Category Archives: history

Well That Was Different.

Delta Ladies, Diana Stones Songs, disabilty and health news, glass cage, music, Musings, other, whatever

The day prior  writing this I was making a video of a live performance of what will be a promotional tool for Jon Bickley’s forth coming CD. We played through the tracks in sequence and shoot it outdoors at a secret location.  It was quite fun to do and the weather held out remarkably well too. We also had some still shots done for the prospective   album cover and other publicity purposes. Then a drive back up the M1  and home.  Playing a set of songs to an audience of one (our cameraman) was weird though. 

I just did a covid test so at the time of writing I am clear.  I have had 6 clear tests since July. I only really have interaction with a couple of people but my partner is in contact with a few more folk in the weekly social groups.  Its my belief that I may have had a mild covid infection in early 2020 but I have no way of  proving or disproving this unfortunately.  I was in contact with several people who may well have been infectious for some time and others who subsequently went on to get it within a short period of time.  Was it just luck or had I quickly built up immunity somehow? Do i still have if so and whats my level of risk to both myself and others?

We are now at the start of September and the weather is very uncertain. We may get a  touch of late winter sun, but it’s been a bit gloomy and the urge to say in bed is difficult to fight right now.  I am getting on with stuff though just going day by day though. What else can one do ultimately. 

A friend of mine is still very much concerned with the possibility of getting a serious covid infection.  So they are keeping themselves away from as many people as possible. Logical but as they have been double vaccinated they may actually be more at risk through not having any additional exposure to continue to build their immunity.  I understand their concern but wonder  if ultimately they may be in a riskier position due to this attitude.   Still we can really only make our own informed decisions about all this and advice whilst it may be given may really not suit someone else’s circumstances.

I had a visit from Danny (Delta Ladies percussion and Oud player) and he played his Kora. We recorded a couple of tracks and chatted. We went through what we had been doing for during  the various lockdowns and restrictions.   It must be about a year since Danny was last here.  That was a pleasant change. it feels like time is standing still in some respects though. 

I am not sure if there is a way forward from all this personally.  I feel it would be tempting fate to make any plans frankly. It would be nice if there was but I am not counting on it.  Maybe I need to be a bit more zen about it all and see where I end up? 

“ Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present.”

Marcus Aurelius

 

     
 

 

 

 

     

    

Keeping Up the Good Work and All That

Diana Stones Songs, disabilty and health news, glass cage, history, whatever

Or not keeping up, that is the question.  I am keeping busy. Actually  on reflection much busier than I actually thought I was it turns out. over the past 25 years I have recorded about 500 plus songs and instrumentals it turns out.  It keeps me off the streets as they say.  And I shall carry on with as long as I can. These days I don’t do too much else.
 
The tune above is a bit of proggy cosmic noodling style stuff with violin and synth and what have you.  

I write this blog  and moan and winge and about the  fates a bit of course too.  I wonder how it looks to an outsider reading it?   Boring and tedious perhaps or a deep insight into the nature of human existence.  You the jury decide   🙂

 I have definitely done myself some mischief somehow and I am having  lot of problems with my right arm and shoulder. It feels like some sort of sprain. I did start working in the studio but taking it very easy. Its a real nuisance. Maybe I need to take a little time out . I feel also a bit stuck and at the point where I might start repeating myself. Effectively 18 months of navel gazing is a becoming an issue creatively. Also lack of external input of course.  It feels rather like being becalmed on a ship perhaps or maybe   a hotel with all the comforts of home or more but you can’t leave although you can see people going about their normal business at a distance. You cannot directly interact with them though of course

At the time of writing this I have had to cancel a rehearsal for making a performance video and move it to Saturday when I hope I shall be in better fettle.  I am  doing regular covid tests at present.  As of today I don’t have it. I would like to get an anti bodie test though as they are available now so I have applied to be part of the research program.  It may be interesting.  

More dreadful news from Afghanistan again today.  It’s quite difficult to process as recent history is poised to repeat itself again. No doubt with much suffering and loss of life. Will there ever be a solution? Its seems unlikely.  

 

 

 

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The Long Way Home

Delta Ladies, Diana Stones Songs, glass cage, history

You can’t generally speaking walk in someone else shoes they say. Perhaps you can try but mostly its not a good idea if you can avoid it.  I had been trying to do exactly that for the last couple of years subconsciously since the loss of my co-conspirator and leading light of the Delta Lady’s. I though we might be able to keep something going but it was not really ever going to work without that unique individual. So despite the help from others (notably Lorraine Lucas who stepped up for a while during a time when I was basically still pretty much deep in shock and  traumatised) once covid stopped gigs in March 2020 the spark such as it was really could not be rekindled.  There is one final Delta Ladies Album which Vicky Martin had mixed. It’s my hope to release this as a final testament as it were. Its been hard to come to grips with much that’s  happened since April 2019. I have lost a few others along the way since then sadly.  Vicky’s partner Ralph perhaps most notably who was very supportive and a good friend to me who died unexpectedly in November 2020.  

I have continued with my solo musical endeavours which were always separate to my work as part of the Delta Ladies and which had been going on  for a a while before both Elephant Shelf  and subsequently the Delta Ladies,   The last proper Delta ladies gig after Vicky’s death was at the Retreat in Reading in on Saturday  February 8th  2020 (16 years of solid gigging).  Since then I have also been working on a couple of projects with Jon Bickley (a singer songwriter)  mostly remotely until the last couple  of months. Also one one or two other remote collaborations.  I do miss people and just making music with people, but I have lost the kind of confidence needed to start from scratch.   

It’s been nice to see many friends starting to pick up where they left off and take their acts back out to gig again.  The lockdown and much else has sadly left me in a position where I do not see much of an opportunity personality  to be able to play   live music at present.  

Maybe at some point that will change again, but the magics been lost for the moment and new spells perhaps must be cast by some new sorcerer. Perhaps some other dawn will light the way. If not it was good while it lasted.  

“Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.”
― Terry Pratchett, A Hat Full of Sky