under another sun

A peaceful Sunday, and off this evening to the Brunswick for a Folk Night. The Shakespeare Heptet were playing, tonight featuring just Richard and Dipak and the singers Sylvana and Rebecca, in a hark back to the original Shakespeare Trio. There were two other acts, and a troublesome drum playing woman who invited herself onstage to ruin the last song of the first act and then had to be asked to leave after playing her drum really badly from the audience in the second act. The second act were called Grand Palace, a subtle brush-playing drummer and a woman with a lovely voice and songs. The Shakeys were fine and it was good to hear a cleaner sound. A good chat with Dipak who we sat with, and his pal Michael, and said hello to Richard and Maria Grazia. Enjoyable night, and I had a few beers and relaxed greatly.

Up and at 'em this morning. Pleased to get a call from Val in Paris saying they are going to brief me on something later in the week. Otherwise I'm working hard getting my marketing book kindle-ready, and re-editing it. Time is a great editor. Beth recovering eating dry toast and later sipping miso soup and noodles. She still managing to surge off and teach a drama class this afternoon, and return looking a tad wan. In the evening I walked down through the park, where there were outbursts of cricket and rounders, to London Road and The World's End pub to see Richard and Dipak in the latest version of the Shakespeare Heptet performing in the corner of the pub.Richard's wife Maria Grazia there too. Nice to catch up with them. Rather wonderful music, despite the car or shop alarm going off nearby and the boozers roaring at each other in a pearls-before-swine manner.  Their latest incarnation has two women singers, which was interesting and led to new arrangements. Fe...

Busy day in which I felt tetchy for most of the day. Worked really well on the business book this morning, however, then painted part of the downstairs, went shopping and attended to a string of chores. Rather sluggish and tired this afternoon but I simply manned up. In the evening off to Hove for a poetry reading. This time went alone and didn't particularly enjoy myself, nor the poetry on offer. One of those rare days when I simply wasn't in the mood. After an hour or so of this, and having read a solitary poem myself, I slipped away to sample some music instead. Walking along Western Road with the sea mist rolling in, I bumped into Dipak, hot foot from playing with Richard as the Shakespeare Trio for two or three numbers. He has got a six day a week job, and so has not played with Richard for six months and had enjoyed himself. A chat with him in the street for a while, before I headed off to the Three Jolly Butchers where Richard had morphed into The Shakespeare Heptet,...

Hail and hearty Buzzing around town today. Beautiful blue skied day after the morning rain stopped, interrupted by hail from a single humongous cloud. Had a long chat with Sophie. Into Resident Records to discuss them taking CDs (unlikely I'd say) got my specs fixed after I squished them carrying in boxes of CDs the other day, then met Dipak for coffee in the Marwood to discuss music in a sagacious fashion. Heard some of the new material he and Richard and working on, and it sounded amazing. Then off to see Di and Adrian for a cup of tea and give them two CDs as Adrian photographed Matt I and the musicians, then off to Simon Scardanelli to give him a couple of samples. Thanks to Adam Bushell the PA is all sorted for the concert. Things are taking shape, now I just hope some folks show up for it. Otherwise we're going to look a bit sheepish. Heard from the French Bloke this evening. Turns out they won the eyeball pitch I worked on with Keith at the beginning of the month. Nice o...

The yin and yang of brownie points The sense of lots to be done. I spent a little time helping Lorraine with some ghastly protracted written statements she needs to make for her headteacher course. Accumulated a fair few brownie points. My afternoon hijacked by The Shakespeare Trio, with whom I ended up doing a protracted photo shoot, wandering about in the dim winter afternoon around the seafront and pier. Managed some good shots of them, one or two of which I will post here shortly. Richard and I sloped off to The Basketmakers for a quick beer afterwards, before I repaired home, where I discovered I had lost brownie points. I had left the lid unfastened on the fabric conditioner. Fastening lids on things like Marmite jars is something I cannot do, and have never been able to do since I was a child. Anyway on this occasion the fabric conditioner was knocked by Lorraine, and it emptied out over a rug, necessitating the rug being washed. Lorraine and Beth working at putting up the Chris...

Bardic business Another day in what feels like limbo. Lorraine having long, long hours today, which makes me feel a real slacker. Out shopping in the morning for glue called liquid nails, and a little food. Went for a walk in the park in the late afternoon with Cath who called up. In the evening off to The London Unity to see The Shakespeare Trio , who arrived with a charming Kiwi called Terry with them, who used to live in Brighton in the 70s. Fingers also there. I arrived early and spent time chatting with Pemma who runs the evening, and is a singer songwriter. She gave me a slot to read poetry, which I rather enjoyed, desite being interrupted half way through my first poem by my own phone ringing, but this easily laughed off. Nice to be doing readings again even if it is just in a little pub in the backstreets of Brighton. Richard and Dipak performing two new sonnets, and both of them absolutely excellent. Generally a beautiful performance, and for once a very attentive audience. S...