As a current resident of Salisbury General Hospital, I have a bit of time to try a blog, let people know how I\u2019m doing and get to grips with WordPress. My spelling will have to wait.<\/p>\n
A week ago I got clipped by a car crossing the road. Just caught my heel, but at 40 miles an hour something had to give. Unfortunately it was my left leg. I\u2019ve always had erratic timing. Learning how to play guitar in a barn dance band, you watched the cider fuelled dancers career into each other, whooping and desperate to get back to the top of the set. Crowd control was more important than keeping the tempo. Not exactly Reading or Manchester Free Trade Hall, but Tostervines Barn could get pretty rowdy when the Ramblers Association threw a \u00a0fundraiser. I saw the car, the car saw me and the rest is history. Months of rehab before I can dozy doe again.<\/p>\n
Back in those days I had a CMI Les Paul that went in and out of tune with the seasons. Somehow I manage to get some money tougher to buy a Stratocaster copy to add some twang to the square dance. It went straight into the paint shop, set up in the outside toilet. A \u00a0can of car paint transformed it into an orange plank of wood, that had as much resonance as one of the hospitals baked potatoes.<\/p>\n
Back then guitars were awful compared to today. Now,\u00a3300 on eBay or Marketplace will buy you an instrument that will see you well through your musical journey. My Orange Strat was better at picking up the local police radio, than playing Roxanne.. It was sold quickly to a friend, who moved it on to someone else, and its journey through various hands began . Everywhere it went it caused misery, when the new owner realised they weren\u2019t going to be able to nail Sultans in 5 minutes let alone Smoke on the Water. It \u00a0ended its life one Guy Fawkes night atop a makeshift pyre. On its way to Valhalla it ruined many young axe players dreams .<\/p>\n
Meanwhile back in the ward, my right arm has been sewn up and I can no longer see the tendons that make the fingers move. Think Body Parts and you won\u2019t be far off the mark. Everything seems to be working OK. Just before the accident I had been working on a flat picking version of \u00a0Loch Lomond inspired by Tony Rice. Recording will have to wait till back in London. Positive signs. Looking out of the window I can see Salisbury Spier and with the soundtrack of \u00a0Shenandoah things are not so bad\u2026.<\/p>\n
Timing, time and tides.<\/p>\n
Give it a listen when you feel chilled.<\/p>\n