Lockdown Diary - Saturday 4th July 2020

My second quiet, laid-back Saturday in a row.  Still confined to barracks, at least until I have my operation.  I still have the usual chores to do, though the dreary, grey and damp weather makes some of these more difficult.

As I can't go shopping, I have shopping being delivered later on today, and to be honest, missing out on the shopping - apart from the socialising - is not missing out at all.

Finished reading what I wanted to read in today's Guardian before lunch. I listened to some new albums by Wilma Archer, Khruangbin, Sven Wunder, Paul Weller, Johanna Warren and Nadine Shah, before and after reading the paper. After that I made a decision: I'm going to listen to all the music I've recently purchased or received as presents before I buy anything new. Sounds easy, but it's something like thirty to thirty-five albums (who's counting?) to be given time and space. First world problems and all that.

In total contrast, if not direct opposition to that, I've just completed the final two lessons in the Idler course, 'A Brief Introduction to Anarchism'. Fascinating and thought-provoking, especially in setting it in its historical context going back to the Ancient Greeks. 

Having control of time today has also provided my with the opportunity to read more of the 'Calypso' chapter of 'Ulysses', which is largely devoted to worldly pleasures and is one of my favourite chapters.

Next stop, tidying my office: lots of bills, letters from Abbot and the NHS of my wife's and other stuff that needs filing or throwing. Tidying done to the accompaniment of the first two albums by Traffic.  Interruption mid-way through when the shopping delivery arrived, pretty much all there with the odd trivial substitution, which is always a pleasant surprise.

Whilst doing the filing I decided that the next Idler course I'll do will be 'The Idler Guide to Jazz with Sandy Burnett' - wanted to do something a little less brain cell oriented.

Sat and listened to the second CD of Jack Hues' album 'Primitif' and it's as good as the first, a really powerful emotional statement with some great tunes and excellent 'location recordings' to add a layer of the real world.  

As always seems to be the case, before I know where I am it's time to make dinner, tonight entirely handled by son #2.  Film choice tonight was with son #3, and he chose 'Straight Outta Compton'.

In advance of watching 'SOC', I have to say I had mixed feelings, but that's the beauty of film night, you just go with the flow. Yet again, my feelings were misplaced - it's a really good film, very powerful and, of course, the music is great. Not just N.W.A's music but also - very much to my taste - the slices of Parliament and Funkadelic that feature throughout. If you haven't seen it, watch it even if you don't much like rap, though it certainly helps if you do and maybe some awareness of the scene.

And now for something completely different... Only just heard this today - Johanna Warren from the album 'Chaotic Good' with the track 'Twisted'.  The album is pretty intense. As is this song from it.

[["Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever." (Ghandi)]]

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