My life never ceases to amaze me.

Spend the morning in Tesco and the period after lunch building dinosaur models wih my son and out in the park with the other kids on their bikes.
Prior to this I phned th University Accommodation office to discuss their offer of crappy rooms to Biscuit.
there is nothing we can do.
Sometimes things are tough. Deal with it.

Then I went over to the church and spent a couple of hours trying to sort the treasury out. We got somewhere, and made numbers add up. With some kind of Magic, I think.
After prayer, cleaned some more of the old varnish of the floor tiles. Smelly job. hard scrubbing work.
Rigged up the PA and had some mixture of Gregorian Chant, Cathedral Oceans 2 and Hildegard von Bingen's Medieavl 'Canticles of Ecstasy to pass the very pleasant time.
Met with colleagues from the PCC about 7pm to discuss our New Plan to extend the Dais laterally. At last. A plan. Something to aim for completion by Easter and the next season of events.
In between times, took twoo cats to the V. E. T. for vax.

Walk from the church to the pub via the chip shop. Met up with the 'local lads' for the first time in ages. Too much beer.
Walked home remarking on the interesting local architecture. No two houses are the same around this area in which I live.
Like the people.

Very Bohemian. Intellectual, independent minded people, capable of living by the power of their own judgement.
Very very cool

My children and my wife seem to be sleeping safely.

Followed up a recommendation from some friends today and visited Staunton County Park over at Havant. Usual fare:- ornamental farm, kids paddock (goats, rabbits, chickens etc) rare breeds, play area, maze, restauarant, woodland walks, walled garden, glasshouses, lake etc.
But all rather better presented than many similar places and one of the best of its kind we have ever been to.
Almost (but not quite) considered a season ticket until we found out they cost £19 EACH for a year. And the family ticket today for all of us was only £19.50?
I can't work out the economics of that at all. That would require at least FIVE visits in a year to be worthwhile, which just isn't going to happen.

Many, many people. All sorts. Fascinating time watching the comings and goings while we had luncha and the children played in the paddock and the playground.
A couple of Random Fashion Observations:-
Women wear flip-flops, men don't.
Women have to have as much underwear on show as possible. There was an absurd number of pants being flashed around this afternoon, and backless sundresses with bras? A kind of 'look how many straps I can get on each shoulder' competition??

We sat at a picnic table next to a young woman with a new-born baby. Lots of these too - must have seen at least five in their first couple of weeks of life?
She was wearing only a very thin, very short and very 'holey' white dress with bright pink underwear. Tx pointed her out to me as she sat down, and we had a smirk.
WHY WHY WHY wear something that means you have to pull the skirt down every five seconds, and hold the neckline in place to prevent 'gaping'?
She did this ALL the time. Whenever she stood up, took more than five steps, and whenever she sat down. Constantly trying to cover herself up.
One - if it bothers you that much, wear something else.
Two - if it doesn't bother you, stop fiddling with it and let the clothing reveal everything you are obviously quite keen for us all to look at.

This is why I don't do or understand fashion.
Do people really stress so much over their appearance?
And if they do, how can they get it so wrong?

Rant over. I didn't come here for that.

Actually, I did.

Biscuit has been offered her accommodation place at Uni, and it couldn't be more wrong! On the Open Day, we were assured that 98% of all applications received on time get their first choice of halls.
She hasn't even got her THIRD choice.
She has specifically asked for SELF-CATERING and been offered FULLY CATERED. She's a strict vegetarian, so that will never work. It also costs £800 a year more.
She has asked for a STANDARD room and been offered a BASIC room.
She has asked for rooms at the two halls CLOSEST to her campus and been offered one FURTHEST AWAY

I'm a bit confused and frustrated that there has to be so much choice.
If all the rooms were the same (the same size, self-catering, one bathroom and one kitchen between maybe 12 students) then so much fuss and complicated paperwork could be avoided.
And why CATERED? What on earth is that all about? Surely the whole point of getting a room in halls at Uni is to learn how to look out for yourself and meet other sin the same situation.
During the first year, it is now possible to establish the following:-

EN-SUITE ROOM with its own toilet, shower and sink MICROWAVe and FRIDGE.
FULLY-CATERED MEALS with ROOM SERVICE if requested.
TELEPHONE service with free internal calls

So you never actually need to go out of the door...
Missing a large chunk of the point, I think.

I think Boy was a little bewildered to have a 'second' birhtday today after the party last week, so we may have to try and avoid spreading it out like this next year.
Good day though of course, and he had fun opening all the family presents. Blo-pens, Magnetix Construction, Transformers and a Cycle Helmet. Real boys stuff which is just what he needs.
Pizza Hut for lunch and then out on his bike most of the afternoon while everyone else bickered and fought over the blo-pens. He is developing quite a skill at keeping out of the way when his sisters start arguing.

Almost too hot in the garden this afternoon. The weather's gone all crap again.
really s a bizarre year.

I've had a good session writing this evening, concentrating on making a thorough archive of all my Foxx interview recordings. Something i started a year ago now, and it's quite embarassing the mess they were all in. Sorted now, and I'm inspired to keep on with more transcripts. I've actually done shamefully few of them - only 13 out of 35 as it turns out!
That's because most of the work I have done has been on the published media from the music papers.
But I fancy a change now and then…

I need to find copies of the Riverside TV show from September 1983 and the VH-1 interview from November 2001. So far these are the only two that I know exist but I don't have copies of.

I don't really understand, but things are getting me down at the moment and I have a difficult attitude. Too many things annoy me.

This evening for almost the first time in aaaaaaaages I have watch TWO programmes on TV.
The first is an excellent series called Great British Journeys

Nicholas Crane 'discovered' Piersfield House on his way down the Wye Valley.
All very Foxxian. They should have used Cathedral Oceans for the incidental music.

Then 'Mock the Week' which still has a few original comedians left on it.

Both these programmes were spoiled at the end by VoiceOverMan crashing into the Squashed-to-one-side-of-the-Screen credits telling me what was 'up next'.
I'm easily confused. What happened to finding out what was 'up next' by lookin gin a newspaper or something. And surely if you are sitting by the TV you know what's on next anyway. You either want to see what has just been on or is on next, otherwise you wouldn't be there??

What exactly don't I understand?

My business partner has been 'helping himself' to money from our account.
I did some belated reconciliations today and found that £650 has gone to 'Trailfinders.com' this month which is a flight to Thailand at Christmas, and £550 was spent in John Lewis last month. Add to this the increasingly regular £20 - £100 'cashpoint' visits and it seems he is averaging £500 a month on top of the wages.
Why this annoys me is because I struggle to make the salary we agreed support me and Trx and all the kids and yet it's just about enough. I can't quite understand why a single bloke needs 25% as much again? It's begining to feel like he is taking the piss.
There is also an increasing irritation in the office that food items regularly go missing from the fridge or worse, from desk drawers.
"I was hungry! And there's never anything to eat here."
"It's been in the fridge for a week or so. I didn't think she wanted it."
"Have you seen the stuff she keeps in that desk?"

The point is, it's not yours! and you KNOW that.

What do I do? Get involved to defend the staff.

"You wouldn't expect a member of staff to behave like that would you, if you put something there?"
"No, of course not"
"Then why is it OK for you to do it?"
"Because I'm not staff. I'm a director. I have every right to go through their drawers and their emails and stuff. It's not the same at all"

And there is the brick wall. It will end up in a confrontation one day.

Do I ask him about this money in front of everyone?
Trx says I should, but I know it is not the right way to respond. But if I do ask, in all innocence, if he can remember what we spent £550 on in John Lewis across the office, then he will only find that awkward and embarrassing if he has a guilty conscience.

I hate all this kind of shit. We are supposed to be able to trust each other.
I came in on Monday and found that the remaining £140 left in Petty cash was gone.
"Yes, I took it. I had no money."

Why not? Where does it all go?
And you can't just STEAL it. that was for stamps, and milk, and coffee and Jo's expenses.

"Can't you just go and get some more out to replace it?"

You could go and replace it. And how do I account for it?

"There's loads of ways you could lose it in the books. do you want a coffee?"

Go on then, Yeah, why not.

(moments later, at the machine) "Shit, the water's run out. Where are the bottles?"

Next to you, there, under the post table

"Oh yeah. Cool" (rummaging noise. Door opens and he leaves the office)

Ten minutes later
Returns to office on mobile engaged in conversation.
With a half-drunk coffee from Gregg's in the other hand… just the one, of course.

Some days are bigger than others.
Today we celebrated Baggins First birthday - with a party for her brother who is Six next Saturday!
We can get away with it this year of course with her being so tiny, but I don't imagine it will be ong before she gets upset at the thought of her big brother crshing her party!!
A few presents from family this morning and athen a birthday cake demolished by everyone at chuch.
Couple more gifts and a song from there too, which is always moving.

Then into boy mode, and a trip to the bizarre Children's Pleasure Park at the Sports Centr ein bassett. Another one of those quirky You'Wouldn't-get-A-license-today kind of experiences. 33 years old, and looks as if it has had one coat of paint int hat time. Family fun business and the old man, Don, is as mad as a fish. After the kids had run themselves out on merry-go-rounds, trampolines, helterskelters, dodgem cars etc he insisted on entertaining them (??) during tea with his ventriloquist monkey and marionette orang-utan. Nice bloke, great fun and does what he does very well according to his own ways. Under today's Children's Entertainment Specification Guidelines he'd be locked away as some kind of deranged pervert, but they all loved him and it was one of the best parties we have been to. All Stan's idea too, after he went there earlier this year with one of his friends.

It rained SO MUCH! Which unexpectedly made the whole afternoon so much better. The kids just loved being allowed to run riot in the wet, the slides were faster and the trampolines more entertaining when the puddles left the surface with each bounce.

It will be a shame when the old bugger dies and the place is condemned by Rules.
He has a famous dog too - he dyes its fur every few months apparently! This week it had a reddish orange stripe down its otherwise black fur. Last time Stan went, in April i think, he said it was blue!
Excellent! Animal rights, my ar*e. Happy dog. Happy owner, happy kids. Problem?

Forunately no Americans.

So we are all exhausted.

I've managed to get another two Canada maps finished tonight too, making five over the weekend. There are seven left - so the target is that IW and myself will complete the project in the office tomorrow before he buggers off for three weeks.

Great.

Just coming to the end of my two weeks in charge. Last of three services tomorrow.
The local police called about an hour ago following a report of a 'yoof' observed at the premises (you have to love the words they use…) smashing the alarm box with a piece of wood. Apparently its a regular Saturday night practice.
Get the kid brother over to do a bit of damage and disable the alarm system so that the building is unprotected later during the night when the boys in the van come along to do their thing.

The caller reported that a boy aged about 12 (!!!) ran off five minutes before the police car arrived, and the local CSOs have 'a good idea' who he is. The building has sustained no other visible external damage as far as I can see apart from the alarm box which was dangling on its cable when I arrived.
The alarms on both buildings appear to still be working - at least the alarm was active when I went into the centre and I had to switch it off in the usual way. Ditto the old church.
This I have always felt, despite my faith and familiarity with it, to be an intimidating place at night, which is why I would like to see it lit up. Some spotlights on the floor illumnating its glory would have such a drastic impact and 'bring it to life' I think.

So I've set both the alarms again, after fixing the box back to the wall after a fashion. But do we expect a visit during the night or not?
Who is to know?

B*stards. Get some respect for yourselves.
Life's what you make it.

This late night job does give me a great opportunity to get through some excellent music.
Right now I'm enjoying the dark and bizarre world of Current 93, whose latest offering 'Black Ships Ate teh Sky' includes versions of the beautiful 'Idumaea' by Marc Almond, Baby dee, Cosey Fanni Tutti and Anthony (of the Johnsons). Tis indeed fantabulous.
And for soem light relief, I continue to burn Foxx onto the million Gigabyte hard drive hereon, so that I have at last a definitive catalogue of everything, including every live version of every song.
Right now, some serious tub-thumping with 'Live From A Room As Big As A City' which includes first class versions of Metal beat and Broken Furniture at the very least.

Now then, what other parents today I wondering have have the inevitable responses on A level results day?
Biscuit has done brilliantly. Two As and a B - that's far far better then I did, and gaurantees her a place her at University in October. You'd have thought she'd be pleased, but I 'would say that, wouldn't I' because she failed to get an A in her best subject, Philosophy, and so can't apply for the scholarship she was hoping for. What's a daddy to do??

Go and visit her tomorrow I suppose, when I whizz upto Nupton to collect Girl 4 from her grandparents.
It has been quieter here during her abscence, so Trx too has had a bit of a break. Looking forward to the trip myself actually. She's going to stay at home with Baggins and so I have the other four for the day.

Baggins, little b*gger has done it! In front of us all tonight, she stood in the middle of the lounge like she does, grinning and waving a toy, the just decided to go and give it to mummy, thereby tottering about four feet across the room. And back to me, double that distance!!
Never Moments Sometimes realised.
Magical proudness.

It is great to be a daddy of course. It's what I am and what I do.
As well as everything else…

Just coming up for 2am, and I'm sending off the first completed batch of maps for this stupid canada drive Around project.
Ironically, it loos as i fwe will come in at around 100 - 120 hours so the price is a little more reasonable, but I still need to negotiate better terms for th enext project.
They seem to be very happy with what we have done, so much so in fac that we have been asked to submit availability information for the rest of the year! So if I can get a better rate then that sorts out a role for IW until Christmas. It's crazy just how much work is flooding in these days - I do feel that coping with it all is a bit of a struggle these days.
Nice problem to have tho…

Got the first paperwork back from the courts today. Just a straightforward notice of Issue, sent to Lloyds TSB on 14th. They have until 30th to reply. So if I can persevere with this, it looks good for the remaining £2K in time for Christmas.

I'm NOT now going to any of the Metamatic shows coming up, or the Bestival. SM resolutely fails to reply to emails re: arrangements for the church viewing. Lookng forward to ICA showcase on the 29th Sept (my first on the guest list!) and then the free T-Shirt gig at the Luminaire at the end of November.

Of course, the last two weeks have been so packed with working every night that I have done little else.

And it is also now looking a f poor little baggins WON'T take the record for our earliest walker. She can stand easily now, for quite long periods, but however muuch we encourage her to take a step or three she sits down, crawld six inches and climbs up again smiling her face off! Incredibly, she's a year old next weekend. Put her top tooth through her bottom lip in the bathroom this evening. Scared LC with the blood everywhere, and she cried so much that all her facepaint went smudgy and the butterfly had to be washed off in the bath.
And she tries so hard to pretend that she doesn't care about Nora at all. Not like Boy - he loves her to bits and is such a soppyhead you have to laugh.
His favourite joke is to hide her in bed with him, giggling under the duvet!

…and counting the heat

Bored now. This Canada Drive Round job is taking its toll. Contours tonight. Slartibartfast would be proud of my efforts around the coastal inlets. Inlets, in Canada not fjords.

Recollecting my Radio Solent experience now that it is on listen aagin and available for download.
It was a quite disappointing and a little frustrating. Almost annoying in fact, to have been so 'politely' engaged by Julian Clegg but not really very interetsing to listen to I wouldn't have thought.
met at the tearooms on hamble Quay just before 8, where reporter Domnic was setting up his portable studio. The Tea Rooms is a Visitor Info Point where we deliver loads of maps and leaflets to, run by local celebrity, neighbourhood activist and all round good egg CP. She was quite happy to do the interview, chatting extensively with Dom about the sights and history of the HambeValley. I felt rather un-needed, but we enjoyed half an hour's chat about the place, what questions to expect, what to say when etc etc. Right up until the last minute I assumed (note to self AGAIN - NEVER ASSUME it would be Dom who would lead the conversation once we got on air. But no.
of course not, at 8.32 after the news, we cut to JC in the real studio (who is intensely irritating- one of those people who laughs after every sentence he says) who proceeded to ask completely random questions of CP about which cakes were selling best this week,a nd what made a difference. She handled it very well, but looked quite bemused. I had a thirty second opportunity to express what we WD do in the area, and where are the best places to go for a walk. Dom just sat there, nodding occasionally and now and agin interjecting with some background.
And that was it. I felt JC was disrespectful to Dominic, who could have done the feature perfectly well - and in fact had already run through it twice in the preceeding 30 minutes.
Celebrities, huh?
It requires a degree of insecurity that I just don't have,so I guess I'll never be famous.
I blame my parents. Far too normal.

With this job hangin gover me and upsetting the flow of things both here and in the office, I chose this morning to sit in the church for 15 minutes before leaving for work, to think over Tx advice, IW's advice and put the situationinot the hands of the Lord.
This is VERY unusual for me, because most of my prayers are rather more thankful than supplicative - seldom do I sit alone with Him and properly talk about stuff.
It was very refreshing again, further lifting my spirits after the successful service yesterday, and something I can now thnk more seriously about doing more often.

Especially as I received an email later this evenign from the client saying that the (admittedly few) maps I have submitted so far are great and the deadline can be extended from Wednesday to the end of the week.

So, back to the wiggly lines…

While I'e been workig late this week I've mostly been listening to:

Amon Duul II - Made in Germany
John Foxx and Louis Gordon - Sideways
Marc Almond - Stardom Road
Baby Dee - compilation
Brian Eno - Taking Tiger MOuntain
Harold Budd - The White Arcades
the Best of Johnny Thunders

First time really 'on my own' today running the show, though of course the beauty of this environment is that you never really are. Even if there weren't several reliable people to call on, there is always the presence of Jesus to see things run smoothly.
It's really not difficult anyway, just a careful combination of ten million things.
Go to the safe and collect the silverware for communion, purificators in another drawer in the office.
Overhead projector from the storeroom. Children's toys.
Run through the order of service with the leader, keeping an eye open for Eucharistic Minister as no rota has been drawn up. Pick out an usher when an appropriate person arrives.
Meet and welcome the visiting 'vicar', this week the revd captain Ricky Diamond. Unfortunate name, but true. He only lives round the corner! retured fromt he clergy five years ago due to ill health and has been 'tempiiing' at various parishes up near Andover over the last twelve months as he draws back to full fitness. This role is now no longer required and he is looking at joining our church, s a parishioner not a vicar. he was very good too,a nd will be a welcome addition to the congregation. Also, with one eye on pastoral re-organisation etc, it will do us no harm at all to have someone to call upon now and then when the need arises.
I read today (2 Kings, Ch 20) and ministered the challis during communion again. I will do this next week as well as it is something I particularly enjoy.
A little uncomfortable 'doing' the bread tho to the vicar - not sure of the protocol here and my colleague seemed equally baffled...
The served coffee afterwards.
again I enjoy this, but it probably is something I will look to delegate when I have other jobs to do on a Sunday.
Took till nearly one to go round locking up and putting stuff away, but the luxury of having two buildings means we don't have to be too diligent about this at the moment.

Continuing to develop a better relationship with the administrater as well, which I'm hoping to carry through to the next standing Commitee meeting in a couple of weeks time.

Felt good, challenging and refreshing

Just a quiet night in, together for a change.
Both exhausted. Sat and listened to Marc's "Stardom Road", which she actually enjoyed. It isn't a classic I have since decided, but it has certainly settled comfortably into his breathtaking catalogue and has a glamour and quality unsurpassed by most other artists.
Acutley autobiographical and at times alarmingly painful - admirable, gutsy honest, superbly performed and well, Kitsch I guess.
The title track brought me close to tears again.

Had my eyes tested and ordered new glasss this morning from SpecSavers.
Cheap nasty shoppin gexperience, but driven by necessity after flo stepped on these and I had to tie the lens back in - again.
I was served by SEVEN staff, each progressivle more image-conscious and Chavtastic than the one before, with progressively deeepr orange skin, whiter hair and bigger jewellery.
ONE - I suppose you would call her a 'greeter'.
Good morning sir, how are you today? What can we help you with?
… certainly sir, if you'd like to take a seat soemone will see you in a minute
TWO - makes the appointment, for now, this minute.
THREE - upstairs, basic eye exam. Filled in a form
Thank you, the optician will call you through in just a second.
FOUR - Male. the optician. Josh. Eye test. Bling bling
FIVE - Downstairs again. These are our men's frames sir, and the designer range is here. If you'd like to chose what you like and take them over to Jade there, she will order your frames.
SIX - Jade. These sir. Lovely. That's two for one. Just take a seat here and Ricky will be over in a sec.
SEVEN - Ricky. Fills in the order form and advises me on tinting for the second pair. Thank you for comng into SpecSavers today.
Leads me to the cashdesk, where
EIGHT - Jade scans the barcode and takes the money, advising me of delivery next Thursday.

That's SEVEN DIFFERENT people. A whole customer experience.
Does anyone ask customers if this is what they want?
I felt uncomfortable throughout this whole process.

You are in my vision
I can't turn my head
You are in my vision
I can't move my eyes
You are in my vision…

They were all so FALSE and cheesy. Are people really like that? There must have been twenty staff in that shop, at least four of whom spent the whole time standing together chatting in the middle of the shop floor waiting for someone else to greet.

Greeters. What the f*ck is THAT all about

Just plan the store layout more carefully and most of us could find our way to the reception desk unaided and more relaxed.

And 'these are our mens frames'?
really.
Is that why it says 'Mens Frames' on that HUGE FUCKING GREAT BIG sign next to them?

Patronising, I think is the word. A weird feeling.

The world has indeed slid Sideways over the past five years

That's what we do.
I love my job.

Last night I was up until 2 again drawing a streetplan of Calgary. This morning at 8am I took part in a broadcast on BBC Radio Solent, talking abou the delights of the Hamble Valley and promoting the leaflets, website and visitor guides we put together. Beautiful location as always, Village Tea Rooms, but especially the quayside at early o'clock. Lots of sky, boats and birds.

Oystercatcher, Redshank and Grey Wagtail just mooching around - nothing spectaculat, but its all about the synergy of the environment.
And in half a jiffy, the City's transport strategy officer is coming in the talk about a new map of bus services and cycling access to all the city's colleges.
This is before I sent the 2007 edition of the New Forest Official Map to MIster Printyman

AND I get half an hour at home with the kids now between appointments, to watch them in the paddling pool.

Would be even better if there was just more time to do more of each of these things

She's just emailed me!!
I thought I'd just drop a line over and enquire about the availability of her material, which is ridiculously difficult to find.

There's a double CD out now that I should get tho, The Robin's Tiny Throat., containing an earlier couple of albums and EPs

But how cool is that?? People are so lovely.
All you have to do is be nice to them, and spend som time researching before you ask to avoid embarassment.
I now know that she is recording a new album for UK release in 2008, and appearing at Luminaire the week before Foxx.

Signed 'dee' too, which was a nice touch.

Just checked out the 'stats' for the first time in a while.

More than 150 different hits A DAY this month..?? Wooo - thanks everyone. I think.

Just whisked off a street plan of Kelowna for PCG - its completely crap. There's no way any freelancer should be expected to do all the editorial as well as the drawing for the meagre hourly rate they are offering. And IW and I are well behind anyway,a s I knew we inevitably would be. Only 42 hours between us in the first week. We have to try and find another 100 by the 15th.
Yes indeed...

Simultaneously recorded a delicious Almond compilation for KD, on of the few Foxx/Almond fans like myself.
I'm pleased with the tracklisting, which pulls together some of his rarer material over the last five years or so:-

DIAMONDS IN THE DIRT
01 ONE NIGHT OF SIN - Mojo Soundtrack, 2001
02 SEQUINS AND STARS - Mojo Soundtrack, 2001
03 TOTAL ECLIPSE - Rosenstoltz feat. Marc, 2001
04 AMO VITAM - Duet with Rosenstoltz, 2001
05 FUR - 'Glorious' single extra track, 2001
06 BABY'S ON FIRE - T.Total feat, Marc, 2005
07 STARS - Demo, 2007
08 STRANGER IN PARADISE - Demo, 2007
09 SWANSONG - Demo, 2007
10 WEAKNESS FOR ROSES - Demo 2007
The above available exclusively from 'myspace.com'
11 ANNE MARIE LOVES TO… Baby Dee, Live in Turin
12 CALVARY - Baby Dee, Little Windows 2001
13 HALF A CHANCE - Baby Dee, Love's Small Song, 2002
14 UNHEARD OF HOPE - Baby Dee, Demo 2006
15 HURT ME - Johnny Thunders Tribute, 2002 inc. I Only Wrote This Song For You

I've included the Baby dee material specifically ecause she, KD, went to Wilton Hall, which pissed me off, AND didn't like Baby dee at all, which pisse me off.
I note with enormous satisfaction that Little Windows is back on sale along with a couple of other EPS and there are no less than four lovely new tunes for download at myspace.
Three Women
Endless Night
When I Get Home
Idumea

Such a brilliant, brilliant artist. Hugely unknown of course, which has its value.

Music to pray to.
But her stuff always makes me want to write…

Wiretap is just ACE - I've picked up so so many hidden tunes I couldn't have kept without it.

Flippy neck!

This "Made in Germany" album is one of the best pieces of music I have heard for years.

There are elements of so much in here. It has its own roots in Motown somehow, and that might explain why I can here the New York Dolls in here, fighting with Blondie and the Stooges for centre stage.
And representing the UK is Mr David Bowie, from his clever experimental early albums most definitely, which explains why there is more than a hint of Eno in here. But how do the Faces fit in?

And now with this song "Wilhelm Wilhelm" we have strong elements of that fantastic 'cabaret' period and the Berlin cafe sound that gave birth too the whole Vaudeville thing.

Absolutely wonderful.

These are someone else words on the same:-

The album's opening tango, "DREAMS," written and sung by Nando, is
an abrupt beginning, a cabaret tune of frustrated love sung by Eva and
Adolph: "Dreams are our connection, dreams for satisfaction. " The trilogy
that follows, "LUDWIG/THE KING'S CHOCOLATE WALTZ./ BLUE GROTTO" concerns
the mad fairy tale King Ludwig of Bavaria, whose ironic detachment from
reality poses the perfect prelude for "5.5.55," the heavy metallized rage
of Germany's post-war economic ascent and its effects on a numbed, scarred
generation.

With "MADE IN GERMANY" and "HI-JACK," Amon Duul II re-establish
their hold on the creative future of rock coming out of Germany-all of
Europe, for that matter.

That's the big project I'm getting hopelessly bogged down in. Why did I ever suggest that between us Ian and I could perform 150 hours in two weeks? Especially when the job has been badly presented and we have far too much editorial too. I will have to re-assess at the weekend and let them know where we stand.
Work is piling in at the moment and we decided to day the job spec for our new artworker, hopefully the last addition to the team this year.
But to help me with the wiggly bits around the coast of the canadian Rockies I am listening to Amon Duul II and their "Made In germany" album from 1975, the follow-up to the very wonderful "Hi- Jack". I prefer the former to be honest, this is a bit 'rock-opera' esque for my electronic tastes, but there's no doubt that Made in Germany deserves its reputation as one of the most influential and significant progressive albums of the period.
Such an innovative band. And crazy.
Crazy too is the delicious "Friend Opportunity" by Deerhoof that popped thru the letterbox yesterday.

Which also reminds me that last night I discovered yet another interview with the main man online, this time recorded the day before the TCM performance in Brighton last November. Audiofile too, not a transcript, which gives me somethng else to work on. That's 32 sound files - the definitive archive. Mine. How bizarre.
Add over 220 press interviews and other online transcripts and you get some idea where I am coming from with this.

This song "Loosey Girls" is exceptionally good.

Mirfee, I suggest, is right after all. Our tastes have met in this German 'Dusseldorf' period between 1971 and 1975. He has tended to go with the prog-rock thread thru Floyd and Roxy Music and found Rush, Zeppelin etc, somehow bringing Numan into the mix. My own path instead takes Kraftwerk and Neu into Ultravox and hence into Foxx-led electronica, somehow dragging Marc Almond into the mix.
Absolutely fascinating. I can here Procul Harum in this AD album, and some Beatles.
So far ahead of its time.

Where was I . Drifting.
Somewhere among the Queen Charlotte Islands.

The service worked out OK today.
Thanks a million to our lovely PCC secretary who has taken me under her wing.
Arrived early, so had a great chance to hear the musicians working through their set while I set up the Communion table. Remember to put the Banns register on the table too, which was duly read out. By our visiting president, who confessed he hasn't done that particular job for 12 years.
I chose to administer the challis myself alongside aforementioned secretary - only my second go, and again a very uplifting and satisfying role.
Set my girls up to do the collection, but then ran it one song too early.
No one minded or noticed. Giving is slowly on the increase. Only 28 communicants today, but at least four new faces.
The Church looks fabulous - the Cathedral Campers have doen a great job. Pleased to see our PR in the Echo last week. FG will be a little disappointed that they haven't completed all the tasks he set for them, but those that have been done have worked brilliantly. The sunlight Friday evening on the brass cross that stands at the altar was quite something.
Managed to catch the administrator/payroll clerk before he shuffled off after the service and shared a coffee with him and his wife. really good to see his side of the argument at last, and it has altered my perspective slightly. I seem to be the only person talkin got both 'sides' at the moment, which can only be helpful. Quite frustrating that there should be this empassé going on right now. I suppose the next couple of weeks will move that forward nicely.
I have authorised him to pay himself in the usual way va the interweb. His assumption is that his money is being withheld 'by purpose', but I am sure that can't be the case. I can see why he feels like this tho, so expect some fireworks when things return to whatever 'normal' is in a couple of weeks.

Inspired me to formally invite messrs. Foxx and Malins for a viewing.
The Heritage Open Day in September coincides with the Bestival weekend, which may be a good or unfortunate thing, depending on schedules and performance times.

And over the weekend the track-listing for the 2xCD re-issue of Metamatic has emerged. Petty much could have worked it out of course, but the addition of two entirely new and otherwise unheard of pieces is a surprise to everyone. Perhaps we were expecting soemthing new from the archive (otherwise eevryone would already have everything...) but two songs from the 1979 sessions is awesome. Three in fact. I forget Like A Miracle.
The two 'new' recordings come from incomplete fragments of songs written at the time that have been finished off in the studio for inclusion on this release, I suspect, though various working titles have been sugested.
Definitely a fascinating and excited time to be a fan.

Otherwise well... it's too damn hot for me. This kind of 29° heat thing is the only weather i would probably bother to comment on or complain about. I cannot do lethargy, and this forces one into a kind of dumb stupor that encourages nothing but moping around being unable to do the list of jobs that seems to get longer.
I suppose though, it did at least force us to stay indoors, so the bookshelves have managed to find their way up in Boy's bedroom.

Seems we have stumbled to the end of Week Two of the summer holidays. Everyone is very tired and grumpy today for some reason - especially Tx who is finding the whole thing about as difficult as she feared it would be.
With Baggins literally only a matter of days from walking (and taking the title of youngest walker away from her oldest sister!!) she is quite literally into everything at the moment and becoming quite a challenge.
She has real temper on her, screaming at the others until either a) her head explodes or b) she gets her own way.
It makes every day laborious and long - she still wakes up singing and happy happy around 5.30 every morning.
The oldest two - 11 and 8 - are stroppy with each other most of the time, and Boy has developed an irritating habit of contradicting everyone for the sake of it.
To deal withthis, we are going along with whatever he suggests in one of his grumps. "I don't want to go" etc is becoming a pain because he always does, and is just wondering what the effect is of saying cantankerous things!

Battle of the emails over at church now. My co-warden and our acting treasurer is on holiday for the SAME three week's as the vicar. This means I am in charge, trying to work alongside a very stubborn, but misunderstood administrator. He told me Wednesday that he is leaving as soon as possible. Now from nowhere comes a message to me demanding that he gets the wages that are overdue to him. I knew nothing of this, and he didn't mention it on Wendesday night, but I have learned that he is very clumsy with email and never 'says' things in a very subtle way.
Its a difficult medium for this kind of personal relationship, which is why I always prefer dealing with people face to face. Unf, he is very awkward like this and prefers to hide behind more remote methods of communication.
My answer is to give him cash for the weeks that he is owed.
Which will be mis-understood as well and probably sets the wrong kind of precedent.
Do I care?

I just want it sorted. How can 'we' not have manged to pay him?
Why have we had no chequebook for weeks and weeks. Why can't anyone but him do internet banking.

Be with me now Lord, guide me through these rocks.

150 hours work arrives on a CD in a small brown envelope. To be completed by August 15th.
150 hours, my ar*e. Call it 100. we can do