31 Jan 11 The Beatles In London
Having had good experiences with Meetup.com groups in the United States, I decided it was time to venture into the London-based scene.
To that end, I joined the London Cultureseekers group, and after having an enjoyable afternoon exploring the Docklands Museum in Canary Wharf, headed to Marylebone for a Beatles In London walk the last weekend.
We started off, with Rachel our guide, who gave an interesting and informative narrative as we walked around.
There’s a few reasons, I enjoy these events.
One is to discover new things about London. Even though I’ve lived in London before, and worked there at various times for much of my life, one tends to miss a great deal simply going to and from work. These walks not only point out items of interest related to the topic in hand – ion this case The Beatles – but also give an opportunity to visually check out shops, cafes, restaurants and so on, on the way around.
Meetups are also a great way to meet new people, and make new friends, and get some exercise too!
Last but not least, it’s a great opportunity for budding amateur photographers like myself, to get the chance to grab some interesting photographs.
We started off from Marylebone Station, and passed by the Registry Office where Paul and Linda got married in 1969. Then onto Montagu Square, where we saw the basement flat that Ringo Starr bought, and where both John Lennon, and Jimi Hendrix lived for some time.
We also saw the Apple Boutique on the corner of Paddington Street, and then the former Apple HQ, in Savile Row. This street is perhaps better known for its bespoke tailors, but it was the site of the second Apple Offices.
We ended the main walking part at Green Park Underground station in Piccadilly, and then took the Jubilee Line to St John’s Wood, where we took a look at the world-famous Abbey Road Studios.
Although it was a rather chilly afternoon, and dark by the time we finished, it was most enjoyable, and I learned a few new things about The Beatles too.
Afterwards, I headed home for a welcome hot coffee, and something to eat!
Links: London Cultureseekers Group Meetup.com
Tags: abbey road studios, amateur photographers, apple boutique, bespoke tailors, canary wharf, chilly afternoon, docklands museum, enjoyable afternoon, green park, informative narrative, jimi hendrix, john lennon, look at the world, montagu, piccadilly, ringo starr, underground station
01 Feb 09 The Rock ‘n’ Roll Years
Nostalgia ain’t wot it used to be is it?
It’s probably not good to live in the past, and most of the time I’m forward looking. However it’s nice to take a look back every so often, and reminisce about byg0ne days, news, and events.
So, this afternoon, I sat back and watched again, the first four episodes of ‘The Rock ‘n’ Roll Years‘ which was was a BBC television show broadcast between 1985 and 1994.
Each thirty minute show focused on a different year each week, starting with the year 1956 and ending with 1989.
Although many folk bemoan the state of the world at the present time, when one watches these shows, one is reminded that as well as happy times, death and destruction, war and violence, are ongoing themes through history.
One is reminded of how unhealthy we were back then, with factories belching black smoke, and the majority of the population smoking.
Civil rights, in many parts of the world were, at the start of this series, almost non-existent, including the American South of course.
The Cold War was at its height, the United States, USSR, and the UK were conducting atmospheric H-Bomb Tests, and there was a real fear that the button would be pushed by either side.
The Rock ‘n’ Roll Years, being from the BBC, takes a look at the world from a British perspective, but takes in world affairs from each year.
Some notable happenings in the first four episodes (1956 – 1959) included The Hungarian uprising in 1956; Sputnik’s launch in 1957; The tragedy of the Manchester United Airplane crash of 1958; and Castro’s Revolution in Cuba in 1959.
If you get the opportunity, and you like the music from the 50′s, 60′s 70′s and 80′s, and also the news from those years, it’s a series worth seeing.
Tags: airplan, bbc television, bomb tests, british perspective, days news, death and destruction, destruction war, h bomb, happy times, hungarian uprising, launch, look at the world, manchester united, present time, rock n roll, rock n roll years, s 70, sputnik, world affairs, wot
