Musical Monday

Well, it’s a grey, wet Bank Holiday Monday here in London. Just for a few days, I thought spring had finally sprung, but I guess I should have known better. But – weather-related depression aside – I actually could write about all sorts of things today… “The Date”, “My Pubes”, “Spurs’ Push For The Champions League”… I suspect that you can tell that the world of WDKY is an interesting one. But no… today is Monday, and that can only mean one thing!

My music collection is bigger than some, not as big as others (I said my music collection) – I think at the last count I had about 240 CD’s. A large proportion of it is female vocal of one type or another, but of all the women I listen to, one stands out like a Goddess amongst mortals. She’s a genius in her own right, as well as having had the honour of duetting with the likes of Tricky and Nick Cave, amongst others. I’m talking about the one… the only… P J Harvey.

Raised on a sheep farm in Yeovil, she was something of a child prodigy, and very quickly established herself as one of the most individual and influential songwriters of the '90s, exploring themes of sex, love, and religion with unnerving honesty, dark humor, and a twisted theatricality. And whilst her early albums received critical acclaim, her 1995 masterpiece “To Bring You My Love” became her mainstream critical breakthrough, confirming her status as one of the cornerstone figures of '90s alternative rock. It’s probably my favourite, although it really is a hard choice. And whilst today’s track, Send His Love To Me, is a brilliant example of her vocal power and songwriting skill, there are so many I could have chosen that I’m sure she’ll feature once or twice again.

Anyway, if you don’t know her, turn up the volume and enjoy. And if you do… turn up the volume and enjoy. Simple, really.



Okay, I couldn't help myself... wanna hear my baby really sing? Have some Long Snake Moan, and play it LOUD!



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Lets talk about me

Well, I’m very grateful, firstly, for the multitude of responses to my HNT post this week. It’s strange, isn’t it, how other people regard you as opposed to how you regard yourself? But one thing I’ve always liked about HNT is the wonderfully supportive and complimentary nature of the comments, so for a while I’ll just allow myself the luxury of feeling like a completely desirable luurrve machine. Thanks again.

I was asked a couple of times about the tattoo, so a few words of explanation. The Japanese character in the middle means “friend” and interestingly is the same in both Japanese and Chinese. Originally that’s all there was, but when I got used to seeing it on my arm I also realised that the guy who put it there for me had placed it too far to one side. The more I thought about it the more it bothered me, until in the end I had to go back for some remedial works. The outer image was one I designed myself. My intention was to make it tangibly Eastern in appearance, but I also wanted it in some way to resemble a question mark. Not an easy task, but at least I know it’s unique. As it happens, I think it might have been better to have left off the loopy bit at the bottom. I’m not sure... what do you reckon?

Whilst on the subject of moi, I thought I’d share some more pubic (yes, pubic) information with you. It seemed clear from the comments on my last pube-related HNT that trimmed is the preferred option, and I must confess that I’ve gone a bit mad. Most of it has gone (no, not all... just most) and I’m acutely aware that at some time soon it might get to see the light of day in its new look. I’m interested to see what reaction ensues, and you can be sure that I’ll keep you fully updated. I like to share these things, as you know.

Okay, I should start to get my day properly underway. I have my date tonight, and I’m quite excited. Zooz has given her complete approval, I might add, and she’s been somewhat less than sure of these things in the past (thanks Zooz). I’m off for a quick run now, but I’ll be visiting my Blogroll through the day, as and when I get a chance. It’s a long weekend again here in the UK – the last one until August, I think – and I hope everyone has a good one. Oh, and it’s my Birthday soon – very soon. In fact, next week it’ll be a Birthday HNT, and that’s going to take some thought!

PS - I'm a quick thinker. I know just what I'm going to do!

HNT 28: Look - no hands

I was looking out the window yesterday, and couldn't help but notice the posse of rather gorgeous Mums (that's mums as in "mothers", not flowers as a couple of people have asked - but note I didn't say "MILF's": Ed) that had for some reason formed a bit of a cluster at the end of my front garden. (Is "a cluster of Mums" right, do you think?) Now, I've always been a fairly altruistic kind of guy, and I decided that I had a fundamental obligation to brighten their day a little. And - being conscious of the fact that Thursday was fast approaching - I decided to kill two birds with one stone.

By the way, there's really no need to worry - I hung my jacket from the vital place so as not to give them too much of a shock. And then I yelled "Happy HNT" at the top of my voice. I'm waiting for the white van now...

More ramblings of a lunatic

As I sit and start to type this post, it’s 4.12 in the morning and, although I can see quite some distance in either direction from the office window, there are no other signs of life. It’s ridiculous, isn’t it? I should be in bed, asleep, but for some reason I’m restless (and, anyway, I’ve been dreaming a little too vividly during what sleep I did manage tonight).

Late night/early morning is a strange time for me, and one that I’m all too familiar with. I keep fairly nocturnal hours, especially these days when the necessity to be up at sparrow fart to attend a meeting about a meeting that somebody else has seen fit to enter into my electronic diary is no longer an issue. But the ability to determine one’s own destiny comes at a cost, and just at this moment that cost is peace of mind. So many things to think about, but no doubt all of them will take the same course whether I worry about them or not. I guess there’s no point worrying, then...

Yesterday evening I did something that’s very rare for me, and actually met another blogger who has been intriguing me with her writing for quite a while now. Holly proved herself to be exceptionally beautiful, and gifted with an intelligence that goes way beyond anything achievable through text books and academic study. We met in the rather funky Electric Brasserie in Notting Hill, and I think I’ll just say thank you for what turned out to be a really lovely time – good food, great conversation and fantastic company. Although the journey home, thanks to a sense of direction that can only be described as embarrassing - well, pathetic would also do nicely - was successfully completed more through luck than any kind of judgement on my part. I really have to invest in a decent Sat Nav system, because one day I’ll simply disappear from sight, destined to drive the streets of London on some never-ending quest to find home.

Anyway, it got me thinking (not unusually, I know) about life, love and everything. Not just because Holly is so gorgeous (okay, I’ll stop now) but also because I’m thinking a lot about being single at the moment, and what the alternatives to that state might actually be. I really have come to realise that it would be difficult for me to describe just what a relationship would look like any more, and it’s slightly disconcerting to arrive at that conclusion. And whilst I know just what advice I’d give someone else if we were having this conversation, somehow it doesn’t always seem particularly easy to follow that advice myself.

And then there’s Thursday-which-has-been-moved-to-Saturday, and a date with someone who really does seem rather nice. We talk every day on the telephone, and I think we’re both feeling that we just want the weekend to arrive as quickly as possible. And, whilst I seem unable to speak to her without an immediate physiological response that can only spell trouble, I do have a degree of optimism for some reason. We seem to be on the same wavelength, and hey – she’s a personal trainer. She can lick me into shape if anyone can, of that I have no doubt (ahem).

Right – it’s now some 30 minutes later than it was when I started this nonsense, so I’m going to post this and quickly surf the net for a photo of the Electric. Then it’s back to bed, because I suddenly feel like a couple of hours more sleep is beckoning. And that’s not something to turn your nose up at. Not at this time in the morning, even if the birds have just started their dawn chorus. Night night.

Musical Monday

When I was young - a teenager, I mean - there was only one band about whom opinion was completely united. I was lucky enough to see them play no less than three times when they were at their peak, and if you were to ask me if there is one band that I would simply say was the greatest ever, they would be it. I'm talking about Pink Floyd. The Floyd.

Following the release of the groundbreaking concept album Dark Side of The Moon in 1973, they achieved worlwide recognition, even managing 724 weeks in the top 200 in the US. But although it's a pretty tough call, I think their best album of all was Wish You were Here, with it's haunting tribute to founder-member Syd Barratt in Shine On You Crazy Diamond. The title track is possibly my favourite, but it's not an easy decision - I think that Shine On Pt 2 is just indescribable. So you've got them both for Musical Monday today. Take your pick, or - if you have quarter of an hour to spare - play them both, one after the other. You'll thank me if you do.

(Oh, and for those who don't know the album, the first of my tracks starts off a bit "tinny". Don't worry, it's meant to. And PLEASE try to listen to both... it's worth it!)




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How did that happen?

My God - it's Sunday? SUNDAY?! I'm bloody sure last time I looked it was Thursday. Well, anyway...

I've been busy. Yes, working - paid work, which means I have some income! After three months watching my bank balance dwindling to almost nothing, I'm actually working on two projects now. In fact, I was working most of the day yesterday, and will be working this afternoon and this evening too. This month and next month, in fact, will hit my targeted earnings, and if I hadn't been such a prat when I put my cash-flow forecast together (I actually believed I'd be up and running from day one) I'd actually be just about on track. Still, I guess I shouldn't complain...

The house is now back to normal, and I've been enjoying some quiet time whilst S and O are with their Mum. I hadn't realised how much I needed it, to be honest, and I'd almost forgotten how comfortable I am being on my own. No complications, and no-one to answer to. And it looks like a nice quiet week, although I should probably say that I do have plans for Tuesday, when I'll be meeting a fellow blogger for a drink and a bite to eat, somewhere in or around Notting Hill. (Oh yes, and I have a potential date on Thursday - she seems bloody lovely so the likelihood of me saying no is almost non-existant).

My almost unmanageable blogroll is winking at me, so through the day/evening I'll have a look and see what everyone's been up to. And if you have a minute have a read of extra*time - her blog is all gleaming and new, and I have to say that it's got off to a rather good start. Go on, leave her a comment...

Right. Better get going again... it's Musical Monday tomorrow, of course, and I've already drafted my post. This week it's something particularly significant to me, and takes me back about 25 years to my innocent youth. Those were the days - I'm a lot of things now, but innocent definitely isn't one of them!

Update:

I nicked this from somewhere else. It's a fine example of British humour, and probably illustrates why everyone else thinks we're mad.

Not-quite-HNT 27

No, there's no "normal" HNT this week. Or rather, there's no HNT of me. Actually, I was looking over the mobile (translation: cell) phone that I lent to E last night, and I thought I'd post some of the (strange/lovely) images I found on there before deleting them. Oh, and I've also been deleting about 40 text messages from GG that I accidentally left on the phone too, from a long time ago. Remember this, by any chance? The messages certainly gave the girls a laugh, even if I did shudder to myself once or twice at the memory!

Anyway, without further ado, I give you... (ahem) My Sproglets!

E - making a silly face, with Guiness, in Ye Olde Fighting Cocks



E - making an even sillier face, with same Guiness and in same pub



E - being whipped (yes, whipped) on the backside in my home office



E and O - two beautiful girls, together on the sofa






There you go, then... my gorgeous girls. And I guess that is HNT after all, isn't it? In which case, it just remains for me to wish you all a happy one in the normal fashion! Oh yes, and E got on the plane. SHE GOT ON THE PLANE!!!

I need a miracle

Well, what a mad, mad few days. My stress levels, unusually for me, have been right up there, and I’ve decided that I need a long weekend, somewhere hot, and I need it NOW!

So... E and her friend were supposed to have left on Monday morning... in fact, we all got up at 4am and I left them at the airport precisely as planned. Two hours later, as I was getting down to some emailing and generally planning a complete clean-up of what looked like hurricane wreckage, I heard the front door open and my daughter’s dulcet tones... “Dad... we’re home!”

She'd been turned away on the basis that the photocopy of her permanent residency card was insufficient, and the last 48 hours have been spent trying to organise getting her home. Her friend was packed off last night, and as I type this post E will be sitting in the reception of the US Embassy in London, hoping that they issue her with a transportation letter to enable her to get her (rescheduled) flight this evening. Aside from the fact that I’ve had her here for a couple more days - which has been great - the whole episode has cost me about £1200 in spending money, fees for rescheduled flights and the transportation letter, and lost work while I’ve run around London trying to look after them and get things organised. On top of that, I have major IT problems that are making any work I manage to do a complete pain in the arse.

Oh well... E should be back home just after lunch, fit to fly and ready to hop in a cab at 3.30 this afternoon. She’s now missing school, and whilst she’s coped reasonably well with all the stress I have a suspicion that the shit will hit the fan if things don’t go well this morning. And I’m going to try to get my laptop sorted out in the meantime. Somehow, I think I need a miracle, and miracles are in scarce supply in my experience!

Not a good week, then, although thankfully last weekend was different. I spent Saturday night with the “friend” I mentioned a while back, and managed to let off some CFG-induced steam with a rather fantastic night of carnal acrobatics. (I did warn Emerald Eyes that my problems on the romantic front were unlikely to keep me out of mischief, and as always I was as good as my word!)

Oh, and thanks, incidentally, for all the comments on my Musical Monday post and to anyone who joined the fun on their own blogs. I was just a bit too sidetracked to respond to the comments, but they were much appreciated. I already have next week's selection organised... a little more mainstream, perhaps, but phenomenal nonetheless. I can't wait!

Musical Monday

Well, I hope everyone has had a lovely, chocolatey Easter. It's not the best day for me today, because by the time most people are having breakfast over here my daughter will be over the Atlantic, and on her way back to Long Island... but what a beautiful girl. And how amazing that our relationship has turned out as it has - spending time with her was really too good to be true, and she's already planning her next trip over.

I may write something tomorrow on the subject, but right now I'm going to introduce the latest in the craze that's sweeping all before it in the Blogosphere. Yes, it's time for another musical extravaganza.

And, to suit my mood, I'm going back to Bristol this week, and to the pioneers of the trip-hop movement. Portishead were the most unconventional "band" of the 90s - a shyness of gigs, long distance recording techniques and intense emotion all played a part in creating some of the most beautiful and ethereal music of that time. Their first album was called Dummy, and for a while not long ago I was playing the video to a track called Glory Box here on my blog. I would have chosen that one for today, but to avoid repeating myself I've gone instead for the rather beautiful Roads. I hope you like it.



But this is no ordinary Musical Monday, because this week I've had a special request from Fame, my friend who today will be undergoing some surgery and all being well will be recovering at home by this evening. Anyway, Fame asked me if I could post her all-time favourite track for her today, and under the circumstances it really is a pleasure. So on her behalf here's The Moody Blues and Knights in White Satin... get well soon, darling x

It's gonna be a...

Good Friday. Don’t you think?

Well, lots of stuff to get through, and I’ll start with my pubes. Trimming, it seems, is the runaway winner in the Reader’s Choice Pube Poll. (And no, I’m not ginger – it was the lighting!) So, my weekly grooming routine will now include a snip or two down south, even though I had the snip down south a long, long time ago. Thanks very much if you participated in the fun :-)

I’m very surprised that no-one commented on the fact that that we’ve been redecorating in here. Surely you’ve noticed the rather gorgeous greeny-blue background with carefully colour-coordinated links and other accessories? I like it, and it’s going to stay this way for some time. God, I remember the days when I used to change my template once a week... the sign of a restless spirit? Hmmm.

The girls (E and her friend) will be leaving very, very early on Monday morning. It’s been like a breathe of fresh air having them here, and I’ve loved every single second. I’m going to miss them terribly, even though they’re camped out in my bedroom, I can’t get near the shower, they’ve eaten me out of house and home and they keep some very strange hours. I’m already feeling sick thinking about them going, actually. Oh well...

I suppose that just leaves my very special Easter greeting to everyone, even though I’m starting off the holiday by working today!!! Still, I get paid by the day so I shouldn’t really complain. And it’s taken three months to start any paid work whatsoever, and I was really beginning to get a little nervous! Anyway, I’ll take a tour of my Blogroll when I get back, and in the meantime I’d like to wish you all a fantastic, happy, healthy and (if possible) sex-filled Easter. NML, the pubes are in the post.

HNT 26 - Reader's Choice

Well, following last week's rather brave - or do I mean stupid - decision to show my boat race, I've decided that for this week's offering I'm going back down south. Now, I would like to point out that there's absolutely nothing gratuitous about this - in fact it's more a case of being responsive to my readers' veiws. Because I couldn't help but notice that the phrase "pubic jungle" appeared more than once in the comments to my Jeans Series of Very Artistic Soft Porn Photos. (Yes, I'm talking about you, NYM, NML, Sirreene... I hope you're all ashamed of yourselves.)

So, I set to work with my Depilady... errrr, I mean my Remington professional hair trimming kit, and the rather tasty result appears below. So... you tell me. Trimmed, or au natural? It's a kind of Reader's Choice.

Oh, and Happy HNT!

Girl stuff

Well, the girls are well and truly here. It’s really turning out to be quite an experience, and one that I’m really enjoying... they’re just typical NY teenagers, and it’s as if the house has been completely taken over. I went to have a shower a while ago, and I could barely open the cubicle door for all the shampoos, conditioners, body creams, moisturisers and other girly things that are nicely lined up all around the edge of the tray. All I hear throughout the day is singing and laughing, and we all seem to be getting on so well that it feels like I’ve got friends staying over.

And E is absolutely gorgeous. In fact, there’s no strangeness at all, and it’s as if we hadn’t been separated by over 3,000 miles for all these years. It’s much, much better than I could ever have hoped, and the only damper has been the fact that she didn’t listen to me when the two of them went out last night. I distinctly remember saying “Now E, watch your bag and don’t carry too much cash with you...” but of course she wasn’t really listening. Anyway, they went into central London and somewhere/sometime she had her purse lifted from her bag, and ALL her money – about £500 – went with it. And all her ID and other stuff that she needs as soon as she gets back, including her permanent residency papers. Oh well, girls will be girls...

The situation with CFG is finally resolved. She didn’t quite seem to understand that I was just not happy with what happened, and eventually I wrote her an email. I won’t print it all, but the important bit was this...

...This email could be a very long one, and it would explain a lot of things... how I feel about you, what I thought about the other weekend, etc etc. But, in reality, I'm not sure that it's a particularly good idea for me to do that. There's a phrase in England that we use sometimes - we say "red flags", and I guess red flags are just... well, warning signs. The easiest way for me to put this is that I just see too many red flags. I've had, in some ways, a difficult couple of years, and my life now is centered around simplicity and clarity. Particularly now, when there are things that I really need to focus on, it's important to me that I don't lose sight of that, and I'm therefore going to say to you (very reluctantly) that we shouldn't see each other again...

Well, she called a few times, and was insisting that we get together to talk things through. Then, just as I was beginning to soften, I received a text… not a very long one, but long enough to get her point across.

Your English red flags are bullshit. I’ve changed my mind.

Thereby ends yet another dating story. I’m sure, though, that there’ll be more to follow, so stay tuned.

Update: The girls have just demanded dinner. They got up at 4pm and this will be the third time they've eaten... it's now 7.52pm!!! This can't be normal, can it?

Musical Monday

Well, my daughter E (as opposed to O, who’s also my daughter, hence the confusion in my last post!) has arrived, armed with her friend, and a rather large amount of luggage including one case full of shoes! She hurled herself into my arms at the airport, and I have to say that it’s just lovely to have her here. Whether I’m still saying that after 10 days remains to be seen, mind you, as there’s going to be an unusually large amount of oestrogen at Chez WDKY and it’ll no doubt be a test of fortitude for me and S. I think we’ll make it, though.

More on that later, and also a bit of an update on CFG to follow… for now, though, it’s Monday, and in these here parts that can only mean one thing.


My MM choice this week is from the other side of the water, and someone who I first heard by accident when I wandered into a record store about 20 years ago. I stood, transfixed, as I listened to a voice that sent shivers up my spine, and waited patiently until the album had finished so I could buy it – the only copy they had in stock at the time. It was Tom Waits, and I quote…

Lyrically, Waits' songs are known for atmospheric portrayals of bizarre, seedy characters and places, although he has also shown a penchant for more conventional and touching ballads. He has a cult following and has influenced subsequent songwriters, despite having little radio or music video support. His songs are best known to the general public in the form of cover versions by more visible artists, such as Eagles, The Ramones, Bruce Springsteen, and Rod Stewart. Although Waits' albums have met with mixed commercial success in his native United States, they have occasionally achieved gold album sales status in other countries.

So… if you haven’t heard “Blue Valentines” before, I suggest that you pour yourself a drink, make yourself comfortable, and then just close your eyes and listen. It really is a beautiful song, from a beautiful album.

Children, children everywhere

Well, A went back the the States yesterday. I dropped him off at the airport and we hugged as we said our goodbyes. And the funny thing is, whilst both of us had had just a little bit of apprehension regarding how we'd get on after not seeing each other for quite a while, we had a really good time. And although he's a typical adolescent in some ways, he's also quiet, considerate and thoughtful.

We hung out together sometimes, but he also did his own thing, going off into Soho, Covent Garden, Camden Town and various other places a little less off the tourist path but more indicative of the real London. He hooked up with a variety of girls over here, but really it was the one girl, his girl in New York, who was on his mind. She had no idea he was going back to her, and I imagine they had something of a reunion last night. In fact, as I write this post, they're probably still reunioning!!

I was sitting down last night, half watching the TV and thinking that the house was rather quiet, when the phone rang. It was E (yes, I did originally put "O" - I got confused, okay??), my daughter in NYC, and she had some news for me. Nothing particularly important - just the fact that she'll be arriving at Heathrow, with a friend, at 9.30 this morning! She's coming over for a holiday, and they'll both be staying with me for ten days. Can you believe that?

So today I'm going to be a bit tied up, although I will get around my blogroll later this evening, I promise. Actually, I'm still getting over the shock of posting my face for HNT - thanks for all the nice comments, but I just can't quite get used to the fact that I did it. I must be completely mad, mustn't I?

HNT 25

Things have bee slightly manic at Chez WDKY this week, and I really haven't had time to get the camera out for this week's fun. But I did find a rather cool site, and I have a feeling that it's going to receive some hits soon ;-)

Anyway, as something altogether different from the Jeans Series, I give you... "Pieces of Me" (and no, I had no idea whatsoever that you could move the pieces around, so there goes what was left of my anonymity! Duh...)


Happy HNT

That night

Well, I guess I’ve been putting this off for a while, but I did say that I’d offer some kind of clarification of my earlier comments about CFG and I’m nothing if not a man who keeps my word. So, embarrassing though it all is, let’s take a step back in time...

To Saturday night, in fact. CFG had gone to a work party (she’s a teacher in a French School in London) and she texted me at around 9 o’clock to say she was in a pub around the corner from me, having a drink with a friend. We’d kind of arranged that she was going to come over to me later in the evening, so she suggested that I join them for a drink. The pub was a pretty grotty one, but her friend was nice (another French woman) and they were showing Barcelona v Real Madrid on the big screen!! CFG was quiet, but then she’s always quiet, so that didn’t ring any alarm bells. She and I stayed for a while after her friend left, and then we headed back to my house.

She was clearly unhappy about something, but I should say that communication between us is sometimes a little strange, although not strained. Her English isn’t actually that wonderful, and coupled with that she seems to like to send thought messages through intense looks and long stares. There were more stares than normal, though, and it was beginning to make me feel very slightly edgy. Regardless of that, at some point we ended up going to bed, after which began a long and rather amusing process whereby CFG removed one article of clothing at a time before hurling it across the room, almost in disgust, and then waiting a while to determine the next item that was going to receive similar treatment. I must admit, I was beginning to think I was in some kind of surrealist movie.

I won’t talk about the sex itself, save to say that she was clearly not comfortable. I was aware of it, and trying to do whatever I could to make it "easier" whilst also thinking that we were going to have to stop and just take a step back...but I was still completely unprepared for what was almost like an attack of Teretts - she would suddenly but repeatedly start to shake involuntarily, and very quickly I realised something was actually quite wrong. I know shaking with passion when I see it, and trust me when I say that this wasn’t it. Of course, whatever else was going on at the time stopped and I tried my best to just comfort her in some way, and before long we both drifted off to sleep.

I was vaguely aware that, throughout the night, she was in and out of bed, up and down the stairs... in fact, I found out in the morning that she spent pretty much the entire night sitting on the sofa downstairs, staring into space. And this was how I found her when I got up in the morning, and how she remained for the best part of two hours until I took her back to her friends house. When I tried to talk to her she just looked at me and responded by saying “I can’t... I’m closed” which I have to admit was kind of unhelpful. And she got out the car saying “see you soon... maybe?”

Since then, I’ve received a fairly meaningless text and an email, to which I haven’t yet replied...

Hmmmm... For me, it's like being pulled in one way and after another... my balloon is in a storm! Same thing with the decision I need to make... I decide for one... change my mind and go on the completely other direction....both seems right... HELP! I will be working very late also... We have a French inspector at school... and I'm late with my work... after, I need to try to make my "future" clearer... I will try meditation, but I'm not sure about it. LOL. Anyway... have a safe trip tomorrow...talk to you soon...??????

Aside from asking myself why every woman I get involved with writes their emails this way (what happened to sentences?) I’m also asking myself if I want to get into a situation which I just know is going to be emotionally draining, only to find that it has a finite life (of not very long) anyway, and that after all the angst that will inevitably come my way she’s going to just take herself off to France. I’d have to be mad, wouldn’t I? And that’s where we are now… I’m just thinking about how I respond, and wishing that none of this had ever started.

There… now you know! And I must admit, I'm thinking that there must be something about me that continuously attracts unstable women. God, for some normality in my life!

Musical Monday

Wasn't there a film where somebody said "I have so much to tell you..."?

Well, I do, actually, although there's another film quote that might be more appropriate... I think it was "Just when you though it was safe to get back in the water"! Because this weekend I learnt that I am, without doubt, a Psycho Magnet. And I have a suspicion that this time it's going to be one of the few occasions where I actually look out for myself and just walk away. I'll endeavour to explain what I mean in my next post, but suffice it to say that my last words to CFG on Sunday morning were these:

Sometimes, long, meaningful looks just aren't enough. You actually have to communicate without assuming I'm telepathic.

Anyway, enough of that for now, because you know what day it is.


I'm continuing my Bristol theme today, with a classic track from Massive Attack - Teardrop. I'm not sure how big they are in the States, but if you can catch a listen, I'd do so. For now, enjoy this one... oh, and you can do me a big favour if you like, and put the MM button in your sidebar - just click on the image and it'll take you to the original post where you'll find the HTML script.

You've got to love them

The holidays are slightly different over here in the UK, but my kid's school broke up for Easter yesterday, and they're now off until 19th April (I think!). O had been away all week on an annual trip to an adventure park in Norfolk for the Year 6's, but S had some excitement of a different kind... the school play. This year, it was David and Goliath, and S was playing in Israelite soldier, resplendant in armour, sword and fake beard. He couldn't take his eyes from the camera, but I can confirm that he gets his cheeky grin from his father. (You'd never guess from the colour of him that my ex is half-Pakistani, would you? Ed)

(This is an improvement on previous years, when - mid-play - he'd walk to the front of the stage and blow me a kiss, much to my embarressment and everyone else's amusement. Although I loved it really!)



It's been a strange week, but this evening all three children will be causing their chaos elsewhere, O and S with their Mum and A with the 21 year-old daughter of a friend, who he seems to have taken a shine to. And guess who's coming round to play with me?

I saw CFG on Thursday night, and things just seem to be getting better. Although I did find out about the whole France issue, which has come about because her teaching contract un the UK comes to an end in September. It seems she has three options:

1. Go back to France where she's been offered an incredible job helping to start up a new language school.
2. Go to Singapore for an equally incredible job, where she'll be close to her son's father. Although this would purely be for her son, not for her.
   
3. Stay in the UK, where... what? She and I have been together for a couple of weeks, so however we may feel it would be madness to base a decision on... us. She'd also have to find work, which in her field isn't particularly easy.

So, perfect though it seems at the moment, it can only be the calm before the storm. If I had any sense, I'd just accept the inevitable and stop things between us now, but I'm not entirely sure if I can.

Which seems to be the story of my life.