Nine Feet Underground

Christmas is over for another year, and what a fabulous Christmas it was.  We all (me, Q, sons 1, 2 and 3, with guest appearances from E's brother, his wife and Q's daughter at different points) spent a week away in North Wales at a wonderful large house on on hillside, overlooking the sea. Lots of festive fun, food and films ('Man Up', 'Click and Collect') with wonderful company. It was so good to be away, for the first time in a long while.  E was being looked after by one of the carers, who stayed with her each night, so she wasn't alone.  It a big deal to do this, but I think I and the boys (young men) benefitted from the break/respite, even if it did unleash the inner adolescent at times. Q and I are about to head off to Berlin for a week now. An opportunity to spend time with a good friend and his wife, a chance for Q to meet more of my friends, and also a chance for us to celebrate her birthday out of the country. It all seems a bit hectic, but this c

Today would have been the second day of annual leave for December had I not retired, which contributes to the 'unrealness' of retirement so far. You're probably thinking, 'I hope he stops banging on about being retired', and I probably will, once it starts to feel normal and real. Novelty value and all that. For the past couple of weeks I have been busy getting organised for Christmas, not just the event, but also ensuring that E has all the medication and supplies she'll need.  Getting hold of things over the break will be difficult.  For the first time in many years we should be away for the main event, which we're both looking forward to, though it requires additional planning and organisation over and above Christmas at home.  Dead excited though! Next year is shaping up to be quite a year, too, but of course, that hangs in the balance as it always does. Watch this space. Amongst all the recent organisational activities, I did manage to get a weekend awa

Last time I wrote I was on the verge. Or maybe the cusp.  Now I am there, in the next phase of my life. How does it feel? Let me count the ways... To be honest it doesn't feel that different. Yet.  I'm no less busy. Probably the opposite. I've realised that there were so many things I should have been doing that I just put off until they became a problem, if they did.   I imagined I'd be doing away with the 'To-Do' list of my bullet journaling, instead, the list is longer as I have time to think (and see) what needs doing. I've certainly not felt the need to waste time. I also think that retiring at the start of December is different.  December is a month which involves much preparation and organising. Not only that, but I have traditionally taken half the month as leave, which I had planned this year, in the event I hadn't retired. Combined, these factors make it feel very normal. I do feel different though. I feel as if a weight has been lifted from my

I can begin counting down the days now.  In four days' time, depending on how you count the days, I will be retired. On Friday the 1st of December I will no longer be a number, I will be a free man! It's starting to feel very real; today I had my first haircut as a senior citizen. In the past week, I have been to have a couple of gigs and also been out for a curry with an old school friend, not to mention organising for the impending life change. Gigs! The first gig was The Orb at Sub89. A great evening out with a good friend, which included a trip to Nando's, a rum and coconut-based cocktail.   The Orb were excellent, with some crowd-pleasers including a number I didn't recognise, based around Pink Floyd's 'One Of These Days', but much more danceable. Most recently son #1 and I went to see Queens Of The Stone Age at the World Resorts arena in Birmingham.  What a gig!  It certainly ranks amongst my top ten if not top 5 gigs.  Here's the setlist: Regular

*** BREAKING NEWS *** It's official! After weeks, months, maybe even years of planning the countdown has officially begun. In less than a month I will be retired. Yay! It's been a long time coming and now all my ducks are lining up, it's happening. My joy at ending work is mixed.  The last few years of working and being a carer have been tough, and it's taken a toll on me and my health. Nevertheless I have met, and continue to meet, new people who have brought sun into my life.  I shall miss the people and the non-work conversations.  I have, however, been in the IT industry for too long: bring back the abacus.  Much as I like new technology, I think in some areas we are in danger of taking things too far. Bloody Elon Musk! Despite this event being a mere few weeks away, there's a lot of things I need to organise and given the time of year, I won't have a lot of time to fully appreciate my new situation and plan my time until January next year. Probably. Of cour

Normal service is resumed, though I am thinking of some more in-depth album reviews soon, in an attempt to get better at writing about music without resorting to cliches. My week in Liverpool is coming to an end, but it's been another fun week with Q.  The week started with a visit to Liverpool River of Light followed by a meal at Otterspool. It's been a working week (the last of the few?) for both of us and so the opportunity to go out much has been limited.  Mind you, the weather has been appalling, so snuggling up and watching MAFS and starting 'Bodies' (on Netflix) has been good. 'Bodies' is suitably weird and thus right up my street. Steps are being taken to enter a new era and things finally seem to be coming together to make that a reality.  Even if not officially, yet. I've just returned from a local (non-chain) coffee shop, which turns out to have lactose-free milk.  Fantastic. Of course, I had to have one ('Golf Girl').  Not only that, but

Last night I sat (well, lay in the sweet spot between the speakers if I am going to be precise) listened to the Pink Floyd album 'Dark Side Of The Moon' from beginning to end. I have recently bought the 50th Anniversary remaster and wanted to hear what it sounded like.  I haven't listened to it all the way through for a very long time but as it started I became drawn in and wanted to listen to it all.  This post is about what it means to me, after all these years.  Let's get one thing out of the way from the off. My feelings about the album have changed over the years, partly because it became so ubiquitous with too much airplay (familiarity breeds contempt etc) even going through a period of denial during the punk era.  So extreme was my denial of my love for the album, that I sold an original vinyl copy from 1973 (who knew vinyl would become popular and cool again!!) along with a load of other albums as they didn't fit with my revisionist views of music that punk

In and out the dusty bluebells! (Are they dusty or dusky, that is the question?) Certain aspects of life are following sinuous, meandering routes but I think the destination is still in sight. As the path becomes clearer I will elaborate further in these hallowed ones and zeroes. We're also making plans for Christmas (not Nigel), something revolutionary (for us, if not for Che) for a change which bring much much fun for all of us, or almost all of us. Since last my binary digits (I was going to write bits, but it sounded decidedly odd) graced this virtual paper, sons 1, 3 and I have visited Liverpool as part of birthday celebrations with Q and then visited Salts Mill in Bradford for lunch with my big sis and her husband followed by a tour of the Hockney exhibition (and the bookshop - oops!).  We haven't seen big sis and husband since our mum's funeral, so a face-to-face catch up was overdue.  It was also an opportunity for Q to meet them, so now she's met both my sister

My last full day in Liverpool for a week. 😔 I've just had my haircut in a local barbershop and managed not to discuss football,  a narrow escape after last weekend's VAR controversy and the team I follow.  Instead, the barber chatted about Wroclaw, where he spends a lot of time and has a house. Last Saturday night, after the controversial result the taxi driver who took us home, was almost in tears.  I've certainly noticed the level of the River Mersey rise since last weekend. It's an open day at the university today, so Q is there representing on behalf of Education. Exciting times are ahead, potentially, as we have been booking a big house for Christmas with our collective set of children and maybe some partners.  Not only that, there are gigs booked and maybe a trip to Berlin in early December. Talking of music, there's so much I could share that I don't know where to begin...maybe I'll insert several tunes here, for a change. Cardiacs /  'Day Is Gon

Still in Liverpool, a city that is fast establishing itself as one of my favourite English cities and that isn't just due to the inhabitants.  The Idler Drinks returned yesterday and it was great to catch up with friends, even though I was distracted through much of the post-call chat for domestic reasons.  The guest was the economist Guy Standing who talked about Basic Income, the precariat and in particular time and the politics thereof.  Fascinating and radical stuff and not only does he talk about it but he is also working with governments on experiments to make it a reality. I've just booked tickets to see Gong and Ozric Tentacles in Liverpool in December and music is very much on my mind, and this post is an excuse for more... CV Vision /  'Die Reise ins Innere'   / 'Im Tal der Stutzer' [[] ]

I'm writing this in Liverpool, as Q moved back into her house on Friday afternoon after three weeks away while the bathroom was replaced post-fire.  There's still more to be done - a bit more inside and some roof and guttering repairs outside. I arrived on Saturday afternoon after perhaps the longest journey north yet.  The best thing about the journey was that the lengthy detour through Shropshire and Cheshire took me past the former RAF Tern Hill and not far from RAF Shawbury. Whatever is able to increase the buoyancy of your waterborne transport. Timely arrival was key as we were due to out early evening for a meal with some good friends who are spending the weekend in the city.  We had booked a table at an Italian restaurant in the city centre.  We had a great meal with lots of chat and wonderful company. It's been too long. We must meet again soon - next time with the "boys".  One thing that struck me is a Saturday night in Liverpool is very friendly.  Unlike

When I decided to change the self-imposed rules for this blog, specifically with regard to its publication frequency, I had a vague idea it would be less infrequent. Life, however, plays by its own rules. There seems to be an unprecedented amount of chaos surrounding me and those I love. In my mind's eye I have an image of a painting that encapsulates this high level of entropy.  I can't fins what I'm imagining (so far), so the image below is one of several I considered as alternatives. (Copyright Tomika Takeda, "Hope Amidst Chaos") So, why today?  Probably it's a breathing space before re-entering the fray.  I had an idea about a particular writing experiment that I want to attempt, one which combines my love of music and writing, but I haven't time to fully think it through. It's in embryonic form and further gestation is required. What's been going down, maaaan? Since last I put finger to keyboard, which in turn sent electrons in an ordered patt

Like fruit, time flies. I had more to say about Barcelona, but that's been superseded by events in the meantime.  All I can say is security tags! On the Saturday immediately following our return from Barca, I was Q's plus one when we attended the inauguration of the Strawberry Field bandstand in Liverpool.  It was a very special occasion and I was glad I attended. The bandstand is in the shape of the bass drum on the cover of The Beatles album 'Sergeant Pepper...' and features relevant images and a great mural as a backdrop. A great afternoon in the sun.  Not only that, but I was introduced to Ken Dodd's widow and other's besides. No diddy men were present (guess they were in Knotty Ash?) but there is an exhibition opening in the Liverpool museum honouring Ken Dodd. Currently the balls I am juggling are numerous and staying upin the air, yet to fall under gravity's influence. In fact there is so much in play that I'm having to write it all down, lest I s

My intention had been to write regular posts from Barcelona - I even bought a tiny Bluetooth keypad so I could type with my Kindle - but we were so busy there really wasn't time. I have been to Barcelona before, almost 10 years ago, with E and sons 1, 2 and 3. I really loved the place and we visited some interesting places, but E was already suffering really badly from MS-induced fatigue and still in denial. (No Spain, not Egypt)  This meant we couldn't do as much as we would have liked and that the effects of fatigue affected many of our outings. After a very early start at around 2:30 in the morning I found myself seated on a Ryanair Boeing 737-800 with Q and Φ ready to fly from Liverpool to Barcelona.  Later that same day we were due to be joined by Q's brother and his wife who were flying in from Finland.  After we checked into our apartment and had a brief rest, we headed into town to the Museum of modern art ( MOCO ).  This was a fun start to our stay and, after soaki