Ok pop-pickers, this is the last post of 2025 which has probably been one of the worst years of my life. If you know me you’ll know what I’m talking about. But I’m trying not to dwell on that so lets move on.
Where has Ted been this month? Only did a few missions but here they are: Winchester, Poole, Eastleigh, Herne Bay & Beaconsfield.
You’ll see this post is just as nutty as my usual ones, if you don’t like it look at something else. What I will do though is entertain you and give you something to think about, so put the kettle on and unwind a little in my world.
When it comes to giving my opinion on anything I will always try to be honest, unfortunately that sometimes upsets people. But don’t ask for my opinion unless you’re prepared to accept an honest answer.
I’m not afraid to admit I like something even if it seems daft or corny. I certainly will not say I like something just to appear fashionable.
And I don’t agree with learning to like something. For instance, Guinness. I don’t like it and don’t see why I should train myself to like it.
I knew a twit who didn’t like football but started “liking it” so he didn’t appear to be unfashionable, I don’t know if he’s still liking it, I think his mate has deserted him now cos he was boring anyway.
For this reason I’d be no good on ”Desert Island Discs”. If you ever listen to this you’ll find that people often choose records that reflect the personality they want to project, and not their real personality. That’s why they will select heavy classical music and rousing military marches.
Whereas “Honest Ted” will pick out “Sugar Sugar” by the Archies, I just like it.
This month I’ve been listening to my old Queen stuff and many would sneer at me for this but listening to “It’s a kind of magic” really was quite magical.
And I must say that probably one of my all time favourites is “Barcelona”. I always admired Montserrat Caballe anyway, I thought her voice was magnificent.
And Barcelona is probably my favourite city in the world, I have spent a lot of time there and never tire of it. You can keep London and New York. Listening to Freddie and Montserrat performing “Barcelona” will send a shiver up my spine, put a knot in my throat and I will silently shed a tear. There’s not much other music that will do that to me.
Having written that I’m going to go away and think of my “Top Ten” records for “Desert Island Discs”. Just as well to be prepared in case I’m ever invited…
After some thought this is what I came up with (You’ll see I’ve put links to Youtube for each of them. Just click on the link to take you straight in):
1) Sugar Sugar – The Archies The Archies - Sugar, Sugar (Official Animated Music Video)
2) All night long – Lionel Richie Lionel Richie - All Night Long (All Night)
3) Barcelona – Montserrat Caballe and Freddie Mercury Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballé - Barcelona (Original David Mallet Video 1987 Remastered)
4) Get down tonight (Do a little dance, make a little love) – KC & the Sunshine Band KC & The Sunshine Band - Get Down Tonight • TopPop
5) Ni Te Tengo Ni Te Olvido (I neither have you nor forget you) - Julio Iglesias Julio Iglesias - Ni Te Tengo Ni Te Olvido
6) Begin the Beguine – (I prefer the Sammy Davis Jr version) Sonia Braga - Moon Over Parador
7) In the bleak midwinter – Traditional Christmas carol. In the bleak midwinter, by Gustav Holst (1874-1934)
8) Midnight Cowboy – John Barry John Barry - Midnight Cowboy (1981) • TopPop
9) How deep is your love - Bee Gees. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpqqjU7u5Yc&list=RDXpqqjU7u5Yc&start_radio=1
10) Introducing Tobacco (Telephone call to Sir Walter Raleigh) - Bob Newhart Bob Newhart - Tobacco video (Sir Walter Raleigh phone conversation) - YouTube
All of them mean something to me. I just had to include one comedy record. When I was a kid there loads of these around such as Bernard Cribbins digging that hole (and that still makes me smile just thinking about it).
But Bob Newhart’s telephone call to Walter Raleigh is brilliant. This was recorded Stateside in 1962 but it could have easily been slotted straight into Monty Python a few years later. And what I always admired about him was he never swore or was rude and certainly did not employ sarcasm. He was a Gent.
And if you like your funk tight, how can you resist a bit of Harry Casey (KC).
I also find it difficult to resist anything by John Barry, his use of strings is fantastic, haunting, beautiful.
Sammy Davis Jr performing “Begin the Beguine” from “Moon over Parador” one of my all time favourite films, a little seen masterpiece.
And of course there had to be something from the Bee Gees. We didn't realise it at the time but how lucky we were to be youngsters growing up through the 1970s! We still had real music then.
Changing tack, most of you will have seen the clip on Facebook where a British police force made a laughing stock of themselves by sending two police officers to caution a teenage girl for some hurty words she wrote on Facebook.
In thinking about this ridiculous state of affairs I suddenly had a lightbulb moment and realised that Gilbert O’Sullivan had predicted this back in the 1970’s! Here’s an extract from one of his songs:
Now, up in Bradford a chap named Radford
While taking part in a local play
Was intercepted and then suspected
Of going Ooh wakka doo wakka day
Well done Gilbert, I reckon you nailed that old son.
One of my Granddaughters (Miss “D”) turned Eleven this month. She’s a beautiful, clever girl who’s looking out for a spot in my blog. So here it is. I love you ten trillion tons sweetie.
I hope you all had a great Christmas not “holidays” (anybody that comes up with that drivel deserves a sound thrashing, said Colonel Blimp) and here’s wishing you a Healthy, Happy and Prosperous New Year.
And in closing, I sent Christmas cards to everyone I could think of this year. If I missed you out I do apologise. But if I sent you a card and you didn't respond that was your last chance. Laziness and ignorance are closely related. And I know some people will say "I give money to charity instead". Well I give money to charity on a monthly basis and I still send Christmas cards.
Time to saddle up and see where the trail ahead leads next.