THE PUPPY HAS ARRIVED!
Little Merlin came home with us on Sunday afternoon, and is curled up at my feet, grumbling in his sleep at the moment. He had a long day yesterday, with a trip to the vet for his second inoculation and to be chipped, but it didn't seem to bother him at all. He has a healthy appetite, and the most appalling wind.....which he is ably demonstrating right now. He has huge paws and gangly legs that he keeps falling over!
Needless to say, I am a little tired right now! But he is adorable, and has a good voice on him too. He loves chasing my daughter around the garden. And he's pretty much house trained, apart from the usual overnight accidents.
A friend of mine says he looks like Hong Kong Phooey!
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THE BIG SESSION FESTIVAL
So bringing Merlin home was a great way to finish off a wonderful weekend. The Big Session Festival in Leicester was great fun, and a brilliant event for kids. The Kidzone had all sorts of activities going on, and Wifey and I got involved in the music workshop. My rendition of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Da Band's 'Urban Spaceman' on the kazoo will live long in the memory of all present.....unfortunately! For those of you who know the track, a horrible thought will be passing through your mind right now!
There was a fantastic poetry reading slot too - having poetry performed with passion takes some beating. A great way to spend an hour.
Most intriguing query of the festival was when my wife asked for a taste of my Hairy Helmet. Unfortunately, rather than a dirty invitation for some public loving, she just wanted to taste the pint of ale I had. A full menu of traditional ales, bitters and ciders kept us pleasantly mellow - Old Rosie, Golden Pippin, Dovedale and other lovely names. The food stores were better than usual, as well - some great veggie treats, although I also had to go for a burger straight from a local farm, covered in mature cheddar and sinus scorching mustard!
The music was superb. And, unlike at Cambridge, you could always get right to the front and find loads of room for kids, who could lean on the low stage. Diana Jones played a wonderful set, and I'll be seeing her again at Cambridge. The eclectic, slightly mad Liz Green did a wonderful series of lo-fi anti-folk numbers - well worth checking out if you want to find something new and different. My daughter's favourite, Karine Polwart, was out of this world, as ever - political, concerned, tender. She sat her teddies on the stage while she watched.
And we danced another ceilidh! Me and my little one did a Highland waltz around the dance floor (once I remembered how to waltz!). One of the wonders of the evening was how the Oyster Ceilidh Band morphed seamlessly into Edward II, dancers suddenly finding they were 'stripping the willow' to a reggae beat.
Top three?
Edward II - reformed for one year, the combination of roots reggae and English folk is out of this world. We danced our socks off - can't wait to see them again at Cambridge!
Fatima Spar and the Freedom Fries - We only caught a few numbers, as we had to leave early on the Sunday. But this Austrian group combined Kurt Weill, bossanova, burlesque and Billie Holliday, all sung by their mad bad 'elfixen', Fatima, who makes you feel gloriously dirty inside! You just have to watch their performance below.
Otis Gibbs. Fuck! Why did I not know about Otis Gibbs?!?!? Just out of this world. The best blues act I've ever seen. I was in tears by the end of the second number. And so witty too. Politically committed, he plays at loads of anti-war demos and other events. And if you check out his site, you'll see what a good photographer he is too. Lord, he makes me cry watching him sing Caroline again on Youtube.
So. Here's some vids of real talent for you to watch. And you can cry along too......
This is just so cool. What a band! What a singer!
Reggae and folk. Who would have thunk it?
And. Sometimes a superficial oddness is just a screen for great talent.....
Roll on Cambridge. Love to you all from me and Merlin!
Little Merlin came home with us on Sunday afternoon, and is curled up at my feet, grumbling in his sleep at the moment. He had a long day yesterday, with a trip to the vet for his second inoculation and to be chipped, but it didn't seem to bother him at all. He has a healthy appetite, and the most appalling wind.....which he is ably demonstrating right now. He has huge paws and gangly legs that he keeps falling over!
Needless to say, I am a little tired right now! But he is adorable, and has a good voice on him too. He loves chasing my daughter around the garden. And he's pretty much house trained, apart from the usual overnight accidents.
A friend of mine says he looks like Hong Kong Phooey!
--------------------------------------------------------------------
THE BIG SESSION FESTIVAL
So bringing Merlin home was a great way to finish off a wonderful weekend. The Big Session Festival in Leicester was great fun, and a brilliant event for kids. The Kidzone had all sorts of activities going on, and Wifey and I got involved in the music workshop. My rendition of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Da Band's 'Urban Spaceman' on the kazoo will live long in the memory of all present.....unfortunately! For those of you who know the track, a horrible thought will be passing through your mind right now!
There was a fantastic poetry reading slot too - having poetry performed with passion takes some beating. A great way to spend an hour.
Most intriguing query of the festival was when my wife asked for a taste of my Hairy Helmet. Unfortunately, rather than a dirty invitation for some public loving, she just wanted to taste the pint of ale I had. A full menu of traditional ales, bitters and ciders kept us pleasantly mellow - Old Rosie, Golden Pippin, Dovedale and other lovely names. The food stores were better than usual, as well - some great veggie treats, although I also had to go for a burger straight from a local farm, covered in mature cheddar and sinus scorching mustard!
The music was superb. And, unlike at Cambridge, you could always get right to the front and find loads of room for kids, who could lean on the low stage. Diana Jones played a wonderful set, and I'll be seeing her again at Cambridge. The eclectic, slightly mad Liz Green did a wonderful series of lo-fi anti-folk numbers - well worth checking out if you want to find something new and different. My daughter's favourite, Karine Polwart, was out of this world, as ever - political, concerned, tender. She sat her teddies on the stage while she watched.
And we danced another ceilidh! Me and my little one did a Highland waltz around the dance floor (once I remembered how to waltz!). One of the wonders of the evening was how the Oyster Ceilidh Band morphed seamlessly into Edward II, dancers suddenly finding they were 'stripping the willow' to a reggae beat.
Top three?
Edward II - reformed for one year, the combination of roots reggae and English folk is out of this world. We danced our socks off - can't wait to see them again at Cambridge!
Fatima Spar and the Freedom Fries - We only caught a few numbers, as we had to leave early on the Sunday. But this Austrian group combined Kurt Weill, bossanova, burlesque and Billie Holliday, all sung by their mad bad 'elfixen', Fatima, who makes you feel gloriously dirty inside! You just have to watch their performance below.
Otis Gibbs. Fuck! Why did I not know about Otis Gibbs?!?!? Just out of this world. The best blues act I've ever seen. I was in tears by the end of the second number. And so witty too. Politically committed, he plays at loads of anti-war demos and other events. And if you check out his site, you'll see what a good photographer he is too. Lord, he makes me cry watching him sing Caroline again on Youtube.
So. Here's some vids of real talent for you to watch. And you can cry along too......
This is just so cool. What a band! What a singer!
Reggae and folk. Who would have thunk it?
And. Sometimes a superficial oddness is just a screen for great talent.....
Roll on Cambridge. Love to you all from me and Merlin!
VIEW 5 of 5 COMMENTS
The Big Session Festival sounds fantastic! I really appreciate how you so superbly share your experiences and such wonderful facets of your life in your blogs. The vidoes you post are always superb - I'll try to share a bit more of my musical memories and passions in the future. I love the blues, but was not really familiar with Otis Gibbs. Thanks, as always, for the vid - I'll need to check out more.
Your "mirror" observation occurred to me over this weekend as well. It would seem that your weather was a bit better, but the joy we experienced in all that surrounded us was truly synchronous.