Sunday 17 June 2012
John Sampson exacerbates my condition
There could not be a finer day to be suffering from a hangover - the sun is out, but I think it is going to tip down again by the time I reach the street-party that I am supposed to be going to this afternoon.
H.I. went off on her own last night, so I hung around talking, drinking and eventually shouting with friends in the pub until it was too late to go home and cook some dinner, but I did have fun so I am not complaining - much.
An old Scottish friend turned up from Edinburgh as well, because he is due to perform in the annual Widcombe festival event which I have just called a 'street party'. He specialises in pretty much every wind instrument except bagpipes, and he is something of a celebrity on the circuit, not least for being able to play at least two recorders at the same time.
When I told him that my birthplace was Haslemere in Surrey, he was deeply impressed because - as previously mentioned - that town is the home of the world famous Dolmetsch recorder factory, and all of his instruments were made there. He sends them back regularly for a service, and pays £60 each to have that done by the original makers. That's what I call professionalism.
I am going to see if I can find a You Tube video of him playing one of the tunes from the album he gave me a copy of last night, but I may not be able to listen to it for long. Solo recorders and hangovers don't mix.
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P.s. - when I said that he plays two recorders at the same time, I didn't mean the above, I meant that he actually sticks two in his mouth and plays them at the same time.
ReplyDeleteP.p.s - I have just had a call from another Edinburgh friend (coincidence) asking if I wanted to go to the pub with him. I said I had only just left it, and declined.
ReplyDeleteP.p.p.s - I've just remembered 'Fool on the Hill' by the Beatles, and came to the conclusion that it contains the best use of recorders in popular music that I can think of - nicely in the background.
ReplyDeleteI once owned a small 'antique' piccolo that could have done with a 10,000 tune service. It would only play after having been immersed in water; I wonder why!
ReplyDeleteIt probably came from a band of the Royal Navy.
DeleteI can't wait to send you a T-shirt so it can be seen in the best pubs in your area. Knowing you, you'll get hammered, do a naked dance on the pub counter and leave my t-shirt abandoned on some bar stool.
ReplyDeleteI better send you two eh?
You had better get some underpants printed up instead.
DeleteI bought recorders for all my grandchildren, with strict instructions to annoy their parents. 50% of them rose in the musical world, to play baritone, trombone and flute. The other three still annoy their parents.
ReplyDeleteCould have been worse - could have been penny-whistles.
DeleteDepends on the recorder, Tom. A good Dolmetsch tenor is mellifluous (I used to play one in an early music group_) and would definitely sooth any hangover.
ReplyDeleteTrue. Why do they always issue children with trebles?
DeleteI play a fife. Had to perform in several parades when i had a hangover. I wouldn't recommend it.
ReplyDeleteYour friend plays the recorder beautifully.
Ok then, I won't.
Delete