Nine Feet Underground

This blog has seen several changes since I started it, in terms of content and name.  It's time for another change, though one which is more in tune (!) with how it began The change is driven by the creation (or impending creation) of a new blog. The new blog will cover a period of uncertainty. It will be private and by invitation only, or it will be if I can get the security to work.  I've already written several posts for it.  I hope to have it working in a week.  The domain is already registered, and the blog software is up and running, but that's it.  It's intended to keep friends and family updated during the uncertain time and will be written by me initially, but then entirely by Q while I can't do anything much. So what's going to happen here? During this period of uncertainty, I have found much solace in music as I always have in difficult times. I'm going to use this blog to document the music that inspires or supports me. I'll probably struggle...

Another working day ahead, but with some extra interruptions expected. In the end I did some weights rather than walk, for reasons too boring to elaborate. After yesterday's concerns about E's coughing, the community matron visited first thing to check her over.  As is always the case, her cough was clearer whilst he was here, but most importantly there was no sign of anything on her lungs, so she must be OK. E's catheter was due to be changed tomorrow, but as he was here, he did that too.  That's good because it means there'll be less disruption tomorrow. Of course, as soon as he left, E's coughing worsened, but no sign of 'rattling' on her chest, which is good. After all the above, it's hard to get my head back into work mode and to concentrate, but it is what I need to do. On Tuesday night (yeah, I'm a bit late here) I decided that this week's poem, an extract from 'Beowulf', was so much not my cup of tea, that I needed to choose t...

The last working day of the week begins early as I have tons to do before E gets home, especially if I'm to go to the south coast tonight, as planned. I try to focus on work as hopefully, E's return is in hand, nevertheless, it turns out I have to chase the hospital because it's looking like she'll only just make it home in time for the penultimate carer's visit the day.  Apparently, the PTS is very busy and won't collect E within the allotted four-hour window, but around 1:30 p.m. I get a call from the ward to say she's just left.   Despite 'leaving' 30 minutes before the carers arrive, E's still not home. They get the bed prepared and stick around for over 10 minutes, but still no sign.  About 10 minutes after the carers left, and more than 45 minutes after leaving the hospital, E arrives home. She looks glad to be home and is clearly much better, but I will keep an eye on her and see what the carers think after the last call of the day.  If sh...

Washing on, then a walk and talk with Q before making breakfast, hanging out washing and starting work. My gast was nearly flabbered, as within an hour of logging on my access to my client's IT system was finally restored. Choirs of angels. Trumpets. Hallelujah's wall to wall. Consequently, I am glued to the screen more than I should be, but finally making progress. Late morning, I call the hospital for an update on E. Turns out she's not coming home today and so won't be home before Monday. A mixed blessing, but I guess she's in the safest place over the weekend.  I do hope she's home before the jubilee celebrations. I've packed my bags to head to the coast again: another weekend with Q beckons. Everything is sorted at home, so I head off earlier than usual.  I've arrived. Lebanese food. 'Killing Eve'. Sleep.  Let the weekend begin. Microdisney / 'Mrs Simpson' / 'Crooked Mile' [[]]

Unfortunately, I have to travel home this morning.  I have to resign myself to living two lives for the foreseeable future, even though it's not what I want most. I still have to honour the commitment I made because I wouldn't be me if I didn't. So there it is. As if to hammer this home, I arrive back to find two nurses about to change E's catheter. Two nurses, because one is a trainee, I believe. This process prompts two further events, the most important of which is me placing an order with the Continence Service for new catheters and a multitude of other consumable items. Also waiting for me on my return was a large parcel from The Folio Society containing a wonderfully illustrated (by Ralph Steadman) copy of one of my all-time favourite books, 'Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas', by Hunter S. Thompson.  Opening the package and removing the book from its slipcase revealed an edition every bit as good as I'd hoped. Gonzo! My original plan for the morning will...

[Friday] Another working day begins with a walk, which I'm pleased with but after that, it is a working day interspersed with a bit of packing - I'm going to be leaving straight after work tonight. Arrived at Q's house at around 7 p.m. and we ordered some food to be delivered from Wagamama.  Strange as it may seem, I think it's the first time I've had food from there.  Glad I did, because it was very good, especially the coconut, prawn and rice dish I had. We watched a couple of episodes of 'Anatomy Of A Scandal', and then Zebedee's orders were followed. [Saturday] A lazy start to the day, followed by a walk to the shops to buy food, odds and sods and a relaxing cup of coffee. It's turning into a sunny day and the shopping trip has allowed me to exceed my brisk walking target for the day again. After installing a new front doorbell at Q's, we did a spot of weeding out in the back garden, before our evening meal, which was bookended by the final e...

As you all know, I am a bit of a thrill junkie, so it'll come as no surprise when I tell you this; I was hanging washing out BEFORE 8 a.m.! This was real edge of the seat stuff, as the sky is overcast and there's little prospect of sun, according to both the BBC and the Met Office.  Hot off the press! I've only gone and hung another load of washing out and it's not even 9 a.m. - I may need a lie down before work... ...which dominates the day...until around 5 p.m.  I've been on several intense technical back to back calls - kill or cure!! - and really need to finish for the weekend. Against the backdrop of work, the house has been abuzz with activity; son #2 is packing to go to Costa Rica early Saturday morning and son #1 is getting ready to head up to London to see he gf and her photography exhibition at her university. Consequently there have been a lot of hugs and goodbyes, especially as son #2 will be off before dawn's crack tomorrow morning.   Son #2's t...

Another busy working day ahead, but at least the dust is settling on E's return home.  Things are slotting back into place and the normal routines are re-established. Worked until no longer working, which is around 6 p.m. when I join the Idler Drinks Zoom call, with tonight's guest speaker being author, freelance writer (and more), Lara Williams.  She's here to talk about her work in general, managing to be an author whilst being a parent of a young child, and her new novel 'The Odyssey', specifically. Another interesting person to get to 'meet', with some good questions and discussions along the way. Afterwards, a chat with the remaining Idler rogues before some fun and games with the boys over who was supposed to be making the dinner whilst I was on the call.   Dinner is consequently very late (after 9 p.m.), which then served to muck up the rest of the evening. Words. Plans. Microcosm and Macrocosm. Microdisney / 'Give Me All Of Your Clothes' / ...

As you may have noticed there have been no posts since Sunday, primarily because I've been away getting some necessary respite, my first since August 2019.  I had thought I might write something whilst I was away - I took a laptop - but in the event I needed total escape and couldn't summon the motivation to start a laptop. This post will therefore be a catch-up, albeit a very limited and summarised one. In fact that is the summary: events have taken a turn such that I've driven for four and half hours and am now waiting for an emergency ambulance to arrive to take my wife (accompanied by me) to hospital.  Luckily I managed to enlist the help of the Community Matron and we now know that my wife is suffering from sepsis and needs to be on a IV drip for both antibiotics and saline. S ome score or other was discussed and my wife's score means it's straight to hospital. The ambulance crew were marvellous (a shout out for South Central!) and were concerned enough about h...

Back to work, but not before walking for 30 minutes or so. I've accepted an invite to a wedding reception in July and an overnight stay at a hotel afterwards.  Will there be a plus one? Or a minus one, for that matter? Do I change the title of the blog before 21st June? I'm starting to feel less locked down with plans for a pub visit tomorrow night, and a walk later in June. Maybe it's time then.  I still haven't made up my mind: 'Dead Souls' after the Gogol novel of the same name is appealing, but possibly a bit bleak, even if appropriate.  I'm drawn to something that is dark, but with an element of humour, though dark humour is preferred. Work dominates Much on my mind and something better lingers just long enough for it to cast a dark cloud over the day. That'll teach me. Writing a letter to a friend, which will probably be the last, just about, for some time. The ball is no longer in my court. Just got to find something new, something better. I'v...

April Fool's Day. Hmmm.  Can this day bring a surprise or prank that can top reality? It's 7:30am and I've just finished a 30-minute Pranayama / breathing exercises yoga session on Zoom with about 5 other people plus teacher.  I probably should say yogi, but that always reminds me of Yogi Bear and Boo Boo and then I've lost it ("Smarter than the average bear!", for those who remember), attempting to do the voices. Alone. (Is this an early sign of losing the plot?) (I must admit I did wonder if the 7am start was an April Fool's joke, but, luckily, it wasn't.) ...later in the day... Work has kept me pretty busy again today, but I did manage to get out for 10 minutes or so to go for a walk and post a letter.  It's quite funny walking now, as everybody else who is walking switches pavements as you get closer to avoid getting near you (either that or the deodorant's off) and cyclists suddenly move into the middle of the road like you've g...

It's been more than 14 months since I last wrote a blog. Admittedly this was hardly the Piccadilly Circus of blogs, but this is probably the longest gap in it's history.  There is an explanation, of course there is, but that'll have to wait for another day.  This wouldn't have been the place for the explanation but I'm gradually going to change what I write here. In the past it was just about music, what I liked and why, along with my attempts to capture in words the experience of seeing bands I like perform live. There will still be room for that and the focus on music will not have changed entirely either. Books and life might creep in a bit more but music will still be at the heart of it... At the very least I plan to use this blog as a diary, with my entries inextricably linked with a piece of music that encapsulates or relates to the day in question. If the entries are to be daily, then they will be short - so little time and too much to do! Let...

The 25th October 2014 marks a decade since John Peel died of heart attack, at the age of 65, whilst on a working holiday in Peru.  I first heard of his death on that day on my way back home from Leeds.  When I got off the train at Kings Cross I had to walk to the tube station via the street (there were building works going on) and on my way I passed some 'Metro' stands and the headline caught my eye, so I picked up a copy and read the bad news.  A lot of words have already been written this month about John, his legacy and what he meant to many of those who met and worked with him.   I didn't ever meet John though did see him near Broadcasting House one evening in the 1990's - just didn't have the bottle to say hello. Apart from having influenced and broadened my musical horizons for more than 30 years – from teenager to father of three – he also introduced to some of the artists and bands I still love today.  This post i...

I love unexpected or random sounds which contrast or oppose a song’s melody line or riff; sometimes these are deliberate, sometimes perhaps accidental.  One sound I particularly enjoy is the noise made when a guitar player’s finger rubs along the string as they change notes or chords, and that’s why I prefer the Peel Sessions recording of ‘Moon’ by Microdisney.  It’s from their 1984 album, with the ironic if not downright sarcastic title, ‘Everybody is Fantastic’ and is a beguiling but simple song built upon a plodding drum machine pattern and a meandering riff.  The Peel Session version opens with the sound of fingers and strings and randomly smatters the sound throughout the song.  It’s what brings me back to this song time and again. Here's the Peel Session version of 'Moon' on YouTube: