First visit to Fareham on Friday. Coffee shop meeting with those involved in the cycle maps for Portsmouth, Havant and Fareham. The representative from Fareham didn't turn up, such is their lack of commitment to the project. Little wonder that the co-ordinator has announced she's leaving at the end of the month.
We could have two of the three finished by then, but the third won't have started and I suspect will not.
Fifteen minute walk down West Street from the station. This is Anytown UK. Hurrah for the modernisation of the centre still in progress, but that is just making the blandness clean. A dull and uninspiring meeting - and the TIC offered little to endear me to the place, suggesting instead days out I might consider to places in Wales, devon and the north of England.

Enjoyed the train ride though as I always do. Little Egret in Chessel Bay.

An hour in the office before the accountant turned up and at last took away all the paperwork in a boxfile to take over the monthly reports and general book-keeping.
Only the sales and Purchase ledgers left to me me now. An enormous relief that while take some time to kick in.

Swimming and gym. Sally Two emerges from the crowd. A smiling face and a reserved seat among the crowded tables. Particles gathering.

Then it was Replicas. Met with Kim at the SUSU and surprised to find her alone. Except for the red gloves. Mirfee was characteristically late.
Six is a dangerous number of beers for me. Passed without incident. Rather uncomfortable meeting the City Centre Manager (a major client) in the pub after the show, as he turned up just five minutes after the bell. Had I seen him behind me at the time I'd have bought him a beer.
Turned with the pints and there he was.
We talked music and maps. He's leaving too, at the end of the month.
People are.

Replicas, for all its landmark qualities, is weak on side two, and the least innovative of Numan's first four albums. Pleasure Principle has the edge. This week at least. Maybe he knows, and that would explain why the tracks were cleverly mixed up.
Waking home at one, to the soundtrack of distant piano, rain and my footsteps.

Saturday Portsmouth with the family by train. A Good Call. Same journey as Friday, but continuing through to the harbour and walking down into Gunwharf Quays. This area is a stunning example of modernisation and regeneration that really works. Portsmouth is now a cosmopolitan, international city. Southampton is falling behind so far that its almost laughable that the council thinks it can compete. No - you need to believe in something and commit to a vision.
Shopped, rode on the funfair and walked the promenade. Laughter and smiles between the showers. Boats are a great backdrop to family fun days.
Kids loved the train too, but it was a long trip back once they had stepped over the tired line.

So drifted through a quiet Sunday. More rain. So the grass over at Church isn't going to get cut for the Easter Services unless I can take Maundy Thursday off work. Nor the hedge trimmed, unless I can get the caretaker to show me the knack of starting the big scary machine...
Indoor work then, for a couple of hours. New shelving for the pots and pans in the kitchen.
Looks good, but breeze blocks are HARD and my arms ache.
Counted the collection lying in the office.

That will upset the treasurer. But no more so than the return of the administrator on Monday...

Showdown.

Slope Steve Jansen.
First play. Its almost too varied and doesn't seem to quite know what to be...

And I copied ten albums onto a disc for my nephew tonight.
Just to see what happens.
Nick Cave/Tom Waits/Deerhoof/Metamatics/Ian Dury/Television/JohnF*xx/Harold Budd/TG2/Wedding Present