Nine Feet Underground

Busy day ahead with an important in-person meeting today, but starting with an unexpected trip to a post office because our local post box is inaccessible, tanks to City Fibre.  I'm wondering if there's anywhere locally that they're not digging? Wheels set in motion. So many alternative plans owing to the complexity of the situation.  Now I just need it all to come together... Tonight we're having our traditional Wednesday night meal and son #3 and I are 'making' it. We ate together and watched the first episode of ' Dreaming Whilst Black ', which was funny and very promising. Roll on the next one. Lots to discuss with Q before putting the bins out in the rain. Julian Cope /  'Try Try Try'   / '20 Mothers' [[] ]

Back to work, but in Liverpool for a change.  The countdown to Q's inaugural lecture begins. Son #1 is still feeling unwell but hopefully, he'll be well enough to be scintillating on Thursday evening. Working day, usual rules apply. Managed to complete listening to 'Freak Zone' during the day which ended with Weather Report's 'Mysterious Traveller', which I've not heard in aeons, but still sounds wondrous. Today is the first day that it has really felt like winter is coming: mist/fog morning and night with noticeably colder temperatures. We're all together for an evening of food and laughs, with son #1 watching most of the England vs Wales football. Before dinner, I sent a note to one of E's carers as tomorrow her PEG feeding tube is due to be changed and her feed can't be started until the PEG is replaced.  Remote control. The evening comes to a close with the entire team escorting Q's mum across the road to the lodge she's staying i...

No brisk walking to start the day as my back is still causing problems. Instead, I have to make a quick shopping trip for things that tonight's dinner requires. Back now, so I make a quick breakfast and eat it whilst I work. Work is still incredibly busy and so this post will be shorter. (Wayne) Work is over and it's time for this week's Idler call, with Olia Hercules a Ukrainian food writer.  Another one of those talks where I have no idea what to expect, but which often are the most interesting. A fascinating discussion about growing up in Ukraine, the culture, the war and food, in particular about the dishes in her new book 'Home Food' .  Olia has family in Ukraine who have been involved in the fighting. It really makes the war personal when you hear about it from an individual's perspective. The post-call chat was unusual as we were all sent to random breakout rooms for a few minutes, and I was assigned to a room with two fellow Idlers I already know.  Sudd...

A lot of people seem to go to gigs to hear the headline act, but nothing more (not to mention those who don't seem to go to hear the music at all?)  I'm  always keen to hear the support, especially if I've never heard of them as you never know what you'll find. And so I found myself at the front of the stage in SUB89 waiting for Tom Hickox to take to the stage. Never heard of him or heard anything by him, so looking forward to hear what he does. As the hour of 8pm arrived, he took to the stage and seated himself behind a large electric piano, joined by Sam Grimley on various guitars. From his opening number, I was struck by his voice - he really has presence on stage. For the first song or two I just thought, 'yeah, he sounds OK, but...', and wasn't really drawn in. A couple of songs had great stories behind them, and his spoken intros to 'The Lisbon Maru' and 'The Dubbing Artist' were intriguing.  The song that really land...