Partly inspired by our road trip, I've completed another novel about... a road trip. The protagonist meets up with old friends from various parts of his life, just as we did. The people he meets up with have various problems, and he does his best to help all of them. It's not meant to be especially deep or meaningful; more of humorous entertainment.
   Have I succeeded? Well, obviously I like to think so, but the jury's out at the moment. Children, Ivy + couple of friends have the draft copy and I await their reactions with interest.

These candlelight sessions take place at the Trades Hall, Glasgow, and Ivy persuaded me to go to one which featured a Pink Floyd tribute. I was a bit sceptical about it because a) I've never been to a concert because of my (lack of) hearing and b) I suspected the music would be provided by a string quartet.* And how could a string quartet convey the music of Pink Floyd.
   Well, I admit it, I was wrong. We were lucky to have a seat near to the front, where I could hear much better. The whole hall was illuminated by about 500 candles - not real ones, but they looked good. And the music was very, very good.
   The session lasted an hour and they played maybe 8 tunes. I recognised all except one of them... and Ivy recognised most of them too. It was very well done and if anyone gets the chance to see this 'tribute quartet', I urge them to take it.

* I later discovered the quartet comprises 2 violins, a viola and a cello.

Ivy and I decided to take a road trip the other week. 'We've got a little sports car,' she told me, 'so perhaps we should use it.'
   Good point, I thought, and over a period of a few days we went to:
   Penrith
   My uncle's, in Ingleby Barwick (look it up!)
   Mansfield, where we were supposed to see an olde university friend, but he had to jet off to Ireland to attend a funeral
   Peterborough, where we met up with two of my old school friends (we had rather a lot to catch up on)
   Mansfield, to draw breath
   Penrith via Sheffield, where we met up with an old colleague of mine, who was also my long-time bridge partner
   Home.
About 550 miles in total. And half of it with the top down... in March in Scotland!