Sunny Smoky Saturday

 And it was. Pottered with some sequencer stuff, not going anywhere but fun all the same; still failing to get the P3 to record merged keyboard input, should really try setting it up when not already half-baked. Think I'll take JD-XA out again and bring JP-6 back. If Tim's home we might want to use it. 

Did more novel, now watching some rugby, well Pat is. 

A sunny Sunday spent singing (and playing the melodica and the JP-6), trying to get similar FX as Soma Pipe. Mostly succeeding, now missing the dedicated Mic level thing as a proper pot rather than encoder. Anyway, the thing sounds interesting. Sitting down to write, I see I wrote loads of novel yesterday. So I suppose I should find out what I said...

Monday, was supposed to be nice again but wasn't. Tim and I made 'Vidlin' which seems rather splendid this morning. Sun's out again, Pat gone off for a walk leaving.. guess what?

Guide for a happy marriage part 312, if your wife asks you a question three times but doesn't remember the answer, never point it out. Instead take it as your cue to deduce, guess or even ask what is actually behind the question. It could be some important cooking scheduling thing you were unaware of. Doesn't seem like I earned any brownie points lately after all. Try harder boy!  

We released THC2, which I think is even better than the first. 

Friday and it was a choice between walking and pooch watching in the afternoon again. Chose a walk as it's the only chance this week. Tony been doing the van (very impressive work) and Monday meant to be last nice day but it's also Pat's Urologist day. Hopefully she'll get some answers and start feeling better/happier. Mick is up in Preston on Monday too, but won't be able to get away to see him.

Saturday again, yesterday's walk was wonderful, Tim here today for beer and general hanging out. Life is good. 

 

Gig week

I know I don't practise as such but it would be nice to get some studio time this week. .Tuesday and I've been watching Broc since before lunch, it's now almost half three and barely worth turning the studio on. Still doing the good karma thing. It will make me a better person.  

Apparently the woman who drove into the back of me is claiming on my insurance. Weird but I guess I'l have the hassle of contesting it. People are annoying. 

Wednesday, had a nice time jamming. Considered reducing pile by dropping the DD-20 and mixer, then either taking the new 505 or taking the old one but using the two Cosmos inputs for 2 different instruments. Decided too complicated and will stick to usual way. Pootled around, tried backing up GR-1 project and almost buggered it up. Sounding good. 

Thursday and a beautiful morning. Can't help wishing we were walking today rather than tomorrow. Will pack up this afternoon and make any final decisions about leaving stuff at home then. Should probably power things up before breaking down to be sure I really didn't break that GR-1 project. Yesterday's recordings sounding nice over breakfast - quite pastoral in places. 

Ah, walk cancelled tomorrow so it'll be beer, I guess. Maybe walk Monday as meant to be nice until then. 

Gig went well. Monitoring not great but just threw a load of noises into loopers and played with the levels, seemed to have quite a lot of good moments - recording didn't work too well though, should probably have tried that in advance from this mixer. Did a mic recording so should be able to get an impression anyway. Gordon the main act did some really nice stuff. Sensible man had laptop and Ableton. 

Anyway, Friday and it's hard to imagine many better days than this. Perfection OK, such days would end with a blowjob but even writing that sounds greedy, like a wistful old man. Sunny day, beer, smokes, putting studio back together, hearing gig recording and putting it out with the Wednesday jams, working on novel, which is progressing nicely, sitting in sun, drinking beer etc. etc. 

https://wilyepeyote.bandcamp.com/album/synth-bathing-2

 

Another Friday

 We went back to Harter Fell yesterday, mostly because Google maps had a weird idea of how to get to our planned walk that involved a road signposted 'unfit for cars'. The road that led us to it should have had the same sign - we might have guessed when we had to get out at one point to open a gate. 
Friday today and hopefully a pooch-free afternoon for me. At least I slept through last night, although Pat is still being disturbed by the wee critter. All reminds me of why, since Jasper, I've had absolutely no urge to get another pet. 

Friday and I was chilled and mellow agreeing to watch Broc while Pat went swimming, right in the middle of my sesh at half two.  I contributed a track to this https://thedarkoutside.bandcamp.com/album/various-artists-diary-of-a-madman

- cassette sold out before I could go and buy one (less than 5 mins) but listening through it, it's bloody good and I'm glad to be on it. Feel slightly ashamed that my track was built around the sound of plugging a cable into the SH-101 but hey...    
 

Sunday Broc went down well with mum. Later I got in some good writing, or at least I wrote the bits I'd needed to do for a while, some important glue for the story and its wider connections. Did nothing to uncover any mysteries I might still have in reserve for Jeff. He remains a possible deus ex machina, especially if I can toss it in at low story impact. Good day of smoke and G&T, steak for tea, poopoo peedee.

Monday was largely aimless. Managed a walk and sent in my review. Later something occurred to me that I'd got wrong and so I sent an update. Shows I'm getting past it. I also thought of an update request to Roland that I must send - that when the stereo is decoupled for input that you have a pan control in the mixer. Sunny again on Tuesday, think I'm pooch minding while Pat goes to see Carol - so will try and walk out first thing. This afternoon I should think about how I'm gonna carry whatever gear I take on Thursday for the gig. Don't think anyone I know coming - Dave Rob was gonna but couldn't persuade his mates to hang in a small cellar with humans. Guess I understand that. Still not 100% sure what I'm doing - it occurred to me that I could use the new RC as a mixer and therefore avoid one chunk of gear - probably where the pan idea came from. Mind you would I trust it given it's so new and has crashed once? Probably would be silly to.

New week, new month, apocalypse closer?

 OK strictly speaking the new month starts tomorrow but who's counting? I'm awaiting the alarm man coming, starting to go through my review notes and see what the word count should be while typing left handed cos Brock (Pat's new pup) is in my lap, sleeping. Listening back through what Paul has done with the tracks I sent, it seems that HC2 is already pretty much complete.

Yesterday I sent some (fairly stoned) singing and talking overdubs to a tune. I think I sent too much and possibly blew Dean's mind so he's now wondering what kind of effect can make any sense of it. My main issue was trying to find a vocal sound that didn't sound utterly naff in comparison to Don's choruses. My voice really hasn't improved by not using it much for five decades. Excuses excuses. 

Bought two more classical boxed sets - Schubert's symphonies and string quartets. I mean, why not? The quartets were a recommended recording (the Diogenes Quartet) and I'm only two CDs in but they're sublime and I'm completely hooked. 

Realised my auto-reply from the product champion said he was back *next* Monday so tried the suggested contact with my crash info. I'm almost at first draft point now so would be nice to get it sorted but guess there's no really hurry/pressure. Looks like no walk this week as today meant to be nasty weather and tomorrow I'm puppy minding, Friday leak guy coming. The weeks are rolling by. 

Contributed a track (Marchember 86) to a Diary of a madman cassette compilation - using only Soma gear as it's towards a Ukraine charity. Not really in the mood for much else so going to work on review. 

Let's see, it's Saturday and I seem to have been on poochwatch for two afternoons, musically wasted. Review pretty much written, just let it stew a day or so to see if I hear owt back. Sunshine and frogs in the pond, although no spawn yet. Sunday, amazingly poochwatch again while Pat goes for a walk. Starting to wonder if she's avoiding the dog or has realised it's too much trouble. No studio again. :(

Still on poochwatch while Pat takes Marg to hospital then again when she does horse duties and again when she's at St Catherine's. Seem to be spending so much time indoors with the puppy, whose name is Broc apparently, not Brock. I still managed two recording sessions and this EP, which features setup 1 and setup 4. Review pretty much complete, not sure if I'm wasting my time waiting for a fix to the crash so I'll leave in mention of it I guess. Dearly hope I get out to walk tomorrow, even if weather not ideal.