Up with the late lark to venture out into a grim, cold day with low clouds, rain, and the air of general misery. The trees still bare, the fields without crops, and the only positive, the green fields, kept fresh with incessant rain. The daffodils are showing signs of regret with snowstorms and icy temperatures, wilting, heads lowered toward a bleak Earth.

Today I reached 1000 days on Duolingo (French and Spanish). Has it helped? Yes, of course, it has. Can I discuss the socio-political consequences of the construction of damns in regions across Spain? Probably not, but I probably couldn’t discuss it in English either. You are just trying to improve your conversational skills, grow your vocabulary, understand grammar better and every step helps.

We drove to the storage today in Wells. We had to pick up our lights, some guitar stands and took the chance to review the amount that’s in the storage and figure out how we’ll be able to move it all to Porto. It’s a daunting task but there must be a way, surely. Whilst we were there we took the opportunity to visit the amazing Wells cathedral, not for the first time, but every time it’s inspiring – if you have a liking for buildings, churches, and architecture. We also went to the half-ruined bishop’s palace around the corner and as I had my MOAT T-shirt on and there’s a moat, well, I had to be there. The famous swans that ring the bell were also present, serene, and beautiful. From the net: “The tradition of Swans on the Moat at The Bishop’s Palace in Wells is thought to go back to the 1850s when it is likely that a Bishop’s daughter first taught the swans to ring a bell at the Gatehouse for food”.

I’ve been searching for a collection of paperback books, the Pan Book of Horror Stories edited by publisher Herbert Van Thal for 25 volumes and Clarence Paget for the final five, the series running from 1959-1989. They seem to be expensive on eBay, so I’ll be scouring the secondhand shops on the tour should I have time.

As we drove away from Wells, the rain poured down hard and the clouds were as low as I’d ever seen them. We were trying to listen to Ex:Re on the journey but it wouldn’t load. We arrived back for an earlyish dinner and I had a sesh with NJ Brian at 7.15. After that, it was time for the Seagull to be restrung. The strings were so discoloured, I guess it’s been a while since I needed this guitar in earnest. Now I do, now we must rehearse.

Music today has been Ex:Re with 12 Ensemble (2021). It is the solo project of Daughter’s Elena Tonra and this album is a reimagining of the debut Ex:Re album (2018). Sadly, it’s only available digitally.

Music Of The Daze