"I'd like to get you on a slow boat to China" was a well-known phrase among poker players, referring to a person who lost and was quite happy to keep losing. Frank Loesser turned it into a romantic song, in 1947. 
The romantic version is a lovely idea - the odd time I've played poker though I've really taken a hammering.

There's one idea behind this piece - but it wasn't intended to be Xanadu by Dave Dee, Dozy ,Beaky, Mick and Titch  - although thats exactly what it sounds like when the electric guitar comes in ... Nevermind. 

This riff - played on the piano in the amazing Bruce Hornsby recording -has stuck in my head for many years - my recollection may not be as accurate as it should be ..

This is the final version of this tune . the one I put up earlier I hadn't finished editing - my apologies .

The comforting sound of rain hammering down outside but being dry and warm at home - not all of us have that luxury - but its good when you've got it.  You may hear a bit of the rain in the background of this recording - it was crashing down on the roof when I was putting the piece together.

A regular Sunday visit - a friendly bar in Alcobendas - I hope it survived all the pandemic stuff.  Great tapas - very tolerant and patient of my appalling Spanish.

I've only recently remembered the phrase when the clocks change - "Spring Forward - Autumn Fallback " - so there we have it - tonight the clocks go 1 hour forward and the evenings get lighter. Hope Springs Eternal .

For the world of  teachers today is the end of Term - a get-as -much -in -as -you-can sort of term and hard work for exam students. is it worth it for them ? I hope it is . Enjoy the holiday.

Toxic asset - something which has fallen so far that there is no longer a market for. In the financial crisis of about 2008 /2009 - I remember the expression well. The Uk spent the next ten years in austerity to put that right - and failed miserably. 

For my Mum on her 95th Birthday - Happy Birthday .... from your second son.

In about 2008 / 2009 there was a rather hushed up scandal about restrictive practices and discouraging union membership in certain industries - goodness how we need strong unions now. Bear it in Mind