I came across this ruin, whilst walking in the hills and campos around my village, it evoked a few daydreams and thoughts of its possible history. And coming across the jpeg again this morning it reminded me of another ruin. so I thought mmm I feel a blog post coming on .
The ruin obviously has a history and the valley it lies within has a history, some of the stories we have heard whilst sitting in the bars around town and some we found out by talking to the local historians (ex-pats who know everything about the village etc etc ) maybe in a future post I will weave a blog story around this ruin and what II have learnt of the history of the village. But, for know, I will jump back to the thoughts it provoked this morning
And back way back, in the seventies on a cold Thursday night; just leaving my college I passed a small record shop, dodging in out of the rain, I began to flip through the LPs whilst listening to the tracks playing in the shop. There an album caught my eye; it looked like the old wall-papered wall of a derelict building with an old picture hanging upon it, no title no name just a picture, open it out and you could see it was indeed the wall of a ruined cottage. Inside a poster style drawing of an old man atop a hill holding a lantern, and far below a young man climbs the hill. (now I know that Eggbod will have the name of the album by now) eagerly I purchased the album and left the shop, just as he closed.
The journey back from Sparkbrook to my home in Alum Rock was by the number Eight Bus (the inner circle)and the wait seemed endless until the buss arrived. There on the back seat of the top deck of the number eight; I withdrew the album and read the lyrics to the song on one side and viewed the cover, scrutinising every inch. I swung by Chrissos on the way back and chatted briefly arranging for him to come and listen later.
Chrisso and I went to the Outdoor and obtained supplies then back to my house to listen, drink and smoke. As the room filled with smoke and we listened in the dim light of the room whilst the rain thundered down out side I heard track after track that would stay with me for the rest of my life, four outstanding tracks I have heard covered over and over, and my love affair with the band continues to this day. There is a track that when you get there you will Know. However, my thoughts go to the final track as I also have the original version on the same memory stick I saw the Jpeg on so tonight I will listen to the original and the re-work by the ultimate band.
I'll name that tune in ?.......
