After yesterday, I thought I’d sleep in, so I did – till 4.30 PM. I guess I needed it, it was a particularly draining day yesterday, both mentally and physically. Olivia came into the bedroom as I was waking up to tell me she was going to the post office before it closed, and that was when I realised it was almost night. I slid downstairs, groggy from so much sleep and ate breakfast at 5 PM. The first thought that came into my head after ‘tea’ was that today was the official release of the Blueburst album Significance, my collaboration with Atlantean Craig Douglas Miller. Check out everything about it here but if you are really keen, there will be an album listening party tomorrow, Saturday, on Zoom at noon East Coast Time, 5 PM UK time, an hour later in Europe (except Portugal). I am flying back to Portugal tomorrow and should be on Zoom too as the flight is after 6 PM and internet and check-in permitting, this places me in the departure lounge, waiting, at Zoom time. So, see you there. RSVP here.

Darkness was falling across the fields beyond the house and I decided to call some mates in England as I was here, Shelagh (sis), Spant (no answer), Derek in Wales (yay), Noel (called me back). I’ll continue through the phone book tomorrow before I leave, but it’s the Liverpool derby tomorrow at 12.30 and we have to leave soon after that plus there’s some serious packing to do with three guitars, records, CDs and stamps, plus I hope I can get my NAD amp in there too.

Because we were at the Boydies’ house and they were away, we thought we’d go simple for dinner. On the way back last night, I stopped off and got Olivia a pizza and me beans for the great English teatime classic, beans on toast. Tonight, as I was about to get up and prepare it, an article in the newspaper jumped out at me from nowhere, entitled “Are you making beans on toast wrong? Heinz employs ‘etiquette expert’ to show how”. It was meant to be. It was good to know how to get the best out of this culinary delicacy and although I can’t do the suggested white bread I was happy to learn that turning the can upside down five minutes before eating is essential and never, ever let them boil.

I had an unplanned Skype sesh with first Sarah and then Craig before facing up to packing, distributing the weight, pre-empting potential damage, and hoping that all bags arrive at the other end, it’s easyJet, so far, so good. We leave with the disappointment of Ariel’s continued illness, but we simply do not want to turn the machine off.

Music today has been Aimee Mann’s latest record, Queens of the Summer Hotel (2021). I completely missed it. I was only made aware of it as it was the record that Derek was listening to when I called. I co-wrote a song with Aimee and Jules Shear (Could’ve Been Anyone) on her first solo album, Whatever (1993). The album is included in the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die list.

Music Of The Daze