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Hi Robin, I’m pleased I’m not the only Scarlett Thomas fan here, somehow I knew that your range of reading would mean that you may share my interest.

I have a trilogy of paperbacks of the original Dangerous Visions and then a double paperback volume of Again Dangerous Visions, both sets have stayed with me since the 70’s. I read about the...

I recently watched the TV adaptation of the sci fi novel Three Body Problem it had been significantly westernised from the novel, and was quite enjoyable. I read the first book of the trilogy ages...

It’s my contention that apart from the top three, there really isn’t that much difference between the rest of the mid table / Europe chasing pack. On any given day the games can swing either way, and...

The Championship meanwhile has taken a bizarre turn, I think that is three rounds of fixtures where the top three have failed to find a win between them, bringing Southampton mathematically back into...

Leicester seem to be in all sorts of trouble with the financial fair play rules, although their points deduction will be next season. It seems rather unfair that they can be in breach of the rules...

I could not believe that final goal against Southampton. I think it may just be written in the stars this season.

The next month is going to be a nail biter, the games come so thick and fast, and...

Amazon U.K. has this at £144 for a 5 CD & 1 BluRay set, which seems astronomic. I would be very interested at a sensible price.

Edit - £125 on Burning Shed … still pricey but better.

Oh I’m looking forward to this. I haven’t played them in a long while, but was a firm fan around the time of Crane Wife and Hazards Of Love. I saw each of those tours, and they were superb...

I know the chap who has played thousands of gigs as guitarist in his band for the past 35 years, I used to go to him for guitar lessons. Both he and Steve Harley live close by. He speaks of the...

Very good weekend for both, and it’s quite nice to have a little break as this league is hectic. Quite a few from each squad on international duty, so there’s always a risk, but fingers crossed!

^^^ She clearly tightened up the back four after the last whiteboard session ;)

Me too, it’s far worse in terms of competition than ever before. He could win every race this season and probably next. It won’t be until the rule changes in 2026 that it may open up a little. I only...

That’s cool too. I’m rather feeling my age when I see teenagers in F1. It’s definitely measured in generations now Duncan ;)

People are effusive with praise on the BBT FaceBook group, but obviously that is a fan site and there's seldom anything but pure positivity.

It does seem that they drew some of the largest...

Any thoughts on the young, 18 year old, Ferrari rookie Oliver Bearman from last weekend? He comes from my old home town and also went to my school, so I was vested in seeing him drive well, and I...

I hope Burnley stick with Kompany, I do think their ownership seems quite enlightened as to the reality of the situation. My wife has been speaking to them for a while about some potential business,...

Indeed Robin, for anyone who has been in "the wilderness" in recent yers it might take a few seasons of up and down to get the foundations built. I think most supporters at this level understand it...

Oh it is so risky, and if they were to achieve promotion I really would fear for them. You can get away with it to an extent in the Championship, but in the Premier you'll never outscore enough to...

^^^ sadly Kalvin Phillips looks well of the pace and his confidence seems in tatters after his City debacle. Unfortunately he is also a signing (albeit on loan) that we didn't ever need. We have more...

Being West Ham fan I am pretty through with the Premier League... until they replace David Moyes. Our football has been absolutely dire and I struggle to watch it. We have the players to be so much...

It’s not unusual for Roger to rework his paintings in different colours and shades, perhaps that’s what this recent edition is?

Like you I recently (within the past few years) re-read Owen Meany, it remains not only my favourite Irving, but one of my favourite novels. It’s a masterpiece.

It's an occasional series of 30 minute interviews for artists to promote their upcoming tour, it isn't meant to be an in depth career retrospective from subject matter experts. The interviewers are...

I would love to see Jon with these guys in the UK, we can but dream.

^^^ You'll enjoy the second interview, they know their stuff ;)

Thanks for the feedback, that makes sense, but is not quite how it was presented in the recent FaceBook post. Nonetheless these are all consummate musicians. so they will very easily slot into the...

^^ That was my second thought, after thinking she's still looking pretty good! Steve never had her magnetic appeal of course ;)

^^ I haven't played the album many times yet, but I did play Last Eleven quite a bit on streaming so it is far more familiar. The proggy middle section on Beneath The Masts hasn't gripped me on first...

^^^ That is so good to hear, I am pleased you guys got to experience a little of what we have seen over the past decade or so.

Alberto is a breath of fresh air, and in the liner notes for the new...

Following on from that Word podcast they were discussing rock star ages on a recent one, and I heard the startling fact that Steve Howe is younger than Debbie Harry :O

Just took a look on SetList FM and it seems there were 5 changes out of an 11 song setlist, so that’s quite a decent percentage. It was similar in London last time out.

Does the trumpet guy...

I never consider myself anything like expert enough to discuss these releases, but I do find that I have most of the above in my collection, with the exception of Agitation Free ... am I missing out...

Hot on the heels of that conversation, Steve is also on the latest Rockonteurs podcast chat with Gary Kemp and Gut Pratt. I haven't listed yet but will do when I take the dog out tomorrow morning......

It is up on Spotify and Apple Music too, so is very easy to stream if anybody is still waiting for the postman.

^^^ It is a Dave Foster and NDV co-write I believe. Not my favourite of the new bunch either, prefer the progressive to the rocky-regressive ;)

There is a nice 30 minute audio interview with Steve Howe on the latest Word podcast, chatting about a whole range of subjects including the upcoming tour. He comes across really chilled and lid...

^^ It is a source of a little disappointment that we do not get deep discussions on such as this wonderful boxset, I too love the Calvert years and thin k everybody on here should be lavishing praise...

I think this only came out in 2023, it’s a great set, the live shows are very much worth your time. It’s a lovely companion set to The Space Ritual boxset.

I have a lot of their albums but Soft Bulletin and Yoshimi are favourites. I’ve seen them twice both times at Glastonbury and I loved them live. I had my kids with me the second time, they were...

Yes that's what I was saying. I know that they were looking for a stand-in guitarist who could also play some trumpet.

IIRC they were looking for a guitar playing trumpeter to cover Dave Foster's parts and add a modicum of brass to the stripped-down band. Dave was stood down for this leg to accommodate the needs of...

Given that it’s a limited edition RSD release, it will sell out in any case. I would like a copy as I did not get the latest The Yes Album set. I also hope they will turn their attention to other...

It’s always hit and miss for me, as there are no independent stores close by, so I would have to travel, then you never know what they might have.

I would like to get the Yes release, but I have...

I’m not sure on the legality, probably these old US radio broadcasts inhabit some grey area. They are like better quality boots to me, and I never worried myself about legality when finding these...

The memoir about her mother is definitely not as engaging as her own story, but I still thought it worth my time, and it wasn’t a difficult read.

I have the first album from back in the day, as...

I do enjoy this recording and will hope to find a copy. It was released recently in the U.K. as an orange vinyl limited edition, but I doubt it had anything to do with the band. Then again does this...

Currently half way through Melmoth by Sarah Perry, and am hugely enjoying it. I did like her debut The Essex Serpent, partly because it was set in my locality. This one is different, being a tale set...

It’s another Alberto Brevin composition according to a post by Greg yesterday, so not surprising that it has a different lilt, I think most of us gravitate to Greg’s writing as it is generally...

Poor Robert and so hard for his family. I’ve been through this with my own mother and my ex-wife’s father, both bright minds that gradually dimmed, it’s never easy. I do love Robert’s music and he...

I think he was only 74 from the obit I read. Sad news, he was one of a kind, RIP.

I’ve seen him with the current Gong band too, and agree it was really very good. I hope they can do another tour before it’s too late for us all, I love hearing his classic material live

The only audiobook I’ve “read” was Geddy’s, I really enjoyed the experience. I walk a lot with my dog, but listen to music or podcasts, but would like to put some more books into the mix.

I have both a physical Mt TBR and a virtual one! The Kindle daily deals for £1 catch me every so often, and if it’s a book I’ve read and enjoyed in the past, I’ll add it to the “may read again one...

I loved this one, and also read her follow up “To Throw Away Unopened” which was quite different, more about her mother’s life and history, but nonetheless an interesting read.

I see that a new U.K. / Europe tour has been posted today. I don’t want to be that guy, I wish them well in their new locations, but … No London date? That has to be a misstep, surely? There’s no...

I’m very touched reading that sad and eloquent message. RIP and good thoughts to Steve.

I always enjoy your recommendations Robin, and so I am really looking forward to this one.

Currently reading something a little different for me, The Loney by Andrew Michael Hurley. I know...

It’s in my to be read list Duncan, I bought it when I saw your post on Facebook. Congratulations to Laura, it looks really interesting

Oh that is sad, I somehow had missed the news. I’ve read a few of his recently, some at your recommendation Robin. I very much enjoyed his novels when I was consuming pretty much nothing but SF back...