Goodness but we had a right storm last night. I drove home from Winchester straight into it at about seven in the evening and then it kicked on. This picture is not treated, its a sculpture on the top of one of the University buildings yesterday. The monochrome, grey black is as it was, I just snapped it as I walked past on the way back to my office. But this weather is allowing me to catch up with my diary - the Brighton Photo Biennial is something I will catch up on tomorrow but I also want to see the Sex and Sexuality in the 19C exhibition at the V&A and also Terror and Wonder: The Gothic Imagination at the BL - which I guess I can visit in one go, with a single trip up to London. All I can do is hope things settle down work-wise so I can get some time, never seen anything like it - and what with re-writing and editing a really complicated and detailed newsletter on CSA with the LSCB (with whom I volunteer) the weekend is taken too. Of course, I don't mind this busy life, its seasonal, twelve weeks on teaching and then a research and writing phase, then twelve weeks on teaching, followed by another research and writing phase and you get used to organising your life in this way. Unfortunately the rest of the world doesn't and all kinds of things crossover. Not to worry. It rained all night and carried on to this morning, I heard it and as I brewed the early grey this morning - actually not - Fairtrade Citrus Grey - well recommended I can tell you - I remembered one of the very first song lines I ever wrote (thirteen and already pretentious) but I can even remember the tune so I strummed this (bit predictable): 'I watch the rain roll down the window, pounding like the storm in my heart...' Now I didn't have a storm pounding in my heart at thirteen, if indeed I have ever had such a thing, most of my troubles have been a precipitation of rain, not much more than a drizzle or the haar rolling in from the North Sea. And so it should remain, I say! However, song writing is like that, tugging at the heartstrings of others who might, as you look for a solution or resolution (well that's how I approach it these days). I bought a new LP this week - remember how that used to be a huge event (goodness U2 sent me a rubbish one for free via iTunes) - it is Standing in the Breach by Jackson Browne. Anyway, not his classic best but a new studio LP from Jackson Browne always has something interesting on it. I love these Tiny Desk Concerts (they book the most amazing people to sing in the back of a shop for broadcast):
