Tim Different

Tim Difford & Benjamin Chance reflect on what they were doing and listening to in 1984 on opposite sides of the Atlantic. Ben was in New York living it large in the era's most iconic nightclubs, Tim was crossing the border from Lancashire to Yorkshire in search of a cup of tea and an early night . Both were obsessed with the soundtrack of their lives. How did they differ? Where did they align? Find out... and check out their Top 5 tracks of the year, merged into this Spotify playlist.

Tim Difford & Benjamin Chance reflect on what they were doing and listening to in 1996 on opposite sides of the Atlantic. Ben was in Philadelphia being kicked out of clubs, Tim was in Yorkshire getting kicked out of the house. Both were obsessed with the soundtrack of their lives. How did they differ? Where did they align? Find out... and check out their Top 5 tracks of the year, merged into this Spotify Playlist.    

A day out at the WeWonder festival at Wentworth Woodhouse - I suspend disbelief at an outdoor arts event - great fun!

I complete the #AudioMo challenge for 2019 and take a look back at a full month’s recordings.

Between flights. Binaural sounds of Philly airport. Use headphones.

I make a quick visit to the Sub Pop record store at SeaTac airport.

I try Microsoft’s Emotion AI Challenge

I open the door onto a new morning in Bellevue WA.

I explore the treehouse meeting rooms on the Microsoft campus in Redmond WA.

I watch sea eagles and take in the sights and sounds of Lake Washington and Mercer Island near Seattle.

I watch sea eagles and take in the sights and sounds of Lake Washington and Mercer Island bear Seattle.

I take a break from mowing the lawn to try and fix the strimmer. Gah!

The sounds of the water wheel at Worsbrough Mill Museum. Best with headphones.

Prompted by a meeting with a colleague from the past I think back to simpler, more complicated times, friends lost and found... and Stereolab.

I nip out to catch the opening hour of the second ever #longplayer day, capturing some Lindsay Seers and Rhodri Davies along the way.

I borrow a book from the free outdoor lending library known as Snøhetta Book Pavilion. Smoking shelter meets Parisian pissoir in its look, this brilliant spot actually gives us a place to escape thanks to the National Literacy Trust. Launched during the 2018 London Design Festival. https://snohetta.com/projects/396-snohetta-book-pavilion

I catch my first trip to London on an LNER Azuma train.

In which I subscribe to a dead tree magazine with an obsolete freebie to read a story I’ve read a million times before.

I took my Dad a playlist of some of his favourite songs. With Alzheimer’s it’s hard to reach moments of focus, purpose and clarity and it was lovely to see him, using headphones to get in the zone, singing along happily and undistracted. #alzheimers

Reflecting on Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures on it’s 40th anniversary and also on what I was actually listening to at the time.

This is the audio only, uncaptioned version of this recording - which highlights the challenges presented and the questions raised about accessibility - subtitled video version is in my Twitter feed : https://twitter.com/timdifford/status/1139433071529340928?s=21

Me and my colleagues spend a day getting things into perspective - some mindfulness and and some apprenticeship - no one got fired.

I go to work by boat for the first time on the MBNA Clipper from Embankment Pier to Canary Wharf

I capture the sounds of Mike Nelson’s The Asset Strippers installation at Tate Britain

My first visit to the Trades Club in Hebden Bridge - not my first time seeing Nick Lowe but one of the best!

I capture the sights and sounds of the Experience Barnsley Museum in the Town Hall.

I capture the secret world of early morning ice rinks at Ice Sheffield.

I reflect on week one of AudioMo and a tricky workflow experience

Binaural going’s on under London’s streets.

GBV’s first UK gig since 2003 - Village Underground London - 5th June 2019

I capture a little of the ambiance of this wonderful place.

Another book review - this time by Joy Division/New Order drummer Stephen Morris

A brief book review - The Way Home by Mark Boyle

AudioMo contribution for June 1st - I capture some binaural birdsong

Rose and I take a walk along an ancient thoroughfare and discover some protected inhabitants.

A walk in the woods. Some birds, some musing...

Insomnia leads me to rediscover some handwritten recipes books from the turn of the last century, whilst listening to Dick Gaughan’s Handful of Earth...

A day spent foraging in North Yorkshire with the Taste The Wild team. Join me as I discover how to tap a birch tree, and find the secret of finding Burdock roots... https://tastethewild.co.uk

I find a short story vending machine. The end. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/apr/06/free-short-story-vending-machines-delight-commuters

In which I attend a DevOps Hackathon for the first time and take an exam in my hotel room... just me and my proctor!

Reflections on a journey to Oxford, a half remembered tale, some exceptional music, great coffee and a dodgy incense stick.

A quick pre work stroll on a pretty perfect spring morning... what can we hear? Find me... @timdifford