Hi everyone and thanks for tuning in. This is a long one. At one stage in the last month I thought that I was just going to quietly stop writing this. It seems not.
Where do I start? I could tell you about the crappy news about my bones not regenerating properly and this bamboozling my specialist and his very clever colleagues. I could tell you about the pinched nerves in my back and the two or three bulging discs. I could tell you that I spent about a week not long ago trying my level best not to sit or lie down too much. And I could definitely tell you how much all of that has been messing with my head. It's all rather boring and annoying though. All I can do is try to maintain some kind of perspective and be as positive as I can.
The Godfathers - Birth, School, Work, Death - https://youtu.be/QO5dcW0P75M
I started writing this in Melbourne over a fortnight ago. If the trip had been a week earlier I'm not sure I would've physically been able to get there. We all had a really good time though on a long weekend where too much sport and family time was never enough. I went to the MCG twice and Docklands Stadium once all in four days as well as watching Angus play footy on a windswept and freezing oval out at Bundoora. Monday at the Melbourne Zoo was heaps of fun with the lions, tigers and gorillas all asleep, the dingos having a feed and the penguins either hiding or having escaped. Finn and I spent most of the day there and saw everything! I was happy to get back home though. There are simply too many people in Melbourne. And oh my goodness, those two young men ate like it was going out of fashion!
I've been listening to some old Run-DMC over the past week or so. It was super cool back in the day and it still is. Like many of my generation, this was my introduction to not only rap but to Aerosmith.
Run DMC - My Adidas - https://youtu.be/Qx0huz6TiLo
If you're in the mood for hip hop, or even if you're not, I can't recommend the next live set any more highly. From NPR's fabulous Tiny Desk Concert series comes Cyress Hill! They bring along a horn section for a short set that had me enthralled. I did not expect this and I'm so glad I clicked the link.
Cypress Hill - Tiny Desk concert - https://youtu.be/tUApO77uUUk
Zoë was fortunate enough to see Bruce Springsteen as well as The Chicks in London recently. I know that it was part of her job but still, how very groovy!
The Chicks – Am I The Only One (live 2003) - https://youtu.be/wsl6oN7KKug
Saturday two weeks ago was a real treat with me able to announce the arrival of a kidney stone after only four hours of swearing and drinking a LOT of water. This is not something I would recommend to anyone. The bit from The Bible about a camel passing through the eye of the needle springs to mind (Matthew 19:23-24 if you don't know what I'm talking about).
It's now 28/7/23 and I'm feeling a lot better. The physio told me that we can sort out most of my back issues with exercises and having been doing them almost non-stop for a week I can assure you that they are working. The main issue seems to be that my left glute is about 20% weaker than the other one. This may be the result of a couple of bike crashes and a motor vehicle accident. So, I'm doing a lot of work on my bum! I had my second session with him today and progress has definitely been made.
Years ago I was lucky enough to see Tex Perkins stage show all about Johnny Cash. Macca bought us ice creams at intermission! Well the show is coming back in September, reimagined, so Toddo and I will be off to the theatre to sing along. I was a late convert to Johnny Cash but he was very much the gateway drug for me to a whole range of artists. I like the fact that he wrote stark, honest songs that regular people can relate to. I respect that he was deeply religious and never hid his human flaws. And I like that he didn't let his advancing age and wavering voice get in the way of his art.
Johnny Cash – God's Gonna Cut You Down - https://youtu.be/eJlN9jdQFSc
The big news this week was that Zoe had a birthday. In Wales! I won't labour the point but it's so much harder being so far away at times like this.
Everyone will no doubt be aware that Sinead O'Connor died this week. She was only 56. I knew quite a few of her songs but had never listened to one of her albums in its entirety that I can remember. After a couple of spins of her first release I am a bit ashamed about this. It still sounds so fresh and important. I do remember buying one of her later albums for Alison however. It was called, I'm Not Bossy, I'm The Boss. We both had a good laugh at that.
Sinead O'Connor – 8 Good Reasons - https://youtu.be/e8jjudZBWSI
My brother sent me the link to this song yesterday and it's awesome. Kris Kristofferson really knows how to get to the heart of a matter. His gruff voice and simple instrumentation are the perfect accompaniment for lyrics that matter.
Kris Kristofferson – Sister Sinead - https://youtu.be/fgGnD5SthPI
The Cruel Sea are releasing an anniversary edition of their long player, "The Honeymoon Is Over". I was fortunate enough to see them play live at the Livid Festival many years ago. Only the Rollins Band were better that day and to be fair, they may have been on a par. For those unfamiliar with The Cruel Sea, their music is a mutated blend of swampy blues, beat poetry lyrics and Australian bar room rock and roll. If you have memories of sticky carpet, pool tables in dark corners and a band in the corner looking impossibly cool but playing hard then this is for you.
The Cruel Sea – Black Stick - https://youtu.be/cr7sCQ1W-ks
That'll do. I listened to plenty of new music in the past month but I'll save some of that for my next episode. That might be next week or next month but it will arrive eventually.
Keep smiling,
The Woozle
"Is it just a waste of time?"
Pink Floyd, Mother, 1979
