An Idyllic, English, Spring Sunday?
April 19, 2010 by warren
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An Idyllic, English, Spring Sunday?
Sunday morning arrives and it’s another glorious day. Al fresco tea and toast, kids sleeping in. So far so good, time to seize the moment and do something useful – gardening
I can’t believe that the rituals of English suburbia are so firmly embedded in my psyche i.e. the sun comes out, the shirt comes off – commence lawn mowing. At this stage I should say that I haven’t bought any sun block yet, but it is only April right – wrong!
Lunch arrives and I’m gently reminded about the kids grass allergy (lots of coughing and sneezing), and I’m getting daggers from the neighbours over the noise levels. The bearings are worn out on the lawn mower and it’s probably pushing out 100dBs. I did get it out of a skip but that’s my effort at reuse and recycling, but I concede that it’s knackered and we now need a new one. Maybe I’ll get a push mower, good exercise and I love that sound they make – evokes memories of childhood. Actually I like the thought of longer grass more biodiversity (although that means more mice and voles for the cat to bring in to the house as trophies). Jury’s out on the new mower.
By 2 o’clock I’m starting to look like a Swan Vesta, and have a brief conversation with the neighbours, over the hedge.
“… yes the sun is strong for April!”
My plans for today’s busking have been scuppered by sun burn and tinnitus (might be good for the curiosity / sympathy vote, but equally might end up frightening small children). Michele despairs and I mutter something about volcanic ash filtering the damaging UVA and UVB rays.
Retire to the man shed and bang out some tunes
Warren
Powerdown at the Powerstation
April 6, 2010 by warren
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I played at The Powerstation in Chiswick last month, a genuine acoustic affair without a mic or amplifier in sight, and I enjoyed everything about it. A beautiful venue (a real architectural gem) oddly hidden behind a bus depot. There is an enormous feature window overlooking the bus terminus, but it’s oddly serene. Nice people, and a great ambience and I would play there again at the drop of a hat. If you came along, I hope that you enjoyed it as much as I did.
Anybody who knows me will tell you that I’m a man of few words. If I feel strongly about something I will probably try and write a song about it, but I have been told that perhaps I should share a bit more with the audience – so I will.
There’s quite a few things happening in the Bath area at the moment – I’m looking forward to the Larkhall Festival from 1st to 3rd May. I’m biased as I live there, but where else could you find a village square with a theatre, a delicatessan, a wine tasting shop, three take aways and half a dozen pubs. I’m looking forward to playing on Sunday 2nd at 4 o’clock (the very civilised Antiques Roadshow slot). Lots going on, and the fun goes on late into the night. Incidentaly I’m going to see Bill Smarme at The Rondo (Larkhalls theatre) – he’s a kind of west country John Shuttleworth, very accomplished, a ladies man with leopard skin acoustic guitar. Might also pop down to Komedia to see The songs of Nick Drake (sounds vaguely interesting)
