End of the year

 Christmas approaching, and it is getting cold.  Rusty is happy though because he has a new house, all expense spared.

In January, I decided that I would see how far through the year I could get before I got a train that was on time.  It is now the end of December, my last train of the year and, 23 minutes late. East coast trains are very apologetic, and consistently 10-20 minutes late, so why don't they just alter the timetable to add 20 mins to the journey ?

I shouldn't really complain because the alternative isn't worth thinking about. 7 times this year I tried Virgin West coast cowboys and they were between 50 minutes and an hour and 45 mins late. Also Virgin Customer indifference departments don't give a toss whether you are delayed.

 If Virgin lose their franchise then good.  Their service is crap and they shouldn't be allowed to run a piggy bank never mind a railway.

I arrived down south and there was a steam train waiting on the other platform.  I suppose those were the days when the train had to run on time or somebody got fired.

Luke cooked a fantastic Christmas dinner, with far too much food. 

We had seafood with seared tuna, peppers, salsa and salad

We had beef and pork and  yorkies and potatoes (mashed, roast, sweet) carrots parsnips, beans, stuffing, etc, etc

and cheesecake and wine and beer and port and cheese....

Even the dogs were stuffed.

Across (under) the channel.

We had sent some beer over to the Brewers of Europe in Brussels, and We took the Eurostar over for reception there with euro MP's, to feed them British beer and show what they would be missing if British brewers were taxed out of existence.



Brussels is a city where the buildings all seem to have been built at random, making quite a different skyline.










In the evening we went to the Grand Place where they had an amazing sound and light show, painting colours on the various buildings in time with music.

We had a couple of beers in some of the bars, which are ornately decorated as if they have been unchanged for years.

All the beers have their own style of glasses just to make it more fun!

Which Idiot ?

It has been a long time since I've been to Union Chapel, so this week I returned to see Thea Gilmore. This was a great evening of music with Thea and her husband Nigel Stonier, playing fantastic moody and beautiful music.

 Playing keyboards and Bass for her is Tracey Browne, who I last saw in a bar in Ramsbottom playing covers. She is now playing her own material and her new CD is superb.  I look forward to seeing her at her own shows.

I suddenly realised my passport had expired, so I had to go to the passport office to het a renewal. Well, that is a jolly day, waiting four hours for it to be ready!

Friday night I went to St Albans arena to see the Idiot Bastard Band, with Ade Edmondson, Phil Jupitus, Neil Innes and Rowland Rivron.  Hilarious and brilliant.

Sunday, and I now have heating as well as light in the boat

On with the Show

I went to the o2 at Islington, once I had found it, above a shopping centre. The support band were called Hound and were brillint.  There were no CD's avilable though, and I can't find any details of them on T'internet because I would like to see them again.

Next came the main event, Sad Cafe. I last saw Sad Cafe in about 1985, and tonight they were as good, if not better than they were nearly 30 years ago.  On With The Show, one of my all time favourite tracks, was perfect.

The end of the week came and I went up to Preston for a live recording of I'm Sorry I haven't a Clue at the Guildhall.  This show sells out so fast every tme tickets go on sale, and I am still amazed that it was the first time for so many of the audience.

On Sunday I managed to get all of the lights wired and on. Now, in theory, I can work on into the evenings when the light (and also my energy) is fading.
 

I got into Manchester a bit early for my train in the morning, so I went for a wander down the canal, under London Road and Aytoun Street before joining Canal Street

Blasting from the Past

After a week of work, I had a full weekend of music.  Friday night I saw a complete blast from the past, Gong at Band on the Wall.

  I was expecting to see the place full of grey hair but the place was packed with young students!





Saturday night I went down Oxford Road to the Deaf institute to see Lau. Before I went in, I thought I would try some of the pubs in the area first. I found a complete rip-off pub across the road, a great pint of Redemptin Trinity, but £3.80 for a 3.0% beer ? Thieving *******'s.

The place was absolutely heaving and Lau were fantastic.  What a great venue the deaf institute is.

When I left, I jumped on a passing bus to get back to Piccadilly. An Asian woman got on the bus and started ranting at everybody that they were all murderers, and war criminals, everybody would go to hell, and generally abusing the world in general.
What happened next was one of those surreal moments. All of the passengers, un-prompted and out of the blue, started singing "Always look on the bright side of life".  Brilliant!

Sunday evening and it was over to the Trades Club in Hebden Bridge for another blast from the past. Focus, Thijs Van Leer looking great still!

Monday I went up to Cockermouth delivering beer, and came back the "pretty way" to collect some empties from the Craven Arms.  Great views over the Yorkshire hills.

Beer & music

Bury beer festival was quiet.  Probably because it was a couple of weeks earlier this year, and it clashed with bonfire night.

Doctor Butlers Hatstand Medicine Band kept us entertained on the Friday night, and the Stumble managed to squeeze themselves into the Studio for a great night of music on the Saturday.

Monday, I had a day off work, and managed to get to the boat.  I now have a complete mains control panel, and the engine room is getting quite full.

 The gear change mechanism is missing, and this is an awkward place to see what is what.  This is easy these days because I just dropped the camera into the bilge and I can easily get a view from an awkward angle.





Tuesday morning and back down south on the train.  I love these cold winter mornings as the world just seems so crisp and fresh and it reminds you that you are alive!

Up North

We had a great late summer evening, with great golden sunsets in Ramsbottom

At the start of the Homegrown Festival we had a couple of musicians in the brewery tap, including a drummer using a cask for a drum!

Many times I have said that I would like to see Lau up in Scotland, as they are (2/3 anyway) a Scottish band.  So, they have just launched a new album, which I think is quite dark really, but the second Live CD in the Limited edition is great, and the limited edition is in a booklet with some fantastic photo's.

Anyway, I'm digressing.

Lau are starting their new tour with a gig in the Ironworks in Inverness, so

 Some great views on the way up, Berwick, and Edinburgh...

I stopped in the Royal Highland hotel, right on the railway station.  this hotel was opened a year before the first train came to Inverness.

I was up early to have a wander around Inverness while waiting for the Sun to come up

 I found this sign amusing

Then back to the station for the journey south through fantastic scenery

I have passed Stirling now and it is raining and Grey.  I will jump off at York and head over to Manchester, and behind the Bar at Bury Beer Festival, opening at 12:00 today!