From friction to fruition...

Playlist
Kansas - Epic Kansas 1974-2000
Max Jury - All I Want
Max Richter - 24 Postcards in Full Colour
Cloudland Blue Quartet - Morphinecodex
Judith Collins - Bartok And Ginastera
Lewensohn/Shostakovich - Works For Viola & Chamber Orchestra
Capital Models - Rehearsal Tapes
Archie Shepp - Fire Music

Up super early and working in this week's podcast...

After I'd finished it, some judicious editing was required and I used a new programme to do so...

Only after I'd posted it up did I realise my editor had reduced the bit rate of the file...

And so it was deleted...

Back to the drawing board...

Breakfast at home and some prep for today's sessions...

Then, with Anne all set to visit Tynecastle to see Hearts maintain their ongoing unbeaten run at the top of the league by beating nearest rivals The Rangers 2-0, I walked over the hill to Keith's, noting on the way, these two shoppers and their groceries which seemed to comprise Red Bull and Coke...

It was going to be a long day for more people than just me...

At Keith's around 11:30 am and setting up...

Today was our penultimate rehearsal and the plan was to get the sound right on the desk we will use on the night and run through the three sets...

Getting the sound right took around 40 minutes or so...

Then, we worked on some songs which needed work...

This caused some friction and fraughtness...

And so to the run through - it went surprisingly well, all things considered (for example, that this was only the third time we'd done so) and, as we made our way through, things got better and better...

And the beards are coming on...

We finished around four and will meet again on Tuesday...

Andy gave me a lift back over the hill to a delighted at Hearts victory Anne...

I started editing the tapes on my arrival home and they sound pretty good, although, of course, apart from a handful of songs, there are small errors on almost every track - but nothing, were these unfortunately to be repeated, which the audience will notice on the night...

In the early evening a text from erstwhile drummer Jim Park advising his treatment re his leg infection has now finished and he may indeed be able to play along with us next week on a couple of songs...

Some discussions with Keith (Andy was DJing tonite and incommunicado) and this may well be possible - even though we will only be able to rehearse at the soundcheck...

Meanwhile, Anne and I enjoyed watched Queen of the South's match against Raith Rovers...

The Doonhamers won 2-0, maintaining their 3 point lead over Hibernian and gaining 3 points on The Rangers...

We were supposed to have been going out for dinner with Count Brodski and Lady Penelope tonight but, unfortunately, the latter was not 100% and so the evening was postponed...

Instead, "Atlantis" entertained, as did a cheeky Indian Takeaway and then, it was back to the drawing board to re-record this week's podcast...

Ended the day with "Match of the Day"...

Highlight of the Day : Rehearsing...