Richard Lane http://www.richardlane.org Thu, 29 Apr 2010 14:22:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 Double figures http://www.richardlane.org/?p=84 http://www.richardlane.org/?p=84#comments Thu, 29 Apr 2010 14:22:13 +0000 simpson http://www.richardlane.org/?p=84 Well am 10 years old today, which may not sound much, but that’s 70 years in a dog’s life…feeling very chippa after my birthday presents (rubber balls for Farnham Park), and of course various retirement functions coming up. feet up for the rest of the day with a long London day ahead tomorrow…thanks everyone for the good wishes.

]]> http://www.richardlane.org/?feed=rss2&p=84 1 Twitter http://www.richardlane.org/?p=83 http://www.richardlane.org/?p=83#comments Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:51:16 +0000 simpson http://www.richardlane.org/?p=83 be trying my paws at Twitter, if interested take a look at www.twitter.com/simpywimpy

]]> http://www.richardlane.org/?feed=rss2&p=83 0 Not retired yet… http://www.richardlane.org/?p=82 http://www.richardlane.org/?p=82#comments Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:34:40 +0000 simpson http://www.richardlane.org/?p=82 Magdalene from Guide Dogs came out today. She is German and very efficient. We toddled up to London mid-morning so she could assess me in busy London conditions. Went like a breeze. Guided Dad across Waterloo concourse and onto the escalator without any problems. Then through crowded Camden market and to the office door, water off a dog’s back really. Magdalene was very pleased and although Dad is on the waiting list, I’ll be fine to work for at least another six months if things stay the same with me and no new pooch is offered to Dad. Back in Abbey St Farnham now and chilling out in my bed. Feel quite pleased.

]]> http://www.richardlane.org/?feed=rss2&p=82 3 Enigma http://www.richardlane.org/?p=80 http://www.richardlane.org/?p=80#comments Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:37:31 +0000 richard http://www.richardlane.org/?p=80 22 years ago, in a former life, I recall sitting in the Corn exchange concert venue in my home town of Bedford; our youth orchestra played Elgar’s ‘enigma Variations’ and from memory it was a good performance. Last night I once again took my seat in the first violins to play Enigma in the Corn exchange, under the same baton of conductor Michael Rose, and with some of the same players: my desk-partner and life-long chum David Barlen, and the dynamic Morven Bryce who led the orchestra last night. It was a sentimental and somewhat surreal experience. For the past 6 weeks I have painstakingly memorised the 30-minute orchestral masterpiece (including the famous ‘Nimrod’ variation). Mercifully the brain-box did not let me down, and most of the notes came out of the violin at the right time. Never before have I listened so intently to guide my playing, with no conductor’s baton to follow. It was both tense and intense, nerve-wracking yet euphoric, all of life’s emotions contained in one concentrated half-hour of music making. And over so quickly, barely time for a drink afterwards and a reminisce with old chums; all of a sudden it was midnight and Cinderella had to leave the ball. Today a strange sort of hangover, some mental and a bit (quite a lot actually) of emotional exhaustion. So the violin goes away until the next time…the next time…when will that be I wonder…?

]]> http://www.richardlane.org/?feed=rss2&p=80 2 Slowing down a bit http://www.richardlane.org/?p=79 http://www.richardlane.org/?p=79#comments Tue, 16 Sep 2008 12:47:05 +0000 simpson http://www.richardlane.org/?p=79 Autumn is definitely upon us, the air feels cool and the leaves are beginning to fall in Gostrey Meadow just over the road from the house. I’m not so keen on rushing up to London these days, in fact my pace has dropped a bit and I like to lie down more when out for walkies. But Dad says that’s ok, after all I am 9 years old next birthday and I’ll be retiring some time next year. Mind you, Goldie is going great guns at 12 and a half, though of course she hasn’t done any guiding work for years. So while it’s autumn outside, it’s autumn time for the guiding work as well. But Dad says autumn is his favourite time of year, so that’s ok.  

]]> http://www.richardlane.org/?feed=rss2&p=79 0 The terrorising terrier part 2 http://www.richardlane.org/?p=78 http://www.richardlane.org/?p=78#comments Mon, 21 Jul 2008 10:12:24 +0000 simpson http://www.richardlane.org/?p=78 Actually things are much better now, and I feel a bit bad about yesterday’s blog. chester isn’t in my face quite as much, and we had a good run in simon’s garden which cleared the air a bit. Today is lovely and sunny and I am hoping we’ll go up to the Pentlands for a really good walk, before I fly back home later.

]]> http://www.richardlane.org/?feed=rss2&p=78 2 The terrorising terrier http://www.richardlane.org/?p=77 http://www.richardlane.org/?p=77#comments Sun, 20 Jul 2008 11:27:12 +0000 simpson http://www.richardlane.org/?p=77 So much for my summer break with raven here at Cocburn Hill outside edinburgh. Arrived from the long train journey to be ‘greeted’ by a ghastly wire-haired terrier called Chester. He barked and licked and bared his teeth and has been a nightmare all weekend.He even jumped on my back last night and we had one hell of a stand-off. So I’m spending a lot of my time skulking in dad’s bedroom, though I’m geting lots of visitors and even some lamb bits last night. Though this morning was better as the terrorising terrier stayed in the lounge while I had breakfast with raven and toddled outside for a lovely run in the garden, so things are looking up. I still love Scotland, I just can’t stand chester and probably all border terriers. 

]]> http://www.richardlane.org/?feed=rss2&p=77 1 Sultanas de Merkaillo http://www.richardlane.org/?p=75 http://www.richardlane.org/?p=75#comments Sat, 05 Jul 2008 10:59:42 +0000 richard http://www.richardlane.org/?p=75 Ojos de BJust love this track from Ojos de Brujo. It just gets you going in the morning. I thought they were Andelucean given the flamenco influence, though they actually herald from Barcelona – which also makes sense as, like the fabulous city, the music rushes at you from all angles.

]]> http://www.richardlane.org/?feed=rss2&p=75 1 Farnham to la Vendee http://www.richardlane.org/?p=72 http://www.richardlane.org/?p=72#comments Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:02:25 +0000 richard http://www.richardlane.org/?p=72 french podcast Jim and I cycled en tandem from Farnham to his holiday place north of La rochelle over the late May bank holiday weekend. Not quite the simple trip we had planned, as you can hear by listening to le podcast…but we are alive and well, and still speaking to each other.

]]> http://www.richardlane.org/?feed=rss2&p=72 1 The blog is back http://www.richardlane.org/?p=67 http://www.richardlane.org/?p=67#comments Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:04:49 +0000 richard http://www.richardlane.org/?p=67 long live the blog. Thanks again for the help of old mate Jonny Perl for taking on the hosting of richardlane.org
coming up: audio blog of Jim and myself steering our way through appalling rainy weather last month on board a tandem to Jim’s holiday place in la vendee, north of La Rochelle.

And happy to report a new tandem for the garden shed – well new old – picked up from Gerry and Iris in Littlehampton last weekend. Bike mechanic superhero Jules in guildford is currently making a few adjustments before we set sail on her a week sunday, on the Farnham monthly cycle outing.

And Simpson – the duke of Farnham – is in terrific form of late and was a real hit earlier today in Pulinger’s, Farnham’s splendid victorian stationery shop.

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