Guitar Emporium

When I was studying in the 1970's this was the title of a book by the economist J.K Galbraith. I think it still might be the Age of Uncertainty.

The word "transactional" has become very important - its all about the deal . I'm not sure that everything we do should be determined by what you get out of it.

I've had access to a "light as a feather" soprano guitar these last few weeks. It really is very lightly built. It is an octave higher than a classical guitar , has 6 nylon strings and is about 1/3rd of the size of a classical guitar. The soprano guitar produces a very strong sound and works well in an ensemble.

I've been sectioned - probably best not to be too frivolous about it. Its nothing to do with mental health - its a bit of landlord v's tenant paperwork called no fault eviction. The UK government are trying to do away with it, although I'm not convinced that they are doing anything very significant in their changes - time will tell.

Every human endeavour is a beauty contest - and my goodness its competitive out there. Beauty in terms of the most beautiful brain, the most beautiful body, the most beautiful face and the most beautiful achievement .. and on and on it goes

A fashionable phrase for those who have sustained a consistent high standard throughout their life - of integrity, of performance, of achievement.

Finding something to believe in is central to us busy little souls. You got a cause - You got something to believe in .

The London marathon - my nephew entered for it this year, something I would loved to have done - a real achievement. Congratulations. The song alludes to the Dustin Hoffman / Laurence Olivier film Marathon Man and the escape of Nazi leaders through Europe and away to South America

It is all moving so so quickly - almost as though it is totally out of control - surely not. But its clearer than ever - if you ever doubted it - for right or for wrong it is all about money. Humanitarian stuff - however its argued - is secondary. Ok its Monday morning - have a good week

As Spring gets up and and running in the UK the mornings are beautifully " a bit nippy" - there's a frost about at dawn. I see this wonderful jogger out and on a 3 mile + circuit - she must be in her 70's, she used to run marathons and has now cut it back to just an early morning jog!!!. Loads of energy lots going on - go with the flow.

Lou Reed's wonderful Perfect Day - said it very eloquently. This is in hope of that day and many like it.

The change in landlord / tenant arrangements in the UK takes effect in May 2026. In the meantime the rental market is seeing increases in rent, no fault evictions ( section 21 notices) and all kinds of shenanigans by these delightful property owners.

This is a piece I've returned to again and again over the 57 (!) years I've been playing the guitar. I've arranged it for a school group for concert and festival performance in the next couple of weeks. I hope it goes well.

The road to nowhere. Some of the rhetoric thats flying about now makes you despair. Find another way - a new direction - don't let the past drag you down .

A tune linked to the beautiful guitar part Dominic Miller composed for the Sting tune - Shape of my heart, With Rob on percussion . From Parables - a 2012 compilation of acoustic songs and tunes.

.....more to do with the nursery rhyme than the Artemis mission . An acoustic version of the 2008 ( I think ) song

"Digging that hole" can refer to a literal act, a humorous 1960s song by Bernard Cribbins, or a metaphor for making a situation worse The song was a satirical take on a bowler hatted exec telling the workman how to dig the hole.... Making the situation worse - I'm sure we've all been there - well, if you haven't I certainly have .

After the Lord Mayors show comes the ---- cart.

A standing eight-count, also known as a protection count, occurs when the referee stops the action and gives an eight-count to a boxer who has not been knocked down but appears hurt. During this time, the referee will determine if the boxer is fit to continue. When scoring a fight, a standing eight-count is considered the same as a knockdown. I'll go for the standing count - down but not out - re-mix

Thanks for bearing with a lot of re-hashes of late - sorry I mean re-mixes - some are OK and some were really indifferent. I got a bit of breather over the last few days - some better stuff coming through - I hope. Run it around in your head - about how some folk have no filters or empathy with the sensitivities of others - we've all met 'em...