Richard

@vicdon

Not Vic (but I lived there), not Don (but I am one). Will write for money, or just for the hell of it.

2675 Siguiendo533 Seguidores2375 Publicaciones

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Richard@vicdon· 16d

Mainly because I suspect @lushattic.bsky.social will appreciate it, a short extract:

Richard@vicdon· 16d

Unexpected musical treat this evening- a delightful al fresco rendition of Terry Riley’s “In C” with a group of excellent local musicians and occasional floatplanes ofsoundminds.ca

Richard@vicdon· Jun 17

I'm outside the UK; have been for 20 years, but I still use the #BBCSport page daily. I assume it's something to do with licensing which causes this nonsense: Oddly, on the actual sport page, it just says 'World Cup'

Screenshot from the BBC home page showing 'Football 2026' instead of 'World Cup'

Richard@vicdon· Jun 10

This week's post reflects on living on #SaltSpring; how we came to be here, and why it might just be the best place in the world to retire to. saltydon.substack.com/publish/post...

Richard@vicdon· May 23

There's "Theme From Burnt Weeny Sandwich", because of course there is.

Richard@vicdon· May 5

The black can was (and is) San Pellegrino, which was the go-to after surviving Alitalia. In 20 years on this side of the pond, I never found an importer, presumably because it's otherwise an unknown flavour over here.

Richard@vicdon· May 4

It’s not quite the iconic black can which my much missed friend and colleague Andrea introduced me to on a trip to Alba more than 20 years ago, but it’s not an exaggeration to say that I’ve been looking for a chinotto flavoured drink ever since

Richard@vicdon· Apr 14

A spot of island hopping this morning while the renovation crew have the power off at home. First time on #Galiano looking over Wallace Island to #SSI Shame I don’t have last weeks weather to go with it.

Richard@vicdon· Mar 18

Keeping up with the #CriterionChallenge despite a heavy cold. Last night's treat was #HaraKiri, chosen on the strength of its poster as per the challenge. One I've been aware of for a long time, I cannot recommend it highly enough - brilliantly plotted, acted and shot letterboxd.com/film/harakiri/

Richard@vicdon· Mar 1

OK, it’s not quite #Sundance, but our own #SaltSpring Film Festival is packed with great films and thought-provoking experiences. Only time for a half day this year; we’ll plan better for next year.

Richard@vicdon· Feb 23

#NowPlaying #NanciGriffith It’s clearly Live Album Monday; this is a recently acquired vinyl version of an album I’ve owned in multiple formats over the years. Proof, if needed, that great live performances aren’t just about power chords and wig-out solos

Richard@vicdon· Feb 23

#NowPlaying #LiveAtLeeds Really? I thought they were from London. Original and best - although I have another live album on the way which is totally different but I may just love it more

Richard@vicdon· Jan 19

The full thing is going up on Wednesday morning, but a sneak preview of android Bertie Auld as a Chelsea Pensioner, Benny Rooney being eaten by a tarantula, and Alan Hansen wondering where it all went wrong Daily Record, January 21 1976:

Literally nothing I could write here would convey the full splendour of the 1975-76 Partick Thistle squad wearing Victorian moustaches while their manager Bertie Auld looks on wearing a Chelsea Pensioner uniform and looking uncannily like a waxwork model of himself. Featuring future BBC pundit Alan Hansen looking awkward.

Richard@vicdon· Dec 21

Been hunting this for years as the North American version has the wrong name. Anyway, thanks to lukesrecords.com I now have a copy still in its original shrink wrap. Question of the day: did a song on this inspire #BojackHorseman? • • • • • PrefabSprout

Cover of the 1985 Prefab Sprout album ‘Steve McQueen’ showing the band members on a motorcycle in the mist

Richard@vicdon· Dec 16

Every time I listen to ‘Miles of Aisles’ I convince myself it’s the ultimate #JoniMitchell live album. And it’s spectacular but it’s no ‘Shadows and Light’. I reckon this is the fifth version of it I’ve owned over the years #JacoPistorius #BassOfDoom

Richard@vicdon· Nov 30

1975 was a whole different world, part 94... Smelling salts required in the sports department at @eveningexpress.bsky.social on December 1st 1975, as a "girl sent off - for swearing!" Tune in Wednesday to see if this story makes in into the next edition of bairnsotherevolution.substack.com

A clip from the back page of the Aberdeen Evening Express dated December 1st 1975. The story concerns a schoolgirl sent off during a hockey match for swearing - something which is not only beyond belief for the sportsdesk writers, but also is blamed on (and this is a direct quote) "the permissive society, women's lib, etc".

Richard@vicdon· Nov 30

My newly arrived copy of the third #Joni box set is as meticulously crafted as the earlier ones, but I’m happy to report that the troubling cover art for #DonJuansRecklessDaughter has been reimagined. The music remains peerless, of course

Richard@vicdon· Oct 20

#NowPlaying #PicturesAtAnExhibition I’ve long wanted a good piano version, and this not only pairs Ashkenazy with a full orchestral version, it cost me pennies. More bargains to follow this week as I sort through them

Richard@vicdon· Oct 17

#NowPlaying #DSCH #ActuallyWriting You know I’m buckling down to serious writing when the Shostakovich comes out - I have better recordings than this, but this was dads copy which he bought from Norco House for 99p roughly at the time I’m writing about

Richard@vicdon· Oct 13

#NowPlaying What is the favourite band of the falconer who is too busy to do his housework during the day? #HawkKestrelManHooversInTheDark #OMD #Architecture&Morality #ligature

Richard@vicdon· Sep 20

#NowPlaying #Free An album which opened 20-year-old me’s eyes to a band I’d really only vaguely heard of. Sparked a change in the way I was buying music and caused me to spend a lot more time in the ‘back catalogue’ sections

Richard@vicdon· Aug 31

Our garden birds - bigger than your garden birds #saltspring #TurkeyVulture #IslandLife

A Turkey Vulture perched on a branch of a tree in a garden on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia

Richard@vicdon· Aug 2

After a gap due to life getting in the way, the turntable is back in action - nothing better for a warm summer Saturday than some #Joni #HissingOfSummerLawns

Front image of the album sleeve of Joni Mitchell’s album ‘The Hissing of Summer Lawns’

Richard@vicdon· May 24

Ten years older than I was when I got up this morning... #COYR

Richard@vicdon· May 22

Maybe the fines beer brewed in this neck of the woods #FatTug

Richard@vicdon· May 17

I love living on #SaltSpring 😄 Rules for spectators at the annual May long weekend soccer tournament include the words “the tournament’s usual baby goats” #BabyGoats #IslandLife

Clipping from the weekly Gulf Islands Driftwood newspaper - text reads as follows:

“GISS is the tournament hub, with food vendors, beer garden and where the final games on Monday are held. The schedule can be found on the tournament’s Facebook page. No dogs are allowed at the Porlock Park field. Leashed dogs (and the tournament’s usual baby goats) are allowed at other fields.”

Richard@vicdon· May 4

#Saltspring #IslandLife Work continues on the house, but many of the big things are done now; explanations in alt text

The view on the road down to fetch the mail - Mount Baker in the background

Two ferries negotiating Active Pass taken via the monocular - still figuring out how to make that work

Richard@vicdon· Apr 25

Busy morning at #YYG airport! #IslandLife #Saltspring #HarbourAir #Seair

View over Ganges Water Aerodrome in Ganges Harbour on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia featuring a Turbo Otter of Harbour Air and a Cessna Caravan of Seair

Richard@vicdon· Apr 17

More ferries, final commute before the long weekend @bcferries.bsky.social #Saltspring #IslandLife

View of two BC Ferries ships in the Gulf Islands off the coast of British Columbia

View from the BC Ferries ship Skeena Queen in the Gulf Islands off the coast of British Columbia

View of the BC Ferries ship Salish Raven in the Gulf Islands off the coast of British Columbia

Richard@vicdon· Apr 16

Early start this morning heading over to what I’m slowly getting used to calling “the Big Island” #BCFerries #Vesuvius #IslandLife