S'grim up North

a very poor day for the Northeast football teams today.

All 3 lost.

We now sit in 17th, 18th and 19th places (SAFC, NUFC & BFC) and probably 2 of the 3 will be relegated. It will get worse for Sunderland before it gets better as we play Man Utd next week at Old Trafford.

I'll definitely be hiding behind the sofa.

I'll think I'll go and cheer myself up by listening to some more of Company of Liars- there's nothing like a plague story to put things into context.

back to the future

I'm listening to Company of Liars by Karen Maitland at the moment.

Set in the Plague years of 1348 it follows a mismatched company of travellers fleeing the plague and hiding their own secrets. The plague has crossed the channel and foreigners and Jews are being blamed for the pestilence. Anything that happens is blamed on outsiders, or anyone who is different or disabled.

Who do we blame for AIDS? Who do we blame for the economic crisis? For climate change? Everyone else but ourselves, plus ça change, plus ça même chose

David Thorpe's narration is superb and he fleshes out all the characters really well.

Last night, J1 played in the Fiddlesticks band at High School. As well as all the stringed instruments , Mrs W includes a piano, drums, bass guitar, acoustic guitars, accordion, tuba, bagpipes, tin whistle, flute & even a clarsarch. The kids range in age from 10-18 (from primary to High School) and played a lively mix of Scottish & Irish music (with a couple of parents who enjoy playing too!). It was wonderful. I was so proud of all the kids, and Mrs W is a wonderful music instructor, encouraging the children so much.