Bits & Blogs

February 16, 2017

Kemptown is one of the districts in the city of Brighton & Hove.

In the 1960s, I lived there for a while and occasionally I revisit this area. It is that part of Brighton lying to the east of the Palace Pier and the Royal Pavilion and to the west of Black Rock and Brighton Marina. It is a very cosmopolitan area – historically it was known as an actors’ and artists’ quarter, but it also has a sizeable gay community.

There are a number of specialised shops, hotels, cafés and pubs in Kemptown. The area is well-served by public transport and Volk’s Railway runs between the Pier and Black Rock.
Kemptown has had many notable residents including Sir Lawrence Olivier, Vita Sackville West, Lewis Carroll (Revd Charles Dodgson) , Anna Neagle, Max Miller and Flora Robson.
Kemptown seafront is a particularly pleasant place to walk – there are three routes! Madeira Drive is the road on the seaward side; Madeira Terrace is a Victorian-built walkway built halfway up the cliff and Marine Parade is the main A259 road. St James’ Street is the main shopping thoroughfare with many cafes, bars, restaurants and shops.
I love this area of Brighton & Hove!
Last visit was in September 2016.

Kemptown seafront © Robert Bovington

Volk’s Railway © Robert Bovington

The Arches Kemptown Brighton © Robert Bovington

other blogs by Robert Bovington:

“Photographs of Spain”	http://bovingtonphotosofspain.blogspot.com/
“Spanish Impressions”	http://bobbovington.blogspot.com/
“postcards from Spain”	http://bovington-posts.blogspot.com/
“you couldn’t make it up!”	http://bovingtonycmitup.blogspot.com/
“a grumpy old man in Spain”	http://grumpybobbov.blogspot.com/
“Spanish Expressions”	http://spanishsayingsbovington.blogspot.com/
“Spanish Art”	http://bovingtonspanishart.blogspot.com/
“Books About Spain”	http://bovingtonbooks.blogspot.com/

David Bowie – A hero for so much more than just one day

January 11, 2016

by Robert Bovington

Yesterday, 10 January 2016, David Bowie died. He was one of the giants of popular music in a career that lasted more than half a century. His music sold an estimated 140 million albums. He was also an accomplished actor.

On a personal note, Bowie was not one of my favourite artists but I did own a couple of his albums including “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars”. I did see him perform in a concert at Worthing Assembly Rooms in 1972.

His musical output was phenomenal:

Studio albums	27
Live albums	9
Compilation albums	46
Video albums	13
Music videos	51
EPs	5
Singles	111
Soundtrack albums	3
Other albums	66
Other video albums	14

I have just listed his studio albums below:

David Bowie (1967)
Space Oddity (1969)
The Man Who Sold the World (1970)
Hunky Dory (1971)
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust… (1972)
Aladdin Sane (1973)
Pin Ups (1973)
Diamond Dogs (1974)
Young Americans (1975)
Station to Station (1976)
Low (1977)
“Heroes” (1977)
Lodger (1979)
Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) (1980)
Let’s Dance (1983)
Tonight (1984)
Never Let Me Down (1987)
Tin Machine (1989)
Tin Machine II (1991)
Black Tie White Noise (1992)
The Buddha of Suburbia (1993)
Outside (1995)
Earthling (1997)
‘Hours…’ (1999)
Heathen (2002)
Reality (2003)
The Next Day (2013)
Blackstar (2016)

Bowie also had a successful film career that included “The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)”; “Labyrinth (1986)”; “The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)” and “The Prestige (2006)”.

Bowie was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.

Bowie has won many awards including Ivor Novello Special Award For Originality for the song “Space Oddity”; a Saturn Award for Best Actor for his performance in “The Man Who Fell to Earth” and several Grammy and BRIT Awards.

However he declined the CBE in 2000 and turned down a knighthood in 2003.

The above information was obtained from the Wikipedia article:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Bowie

RIP David Bowie
David Robert Jones (8 January 1947 – 10 January 2016),

other blogs by Robert Bovington:

“Photographs of Spain”	http://bovingtonphotosofspain.blogspot.com/
“Spanish Impressions”	http://bobbovington.blogspot.com/
“postcards from Spain”	http://bovington-posts.blogspot.com/
“you couldn’t make it up!”	http://bovingtonycmitup.blogspot.com/
“a grumpy old man in Spain”	http://grumpybobbov.blogspot.com/
“Spanish Expressions”	http://spanishsayingsbovington.blogspot.com/
“Spanish Art”	http://bovingtonspanishart.blogspot.com/
“Books About Spain”	http://bovingtonbooks.blogspot.com/

Orquesta Joven de Almería

December 29, 2015

December 27 2015My wife and I attended an excellent concert at the Auditorio Municipal Maestro Padilla in Almería. It featured the Orquesta Joven de Almería and the Orquesta Infantil de Almería and was conducted by Michael Thomas.

The infants performed the carols “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”, “Joy to the World”, “Silent Night” and “Jingle Bells”. The young children were conducted by Michael Thomas and their performance was quite charming.

Then it was the Youth Orchestra of Almeria’s turn. The youngsters treated us to an excellent concert that began with ‘Finlandia’ composed by Sibelius.

My wife and I attended this concert for three reasons:

(i) we had attended a previous concert by the youngsters of the Almería Orchestra (OIAL & OJAL) and had thoroughly enjoyed it;

(ii) we often attend concerts by the Almería Orchestra (OCAL) conducted by Michael Thomas;

(iii) we wanted to support our friends Colin and John Whyman who were making a presentation at the concert.

Colin & John presented a violin to young Dario Rodriguez Ventura.

This was followed by a speech in Spanish and English by Colin Whyman who, with his brother John, had donated a large collection of records, sheet music and books to the members of OCAL & OJAL.

The Youth Orchestra then performed Edward Elgar’s “Chanson de matin” with young Dario Rodriguez playing the violin.

After a break the orchestra (OJAL) continued their performance with music by Benjamin Britten, Leopold Mozart, Wolfgang Amadaeus Mozart and Prokofiev before finishing with Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride”.

The Youth Orchestra were then joined with the infants (OIAL) and performed “Silent Night” and the encore – another rendition of “Jingle Bells” with some of the audience joining in (well I did anyway!)

Excellent!

Gibraltar

April 24, 2015

by Robert Bovington

Casemates Square © Robert Bovington

Gibraltar is a British overseas territory occupying a narrow peninsula overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar. ‘The Rock’ is just that – a colossal chunk of ancient limestone that was thrust up from the seabed millions of years ago to form what is now the highly visible Rock of Gibraltar.Its history is inextricably linked to its strategic position. Its first important military encounter was in AD 711 when Tarik-ibn-Zeyed led a huge Moorish army that was to conquer most of the Iberian Peninsula. Moors and Christians fought many battles here during the 14th and 15th centuries and the Spanish Christians finally succeeded in dispatching the Arabs back to Africa in 1462. British forces took the Rock in 1704 during the War of the Spanish Succession and British sovereignty over Gibraltar was subsequently recognised by the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht.

Gibraltar attractions include the Upper Rock Nature Reserve. Some 500 species of small flowering plants grow there as does wild olive and pine. As far as fauna is concerned, there are rabbits, foxes and monkeys! Yes, monkeys inhabit the Rock – the Barbary apes are the only wild monkeys in Europe. Other attractions include St Michael’s Cave, the Moorish Castle and the Great Siege Tunnels.

Down in the town centre, Main Street is unmistakably British with Marks and Spencer, BhS, pubs and bright red post boxes. Nearby Casemates Square, however, has a more continental air with many open-air cafes.

Contrary to popular belief the majority of Gibraltarians are not of English or Spanish ancestry – Genoese, Maltese, and Portuguese formed the majority of the population when the Rock was ceded to Great Britain.

English is the official language, which is used for government and business purposes but many Gibraltarians speak Llanito, a mixture of English and Andalucian Spanish.

Robert Bovington

23 Nov 2011

other blogs by Robert Bovington:

“Photographs of Spain”	http://bovingtonphotosofspain.blogspot.com/
“Spanish Impressions”	http://bobbovington.blogspot.com/
“postcards from Spain”	http://bovington-posts.blogspot.com/
“you couldn’t make it up!”	http://bovingtonycmitup.blogspot.com/
“a grumpy old man in Spain”	http://grumpybobbov.blogspot.com/
“Spanish Expressions”	http://spanishsayingsbovington.blogspot.com/
“Spanish Art”	http://bovingtonspanishart.blogspot.com/
“Books About Spain”	http://bovingtonbooks.blogspot.com/

Three Kings Day 2014

January 6, 2014

Today, is Three Kings Day in Spain (and other places around the World). It celebrates the day on which the Three Wise Men arrived in Bethlehem bringing gifts for baby Jesus.

Whilst the UK suffers extreme weather conditions, we in Roquetas de Mar have enjoyed a lovely warm sunny day.

This morning, my wife and I went for a walk along Aguadulce seafront and we then had breakfast alfresco at La Boheme restaurant.

Later, we enjoyed a marvellous concert on channel TVE2. It featured ballet and opera from the New Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg. Placido Domingo, Anna Netrekbo and Olga Borodina were just some of the artists featured. Valery Gergiev conducted the orchestra.

It was still warm and sunny in the afternoon so lunch was spent on the balcony of our apartment in Roquetas de Mar.

other blogs by Robert Bovington:

“Photographs of Spain”	http://bovingtonphotosofspain.blogspot.com/
“Spanish Impressions”	http://bobbovington.blogspot.com/
“postcards from Spain”	http://bovington-posts.blogspot.com/
“you couldn’t make it up!”	http://bovingtonycmitup.blogspot.com/
“a grumpy old man in Spain”	http://grumpybobbov.blogspot.com/
“Spanish Expressions”	http://spanishsayingsbovington.blogspot.com/
“Spanish Art”	http://bovingtonspanishart.blogspot.com/
“Books About Spain”	http://bovingtonbooks.blogspot.com/

Brighton & Hove ‘birdcage’ Bandstand

December 20, 2013

The magnificent structure known as the ‘birdcage’ Bandstand is a Grade II listed building of architectural and historical importance. It stands prominent on Brighton’s seafront and commands excellent views of the coast. It was designed by Phillip Lockwood and completed in 1884.

Below is a painting by my brother William of Brighton & Hove seafront that includes the ‘Birdcage’ Bandstand.

‘Eve before the Storm’ by Lorus Maver (William Bovington)

more paintings by William Bovington:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lorus_maver

other blogs by Robert Bovington:

“Photographs of Spain”	http://bovingtonphotosofspain.blogspot.com/
“Spanish Impressions”	http://bobbovington.blogspot.com/
“postcards from Spain”	http://bovington-posts.blogspot.com/
“you couldn’t make it up!”	http://bovingtonycmitup.blogspot.com/
“a grumpy old man in Spain”	http://grumpybobbov.blogspot.com/
“Spanish Expressions”	http://spanishsayingsbovington.blogspot.com/
“Spanish Art”	http://bovingtonspanishart.blogspot.com/
“Books About Spain”	http://bovingtonbooks.blogspot.com/