We have been in Portugal since February 1. Specifically, we are back in Carvoeiro in the Algarve. We are both well and enjoying the change of scenery. We are not doing quite as much walking as in previous years, partly beacause I hurt my shoulder playing tennis and trying to recapture the serve that I had 20 years ago. Ended up using the Portuguese hospital system and in pain for about a month.
We have lots of friends here. Our next door neighbours Bob and Delores have been in Carvoeiro for the past few days. Several other folk from New Hamburg have visited (Gary and Sandy, Gerry and Marlene, Eric and Kate, Paul and Sue, Jan and Martha, Jan, Ellen and Frank, Wayne and Grace - all from Stonecroft.) We are missing Cindy and Don.
This year we stayed for 10 weeks (same as 2023) and have booked for a similar period of time next year.
Not much more to say. Two great musicians - one gone.
I have always been a big fan. Carol and I saw her at Massey Hall on October 29, 1994. I have now spent a week getting to know her music better. In my mind, she is a brilliant vocalist, pianist, and composer. Her live performances hit all three of these sweet spots dead on. You might have to listen more than once to pick up all the subtleties, but it is worth it.
This clip is from her concert at the Montreux Jazz Festival on July 7, 1992.
Update: I have just purchased the live recordings for both the 1991 and 1992 concerts at Montreux. Sounds great in the car - an accident waiting to happen.
Today, Bob and Delores, Carol, and I drove to Sagres to see the fortress and then up to Carrepateria to view the rugged coastline named the Trail of the Tides. We did get a little lost on the way to Sagres, but once the GPS understood our corrected destination, we were on our way.
As it was nearing lunch, the fortress was a quick stop - peckishness radiated from Bob and Carol. The lunch stop special was Mixed Fried Fish, and I still do not understand why I ordered it - a plate of heads, tails, and bones. The sign said it was Sea Bream and Swordfish, and I suppose it was.
Carrepateria was just as beautiful as I remember it. Here are some of the best photos (don't forget to click on the 1st one to enlarge the group):
I am not certain what kind of music this is - "experimental" perhaps. Hania has composed quite a bit of music for the movie industry. I kinda like this music.
I posted a video of Alexandra Streliski a few months ago. At the time I said that she is the reason think that Christofori invented the piano. This is her performing some original work. Alexandra has been called a "neoclassical" musician. She prefers to be called "neoromantic". Regardless, my opinion remains the same.
I am working on a collection of biographies of family ancestors. These can be found by clicking on "Bios" in the main menu bar above.
The first bio that I am announcing is for my great-great-grandfather, Jamieson Smith. Jamieson's daughter Matilda married Edwin Appleton in Markham, Ontario, in 1858. Edwin and Matilda named my grandfather Frederick Jamieson Appleton after his grandfather Jamieson Smith.
Old Jamieson's Death Register entry states that Jamieson was a member of the British 83 Regiment of Foot. Jamieson's bio includes an overview of the history of the 83rd Regiment, highlighting the period when he was enrolled. The "83rd" played an essential role in the 19th-century history of Canada.
I have just added a collection of old photos of My Williams Aunts and Uncles to the Record Photos section of this website. I have added galleries for Aunt Iva, Muriel, Morgan, and Aunt Mabel. For now, this completes that generation (although as I find new photos of each, I will post them.) I left out pictures of my mother because I had already included them in the collection for my parents - Llewellyn Walter Appleton and Erena Alice Williams
I had heard this a long time ago on YouTube, but lost it - could not remember their name, even forgot the name of the song. All I could remember was that he was a brilliant pop guitarist and that she was a very good singer. It popped into my stream again over this weekend and I listened to it a few times. I still like it - not thrilled with the effects on her voice, but . . . . I have not been able to discover much about them as the only Wikipedia entry for them is in Swedish and their personal websites are thin. We will likely never see them live. The Gig list shows a number of private events, hotel lounges, and clinics. I like.
BTW: Song written by Joni Mitchell
I have just posted a new collection of photos in Record Photos
This collection is older photos of my Appleton Grandparents Frederick Jamieson Appleton and Margaret Beattie (Scott). To view this collection Click to View
When I am working on old photographs or shaking the family tree, it is sometimes relaxing to plug in some headphones and let Youtube play in the background. I select a couple of songs, and Youtube generates a playlist and spins through them. Here is a performer that I had not heard before. I liked it enough to stop the player and replay this song a couple of times. Not only is it a great song, but they harmonize pretty, pretty well.