{"id":24959,"date":"2024-11-22T11:21:44","date_gmt":"2024-11-22T11:21:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/?p=24959"},"modified":"2024-11-22T22:32:23","modified_gmt":"2024-11-22T22:32:23","slug":"days-in-reading-betjeman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/?p=24959","title":{"rendered":"DAYS iN\/READiNG: Betjeman\u2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1252-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24958\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1252-768x1024.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1252-225x300.jpg 225w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1252-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1252.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Nearing the end of this\u2026<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019ve arrived at the last few segments of this slight but endearing volume. I\u2019m currently reading about Rick Stein\u2019s adopted home, Padstow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s a part of me that\u2019s forever juvenile, and that part can\u2019t help but snicker at the thought of hearing Betjeman\u2019s plummy voicing enunciating \u2018Brown Willy\u2019 and \u2018Rough Tor\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1291-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24960\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1291-768x1024.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1291-225x300.jpg 225w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1291-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1291.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">New throw.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"769\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1292-769x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24961\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1292-769x1024.jpg 769w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1292-225x300.jpg 225w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1292-768x1023.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1292-1154x1536.jpg 1154w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1292.jpg 1502w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">New hat n\u2019 jumper.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>And now we\u2019re playing Scrabble and listening to great music\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1023\" height=\"767\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24975\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image-2.jpg 1023w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image-2-300x225.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/image-2-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Wordy fun.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"764\" height=\"764\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1293.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24963\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1293.jpg 764w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1293-300x300.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1293-150x150.jpg 150w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1293-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 706px) 89vw, (max-width: 767px) 82vw, 740px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A fabulous mostly mellow Metheny album.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"353\" height=\"346\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1294-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24964\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1294-1.jpg 353w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1294-1-300x294.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 353px) 100vw, 353px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Yeah, Baby\u2026 Nice!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>After the mellowness of solo Metheny, this 1972 Mainstrean recording by Dizzy Gillespie\u2019s pianist, Mike Longo, is quite manic. Diz\u2019 guests on\u2026 congas! Mickey Roker drums, and Ron Carter is on both upright and, more unusually, <em>electric<\/em> bass. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first to test out the new throw cover on the nice armchair is\u2026 Chester!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1296-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24966\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1296-1024x768.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1296-300x225.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1296-768x576.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1296-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1296.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The King approves.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1297-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24967\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1297-768x1024.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1297-225x300.jpg 225w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1297-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1297.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">I get my turn. Lovely.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1301-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24969\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1301-768x1024.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1301-225x300.jpg 225w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1301-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1301.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Teresa tries it out.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We all love this seat. And now even more so. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Well, I clumsily knocked over the Scrabble game. We could\u2019ve re-set the board, using the pic above. But we couldn\u2019t be bothered! Never mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Teresa\u2019s now doing dinner. And I\u2019m listening to this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"525\" height=\"296\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/dlH-BI8Du78?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-GB&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Paul Humphrey is a master drummer. And just dig these threads:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"348\" height=\"351\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1304-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24970\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1304-1.jpg 348w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1304-1-297x300.jpg 297w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1304-1-150x150.jpg 150w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1304-1-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 348px) 100vw, 348px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cat\u2019s got style!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The personnel on his <em>Cool Aid <\/em>album is top notch: David T Walker on guitar, Clarence McDonald on keys, and Bill (aka Phil, I suspect?) Upchurch, on bass. It\u2019s a damn funky little record, that deserves to be heard. I wonder if it\u2019s been reissued on CD? I\u2019ve had a look, but not found it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1305-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24972\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1305-768x1024.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1305-225x300.jpg 225w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1305-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1305.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Nice ducky dumplings.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We finished off the day with duck dumplings, a Bento Box ready meal and Norman Wisdom\u2019s<em> Up In The World.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"258\" height=\"387\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1306-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24973\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1306-1.jpg 258w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1306-1-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 258px) 100vw, 258px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Tolerably entertaining.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>And to bed\u2026 where I started reading my newest book:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1159-1-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24976\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1159-1-768x1024.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1159-1-225x300.jpg 225w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1159-1-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/img_1159-1.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Just started this.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>And lo, \u2018tis good! Very good. Epic in ambition and intent. Well written, and &#8211; amazingly, for territory so oft written about &#8211; filled with new sources, fresh insights, and even a welcome leavening of wit. Terrific!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Oh, Harvey also deploys my favourite form of structural approach &#8211; especially for doorstop-sized tomes such as this &#8211; many but short chapters. Splendid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On this, my first dip in, I\u2019ve read five chapters. The last of which, by way of example of the unexpected freshness, is about a character I\u2019d not encountered before (at least not in any meaningful way).  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>50p well spent. I look forward to reading more\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I\u2019ve arrived at the last few segments of this slight but endearing volume. I\u2019m currently reading about Rick Stein\u2019s adopted home, Padstow. There\u2019s a part of me that\u2019s forever juvenile, and that part can\u2019t help but snicker at the thought of hearing Betjeman\u2019s plummy voicing enunciating \u2018Brown Willy\u2019 and \u2018Rough Tor\u2019. And now we\u2019re playing &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/?p=24959\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;DAYS iN\/READiNG: Betjeman\u2026&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paGwUa-6uz","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24959"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=24959"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24959\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24978,"href":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24959\/revisions\/24978"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=24959"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=24959"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sebpalmer.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=24959"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}