Rock music, History, Environment and Animals — Hi. I’m British, an average guitar player, who has an interest in music, nature, wildlife, steam locomotives, lighthouses and history. My weakness is a liking for Real Ale. If I could I’d invite you across for a drink, a chat, and put the world to rights. …

From Bombsites to Rock and Roll — I live in a small English seaside town a few minutes walk from the beach, in an area many describe as ‘the back of beyond’. …

Songs and events that remind me of summer — Terry Barr confidently stated in his story, ‘I Could Be Happy for The Rest Of My Life.’ He knew I had a tale or two to tell about a particular summer and the music that moved me. It had to be the year when in the eyes of the law…

Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Nature Art” — A stony artwork on the beach Now the warmer weather has blessed our north-east coast, it’s good to don a T-shirt and shorts and go down to our seaside Promenade to see what’s going on. Sand Martins have arrived and are building nests in the boulder clay of the cliff farther down the coast, and Swifts…

Bands who made it from a city built mainly on Cod — Katemiya came up with a Plethora of Pop writing challenge about songs by artists from the places you’ve lived. Arthur Keith responded with his ‘Songs From Where I’m From’. Two fascinating reads by two well travelled people that made me think what a dull life I’ve had having spent most…

All Are Blessed Who Drink Here — The annual Hull Beer Festival was held recently in the Hull Minster. Formerly known as Holy Trinity, it was the largest parish church in England until the church gained Minster status in 2017. Entry to the beer festival costs £5, and includes a plastic beer glass and a programme of…

Six Word Photo Story Challenge: Freestyle — Reconditioned, so just let me go In response to Randy Runtsch’s story ‘All Aboard for Dreamland’ about four old diesel locomotives, their paint long-faded, abandoned in Eureka, California, I have a happy tale of an old locomotive being saved from such a fate. The steam locomotive ‘Repton’, number 30926, celebrates…

Four that include a Bruce Springsteen classic — When I read Alex Markham’s two Riff stories about the good, the bad, and maybe the ugly cover versions of Bruce Springsteen, I thought of another one he, and fans of the Boss, might consider — ‘No Surrender’ by Kevin Montgomery. I admit to liking all cover versions — good…

Marriage and nine songs that inspired me that year — When Paul Combs set a writing challenge asking what are your favourite songs from the most pivotal year of your life, I immediately thought of 1969. I remember the look on both our parents’ faces, that year, when we told them we were going to get married. You’re too young…