LOTS to try and get through before we hit the road south tomorrow (Wednesday) morning.
In the office I print postcards promoting sign up to email list and start a batch of giveaway keyrings. We threw a few round the tables at the Gartmore show last month and they went down a storm. We’ll put a few out at this week’s shows in SHeffield and Huddersfield.
Next job is Spotify canvases and pitching for the forthcoming Blind Willie Johnson tribute EP which lands on 6 March. I’m a little behind the curve, but not out of time yet.
One done `I put together a news release for the local village hall fundraiser on 28 February then we have lunch and go for a quick swim, sauna and session in the steam room.
Back home the first of this afternoon’s two in-person guitar students arrives, then the second….then an online student before we wander along to Betty’s for dinner.
Mikey’s been working in Glasgow and is staying with us tonight – he’s not here yet, so he’ll meet us there.
We have a grand evening then home and straight to bed. An early start to get all the gear packed and on the road to Sheffield by 10am. That’s the plan anyway….
A BREAK in the usual Monday routine as I didn’t make my sourdough yesterday…so it’s overnight oats for breakfast. I’ll make the sourdough later today.
There’s some stuff to do in the village after a session with one of my online guitar students. I jump in the car with Margaret then I walk back home. First exercise since last week’s hospital visit. I take some ‘walk and talk’ video and edit/post as a news update on my socials when I get back.
In the studio I carry on with the web server debacle then go back to the house for a guitar lesson with one of my young in-person students.
Back to the studio to get some promo done for upcoming shows then prep for this week’s Wildcats’ livestream on Facebook…
A RELATIVELY long lie for when the kids are staying…it’s almost 8am when they come through and start jumping all over me.
After a shower and breakfast I escape to the studio to carry on the web server nightmare. Still in the midst of security and malware scans, file checks and edits for the eight sites on my server.
Maggi and Joel drop by for a coffee and bring their wee dog Rosie for the kids to play with.
After lunch Margaret takes the kids swimming and I go back to the studio. In between the computer stuff I make up a set list for this week’s upcoming shows and run through a few songs.
Catriona comes for the kids late afternoon so I take a break for a coffee then back to it….
WE HAVE a fairly relaxed morning then I hit the studio – more web server scans and investigations to be done.
Catriona arrives to drop the kids off – they're staying the night to give her a break – and Margaret takes them to feed the ducks. I have a couple of new kids (aged six and eight!) starting guitar lessons who show up with their dad and three-year-old sister. Chaos!
Once done I go back to the studio and carry on the laborious web server jobs, doting back to the house and kids in between times.
I SLEEP late and get a decent rest….still not feeling 100% tho’. I decide to take things easy.
Eventually I get my ass out of bed and have shower. My (this!) blog is needing done as I’ve missed the last few days due to server/website issues then the hospital incident.
There’s a West Highland Way Gifts’ order to be shipped – I finished making it on Tuesday for shipping on Wednesday but that obviously didn’t happen. Not feeling much like it, but I go out to the office to sort it and also make a Valentine’s card for Margret.
There’s still untold issues with the web server and all my sites. I do a little more investigation then give up and take it easy.
I WAKE around 6am in the hospital and feel quite a lot better. Not good, but better. Then go back to sleep.
Next thing I know is the nurse coming to check blood pressure, temperature etc and replace one of the drips.
When breakfast comes I feel well enough to have a slice of dry toast and a glass of water…and it all strays down.
The doc stops by for a chat and is just as flummoxed as everyone else has been over the last 20 years. Apparently there was mention yesterday about trying an anti-migraine drug that can sometimes be effective dealing with cyclical vomitting syndrome. This has been mentioned in the passing before…but my symptoms ad personal profile don’t the norm for cyclical committing thing.
We chat about it but agree that there’s not much point in trying it if I’ve stopped being/trying to be sick and feeling a lot better...but the doc says he’ll note it in my discharge notes. I’ll arrange an appointment with the doc to discuss further in due course.
Meantime, when the drip’s done he’s happy for me to get picked up. Margaret arrives and I have a sandwich and wee tub of ice cream, get my cannulas out and off we go.
Back home I go straight to bed and sleep until evening. I’m still feeling poorly but have a sandwich and one of the phosphate replacement drinks then try and reorganise the three guitar sessions Margaret had to cancel yesterday.
I’M SICK all night and by 10am or so we submit and Margaret calls the doctor. We thought we’d try to wait it out but things are getting worse rather than better.
The doc agrees I need the hospital and arranges for us to go direct to the CAU at Forth Valley Hospital and we get in the car for the hour-long drive.
Within half an hour of getting there I’m triaged and on a bed…a lot better than out past seven or eight hours waiting in A&E for something that’s neither an accident nor an emergency.
I’m fucked though, and despite all the IV stuff things don’t improve much as the day goes by. Poor Margaret’s with me the whole time and I suspect it’s worse having to watch me going through all this than actually go through it as I’m largely away with the fairies.
I have a high temperature to boot and have to be given IV paracetamol - not sure if it helps, but I think Margaret leaves about 11pm and I don’t remember much after that.
MAIN job today is to top and tail promo videos for all upcoming shows – and make up a posting schedule as well as work out some kind of advertising campaign for each on my socials.
There’s also some more news releases to be sent out and other bits and bobs for next weeks shows in Sheffield and Huddersfield.
After a session with an afternoon guitar student I start prepping chicken enchiladas for tonight’s dinner…Betty’s coming round and it’s one for her favourites.
We have a nice evening but just after I finish eating I get ‘that feeling’…ten minutes later I’m sick and things ain’t looking (or feeling) good. I’m sick every half hour and, true to form, starting to lose the plot.
We decide to try and wait it out and see if I’m any better int he morning…I’m pretty distressed and no sleep…
Ground-breaking at the Balmaha affordable housing site…a historic moment and the result of over 30 years’ effort
THE USUAL Monday sourdough routine is followed by breakfast before I hit the studio for a session with one of my online guitar students.
As soon as I’m done I grab the camera and head into the village to take some photos of Margaret signing the agreements for the community-owned key worker housing that forms part of Balmaha’s affordable housing project. The signing complete, we move to the site for the official ground-breaking.
This is a historic moment for the village since the need for affordable housing was highlighted by the community, and championed by our pal the late Joe Twaddle, more than 30 year ago.
As secretary of East Loch Lomond Community Trust, Margaret took over from Joe when failing health prevented him carrying on and her determination to see the project come to fruition despite some incredible challenges has paid off.
After the groundbreaking there’s a local reception. I hang out for a wee while then go back tot eh studio to sort the photos and get some pix and news on local special media and WhatsApp groups.
My usual Monday afternoon guitar student is on holiday this week but one of her pals, who usually comes later in the week has asked to take her slot….we have a good session then I go back tot eh studio and prep for this evening Wildcats’ livestream on Facebook.
Margaret signs the development agreement for the community trust-owned key worker homes with solicitor Joyce Moss, right.
ANOTHER very long lie…in my defense, I get a fair bit of work done before I get up!
There’s another batch of pizza dough to be sorted out and some prep for my sourdough. Trying to be ahead of the game now I’m outta bed.
I spend the rest of the day, and evening going through the pix form Betty’s party and make up a slideshow she can share with folks as well as a Dropbox folder of lo-res versions of the images.
It’s all done by the time dinner’s ready and we settle down to watch Bill and Dorothy’s livestream from Florida.
