September 23 Round Up
September was a quiet month in terms of reading and screen viewing but busy in other areas. Let’s crack on.
Life
I celebrated a birthday this month, and loved the family dinner, party and lovely gifts. Getting on a bit, I've realised that spending time with loved ones is the most important thing of all. I enjoyed it all, but in maudlin middle age I also find there's that bittersweet tang, because as they saying goes, 'time moves slowly, but passes quickly.'
If I had a penny for every time someone said to me that 50 is just a number, I think I would have about 38p. I've never known it to be anything but a number, so it's ok. I could say something deep about my awareness never ageing - it's the same as it was when I was 1, 20, or 50. Thoughts and experiences come and go, but the awareness, my being, is ever present. (Can you tell I've been reading books on non-duality recently?)
Of course the body keeps the score. Just a few weeks short of my birthday I developed a knee injury that x-rays or doctors have been unable to diagnose (Either the beginning of osteoarthritis, or the flare up of an old medial ligament injury is the best bet). Anyway, it's been tricky to get about, and two reminders that 1) there are a lot of hills in Armagh, and 2) I shouldn't take good health for granted.
Gig - Wilco live
A rare shot of me just before the wilco concert, when I was sigh still 49
Finally, I got to go to a gig this month, to see the mighty Wilco live. And a trip down memory lane, as it was on my old stomping ground of the revamped Mandela hall in Belfast, a much loved venue from my student days. Too many gigs to mention, but I do recall a Manic Street Preachers gig circa ‘The holy bible’ tour (93?) when Richey scaled the amps and drove his guitar repeatedly into the ceiling. It wasn’t made of the strongest material, and it crashed down onto the stage. That may have been the start of both the refurbishment and my hearing problems. Poor Richey.
Impressed with the new Mandela, now on the ground floor. Liked the bright moden foyer, easy to get into. Size wise it seemed exactly the same dimensions as the old venue. Decent sound as well.
Because of the knee injury I had to perch myself against the sound desk, and I had ear plugs in case the sound shredded me ears (it didn't). Lovely set from Wilco, mixture of old favourites and more recent stuff.
They're a band I listen to fairly often, but there were lots of momment when I suddenly thought 'Oh, I'd forgotten about that one.' There were plenty from that wonderful trio of albums 'a ghost is born' 'Yankee hotel foxtrot' and 'sky blue sky'. Hard to pick a highlight, but 'Impossible Germany' and that solo always take me away somewhere.
I’ve seen wilco live three times now and they don’t disappoint, and going by the new stuff I’m looking forward to the forthcoming album. I like how Wilco are hard to define - more experimental than most alt-country bands, which I think explains their longevity. And cracking tunes, of course. Oh, and watch ‘the bear’ to see a brilliant use of the music on screen.
Great gig, lovely company. Whetted my appetite, so have a few more before years end.
Books
Looking at my reviews, I actually read more than I thought.
‘Small mercies’ by Dennis Lehane was a cracking read, a tough and gritty thriller than never loosened its grip from the first page. Mary Pat is one of the fiercest characters I’ve encountered in a while. Sometimes you just a need a bloody good crime thriller when the evenings draw in and this ticked all the boxes.
‘Be mine’ by Richard Ford was a perfect read for me this month, as I've been feeling a bit maudlin as I mentioned earlier, and this was like catching up with an old friend, whom I’ve known for thirty years. Frank Bascome is a wise, funny friend, always looking for the good I feel, and if it’s his last outing it was a beautiful way to go out.
‘The Untethered Soul’ was a book I was visiting for the second time, this time on audiobook. Perfect for the early mornings, this is a classic and one of the clearest books I’ve ever read on non-duality - perfect if you are just getting into the subject, because it’s so easy to read and understand.
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‘Awake: It’s your Turn’ by Angelo DiLullo hasn’t been far from my side since it arrived. I really had a deep connection with this book on my first reading, and I’ll be lifting it again soon. When something clicks, it clicks.
TV & Film
I can’t remember watching anything interesting this month. Watched something about extraterrestrials on Netflix but can’t remember the name of it. My hour of tv watching in the evening was mostly spend watching YouTube, I like some of the travel vlogs like ‘Sabbatical’ or ‘Bald and bankrupt’.
I also enjoy the heartwarming ‘happydoggo’ on YouTube, which is an Irish guy called Niall Harbinson, who runs a dog shelter in Thailand. It can be heartbreaking, and I was upset when the lovely Tina died. He often takes in injured or sick strays and puts them up for adoption, sending them around the world. Just this month, Liam Gallagher adopted ‘buttons’, so it’s a popular channel.
I also watch a lot of non-dual and meditative videos. I think that when I get interested in that side of things, my interest in TV and books, especially fiction, just drops off naturally. It’ll probably return so that I have something to write about next month, otherwise this blog will die a slow death (just like my ego, more hopefully).
I also did a meditative retreat this month with Rupert Spira. It was the weekend of my birthday, and a little gift to myself. I recommend home retreats if you can’t attend in person - I find they really help me deepen my practice. It was set over three days, starting on Friday evening, and featured meditations, talks, and Q and A’s. There were also rooms you could go into on zoom to discuss the meditation with your fellow attendees. Really enjoyed it, and Rupert is one of my favourite teachers.
That’s it
I have nothing else to add. No new music, just the usual jazz and classical. Oh, and a bit of wilco. Anyway, ‘Wherever you go, wherever you land’.
Til next month.