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My mother would always have the chimney swept prior to Christmas, and she always said that it was done so that Father Christmas would not get his red uniform dirty. We always believed her. A pillow case, an orange, and three shiny brand new pennies. Magical times. Eddie

I believe I have already told, in an earlier posting on this website, the story of the two Hungarians that escaped from Hungary, after the Hungarian Uprising, in 1956. The story was of how they came into the music store, where I was then working, and played some incredible Hungarian gypsy music...

Really enjoying it Maurice, and I am practicing a minimum of one hour a day.....much depends on other things to be done. I checked to find out my finger span, and I can span, from middle C to D with ease.....9 notes, and D# is not a problem. In fact, with a bit of a stretch, I can manage the E...

Just remembering Christmas, circa 1955. I was still working in the Kay Westworths Music Store, in Snow Hill. Up until that time, guitars had never been a real big seller, Just a few acoustic Spanish nylon strung finger style guitars, and a few acoustic steel strung guitars, which would have...

Maurice: Just watched the video of your friend (The Christmas Song), nearly missed it. Nice Leslie sound at the end. Very inspiring, and if I reach that stage, I will be more than happy. I think a piano is a little more difficult than an organ. No chance to hang onto notes, good or bad...

Sad news today of the passing of Greg Lake, he of Emerson, Lake & Palmer fame (E.L.P). With the passing earlier of Keith Emmerson, it leaves just Birmingham's own Carl Palmer as the one remaining member. Eddie

Maurice, before I left 'Brum', in the fifties, I often worked at the Golden Cross, in Aston, with the Johnny Beck Six. In fact, the jazz club there was opened by a guy who was also our band manager (I have forgotten his name), and we were the resident Saturday night band, always backing the...

Ear pieces enable the performer to 'feel' the music more clearly. If you listen to a performance without headphones, and then fit headphones to again listen to the same performane, you would really notice the difference, and would pick up the sound of every instrument with more clarity, and...

I know that many of us older folk say "When I was young.........", and the younger members of the family think "Oh, here we go again", but it is true that schooling then, was very different from today. I taught music in schools until I was 78, five years ago, and on two or three occasions...

old Mohawk: I could be wrong, but it appears to be a policeman talking to someone in the car. Eddie

Absolutely correct, those long hanging icicles could be very dangerous indeed. In fact, I seem to remember that heavy falls of snow, and icicles, from the roof, did cause a few accidents. As a child, clearing snow was a good way to earn a few pence. I think most of us younger kids did it...

I seem to recall that, as a child, we had more snow than in more recent decades. Where we lived, in Sparkbrook, the houses were all slate roofed, and the deep snow on the roof would slowly make gits way down to overhang the house itself. We would all look cautiously to make sure we were not in...

I guess that if all the cars were ready, in first gear, and all saw the green light, at exactly the same time, then moved off, simultaneously, in first gear, at exactly the same time, and at exactly the same speed, it is possible. Much like Formula 1 cars at the start of a race. Smudger: You...

Quite enjoyed that! In spite of my old age, one of the things I have never forgotten is how to add, and subtract, in old pounds, shillings & pence. I suppose some of my schooling must have rubbed off! Eddie

£3. 13. 71/2.

Love the BHF snow effect, really nice, but can we keep it on the screen, and not for real. When I was a kid, I loved snow, but not these days. We rarely get a heavy snow fall in Norfolk. Where we live, last year was an overnight dusting, and that was it. Nobody likes a walk in the brisk...

In 1945, not only could you buy just one cigarette (hate the word 'fag', spent too much time in the States), but I would buy that from a tobacconist, for my father, when I was still fourteen. Like Paul, I never smoked until I was posted to Germany in 1952. Players & Senior Service were a...

Just watched a piece of vintage TV......Fawlty Towers, a tribute to Andrew Sachs. The episode where Basil wins money on the horses, and the hotel guest that complains about the view from her window. "What would you like to see, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, herds of wilderbeeste swarming...

Love the old Ford 8. Often driven out to Earlswood in one, circa 1946. Eddie

Fortunately Maurice, my hands are still very flexible, and I have long fingers. I took that into consideration when I made the decision. My main problem will be my eyes, and reading the music, but with a good strong light I think I should overcome that obstacle. Thanks for your...