Trevor

Found this on Facebook and makes interesting reading Source: Cultural Ethereal Past Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin, two of France's most iconic musical figures, shared a deep connection not only through their music but also through their unique experiences of cultural exchange. Gainsbourg, born in 1928, was known for his audacious, avant-garde approach to music and his often provocative persona. When he first visited London, he was fascinated by the city’s contrasts and found many aspects of its culture, from the food to the architecture, intriguingly exotic. This perspective is captured in Birkin’s reflection on his response to haggis, the traditional Scottish dish, which he found to be "the most oriental thing" he had ever eaten. Serge’s appreciation of London’s nuances, such as its iconic buses, telephone booths, and Victorian architecture, highlights his distinctive worldview and his ability to find wonder in the everyday. Their relationship, both personal and professional, was a testament to the creative collaboration that blossomed between them. Birkin, a British-born actress and singer, became Gainsbourg’s muse and collaborator, most famously on the controversial and sensual song "Je t'aime... moi non plus." Released in 1969, the song stirred international attention due to its intimate lyrics and provocative nature. Their partnership in both music and life made them one of the most talked-about duos of the 1960s and 1970s, with Gainsbourg’s wit and Birkin’s charm complementing each other perfectly. Despite the cultural and linguistic differences, London provided a backdrop where their shared love for music and exploration of each other's backgrounds could flourish. The photo by Robert Dear from 1971 reflects a moment in their relationship that exemplified their mutual curiosity and admiration for each other. While Gainsbourg’s affection for London may have been rooted in an outsider’s fascination, his time in the city and his connection to Birkin left a lasting mark on his artistic legacy. The candidness and charm of these moments between Gainsbourg and Birkin offer a glimpse into the personal dynamics that inspired some of the most iconic music of their era. Through these reflections and images, we see a unique blend of cultural admiration and artistic innovation that defined their time together.

Well, had an interesting one over Christmas when I dug out my old Mod parka and am trying to identify the exact model. Have never known whether it was a 1948 (M48), 1951 (M51) or 1965 (M65) and thats not including the various editions with removable hoods and different styles of inner liner. Who would have thought there were so many variants of this legendary coat? Turns out it appears to be an early M51 (introduced in the Korean war) and was standard wear for US troops in cold or wet climates. Value: appears to be around £350 mark and considering I paid £25 for it in 1979 its generated a good profit over the years (if i were to sell it)

Haha....very French in attitude and appearance, they don't make them like that anymore!

Interesting article about the planes future https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/24774309.skymonster-plane-grounded-airport-saved-sort/ Skymonster was built in 1961 as a standard CL-44 operated by the American Flying Tiger airline. Photograph sourced from Bournemouth Daily Echo

I have a particularly dull but enjoyable interest which is collecting different beer bottle tops and arranging them in a special display pack that was bought for me as a present As you can see there are no duplicates and just a few more slots to fill but it has been a real labour of love (for beer) so far Not too dull then I suppose 🙂

crikey, that's dedication for you!

Wow! thats quite heavy I remember watching a documentary on Einstein's theory on relativity and time & space travel One of the only things i remember from it is that he timed a train journey and it clearly showed that time sped up but as soon as it stops then it reversed and therefore no advancement in time overall. Concorde proved it through inter-continental travel at Mach2 but it always returned to the base setting

that does look cool in slow-mo .... or should that be hot rather than cool?

Fantastic set up and envious that I never had one like that when I was a kid There are several celebs that have awesome train sets and guess its a de-stress from hectic lifestyle

Now for many years I can say that I am definitively dull in the truest sense of the word> Having been told by my good lady that I am boring and dull because I have certain hobbies that she does not indulge in, therefore I must be dull, according to her! However, you put two men in the same room who have a shared interest in whatever the subject may be then it suddenly becomes amazingly interesting to discuss this mutual interest. Am I, or am I not correct? Just because the subject is not shared by another, it is necessarily Dull to everyone else? Your thoughts please gentlemen

and quite robotic in their movements nothing is carried out in haste

in response to my previous post, I have also got to wonder how something that big can stay up in the air also considering it has fuel, staff, passengers, supplies and luggage as well (image sourced from X)

always amazes me how something this big actually floats and don't forget all the passengers, staff, supplies, fuel, water and luggage

Love it - a true sight to behold I still like this one as my preferred source of the weather forecast a sight more accurate than most other sources