Old Is the New New

I haven’t listened to much in the way of music for a long time.

For a number of reasons it never seemed to work at my previous address but tonight I’m all on my lonesome so I cranked up iTunes on my new iMac (which is already superceded by a new model). Due to having all my CDs in a box back in Upper Ferntree Gully, I’m playing Your Daughters and Your Sons by The Duhks, a CD Shannon very kindly and randomly bought and mailed over to me.

I’ve never been an ardent fan of Celtic music but for some reason this album is brightening up the home atmosphere no end. Shannon said she loves The Duhks and I can understand why.

About the only other thing needed will be some additional speakers to add in some bass and grunt.

Epiblogue: Maybe I’ll listen a lot more from here on in.

During my last days at number 14 Clow Ave I had to share a little of the space with Cooky, a Maltese Terrier Linda was and still is dogsitting.

Cooky is an non-desexed male and seems to be good at gaining the upper hand due to his diminutive size and apparent cuteness; i.e. he can be picked up and elevated to a higher altitude than the resident dog, Honey, and he will generally be picked up and placed on one’s bed after annoyingly persistent early morning requests to sleepy humans. The only bed Honey ever gets on is Linda’s.

One Saturday morning I was taking my time waking up with Cooky on my doona when Honey came in, jumped up on my bed and sat on me.

Epiblogue: Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Yesterday I managed to visit Mark and Nicky for the first time in a long while.

I had a nice long chat with Nicky and met Leila, then sat in with mark to record a podcast.

Overall it was a good thing to do as it brought me out of a hole I got stuck in the previous day on account of a few things going awry, not the least of which was not being able to land somewhere to rent. It is very competitive at my end of the market.

Later on I played a rip roaring show with Rory at the Young & Jackson.

Then today, I got some good news about a rental house in Scoresby. It’s only a six month lease before the house is bulldozed to make way for units but it’s a start and close to the kids’ school.

Now if I could find a way to get rid of some really annoying spyware on the computer life would be almost rosy.

Epiblogue:  This is the last straw, I’ll be getting a Mac after I’ve moved.

It has been said of me, quite a number of times, that my more recent parenting style is way too permissive and slack.

Tully started work experience today at my workplace and I couldn’t help feeling a little glow of pride watching him fit in so quickly and managing the often difficult task of relating to workmates in an all-male workplace. I suppose much of this has to do with him being naturally gregarious but I take some comfort from the knowledge that, by allowing him considerable slack from the parental leash, he feels some level of confidence in his “maleness”; by this I mean the ability to feel pretty much equal to all the other men in whatever group you happen to be in. And I guess by this I mean the ability to drink a bit more beer and smoke and talk tougher than your parents and significant others might think is advisable.

Now I happen to think masculinity is far more than this and I even think elements of this concept are not particularly good, but after many years of wishing the world was a fairer and gentler place, I’ve come to the conclusion there are worse things than the stereotypical Australian male.  And whether I like it or not, the world Tully is fast becoming a part of is pretty rough and tumble and a bit of confidence this end of his life won’t go astray.

Epiblogue: And the work experience minimum pay of $5 per day will teach him that even decent employers will seldom pay you more than they are legally obliged.

Despite feeling very much under the pump, the gig with Rory went quite well and he said later, “If that’s your worst case scenario then things can only get better.”

There are a few gigs in the pipeline including a support gig with the ex-The Angels Brewster Brothers at Don’t Tell Tom on the 30th of this month and the Maldon Folk Festival in November.

In other recent Good Things, I dropped up to see the amazing Fats Wah Wah on Saturday night and, halfway through, got a call from Bernie inviting me down to Upwey to see Deborah and Willy. I caught their second set and it was rather exquisite. The guitars Jack built them really added to the show and Willy seemed to be enjoying the ability his instrument gave him to add a huge degree of dynamic to the sound.

Epiblogue: There are worse things than enjoying recreational activities that pay.