Just a year on and as predicted in the ballad, The Donald is running again in '24 and with his new controlled social media platform

Song generated by obsorbing and observing the US elections through out a long night in early November 2020; reaching for the guitar and singing a few lines in those hours, helped steady the nerves and to accept the incredulity of it all. One couldn't help being shocked at the polarizing views and opinions offered when shuffeling between Fox News and CNN presenters and their nominee guests.
A video to go with it!!
https://youtu.be/qLFpvkM_lzg

Donald Trump vs. Joe Biden (Nov 2020)

When James Marshall discovered gold at Sutters Mill on the South Fork of the American River in 1848, the impact was immense and still ripples today. People flocked to California from all round the world in their search for riches, fortune  and to make the American Dream. 

The best story and lesson of how greed can drive men and women to become obsessed and lose a sense of humanity in their quest  to obtain the glittering prize!

In 1935 B Traven wrote, one of the best treasure hunting stories ever after of course Robert Stevenson's Treasure Island, "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre". Exactly 100 years after the gold rush began, it was made into a film in 1948 starring the legendary  Humphrey Bogart. It was a favourite film of my  father's (he also often referred to his mother as the Treasure of the Sierra Madre !) and possibly sparked my interest in searching for lost treasures and panning for gold! I've been fortunate discovering some of these ghost towns and those places where fortunes were made, lives lost and lives changed forever. Discover the gold heritage trails and places for yourself and visit https://www.coloma.com/.  Or listen to the long established and excellent community radio station in the region. Playing 24/7 an eclectic mix of music and tales about the people who live around the county today!  https://www.kvmr.org/

Another modern phenomena of the legacy of the gold rush  evolved in California with the growth of 'silicon valley'.  California is the global centre of the internet and tech entrepreneurs, billionaires and risk takers! 

One thing to ponder, is the homicide rate in the USA today, any better than it was when the 49ers lined the banks On The American River?

California has been in the news a great deal in 2021, particularly around these gold mining areas like Tahoe and seeing the obliteration of 2.5 million acres of woodland and scrub. Truly devastating and climate change related forest fires   destroying homes, livelihoods and taking lives. If you want a touch of reality with shocking horror, please click on this link https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/

From The Treasure of the Sierra Madre by B. Traven, published in 1935.
 
"Anyway, gold is a very devilish sort of a thing, believe me, boys.
In the first place, it changes your character entirely.
When you have it your soul is no longer the same as it was before.
No getting away from that.
 
You may have so much piled up that you can't carry it away;
but, bet your blessed paradise, the more you have, the more you want to add,
to make it just that much more.
 
Men, Christians and Jews alike, are so greedy or brave where gold is at stake that,
regardless how many human beings it may cost, as long as the gold itself
does not give out and disappear, they will risk life, health, and mind,
and face every danger and risk conceivable, to get hold of the precious metal.
 
Not dirty, baby. No, not dirty.
Only I know whom I am sitting here with by the fire and what sort of ideas
even supposedly decent people can get into their heads when gold is at stake.
 
The gold worn around the finger of an elegant lady or as a crown on the
head of a king was more often than not passed through hands of creatures
who would make that king or elegant lady shudder.
 
There is little doubt that gold is oftener bathed in human blood than in hot suds.
A noble king who wished to show his high-mindedness could do no better than
have his crown made of iron.
 
Gold is for thieves and swindlers.
For this reason they own most of it.
The rest is owned by those who do not care where the gold comes from or
in what sort of hands it has been."

On The American River

A contemporary lament demo ballad weaving in a few traditional carol lines!
Agreed, not much Christmas cheer and melancholic!  Could it echo some of those famous nostalgic Christmas love lost songs of the past (George Michael's 'Last Christmas' or David Essex's 'Just Another Winter's Tale') but given this is a second socially restrictive Christmas in a row, many will  feel nostalgia of those loves lost or still to be rekindled in the bleak mid-winter.

This is the final demo ballad of my 'Lochdoon' album and it is now complete and so I promise, to any loyal listeners who are tiring of these hapless laments and basic chords recorded on a mobile phone for some more uplifting and cheerier ballads for the rest of the decade with more colour and collaboration and musical improvement....here's hoping!
Merry Christmas and have a wonderful, healthy and happy New Year for 2022.

KINDLY NOTE:
I would like to thank and credit Volodymyr Hyrshchenko for permission in allowing me to use this powerful image. His country has suffered terribly with the delays in the vaccine roll out and coupled with the very real threat of war by a Slavonic neighbour  - 'will they ever love again' I wonder. Ukraine & Belarus were always on the fault lines of NATO eastward expansion to the doors of The Russian Federation and both sides need to build trust and mutual understanding - if only the Iron Lady, Ronnie and Mikhail Sergeyevich were in the hot seat - we could do with them to steady the nerves and bring wisdom in the critical diplomacy and pray for a peaceful reconciliation; Over 10,000 lives lost in a European conflict since 2014 is tragic and the Minsk Accord unable to prevent further bloodshed. 
https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/conflict-ukraine

Christmas Bells & Snow - Will You Love Again


How can a vibrant port city of 430,000 people be virtually destroyed and most inhabitants flee with thousands of dead in just a few weeks in 2022? How could civilians be targeted in such an indescribably indescriminate way? Who are these murderous thugs to order this and carry it out on this scale? 

Marina Ovsyanikova, TV editor of state run Channel 1 risked her freedom in daring to tell the truth about the battle scenes to the viewers with her now famous placard declaring 'NO WAR' now seen by millions all over the world and this has began to symbolize Kremlin control over mass media. Eventually, most will realise this is not simply a 'special operation'. It's almost 50 days since the invasion of 24th February, thousands of innocent people of all ages and combat lives on all sides are being lost in the worst barbarism and despotism not seen in Europe since the 1940's. One glimmer of hope in this horrendous humanitarian crisis is that the wanton aggression will be repelled through the courage and mindset of the 'Aerorozvidka' brigade. 

An incredible group of IT and drone enthusiasts formed in 2014 is expanding rapidly in this henious all out war. Mainly deployed in reconnaissance but rapidly 'the brigade' is a leading light in providing resistance to being subsumed in a 'Novo Russia'. This is  becoming a high tech war where drones and their intrepid operators are supporting intelligence  and finding targets for the defence forces. With Ellon Musk helping with Starlink, this coordinated system is surprising everyone.  Drone marques like R18's, Switchblades, Bayraktar TB2's and so forth as these pilotless flying machines form a new stealth armoury and fight back.
One hopes that this incredible defense with anti-tank weaponry, Ukraine can make the Russian State realise rhe Ukrainian people will never surrender and they should cease fire immediately and return and be made to foot the bill for the unacceptable loss of life and to rebuild Mariupol and Kharkiv and tens of thousands of other homes. #standwithukraine.

In December, the last demo track 'will you love again' hoped the Slavic bonds would find a way to make peace. This demo is a nightmarish heartbreaking sequel to follow.

PLEASE, COME TO THE AID OF THE DRONE BRIGADE by clicking this link
https://aerorozvidka.xyz/

Thank you. Slava Ukraini!

NO WAR & The Drone Brigade

A demo tribute lament ballad to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to mark 40 days since her death at Balmoral in glorious Royal Deeside. We know your inheritor, King Charles III will continue your wishes and dedicated work to preserve the United Kingdom, despite some of the nations aspiring for separation. 

Rest in Peace 'Elizabeth The Great' as we still mourn your passing and offer our sympathies to your children and grandchildren for their loss.

Thank you for everything. We will meet again........

LYRICS

We’ll Meet Again

Stormy, stormy dreich weather and clouds in the glen,
Ma’am you said, that we’ll meet again,

Crathie Kirk in bricht moonlicht o’er the River Dee,
Where the love flows forever, for her majesty,
And there’ll never be we’ll never see her like again,
And we’ll never know her love again
But we’ll keep that royal, that loyal love within.

Stormy, stormy dreich wither and clouds in the glen,
Ma’am you said, that we’ll meet again,
Awa to your Philip and your mither and your pa,
And may your spirit abide o’er Lochnagar.
And there’ll never be, we’ll never see your like again,
No we’ll never know that love again
But we’ll keep that royal, that loyal love within.

Stormy stormy dreich weather and clouds in the glen,
Ma’am you said that we’ll meet again,

Nicholas S, 2022

We'll Meet Again

The Radio & 99.2 MHz – ‘Video killed the radio star’

We all have grown fondly familiar with voices from radio presenters or disc jockeys.  Devoted listeners hear often live on air their fond radio hosts retire or DJs move on. These relationships are intrinsically entwined emotionally in a radio relationship.  When their much loved or charismatic radio DJ retires as they close up their mic on their final broadcast loyal listeners often feel a sense of loss and sorely miss the dulcet tones, unique humour, eclectic words and accent in a diverse musical genre world. This demo ballad 99.2 tells maybe a possible experience of a DJ and a listener who knows? 

Some history perhaps? ‘Wireless Telegraphy’ was invented in the 1890s before the term ‘radio’ came into widespread use in the 1920’s. The chief pioneers of radio and discovery of electromatic radiation are the famous Scottish physicist and mathematician James Clark Maxwell (1831-1879) with his ‘A Dynamical Theory of the Electromagnetic Field (1865) and proving radio waves existence.  Heinrich Hertz developed the ‘cycles per second’ and frequency (named Hertz) built on the Scotsman’s earlier work in 1888.  However, the father of modern Radio is widely heralded and belongs to Guglielmo Marconi and his Wireless Telegraph & Signals Company in 1897.

The BBC has been celebrating one hundred years of broadcasting in 2022. The corporation has witnessed huge changes on the airwaves and recently seeing a lot of their well-known radio presenters leaving enmasse and quite traumatic for presenters and the audience and also for the Controllers!! That most historic radio day on the 14th November 1922 from Marconi House on the Strand, where the first radio broadcast was made by Arthur Burrows with his first words announced live....“2Lo, Marconi House, London, calling”….. 

Wireless came back for a second time having been almost phased out in conversation it returned in the 80s and 90s in technology devices.  In the 2000’s the world has gone digital (DAB) and wireless tech is through mobile signals, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The analogue VHF world of the radio maybe over but incredibly communities in all parts of the world in rural and urban areas we see start-up internet radio and community radio stations reaching out over all the airwaves more than ever! 

The frequency of FM 99.2 MHz is a popular part 'on that little red dial’ in the FM frequency bandwidth! Why not visit just some of the many international broadcasters just using this exact frequency alone a few listed links below! :-

Tune in to 99.2 MHz and listen to:-

France   http://www.radiorgb.net/   http://www.radio-mega.com
South Africa, Dunkeld West   https://www.yfm.co.za/
Turkey   http://www.palfm.com.tr/
Greece  https://www.melodia.gr/player/   https://www.skyradio.gr/#
USA, Ohio   https://www.wtvkfm.com/
Thailand   https://www.clickfm.in.th/
UK, National Forest, Coalville   https://www.hermitagefm.com/
Bangladesh   http://www.radionalta.com/#about
Kenya   https://www.athianifm.co.ke/about.html
Palestine, Ramallah   http://www.wattan.net/ar/radio/live-radio
Belarus   https://www.racyja.com/player/online.php

99.2

Lamenting the First Minister of Scotland, her resignation and subsequent fall out.

The SNP'S obsession with independence is troubling when more focus should really be devoted to the pressing issues facing the people of Scotland.

Hopefully, this reset and as described by Mike Russell's (interim CEO) in his own words it, the party, "is in a tremendous mess" will pave the way to allow better governance and Spring sunlight can be shone on the financial records, 'lost' campaigning funds as well as the taxpayers contributions.

Ms Sturgeon says the party isn't in a mess but just going through some "growing pains". Let's see what the polls show and a rerun of the leadership faceoff must surely be on the cards.

I wrote this demo lament ballad in the final week of the leadership campaign. Result: 48% Kate Forbes, 52% Hamza Yousaf. Around 3% of the Scottish electorate voted for this. Lamentably, many paid up voting members were not told of the true membership total which had fallen by 30,000 in the last two years nor of the financial state of the party. Would the now elected 'continuity candidate' really want to be associated with that?

Ode to Nicola Sturgeon - Former First Minister of Scotland

A ballad about Hope-Faith-Love...
A couple's rocky relationship is suddenly transformed into a life or death survival as they experience a real life shipwreck together! Miraculously saved, they find redemption by reading the graffiti written on the wall of their makeshift sanctuary cave where they overnighted after their misadventure. 

"And now these three remain: FAITH, HOPE and LOVE. But the greatest of these is LOVE."    
Corinthians 1:13

Writing On The Wall

In memory of Charlie Allan - 'a lad o' pairts' and immortalised now as bothy ballad royalty. Thank you Charlie for giving your unmistakable voice to these incredible bothy ballads  and your ain een, 'The Blue Grey Coo' and for your magnificent writing too. The very special culture of The North East of Scotland; its people, places and stories are packaged by the unique way in which you sung and performed. You are a legend and opened this incredible song genre to so many. You have been an inspiration and influence with your abundant talents (too many to mention but some links below try). We are all blessed to have known, watched and heard you over the decades - may you rest in peace. 

Thoughts are with his family and friends for their loss at this reflective and sad time.

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/obituaries/6294144/charlie-allan-obituary-methlick-farmer-caber-toss-champ-athlete-singer/

https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/charlie-allan/its-lonely-in-the-bothy.p/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixYE9Hc3l5s

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0h3fb5j

Charlie Allan - A Tribute to The Bothy Ballad King

This demo track is partly inspired by Jens Hanning and his controversial artwork entitled ‘Take the Money and Run’ commissioned by the Kunsten Museum of Modern Art, Aalborg, Denmark in 2021.  The artist delivered two blank canvases and when the museum demanded their money back, he replied, “This is only a piece of art if I don’t return the money”.

LINKS
http://jenshaaning.com/
https://kunsten.dk/en
https://youtu.be/eOjV6w1wA8U?si=i5vXiMivGiHZps6x

You Paint the Colour onto my Canvas

Enjoy listening and just occassionally singing (to myself) 'Bothy Ballads' from The North East of Scotland. Influenced in my teens by legendary folk singer Marc Floyd Ellington and Charlie Allan. 

'Written' a few very simple lockdown ballads in the 12 months since the global pandemic struck and tried to learn the guitar...it helps!

Nicholas

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