Joe Bussard

is a slightly strange looking man. He does, however, have one of the most extensive collection of American folk music recorded prior to 1940 stored on 78’s in his basement. And he shares the fruits of this lifelong obsession with sad individual like myself through albums such as ‘Down in the basement’, released on Old Hat Records, Raleigh, North Carolina.

It is one of the most incredible CDs I have ever listened to. As the website says, it encompasses the whole range of pre-war American folk, through jug band, banjos, spirituals, jazz, blues and gospel. And the sound quality and remastering is simply magnificent - there is background hiss, as one would expect from recording made from 78’s, but it is far less noticeable than on any other release I have covering a comparable period.

Five Doctor Who villains

Prince Grendel of Gracht
Sontarans
Autons
Cybermen
Zygons

New socks

Having entered the EuroMillions draw last week in the vain hope of winning £88 million (and falling short, actually making an £11.60 loss of £18’s worth of tickets), my mind wandered to what I would do with such immense wealth. My life is reasonably comfortable. I can pay my bills, buy a couple of luxuries, and even manage to save a little each month. Anything beyond this would simply be an expansion of my current standard of living, rather than any great indulgence.  I do not need a car. Houses elsewhere would be nice.

But then it struck me, I would buy new socks. Not just a pack. I mean that I would want to wear new socks every day. I bought some last week (in fetching shades of purple and grey), and revelled once again in the pleasure and pain of the feeling of brand new socks and the realisation that once washed they will never feel quite as perfect ever again. I realise it is far from ecologically or economically sound. But surely it is better than spending it on caster sugar, fake diamonds, curtains, helicopters or space travel.

Back again

Broadband at home again despite the best efforts of a dodgy socket (telephonic) to disrupt me.