Sundays

It's been a bit slow on the Ionetics factory floor lately, and management admit production is down. The workers have taken control of the means of production and implemented a 3 day week. No, not really- I wish. Just busy at work etc.

So what's new? Well, the Antony and the Johnsons album 'I Am a Bird Now' is entrancing and somewhat holy, filled with mourning. I'm a sucker for torch songs, like those of Brel, Scott Walker, Maianne Faithfull, and these are exquisite, particularly 'Bird Guhl'. Smash recommended this, and he was right. Marc Almond (another torch singer) made his first performance following his near-fatal accident in a duet with Antony in London in April. Antony and his Johnsons are playing in Edinburgh on the 30th June, and I'd love to hear that voice live, but am coming off a plane from San Diego that morning. I think I may buy myself a ticket, just in case I'm up for cabaret on the night.



The programme for Patti Smith's Meltdown festival (featured in ?Tues Independent review) has some line-up. My colleague has booked tickets to see Patti Smith play 'Horses' on the 25th, my all-time favourite album, with John Cale (who produced the original). However, I will be away in San Diego, and will miss this landmark reunion, 30 years after the fact. She's also playing with Steve Earle one night, again one I'll miss.



I will also be missing the one-day workshop run by the Botanical Gardens on identifying British wildflowers (June 25th) which R and I had long planned to attend. There seems to be a lot happening here at home at the end of June, when I'm away. However, I will be back for G8 at the beginning of July, and the kids are wanting to make their voices heard then too. I'll have to get them busy designing and plotting.



My friend D has been visiting for a long weekend while attending my ex's wedding, to my and kids' pleasure. The kids had key roles in the ceremony (chief bridesmaid and best man), and clearly enjoyed themselves. As for D, she has managed the difficult task of continuing to be a good friend simultaneously to me, the ex and our kids. But I'm glad she chooses to stay with me when she's up from London.

D (whom I've known for 27 years) and I took an (in)famous tour of Gareloch maybe 4 years ago, and I'm having a longing towards this area again. Inverewe Gardens too.



Achiltibuie and Gareloch are calling to me again, and the midgies can't put me off. I'm now armed with Avon 'Skin So Soft' products, which I have proven in n=1 experiments as empirically effective against these little blackfly bloodsucking bastards. The greenery of flora, mosses and ephemeroptera this time of year is head-buzzing, with waterlilies breaking out in every little hill loch, late Highland lambs acting stupid, and dragon- and damsel-flies darting among low-growing bog flowers.