Did a ride out to Maker Space at Nuffield on Monday with Kelvin and Stuart. It was a nice sunny day compared to the constant gloom we've had recently. About 30 miles. We noticed a strange line along the top of the poplar trees in Christchurch Meadow.
Went to the docs in the afternoon to discuss my high cholesterol. I'm going to try and cut out fatty stuff and drinking less and will test again in the new year. Booked myself in for pneumonia and shingles jabs. M was doing a spot of babysitting at no 81 so cycled over there after and got a lift back as couldn't find my back light. Went to the hygenist on Tuesday morning then walked up to no81. Found some steps up to Tern Close from the Meadway that lead you into the north bit of Lousehill Copse. Cycled back. Went to the Jazz Cafe in the evening to see BALTHVS supported by Yuuf. Great gig, both good. Some observations. I thought I might get a bit bored by BALTHVS as they are a bit samey but that was not the case and they were great. No amps though, guitar and bass DIed through the PA. In ear monitors too, must be weird. The guitarist's kept falling out though so I guess they must have also been using the regular monitors of which they had 6. Shared drum kit with the support except for breakables. Not sure who's it was, they are from Columbia so may be travelling light. Sounds like they've been on an extensive European tour as they mentioned Poland and Istanbul, also playing Madrid tomorrow. The Jazz Cafe put out a towel and a bottle of water for each performer. £7 for a pint of IPA and very easy to get served. They just seem to have 2 PA speakers suspended from the ceiling. The venue opened at 7, support on at 8, headliners 9. They stopped at 10:15 to do the encore thing so I made my way out and went to the loo. Left after the first encore. There was an Elizabeth Line train to Reading at TCR so thought I'd take it having recently emptied my bladder. May have been a mistake though. All sorts of problems. Someone pressed the stop button? Who knows. Why is it always a problem getting back from a gig in London? I checked the
gear section on their website when I finally got home and no mention of amps or drums except breakables. Went swimming on Wednesday morning then went to Boots for some glasses. 2 long distance and one reading. Second half price and third free so £125 for three. I assumed the price on the glasses was just for the frames but it includes the lenses as well. M wanted to take some photos in Coley Park on Thursday mornjng so I tagged along then finished off of a variation on the Southcote Lock walk but in reverse. Went to see Benjamin Francis Leftwich at South Street in the evening supported by Nadia Kadek. Both singer songwriters but very good. She had a great vouce and he had some interesting songs. Did a couple unamplified including his first which was very intimate. He also ended a song unamplified. Did the sound man do it or did he have some sort of switch? James popped over with Madeline and Owen on Friday afternoon. Tom came in the evening with Edith. Sally was staying at her folks as Keith was going into hospital early on Saturday morning for a heart operation. JAMO popped round on Saturday morning.
Then Tom took Edith round to see Fiona. I went to RSAC to set up for the Scarlet Vixens then we all went round to no 81 for pulled pork. Heard that Keith's op had gone OK. Sally and Fiona had managed to speak to him in the ICU. Tom took me back to to RSAC and helped me pack away. There had been a bed of nails, someone doing something with broken glass, wax pouring, a snake and attempted fire which didn't work. There where photo opportunities with the snake afterwards.
JAMO popped round on Sunday morning.
Everyone disappeared about 11am. Tony popped round in the afternoon for a quick rehearsal before we did the open mic at the Farriers Arms at Spencers Wood in the early evening. It was one of Amanda's. Very well organised and attended. We were on at 17:30 and did Little Red Rooster, One Scotch One Bourbon One Beer and Spider And The Fly. They had Courage Best on draught.
A cold snap on Tuesday. Snow in Llangollen,
M saw a few flakes here too. What else could I do on a cold wet November day except make a video. Went for an afternoon ride to Mortimer on Wednesday with Kelvin and Stuart. It was cold but sunny. M went to a talk on Prosperity and Piety given by Joan Dils of The Reading History Society Went swimming on Thursday morning. There have been sightings of parakeets down the street and I saw my first one. We popped into town on Friday morning and met James, Madeline and Owen for a coffee. I then went to pick up my glasses. I have long distance ones now as well as readers. We took Madeline to see Robin Red Vest at South St on Saturday afternoon. Think she liked it. She was very absorbed. Also think I left my new reading glasses there. There's lots of parking round there now that you can pay for using the RingGo app. Went to RSAC after to set up for the university band night. They had sold out. Went to Judy and Mike's for dinner with Ralph and Sue. Tony came round for a rehearsal on Sunday afternoon.
.JPG)