onionbagblog

Oddcaste 268

Not a duff selection in the thirty minutes of song choices from Mr Mule. He’s getting rather good at this - but don’t tell him that I said that. And then by pure coincidence, after Mr Mule dropped a track from the Syd Barrett debut, the 1,001 Albums list served up the very same album for me this morning. Mr Mule works in mysterious ways.

“Over the past few months the Greens have seen a huge surge in membership. In Lambeth alone it has tripled to nearly 2,500. The challenge now is to harness that injection of energy and turn it into electoral gold.”

Having dissed Dave yesterday for his distaste for all things Greens, fair play for publishing a piece about doing the Green doorstepping thing in Lambeth.

““It’s big enough that we’re serious, but there’s still a local feel.”

Matt Forde on Forest, 2026.

Plus:

“It’s been a MAD season, even by Forest standards.”

Yep.

Tower Hamlets mayor acted unlawfully in attempted removal of LTN schemes

“At Lewes town council, the conversations we are having focus on how these changes could be an opportunity for the town. Sussex is one of the six counties on the government’s priority programme for establishing a combined authority. As the possibility of a more unified county structure edges closer, we are having to think imaginatively about the future. That means exploring how residents can lead discussions on creating truly community‑led and place‑based solutions to the most local issues.”

The Graun on local elections and possibilities

“Let’s talk briefly about the Greens”

Dave shows his true colours. As if we didn’t already know.

The €950 cycling glasses

And yep, they’re FUGLY. The cycling industry sometimes does itself no favours.

“There isn’t a reason for most things to exist… but there is for Sleaford Mods”

Tell It Like It Is

A remarkably ambitious album - especially so for what at the time was a jobbing indie toilet band back in 1993. And you know what? They just about get away with it. I love the New Order pastiches on Wishing I was Skinny and Barney. The cod reggae attempts are brave, if nothing else. Giant Steps offered optimism as to where toilet indie could go back in 1993. Sadly flag waving hijacked the possibilities.

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Another day, another Quayside walk. Actually, it was a lot more than that - almost 5km in total. Rain is forecast around these parts over the next few weeks. You need to take your chances whilst you can. That was a bloody big high tide down at front. I had to take the slight detour through some back passages to find a dry route. Keep walking.

You need to listen to this album LOULDY. Despite the racket, it’s also tuneful in places. Big Me has always been a personal fave. This Is a Call great calling card to kick start all things Foos. A rare example of me liking something that feels like I ought to be wearing double denim to truly appreciate.

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Another windy lunchtime session at the Table of Dreams. It was a bit hit and miss tbh. VERY hit and miss, in my case. Aim for the far left corner. Don’t be surprised if the ball lands in the far right corner. Oh hang on - I appear to be bloody winning.

It was also a day for the shades. The Estuary Wilds rays were working wonders on my mid-winter face tan. I should have worn my Speedos. That would have livened up the stiffs, out doing the dog walking thing.

The table itself had more muddy footprints on it. I despair.

Whatever. I won 3-2.

Why do cycle lanes get so much stick online?

Because a small minority online are very vocal, and equally very uneducated.

There.

I’m still crocked, I still can’t run. My calf came close to PINGING once again at the weekend. I had taken a month off running. I found that pretty tough. I thought all was fine to start pounding the mean streets of CO7 once again at the weekend.

WRONG!

PING!

Ouch, that bloody hurt.

I’m so I’m back on my own personal rehab, aka walking each day whilst I can. I get restless with wfh, and so need to head out.

The wanderings around Weird Wiv on Monday were nothing spectacular. Always different, always the same, etc.

I headed up towards The Cross, back down The Avenue and High Street, and then along The Quay. I’ve started to notice other daily walkers sharing the same time frame as me. Maybe they’re all crocked as well?

Another wind assisted game at the Table of Dreams. There was no drone action on Monday lunchtime. Instead, we had the almost mechanical sound of a couple of swans flying overhead. Best not to look up. Focus on the game, Jase.

It was a scrappy game. Time was a little tight for both of us. It did include however an epic game that went all the way to 16-14, two clear points to win. I wasn’t the victor, obvs. I lost 3-1 overall.

This feels like an important album. It also rambles in places. The songwriting is crafted, the musicianship is outstanding for a band that was still so young. Sandy Denny sounds delightful throughout. It gets a little dark in places. This was the late 60’s and bad drugs, natch. Somehow the Dungeons and Dragons elements are seen off with more uplifting, almost soulful songs.

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