Scribbles

Just listening to Gideon Coe on 6music online. That guy is the best radio personality around. Check it out at 9pm week nights if you like to keep up with what’s new, and have a bit of nostalgia too.

Anyhoo, I thought I’d write something down this weekend – it’s Saturday morning, 38 degrees outside but nice and cool in my apartment, so apart from a trip out later for provisions I’m staying put. Thing is, what to write down? A poem? (I hear groans). Short story? I have one I prepared earlier and it might make an appearance later. Jokes? Maybe. The problem is, being funny is only possible with something to “go on”. It’s kind of a two-way thing, capische? Maybe someone could give me a start. Perhaps a small anecdote, an amusing experience, or even a subject to discuss. Meanwhile I’ll blather on about nothing, which is about as funny as…. Well, nothing.

I assume you’ve all been watching the Olympics? It’s passed me by completely. I hope “Team GB” are doing well, and that there aren’t too many drug scandals. I did see a medal table which appeared to show China winning the “Rion’s share” (guffaw) of the medals. What a surprise. They seem to have gone to great lengths to get their athletes etc. up to such a high standard ready for the enormous PR boost of winning the Olympics. Has nobody told them it’s irrelevant? A bigger PR boost would be improving their human rights record, but no we’ll just see a few overtrained gymnasts and the circus will move on. What a triumph of style over substance. What an opportunity missed. What a pisser, change the subject Russell. To cheer me up after that rant, here are some people who maybe tried too hard…

Ouch

Ouch

OUCH

I've been reading a lot more since getting here. I bought James Joyce's Ulysses to give me the literary high ground, but so far I've read a series of Iain M Banks sci-fi novels. They're great (and thanks Breck), but eventually I'll have to tackle Mr Joyce. Has anyone read it? I get diffrent reports whenever I ask. Some call it the 20th century's best novel, others say it's a load of tosh. My opinion, rest assured, will follow.

By the way this monologue, seamless though it seems, has been (and will continue to be) written over the course of a lazy day, spent alternating betweeen reading and writing. Oh, and peeling off dead skin. (Gross. Stop it.)

Let me know what you lot are reading, you bunch of illiterates. Or writing.

Here's a list of questions for those people I haven't heard from so far on this blog:

• Martin, how's my bike?
• Lucy, how's preparations going?
• Maureen, have you been wearing leather?
• Carol, how's your achilles, your coccyx etc?
• Reg, got that car going yet?
• Anne, how's the boat? And Tony?
• Tracy & Breck, how are Carol & Reg?
• ...Carol & Reg, how are Tracy & Breck?
• Jack, are you in London yet?
• ...Alex, is Jack in London yet?
• Emma, what are you listening to these days?
• Colin, got your new PC yet?
• Sandy, got a mobile yet? Number?
• Grant, have you been Beehiving?
• Michael, how are your paradiddles?
• Rosemarie, are you painting?
• Tonydad, how's your knee? Oh yes forgot you don't have one!

If I've missed you out it's becsause
a) I already heard from you
b) I don't want to hear from you
c) I forgot you (unlikely)

There, that should get the feedback loop going, to use an engineering term. Speaking of engineering terms, I don't half miss Ohm...(Crrassshhhh). And if that's not funny, I don't know Watt is...(Crrrasssshhh).

Speaking of cymbals, I supposedly take delivery of my new drums on Monday. I'm skeptical - it surely can't be that easy. They will probably arrive smashed to pieces some time in late November. With the amount of time I have to practise I should be well up to concert standard by the time I get Ohm(sic)...(Crrassssshhhh)

Speaking of November, I'm hoping to negotiate a week or so working from home in New Mills later in the year. That would be nice. Pete / Bob, if you're reading, let me know if this is possible. If it's not then don't tell me.

Speaking of internet messages Vs face to face conversations ( I will see both Pete and Bob in the office on Monday), I've now got myself a webcam so anyone with the same technology is welcome to call me on Skype. My Skype name is russellhindley. Wacky, eh?

Speaking of work, it's going well, thanks for asking. Learning loads of stuff I should have learned years ago, and gainfully employed into the forseeable future. Also earning a reasonable wedge to offset the economic collapse which seems to be continuing in the YooKay.

Speaking of collapses, Lake Green apartments (my gaff) has just had a power interruption of about a minute, during which time:
a) I realised I'm writing this online, and that it could all disappear and have to be written again
b) Gideon Coe went quiet
c) The temperature in my apartment rose so fast I thought someone had lit a fire in my living room. Thank heavens for A/C.

Speaking of ... well that's enough speaking-of's for now. Better see if this message exceeds the character limit for one post on the blog...

Ah, no problem.

Be well, let me know ok?