Hello to all my friends out there! Happy 2024! Hope Santa was good to you all!
Do I have anything musical to tell you? You know I do! Guess what I learned this Christmas? The man who wrote "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" was an Englishman! Yes, his name was Tommie Connor! I wish I had known that when I changed the lyrics to that song and sung it to my English in-laws! We had seen Hailey's Comet at Beachy Head and that is what MY song was about. Don't you change lyrics to tunes that you know for other people's entertainment/annoyance? You know I do!! LOL!
The other musical news that I have you is that I found a couple of young men who do fantastic covers of Beatles songs! Oh, they are very good singers and guitarists and to hear those wonderful harmonies just does my heart good. Evan & James (evanandjames.com)
Christopher Evan and Andrew James! I hope you were able to hear this video. It is "I Should Have Known Better". Remember John Lennon's playing his marvelous harmonica on this record? This young man plays that bit on his guitar! Listen to it and you will recognize that part, I'm sure. Hope you like them too!
So lovely!
The monastery is a place of great serenity. I once suggested to a dear neighbor to visit it, someone who had heard of it but never seen it. When he did visit it, he told me later, "I felt my spirits lift as soon as entered the gates, my worries just fell away from me. I felt real peace". I am wishing that kind of peace to all of you this year.
I just watched "A Hard Days Night" yesterday on TCM and sang along with all the songs from the heart throbs of my youth! I remember seeing the Beatles in person when I was 11. It was the highlight of my then young life. Those boys here did a great cover and thanks for sharing. There's a very funny English lady I saw on Facebook singing her own lyrics to "All I Want For Christmas Is You". Only her lyrics sing "All I want for Christmas is YOUTH" ! Ha! If you get the chance check it out for a nice giggle! Happy New Year Kay!
ReplyDeleteIf you watched "A Hard Day's Night" you would have heard "I Should Have Known Better"! It was written for that film I will look up that video you told me about! Happy New year to you! xx
DeleteI have seen a few tribute bands over the years, T-Rex, Kate Bush etc and I honestly prefer them to the real thing. Not only are they usually younger and more energetic but they play the original songs faithfully without tampering with them and tickets are a quarter or a tenth of the price on the door. No booking required. A great night out. Happy New Year. A lovely monastery.
ReplyDeleteBob. BSS.
"Without tampering with them"...yes, that is why it is so nice to hear them. These young people recognize when something is truly good, so why mess with it? Happy new year to you and Alex, all the best. x
DeleteI pray you and your family have a blessed and beautiful 2024!
ReplyDeleteThe very same is wished for you, my friend. x
DeleteI can't listen to the videos right now, as I'm about to start work, but I certainly will later - you know my special relationship with the Beatles.
ReplyDeleteA peaceful year... how wonderful that would be! In my personal bubble, there is plenty of it, as well as joy and love, but for way too many people there is none of that.
What your neighbour experienced at the monastery is pretty much what many visitors will say about Ripon Cathedral (or Fountains Abbey, for that matter). My mother-in-law insists she's witnessed many times that families with young children entered the cathedral and all of a sudden the kids went from unruly tearing and screaming about to sweet little lambs.
A peaceful year, if only it could be that for everyone, all over the world! It is amazing to me to go into the old churches and cathedrals and see a door and steps that have been worn down by many hands and feet. A sanctuary. I know that you are aware of the old laws in England whereby a criminal could seek refuge in a church. It is an interesting history. Peace!
DeleteI did enjoy the boys version of Beatle songs - they are very good indeed.
ReplyDeleteDo you remember an old orchestral piece called 'In a Monastery Garden' - so old-fashioned, but I loved it back in my childhood. I could imagine it while walking through your Monastery garden. How sweet the deer look there. Happy New Year and all the best for 2024 to you and your family.
I just listened to it ("In A Monastery Garden"). I DID know the tune although I didn't know the name of it! I just read all about Ketelbey, the composer and also, Ronnie Ronalde, a man who whistled it! Both so interesting! Both were from England, so I really should do a post about each of them! Happy new year to you, Patricia in your lovely part of the world! x
DeleteHey there, Kay! Happy New Year to you and your family! Can't believe that it is 2024. Wow. I love the deer picture - we have had so many around our houses in the last few years - well, really decades. We have lived and still live in an area where there are many, many deer. I love the pictures of your walk. And I love peaceful places to walk. Just not outside much right now. Cedar pollen allergies for me and so inside walking is much better. Take care!
ReplyDeleteHappy new year to you, Kay! So nice to see your comment here!! The Monastery has the largest green space in this area and the deer take advantage of it! Inside walking counts too! Take care!!
DeleteEvans & James are very talented -- thanks for featuring them!
ReplyDeleteI am glad you like them too!
DeleteHappy New Year to you! 2024 is the year of more, I've heard it said. Hope you have many more peaceful walks and can take pictures to share. It would be the perfect place for me to walk. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteHappy new year, MA! Keep looking on the bright side!! xx
Deletethe comment above should read, Love, ma
ReplyDeleteThose are talented young men. I hope the music gods are with them and they go far. Peace is the word that came to my mind when I saw the picture of the monastery.
ReplyDeleteOh, I do hope that they find as much success as they would like to handle! (If that makes sense!) Peace!
DeleteHappy New Year, Kay. I will listen to them later. It's late now here in Hawaii and the sound would wake up my sleeping spouse. :-)
ReplyDeleteHappy new year to you too, Kay! I am tickled that I had my TWO friends named "Kay" leave comments for the new year!! And listen to the songs when you can, wouldn't like to wake up ART!! xx
DeleteA little late, but I just listened to Evan and James. Wow! They really are talented. Thank you for sharing it. I love it, especially And I Love Her!
DeleteSo glad you like them! Hope they make it big and we can say we were among their earliest followers! Everybody needs a Kay in their corner. 😉
DeleteHappy New Year, Kay. I love that last picture. Peace is something I need right now.
ReplyDeleteDear Gigi, It is peace that I am praying for you. x
DeleteI only just found this! Typical! Nice to see deer so close, glad someone found comfort in the church.
ReplyDeleteHey Adman! Happy 2024 to you! Take care!
DeleteI hope 2024 is a good year for you too Kay! Thank you! The monastery looks quite impressive and as if it has a strong atmosphere.
ReplyDeleteHey Jenny Woolf! Happy 2024 to you. The monks came from a monastery in Kentucky in the 1940's and built everything themselves. It's an amazing story. Also, that same monastery in Kentucky is where Thomas Merton was a monk. Since you are a writer also, I wanted to share that with you.
DeleteYou know you're in the right church when your spirit soars!
ReplyDeleteI honestly never really liked the Beatles music...some but not all. I liked Ringo though...loved the drums.
hugs
Donna
I can't even imagine not liking the Beatles! The world came into color for me when I saw them for the first time on The Ed Sullivan Show. Truly, it was like that. Did you see that we saw Ringo Starr back in September? We did, and it was truly a thrill! Hugs right back to you! Take care!
DeleteHard to believe that we are almost mid-way through January.
ReplyDeleteI hope 2024 has started well for you.
All the best Jan
https://thelowcarbdiabetic.blogspot.com/
So far, January has been a bit of a slog, to be honest but you know, it can always be worse! Take care, Jan! xx
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