Tuesday 23rd January 2024

Got up around 0900. Aki complained that she hadn't had a good night's sleep owing to her itchy eczema...took her a mug of tea in bed. Porridged at the computer. Aki got up and managed to get a telephone consultation with the GP. Broke to put some lunch together. Rehearsed the songs ahead of tonight's performance at the pub. Cooked a simple early dinner...tortellini in a vegetable broth, with lots of Parmesan cheese on top, followed by the last of the apple crumble. I wandered up to the North Nineteen at 1930 to put our names down on the list at the open mic, and was astonished to find the place was packed, and there were already 13 acts to be fitted in. Messaged the band and told them to get there as soon as possible, then walked home to get the instruments...decided to put them in the boot of the car to save space, as the venue was packed with guitar cases. By the time we got back to the pub, most of the band had taken up a table at the rear of the pub...and by now, there was a list of 22 acts! We were on 14th, all eight of us crowding to the front of the room and positioning ourselves as best we could. It was a little ramshackle, but our two Burns songs went down well, the pub joining in on the choruses of "Green Grow the Rashes, O" with great gusto. There were three or four excellent female solo acts this evening...Gina, who was last on, just over from Ireland, had the most astounding singing voice, a star in the making, and the evening was topped off by Tony the landlord doing a couple of sing-a-long stadium anthems...he has a great voice! Got home home about 0015!!!