March 2007

Yes, a nice month March.

1st – 11th

I started off by going to see Jet at the Carling Academy – I'd never been in it before, but my god, what a beautiful building. Seeing venues like that, you can just imagine what Glasgow was like in the past for all the big music halls and all the artists it hosted. I've only every heard of the Empire and the people who played there – people like Ella Fitzgerald, who in 1968 had to use the side entrance because she was black! Can you believe that??? Not 1868, but 1968!!!

Anyway, Jet. The band was great and obviously has a great Scottish family connection. In fact, some guy got up onto the stage – a family member I guess – who started off in jest, saying that Jet couldn't turn up and that he was the star turn!! Only in Glasgow, I thought.

But of course, Jet did turn up, and of course, they were fab.

At the aftershow party, we persuaded Caitlin to go up and meet the band and she got her picture taken with the lead singer – she was so chuffed.

Meantime, however, her auntie Carol – ie ME! – was getting chatted up by some guy at the bar!

Now, don't ask me why, because I don't know – the guy wasn't even good looking (well, he wasn't bad looking either). But, there he was chatting me up and there I was, totally unaware of this, I just thought we were chewing the fat, until he offered to buy me a drink and would I like to sit with him??!!

Well, realising what was going on, I got all flustered and teenager-y. Then, when he asked me my age – I LIED! I lied about my age! Can you believe it? And, not only did I lie about my age, I told him that instead of forty three – I was only...wait for it...forty one! I mean, it wasn't even a decent lie – you'd think I could have at least put myself in my thirties! But no, the pathetic liar tells a pathetic lie!

However, I'm trying to live with the shame – talking about it is the first step really...!

Onwards and upwards I say!

Onwards to a recording session in the Wee Room with a wonderful musician; Fred Morrison. For those who don't know Fred, he is a world-class musician who was looking to record a couple of songs for the Transatlantic Sessions. So, sharing a manager, David volunteered me to record the stuff. And, I'm so glad he did. What a wonderful piper he is, he played some small pipes, uilleann pipes and whistle. He is a wonderful musician and a lovely, lovely man. In fact, my neighbour – an wireless network saviour – Jamie, was in fixing my wireless network (!) and couldn't believe that Fred Morrison was actually coming to my house! Wow, did I earn ‘I'll-fix'your-internet-anytime' points!

And as can sometimes happen, from one nice thing, comes a really sad, heartbreaking, painful thing! (hey, do I sound dramatic!)

Anyway, wee Caitlin went for an audition – her own idea - at the Musicial Theatre School, which is some big fancy-nancy do-your-schoolwork-along-with-musical-theatre thing. She went along with 70 other young hopefuls – all chasing six places – and they never invited her back for second audition! Ugh! ARE THESE PEOPLE DEAF? And, do I sound bitter?????????????

Wee soul – I think I took is worse than she did!

Still, a disappointment that a nice breakfast at the Uni Café could sort right out...Fab!

Then, that very night, I had my siblings and co over for a tea and a weekend that always lifts me right up – so much so, in fact that I bought a new wee car!

Well, the wee white Skoda that I bought from my mum for £500 had done about 7000 miles in 5 months and it sounded liked it was in fact a tank!

So, here I am, all fancy with a wee blue car (a citroen) which is only marginally bigger than my scooter – which is still sitting outside the house, looking for a new home – yes, Zelda is going to go (sob, sob).

12th – 31st

But, as I said at the beginning, March was the month for change!

But, before the biggie, just a wee quickie to say that I went to see a fine singer-songwriter – Michael McMillan! Great contemporary Scottish folk with some amazing musicians – he's doing a Beanscene tour, if you get a chance, go along and see him!

Yes, so, I said we've been looking at houses and stuff – well, more that we've been looking at gardens! However, aware that a mortgage in the area we want to live would feed a small nation for some years, we decided to go a little further out of the city centre.

On the twelfth anniversary of us moving into our glorious flat that we absolutely adore we drove past a house that was perfect...it was a private sale and so, when I chapped on the door to arrange a viewing, the guy said ‘come on in just now and have a look around'. Well, its perfect, we love it and want it! So, one-and-a-half days later, we went back to see it with Big John, our architect friend, who also loved it, and made an offer. Then, the girl who is selling put the ‘under offer' sign up and on the Monday, we made it official – we're moving! Of course, there's all the ‘their lawyer said that, then our lawyer said this, then their lawyer said that and, blah, blah, blah!'. Thankfully, the couple who are selling are lovely and dead accessible and happy to talk on the phone, and most important, are happy to entertain my friends and I with a glass of wine out in the back garden. It's not 100% just yet, missives and final signatures and stuff, but I'm pretty sure all will go through – if there's no diary next month you'll know that I'm in mourning!!!

Oh aye, and the couple are selling so that they and their two beautiful sons can sail around the world! How cool is that?

So, we're sad to leave our heavenly flat and oh-so-happy all at once! I just think it will be our flat, only bigger, and with a studio and a garden! It's bloody marvellous!

And that bittersweet feeling has been the theme of March.

No time more so than when I had the pleasure of hanging out with Caitlin all weekend, when she came to stay at my house.

We did many things that god mums and goddaughters do – like, the movies, restaurants, DVDs, walks, all that kind of stuff.

I suggested that we go to the park and play catch with the baseball gloves and she looked at me, mustering that wicked and dry sense of humour that she has come to own and said,

‘Wont people think it's strange, this old woman playing in the park with this hip, young thing!'

Ouch!!!!! Where is King Herod when you need him???

Anyway, a little victory in March was that the city council have decided not to extend their totally unfair tax from five-days per week to seven. That is to say, if you want to come and visit me, it's free to park after six!

But then, in my new house, it will be free 24-7!

Okay, I hope to see you in April at one of the shows we'll be playing and when I'll be all brown from my trip to Portugal! Hopefully by then, we'll have done all the necessary and official ‘house-buying' things!

Be safe and remember to get thinking about whom you'll be voting for in May!!

Carol Laula