Nine Feet Underground

Started the day with a quick trip to the shops and a car refuelling. Inevitably the fuel price will drop now I've filled my car up (it's very unpleasant inside now!)  Initially, I tried to get fuel at the automated ASDA because it was cheaper, however, the person who used the pump before more (I didn't see them) had left without paying, inadvertently (I assume, with my charitable hat on). Just as long as I don't get a knock on the door from the men in blue, though clearly, the video would show my bewilderment and lack of filling,  plus I filled up at the station opposite. For more money. (Cue Muttley sound-effects) Got back in time to make breakfast before the first of several early morning work calls.  I think it may be hot today. Very. I think I will be hot too. (No change there then 😁) Late in the afternoon, Q arrived, driven here by her daughter, ahead of Q's flight to Australia tomorrow. I was going to say the land down under, but for some inexplicable reason ...

The last day of June!  Where has it gone?  I'm not sure, but it's been fun, mostly, apart from E spending so much time in hospital. A normal Thursday this week, with our cleaner arriving at the same time as the first carer of the day.  A chat with Q before I eat breakfast and start work, and after that work takes over. Not much to remark upon, apart from the fact that at 6 p.m. it'll be the last Idler drinks before the festival a week today. Can't wait!  Tonight's talk is about Blake (William, not Sexton, for the avoidance of doubt!) Before the Idler I had a chat with Q, who's not feeling so good.  I hope it's not Covid, as she's spent a lot of time on trains etc. I'm crossing everything I can cross and sending positive vibes across the ether.  Mark Vernon talking about William Blake was interesting and there are aspects of Blake that I find fascinating, but you do have to be in the right frame of mind, 'cos he can be both heavy and impenetrable....

Most of the usual Sunday things are planned for the day, so they're not worth mentioning. Whatever happens, it's primarily going to be a relaxing day, give or take the odd disturbance. I had a video call with a friend in the morning, which was interesting if nothing else.  Over lunch I finished watching the first of a two-part music documentary called 'Laurel Canyon', which was the centre of the music scene in late 1960s, early 1970s Los Angeles.  Amongst those that were drawn to the area were Frank Zappa, Joni Mitchell, The Monkees, Stephen Stills, David Crosby, Alice Cooper, Graham Nash and more. It was interesting to see how chance meetings led to so many musical collaborations, not to mention couplings and falling outs. Music is never far away and inevitably, given the weekend, I found myself listening to the BBC's live broadcasts from the Reading Festival. Highlight of the weekend was undoubtedly this evening's performance by Wolf Alice, though there are a ...

The usual working Wednesday, not much to say about it. Time passes, work happens, the working day ends. Boring stuff to do in the early evening, followed by dinner, 'Mr. Robot' (the penultimate episode), a bit of Bill Bailey, then sleep, ideally. ['Mr. Robot' has dropped the near-equivalent to a 'Lost' or a 'Dallas' (not that I watched it, though Victoria Principal did raise the level of interest a tad, but one episode (maybe two) are the stuff of TV legend) and now has one episode to see if I can accept it or not.  I guess what went before has mostly been good and 'Darlene' brought life to the screen as an added bonus (carefully spelt)] John Martyn / 'Baby, Please Come Home' / 'Grace and Danger' [There's a lot I could write about 'Grace and Danger' and John Martyn, but I'm really not in the right place. Another time, hopefully] [[]]

There was a possibility I'd've got up earlier today to chat with the first carer, but this proved unnecessary and instead I stayed in bed, trying to sleep. I don't seem to have had any real side-effects from the Pfizer Covid vaccination other than a slight tenderness in my arm around the injection site. Felt a bit like a bruise, but no sign of bruising to the skin around the site. Next one please! (At the GP surgery they told me the next one should be in about 11 weeks. Let's hope so.) As noted previously I am finding life a bit of a slog at the moment, and this is not just down to Covid and being stuck at home.  The need to change my life has never been more apparent. It's making my non-working days a real slog: I just feel like I am wading through a bog, submerged up to my waist. Stuff to do, somehow it gets done. Early afternoon I get a call from my father-in-law with some very sad news. He's asked me not to tell my wife, which I agree to.  Thinking on after ...

Lie in, briefly punctured by the arrival of first of the day carer entering the house at around 7am. Gradually woke myself listening to Radcliffe & Maconie, then got out of bed, opened the curtains and let the light in. No turning back now. A brief period of internal argument ensued: shall I run or shall I leave it? Not so sunny this morning. Looks like rain.  Oh, sod it, just do it. Having lost or won the argument, depending on your perspective, I threw on running gear and started doing warm up exercises. (Sometimes I think that's the most de-motivating part: Having to warm up your muscles first, when you just want to get on with it and get running, elongates the process so much that it's off-putting.  I do accept warming muscles up is essential, I just get bored doing it.) To cut a long story short, I did run - a little bit further and a little bit faster, which was good, and - good timing, or what? - just as I was warming down there were a few spots of rain.  ...