Wednesday 26 February 2020

Off The Beaten Tracks mix 26 Feb

First mix in a while with selections from some of the albums I've been listening to recently and from an advance copy of the new Deep Cabaret album "Matchless" which Ben McCabe kindly sent me. Also tracks sent from promoter Pat Tynan by Ben Reel and The Legends of Tomorrow.

https://www.mixcloud.com/cmbertram/off-the-beaten-tracks-26-february-2020/

Luke Jackson - Honeycomb
The Jaywalkers - What Do I Know
Paddy Garrigan & The Stroller Priests - Me and the Universe Blues
Michael Roach - Bring it with You When You Come
Our Native Daughters - Black Myself
I'm With Her - 1-89
Nancy Kerr & James Fagan - The Herald of Free Enterprise (Live)
Ben Reel - Up There In The Sky
The Legends of Tomorrow - People On The Highway
Smith & McLennan - Wait For Me
Ralph McTell & Wizz Jones - Diamond Joe
Luke Jackson - Baby Boomers
Fairport Convention - The Wood and the Wire
Jez Lowe - The Pitmen Poets
Deep Cabaret - Wedding Wish


Monday 17 February 2020

Suicidal thoughts and what to do

Having seen another of these posts on Facebook along the lines of, "if you're feeling suicidal please talk to me" my own feelings are that when you feel so low that you're thinking about ending your life, the last thing you want to do is talk to anyone. You probably feel that it's you against the world and you'd be better off out of it. You certainly don't want to burden your friends with whatever depressing thoughts are going through your head and hoping that a random friend will be able to help you in your hour of need is potentially dangerous unless that friend has experience and training in helping mentally ill people. If someone were to phone you and say that they were going to throw themselves under a train then surely the best response is to dial 999 and get the emergency services involved.

A physical health comparison could be, for example, you've been out hill walking and have gone over on your ankle. You're in a serious amount of pain. A friend might suggest using an ice pack and taking a couple of painkillers but if you have broken your ankle the best place for you is A&E where they have the staff and equipment to treat you appropriately.

If you are contemplating suicide then you need professional help. My own advice would be contact the Samaritans. They have staff trained to talk to and help suicidal people. 

I'm not saying don't talk to people. Talking to and seeing friends can be something that helps you stay well and keeps the worst aspects of depression at bay. I've been at that cliff edge, thinking about jumping but something has always stopped me and it hasn't been a phone call to a friend. 

And while I love this song, I don't think that suicide is painless. I think it hurts like hell for you and those you leave behind.



Wednesday 5 February 2020

Poems for The Archers

In response to a posting on Twitter saying that Bert Fry should write a poem in support of the campaign to change the name of the pub back to The Bull I have come up with a few limerick-type rhymes. Bert is known for poems that go on and on and on so I may add to this when the muse strikes...

There once was a pub called The Bull
Of regulars it was always very full
Then they changed the name
Which was daft, a real shame
Now it's full of hipsters which isn't very cool

The manager is an Archer called Kenton
But by Lillian Bellamy he was leant on
She brought in some young upstart
Whose ideas upset the apple cart
How I long for the old days, now long gone.

Kenton's wife is the lovely Jolene
At the Bull she is manageress and queen
She sings Country and Western
Always gives it her best turn
And all round the country touring she has been

A regular is Jazzer who's a Scot
When it comes to beer he can drink a lot
On Burns Night every year
His bagpipes you can hear
When he pipes in the haggis nice and hot

I miss my old friend Joseph Grundy
We'd often meet for a pint on a Sunday
He had a ferret called Daphne
And a pony called Bartleby
I hope to see him again, one day.

Follow #thearchers for the regular tweetalongs at 7pm Sunday to Friday.

For more info on the BBC Radio 4 soap see the website