Monday, February 18, 2019


This afternoon ...

Sitting on the bench by the pond in the woods and I hear that familiar mewing cry. Sure enough, through the trees, I see heavy wings flapping. Then, in circles, it starts its ascent until finally glides clear of the tree line.

I watch it riding the air currents high up there. It’s impossible not to feel that the bird is flying for the sheer enjoyment of doing so. Without any other purpose or itinerary or need of self-justification.

Think buzzard.

Saturday, February 16, 2019

Paul Bley - Ballads (ECM)
Charles Mingus - Plays Piano (Impulse)

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Sunny ... 14 to 15 degrees. A jacket will do.
Mike sends a photo of his garden in Finland - easily a foot of snow.

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The first day of the February break. I spend the afternoon strenuously doing nothing.

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Friday, February 15, 2019

Thursday, February 14, 2019

Appropriately enough - for Valentine's Day - Paul Bley's Open, to love (ECM).

He's such a strange pianist - I'm trying to follow the way his interpretation unfolds, veers, cul de sacs, short runs, plus the wildly varying dynamics and the violent way he strikes the keys at times and then ... and then .. a sudden coalescence ... and something truly beautiful emerges.

'Ida Lupino' is such a one.

(Carla wrote it, of course).


Wednesday, February 13, 2019

P.S. to the previous post to mark the passing of England’s greatest keeper ...

Oh for the days when Banks meant a safe pair of hands.


This blog is on strike.

Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Evelyn Waugh’s lesser known masterpiece - A Handful or Dusters.

(Crops up during an afternoon class)

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Tomorrow is a nationwide strike. Not sure whether the workers on this blog will come out in sympathy.


Monday, February 11, 2019

minus bath
minus toilet
minus shower
minus wash basin

a not bathroom


Sunday, February 10, 2019

Desert Island Discs

The second movement of Beethoven's Piano Concerto no.5 ('Emperor') ...

April Fool?