It's been one of those bits and pieces, all-over-the-place weeks. Our house is full of plumbers for a start and they are very good, organised ones who get here promptly at 8am on the dot so I have to pretend to be a proper housewife person who gets out of bed in the morning early and all that. It's quite a strain. Also there's been a bit of post-good-show comedown going on. What am I on about? Well, last week our bit of the Brechin show went brilliantly and Verona and I felt invincible (a great feeling!). This week it's a normal week and we feel...kind of off-centre...bogged down in things, in life, in all our possible failures (as mothers, as people, as artists, darling...). I know all about ups and downs...about coping with highs and lows...I write about it all a lot...but it still doesn't make it any easier when it happens! I know life would be dull if it was on a level, always good...but I still hate being gloomy and pessimistic (as I have been this week). That student who won the lottery recently...I read in the paper that she is buying a car and the first thing (the VERY first thing) I thought was 'wouldn't that be terrible if she had an accident and the good luck ended up being the end of her?' Ridiculous, isn't it? I should get a job writing soap operas. Of course having had a manic depressive parent (or a depressive at least) doesn't help because you wonder how close you are to the wards at times like this when the moods go up and down (which is most of the time really). But then I look around and most of my friends are like this...most people are like this. Really I think highs and lows are just human...it's only when for some reason you can't cope with them that the medical system gets involved (rightly or wrongly...often wrongly, unfortunately).
Anyway, I have been doing constructive things this week as well because I have been working with others to put together a very fine event for November. Basically I wanted to see Hugh McMillan read some poems and Dumfries is a long way from here so I'm getting him to do a poems and music show with me and lots of musicians in Edinburgh on Friday 14th November at the Forest Cafe. I hope some of you will make it there to see us both. We are calling the night 'Postcards from the Song' (see our respective recent books to work that title out) and the musical entertainment will be provided by special guests Kim Edgar, Pauline Meikleham, Andy Spiller, Kevin O'Donnell, Charlie Williamson and, of course, my pal Verona. We have set up a temporary webpage with all the details and links to everybody's sites here so go have a look, why don't you! I'm a bit nervous about it now...but really looking forward to it too. This will be a first Edinburgh event for me so there's nothing like strength in numbers. Plus Hugh is headlining (as they say in showbiz) so if no-one comes I can blame it all on him...
p.s. Adding this later...I knew I forgot to mention something...the whole financial armageddon business!It's so...strange...particularly for people like me who don't really understand how economics work anyway. One thing I do know is that there has been so much finance on the news that finally the financial correspondents (long time the wallflowers) are getting to be stars for once...quite the cover boys and girls. The best coverage of it all though is on Jon Stewart's Daily Show (a US show but on More4 here). There is no British show to match him (and his team) right now. The bit about the Jewish holiday thing the other day was brilliant.
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15 comments:
Looks like it'll be a great event, I'd love to come but the usual problems mean I can't - feeling a little lonesome on my island which is not technically an island but for all the disadvantages it may as well be. Yep downs go with the ups, but you're having some pretty great ups!
You might be better placed to catch the Postcards from the Hedge tour than me though. It's over out west and some time soon...maybe Hugh will be kind enough to provide the details.
Small children don't help with getting out and about either. I've been a lot more active in terms of getting out and reading my poems since SG has been in school and we've had an in-house babysitter!
x
Okay for those of us who can't afford air fare to see two of our favorite people in the same place at the same time, can't one of you manage to video a bit? Come on sorlil, get up on the soapbox with me and chant, "We want to see too!" [There's safety in numbers I hear].
I'd think you and Hugh would be much more fun to watch than the typical YouTube stuff where teens rant and rave about how unfair life is...and they haven't got a clue yet.
Didn't you say your Beloved is technically savvy? :) Don't make me grovel. I'm too short for that...won't be able to reach the keyboard if I'm on my knees. ;)
Flattery, my dear Hope, might get you everywhere...I will speak to him indoors and see if we can't get a few bits recorded (with everyone's permission of course). He's got one of those fancy i phone things now...it can do everything (if only it could manage teleportation...that's what I'm waiting for). It even has a spirit level...no, really it does.
x
I've added a p.s. just now. I knew there was something else making me jumpy! Doh!
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Good luck with the show.
By the way, is there anywhere one can hear your songs?
Thanks SB.
As for the songs...you are a sucker for punishment...let me warn you that whilst I have been writing for...ever really I have only been writing songs for just over a year. Likewise singing. My friend Verona picked up her guitar for the first time about 2 years ago (went to beginners nightclasses in Jan 07) so it is all quite...fresh. We are not experienced musicians, singers or composers!
Most of the songs we have written together are on the songs page of my website (www.crowd-pleasers.net). The recordings are not exactly album-ready...done in our front room last xmas with just the one mic (and as ever I am too close to it and Verona is too far away!). One of the only ones we haven't recorded yet is 'The Wandering Song'...the one we like most just now.
Verona writes and sings her own songs too but not many of those are recorded yet either. We have a myspace page for our music stuff which is www.myspace.com/rachelfoxpoemsandsongs
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Oh I'm all for that, youtube a fantastic thing!
Good for you for organising the gig. If you don't ask, you won't get: I always say that. Now, look what you've achieved! :)
Thanks Barbara...let's hope it all goes well!
x
I will not be able to get there, but congratulations for pulling it off and all the very best for a successful evening - which I have absolutely no doubt it will be.
I am sure the lows will evaporate then if not before.
Thanks Dave. I should think I will have had about six different rides on the highs and lows rollercoaster by the time it gets to mid November! Does anyone know what being levelheaded feels like (or levelmooded anyway)? Is it pleasant?
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Truthfully, it sometimes makes me feel boring and dull. It's often repetitive ["organized" seems to come with the levelheaded stuff] and yet, it's not always predictable.
Levelheaded is one of those double edged swords: people know they can rely on you...and people KNOW they can rely on you [therefore they don't have to do much].
The mood level, however, still experiences highs and lows, depending on the degree of expectations. :)
I've put that date in my diary Rachel. I'll be there.
Great Colin. It'll be good to see you again too.
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