More Cake / February 29 2008
I bumped into Mary in the village today and she confirmed something that I already suspected: she had made those delicious muffins yesterday just for me; they were not ‘left over from a big bake’, as she explained when she knocked on my back door at two o’clock in the afternoon.
Mary never seems to have […]
Let Them Eat Cake / February 28 2008
People are so wonderful sometimes.
My elderly next-door-neighbour Mary knocked on the door about an hour ago and handed me a plate full of honey and raisin muffins. ‘I made too many,’ she said.
I was touched. Mary is incredibly tolerant; she never complains about the noise being made in the studio and is always gracious and […]
A Very British Quake / February 27 2008
There was an earthquake here at 1am this morning that registered 5.2 on the Richter scale.
Audrey scuttled under the bed, the wardrobe shook, the bed vibrated and the sash windows rattled in their frames. No one was seriously injured and nothing much happened but everyone is talking about it.
‘Did the earth move for you this […]
Plughole / February 25 2008
A sausage-fingered piano player I know from a few years ago called at the house last night to ask if he could book the studio for a few days. He is someone I have never liked or respected and I must admit that I took great pleasure in turning down his request.
If I said that […]
Water Torture / February 24 2008
My cousin was having a birthday party for her fiver-year-old son at the swimming baths in Mansfield yesterday and I had been cajoled into going along and joining in the ‘fun’.
I tried to get out of it. ‘I hate swimming. I can’t swim. And anyway I can’t go because I’ve got to iron my socks […]
Cocktail Shaker / February 22 2008
Here is a little advice for you.
Do not drink a banana, mango and pomegranate smoothie laced with evil tequila at seven in the evening and then embark upon a vigorous hour-long aerobic workout.
When said smoothie dramatically re-emerges at eight o’clock, pink and frothy and acid-sweet, it really is a regrettable spectacle.
If, however, you are intrigued […]
The Man Behind The Curtain / February 21 2008
My brother has been talking recently about how he hates receiving visitors at his flat.
I reminded him yesterday of something he used to do, some rather bizarre behaviour that used to provide me with hours of endless amusement, all those years ago when we both lived at home.
He has always been a vaguely eccentric fellow […]
Unexpected Polish Inquisition / February 20 2008
It is no wonder I sometimes feel paranoid.
Walking past the market place at about 8am this morning, I heard a gruff male voice call out, ‘Hey, Steve! You dog bloody bugger!’
It was one of the small congregation of Polish immigrants who assemble every day outside the cake shop awaiting the minibus that ferries them to […]
Acid Flashback / February 17 2008
Thank goodness for vandals.
If it wasn’t for the group of teenage hooligans who had set fire to some old car batteries on the rec’ yesterday, Audrey and I would not have been pleasantly warmed on our frosty evening stroll by the impressive bonfire they had so thoughtfully created.
I do so love those naughty boys.
I had […]
Decent Proposal / February 15 2008
The European Commission has recently proposed changes to music rights that could help songwriters and composers see a big boost to their lifetime earnings.
The Commission wants to extend the copyright period from 50 to 95 years. As it stands, present copyright law in Europe means that the writer of a piece of music can only […]
