John O'Brien
@job747.bsky.social
Retired- often quite grumpy, very occasionally delighted, predominantly just totally baffled.
My Dad and I always looked out for Michael Ripper when we watched a Hammer movie…it became a bit of a ‘thing’. I still do it now, albeit with a bit of a lump in my throat!
January 13, 2026 at 1:49 PM
My Dad and I always looked out for Michael Ripper when we watched a Hammer movie…it became a bit of a ‘thing’. I still do it now, albeit with a bit of a lump in my throat!
I think that’s almost the textbook definition of ‘damned with faint praise’! 😂😂
January 13, 2026 at 12:04 PM
I think that’s almost the textbook definition of ‘damned with faint praise’! 😂😂
…and now a dozen more have bounced into my head!!! How could I leave out Bowie’s ‘David Live’!!??
January 13, 2026 at 11:52 AM
…and now a dozen more have bounced into my head!!! How could I leave out Bowie’s ‘David Live’!!??
Er…got excited and inverted the order with Bonnie Raitt…but you get the idea!
January 13, 2026 at 11:50 AM
Er…got excited and inverted the order with Bonnie Raitt…but you get the idea!
Lou Reed: Rock ‘n’ Roll Animal
The Band: The Last Waltz
Talking Heads: Stop Making Sense
Crowded House: Farewell to the World
Bob Dylan: Budokan
Sinatra: …at the Sands
Counting Crows: August…Live
Road Tested: Bonnie Raitt
Running on Empty: Jackson Browne
Peter Frampton: …Comes Alive!
The Band: The Last Waltz
Talking Heads: Stop Making Sense
Crowded House: Farewell to the World
Bob Dylan: Budokan
Sinatra: …at the Sands
Counting Crows: August…Live
Road Tested: Bonnie Raitt
Running on Empty: Jackson Browne
Peter Frampton: …Comes Alive!
January 13, 2026 at 11:48 AM
Lou Reed: Rock ‘n’ Roll Animal
The Band: The Last Waltz
Talking Heads: Stop Making Sense
Crowded House: Farewell to the World
Bob Dylan: Budokan
Sinatra: …at the Sands
Counting Crows: August…Live
Road Tested: Bonnie Raitt
Running on Empty: Jackson Browne
Peter Frampton: …Comes Alive!
The Band: The Last Waltz
Talking Heads: Stop Making Sense
Crowded House: Farewell to the World
Bob Dylan: Budokan
Sinatra: …at the Sands
Counting Crows: August…Live
Road Tested: Bonnie Raitt
Running on Empty: Jackson Browne
Peter Frampton: …Comes Alive!
A couple of probably more contentious inclusions…Russell Kunkel and Stewart Copeland- with Paul Hester thrown in because I still miss him, after all these years.
January 8, 2026 at 12:05 PM
A couple of probably more contentious inclusions…Russell Kunkel and Stewart Copeland- with Paul Hester thrown in because I still miss him, after all these years.
Happy New Year, Roberto. Hope ‘26 is happy and healthy for you all.
January 2, 2026 at 11:30 AM
Happy New Year, Roberto. Hope ‘26 is happy and healthy for you all.
I’m assuming his flight left 12 minutes later than it should’ve?
December 30, 2025 at 9:09 PM
I’m assuming his flight left 12 minutes later than it should’ve?
Wow, congratulations grandpa. Do you mean late winter as in this Jan/Feb or next winter?
December 29, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Wow, congratulations grandpa. Do you mean late winter as in this Jan/Feb or next winter?
Thanks, Roberto. Hope 2026 is a happy, healthy and prosperous one for you all. I assume you have some exotic destinations planned for the coming year?
December 28, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Thanks, Roberto. Hope 2026 is a happy, healthy and prosperous one for you all. I assume you have some exotic destinations planned for the coming year?
A translation would be very helpful. My (extremely) rudimentary Italian will in no way do justice to what I’m sure is a nuanced and insightful piece. (If translating it diverts you from working on Alvise’s next outing, however…I, for one, would happily wait a bit.).
December 2, 2025 at 12:02 PM
A translation would be very helpful. My (extremely) rudimentary Italian will in no way do justice to what I’m sure is a nuanced and insightful piece. (If translating it diverts you from working on Alvise’s next outing, however…I, for one, would happily wait a bit.).
May not be a truly great film…Grace Kelly is no Katherine Hepburn, but Celeste Holme is delightful and y’know…Frank, Bing and Louis make it an excellent watch (and listen!). In my musicals top ten (I don’t have one!) it would merit a place.
December 2, 2025 at 11:42 AM
May not be a truly great film…Grace Kelly is no Katherine Hepburn, but Celeste Holme is delightful and y’know…Frank, Bing and Louis make it an excellent watch (and listen!). In my musicals top ten (I don’t have one!) it would merit a place.
My Mum’s specialty was M&PP! lt looks delicious.
November 28, 2025 at 12:50 PM
My Mum’s specialty was M&PP! lt looks delicious.
Just noticed the PWG…what a jerk…spellchecker defaulted to the initials of an old mate (Paul Green)- this genius missed it and Philip is too courteous to mention the error. It should of course read PGJ. Abject apologies!
November 24, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Just noticed the PWG…what a jerk…spellchecker defaulted to the initials of an old mate (Paul Green)- this genius missed it and Philip is too courteous to mention the error. It should of course read PGJ. Abject apologies!
Indeed he has…and the audiobooks too!
November 24, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Indeed he has…and the audiobooks too!
Given the nature of the event, it was inevitable that you would both be ‘double busy’! We are planning to return next year, so look forward to seeing you then.
November 19, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Given the nature of the event, it was inevitable that you would both be ‘double busy’! We are planning to return next year, so look forward to seeing you then.
As a non-author attendee, the event was superbly organised and the panels varied and interesting. From conversations we had, everyone loved it! The authors we spoke to were charming and engaging, and Venice was Venice! Would strongly recommend to anyone considering VN’26.
November 18, 2025 at 2:17 PM
As a non-author attendee, the event was superbly organised and the panels varied and interesting. From conversations we had, everyone loved it! The authors we spoke to were charming and engaging, and Venice was Venice! Would strongly recommend to anyone considering VN’26.
One of my two favourite ‘Carry On’ films…’…screaming’ and ‘…don’t lose your head’! Frying tonight!
October 27, 2025 at 11:51 AM
One of my two favourite ‘Carry On’ films…’…screaming’ and ‘…don’t lose your head’! Frying tonight!
Love Bobby Dylan bigly (“More Blood, More Tracks is my current obsession) but agree on Van Morrison…it’s like when I was a teenager, many of my mates loved Rory Gallagher but I just couldn’t see why…it would be dull if we weren’t all wired just a little differently, no?
September 20, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Love Bobby Dylan bigly (“More Blood, More Tracks is my current obsession) but agree on Van Morrison…it’s like when I was a teenager, many of my mates loved Rory Gallagher but I just couldn’t see why…it would be dull if we weren’t all wired just a little differently, no?