For those tracking Anna’s rehabilitation after breaking her ankle on an Austrian mountain side in August then she’s been signed off by her consultant and is doing well. Her independence has returned i.e. can drive. Predictably, her ankle still needs physiotherapy and dedication to a regime to continue the improvement in flexibility and strength. She’s been stoic and patient and her rewards are now plain to see. Hopefully this will enable us to plan a little more and get some holidays booked.

Son-in-law, Harry, received his Master’s degree in Engineering in the wonderful setting of The Bridgewater Hall in central Manchester last month. He’s worked hard and gained another qualification, well done! He’s musing about a doctorate now.

Sadly, a man who played an important part in my monthly schedule died after a short illness at the age of 63. The editor at Country Music People magazine, Duncan Warwick,  passed away after a short illness. In 2017 I made a speculative call to him and after he checked my writing I was reviewing for the magazine and on the news stand. I enjoy the monthly work with its need for research and deadline requirements. It also kept me nicely abreast of what was happening in Country music and Americana. Given that Duncan was the editor, owner and main contributor there is a large gap to fill.

My last post was an article I wrote for my first company’s (Aveling Marshall)  magazine. This prompted me to travel to Newark in early November to look around a heritage tractor show. Not only were there Marshall tractors on display but Ford ones as well. After I left Aveling Marshall I went directly to Ford Tractor Operations and spent six years there. It was fascinating to look at tractors that still had components on them that I bought from the UK, Germany and Spain back in the day. Very nostalgic.

Over the last few weeks there has been plenty of live music to report. Crowded House at the O2 in London were exceptional. The songs, including new ones, were fabulous and the banter fun. The Pretenders in Nottingham was plain disappointing. Chrissie Hynde was fully intact and arsy at the majestic age of 73. She bashed through lots of newer thrashy stuff and was parsimonious with the ‘hits’. I wasn’t the only disappointed attendee. Guy Davis an old black bluesman played Selby Town Hall. On acoustic guitar he worked through a catalogue of his own tunes and some blues standards. He had lots of personality and managed an obligatory pre-election rant about Trump. (I’ve heard several from the stage over the years.) Needless to say that went well didn’t it! Savannah Gardner, an aspiring country singer at a small venue in York was terrific and then we drove up to Stockton to see Jason Isbell. Maybe a name not known to many outside of Americana and Country circles, however, a major star who delivered a fabulous rock fuelled collection of observations about America and relationships. I will be knocking up my Top 10 shortly.

Lastly, I am not a foodie but we had a delicious lunch in North Yorkshire at the Abbey Inn at Byland Abbey. I do like a nice meal with the first wife but we seldom push the boat out. Given the festive time of year it was truly time to propel the vessel toward the water and in biblically wet and gale force weather we drove up the country lanes north of York. It’s a Tommy Banks’ establishment and after smoked mackerel pâté on sourdough, as a starter, I chose one of his famous pies. (He recently had a van stolen with 2,500 of them in it. The loss was terrible but the publicity priceless on TV and radio.) Mine was a sumptuous braised beef and blue cheese one with vegetables. Needless to say this would have got stuck in my throat without a little lubrication. This was overcome with a draught pint of blonde ale from Helmsley Brewing Co. Still finding room I couldn’t resist a dessert, a chocolate delice. This outing won’t cheer the daughters. Paying for it meant denting their inheritance with a hefty clout. But hey, you only live once!