Nine Feet Underground

After a fairly distressing few days, things seem to have settled down for E. Let me explain, if only for my own peace of mind. E has continued to be disturbed and agitated, despite a number of interventions by way of injections.  Her symptoms were still not being controlled and she was still unable to rest for more than a few minutes though she must have been fatigued after all the mini seizures etc. A Sue Ryder doctor, then the Sue Ryder nurse that 'knows' E visited on different days. As a result E is now receiving constant medication through a syringe driver.  I guess it's not an exact science but the doses of both the medications she is receiving through the driver has had to be increased.  Now, at least, she seems more settled and able to sleep. It's been a difficult process as I have had to be E's proxy, as she can't say how she is feeling. I've had to interpret the spasms and groans she's experiencing to try and understand how she is feeling. It wo...

Last working day of the week for me, so I'll be even busier than usual.  The cleaner arrives early, and the heavens are currently disgorging their load. Looks like it's going to be one of those end-of-summer, start-of-autumn days. It's also a significant day for me as Q has started her journey back from 'Straylia, the first and longest leg being Perth to Doha and she should arrive while I'm fast asleep or at least while I'm meant to be.  The final leg from Doha to London begins in the early hours of Friday morning. Worked until just before 6 when I joined the Idler friends call.  It is great to have them in my life.  A lot of us have already booked for the Idler Festival in London next July and hopefully, Covid permitting this time, I (we) will be there. I'm a very lucky man.  A good friend delivered medication for E and me and, not only that, took away some of the mountain of unused and unwanted medication we have built up over the years.  I am really...

Walked for the third consecutive day, so I'm feeling pleased. I just need to make this a habit again and exceed both daily and weekly targets.  We shall see. What news from yonder city? At last some good news about my wife's feed:  a good friend at the local pharmacy has confirmed that E's feed request has gone back to spine (if you know, you'll know) which means the feed supplier should be able to fulfil the feed order.  Given the trouble surrounding this order, I decided to phone the supplier just to double-check.  Good news! They are guaranteeing the feed will be delivered tomorrow. Praise be! Work obstacles still continue and it's slowly driving me mad, but hey ho. During the day I was seduced by the Folio Society.  They have persuaded me to order a wonderful copy of 'Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas', one of my favourite books. Best not to look. In the evening I'm returning to the Idler and tonight's guest is Emma Smith talking about the histor...

It's one of them there working days again and, as a consequence, I will most likely have little to say.  All the usual things tick over: household chores and admin; supplies I need to order for my wife; attempting to get my mind to think about Christmas - who will be here, what presents to buy for whom, what food we'll need? (depends on who'll be here, which I don't yet know!) The majority of my time is spent on work and in Teams and Google Meet meetings. My 'to do' list gets ever longer. A few exchanges with friends across the day bring light and different topics to mind: many tracks, not only the main line. Time for a conversation with my mother-in-law who is slowly recovering at home after her stay in hospital. She still doesn't sound as active or lively as before, and I'm not sure if it's the medication she's on or the effects of the fall that led to her hospital stay.  It seems odd to be telling her what to do, since she's never been one...

I have a confused relationship with the music of Warpaint.  Art its best their music has an unfocused quality with a submerged bass sound, heavily rhythmic married to unusual vocal harmonies. I love this dreamlike style, but it's one which, for me at least, they haven't quite managed to fully realise on album. I was originally drawn to them by the song 'Undertow' from their debut album 'The Fool' which encapsulates that underplayed woozy style. The follow-up album simply titled 'Warpaint' further emphasised that dream-like quality to their writing and playing. In spite of this the second album didn't quite deliver what it promised for me, though I do find the superimposed images of the cover especially good :-) 'Warpaint' also resulted in the release of a video coupling two of its tracks, namely 'Disco//Very' and 'Keep It Healthy', which includes some rather hypnotic dancing by Jenny Lee Lindberg! ...