How are you today?

[blue]

Fantastic image, Rob! It's not often a dragonfly will settle long enough to let you see it properly.

[blue]

My daughter rang me up late last night to tell me that Michael Jackson had died - she adored him when she was a kid in the 80s (as did I when I was a kid in the 70s), she couldn't believe he'd gone.

Sad end to a remarkable and troubled life. It's been interesting to observe the way it's being treated by the media: I'm rather glad actually that the initial reaction has been to remember the music, first and foremost. There'll be plenty of time later for the inevitable tell-all sordid revelations and recriminations.

As much distaste as I've felt for the behaviour of the adult Jackson, I can't see a clip of the Jackson Five or hear tracks from 'Off the Wall' without smiling and remembering how much I loved those records when I was young. And feeling very sad for that boy.

[RobB]

My daughter rang me up late last night to tell me that Michael Jackson had died - she adored him when she was a kid in the 80s (as did I when I was a kid in the 70s), she couldn't believe he'd gone.

Thats how I felt when I walked into the kitchen at breakfast time on 9th December 1980 to be told by mum Mum that John Lennon had been shot. Its one of those moments when you always remember where you were when you heard the news.

[blue]

I actually told my daughter that story last night on the phone Rob, about how people our age and older still remember exactly where they were and what they were doing when they heard Lennon was dead. The impact will be the same for all of those who loved Michael Jackson, I'm sure.

What a day that was - I was 13 years old, in the grip of a complete Beatles obsession, and so happy because Lennon had just released 'Double Fantasy'. I remember sitting down to breakfast that morning and the news coming on Radio 1. I literally sat in total shock, unable to move or think for a minute, and then ran to my room and stayed there all day crying, watching the news reports on my little TV. I can totally understand the sense of disbelief and shock in my daughter's voice last night.

I got on the 'net after she rang and it was incredible, so many of the social networking sites and news sites were unobtainable due to the sheer volume of people online talking about it. Amazing.

[sound world]

Lennon-I had just graduated and was sharing a house in York with various ex-music students and other assorted people passing through.We were cooking together when the news came on-I just remember we were all devastated and spent the rest of the evening reminiscing our collective Beatles memories,and just shocked that anyone would want to do such a thing.

RobB,Jacko was the same age as you and me (and so is Madge),which is a bit weird,isn't it...

[blue]

It is quite young to go with a heart attack, and both his parents are still alive so it's perhaps not due to any inherited physical weakness. One wonders if all the surgeries and the medications he's apparently been on for a long time have played into it, not to mention the ongoing mental stress he's had for most of his life.

[RobB]

RobB,Jacko was the same age as you and me (and so is Madge),which is a bit weird,isn't it...

You speak for yourself....i'm only 21.

[RobB]

It is quite young to go with a heart attack, and both his parents are still alive so it's perhaps not due to any inherited physical weakness.

I have read on another message board that it wasn't a cardiac arrest now but that he choked on some nuts.
i think maybe we'll have to wait for the official coroners inquest.

[sound world]

So when you walked into breakfast in 1980,you must have been Minus 8

[RobB]

So you got into Stina when you were 6,then?

Such good taste at such a young age.

[sound world]

It is quite young to go with a heart attack, and both his parents are still alive so it's perhaps not due to any inherited physical weakness.

I have read on another message board that it wasn't a cardiac arrest now but that he choked on some nuts.
i think maybe we'll have to wait for the official coroners inquest.

Yes,you shouldn't believe what you read on message-boards,you know.
By the way,Stina's new album is out next month.

[RobB]

So when you walked into breakfast in 1980,you must have been Minus 8

well,i've always been a head of my time.

[RobB]

Yes,you shouldn't believe what you read on message-boards,you know.
By the way,Stina's new album is out next month.

Yes,you shouldn't believe what you read in my posts either.

[blue]

I'm sure there'll be lots of rumours flying around till the official autopsy results are published, but certainly all through last night the reports were saying heart attack.

[blue]

So Andy Murray is through to the fourth round of Wimbledon, in some style too - what a great performance from him on Centre yesterday evening!

Terrific storm here last night. The new Wimbledon roof might yet get a chance to do its thang this week.