Timeshifting

A summer afternoon in Northamptonshire

I'm taking Wednesday off to go to Staffordshire to visit friends and family, so I shall treat that as my Bank Holiday and I'm working today. Writing a blog post counts as work, right?

Over the weekend, we braved the weather and went to the nearby village of Woodford for its regular late-August music festival, called WoodfordStock. Over two days, lots of local musicians gather in the pub garden to make merry and raise funds for Cransley Hospice. It rained, of course, it always does; but the crowds turned up as usual because (a) we all love Carol, who organises everything; (b) we all know someone who has benefited from the superb palliative care the hospice provides; and (c) we love the beer, burgers, cake and sideshows that go alongside the music.

So we stood there and tried to ignore the capillary action of trouser leg on wet grass and the trickle of water making its way inexorably down the back of the neck. This year, proceedings were almost brought to a halt by the most extraordinary sky - my picture doesn't really do it justice - with rolling cloud formations that looked more like a seascape. No one would have been surprised if a giant hand had reached down and lifted us up.

We didn't stay to the end. We had to go home to dry off, before heading out to see son Joe and his band playing in town - mercifully indoors - as part of another festival, called Ctr Alt-Fest Delete. As usual, Ivory Yardsale played a blinder and a good time was had by all. You can't beat loud music is a sweaty pub.

As at Woodford, there was a 'What the...?' moment, with the appearance of a dapper man wearing a white coat and carrying a basket of seafood for sale. Suddenly we were back in the 1960s. Even under normal circumstances there is nothing on this earth that could induce to me to eat a prawn; but an ambient cockle? That's really going too far.

Not much to celebrate today

As we've lost more celebs this week, does any of us feel like celebrating? Nevertheless, we must. So:

I have an article in the new issue of Picture Postcard Monthly. They spelt my name wrong, but hey.

I've met all but one of my work targets for the week, and I can finish that last job tomorrow. I'm only behind because I suddenly had to write an article about sweetcorn and turn it round in 24 hours (which I did), so I reckon that's a pretty good excuse.

It seems a long time ago now, but I'm also celebrating a successful yoga workshop that I ran last Sunday with my good friend and fellow teacher Penny. Today I've been looking at possible venues for the next one, which I think will be in July. 
 
Off to see son Joe and Ivory Yardsale play this evening. Well, actually it's tonight. When we walked  back from the comedy club last Saturday at just gone 11, we remarked how strange it was to see so many people heading in to town when we were going home. We shall be on the other side later on, because my boy's not due to play until half-eleven. Headlining, don't you know. I might need a lie-in tomorrow.

Celebrate the Small Things  is a blog hop. Visit Lexa's Blog for the rules, and then post every Friday about something you're grateful  for that week. Originated by VikLit) and co-hosted by L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The Edge and Tonja Drecker @ Kidbits Blog.  

Update

OK, so the thing I nearly celebrated on Friday but then didn't in case I jinxed it is as follows.

Dermot O'Leary has a slot on his Saturday afternoon show on Radio 2 called 'Some Mothers Do Indie', during which proud mums can have a chat about their child's musical career and aspirations, and then he plays one of their songs. Well, yesterday I was that mum.

I was incredibly nervous, but had a lovely conversation with Dermot, during which he said some great things about my boy and his music. Then he played 'North Slightly East', which is the first track on their new EP. It's all been very exciting, and there's already been some great positive feedback.

My mate Dermot

I'd been briefed by the producer (my new best friend, Ben) that Dermot would ask me about my plans for the evening, which is how come I was ready with the details of my planned evening at Kettering Arts Centre's monthly comedy club, Rolling in the Aisles. Anyway, during the comedy show, the compere asked who it was who'd mentioned the club on the radio and people who knew pointed at me, so I had to fess up and raise my hand. He thanked me for promoting the arts centre on air, and reciprocated by giving Ivory Yardsale another plug, which was kind of him. Quite a day, one way or another.

Halfway through winter

I heard someone on the radio say that we are officially halfway through winter today, and this on the first day I've had to scrape the ice off my car. It was a tad slippy on the back roads this morning, but we've had no proper snow here, thank goodness. Definitely something to celebrate.

Main celebrations this week must be the life and works of Messrs Bowie and Rickman. It's all been said elsewhere.

Closer to home, I'm celebrating the release of my son's band's new EP called 'A Watch on Each Wrist'. I'm very proud of him (natch). If you have a moment, pop over to Soundcloud here and have a listen and if you like it click the appropriate button. (If you don't like it, please just leave quietly.) Better still, if you have £3 to spare, you can buy it from Bandcamp here.

There is some other exciting Ivory Yardsale news, too, but I'm scared to say what in case I jinx it. If it comes off, I'll tell you next week.

A Watch on Each Wrist by Ivory Yardsale

And on that bombshell...

Celebrate the Small Things  is a blog hop. Visit Lexa's Blog for the rules, and then post every Friday about something you're grateful  for that week. Originated by VikLit) and co-hosted by L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The Edge and Tonja Drecker @ Kidbits Blog. 

How to lose readers

I know, I know. If you're going to host a blog it's very important to keep posting regularly or your followers will lose interest and wander off to read the offerings of someone more consistent. Epic fail, then, on my part: nothing posted since 12 June and I missed last week's Celebrate the Small Things. Sorry. May I offer the following in mitigation?

I've done a lot of work, including covering some yoga classes at a local gym. More pleasing, on the entertainment front, I've been to see Ivory Yardsale in a Northampton pub; Jez Hellard and Scott Cook, Fabian Holland and Chris Wood (yes, the Chris Wood, folk legend) in the homes of friends; my friend Will in The Hook, the Arthur Miller play that has lain dormant for decades and has been revived for a world premiere run in Northampton; Robin Ince supported by Grace Petrie at the Kettering Arts Centre; and taken part in International Yoga Day celebrations.

Girl power

I went into town on Friday to watch the Women's Tour arrive at the end of stage 3, the longest and hilliest of the event. I know nothing about cycling, but thought I should go and see what it was all about, since it's quite a Big Thing for it to have come to Kettering. As usual, I was torn between taking decent photos and looking at the event IRL: I chose the latter, as a result of which I have lots of pics of half-wheels and blurry heads.

The other thing that has been taking up my time is helping my friend Rachel. She is opening a shop called 'Not Just Words', which will be a bookshop - but so much more. This is worth a whole blog post in its own right, and one will surely follow in due course. Suffice to say for now that a bunch of us have been running up and down stairs with boxes of glorious second books and, would you believe, shifting a piano on to the first floor of her building. There has been a great sense of community and we have enjoyed getting tired and dusty together. Watch this space.

There has, however, been some sadness, since local musician Stevie Poole has died. I didn't know him very well, but I'd seen him perform many times. He will be much missed in our circle.

Happier Monday

Well, that's better. After a fairly unpleasant week, the weekend was a vast improvement.
 
By Friday, I had met all my work deadlines and then in the evening had an unexpected trip to the pub where son Joe was playing drums with Ivory Yardsale. Splendid stuff.

Saturday saw me being a domestic goddess and head gardener. While I was turning over the earth, I had the company of a little robin who was looking for tasty morsels (see pic). In the evening, I headed off to the arts centre to see comedian Jo Caulfield, who was hilarious.

Sunday was filled with a mixture of gentle pottering/potting while the sun was out and crosswords and sitting about when the sun was in. Brenda Blethyn in Vera was my evening's entertainment. It's a bit 'Look-out-here-comes-a-clue', but it's comfy stuff and I love the Northumbria scenery.

Now that the mood has lifted, I have great hopes for the week ahead. (Cue Fate rubbing her hands together...)

Chop chop: it's Friday again

Just time for a quick CTST post today as I'm already behind and it's not even nine o'clock yet.

Joe's gig with Ivory Yardsale went well last weekend. Now we're celebrating the release of their new EP called 'Enfield'. You can listen to it on Bandcamp here, and download it, too, should you so wish. They are headlining tomorrow night, but I shan't be able to go because...

At the Pomfret Arms all-dayer

...I'm off to the Barefoot Festival for the weekend. Yes, hubby and I have dusted off the sleeping bags and are steeling ourselves for three nights under canvas. It'll be fine (we keep saying). I'm leading some meditation session while we're there, so I get a 'Performer's Pass'!

Make the most of the fine weather, folks. 

On with the show

1. Celebrating age. I'm wondering whether to cycle to the care home for this morning's yoga class or to wimp out and take the car. Although the weather forecast says dry, the sky indicates serious rain. Either way, let's celebrate that there is a group of 80-somethings waiting for me to put them through their paces.
2. Celebrating youth. Last night I went to one of our local senior schools to see its production of Our House, which is based on the songs of Madness. My ukulele teacher is the show's musical director. It was fabulous. I can only image how proud the parents of the cast must have felt.
3. Celebrating wisdom. I'm off to see Antigone this evening at the Royal Theatre, Northampton, in which my friend Will is performing. Nothing like a bit of Greek tragedy to get the weekend off to a good start
4. Celebrating talent. Son Joe and his band are playing at a local festival tomorrow and I'm allowed to watch, as long as I behave. Go, Ivory Yardsale!

 

Have a good weekend, folks.

'Celebrate the small things' is a bloghop instigated by VikLit on her blog Scribblings of an Aspiring Author and co-hosted by Diana Wilder, LG Keltner @ Writing Off the Edge, Cyborg Mom (Katie) and CaffeMaggieato @ mscoffeehouse. Details are here. 

Celebrate the Small Things again

Well, here we are again. Time to Celebrate the Small Things.

When I was driving to a nearby village this afternoon to teach my yoga class, as I turned round a corner a red kite flew up from the road right in front of me. It was an amazing sight - and to think that these birds were once endangered. They are more common than sparrows round our way. We often get them swooping over our suburban garden. I don't know what this particular bird had just had for its lunch, but it had left behind an enormous pile of feathers.

My son's band were on BBC Introducing again this week. The DJ (are they still called that?) said, 'We LOVE this song.' The song in question is 'Winnebago' and you can hear it here.

On the writing front, I submitted an article to someone on Monday and got an acceptance email this morning. Result!

Why not join us in Celebrating the Small Things? This is a bloghop instigated by VikLit on her blog 'Scribblings of an Aspiring Author'. Details are here.

Goodbye to all that

May I join the consensus and say how pleased I am that this is the last day of January? My son and I both work from home quite a lot of the time and have spent much of the month sighing and saying, 'Is it too soon for another cup of tea?' Enough with the rain and the drear, already.

This same son gives me one of my small celebrations today, as his band has done some really positive things this week, including making a video for one of their new songs. It's still being edited and sync-ed (no, me neither), but I will of course be doing my Proud Mother bit in due course.

Ivory Yardsale

I'm also celebrating my return to Zumba classes after a break of several months. Not only that, but I've also been to a FitSteps class. Ooh, the power in those little legs.

Biggest celebration, though, is that I've survived Dry January (unless I weaken in the next 12 hours, that is).

Join in the celebrations via VikLit's blog 'Scribblings of an Aspiring Author' here.

ooOoo

 

Did you watch that Horizon programme about whether sugar or fat is the worse? I won't spoil the ending, in case you want to catch it on the i-Player, but it raised some interesting points. It also made me want a bowl of ice-cream. Good job I'm back on the dancing.

Have a lovely weekend, folks.

Ivory Yardsale news!

Just a quick one this week, as I'm dashing out in a mo to see the Bad Shepherds (Ade Edmondson's band), which is in itself a cause for celebration.

I'm also celebrating that Ivory Yardsale, for which band my son is the drummer, has a new EP out. You can hear the tracks via Soundcloud here. They were played on local radio on Wednesday, and there has been interest from BBC Introducing, which is very exciting.

Have a good weekend y'all!