too much, too soon.

It is the party season. I have been to three Christmas celebrations, two work-based and one supplier. I had expected that they would yield exciting tales to regale you with. But I am not sure that I come out of those too well, so I shall keep my ruminations on Christmas parties to myself.

After the last party on Thursday, I came home slightly the worse for wear – only slightly – and sat down, playing with the cats. The way my cats show affection when I play with them is by drawing as much blood as they can; they were very affectionate on Thursday night.

(I was playing with the cats this afternoon, as well: “So you’re not just stupid when you’re drunk”, said my wife.)

( Read more... )

too much, too soon.

It is the party season. I have been to three Christmas celebrations, two work-based and one supplier. I had expected that they would yield exciting tales to regale you with. But I am not sure that I come out of those too well, so I shall keep my ruminations on Christmas parties to myself.

After the last party on Thursday, I came home slightly the worse for wear – only slightly – and sat down, playing with the cats. The way my cats show affection when I play with them is by drawing as much blood as they can; they were very affectionate on Thursday night.

(I was playing with the cats this afternoon, as well: “So you’re not just stupid when you’re drunk”, said my wife.)

( Read more... )

Here it is, Merry Christmas

I have just finished writing my Christmas cards. This is a chore which I hate, though I don’t know why. As my wife just said, “Why do you find it hellish? They’re your friends…”

Which is true – though some of them are family (and I didn’t chose them!) and others are people who used to be friends but I haven’t seen in a couple of years – or more…

But I hate writing Christmas cards. ( Read more... )

Here it is, Merry Christmas

I have just finished writing my Christmas cards. This is a chore which I hate, though I don’t know why. As my wife just said, “Why do you find it hellish? They’re your friends…”

Which is true – though some of them are family (and I didn’t chose them!) and others are people who used to be friends but I haven’t seen in a couple of years – or more…

But I hate writing Christmas cards. ( Read more... )

The Duke

We have been playing Duke Ellington today; a whole load of Ellington, from the thirties (early recordings), the forties (the Webster-Blanton band) and lastly the fifties (“Such Sweet Thunder” – a true classic, a work of genius).

My wife says, “play that really famous bit of Ellington…”

Uh-huh. Maybe some help here…

“Something and something.”

Diminuendo in Blue and Crescendo in Blue – barnstorming, swinging jazz from Duke’s 1956 comeback performance at Newport.

“No, somebody and somebody… Like, Cain and Abel, but different names. Really famous.”

I think. A suite; Black, Brown and Beige? “No.” And Her Mother Called Him Bill? “No.” Queen’s Suite (with the truly beautiful, gorgeous, heartbreaking Single Petal of A Rose)? “No!”

I put away Such Sweet Thunder (in alphabetic order, natch); and I see a CD.

Do you mean Porgy and Bess?, I say.

“Yes”, she replies.

By Miles Davis?

“Oh”, she says, and apologises…

The Duke

We have been playing Duke Ellington today; a whole load of Ellington, from the thirties (early recordings), the forties (the Webster-Blanton band) and lastly the fifties (“Such Sweet Thunder” – a true classic, a work of genius).

My wife says, “play that really famous bit of Ellington…”

Uh-huh. Maybe some help here…

“Something and something.”

Diminuendo in Blue and Crescendo in Blue – barnstorming, swinging jazz from Duke’s 1956 comeback performance at Newport.

“No, somebody and somebody… Like, Cain and Abel, but different names. Really famous.”

I think. A suite; Black, Brown and Beige? “No.” And Her Mother Called Him Bill? “No.” Queen’s Suite (with the truly beautiful, gorgeous, heartbreaking Single Petal of A Rose)? “No!”

I put away Such Sweet Thunder (in alphabetic order, natch); and I see a CD.

Do you mean Porgy and Bess?, I say.

“Yes”, she replies.

By Miles Davis?

“Oh”, she says, and apologises…

Tell-tale Signs...

I have been thinking about a stream of comments to an earlier post – http://www.livejournal.com/users/rhythmaning/6532.html – which kind of struck a maudlin note. It made me feel – well, old.

So here are signs that you are getting older… or maybe growing up? ( Read more... )

Tell-tale Signs...

I have been thinking about a stream of comments to an earlier post – http://www.livejournal.com/users/rhythmaning/6532.html – which kind of struck a maudlin note. It made me feel – well, old.

So here are signs that you are getting older… or maybe growing up? ( Read more... )