I heard "Dream Weaver" by Gary Wright on R2 this afternoon.  Johnny Walker explained the song was based on a poem in a book that was given to the songwriter by George Harrison.

I went to the movies last night so missed "Strictly Come Dancing" so watched it tonight.  One couple danced the Paso to Paul McCartney's "Live and Let Die". It was a good performance - got them second place on the leader board.

Saturday, 25th October

Caitlin Moran (my favourite journalist) devoted her regular column in The Times Magazine to discussing who's the best Beatle.  She started with Ringo, her writing as humorous as ever, but she finally chose - Paul McCartney. I think I agree.

I went along to our Art students exhibition today.  One of artists was wearing a T-Shirt sporting Dr Who

Beatles-inspired Dr Who t-shirt

characters walking across a zebra crossing in the style of that famous Beatles album cover. In conversation with two other members of staff (who noticed my Beatles decorated purse) the subject of Liverpool came up which led, of course, to talk of visits to The Cavern.

Tuesday, 21st October

An article in today's T2 (p4) about Annabel's Nightclub has the tagline: "The Beatles, the Queen, Lily Allen ... the world's most famous people party at Annabel's." Amusing that The Beatles precede royalty!

I had two references before 8.00 am.! The first was Twist and Shout on the radio and the second ... a picture of The Beatles on Libby Piggott's tote bag as she crossed the bridge at Hinckley Station.  I was waiting for my train, she was on her way to catch the bus.  Both of us en route to College.

I listened to the last bit of Elaine Page's R2 show and was surprised to learn that Paul McCartney's song "All my Life" featured in the film "Rainy with a chance of Meatballs!".  Later on the in the afternoon, Johnny Walker, interviewed Joan Armatrading - whilst talking about playing to big crowds she mentioned a famous gig at "Black Bush" adding, it was where she met her first Beatle, Ringo Starr.

Friday, 17th October

Two little references on telly tonight: an "Apprentice" trailer included a challenge involving yellow candles, one contestant suggested they call the product Yellow Submarine; on the Graham Norton show, U2 revealed they've had a road named after them - this led to list of our celebrity streets including John Lennon Drive.

Paul Revere, of The Raiders, died a few days ago.  The tagline on his obit in the Times (15/10/14) reads "Leader of the patriotically attired pop group that carried America's hopes of repelling the British invasion led by The Beatles".  They ranked alongside the Beach Boys and even shared the same press agent as The Beatles - but The Raiders were  unable to "reverse the dominance of the Beatles and other British groups".

Chris Evans' "Beatles Monday" tune was Strawberry Fields. I listened to it in my coat at the bottom of the stairs to make sure I got the right song, then dashed out of the house.

Tonight's "Only Connect" came up with a reference too.  The first clue in a four-part sequence was Peace.  One of the contestants mentioned John Lennon.  In fact, the clues revealed the answer to be "Nineteen Eighty-Four" by George Orwell (Peace, Love, Truth, Plenty - the names of the regime's ministries!)

Lazy morning  in bed reading yesterday's Times including an obit.: "John Gustafson. Bass player with The Big Three, a raucous Liverpool band who rivalled the Beatles as a live attraction at the Cavern Club". Gustafson once recalled that he played with the Beatles: "I went backstage to see them and John said, "You're on", George had the flu but his guitar was there and so I played the whole of their second set, 45 minutes" (p80). Shame The Big Three - by all accounts a very good live band - never made it, but Gustafson did go on to have a successful career in music.

All that listening and watching last night meant I didn't read Thursday's T2 until this evening.  On Page 5 there's a long article about the BBC releasing a charity single of Brian Wilson's "God only knows" by a group of A-listers.  Daniel Finkelstein describes it as the song that shaped him - and was introduced to it by Paul McCartney who he heard on the radio in 1966 saying that  "Here, There and Everywhere"  (off Revolver) was inspired by it.

A music business expert was talking on Simon Mayo's show tonight about "covers" and the money they make for the writers.  He mentioned Lennon and McCartney but I didn't catch any details - I was too engrossed in my T2 crossword.

But I did hear Iggy Pop on "Newsnight" explaining that his boyhood musical influences where The Beatles and The Kinks which he listened to on the radio.  He was being interviewed by Kirsty Wark because he's recently delivered a lecture on music and its relationship to business (I think).

A contestant on "Only Connect" tonight, Tom Fassnidge, was introduced as a "teacher and a Beatles maniac"

The National Trust are opening Flat 130, Blafron Tower for two weeks.  Its the former home of Erno Goldfinger - although he only lived in it for 2 months. The accompanying photo bears the caption "Back to the Sixties" (The Times Saturday Review p 20) It  shows a bedroom complete with an enormous picture of Beatles; better still a bedspread covered in guitars, faces and Beatle signatures!  It must have belonged to the architect's teenage child. Love this reference.

This photo only shows the bedspread in Erno's flat, but that's my favourite bit.

I was waiting for the bus in Regent St, Hinckley and spotted a poster for a Beatles tribute band in Harry's Bar ... and on the opposite there's a bar called Sgt Peppers - not sure I've noticed it before.

Friday, 3rd October

As promised the second part of "Music of the Movies" including Hard Day's Night: "the first film to embrace the pop phenomenon" in its soundtrack.

Sadly a new musical Love Me Do although set in 1962 "the year the Beatles released their first single"  doesn't include any Beatles tunes. Maybe that's why The Times critic only gave it one star!

"Celebrity Antique Road Trip" (BBC2) went to a village outside Stratford-upon-Avon tonight.  As I ate my tea and started the T2 crossword I heard one of the experts say about a shop that it covered all periods from Beau Brummell to The Beatles.

Yellow Submarine was played by Simon Mayo on Drive Time (R2) - I was washing down kitchen cupboards at the time.