Cooper's Creek

Hi Worlds again....

It's been a week since my last confession - oops - I mean post, so time to type the keys again....... not that there is much to write about !!

I think I've been in bed most of the week - certainly feels like it..... I woke up this morning about 11am after a kind of bad night & by lunch time I was back in the sack !!  Thank the Lord for the various meds' I'm on - life would be s**t without them - not to worry, there are people worse off - so, I count my blessings  !!

Anyhoo - after working my ways thru'  'The Dig Tree' by Sarah Murgatroyd, I have just finished 'Cooper's Creek' by Alan Moorehead... again about the Burke & Wills expedition across Australia.  Out of the 2 I prefer 'The Dig Tree'... so much so, that I've ordered a new copy, this time in paperback.  The copy I read is a kind of battered hardback, so I thought I would treat myself to a new copy, great stuff !!

Okay, the music of the moment is The Who's 'A Quick One While He's Away' - I think that's what it's called anyway - & the ladies of the house are out for an hour.  ME's car broke down on the way's to Uni & under our AA coverage, she gets a hire car for 3 days, so she is taking B out for a ride to the shops..... it's a 2010 Ford & she is really enjoying driving it !!  It's a shame she'll have to give it back in a few days... never mind !!

The other big family news is that J has had a haircut !!  WOW - that's Earth shattering news, hold the front page....... maybe now he'll get a job - can't expect too many things to happen in 1 year !!

Never mind - with The Who playing away in the background, I must away.......

Bye Bye

Greetings...again !!

Hi Worlds - how are the rocks coming along ?

Today is a quiet day - nothing to do except kick back & let the drugs do their work...... what a life, it's hard but some one has to live it, may as well be me !!

Ok the music of the moment is some track by Leo Sayer - yep, I kid you not !!  It's just one track on the tapes I'm (still) playing.  I used to have several of his albums - actually went to see him in concert once... he had a great backing band.... some 'name' musicians.   Never mind - I've got older since then.... but I still like some of his stuff..... the music has now changed to Pink Floyd - only in this house, on my tapes, honestly !!

Right, today's plan is.... well I haven't got one really !!  I promised I would do the washing up & that's about it really.  B & ME are in town.... B to have a hair cut & ME to have her eyes tested before she goes back to Uni, - I think - next Wednesday.  I think she is looking forward to her second year.....

That leaves me & J (who is STILL in bed) to have the house to ourselves - home alone again !!  No really, it's no big deal - J is here to help me if I get into trouble at all.  Health wise, I've not been too bad this week - very sleepy - I think mainly due to a 50% increase in one of my drugs - but, a part from that, I'm ok at the moment.

I didn't get to Church (again) on Sunday - but B & I had a day to ourselves..... sometimes it's great just to have a quiet day & Sunday was ours....... we might have been married for over 22 years, but it's nice to have some 'us' time !!

On Saturday, I did get to the local record fair !!  It was the biggest Simon has managed to put on in our area !!  I came home with 2 new albums........ a Hawkwind 'live' thing & amp; a Government Mule set - also 'live'.  They only cost me £10 for the 2 - so it was a good deal.... especially the G. Mule set - a 2 Cd + 3 hour DVD package for £5.... can't be bad !!  It has some great stuff on it - including a version of 'Voodoo Child' from Hendrix's 'Electric Ladyland' album - the long version !!  Great stuff.... in about 10 days there is another fair so I'll meet up with a mate there & pick up some more Grateful Dead stuff - money & B permitting !!

Oh I forgot - we went back to the dentist for our 6 month check up - poor B has to have a tooth out !!  Me, I got away free & easy....... but, if you've read these words before, B hates the dentist, she really does - so to have a tooth out is a very big deal for her !!  I think it's next week some time..... ouch !!

Taking of next week - I'm back into the hospital for a check up.... should be fun, as the meds I've been on don't seem to have worked at all !!  See what they come up with next.... time will tell.....

I must away.....

Bye Bye

The Dig Tree

Hello Worlds....

Well, I finished 'The Dig Tree' by Sarah Murgatroyd..... a really great read !!  So anyways, I went looking for any other books by her & I found out the lady died in 2002 - that is so sad, she obviously had a great talent for wring & now she has gone !!   I recomend everybody to read 'The Dig Tree'.... a great book from what would of been a fantastic author.

Oh well Worlds - it's a Thursday & B is out at her swim club for a few hours.... ME spent the night out & J is STILL in bed.  It's going to be a quiet day - tho' we have to pop into town to have a word with our bank.  They put thru' a direct debit we cancelled... naughty bank !!  Hopefully we can get it back.......

The music of the moment is Humble Pie's 'Rock On' - an old live version from about 1971-ish.  It's one of the old tapes I've been playing over recnet weeks - only another 20 or so to go out of this batch - then I'll find something else to play !!  I might try again at listing my CDs... or at least try to put them in some kind of order, that'll be fun for a few weeks !!

Must away....

Bye Bye

Hello again, hello......

Hello Worlds,

- it's raining & I think I might put the heating on.... just to take the chill & dampness out these old bones of mine + as B & ME will be home in about an hour, it would be nice if they came home to a warm/hot house !!

I'm here playing some old - the same old - tapes.... at the moment the music of choice is Mike Oldfield... tho' I'm not 100% sure if it's his work or someone else ?  It's the classical version of 'Tubular Bells' that came out many many moons ago... oh well.

After a few weeks of feeling poorly, I was really looking forward to going to the Exeter record fair on Saturday... unfortunately it didn't come off.  I was not on top form & with a 'lack' of cash to enjoy ourselves, we decided to miss it this time around.  I'm glad we did, because by mid afternoon I was dead on my feet, so it was good we stayed home.  I missed seeing some friends (& buying some cds) but........ there will be another one in November, so I might make it to that on.

There is another fair, here in town - 10 miles away - so I'll go to that one on Saturday.  It's unlikely I'll find anything, but it'll worth it, just to say "hello" to the guy who runs it + maybe, just maybe, the guys I missed last week will be there.... we'll see.

As reported before, we have a new building of our own at Church & Sunday we made our first visit.  it's quite good, tho' I think it could use some curtains in the windows !!!  It's like a green house in there & it'll only get worse as the summer comes around, next year !!

I made the mistake of taking 5 sweets with me & giving them to the first 5 kids I saw - it caused all sorts of problems with the kids who didn't get one !!  One 11 year - old YES 11 !! - thru' a wobbly all thru' the service....... next time I'll either not bother at all or take a lot more.  My bad........

Anyhoo - the music has moved onto Lynyrd Skynyrd and I have put the heating on........ not going to make a habit of it, but it is cold this afternoon.

Talking back on music - I picked up a copy of 'Concert For George'.  a show put together by the friends of George Harrison in November 2002.  some of it is very good, especially the Eric Clapton bits... great guitar work.... if you get a chance, give it a listen.

If you've read any of my words before, you'll know I read quite a few books recently about Ned Kelly.  following on from that - the whole Australia history thing - I've started on 'The Dig Tree' by Sarah Murgatroyd.  It's about the Burke & Wills expedition to cross Australia.  I know very little about it - but so far, it's been a good read, very interesting.

Oh well.... I must away.

Bye Bye

Friday on my mind......

Hi Worlds..... keep banging the rocks together guys !!

So "Hi" again - it's Friday & ME & M (her boyfriend) are on their ways home from Cornwall... B just had a text to say they had left their little home away from home.  So, by late afternoon - if they stop on the ways home - the house will be full again with the whirlwind that is my daughter !!  It'll be good to see them again, even tho' she has been on the 'phone every night.... so we know we've not exactly 'missed' her about the place.

Ok it's been a sad week.... On Sunday the guy from Moto2 was killed... we were watching a recording of the race as it happened & our hearts & prayers go out to the guys family & friends !!  Never met the guy, but we watch the Moto GP races when ever we can - usually a day later - so, in many ways he has been a part of our 'lives'......

... & today - even tho' it in no way compares to a guy losing his life - I have the news that Mike Portnoy has left one of my favourite bands, Dream Theater !!  Ok - it's only music.... but..........!!!  Never mind, I hope the band will carry on - but after 20+ years he'll be missed by all.  Good luck to whoever takes over the stool !!

Right.... the music of the moment is Gary Moore's live album from the '80s 'We Want Moore'..... well, it's on a tape I'm playing - earlier it was the mighty Mountain... not sure what will be next !!

As for my Dearest Friend - she has gone swimming...... some group she has joined, or is joining, today being her first time.  As mentioned, ME is on her ways home from Cornwall & J is still in bed - well, it is only 10am after all !!  One day he'll get a job again & he'll moan then about being knackered !!  Oh well......

The music of the moment is now Jimi Hendrix's 'Room Full Of Mirrors' - a live version, not sure where from.  I hope tomorrow we might go down to Exeter to the record fair..... health permitting !!  I don't actually want anything, but it would be good to go down & meet up with some friends - maybe get some more Grateful Dead stuff..... I've played all the ones I picked up so far this year, so.........  I'll see how things go in the morning.

If it's raining & I feel under the weather, there is really no point in making the trip - 100 miles I could do with out.  We'll see.......

....Oh, I forgot.... no one phoned from the Church, because we were away last Sunday !!  I honestly did not expect any phone calls, but..... well, I can guarantee that the next time we go, there will be some eye staring !
If they can't except I'm poorly, too bad - life will go on & so must I........ with Black Sabbath playing in the background.......

Bye Bye

It's Raining !!

Hi Worlds.... I hope all you life forms are well & happy !!

OK - so here's the thing - ME & her boyfriend have waited months for their holiday to come around & as soon as it does, it buckets down !!  They 'phoned earlier & they are at the Eden Project & it's pouring down.  It seems almost poetic - they are in an artificial rain forest dome & outside.... well, it's raining !!  Never mind.... life will go on.........

Meanwhile, here at home - yes, it's raining outside as well - BUT, the music of the moment is another Caravan cd... following up from 'In The Land Of Grey & Pink', I'm now part ways thru' a 2 cd 'anthology' called 'Where But For Caravan Would I ?'... After years of not hearing anything by them, I'm in overdose mode here !!  Never mind.......

Today is a good day - well, depending how you look at it !  I was well under the weather yesterday.... this blooming illness of mine really got the better of me.  I was pretty good Saturday, but by about 2 am Sunday morning I was in 'the pit of despair'..... so, most of yesterday, I was in bed feeling really fed up & poorly !!  This morning I'm not 100%, but  better than I expected !!

Unfortunately, this meant that we didn't make it to Church yesterday - which was a big shame really, as it was the first Sunday at our new building...... I feel kind of gutted that we weren't there - but we can't always do everything we want to !!  It will be interesting if any of the congregation contact us to see how things are.

I missed 4 weeks recently - due to the 2 surgeries I had - and not 1 person phoned to see how I was or anything... yet, as soon as we return to Church, they want to know why we've not been !!  I'm sick people, get over it & move on !!

I have to see my GP tomorrow, so hopefully he can alter my meds a bit to help me along & thru' this, we'll see.... he's a great guy.... helps a lot to have a GP you can relate to/with - if that makes any sense at all ?

As for the family - B is out in town & J is upstairs... ME is - as mentioned - aways in Cornwall - & that leaves me here to type these words. 

I've been watching 'Farscape' - I gave up on 'Stargate Universe' - from the start of season 1 & that's been great fun !!  I put the first dvd in & started watching & now I've got to the end of that season & will watch the last disc tonight.... it's been funny, as I started watching it by myself & now B & J have sat with me & watched quite a bit along with me !!  It's a good series, shame it got cancelled.... never mind !!

Oh well - I must away.... things to do & what have you !!

Bye Bye

Hi Ho !!

Hello & greetings !!

So here I am, it's a Thursday - the sun is blazing down - & I have the '1812' Overture on, just loud enough to let the neighbours know I'm home !!  Life is good......

Tomorrow ME & her boyfriend are off on their long awaited holiday... they booked it soooooooo long ago, it seems to have been for ever - but, it's finally come around for them.  So today ME & B have shot off into town, mainly to have a hair cut, but - I think - also to have a last 'girlie' day out before the break !!

The '1812' has now given way to a bit of Hawkwind - yep, nothing but variety here folks !!  It's all on a tape I recorded, along with 64 (yep 64) others, many moons ago......  It was one of my little 'projects' that I have mentioned before - this one has one track from each of my old vinyl albums.  It has been fun listening to them, as I have sold nearly all my old lps - the odd track brings back a few memories !!

I've mentioned before, how one of my little projects had the lyrics of 'Los Desaparecidos' written along the spine of the cassettes - this one has all the chapters of 'The Lord Of The Rings' (including book titles) to identify each tape !!  Very sad, I know..........

.... which reminds me of something.  An old friend was amazed that I was able to type the names of cassettes on the labels - the actual tape labels - he couldn't work out how I did it.  He honestly thought I, somehow, put the whole cassette into the typewriter & then typed its label !!  Oh well......

This same 'old friend' is no longer - well, I guess he is still alive, just not a friend anymore.  There were several reasons - one of which will always stick in our minds.

It was a Saturday morning & B and I were getting ready to go to one of the farms I used to manage, when there was a knock at our door.  It was our 'friend' wanting to borrow/use our bed, as he had picked up a girl overnight and wanted - well.... you can guess !! 

I said no, not only because we didn't want our bed used in such a ways, but also - well, the guy had been with his partner for years, their daughter was our 'bridesmaid' & there was no way we were going to betray her - his partner - in such a way !!

Our 'friend' walked away - chuntering under his breath about how we had 'let him down' etc etc - as I say, he is no longer a friend - with people like that, who needs enemies !!  Oh well - life goes on........

The music has now changed to the J Geils Band.... these tapes are really good - I've no idea what comes next !!

Oh Oh - big surprise of the week !!  As I've stated before - we're members of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints... no big deal - it works for us, but it's not something that would suit everybody.  Anyhoo, I've had an e-mail from a friend who lives quite aways away from us... he wants to contact his local (Saints) Elders, with a view to them going to his house !!  He asked if I could give him their phone number, so he could contact them - it's quite a big deal, as he is a devout J Witness & I thought.... well, I won't say what I think - but..... it's quite a big deal for me !!

Because the guy lives in another area - the Church is split into (sort of) regions, I have no idea what their phone number is, so I've had to contact our Bishop, to get the information... He has come back to me, that even he has no idea - BUT, he will find out for me... Our new Bishop is such a great guy - a really nice bloke !!  The old Bishop was/is brilliant, but - well, the new one has stepped up to the mark & is well good !!

I just hope my friend is not going to waste their - the Elders - time.  The J W's who come here from time to time really do seem to have a problem with our Church - never mind, we will see !!  He & other JW's do not seem to be able to get their heads around that I can be a member of a Church & not know the Bible from cover to cover... in order to quote scripture & what have you !!  Come on guys - it's a faith, a way of life - not something to go into battle over !!

Anyways - the music of the moment is from one of Cream's (the group, not the club) live albums - can't remember which, but it's pretty good..... so with that playing away in the background, I will away !!

Bye Bye