I started as a technician-engineer student with GEC Telecommunications Coventry in September 1976. Our induction lasted for three days and we were told all sorts of useful things. Only a handful of them stick in my mind and they were all things NOT to do.

1. Do not leave charged up capacitors lying around
2. Do not leave the chuck key in the lathe
3. Do not mess about with air hoses
4. Do not clock on anyone else

These were all grounds for dismissal. The air hose one was illustrated with some rather graphic images of what happens when you squirt a high pressure air jet up someone’s jacksie.

Inevitably, I eventually violated rule number two, starting up the lathe without checking the key was out first, after a minor distraction. I was very lucky- it just clattered in the bed of the lathe. They had been known to fly through the roof of the 1st year training school though.

“Virginia Bottomley’s Needle”

Blogging will be a bit erratic this week as it is school holidays so we will be out and about.

“Normal” service will be resumed in June.

Beaman has tagged me.

The rules:-

List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they’re not any good, but they must be songs you’re really enjoying now, shaping your spring. Post these instructions in your blog along with your 7 songs. Then tag 7 other people to see what they’re listening to.

So what is in my music box? It is all slush puppy stuff!

True Colours- Cindi Lauper

Reminds me of the inspirational “Honey I shrunk the audience” pre-show advertorial from Kodak at Disney World extolling the virtues of taking photographs

Still you linger on-Andrew Gold

melancholy late at night “if only” music for ex lovers

Parisienne Walkways- Phil Lynott

Tingling sustain guitar and makes me think of Silver Sands venue at Caister Holiday Camp, the DJ used it as a sound check record when we were walking past. Muffled, but loud!

Sometimes late at night- Carole Bayer Sager

Her quirky voice, the album cover, more late night music sadly still only on vinyl (or a dodgy mono import)

Try a little tenderness- The Commitments

Big voice, big song, big buildup. On my first trip to Galway, I asked if Dublin was as scabby as it was portrayed. Yes, came the answer, not all of it but a lot of it.

Me and Bobby McGee- Janis Joplin

Seeing her animatronic singing this on a park bench at Rock Circus and thinking- who the hell is that? Next time I went, gobos projected her name onto the hedge behind.

I say a little prayer- Aretha Franklin

Such a catchy song, great harmonies, false ending then back with a vengeance. Punch the air!

I don’t tag, but Blogpowerers can jump on the bandwagon by all means if they haven’t done it already.

Chester Zoo used to sell elephant dung as manure. Apparently the elfen’ safety put a stop to that, but you can buy a rather special variety of ice cream…