I’m getting better at slapping my guitar

walking and running continues …

With the announcement of the Astra-Zenica vaccine today, I’m hoping we can all look forward to a summer of few restrictions? They reckon they can put out a million a week, which does sound a lot – so bravo to them. Worse case is it will take a year to vaccinate all of us. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.

Our routine continues. We did pop to the shops today (we walked). Bread and bird food was needed, and I picked up a prescription for some nasal spray. My ears, alas, are still not right. It’s been seven years now and I phoned the doc about another minor issue, mentioned my frustration with the things on the side of my head, and she’s put me on some more steroid spray. I’m going to have some very strong nose muscles … and more hair sprouting than usual. Oh, to be an older man.

hello Robin

We have kept up our routine. Yesterday was run day. C was out for an hour. I did our ‘long run’, which is only 6 klicks, but I do work up a sweat. Today we walked – always trying to avoid people. Mostly the Bradley Stoke lot are very good. Only one or two get testy when you give them a Paddington hard stare if they don’t avoid you. And we have watched a lot of TV. It will stop on Monday, the end of our ‘holiday’ period. That’s when I intend to start editing book 7 in the Sam Green series. I’ll have left it to soak for almost two months; I really am struggling to remember the plot. But it’s always fun going back over what you’ve written. I do surprise myself – ‘did I really write that?’. I’m well over a million published words now, so it’s a surprise if I forget much of what I’ve penned.

I’m enjoying my ‘gig’ guitar (3/4 size). I realised that when I posted what we’d got for Christmas my guitar threw a shadow over C’s Henry-replacement teddy. I’d like to report that she did get some bluetooth earbuds and, yesterday, ordered herself a Samsung tablet, so I think the balance is about right. Anyhow, the guitar. I don’t play badly but, until now, I’ve struggled with the percussive sound you can get by slapping the strings/case. Ed Sheeran uses it a lot and really adds something to your playing. Well … I can do that now – nowhere near well enough. But I am getting better. And, as of yet, my fingers have not bled. It is only a matter of time.

when I grow up I want a full-sized guitar

And you will notice that, yet again, I have avoided politics. Suffice to say that I am still really frustrated with our government – the way it’s tackled covid and the associated and unnecessary deaths, and Brexit. But I won’t bore you. I’ll just chew on my knuckles and seethe a little.

So, keep safe. And for my US pals, you too. I complain about the way we’ve tackled the disease, but your administration’s almost wilful lack of effort/control/competence/politics must be far more frustrating than ours. You, therefore, stay safer still. Wear a mask, wash your hands and keep your distance. I understand that the administration of your vaccine(s) has been sporadic, and that’s not helping. But it will come. Sorry to be patronising.

And roll on 2021 …