st agnes' day

"Despite being placed in a brothel and thrown into flames, she is said to have survived with her virginity intact".  I'm not sure that "survived" is the operative word here. I think she's the patron saint of bored virgins.

Well, St Agnes' Day it may be but I have other fish to fry - it being Friday after all.

Wednesday evening saw me driving up to Cambridge - a 70 mile or so trip from here - to see Sir Richard of Thompson - newly OBE'd - and his incredibly fine electric music ensemble.  An absolutely cracking gig - probably the best I've seen him play in a band context in recent years.  Absolutely steaming guitar - at one point I turned to a friend and said, "That's why I'm here".  I meant risking it a bit by driving up with this infernal labyrinthitus.  Wonderful. Check out the videos on thyTube.

I went back to school today - I wish I hadn't but needs must.  Noisy oiks.  Anyway, I went to see a homeopath this evening and despite what opinions we may all have: it worked last time.  They ask some strange questions, these people.  I actually find it quite refreshing talking to someone in this way - putting your life and the various stuff that happens to us into some sort of perspective.  Stuff that happened when I was a nipper having some effect on me now? Ah well, we'll see.

Mrs Dave will be taking over the computer for the next few weeks because of her annual Winter exam marking, so it may be a little quiet here for a while. Still, afore I go . . .

I have seen that RT completed some sessions in January with Martin Simpson for his new album.  Knowing how enamoured MS is with RT's playing, having met and interviewed him in the past, it should be worth waiting for.  And, probably on a lesser note, Mark Knopfler has been recording with the wonderful Bap Kennedy for a new cd project (Check out Bap's Howl On).  Sounds like excellent guitar playing is still on the agenda for this year. Talking of which, Guitar Jamboree by the wonderful Chris Spedding just came on in the kitchen.  See a live version here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqpJj2H5Tq0

It doesn't feature the brilliant Robert Fripp pisstake that some live versions do, but it does show how easily some of the 'name' guitarists can be mimiced.

Incidentally, the eponymous CS album is still a favourite after all these years. 

Guitar playing, eh? Over to Van: It's too late to stop now . . .