Bristol

On Friday, I got away for a couple of days to Bristol where I was a music student from 1977-1980. My friend Nick and I stayed at the Rodney Hotel which was slightly pricey, but worth it for the relative peace and quiet which you do not get in St. Paul's Road where 'budget' hotels are located.

Included amongst the things we did (when we were not simply 'pottering' about or chatting in our room) was a visit to the SS Great Britain. If you ever go to Bristol this is most certainly worth a visit. The ship is crumbling and they dry out the air around it to slow the corrosion process. You can tour the deck and accommodation with an audio guide; parts of the ship are stunning. I remember seeing the televised coverage of the ship being towed into Bristol in 1970.

In the afternoon we managed to get into Clifton Hill House where we had lived in our first year [well Nick spent 2 years there]. We were allowed to roam so we went to 'C' block and found our old rooms C9 and C14; we didn't go in, obviously. Not much had changed [the room doors were exactly the same] although the laundry had gone or been moved and there is now a decent sized kitchen for the days when students have to cook for themselves. It's a catered hall so this is at weekends. In our day we were given Vesta meals, 3 slices of bread, a lump of cheese and 2 eggs. These were called rations and had to be kept in our rooms (no fridge).

In the evening we walked to the Clifton Suspension Bridge and, a bit later, had a pizza at Pizza Provencale. Here, a regular pizza serves two. It arrives on a shallow wicker basket-cum-plate and you dive in with serviettes and fingers! I had a treacle tart and ice-cream to follow - lovely.

This was one of the best Leave Outs from school I have had.

Things I want to do [number 1]

Driving home from a meeting tonight I heard Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Opus 18 which, of course, I also know as that fantastic song "All by myself".

Once of the things I'd like to do this year is to go to a concert which includes a piano concerto and sit where I have an excellent view the pianist. The last time I sat close to such a soloist was when my friend and I went to see Valerie Tryon play the Grieg A minor cocnerto in the Colston Hall in 1979, although I've been to concerto performances since then. We wanted to give her a standing ovation but we were too timid in those days. I've just googled her and see that she has a website. I'd expected her to be retired now. She is actually still quite a 'looker' (for 75)!

Tetanus Jab

I had an appointment with the doctor today at 3.10 and arrived at 3.05. Many people went in, in front of me, and I went in at 4.40. However she was very good and took a complete medical history of my complaint and asked relevant questions; she also obviously knew her stuff which - I regret - is not always the case with doctors. Clearly this is why she was running late. She took a mobile phone call from her husband towards the end of the conversation and it was clear from her computer screen that she had loads more people to see. She told hubby that she had not even started her paperwork from lunchtime yet.

Whilst I was waiting - knowing that I have not had a tetanus booster for over 15 years - I booked an appointment with the receptionist who was only too pleased to help. As I need blood tests I mentioned to the doctor that I could get them all done on the same day. She told me that tetanus booster jabs are no longer done. If you injure yourself you need to get a jab within 72 hours, just to be safe. So - why on earth are receptionists letting folk book in for jabs? The NHS site backs up the doctor; Tetanus - if all childhood vaccinations are up-to-date, a tetanus booster is only needed for people who are at risk of getting tetanus following injury.

These receptionists have too much power. When I booked my appointment they tried to get me to see a nurse practitioner.

Vision On

Today I heard of the death of Tony Hart who was connected with the Vision On programme which was almost required viewing in my youth. My abiding memory, however, is of Pat Keysell whose signing for the deaf used to annoy me intensely. Age has brought a sea change in my outlook and I now admire what she did in those early days of television. The Gallery theme was so soporific (indeed Muzak-like) that I hated it. Now, whenever I hear it, I have quite poignant pangs of nostalgia for those innocent days of youth, never to be recaptured, and I shed a tear as I am doing now. I guess the sound of the vibraphone was one which was familiar to me only through that programme and, being a chorister as a boy, I much preferred the meaty sound of a cathedral organ being played with Full Swell cutting through the Great Diapasons and mixtures.

Now I realise the power of music to transport the human mind through Space and Time and conjure up deep-rooted feelings and memories. Today my choir had a look at "Steal Away" which we will sing in church in a few weeks. One boy put up his hand to tell me it was the most boring piece of music he had ever sung. I might have agreed with him at his age. Having heard Tippett's spiritual arrangements in "A Child of our time" in the early 1979 in Clifton Cathedral, when I was a student, I have tended to find negro spirituals very moving. The words "I ain't got long to stay here" speak volumes as our years advance and one looks back on wasted years and wonders "where did they go?".

For those who know me - no I am not depressed! I am simply in touch with my feelings which, I now realise, is one of the joys of being a human being. They ought not to be buried away.

Rutter

I'm just back* from playing at the church where I used to be organist; Norman fancied a week off and I am still on holiday. I arrived at 9.30 to look at the hymns and get the console ready, then I went to ring. However I was summoned from the belfry to go to choir practice - nobody had told me I would be needed. When I arrived they were learning Rutter's Series 3 communion service setting which I had last used in Bristol as an undergraduate in 1980 (or earlier); I thought I should never see it again yet there it was is all its 'glory'. The Kyrie can be sight-read by the organist but you need your wits about you. The Gloria is a 1-in-a-bar romp until the middle section.

Luckily the choir were only going to sing these two bits during communion by way of introducing them to the congregation. They are changing their setting which has served them for what must be getting on for ten years!!

*You may wonder why I say I am 'just' back. Well I popped into school to fetch some music and then went to Tesco for some medicine as our Lemsip is out of date.

Cheese

I came across "Who moved my Cheese" today and decided to read it. This was a good idea and I hope 2009 turns out to be very cheesy! (Also look here at the real life cheese rules!)