I’ve completely lost the ability to moan-at-will. I’m no longer the rambunctious minion I used to be. What happened to me?

So, with my new found inability to bitch and moan I’ve not a lot to say

Sorry!

Anyway, have a peek at my new family member… his name’s Marvin The Great MkII… hasn’t stopped purring since we picked him up from the floor at the breeders and he’s an Apricot Persian :)

It’s been around 5 months since we lost Muffin and dearly hope we don’t lose this little man in the same way!

Anyway… soul wise, Soul Or Nothing on 30 July and Radcliffe on 31 July.  Manchester for the whole weekend it is then!  Put those in your diary’s because they’re going to be fucking awesome… Big George on two nights running plus Karl Heard on the Saturday!

My new job’s going well… get loose on the floor next week and I’ll be looking after the ‘public sector’ customers… can’t wait!

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So, arrived in time to get the last parking space opposite the Blue Posts and skipped over to where Dolly was already supping her first pint. More punters arrived where conversation flowed and laughter echoed around the the tall buildings. I gave a homeless man a few quid toward a bed for the night (or possibly adult beverages!) for which he was grateful. It’s nice to extend a little friendliness and he was really gracious in receiving it

2½ pints later we were descending the famous staircase and stamped like cattle before making our way into the gloomy cellar. We shared a table with the delightful Mr & Mrs Money and watched the place fill up nicely. We had a fab chat and a laugh didn’t we Sandra! Lot’s of faces I didn’t recognise but more that I did.  There were a lot of regulars missing though… perhaps they’re all sunning themselves on foreign shores.

It was eye-opening to watch Dolly show her newest record to all the Big collectors such as Andy Dyson, Ady Croasdell, Butch, Pete Hullat and Keith Money as they’d never heard of the song nor the actual record label. She was as smug as a bug in a rug and rightly so

I’ve not heard it myself but I’ll have a listen when I go up to Manchester in a couple of weeks :)

Musically, except for Mick’s Jackie Wilson Samba , it was excellent. Butches sets sounded a bit higgledy-piggledy to my uneducated ears – a bit like a pub with a juke box when customers all choose different genres, tempos etc – but good all the same. And why does he always look so miserable and dispassionate? I’d love to see him giving it large behind the decks like Karl Heard!

All the DJ’s got me up dancing time and time again causing my feet to burn and my hips to ache.

My Proposal, I Saw You There, Love’s Just Begun, Look At Me Now, Never Learned To Dance, Another Sundown In Watts … I can’t remember the rest as usual

Andy Dyson was guesting and what a couple of sets he delivered.  Right up my street tempo wise… fast!

Super to see Irish Greg, Douglas, Toby, Steve & Sue, Jennifer, Ian, Geoff, Etsu, Yann, Kim, Pete Hullat, Alfie and everyone else! I’d be here all day if I kept typing names

Really missed the company of my soul-mates Rachel, Lindsay and Kev. Wasn’t quite complete without you guys.

By 6am we were all soul-satiated but in need of coffee so the usual incessant babbling took place in Macdonalds where I bent the ear of many who in turn reciprocated with their own chatter

Oh, and Dolly, I’ve found you the perfect head-ware in case that hair on your chin keeps growing! hahahaha. You were excellent and comical company!

I dropped Dolly back to her Mum’s and had a repeat nightmare journey just trying to get out of London.  Honestly, what a tiresome bore!  I got home at 2.30pm in the end… shattered but with a grin on my face, lovely memories of a night spent with great people and fantastic music.  Thank you everyone

I start my new job tomorrow, minus my voice which I think has been left just to the side of the stage… luckily I’m in training for a few weeks so no calls to answer immediately

Here’s my photos… most of which were taken by Dolly-David Bailey so you can blame her this time

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However, it’s detracted nothing from my soul-life at all… in fact, having no job meant that I could attend soul events more often than I did when I was working! All good things come to an slow-down though as I look forward to starting a new job next week. Can’t live off my savings for ever and need to earn a wage again plus stop vegetating

My last nighter before my new job starts will be the 100 Club this Saturday! Dolly and I will do what we do best; be naughty

And don’t forget, anyone that’s in the South West, HipHugHer is on at the Grand Atlantic Hotel in Weston Super Mare on July 10th! Not been there for a couple of years so may well venture down and reacquaint myself with its loveliness! After all, Ted Massey is on

Those who know me well have been following my new life over at TowpathTownie; there’s loads of photos and watery tales if you’re interested – including a rather funny video

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