w.atching the w.orld unw.ind

Number One Son e-mailed from the Cook Islands (due south of the Hawai'ian islands) that it's a harsh life there.

Laying on the beach. Snorkelling (with my snorkel).

Harrumph.

The book I'm reading at the moment is, poignantly, a fictional story about Auschwitz-Birkenau, whose 60th anniversary of its liberation is coincidentally being remembered today.

I have no personal connection with the Holocaust - other than just being human - but I like stories that show triumph over impossible odds. That there were some survivors is to be rejoiced over. "Escape from Sobibor" is a killing story.

I view all races, creeds and communities with equanimity - for me, there is no finger-pointing. We can probably do nothing for the remaining survivors now - not even provide retribution with justice, 60 years on. But there is no "tabula rasa" either - no clean slate. Humanity is in emission, and the world must continue to work to earn the respect it thinks it deserves.

And in other news...

Number One Son is, at this moment, somewhere between Los angeles and the Cook Islands.

It was an emotional departure at Heathrow (although Mrs.D. held it together remarkably well, considering - he'll be away for her 50th on March 5th, a birth day they uniquely share, among all the families we've ever known). We'll be in Prague, anyway, so there would have been no usual joint celebration in any case.

He had tied one on, Monday evening. He had bruised ribs from falling onto wooden chairs when "time" was called. His erstwhile travelling mate (though, not this time - it's a one-man World tour) and his adoring sister ensured he got home safely. The latter (and if you're about to eat, look away now) heroically providing the two fingers which saved him from having the copious mixture of alcohols left in his belly during the night.

Spotting the skateboard strapped to his rucksack, the twenty-something couple behind him in the check-in queue confessed to similar hobbies and to being on their way to Auckland for a dj'ing gig. So he had some instant travelling companions for the first leg of the flight, which chuffed him. And he's got my spare scuba mask and the snorkel which has been with me on every dive I've done. It'll be lucky for him, I hope.

I'm gonna severely miss the bu99er, but look forward to the e-mails and postcards.

Gawd, I wish I could've gone with him...

Musically, that is. Otherwise, I'm a bit of a smug b@stard.

I was (and in a way, still am) heavily into what was loosely called "punk".

Several times I saw live The Stranglers, The Clash, The Slits (they were so bad, they were brilliant), The Tubes, The Boomtown Rats, The Jam - the list goes on and on.

But I have three musical misses. No, make that four. I never saw The Sex Pistols. A tragic miss, imo. And although they weren't punk in any shape or form, Steely Dan were a big influence on me at the same time. They cancelled their only U.K. tour because of ill health or something and that was a huge disappointment. And I got into Queen way too late to catch the boat - really sorry, Freddie.

And the fourth regret was never properly learning to play an instrument. Ok, I tinkered with the drums, but in a terrace house, there are always three sets of people capable of not appreciating your attempts to learn taradiddles and flim-flams (even with brushes and rubber pads on the skins) so that foundered early on.

Number One Daughter studied clarinet to Grade Four, and piano to Grade Seven, so there is some talent lying latent in the genes. I love listening to her, when she doesn't know I am. Maybe one day (when I can no longer scuba?) I'll take something up.

Perhaps the triangle? Surely, in 'the home', the other ageds won't be able to hear to complain?

Talking of "having a few" - I believe Number One Son tied one on last night, it being his last time with his coterie before he flies out to the Cook Islands, to start his solo World Tour. We'll wait 'til tonight to decide whether he wants a 'last supper' at home or in a restaurant. I'm betting the stomache will be a tad tender....

* Today's Lyric truncation explained.

The train was, unusually, already packed when I climbed in this morning. I don't enjoy reading while trying to maintain vertical station (for the whole of the commute - grrr) so I sought solace and refuge in the minidisk walkman. But immediately got the "I'm dead as bread. Why didn't you think to re-charge me at some point, you thoughtless tosser?" message. Today is allegedly the most depressing day of the year - it's not started out wonderfully well. Especially since


Number One Daughter's 23rd birthday party involved us catering for 11 (main meal and dessert on Saturday night, then arranging their sleeping accommodation while they were down the pub), then breakfast on Sunday and cleaning up the aftermath when they'd all finally sodded off. Still, they'd come from as far afield as Bristol, Birmingham, Oldham and Leeds, so a tribute to her personality and power of attraction. It was, of course, all greatly appreciated, but still mighty knackering.

Returning to bed for a kip sounds like a lovely idea, but I'm sat at the desk in work now, so it's also an unlikely pipedream. But it's payday tomorrow and I'm going to treat myself to the SACD version of Mike Oldfield's original "Tubular Bells" - I'll let you know if it sounds any good in 5.1?

Oh - go visit his new site.

Via Zed


1. What is the total amount of music files on your computer?
Zip. Nil. Nada. I use it to create compilations on minidisk, then re-cycle them when I'm bored.

2. The cd you last bought is:
Queens of the Stone Age (Songs for the Deaf)- because I loved the track Mike once gave me (No-one Knows) so bought the album.

Oh - and the SACD version of "Dark Side of the Moon" by Pink Floyd, because it sounds damn fine in 5.1 surround sound


3. What is the song you last listened to before reading this message?
"War pigs" by Black Sabbath (Greatest hits of)


4. Write down 5 songs you often listen to or that mean a lot to you.
"Wish you were here" by Floyd. It makes me cry.
"Mandolin Wind" by Rod Stewart. " " "
"Take it to the limit" (live version) by The Eagles. " " "
"Virginia Plain" by Roxy Music. It sends electric rods down my legs.
"And She Was" by Talking Heads. It just does.

5. Who are you going to pass this stick to? (3 persons) and why?
Mike It's an obvious choice, but you'll get massive entertainment if he finds the time to chip in..
Dave It's been waaaay too long since he contributed something musically.
Witchy The last post was waaay too heavy for me and I think I'd like her answers to this.
(who has albeit temporarily declined) and so I give you...
Dr, Faustus M.D.

Trouble-shooting tip in a VCR manual..

* Check your cock before setting the Automatic Timer Record.

(and remember to wash your hands afterwards!)

This Leo needs to have some sun on his back.

I'm not aware that I actually do suffer from lack of sunshine as a physical ailment (aprosexia is enough for any one man, surely?) but I am heartily sick of the lack of lucid light. I know full well it's January, but ...

C'mon, Sun, show your face, for Gawd's sake!

My personal internal thermometer is still not fully functioning i.e. I'm still feeling very cool, but the manflu seems to be abating.

The big downside of it is that I have no taste for coffee, and as that's the only hot drink I have, it's a water- and soup-based liquid intake for me. Even red wine feels like blood in the mouth. Now that's a feeling I really need to get over pronto.

will be resumed when I've stopped shivering.

The latest videotape from Banda Aceh showed graphically the relentless speed and strength of the tsunami wave which tore through the region.

One moment, a paddling-pool ripple, next, a debris-choked liquid glacier. If you weren’t able to leg it two flights of a very sturdy building, you were unlikely to be seen alive again.

On David Frost’s Sunday programme, the president of Sri Lanka gave a very modest and understated thanks to our Queen and Government, but especially to the British public for their ‘corner shop collections and generosity'. No effusive gush of gratitude, just a moderated thankyou. Top woman. She also averred that the infrastructure would be back in place within three months, an aggressive and ambitious schedule that even Frosty thought was quick.

We'll see, because we’d already planned to visit Number One Son in Sri Lanka, when he cuts a breeze through that area on his round-the-world trip. We think we still will, because it’ll be the income from tourism which will ultimately provide the wherewithal to rebuild the survivors’ future, when the disaster donations from countries and governments have been rinsed away. That’ll be our main donation – and it’ll take an overhanging Foreign Office embargo to stop us.

Loosely related - I

I watched Channel 4’s “Seven days that shook the weathermen” last night. It’s a subject that has a bearing on my job, so there was professional as well as ‘entertainment’ interest.

They interviewed the vicar of Boscastle, the Rev Bill Ankers. Now am I the only one to marvel at parents who choose to saddle their son with the worst possible initial to precede “Ankers”? (for foreign readers, “Bill” is short for William)

Loosely related - II

Which reminds me - must organise the long weekend in Prague for Mrs. D's upcoming 50th.
C'm 'ere, lastminute.com, where are you when I need you...

"Kashmir" has such a brilliant beat to stomp along to, on the trek over London Bridge to work. John Henry Bonham at his best.

It's a dress down day, in aid of the Tsunami appeal, so boots have replaced the usual 'lounge suit' shoes.

Not quite ready for that wheelchair yet, cheeky Witchy!

Enjoy your weekends, y'all.

The morning carriages have been intermittently packed and deserted this week, like the ebb and flow of doctors' surgeries. Am the only one who doesn't want to strike up conversations with people to whom I've become a regular fellow commuter? I'm happy to lose myself in a book, or the music which provides the 'inspiration' for the "Today's lyric" which I try to remember to change each day (even when I don't post). And if I start to talk one day, I'll feel obliged to talk again tomorrow, and will feel rude if I then shut myself away with the earphones? Dilemma, eh?

And as Number One Son's departure day dawns ever nearer, for the 9-month or so "student round the world trip" our morning and evening routines will be drastically altered, but nowhere near as much as his will be. And with D-day racing towards him, like the "elephant on the horizon" metaphor, approaches the time when he must decide whether to prematurely part from his new-found soulmate, because he doesn't want to be in the situation where he makes the phone call to say "Sorry, but I two-timed you last night". Or to lie and say nothing secksual happened during the time away. Now that's a dilemma - and I have nothing constructive to say or advise.

Kitchen update for Witchy's benefit:
I'm not a huge fan of laminate flooring, but it's functional and clean-looking - it's just that in a 14" x 10" room, it looks a little 'cold'?

And to Lou's dad (who left an intriguing comment in yesterday's post) - the Company filters denied me access to www.hotnhorny.com (now why would that be? he muses) so I'll have to wait until I get home to join in your mockery (or not, depending on what I find when I get there?)

Bruv wrote today's lyric in his present to Number One Daughter on her 21st birthday - a beautiful photo album, which she's already filled.

"Bookends" was the first vinyl album (LP) I ever bought. I was 14 and working in a factory during the school holidays. I got £4 17s and 6d (work it out, you young whippersnappers!) for being a rear chassis panel driver - building piano-sized calculators for Texas Instruments.

Albums were then (if I recall correctly) 17s and 6d, so it took a big slice out of the weekly wage. I bought it 'blind' on the recommendation of a fellow student worker (is that an oxymoron?) but didn't regret it.

Listening to it today, it still brings a lump to the throat..

* staggers out blinking, into the windy, colourless new day, new year *

So this is what the outside world is like?

That damn kitchen is finally finished (New Year's eve) followed by two days of catering for guests, then a whole day to myself!

Time to tidy up the site a bit (reducing Big Bertha's size, with some advice from Witchy - thanks) and pootle around generally - absolute bliss.

Now - some inspiration is required.

monkay