October 16, 2017

 

 

Tune in to the acclaimed

‘Tony’s Time Machine’

on Tuesday, 17th October

at Noon

to hear Tony read

‘For The Love Of Steely Dan’

written by

Harriet Blackbury.

 

Enjoy Folks –

It’s good to have Tony back live on air.

 

 

 

‘Do it again’ made the UK Top 40

in 75 for Steely Dan.

This U S group then reached the Top 20

with ‘Haitian Divorce’ going to plan.

‘FM (No Static At All)’

in 78, their next release

‘Rikki Don’t Lose That Number, came in 79 –

Walter Becker – May you rest in peace.

 

 

 

 

October 8, 2017

 

 

Ten years I’ve been without her.

Ten years I have been free.

Still passing her belov’ed Plane tree

that she first pointed out to me.

 

Ten years of  doing my own thing.

Ten years without reprimand.

Still acting as impulsive as ever,

without being slapped on the hand.

 

Ten years not hearing ‘I told you so’.

Ten years of missing unconditional trust.

Still re-opening age’d battle scars,

from the times we did combust.

 

Ten years of heartache and agony.

Ten years it’s taken, til time forgot.

Now at last I’m ready to admit it –

She was right sometimes, but not a lot!

 

Ten years of thinking it could have been different.

Ten years of knowing it simply could not- 

‘We were too alike’ as she said often –

on that, she hit the spot.

 

Ten years without my sparring partner.

Ten years on freedom’s trail.

Still a decade on I so miss her –

Mother Dear, I’m starting to wail.

  

October 6, 2017

.

To hear Harriet Blackbury’s poems

For The Love Of Tom Petty 

and 

For The Love Of Glen Campbell

tune into the all new exciting

Tony’s Time Machine

on 

Tuesday 10th October

at 12pm

 

October 4, 2017

 

In 77, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

hit the UK Charts with ‘Anything That’s Rock ‘N’ Roll’.

Also in 77 their ‘American Girl’

made the Top 40 scroll.

 

In 81, joining with Stevie Nicks

came ‘Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around’,

and in 85 ‘Don’t Come Around Here No More’

entered  Top 50 ground.

 

Going solo in 89 – ‘I Won’t Back Down’

became his highest UK hit.

and ‘Runnin’ Down A Dream’ & ‘Free Fallin’

fans loved more than just a bit.

 

In 91 came ‘Learning To Fly’

and in 92 ‘Too Good To Be True’

Followed in 93 by ‘Something In The Air’

and in 94 ‘Mary Jane’s Last Dance’, on cue.

 

Florida’s ‘own’ Tom Petty –

So talented and versatile.

May your journey ‘Into The Great Wide Open’ 

be welcomed with a huge smile,

 

by those who have gone before you,

impatient to make their next song. –

Those ex Traveling Wilbury faces

with their guitars still strummin’ strong.

 

Keep doing what you do best –

‘Rock on in style Tom Petty.

 

written by

Harriet Blackbury

 

August 10, 2017

---

 

 

 

Appearing on the scene in 69

Glen Campbell won our hearts,

when he gave us ‘Wichita Lineman’,

which made No. 7 in the charts.

 

In the same year 2 hits followed:

‘Galveston’ – much loved by he.

And assisted by Bobbie Gentry –

‘All I have to do is Dream’ reached No.3

 

‘Try a little Tenderness’ came in 70

then ‘Honey come back’ making No.4

‘Everything a man could ever need’ came next,

and ‘It’s only make believe’ a No.4, once more.

 

‘Dream Baby’ made the Top 40,

(his only hit of 71)

until in 75 with ‘Rhinestone Cowboy’

at No.4 – he once again shone.

 

‘Southern Nights came in 77,

from this home grown US boy.

Thank You Glen Campbell – vocalist and guitarist,

for bringing us so much joy.

 

RIP  1936 – 2017

 

 

July 25, 2017

 

 

I am rescued

to a life of solitude;

I am king

of all I survey.

The loneliness

is immeasurable,

but I cope

living day to day.

 

I am rescued

from a cruel start to life,

where I was

chained up all day.

My bed was

my own faeces –

No other place

for me to lay.

 

I am rescued

by a kindly soul,

who gives me

food and water, it’s true.

But walks

are to a minimum,

for normal functions

that I must do.

 

I am rescued

to a far better place,

away from the

hellhole I knew.

And for that

I’m truly grateful,

but loneliness

still makes me blue.

 

I am rescued

but still imprisoned,

and boredom

has sent me insane.

After a three minute

walk each morning,

back indoors

is where I remain.

 

I am rescued

but still isolated,

withdrawn

and un-socialised.

I exist in a world

of make-believe.

My own thoughts

will be my demise.

 

I am rescued

to routine predictable.

Everyday at noon

I hear the door-key,

And along the road

we saunter,

for my usual

three minute wee.

 

I am rescued

but live in a bubble.

How much sleep

does one dog need?

Afternoons drag on

laboriously,

until five o clock

when I’m back on my lead.

 

I am rescued

but going off my mind.

For many years it’s

been this way.

These three minute

walks to freedom –

my lifestyle twice,

every single day.

 

I am rescued

to evenings of madness.

No lovely long

walks in the park.

Instead, my owner

sits endlessly listening,

to bloody repeats of

Beethoven and Bach.

 

I am rescued

but may as well be alone;

my owner not much company

asleep in the chair.

And though I sit at the door

asking for a late night wee,

most times my hinting

goes unaware.

 

I am rescued

and glad of the morning –

and another start to

Ground Dog Day,

But I have a roof over my head,

and food and water,

and for that,

I thankfully pray.

 

I am rescued

and serve a purpose.

My owner loves me,

I have to say.

And though at times

I could bolt to freedom,

I’m needed here –

It has to be this way.

 

 

June 22, 2017

 

 

The Book

Poems of Love Life & Loss

by Harriet Blackbury

can be found

in the ‘Adult Section’

of

The Poetry Library

at 

The Southbank Centre

London

 

 

 

 

I rescued a Fatsia Japonica today

that sat begging for help

on the clearance tray

of the Garden Centre

up Blackbury way.

 

Some of it’s leaves were withered

in hopelessness,

whilst others discoloured –

a brownish mess.

 

But I was drawn to it’s plight,

and it’s challenge to survive,

spotting three young branches

keeping it’s hopes alive.

 

The instructions on feeding

read ‘easy care’,

but of it’s limited life

I was quite aware.

 

So fooling myself,

it got put in my trolley –

praying it would last four days,

as friends coming for ‘a Jolly’.

 

And at the cost of £2

I thought ‘great value indeed-

I’ll take you to death

if you don’t succeed’.

 

And your final hours

will have been worthwhile,

because Fatsia Japonica,

you will have made us all smile.

 

 

 

 

Oh, how we’ve worried

about the unexplained,

that came to light

when hearts were drained.

 

Oh, how we’ve puzzled

and felt so much guilt,

since discovering your life

inside the fortress you built.

 

Oh, how did it happen –

the double life you knew?

So gradual the mountain

becoming normality to you.

 

Oh, how did you cope

and put on that fine show,

trapped and boxed in

to that hell down below,

 

Oh, how did you function

when madness on trial?

Was that your release valve –

a laugh and a smile?

 

Oh, how did we not see

your anguish and stress,

which now seems so obvious

when we think and address.

 

Oh, how you were supportive –

A firm friend and true,

as one by one we unburdened

our troubles onto you.

 

Oh, how did you not scream

and yell and blow your top,

and tell us our selfishness

just had to stop?

 

Oh, how could you listen

with such loyalty and trust?

Did it even the score seeing,

another mind going bust?

 

Oh how? we ask now

when too late we digest,

glaring signs that were missed –

now in peace may you rest.

 

Oh, how lessons too late

have surely been learnt.

What starts out as a favour,

can see fingers burnt.

 

Oh, how easy to be known

and yet not known at all.

We missed warning signals –

pride comes before a fall.

 

Oh, how we’ll see others differently

from this moment on.

There’s real pain under the surface

of just about everyone.

 

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