Ducks gone to a better place..

 No, not that better place: Turbury Gardens, the pond there. Our new neighbour volunteers at the place and recommended it. Caught the mother then the chicks, reasonably easily. Margaret still here, still weedy. I'll be looking after her while Pat goes south on Friday. So won't be my usual afternoon sesh, alas. 

Pat didn't go - reasoned that Margaret is really struggling and there's all the hallway mayhem to co-ordinate as well as materials to gather. The whole project has blossomed out of control, it seems to me, with perectly good doors and doorframes replaced with different ones. I won't dare mention doing a proper staircase now since we finally have fixed the ceiling, plus I'm fed up of the house being a building site and being unable to access the studio. Got my MPC downstairs and put 3.9 on it, which has several important updates for the arranger and for drum and keygroup programs. Spotted a bug immediately where the drum program save switches from your name for it to the track name the first time you save. Not sure I can even be bothered to report. Hopefully will get into the studio next week and put it through its paces properly. 

Tuesday went to Windermere with John and Mick. Fabulous.

Saturday is here. No idea when we're getting our house back but hopefully Tim and I can go to the pub later and escape for a while. The hallway job has grown and grown and Margaret is getting stronger but losing her marbles, I think. Pat got up in the night cos she'd been running hot water down the sink for 15 mins for no apparent reason. Fed up of the bathroom stinking of vinegar as she washes her dentures in it, again for reasons we can't work out. I'd really like to play with the MPC and put in some bug reports but I suspect I won't be using the new oscillator feature all that much - but do appreciate the arranger and time sig improvements. 

FIred up the MPC for a while on Monday until it got too hot. On Tuesday it was hotter and I finally ordered an air conditioner - sadly the one I wanted wasn't available until early July. Otdered a window kit that will suit velux - the room's smaller and has a door so will be easier to cool. May have to move stuff around, perhaps even reduce some of what's there. Sorta stuck with the speaker position due to shape of room. Actually, the speakers could be at the door end and I could be at the center, back looking/listening in that direction. Might even be scope for a graphic wall /projector behind at some point depending on space. 

Tomorrow guy coming to tackle drains. Will try and persuade him to also replace pipe between drain and bathroom.

Thursday it's John's last thursday tea. Said I'll try and attend but Pat pulled face as she's planned food for the week. I sometimes wonder why we have a freezer full of stuff but get fresh in daily for meals. What's the freezer stuff for?

Now rhen. Another Friday gone to shit. Almost literally since I spent a good portion of it digging out the drain. Neighbour's mate cut the concrete, connected the pipe and laid concrete. I dug out the shitty ground, bashed and removed the old piping. Back now a bit sore but the job's done - just hope he got it at some kind of angle - wish I'd got my spirit level on the job actually but anyway not many degrees to play with. May need to invest in a pump :)

I'm really getting withdrawal symptoms from music. Depressing. Work dude managed just a single door today so hope he pulls his finger out tomorrow. Just want it all done but there's skirting, floor and random woodwork to do. Better not take many more days... Saturday I promised to watch Margaret while Pat goes into town. Good for her to have a break. Doc came today to look at Marg - she's actually better than she's been all along so perhaps there's hope after all. 

June - but shall I change my tune?

Friday's thing had some good moments, especially those featuring the Opsix, but the parts that don't work so well involve the DRM-1. It sounds great but I've just lost of feel for groove and wonder, now, why I included it. I will do a remix/rework deleting the DRM clips and adding more ambience. I may yet keep the DFAM bits as they have a certain something. 

We're getting ready for a few things next week, not least Margaret's long-awaited op and the installation of solar panels. I cleared part of the side of the house and will ditch my bike this weekend. I let it rot really, as Pat is also doing with hers. Would be great to ditch that bike house actually or move it. 

Saw Rich Hall tonight, pretty funny. His comedy appealed more than his comedy songs but all very enjoyable. Raining heavily and I went out in sandals and my new cardi. Yeah, sharp as a button. 

Monday, scaffolding up. Margaret through her op. Cirklon's bloody battery low again. According to this blog I last replaced it on Dec 31 2021 so 4.5 years. Solar Panels come tomorrow. 

Panel install started. Was reminded it's just a month before Real World so I should think about what to take, what contribution I might make. Jim mentioned Porty's Head, Massive a-Tick  and others as a reference so I could look for my albums. I'll probably take the Octatrack and MPC (supported by KSP) with possibly the DFAM and a pedal or two for hands-on fun/looping. Was contemplating the Fuzzbillion pedal but gonna hold off. Real shame I don't seem to be able to source an Easel Command in time. Octatrack can replace a mixer. Just need to prepare a few things and hopefully will be able to sync up to Jim's Cirklon and add stuff to whatever's happening. May put the little Alesis mixer in the car just in case I need more flexibility.

Friday was pretty good, started a few sketches and I probably won't need all that many, just have to keep working the MPC really and putting material in. Still waiting to see what's happening with Margaret, hospital not really providing much info. Pat has gone in on the bus due to the problems parking. 

Saturday, fun jams with Tim, minimal. Sunday, walks with dogs, saw Margaret (still expecting op on her clot but she's looking better). Tomorrow guy doing work in the hallway so no studio for me. Must get car lights done before MOT. Have started re-reading the Vorrh.

A simple graphical editor makes life so much easier. I wonder if one will ever come to Cirklon?

My little rig for Real World. Well, not the Sys8. The Octatrack is basically my "comfort gear"

oh yes, a duck and three ducklings turned up today

I didn't use this album cover, or rather sobered up and deleted. Still plan to though. Not sure if this Friday scuppered as Margaret discharged from hospital too early and here. Preston are bloody rubbish. Didn't even tell us, just cleared her out of her bed. Pat livid. 

Off to see Mick and John tomorrow. 

And it was lovely. Duckies still doing OK too. Yay.