More Of Murder Mysteries

I'm Not Going To Apologise, Either
It's simply a fact of life, when you get middle-aged, you start to avidly read and watch murder mysteries, and if you have your wits about you - and the author or scriptwriter haven't been cheating, which they frequently have been - then you can occasionally guess the ending and solve the crime, hurrah!

Aggie in her earlier days

     I mention this because I'm listening to "And Then There Were None", a murder mystery by Agatha Christie, which is on the Fourble audio website.  I've not read the book, although I did see a film of it, which was long enough ago that I don't remember the details or the final solution, only to remember that everyone present on Indian Island has a Dark And Guilty Secret, if not two.  Art?

As read by the impeccably well-spoken Hugh Fraser

     One of the problems of listening to a broadcast like this is the dated references; Aggie mentions a particular kind of sports car that I cannot find any details of; it is pronounced "Delmay", and nope, Conrad cannot find it.  Then there is Vera harping on about Veronal, which appears to be a brand-name for phenobarbitone.  Now I know.
     I didn't realise that the whole thing is split into 4 parts, so I was hearing all the accusations made against all the parties present, and wondering how they were going to wrap it all up in another 10 minutes?
     Silly me.  There's another 3.5 hours to go yet.

I may have to watch it again

     I shan't divulge any of the plot points, but Conrad can't help but feel the entire thing is incredibly contrived, and if he were to be the avenging angel, there would be a whole lot of bullets involved*.
     The motley is better, yet still feeling fragile, so I've put it out to sit in the sun and get some fresh air, with a cup of strong tea and a plateful of biscuits.  Your tender concerns are noted.

Tanks, Except Not How You Were Imagining
Conrad came across another category of TANK recently that he'd never encountered before, courtesy Tanks Encyclopedia.  Behold the NARCO TANK!

The Monstruo itself

     These beasts are manufactured by the drug cartels in Mexico, in order to take the fight to other cartels, and anyone else who gets in their way.  This particular vehicle mounts a battering ram at the front, which is also electrified.  It also has a satellite comms system in order to eavesdrop police channels, the ability to drop nails to baffle pursuers, an oil-slick system to the same intent, and a smoke-screen generator.  You will also notice the turret atop, which allows of a 360-degree field of vision.
     The press has dubbed these vehicles "Narco Tanks", although they are most definitely not Armoured Fighting Vehicles in the accepted sense of the word.

Another version

     This is quite a fruitful topic, so we shall return to it in future, rest assured.

First Bus: Making Journeying An Adventure -
 - when you just want to get home.  Let me apprise you of some pertinent technical details.  First Bus have permanently cancelled the Rochdale-Manchester 24 bus, but they retain the 181 and 182 service from Shaw.  Why they keep two services from one small town, which services both follow almost the same route, and get rid of one from the major metropolis of Rochdale, is beyond human understanding.
     My theory is that the First Bus executives are going for the maximum amount of inconvenience caused to the greatest number of passengers, with the least degree of exertion.

First Bus Spokesdemon: "Curses!  Discovered!"

"Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" And Recording It
Conrad was interested to read the process of how SBS recorded what they felt was their last classic album, which we name above, and this is one of the very few times you will see a swear word on BOOJUM!  I think we need the cover image again.  Art?

Thus

     The band had travelled to South Canada to begin recording this, their 5th studio album, only to find that their favourite studio had been used to house Stevie Wonder's monstrously large synthesizer.  Sulking, rather, they returned to the Allotment of Eden and hired out recording space at Clearwell Castle.  Art?

Very charming.  IN DAYLIGHT!

     The castle had a bit of a - well, a reputation, which the Sabs knew nothing about when they began recording.  The first thing that scared them was when Ozzy and Tommy spotted a robed figure in a black cloak entering the armoury.  When they followed it in - there was nobody present.  Hair on neck a-rising time.  They rehearsed in the cellars, which were a gloomy environment indeed, and played practical tricks on each other.
     They thought.
     The thing is, they never knew which person was playing practical tricks on each other.  People were going to bed at night bearing weapons, just in case ...  They scared each other so much that they drove home each night, rather than stay in darkness with each other (and perhaps something else).

It's behind you!

     This story is quite sedate compared with the stories associated with the recording they did in South Canada, for "Black Sabbath Vol4", which we might retail here, if we can edit out some of the more extreme - ahem - substance abuse.

     Well, I need to get this wrapped up, I've already walked Edders but I've not had any lunch and I also need to walk down to Royton for my Sunday constitutional, so you'll have to accept an article slightly shorter than usual (but only by about 100 words).  Sorry about that!






*  "Conrad's Alternative Universe Version: an efficient and methodical process, if entirely lacking in drama.  ***" - Mark Kermode.