Sick as a Dog

This blog is mainly about kulcha - sharing the music, films exhibitions and other events we've managed to squeeze in but I'll take my current convalescence as an opportunity to catch up on what else is going on too.

The week after Musicport was Kim's 60th birthday. She booked a huge luxurious barn conversion in Suffolk and invited 17 family and old friends for the weekend. I was a bit apprehensive about the combined brainpower being concentrated in such a confined space but turned out really nice, good food, plenty good wine, excellent company and unseasonal walking weather that would have graced a summer weekend. Along the coast from Dunwich on Saturday, Aldebrugh on Sunday and on Monday Margot and I went to Orford Ness on our way to Claire's over the border in Norfolk. A beautiful part of the country.

By this time I had a streaming cold - probably too much time in the hot-tub over the weekend - but managed a nice sunny walk on the Fen on Tuesday. Wednesday we set off for home with me driving the first bit as Margot hates the country roads. Stopped at Grantham on the A1 for lunch and Margot took over. As we left the service area the van began to do barrel rolls. I grabbed the door and dashboard so as not to be flung out but it seems it was just in my head. On Margot's advice I shut my eyes and put my head between my knees. She pulled over but it was half an hour before I could even lift my head and peak out to check the world has stopped spinning. For someone who hates Alton Towers it was one of the scariest turns of my life, especially as half an hour earlier I had been at the wheel at 70mph with 40-ton trucks in front, behind and to the side.

With my eyes closed all the way we made it back to York. Next day I went to the doctors and had some tests and nothing wrong so they reckon it was an ear infection. Bit un-nerving though.

The cold then morphed into a some form of viral attack so have spent last week in bed with nasty flu systems (despite having had the flu jab) and synchronised diarrhoea. Feeling better today and actually went round to the shops with Storm for the first time but it certainly takes it out of you and will need a couple more days to get back to my normal bouncy self.

Of course this has left Margot in charge of Storm sitting when Jim is at College. When push comes to shove, Storm can out pull Margot so it makes walkies a bit of a challenge. I can sit in the garden throwing balls for him so that helps and its luck that I managed to get the garden 'dog-proofed' before going off sick.

Although he seems to be getting better, Storms behaviour is still a bit erratic. Most times he is well behaved but sometimes without warning will lunge at passing bikes or dogs. He's not bitten anyone but its a bit frightening as he looks like he could tear your face off. Was going to the dog behaviourist this weekend but was still in bed. In the meantime we tend to take him to places where there are no other dogs and no bikes.

He also has a problem with guitars. He cowers when I pick mine up (no, he hasn't even heard me play). It would be fascinating to know what is behind this.

Next weekend Margot Jim and I are taking Storm to Dovedale to meet Matt and Sam with Bones for a weekend at the Isaak Walton (discount thanks to Groupon). Fortunately Storm and Bones seem to get on fine.

MUSIC

Margot and I went to Selby last Saturday to see HOT CLUB OF COW TOWN a threesome from Nashville mixing hot jazz and western swing. Absolutely gob-smacking, so much energy and quite honestly I think Stepan Grapelli himself would have had to look to his laurels. http://hotclubofcowtown.com Back in the States now but in Maine in July so watch out if you're over there.

We intended to see CATHARINE MACLELLAN http://www.catherinemaclellan.com from Prince Edward Island at Sheffield as part of our support-any-acts-from-Canada policy but I was too sick. It was this policy that got us to Selby the first time to see the Wailing Jennies a couple of years ago. Still our favourite venue and waiting expectantly for the spring programme due out any day now.

TV

Watched 'August Rush' from my sickbed. Rather dubious plot but fascinating sound track, not just the music.

KILLING II has started and we are already hooked. It was better with series one where we had them stacked up on the hard-drive. TWO EPISODES A WEEK IS NOT ENOUGH !