What Are You Doing Now?

[number 6]

Glad you enjoyed your few days away, Anita! Sounds absolutely cracking!

[Courtenay]

You didn't visit Stonehenge while you were at it, Anita? Glad you had such a great time — welcome back!

[Anita Bensoussane]

Did you land in a valley of adventure? Sounds great!

I must admit I felt quite Bill Smugs-ish!

Glad you enjoyed your few days away, Anita! Sounds absolutely cracking!

Thanks, Number 6.

You didn't visit Stonehenge while you were at it, Anita?

If you mean on the "flight", I think I took off from Boscombe Down Airfield, flew out over the Isle of Wight and landed back at Boscombe Down.

If you mean in real life, I've seen Stonehenge before and the Visitor Centre is being revamped at the moment (despite being pretty new) so we decided to give it a miss.

[Courtenay]

If you mean in real life, I've seen Stonehenge before and the Visitor Centre is being revamped at the moment (despite being pretty new) so we decided to give it a miss.

Yes, I meant in real life. That's a bit odd, that they're refurbishing the visitor centre already when it opened only about 3 years ago! I've been there once before the visitor centre was built and twice since — I really enjoyed the visitor centre, but the stones themselves are the most remarkable thing, of course. (My mum and other friends of her generation reminisce about how they visited in the days when you could go right up among the stones and touch them, but I think it's right that visitors can't do that any more — too much risk of damage to such a unique and amazing site.)

The flight simulator sounds like a great experience as well — maybe a bit scary, though! Do you qualify for your pilot's licence now?

[Anita Bensoussane]

I'm not quite ready for my pilot's licence yet!

I also went to Stonehenge in the days when you could walk among the stones and touch them. I was only five but I remember it well because I'd recently read The Enid Blyton Book of Brownies and another girl who was visiting Stonehenge had "Hop, Skip, Jump" written on her plimsolls - which I mistakenly thought was something to do with the three brownies!

[Eddie Muir]

I've just watched Buddy Holly: Rave On on BBC4. It's advertised as "profile of the singer who helped define the music of the 1950s before his tragic death, a look at his career with interviews from those who knew him." I didn't learn anything new about Buddy Holly, but the programme served as a reminder of what a great talent he was and how much he achieved in such a short space of time.

[number 6]

Was this a repeat, Eddie? I can remember watching something similar a while ago. It makes you wonder how far Buddy Holly would've gone in the business & how much more of an influence he would have had on the music industry, if he hadn't been tragically killed at such a young age!

[Eddie Muir]

It was a new programme with new interviews, Number 6. However, I'd seen all the footage of Buddy Holly many times before: sadly just three musical performances and some home movies. I think Buddy would have gone on to achieve far greater things had he not died at such a young age. He had so many plans in the pipeline at the time of his death, including starting his own record label (Prism) and producing the recordings of other artists. He was also planning to do studio versions of songs that he had written and recorded as demos on his tape recorder in his New York apartment in the weeks just before the tragic air crash. Backings were added to these demo tracks and were released after his death and enjoyed considerable chart success. Examples are: Peggy Sue Got Married, Learning The Game, and What To Do. In 1963, Buddy had big hits with Brown Eyed Handsome Man and Bo Diddley: two demo tracks that had been recorded in 1956. There have also been numerous posthumous albums that have enjoyed chart success since that fateful day in 1959,

[joanne_chan]

He certainly played a a much bigger part in the development of rock than most would expected, influencing a good number of British artists who made that template, reputedly playing a part in the naming of The Hollies and the aftermath of his death played a part in Bobby Vee's career.
The 1986 "From the original mastertapes" MCA cd while limited to just those recordings issued in his lifetime sounds amazing for the period.

[Eddie Muir]

I agree that the 20 tracks From the Original Master Tapes, issued on CD 1985 and not 1986, sound amazing. Only 18 of the 20 were issued in Buddy's lifetime. True Love Ways and Reminiscing both from the CD, weren't released until after he died. The 18 tracks on the CD were not the only recordings issued in his lifetime. The two albums, The Chirping Crickets and Buddy Holly were released in March 1958 and July 1958 respectively and contain tracks that are not on the From the Original Master Tapes collection. Also the That'll Be The Day album, released in 1961, showcases all the 1956 Decca recordings, including the original version of That'll Be The Day. Of these recordings only Rock Around With Ollie Vee appears on the Original Master Tapes CD. Off my soapbox now!

[number 6]

Thanks, Eddie. I'll watch it on the BBC i-player. I didn't realise how much BH was involved in! He was an incredible talent, for sure. It's a real shame he passed so young!

[Eddie Muir]

You're welcome, Numbef 6. I hope you enjoy watching the programme on the BBC i-player.

[IceMaiden]

Watching The Prisoner. Very enjoyable but goodness it's confusing, like going through different doors but finding yourself back in the same room every time .

[Rob Houghton]

Is that the original filmed in Portmeirion? I've never seen it, but I know it is well known for being confusing!

[KEVP]

I am guessing number 6 is also a fan of The Prisoner.