Month: June 2006

I had a great weekend, to begin with. Ian B & his band of brothers were planning an impromptu jam session, lubricated by much alcohol, on Saturday afternnoon. And yours truly was invited, so I & Fiona jumped in her trusty Seicento and headed coastwards – via the scenic route; you know me!

I’m sure anyone in the south-east of England is aware what a beautiful day that was, with only occasional interruption from the clouds – and it only got clearer and warmer as the day wore on. We got to Brighton and found Ian and a couple of cohorts – he assured us that the posse would arrive in due course. In the meantime, we went and got ourselves some lunch from one of the establishments on the promenade.

Sure enough, sundry musicians began to arrive, and soon enough there were enough (i.e. the band) to start to jam. Very cool (not in the temperature sense!), there in the sun beside the old pier, with passers-by stopping to take pics and even flop down and chill out as the boys (+1 girl) played. It was most enjoyable, and a few cheeky covers crept in there (including the aforementioned “Blister…”), and I had good fun catching up with a few people I hadn’t seen in donkey’s. Pictorial evidence will be sprouting on the gallery, as soon as I can be bothered…

But as the day wore on, I found myself becoming quite tired – we hadn’t brought enough water (glad I didn’t start on the beer!), and I felt a little dehydrated. So about 5pm Fi & I made our excuses, said our goodbyes, and trundled back to the car and northbound. Home again, and a couple of glasses of wine with dinner, and I began to feel very ropey indeed. An early night was in order, but the following day I felt worse, if anything! Sure enough, heatstroke was diagnosed, and I resigned myself to regular doses of painkillers and gallons of water. You’d think I’d have learned after the New Year’s Eve episode in Oz, wouldn’t you?! As if…

So that kinda killed off my Sunday, and didn’t do me too many favours on the Monday, but that’ll teach me to sit in brilliant sunshine on the beach without a hat! Lots of sunscreen, yes (so no sunburn – well, not much), but no hat. But on the upside, I had a very enjoyable experience on the beach watching Ian & the players do their thing (most excellently, as always) – so it wasn’t a complete washout. I’ll be going to see them again – it’s only a shame that I wasn’t able to stay for the full complement of musicians to arrive and turn it into a mass jam frenzy! And I’d forgotten what a hugely happening place Brighton beach is in summer – incredible. Although I didn’t take a chance on swimming in the sea – oh no…

Lesson learned – I’m off to France this weekend, where it’s currently around 32 degrees, so my hat is packed along with gallons of factor 3000 sunscreen. Oh, it’s going to be soooo much fun, he he…

In parting: class of ’98 – wear sunscreen!

Well, it’s all change here, at Happenins Towers! Last time we chatted, it was grim weather indeed, and grimly forecast. But now, the sky is edge-to-edge brilliant blue, the temperature is nudging ever nearer to the magic three-oh, the windows are thrown wide and the fan plays havoc with my paperwork. Joy-joy! Oh frabjous day, etc…

Of course, the other thing that’s changed is that my bike’s off the road – again. This time, there’s nothing wrong with it (at least, I hope not!) – simply a small matter of lapsed MOT & road tax, and Mr Plod said I can’t ride without them. Fine – it’s booked for its MOT next week. And it will pass – oh yes it will…

Being stuck indoors in weather like this is a major downer, but the compensation is that work is busy. Success is just around the corner – honest! I say compensation, but I think that should be reversed: the glorious weekends are compensation for the fact that work is so busy. Better? I think so.

More birthdays are looming as I type: little (or not-so-little) Jake Allen will be celebrating his second anniversary of arriving on this mortal coil, while my nephew Caelum back home will be turning 11. Yike! Time flies when you’re doing other things… Meanwhile on the other side of the world, sunny B Jenkins celebrates eternal youth in Sydney, while erstwhile flatmate and boozing companion Kiz will be following just after, stubby in hand – again, needless to say, eternally young! Finally for this month, young Louis Jones will be celebrating his second birthday in his new home out West. Happy birthday one and all – with the exception of Jake, sorry I can’t be there… 🙁

Before I forget, a big shout has to go out to my sis Jhone, who did a sponsored walk to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis in Ireland a few days ago – you go, girl! Aches and pains notwithstanding, she’s doing fine. 😉

But what wonderful weather! It bodes well for my trip to the south of France later in the month, especially as the temperatures and conditions are pegged just a tad above what we’ve got here at the moment. All good, all good – a few days lounging by the pool, glass of Claret akimbo, will no doubt do me the world of good. And the fun will only be beginning – a trip to Ireland (fairly) hard on the heels of that, to celebrate the Ballina Salmon Festival and carouse with family & friends (not to mention Fiona), is on the cards for July. Never been to the Salmon Festival? You haven’t lived, and I mean that most sincerely. Put it on your list of things to do in this lifetime… Oh – and there’s a fair-to-middling chance that travel buddies John & Gwyn will be bundling Jake up and revisiting partyland with me – bring it on!

I’ve wittered enough. Look to your barbecues!