After failing to take into account the drying time for the new cement screed, the first couple of coats of paint on the shed walls took ages to dry due to the dampness in the air.
It’s looking better after the third coat, but there’s still a lot of work to do before the shed can be used for anything.
Yesterday was spent in York, in several bars, before seeing Nathaniel Rateliffe and the Nightsweats at the Barbican.
We’d planned to see them in Leeds a couple of years ago, but the gig was cancelled on the day.
They were insanely good, better than expected.
One added bonus on the day was a pint of unfined Jaipur in the York Tap. This one was a DDH version, so I’ve still not tried the original, which is fined with isinglass.
So, last week, I saw the Foo Fighters for the third time (that I remember); this time at Glasgow’s Hampden Park. As expected, they were great.
On both past occasions, I’d seen them at festivals; Leeds 2005 and Glastonbury 2017. The stadium gig was obviously longer and better, but I think I preferred the festival atmosphere.
This last time was part of a larger family group, which I probably wouldn’t want to do again.
Sunday saw the end of an era, for me at least. A last night at/for the Schooner. I’ve mixed feelings about the place; I loved it as a customer years ago, then I loved/hated it when I had a part of it.
The dog spent most of her childhood there, she accidentally became a pubdog.
The stress in the (our) early days was immense, the hours were horrific, the problems were never ending and the pressure on working (and non working) relationships was intense.
I’m no longer involved in the place, but it was nice to say goodbye.
The band was great.
The dog even got to sit in her old childhood seat.
I got to stand behind the bar one last time.
And then we left (to close up at our place). The scaffolding had already been erected, which made sense since time is money etc.
Work started the next day.
The bar certainly needed change; the right degree of change. I genuinely hope that everything works out for the place.
We had something of a rushed trip to Leeds the other day, for a gig in a new (to me) venue, Brudenell Social Club. I’d been trying to see the Hillbilly Moon Explosion for a few years, but it didn’t really work out for various reasons, including the obvious pandemic. So, it was great that the timing finally worked out.
The icing on the cake was the discovery of Cavegirl and the Neandergals, the support act. A bit off the wall, but insanely good.
Then, last night, back on home ground, Elbow’s warm-up gig for an arena tour, at the City Hall. While predictably good, I think I do prefer seeing them at smaller venues.