Roni, Louis in Grange

Roni and Louis played their asses off in Barrys Public house, Grange last thursday. Two master Jazz guitarists in full flight.The house was full and we broke even on the gig. Roni taught class for the two days before. Probably the last gig I will run as I am just exhausted afterwards. Will keep my options open however for a while.

Returning to the battlefront

Just met with Joe and talked about his trip to Vietnam all of 42 years later. He leaves the third week in September. Since the first time I met Joe his time there has been a recurring part of our conversations. The stories are rich and real never settling to the level of mere anecdote. This trip represents closure and perhaps a stimulus towards a new beginning. I have travelled with him as he watched his buddy gun down nine regular Vietnamese soldiers for deserting in the face of Vietcong attack, watch his senior officer commit public suicide on Christmas eve, watch the machine gun barrel melt with the heat of repeated use as 7000 Vietcong were killed in battle and join in his temporary invasion of Cambodia. May the spirit of healing travel with him.

Business as usual

A work day keeping folks out of trouble. The banks are coming close to beating up folks in their anxiety to control their clients. I truth they have lent so foolishly in the past ten years that they are on the back foot. I expect some bad news in their bad debts provisions at the end of the year. Regrettably they are not staffed with skillful lending managers who can make business based decisions.

Lots of posters out for the Roni and Louis gig. Will ramp up the promo in the coming days

And after Poland what then........??

Poland could fill a full book but suffice to say I am home. Think I have got to a turning point as I return to a more restful sleep. Not perfect but major improvement. The Roni Ben-Hur visit and workshop in the week ahead seems to give me some pleasure. My fiddle playing has taken a sudden lift off. All positive indicators. The New York trip in September is definately on.

Plans for tomorrow include, fiddle practice, organising the guitar workshop, exercise in the gym and meditation to finish. Enough to be going on with.