Housebound... oh well

Still coping bravely two days into my, well, you could call it confinement but actually it's like a normal week but with no feelings of guilt for not going to the gym.

I've worked on a few more Hydrasynth patches - I really must stop doing that as whole afternoons go by and all I have to show for it are  a few more weird noises, admittedly some with Macro definitions now. I'm finding the kind of sounds I wanted - and got some good programming tips from a bank uploaded today which uses the macros quite a lot just for mod matrix depths, rather than as I've been doing for fx and mutator depths and wet/dry. I still keep forgetting to hit the assign button when setting things up so that when I hit the module button I come right out of the macro edit process. Seems to me that should be automatically highlighted when you've deliberately gone into edit but maybe some people like the extra button presses.

Tomorrow I will do something different. Not sure what but the novel ain't progressing and now is really a perfect time. Well, except that today was another sunny one. I set up the punchman ready to hit but then started reading Excession again, lazy git!

Today I rang vet - have to take Jasper to have his mouth looked at. Not good I think.
Sunny day, drank beer, had almost the last of my weed, wrote some novel stuff - combed through a part nicely I think, opening up lots from here. Good how that happens, one of my favourite things actually.
Listening through the gig I did in Preston, actually, now that time has passed, I'm really rather happy with that too.

Good news from Vet about Jasper's mouth lump - amazing to see the place empty with people waiting in their cars to be seen. He has to be the best vet we've ever known so it's a relief to be able to get in.

Can't go wrong with a few 'Jasper in the sun' shots!
Mum still not well, still unclear what with. Has been getting meds via some chemist delivery service and talking to Minerva nurses (COPD) and doc on phone, but frustrating I can't go and visit. At least she's stopped concentrating on her plunging investments.

Have written quite a lot in this last few days, in the generally fast getting-things-done style that really does progress the story, even if I need to go back over it and add some details, breathers and asides. Well, maybe, we'll see how it reads later. Knocked up a weird track for Don, not one of my best, probably too odd and difficult rhythmically, but something because I know he wanted something.

An online friend, hearing of my plight, has offered to send me something to keep my creative spirits alive. People really are rallying round, bless them!

Going Viral

Gosh, here am I self-isolating and struggling to see any difference.Well, I now don't feel guilty for not going to gym. I am gonna become a total slob though so have brought out the old punchman to work off some energy. At least I can finally finish off those Hydra patches I started, maybe do some nice PPG-style ones that I'm sure it can do but which I haven't heard yet.

If I get too fed up I might sort some online performances or more reviews but so far it's sunny and my Roedelius book has finally been dispatched. I got all the stuff together for my Irish passport and sent that off this morning, making sure to queue six foot from everyone. Some are taking it seriously but not all, which might mean more stringent measures are imposed.

Wonder if I get so bored I switch on the modular?

Novel going again after a bit of a pause. I know what's coming but laziness setting in, plus some actual events are starting to mirror what I write. Am I changing reality?

I put all my bandcamp at 80% off until the end of the month (code XYZZY) which seemed a fair gesture if people are looking for something - OK a mixed bag admittedly - to wade through. A surprising number of sales generated from it, which is nice. Should do same for Ideation and Headshock; JIC already pretty cheap but will look at that too. Someone actually liked the cover artwork, something I appreciated cos sometimes I wonder if it's too amateurish. Confession: sometimes I create the artwork from scratch while the album is uploading.
I should do that other Binar CDR too - Truth Sets Us Free - as I have promised quite a few times. And finish my piano album. Yeah, should, shoulda, should've!

Anyway, signing off as I suspect there might be more blog entries, depending on how crazy I get bumming around the house.

Being Gramps

The wee man changes a little each time he comes, which is kinda nice and also fascinating. He really loves Jasper too, but Jasper is so old now and one day in the next year or so he won't be here.

Still no sign of the Hydrasynth and, as I look at the calendar, it's probably not going to be possible to get it done before I go to Scotland next month. Having waited so long, it would be mad to rush it, but it sure feels like we'll be last to the party and anything I have to say will be quite pointless at this stage, probably no influence at all (and I do have several ideas already). Yesterday I listened through a load of 'artist patches', most of which were pretty poor fare, although some of the pads were lovely. I hope I can do better in the time allotted but may not have as much programming and bonding time as I'd ordinarily want. This whole 'coming out of retirement for something cool' sounded such a good idea back at the start of October but five months on I'm feeling the moment has passed.

Downloaded a fab album from Picko yesterday, really mellow and spacious. Today I've grabbed something from a guy calling himself Flexagon, which is beautiful, almost Erland Cooperish. These two gentle releases made me think I should try and do something a bit more uplifting, although it's always a mood thing with me. My last one, one of my faves in a long time, is a bit bleak I suppose.

There's a classical concert tomorrow afternoon I was hoping to attend. Will have to see as I can't leave Pat to cope with William - he's so lively I fear it would wear her to a frazzle.

I feel slightly bad that I didn't know who Andy Weatherall was. It would probably surprise people who assume I know things about music and contemporary culture and all. I am hugely ignorant across a wide range of topics. As I've admitted in at least one of my novels: what I don't know, I make up.

Ouch, looks like I started this entry ages ago. Since then I've been to Scotland and completed the Hydrasynth review, so I think I'll just post some photos and call this one complete. We're into Coronvirus territory now which means I stay home and tinker with gear. I know: big changes.

What else? Well I heard something from Nix Nott which sounded a lot like one of my tunes, so bought the album off bandcamp. Also bought the Seasons which is a radiophonic weird tune thing with weird poetry - fab! Heard quite a lot of stuff on Radio 6 that I liked (and a lot I didn't) but most I was too stoned to note down. A heavy week of drinking and smoking, felt a bit ill with the tobacco. We did get one clear night for astronomy though which was brill.

Anyway. I think these are a different random selection to those I posted on Facebook. I took a lot of pix.

More delays

Yeah, although the Hydrasynth finally made it to the UK (shortly after Mars got its second shipment), it will still be next week before the review model gets here. Next week is the week I'm on grandpa duties too, frustratingly, so all I can do is read the manual over and over and prepare a space. I guess I can get the next scene of my novel sorted.

Still haven't turned on the modular for a LONG time and have no desire to do so. At this rate I'll give it to the end of the year then flog the lot. Except it's such a ball ache selling individual modules. Maybe I need a bonding session but I've turned down reviews of cool modules because I can't really write about things unless I'm engaged.

A different selection of photos from yesterday. Thursday now, gonna go get some beer and settle in for an afternoon of indulgence. Got all my walking gear sorted now except possibly a larger rucksack. Tony being retired is going to keep me fit!

Still no sign of the fecking JD-XA wheel. Can't be bothered keep chasing it.

Bogged down in geography

Alright, I should have done it sooner: draw a map. I've done one now, loosely based on the area surrounding Sellafield, although I've moved a few places around, erased most of the rest and added ghost towns and no-go areas to suit my narrative. I suspect I'll need to refined it later and make sure I haven't contradicted anything too badly.

The need came about when I was about to kill my first character and up the tempo generally. I realised it wouldn't make sense without some planning. Should be back on track soon but I might need to let it all stew for a day or so before I find the correct approach.

Recorded a track yesterday that Don might be able to turn into something.
Today I started another in the other room. Might blend together in some way as a catchy kind of thing. It's forming in my mind anyway.

A tale of two days. The nice shadows were followed today with a named storm, although I refuse to give it one. We just escaped but I've ordered more sandbags so we aren't caught out in future. Course one day the rain will just continue until it's in the house :(

I think I cracked my difficult scene. It didn't take major surgery either, just some gentle pushing and maneuvering, which is how I like it. In the next read-through I might add a tiny amount of detail and description but keep the main section to the fast and hopefully dramatic way it is now.

Tuesday, off to buy some outdoors clothes for the Scotland trek. I didn't go to the gym, just pottered with a few parts of the novel in preparation for the next section. May need to suspend though because I got the heads up that the Hydrasynth is coming. Rather looking forward to digging in to that.

Boing

Well, it feels like Spring and the birds in the garden seem to agree. I saw a little egret today, which was cool, while out with Jasper. He's full of life again, the wonder of antibiotics!

Tomorrow I'm out walking with Tony, Wednesday Dentist, Thursday John, Friday will be studio indulgence or novel. What larks!

Great walk, going to try and make it a regular thing.

Wednesday the dentist did his thing and charged me £86 for hurting and insulting me. Came home and moved Cirklon around a bit to make it better suited to my standing up vibe, putting it where the 101 used to be, the 101 where the Ody used to be, the Ody where the ER1 used to be, the ER1 where the YC used to be and the YC where the TT-78 used to be, meaning the TT went where the Eventide Timefactor used to be, allowing me to move the Blofeld to a better position where Cirklon used to be and joined by the TimeFactor which I like to tweak, putting the Space where the Blofeld used to be.
That possibly sounds more complicated than it was. It gave me chance to do some lead rationalisation, always good. Heh.

Tally ho! Onwards into the thing that doesn't exist, which we call the future!

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8MIa0GH3fJ/

Gig offer and indolence

For Ideation, so I needn't say no right away but wait for Pete. Sounds like a decent gig too but still not sure my heart's in it. Of course the longer I leave it the less likely it will be that I do anything much again. Really, I'd like to go to Ozora but it's depressing doing these things alone, like Billy No-Mates.

Occurred to me you can do a complete ambient set on something like a 1010Music Blackbox, if you're content to put most (or all) on a backing track. Streaming high quality audio direct from card in sync with loops and other samples seems better realised for simplicity than the Octatrack. Almost makes me wish I'd bothered to learn those modules that came that time, one of which was essentially the same thing. I think I dismissed it at the time as an iPhone in your Eurorack case. Must try and get over my dislike of touchscreens. ;)

This week was my last chance to get something together for Tim to film but it looks like I'll fail at that too. My mind is still full of novel stuff and I suspect that's where it will stay for a while. One day we're talking to the money man, so I'll watch out for phrases like 'recession soon', 'you're doomed' and 'we're spending the final remnants of your cash on our lovely new office and extra staff'.

Fecking sleeting this morning. Aqua aerobics tonight. We leave the EU on Friday and all the angry victors seem suspiciously quiet. I wonder if the next stage in their futile quest for happiness is to murder anyone who doesn't have their own flag pole?

Hmmm, Pete is keen on doing the gig. So it's miserable, dithering old me that has to decide. Maybe I should make myself. Update: phew but he can't cos it's Ade's wedding. Off the hook!

I reached the end of Mr Robot and much was familiar. It's about created identities taking over the host but I guess it isn't set in Preston so not a Future Art Factory ripoff! I do sometimes wonder though about intellectual property and whether any of my ideas, repackaged by someone more talented, could appear in some really successful series or film. Hey ho.

Good Wednesday. Jams with Tim, mid-week beers, some novel work and general lazing. All good.

Time has passed. It's Monday again, another month apparently. Novel still going well - coming up with some good solutions to things and it does suggest that having a plot, even if you don't stick rigidly to it, helps. I also listened back to my Synth Bathing album and think it might be rather good. I therefore updated it from free to £3. Not bad for something that's slightly longer than a double album.

This week I have things on the calendar. To an unwitting observer it might appear I have a life.