I'm reading that José van Dam has died in his mid-80s. Karajan's Gurnemanz (amongst loads of other roles, of course)

In charity shops today, my restraint should have won n an award. 6 books, a cafetiere (unused), a large killner -type jar, and a shirt (which was miles too small), but I did not buy a cdset of Karajan's 1960s Beethoven symphony cycle at the almost irresistible price of £1. The struggle was acute.

Charity shop haul...

@aitch62.bsky.social this time grapefruit....

Prompted by BBC news but also regularly heard on a certain property purchase programme, what do people think about pronunciation of "communal"? I mean, obviously those who say "COMM-unal' (stress on 1st syllable) rather than"commUnal" (2nd syllable stressed) are wrong'uns...

Slightly late "heads up" for the excruciating "Nuts In May" on bbc4 this evening and iPlayer!

This evening marked a truly historic occasion. Never before, in all my decades, have I ever either made or consumed Spaghetti Carbonara. Ok, with pancetta rather than guanciale but needs must and Waitrose didn't have the latter. Would I do it again? Oh yes...

Heads up - "Howard's Way" is back! Ok, just a rerun on U+Drama....

Anyone interested in Wagner may like to know that tomorrow the German TV station 3Sat is showing all 4 parts of the Ring. Production from Zurich Opera 2024, Noseda conducing. Starts 8am UK time.

Anyone had any interesting breakfasts? I'm looking at you @aitch62.bsky.social ...

Donald McIntyre has died aged 91. My first Wotan courtesy of the Boulez Bayreuth Ring, before I encountered him many other roles. Never heard him in the flesh, though.

OK FOLKS I'm on the thorny horns of a difficult dilemma- whether to cull the cardboard box collection in the garage....

Just finished this, the latest from this interesting writer. A good if frankly somewhat depressing read.

In other news, I made a cake....

I'd just like to say: the 3rd Downton abbey film: utter utter waste of time!!!!

This is a splendid book, beautifully written. Not a dry history in any sense.

Very pleased finally to have picked up this set for an excellent price. Marvellous Sea Symphony!

@robertflute.bsky.social Lyric FM today 6pm broadcasting Stanford "The Critic" recorded at the 2024 Wexford Festival!

Today's facepalm moment arises courtesy of this morning's bread baking. Someone decided to use a paper tin-liner to discourage bread from sticking to tin. Instead of which, loaf stuck to the paper. Yes, yes it was me.🤣🤣😭😭

We've been out this evening! Into the peopley world! New RSC production of "Measure for Measure". Not remotely familiar with the play. Would I go again? No. Do I wish I hadn't bothered? Also no.

The results of about 15 mins foraging. So - jam, crumble, cobbler...?🤔😃

Lovely day today - warm and sunny. Rain apparently tomorrow. Lawn could do with a haircut but instead...

Haven't posted much lately as I've had a few days in N Wales (lovely), bought cds on Ebay (excessive (only 1 duplication),pottered about in the garden (thirst-inducing). Today after a rather nice 9am service I've made a loaf (60% white 40%granary) & a mince + pea curry (too much passata). ,

Testing has established that Pimms does not freeze in an icecube tray. I'd thought at its low-ish alcohol content (21%??) It might.... Anyone know how low the %age has to be before an alcohol-bearing liquid will freeze?

I've decided it's "too hot for gardening o'clock "....in case anyone was wondering

May I just say

One aspect of 20th century history which has always particularly intrigued me is how a civilised European country can have degenerated Into Nazism. This most excellent book looks at that.

Isn't Rod just fab...

Anyone want to buy two water butts???? Can't see my having a use for them any day soon....

@foxlanebooks.bsky.social how nice, a typically fast despatch from those nice people at Fox Lane Books including this!

I found myself in a few charity shops...

I read that adding dried chilli flakes to a bird feeder deters squirrels but has no effect on birds. No. It doesn't. Can confirm it has absolutely no effect whatsoever!!!!

A few from Carisbrooke Castle

A few pix from Osborne House...

Nothing like the pleasure of the arrival of a forgotten order

My granddaughter (15) has told my wife she thinks I'm posh. Apparently this is due to the way I speak and - most intriguingly - the way I pour drinks. I am hugely keen to understand this.....

I'm wondering just how cross Starmer and Trump are that tomorrow's news headlines might just have been stolen under their noses...

The Curse of a certain auction site. Sold a cd set to someone who now wants a refund saying it`s not as described (it isn`t - it`s in better condition) but refuses to spell out how and why. And of course there`s no mechanism to reject his return request. Sometimes it`s just not worth the effort.

"Oh no, not again...."

Catching up with Channel 4's "Barristers" series. Worth seeing.

Returning from a few days away, in best @robertflute.bsky.social tradition , a few discs have landed...

Anyone watching the Pope's funeral? I'm not very familiar with Catholic liturgy and the commentary is refreshingly free of constant Voiceover. keep asking myself Where's the choir and what are they singing.

Opera fans - Martin Graham, founder of Longborough Festival Opera, has died (aged 83). I'm fortunate to have seen their Ring (2009-2013), Tristan, Hollander, and other non-Wagner items.

Kitchen pottering finished but the St Matthew Passion on R3 hasn't. So am trapped in kitchen. Don't send rescue.

Today has been a rather strange day. Felt like a Saturday but isn't even Friday. There has been gardening (well a small modicum). There has been the fitting of a new integrated fridge in the kitchen (which requires a little fine-tuning). On the plus side, there's cake

Its that time

News coming in of a scientific discovery in Warwickshire: bread dough doesn't rise if yeast is omitted. Form an orderly queue to laugh.

Today there has been NO baking. (Tons of other jobs and tasks though -lawn mowed, empty pots to local WI market, laundry, pa-in-law visited, compost acquired, houseplants reported or compost topped up, etc..) Aim to rectify this dough deficiency tomorrow as I've replenished wholemeal flour supply.

Little outing to the RSC for Marlowe's "Edward II". And most splendid it was too. Recommended although I think the run ends on Saturday. (Not sure what happened to Edward I although I suspect he might have been too busy castellating Wales to have time to feature in dramas...)

Apropos nothing in particular, there should be a name for the feeling of disappointment experienced on tasting a cake made to a new recipe which fails to meet expectations... (a decidedly bland marmalade cake...)