Ronald Binge - A Wonderful Northern Composer

Ronald Binge - A Wonderful Northern Composer

  

Last year, I was also very busy writing various articles and poems, and my piece on a wonderful northern composer called Ronald Binge was published in the November issue of Best of British magazine. I have always felt Ronald Binge’s name is perhaps not as well-known as it should be – he was a prolific creator of wonderful music, and a thoroughly kind human being as well.  

In the article, I also mention the Günter Kallmann choir. Whilst I was living and working in Durban, the choir came out on tour; I auditioned for Günter Kallman, and in due course was offered a place in his choir. In the meantime, in a “Sliding Doors” moment, I had also met my first Bob; I followed my heart, returned to England, and was very happy - although there was the (very) odd occasion, when I did momentarily wonder what might have happened, if I had gone to Berlin and Cologne instead?  A case of “The road not taken," eh?

If I am still up and awake in the early hours of the morning, at 12.48 I love to listen to the Shipping Forecast on the radio, which is gently introduced by Ronald Binge's "Sailing By." It is a wonderfully relaxing way to drift off for a good night's sleep! 

Christmas 2025

Christmas 2025

A gentle, happy time. No fuss, no stress, lovely phone calls from our loved ones; a delicious traditional Christmas dinner - turkey, accompanied by my incomparable (so I am assured!) roast potatoes, carrots, peas, beans, Brussels sprouts, swede, Yorkshire puddings and sage and onion stuffing and, of course, gravy for any one of us that wanted it - followed by a slice of Tunis cake and a Chocolate Yule Log!

We had beautiful gifts to open and enjoy and the whole day flowed smoothly and gently. We don't like to rush!

We hope everyone for whom we love and care had an equally happy festive season; and that we shall all be blessed with a happy, healthy and prosperous 2026!

J 

The Lion City Of Singapore

The Lion City of Singapore

Over the years, Wendy and I have enjoyed several trips to Singapore.  Many of Wendy's visits have not necessarily been very long, as they were in the years after Uncle John had been stopped from visiting us in the summer months, and she started going to see him in Brisbane instead. 

Wendy would rent a two-bedroomed apartment the centre of the city, and hire a car; they both enjoyed a couple of weeks companionable touring around, and Uncle John felt he was still part of a family, with warmth, home-cooked food, and just plain, good old-fashioned happy times. 

On both the outward and homeward bound journeys, Wendy stopped for a few days in Singapore. Unless it is absolutely unavoidable, we will always take the opportunity to stop and rest properly, getting our feet up in a comfortable bed, in between long flights; and so it became a regular occurrence, for Wendy to visit Singapore twice each year. 

We had also been there twice before, back in 2001, when we first visited Uncle John in Brisbane, so we knew we loved it. Singapore Airlines had also won our hearts as our airline of choice!

After Uncle John died, there was no call for us to carry on flying to Australia, but that did not deter us from continuing our "love affair" with Singapore! and learning more about its deeply interesting history.

I was inspired to write a piece about its long association with Britain, and my article was published last year; I hope it will encourage other people to go and explore all the Island has to offer!