D C G

I need to drum more. The kit's set up and the neighbours are surprisingly understanding so why is it I still choose to pick up a guitar than go and beat something repeatedly? The sorry truth is that I'm fat; I'm old; and I've simply slowed down. There were days when I'd spend hours beating out rhythms and odd timed wonders, but now I can barely get through a couple of tracks without needing a break. Those 16 & 32/4s are now 2/4s. I know if I practice more I'll get back into it, but unlike years past when I get there I find myself wondering what to do. I don't have a couple of albums worth of tunes in my head like I used to, and worse, I know what I'm capable of. That's the biggest kicker. I know what I can do behind a kit, but my dodgy right ankle can no longer go the speed or take the pounding it used to and age is a factor in getting these arms moving. I find myself angry and frustrated for not doing what I should be doing, so rather than face that frustration I pick up a guitar and strum.

No Parking

I’m fortunate enough that despite having my ankle twisted beyond natural human limits and thus ending any hope I had of becoming a professional footballer (any suggestions that by that time I was far too old and never had any real skills anyway being suitably ignored) I don’t consider myself disabled. Sure it’s a little stiff and painful each morning and I’ll never have full mobility back in it. I can however walk. When the mood takes me I can even run / waddle. I am not disabled. When therefore I go to the supermarket or car park I do not park in the disabled bays.

I do have a young daughter who still uses a 3 point harness child seat. So on these outings I do, when available and then only when my little cherub is with me, use the parent and child parking bays so I can suitably access said child.

It’s a simple little bit of self discipline I have.