A few weeks ago, courtesy of a suggestion from a friend at my writing club; West Street Writers, I went along to a folk/acoustic club that meets in The Old Courthouse, Cove: http://windmillfolk.co.uk. I took my ax (guitar) and was invited to do a couple of songs. It was the first time I had sung (and played) in front of complete strangers, but funnily enough I wasn’t nervous and enjoyed the experience. I’ve been about 6 times and sang every week except last Thursday when we had a St Patrick’s night. So far, so good. In the 2nd week I met and chatted to a couple from Australia, he did a poem and a song while playing great mandolin, and further chatting revealed they were from Melbourne where my youngest daughter and husband have emigrated to.

General view of the club night on St Patrick’s night.

We’ve swapped addresses and will keep in contact until we get out to Oz to visit Teresa. Its interesting that I never believed in the current wave of comment based on 6 degrees of separation, that is each and every one of us can trace through 6 connexions to the person sat next to you on the bus or whatever. This has been proven to me more and more in various scenarios and I now believe it to be true. Granted my connection to Teresa is extremely tenuous with this couple, but it’ll do for me. Music is my 2nd favourite hobby, I’ve been playing piano since I was 12 and guitar from about the same, but although I had formal piano lessons, and got to grade 5, but the guitar was self taught and after 50+ years I reckon I’m on a par with Status Quo: I know at least three chords. Owning 4 guitars hasn’t improved my skill that much either but I enjoy it nonetheless.

Well, winters returned again, unusual snow has stopped the country again: this could carry on every winter. Why has there been minimal investment in snow clearing equipment? Granted it’s expensive, and may not be used every year, but that’s not a reason not to invest in it. But that is the trouble with those who control budgets for this sort of spending; they are shortsighted and parsimonious. The cost of the country coming to a standstill must be much more than a few million spent on proper snow clearing equipment, then when the snow melts or heavy rain falls, the rivers back up, the drainage system can’t cope so people get flooded. And the reason? Stating the bleeding obvious its because ditches aren’t cleared, rivers and streams aren’t dredged, so quelle surprise we get flooding and misery. When will they ever learn?