I never said never.
Well, the world seems to have fallen apart completely now. See what happens when you don't keep telling it what to do in regular blog entries? Or maybe it wasn't me that took my eye off things. I notice that many of my erstwhile blog companions have fallen by the wayside – which is sad. I will attempt to reconnect, and also to rebuild my sidebar now that the formerly reliable, generally-unnoticed-and-undervalued-because-it was-free service provided by Blogrolling has gone the same way as Lehman Bros and Gaddafi. It was always the minutiae of blog maintenance that got me down, and it is a daunting prospect to write tons and tons of links all over my template. But needs must, and it will be done.
Eventually.
Much growing up has gone on round here in the meantime, some of it by me. I am now teaching at a music college in London, which feels very grown-up, and a lot of new areas have opened up in my life/head, which compensates for the loss of time spent doing internet puzzles in my darkened office. I was never very keen on film – stupidly not so for one who wrote music to picture over many years. But I think this was a bit like the dislike of writing blog posts I developed when I was reading and writing most of the day on projects that were not really 'fun' in any recognisable sense of the word. All better now.
So – the daughter is applying to universities, hoping for a place to do languages. The son is playing the guitar a lot – and well – and is hoping to apply for a place in AC/DC. I have told him that the band's name comes from the only chords they know, but this just annoys him. And he is now as tall as me, so annoying him is becoming unwise.
The household runs on and there is still no reliable solution to either the way clothes get dirty, dust piles up on my unused equipment, or the cat can't decide whether she wants to be in my office wailing outwards, or outside my office wailing inwards. I am considering cutting a cat-flap in the door, but even this wouldn't stop her standing directly in front of the screen, typing nhgfsddddddddddd and sticking her tail up my nose.
I have not joined Facebook, and I will not, until it is simpler, more fun and in any way beneficial to the life I actually lead.
On a lighter note, Xmas approaches and we have been strategising. The Granny Algebra seems to have been resolved – we get Granny K, but the question of presents remains. And here we have a new development. Forget bees and goats and do-goody things like that. We did that a few years back, but we then felt so bad that we had to buy everybody proper presents – socks, DVDs etc. – as well. That was a lose-lose if ever there was one. I have just given some money to a man who comes door-to-door raising funds for good causes, so I have already done my bit for the Third World this Xmas; I have paid for about one leg of a cow that is shortly to be dispatched to South India somewhere. At least I know it won't get eaten.
Unlike many other things during the festivities. This year we think we might go for something less political correct and rather more Dickensian, like one of these Marks & Spencers hampers. We know enough bons viveurs who might enjoy receiving one, and we include ourselves in that list. Even better, if myself and spouse each treat each other to half a hamper, like this one, then we are so sorted on the domestic Santa front. Just a few socks and DVDs to exchange on the day and bosh! we are all done before you can say "myrrh".
A few months back we survived having our local Post Office burned down and a bus torched just round the corner so, frankly, Xmas should not be too much of a problem.
To be continued...