Hurrah for a weekend in London

The sun is shining and my spirits are as high as can be.

I am escaping to London to spend some quality time with fairy godmother (to my kids) and best friend in all the world .

I have finished the intensive work of completely overhauling the kool drum website. I have to say that I am proud of it. Mysweet's paint work on the new drum type, the nova, is absolutely beautiful.

It should be, because he spent weeks experimenting until he came up with some stunning prototypes. It has been a worrying time because we have stopped using recycled gas bottles and have ordered the metal shells directly from the company who make them to sell to gas companies...

Would they sound as good...or better...or different?

We are pleased and relieved. The metal is less fatigued. When he cuts the notes they pop up like the petals of a flower. When they are coaxed back into position, the sound is much clearer. The sustain is not so long, so they are easier to play without lots of overlapping frequencies.

Porridge is recovering nicely from her operation and has what looks like a zip fastener along the mid line of her stomach. She is on a diet and her stomach is shrinking. She is not pleased.

Also, Billy boxer no longer comes to call. I suspect that her operation has reduced her "femme fatale" appeal. What with that and not being able to belly dance...

Alone in the Woodshed

It’s my birthday today.

I am depressed.

I am 56, and I still haven’t grown up.

I look at photographs of myself, and my face seems to be slowly melting.

But at least I can still move it, so it is preferable to the other options.

Everyone has finally gone, and as usual the anticipation of being alone is much better than the reality.

We had Dick and his charming family and Lucy and Tom over for blunch (bloggers lunch). Lucy wondered whether we could find a Harry at short notice. Instead, we had Best Friend in All the World and her husband to my great joy.

Always fascinating to meet bloggers in the flesh, I find. The weather did us no favours, and we were all crammed into my living room, but we were still all able to eat and drink…

Best Friend in All the World went back to London only yesterday.

I am always depressed when she goes.

Mysweet is still in Edinburgh at the festival for the rest of the month.

Hey ho…come on Porridge, let’s go for a walk, it’s stopped raining for a moment

happiness and a little holiday

Last week was another busy one, but fun. I gave a workshop to some aspiring rock singers who were all about to take part in a talent contest. The fact that they were in competition with each other made the atmosphere rather interesting and a little tense at times. I wonder who won...
I put Thom Yorke into my car musically speaking to help me with the long drive.
It's been a while since I've heard him, and the beauty of his voice kept catching me unawares, especially here when he suddenly soars up at 1 minute 40.
He made the tears stream down my face just as the rain started to fall out of the sky, just as I was overtaking a lorry,
so that I was nearly blinded...
and he nearly killed me...
nearly.



I told Drummerboy about my narrow escape and he informed me that his favourite time to listen to it is at dawn walking down the rue of L Artiste Assoiffé in Rennes, after he has been up all night. I suppose I should not have been surprised when Darling daughter played it from her ipod. We must all have the same buttons that he knows how to push.
Drummerboy said it was like having a cheeky monkey direct to the brain...

I am going to London for a few days to luxuriate in the company of Best Friend In all th World, and buy socks and knickers. I know how to have a good time don't I?

The Gloves that Rule the World

OOh it feels good to be wearing the same green leather gloves as Mrs President.

I did not realise that I was such a trend setter.

(I must confess that they were a Christmas present from Best Friend in all the World, who has her finger on the fashion pulse...)

I wonder, does Mrs President have a cat and a laundry basket as well?

Intimacy and privacy

It was gospel time tonight with my "soul train" workshop.
I am invigorated, it was so exhilarating. The voices soar and blend and we make an unexpectedly good job of Jackie Wilson's Higher and Higher. My joy is infectious and the students are caught up in it. New chemicals are starting to soak my brain as the cycle swings around again. There is a me somewhere that is an innocent bystander and watches these changes bemused...
I no longer take medication because I find it much more devastating than the symptoms themselves. Better to ride that pony, keep a perilous seat in the saddle.
Best Friend in All the World was here over Christmas, how I love her, and I think of her tonight as I write this.
She says "How can people share their most intimate thoughts on the web? It is such an invasion of privacy."
I remember my most satisfying moments singing and performing on stage. It was when I shared a part of myself, when I really opened up to the audience and welcomed them in. I think that is what an artist does...offers a piece of themselves...there are a lot of you out there on the web that do it, and I thank you for it.

Innocence and beauty

Last night Darling daughter descended the staircase in a swirl of yellow chiffon, wearing the beautiful dress given her by her Fairy (Elvish ) Godmother, AKA Best Friend In All The World and erstwhile bridesmaid at the dangerous Barbados nuptials.

It is a rather glamorous frock for Brittany, and we had been waiting for another wedding or similar event for its first outing.

"Ooh where are you off to tonight?" I say. "Fancy party is it?"

"Not really. It's Pierre's birthday."

"Well why are you wearing your fancy dress?"

"It is a Ca Ca party."

Those of you who understand French will know that this is a reference to poot, poo or number twos. I am worrying about how to describe this in order to avoid the arrival of those who have entered certain keywords...

I freeze and try to frame the appropriate question to discover whether my 16 year old has fallen amongst exploitative adults or undesirable friends.

"And what is that exactly?" I ask, trying to sound casual.

"Well Pierre is always making dreadful jokes about CaCa, so we decided to theme his surprise birthday party. Everyone has to wear yellow or brown! Oh, and can I borrow your 1930's sunglasses with the creamy yellow frames."

Girls day out in Rennes

The girls set out for Rennes so that Best Friend in All The World, who is on holiday from London, could see Drummer boy's glamorous new flat and how he is coping with his new independant life. She is his godmother and takes her responsibilities seriously.

The first room that we saw was a clear demonstration of Drummer boy's life skills...it belongs to another less fortunate boy who must redecorate it.






First things first, the collection of beer mats has been carefully arranged.





A further demonstration of Drummer boy's life skills: Girlfriend is not only roadie and chauffeur, she is now secretary as well, and is responsible for his personal administration. She has won a permanent place in my heart for organising the purchase of a very heavy box of Belgian chocolates for my birthday.



After this brief interlude, the real reason for our visit to Rennes emerged...
The Sales.

The sales were nearly over, but I happened to know of a little antique shop where secondhand designer clothes are sometimes available. A strange change came over BFATW, her nostrils flared and she dived into the clothes rails like a woman possessed.

She had seen something very attractive in the shop window, which turned out to be exactly her size, with a nice sensible low heel, so that she can walk up and down mountains in them...

Oh, I forgot, she lives in London...

And, luckily, there were two of them...


After such excitement, there was only one thing left to do...an ice cream...