crawl with Amex coughing up £5 in every £10 (once per location).

So, in a very real way, Amex is sponsoring my Christmas. I have the hangover to prove it.

For my previous thoughts on Xmas click here. 

Enjoy the video and let's push it to 50 views. 

Cheers

Tim

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