Merry Christmas Everyone

Well the shopping is all done now, I do like to do it in good time, and the tree was up a few days ago. Points West want me to be really "festive"; when I find out what that means perhaps I'll have a go. However when they are so relentless it's easy to see that the Puritans may have had a point.

Grumpy, moi? No.

Merry Christmas to all, peace, goodwill etc. Normal service resumed in the new year (maybe). Busy, busy, busy.

Go Wild in the Country

(observ8n)

i c u
i .
u c me
u .
we . . .
u x no me
i wil x hrt u
.
u r cool
u rn & jmp
ur frenz r ther
find cheez

bye

Chalk Mark in a Rainstorm

Oh Lord why have you abandoned me?
You have cast me aside.

Why do you allow my enemies to prosper?
They have influence and power.

Where are you hiding?

I looked to the hills but I did not see you there.
I went to the end of the motorway but I did not find you.
I wander along the hedgerows and you are not there.
I do not see you in your temple.

I know you are there, but you are not here. I cannot hear you.

Ch-ch-changes

It's right to stutter over this word. Not all change is for the better but all change is scary hard work.

But it has to be done. Even if you can't see what the result will be.

The theme of this evening was change. Looked for, resisted, uncertain, and too difficult. And particularly when it doesn't end up in paradise.

Doesn't make you want to do it, does it?

Don't Make Promises (You Can't Keep)

1000 years of monasticism.
500 years of paternalism.
200 years of Dissent.
A decade of evangelism.

20 years of incomprehension.
20 years of blindness.
10 years of wilful blindness.
30 years of avoidance.
15 years of dementia and false hope.
How many years of terminal decline?

The Song Remains the Same

In the absence of winning a ticket to the real thing, went last night to see Whole Lotta Led at the Fleece. (Still might win a ticket?)

The vocalist was not Robert Plant, and didn't quite have his vocal range - but he had his style and his heart and he sang blues and rock with passion and power. 9/10. Since I've Been Loving You was fantastic.

The bassist played a wonderful No Quarter and the drummer played Moby Dick like you've never seen. He could have played all night, and I think he wanted too. Both 9/10. Maybe that's harsh.

But the guitarist was astonishing. No-one is Jimmy Page, but this is as near as you could want. He was ferocious, tender and exciting. The players may change but the song remains the same. Off the scale.

And if the song is good enough and still relevant, the song can remain the same. Only if the song is dated does it need to change. But which songs should remain the same and which need a new riff? A 12-inch remix? A live version? (We can always use a live version.)

No D'yerMak'er, alas. To lament it would be to quibble, to ask too much.

Everything that's small has to grow. And it has to grow!