The strange, silent house

 Without the clicking of pooch paws on laminate floors, without the wildly enthusiastic greeting when you come in, without the roar of unfettered delight when a tin of dog food is opened, without the constant companion who follows you from room to room, forever under the feet but always welcome, always loved. Without. 

I deliberately didn't take a 'last' photo, but here's a set from last October that seem to fit. 

Friday now. I buried him deep and under stones to prevent anything digging down. Had a walk with Tony this morning which was nice. It's still early enough to drink and hopefully ease the back pain I can feel. I might write some soppy, sentimental music (from which Tim would recoil in horror). Ultimately, I'm a soppy, sentimental kinda guy. 

It hasn't been easy. I keep checking when I open a door to see if he's lurking on the other side, curious to know where I am and get to me. I've seen him running through long grass in dreams, I've half seen him when I look up sometimes. My pal Tony's 15 year old lab came to the end too, so I guess we should go for a walk and be miserable together.  

Time has passed, I still haven't finished this blog entry, not sure why. In the meantime I've got Rick's first string part - cello and viola over the piano / wind thing I was close to abandoning. Did my first mix of it yesterday and it's good - wish I'd taken more time over the notes now as this was an afterthought really and sometimes sounds like it. I have ideas for a couple of harmonic touches on Minimoog that could give it some extra interest. We'll see. Oh, Martin's theremin and subtle guitar worked really well, did I tell you about that, dear diary? I expect so but my mind is mush. Maybe still needs some flute and manic guitar from Mark, although he says he no longer plays. 

Did a thing yesterday that sounds promising. That was before taking delivery of a Vermona DRM1, which I swapped for a couple of modules and which I've fancied since reviewing it. 

I think that will be the album cover - no text. Fits the idea, plus it's a photo I took on Jeffrey Hill and all the trees have since been cut down. Going with the faded/sepia look to squeeze out max nostalgia. Rick says he'll have the violin part on Monday - that's the one I spent a little longer on and the blend with synth strings should work nicely.