Craig Sawyers

The glorious Natural History Museum in London. And like all museums in the UK, totally free entry.

And a happy belated from me too!

Can't see it. Imgur are still blocking content to those in the UK. All I see is a blue screen with "Content not viewable in your region" in it. Yeah, I know I could stump up for a VPN account to get around that. But I'm darned if I'll kowtow to Imgur's fit of pique against UK citizens.

My very grown up kids (41 and 37) describe me as the old fart who shouts at clouds. I tell them that I once was a young fart who still shouted at clouds.

This contrast between a person and the music is often true. Wagner was a truly awful person, an antisemite, racist and overall shit. He put it about that Brahms' music was based on the screams of birds that he shot with "A Tyrolean bow". An outright lie just to discredit a rival composer. Somewhat interestingly he was a cross-dresser; even the usually staid and formal Wagner Society accepts this. He was also Hiter's favourite composer. 'Nuff said. If you could bring him back from the mid 1800's and interview him today, I'm sure he would be found to be an abominable person in many ways. In spite of all that, Wagners music, particularly the operas, is utterly marvellous. In addition to the epic 15 hour Ring Cycle (took him 25 years to complete it), there is Die Meistersingers, Tristan und Isolde, Tanhauser, Lohengrin just for starters. Seen them all. Awesome.

It closed as a hotel in the 1930's, and was essentially derelict. It came perilously close to being demolished, but after a massive campaign in the 60's it was saved. Alhough it was only in the early 2000's it was restored to the tune of £800m. The station behind it is the Eurostar London Terminus. It is quite an experience getting on a train at St Pancras and getting off at Gare du Nord in Paris. The superb front of Euston station even after massive protest - demolished and now a bland and functional frontage and appearance. Euston demolition https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2017/nov/07/euston-arch-rail-london-demolished-1961 What it looks like now

Great photos. Is that St Pancras station?

On you tube, full set. We were bang in the middle of the front row of a crammed 10000 seat venue. From there the whole experience was immersive.

I took my daughter to see Jean-Michel Jarre maybe 12 years ago in Birmingham (UK). I got us tickets in the middle of the front row. Now I've seen Jarre before, so I warned Liz of a spectacular entry. Sure enough, fan of light and then a fist comes through it. Once it really starts, Liz says "wow - he's cute"; so I told her that he was 7 years older than me - and he'd had a bit of work done to keep the cuteness factor. It was, it has to be said, a totally awsome Jarre experience. Ancient synths, laser harp - the full beans.

Hey - have a truly great one!

In the UK we get hardly any fossil fuels from Iraq, <1%. The the thing that hits global oil prices, and hence fuel prices - is the cost per barrel of Brent Crude. So it hits everyone globally - including the US. Most energy supply companies hedge by buying ahead, usually at least 6 months and up to a year. So there is a lot of intertia in the price of fuel and gas. The fuel taps don't just turn off overnight.

Woah - how did I miss this? Very happy belated Nate!

Thanks everyone! We were away for a long weekend of eating and drinking. Our son lives in the NE of the UK, so we spent a couple of days with him. Then we spent two days at The Black Swan at Olstead https://www.blackswanoldstead.co.uk/ , a two michelin star restaurant. That was quite an experience. 7 courses in the tasting menu with a glass of matching wines with each course. This is really in the middle of nowhere down a single track road. As it got narrower and narrower we honestly wondered if we were on the right road. Got back a few hours ago - and I feel as if I've put on quite a bit of weight! Cheers all!

Happy Birthday, Dan

A very happy Birthday Steve - hope it is an awesome one