Perhaps its no wonder I feel tired and drained when I look back on my weekend, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

I'm a great advocate of the "Life's What You make It" line of thought, and I genuinely and passionately believe that the real value of an act and the satisfaction that comes from it is directly proportional (at least to a large extent) by the effort you put into it.

There is absolutey no excuse whatsoever for "not being bothered", and it is inexcusable to suggest that being "bored" is someone else's fault.

But anyway, yes, I don't do preaching.

Disappointed by the morning rain on Saturday and it meant that Girl 4 had to spend her weekend under canvas in the New Forest getting wet and cold. She's exhausted now, but had a great time and is quite keen to repeat the exercise in February.
After lunch - what is the appeal of bagels? they are so 'heavy'... - I decided to cycle (it was dry by 2pm) to get the train so that Tx had a marginally easier afternoon of it and was on the way to London by 3.08.
All worked out really well.
Except that, for some strange reason being in the Theatre watching JF do his sound check and offering to lend a hand stacking up the merchandising table, left me rather uninispired and I am now questionning again the awkwardness of having a foot in both camps. Not yet entrenched on the "other" side yet of course (didn't get a nice pink armband for instance) but now I'm convinced I don't really want to go that way. Spoke to Ris about this and he's of course had good experienc eof both and understands. I think to an extent his Bestival expereience was somewhat tarnished by being "in" rather than just watching from outside.
Don't get me wrong though, the performance itself was stunning.
especially Tiny ColourMovies which is probably now establishing itself as a cornerstone of john's work and certainly for my monet his best and most important album. Several new bits and pieces mixed in.

Electro Duchamp maybe, to paraphrase his reference to 'techno Turner'.

Metamatic disappointed me.
Far far too much of it was not 'live' and John was reading most of the lyrics. He missed his cue several times, repeated some lines and omitted others. Awesome simply to have been there, but I'm comfortable with not being present at the forthcomng shows.
And to have 'Glimmer' so obviously on master tape or something without even being present on stage… hmmm?

I've written the usual review in a format that people are beginning to appreciate which is quite touching.
Maybe Craig has a point and I should offer something to someone 'professionally'.
I flatter myself. Tsk!

Perhaps for me the most interestng part of the event was simply being in the heart of London. On a Saturday night. I' not entirely unfamiliar with it (for instance, I walked from Waterloo to the ICA on the Mall from memory) but theses days Trafalgar Square at midnight surrounded by people of considerable youngness is well outside my normal sphere of experience. I felt like a ghost.
Appropriate maybe, given the circumstances

I'm on my way
To the ICA
It starts to rain
As I board my train

People meet
People eat
People pass on the street
Bridges and stairs
Plazas and squares
Scaffolding and arches
Office blocks and churches
This City
That Wheel
A village of steel

I've been listening to The Pleasures of Electricity recently... ;-)

Aftershow chat etc really encouraging and enjoyable, so I stayed on for the later train and didn't get here until quarter to two,and after posting the review got to bed at three.

Made getting up for my dad bit quite hard on Sunday morning, but the fatigue doesn't kick in with me until I switch off, so I was actually breezy and enthusiastic when I got to Npton dead on 10.30. I have learned with MrsEx that it doesn't do to be even a gnat's chaff late for appointments with the girls. I'm worried enough that Biscuit's departure to uni might set her off again without contributing to that myself.
But all seemed well enough,a nd I was pleasantly surprised to see that all was packed and waiting for me! HOW MUCH STUFF!!!
Including the double bed AND mattress, we absolutely stuffed the MPV to bursting, but just about managed to get it all in.

Back here more or less dead on 2pm and then began the arduous task of unloading all the stuff into her room. Luckily, its only on the third floor...
Standard HOR fare and she was a little disappointed with it, but in my experience that's as good as it gets. Nervous, emotional, tired - it was a difficult afternoon. We got on really well, both nervous and excited.
Shamefully too, I felt like a kid in a sweetshop being around students again. So many great memories. I thin though that when I was 18 and having my time, the girls wore more clothes??
Hey ho...

I am determined not to worry and fuss over her, but communication between me and Him have been rather busy the last couple of days! She seems fine, and hasn't been in touch yet since I left her, which can only be a good thing.
Seemed odd that there was not much of a goodbye to or from her mum. Kink though will be finding things hard. She has given up a lot to see her little sister safely to this point.
I'll ring tomorrow night for a good chat.

So because of all this malarking about, and the half hour I lost when the tears kicked in once I'd left her, I didn't get home until four.
Starving. Kind of forgot to eat after lunch on Saturday.
Again, student mode kicked in It never really leaves you.
I am so pleased that Biscuit is getting this life-changing experience.

We've also bought the office van in the meantime, and spoken to Tina about her appointment with us.
Eve managed to get lunch with D today and talked about lots of important stuff.

I now have a programme to write for Saturday's concert in the church and a whole list of people to contact in order that thngs come together for the twins baptism on Sunday. We estimate about 100 people. That's a LOT of potatoes.

I wonder how many fish there are in all the seas?