Monday Blues - Elvis & "Moody Blue"!

It was 33 years ago last Thursday that Elvis Presley, the 'King of Rock & Roll' died!

I came late to his music - it wasn't till 1975 & I was 21!

Whilst on holiday that year on the Isle of Man, I fell 'head over heals' in love for the very first time with an Elvis fan.

The holiday romance, of course didn't last but the love of Elvis's music did.

How I would have liked to have seen the 'King' perform 'Live'.

But last Spring during a stay in Brighton, I got to watch the next best thing, as one of the countries leading Elvis impersonator's Elvis Shmelvis, or as he prefers to be called Tribute Artist performed a foot tapping /spell binding 2 hour show courtesy of the Piers management...

In the second half of his act dressed in the above blue, he performed with gusto one of my all time favourite tracks.

What else but 'Moody Blue'...

Postscript...
Some months after I did my original posts - yes, there were two about seeing Elvis Shmelvis in Brighton, one per outfit, his first being pristine Presley White - I got an actual 'Comment' from the guy himself, saying how glad he was I enjoyed his performance.
He is also the 'Elvis' & 'Ricky Lopaz' [his other persona], who provided entertainment when a friend of his hosted a dinner party in the TV show 'Come Dine With Me', which I'm also a great fan of!

True Colours Thursday - RAINBOW!

Since my self inflicted 'exile / time out' from ALL things blogging, blog life has moved on as it does without me, even my own meme has! :( ...
It's now 'Blues Coloured Thursday' and hosted by pup friends Mollie & Doyle.
In truth, I have no problem with this, as they were loyal TCT participants, and since they did not want my Colours to run out started their own meme.
It is sweet they dedicated it to me, & have included a cake announcing the following weeks colour.
What better tribute to my time spent blogging/making friends can there be than that?

For those who don't know why I suddenly stopped blogging - all I can say is that as after 3 +++ years in Blogland, scattered over many blogs, I've quite literally run out of things to write about, even photograph as my life has become very futile.
Am I back blogging again - probably NOT, but I am here today to play my 'True Colours' one more time because the 'Wizard of Oz' was a fav. magical film and Dorothy's song wistfully conjures up how I feel as want to be able to dream even though I nolonger have any...

"Somewhere over the RAINBOW, way up high,
There's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby.
Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue,
And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true.
Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me.
Somewhere over the RAINBOW, bluebirds fly.
Why then, oh why can't I?"

From my RAINBOW archives, have chosen old images as not taken a new photograph in months!
I'm not religious however love Stained Glass windows in churches.
Christ Church, the city Cathedral, small it may be, has wonderful ones whose reflections create a RAINBOW spectrum...And there is my colourful Hug of bears, all who will soon need new homes - if you can help, please email me...And from my favourite diner in Brighton aka Bills, where J1 and I have met on my visits there..Sadly, I have no cake as not been cake window shopping.

Sky Watch Friday - Moon [River] Seashore!

This is actually from my previous stay in Brighton, when my hotel room over looked the seafront & the moon was full...It reminded me of the song "Moon River" by Henry Mancini, it's lyrics by Johnny Mercer ...
"Moon river, wider than a mile,
I'm crossing you in style some day.
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker
Wherever you're goin',
I'm goin' your way.
Two drifters off to see the world,
There's such a lot of world to see.
We're after the same rainbow's end,
Waiting round the bend
My huckleberry friend,
Moon River and me."

My favourite version - Audrey Hepburn, wistfully singing it in that delightful film "Breakfast@ Tiffiny's"...

True Colours Thursday - AZURE!

AZURE is simply another name for BLUE.
And to be BLUE is to be sad.
So, it certainly is a doubly appropriate colour for me this week, since it was with an over whelming sense of sadness, still with me, that I learnt that my favourite, much loved WFT Jackson had passed away on of all days this Monday - my birthday & whilst I was in Brighton in the hope of seeing him one last time.
Now AZURE wasn't necessarily his favourite colour, like his J1, I suspect he preferred Greens & Reds, but I like to believe I, Blue was one of his favourite people and as I want to start this post with a photogragh of Jackson, here he is peaking out of his AZURE chariot...May he be running, rather than riding, pain free, over @ the Rainbow Bridge with all his friends that went there before him like Oscar, Charlie & Miss Snickers and may he meet my Hero too!

On my belated Birthday lunch with Jackson's J1, she delighted me with this 'Forever Foxed' greetings card... And this great bag - both images are based on the Jax...
After our lunch together, I as usual strolled the North Lanes looking for inspiration for TCT - they never fail me!
A pretty sun dress in all shades of AZURE - if only my figure would do it justice now...And an upper shop front...
Then walking back via the sea front found the pebble beach so loved by Jackson was decked with BLUE chairs blowing in the breeze... While by Brighton Pier, there was lots of bouncing action...And, even my hotel's restaurants tables that evening were laid with AZURE napkins for me to photo...
I've no cake, birthday or other wise to finish off with as normal.
However, pup friends Doyle & Mollie told me to buy myself a Birthday treat in Jackson's memory aka a Stuffie as he was 'the Master' when it came to their destruction, so I did...
To join True Colours Thursday, whose designated blog home is HERE, all you need, is to post a photo/photographs & text, or better still both, on the specified colour of the week.
If you simply want to use the idea as a 'prompt' for a post, that is fine with me.
But, if, you'd like others including me, to visit you, please leave a comment, on either blog so we know you are 'IN'!
Previous known participants are shown in the TCT Roll Call in that blogs side bar.
Next week is colour is RED & WHITE together!
And, please remember ideas for forth coming colours would be very welcome.

Wordless Wednesday - A Pot of Tea Shared [May '08]!

A Lunchtime filled with Jax Memories!

Yesterday was no day for celebrating my birthday, so plans of a special lunch with friend J1 were postponed.
Today, we tried again, this time to recall happy moments with Jackson.
We meet as usual @ Bill's Produce Store Cafe'...And amazingly, we both managed to keep our emotions in check & not blub in public or over our food - I did though, go prepared with a bag stuffed with man-size tissues, my main stay of yesterday!
Instead we talked, we smiled, we even laughed lots about Jackson & his character and the fun times we'd shared together with him on my visits to Brighton; Jackie recalled fetching him from Fox Terrier Rescue and me, my first meeting with them both, when he walked out to greet me as if he knew I was his good blog friend Blue.
At the time I was touched but never realised how special that moment was, till Jackie told me later that Jackson rarely acknowledged let alone greeted anyone but her, yet he always did come to me as if we had a special bond!
It was a lovely lunch if tinged with great sadness re special Jax memories.

RIP Jackson!

Words don't come easily today - only tears.
Dear darling Jackson passed peacefully away in his sleep early this morning, in his own bed, in his own home.
This is one of the final photographs I took of my favourite WFT, looking as handsome as ever on the Fox Terrier Fun Walk the other week, his final 'public' appearance in front of his adoring fans & friends...He was one very special boy, who was much loved by many including me - he will be sadly missed.
My heart breaks for his J's, especially his devoted J1, who loved him as much as he visibly loved her.
I feel privilaged to have personally known him & will always remember the Jax with great fondness.
As many of you know, I'm in Brighton and it is my birthday, but it's not one I'm celebrating.

Camera Critters Sunday - Gull Dawn Chorus!

After waking me up he settled down on my Brighton hotel bedroom's window sill as it's only 6am...

Saturday Photo Hunt - Black!

Host tnchick has got on the colour trail this week!

And, I think this young man in his black t-shirt fits the bill...

The pup is black & tan too - it's Welsh Terrier Jody, a WELTAF friend.

Both were attending last weekends Fox Terrier Fun Walk in Brighton.

Sky Watch Friday - Pavillion Turrets!

Still milking my long weekend @ Brighton!

Last year, parts of the frontage of the Royal Pavilion were blighted by ugly scaffolding, but the exterior renovation is now complete - snapped this as I headed to the Railway Station to catch my train home...

True Colours Thursday - CHARTREUSE!

Until friend BJ suggested CHARTREUSE I'd never really thought of it as a colour, just a rather sweet French liqueur, vaguely the shade of the jacket Jackson's J1 just happened to wear to Saturdays Fox Terrier Fun Walk...And this deck-chair found on Brighton's pebble beach the next day..

However, to be sure checked Wikipedia - they describe it as, "a color halfway between yellow and green that was named because of its resemblance to the green color of Green Chartreuse, introduced in 1764" - Google image...

So, I'm sticking with my other findings in Brighton - from the North Lanes, this dress...And a dark CHARTREUSE upper shop front..Finally, this plant spotted in the Royal Pavillion Gardens - no idea it's name...

The cake has to come from home territory & the closest the Celebration Cake Shop could offer is this...
To join True Colours Thursday, whose designated blog home is HERE, all you need, is to post a photo/photographs & text, or better still both, on the specified colour of the week.
If you simply want to use the idea as a 'prompt' for a post, that is fine with me.
But, if, you'd like others including me, to visit you, please leave a comment on either blog, so we know you are 'IN'!
Previous known participants are shown in the TCT blog's Roll Call in it's side bar.
Next week is colour is COFFEE - make mine a Cappichino!

And, please remember ideas for forth coming colours would be very welcome!

Postscript - to all friends & TCT players, sorry for lack of visits over the past two weeks - will try to do better!

Wordless Wednesday - "No way, are we talking..."!

Two fer Tuesday - Blue Mews!

My time in Brighton always includes a stroll through the funky North Lanes, usually after a lenghthy lunch @ nearby Bill's Produce Store cafe' with Jackson's J1.

This visit was no exception, windowed shop & looked for new street art and wasn't disappointed re this end terrace...Naturally a blue home appeals, but insure if this design is quite me!!!

Camera Critters Sunday - Terriers Galore!

Yesterday dawned bright & sunny in Brighton for the 3rd Fox Terrier Fun Walk to promote Fox Terrier Rescue and as the day wore on it got brighter & sunnier and warmer - I'm sure all human participants today have a rosy glow, I for one certainly have.

Everyone was to meet @ the Marina complex, I waited anxiously for my favourite WFT Jackson to put in an appearance after his recent strokes, and bless him, he did - seen here in the arms of his J1 - he's noticeably frailer but still happy to be out & about...

As the terriers arrived the usual doggy greetings ensued...For my sins I was again 'official' photographer, for the Forever - Fox Terrier Facebook web page which meant taking individual shots of every doggy family as well as attempting a group photo before the walk commenced - I had my work cut out as the turn out was good but what fun work!

At my count, 17 Wire Fox Terriers attended - a small selection of images, more will go on FB when it lets me download them - sadly names elude me re the first two charactors....

Finn & family from Norwich, who I encountered again this morning...

Jackson & his camera shy J's...Friends Sally & Paddy with their D & C...One very lively Smooth-haired Fox Terrier, a first of the breed to attend...Four Welsh Terriers - Dooley & Jody, WELTAF friends & 20 month old newcomer Ted [Edwin missed this photo call]... But I caught him later...Three Irish Terriers - Bramble on the left then Jackson's best friends Shamus & Molly...And one Airedale - Lulu here with her newly adopted brother Douglas, who last walk was being fostered by Sally & Paddy...All recieved doggy bags containing Mint & Carob flavoured treats from Dog Dogs Bakery... With so many pups & their entourages, a full terrier group image defeated me...Then Sally & Paddy's D directed us to start the Undercliff walk ...

Jackson lead the way...

Followed by his security team Molly & Shamus...

And the rest of us followed...A beach stop was made for refreshments - tender toed Sally who hates pebbles, was carried down ...

And partically blind sweet Paddy, affectionately known as 'the Little Man' & the 'Duracell Bunny' because he keeps on going and going then stops dead, & who like Jackson has many health issues was hand feed by his doting daddy...

I believe everyone had a great day, I certainly did surrounded by fun terriers under blue, blue skies!