The last time I had a solo moustache (as opposed to a beard) was around 1977 or 1978. Then a good (female) friend told me that it made me look like I was in a Brummie sub-Sabbath pub circuit metal band. So I shaved it off. However, my son talked me into joining him in growing a tache for November in aid of prostate/testicular cancer - it didn't take much persuasion as one of our oldest friend, and my son's godfather, has just been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Well, my "official" retiral date is October 12th - nine months before I hit 60, but also chosen because of the first great recorded Harper rant about all that is wrong with/in the world - it seemed like a good date to choose to start turning my life around to all that could be right in my life (if not the rest of the world). But my last day in work was last Tuesday. I'm in the middle of a great holiday in Perthshire.

I had decided I needed another trial run for next weekend's Avebury outing, so despite the less than promising weather forecast, I had already planned a route when Nick's StageIt email landed. I wondered if this innovative gig would work via the gift of mobile internet, and it did, just about:

Unfortunately the other occupants of the field didn't seem interested in the ongoing entertainment

Can you guess what Nick was singing when I took this:

Yep, "Blue Sky Thinking". Fat chance! The photo doesn't really do justice to the thick cover of threatening cloud, the mist, and the drizzle which rolled relentlessly off the hills.

It got worse. Much, much worse, before it got better:

Midsummer Day, 2012, Inverness, ten to ten in the evening. Still light enough to read not only a newspaper but a small-print paperback outside - but you wouldn't want to try because it's pissing down.

Well, I’m sorry. It has been a while since I’ve posted anything. I haven’t been writing much lately, and when I do get on the internet it seems I spend so much time removing “cookies” shoved up my computer’s “back door.” Apple’s Safari Preferences simply does not “Block Cookies Always” as it claims. I’m sorry the Stormcock Forums become an accidental victim. I still listen to Roy (or Nick) almost every day and hope for news of “more.”

Anyway, for the two of you who remember I was going to write about writing my song “Model Woman,” here I go:

I have six months to go -23 weeks - until I retire from my Job as an NHS psychologist. Between now and then I hope to buy a narrowboat. I'll call it (her?) "End of Yesterday", which is part of the motto/mantra on the back of the cover of the first album (Guy Stevens produced)by the brilliant British psych band Mighty Baby:- "Tomorrow is the beginning of the end of yesterday". Seems kind of right for starting a nw life! Alan

My wife/ex-wife (we still haven't quite decided where we're at)is by preference a Quaker (though she hasn't yet fully committed to it yet). Just been for a long lunch (2.00 to 10.00!) with her and two of our longest standing friends, both Christians, one of whom is a fully fledged/pledged Quaker. He's just been out in East Africa on a "peace and reconciliation" mission in Kenya, trying to resolve the inter-tribal and cross border violence.

In this episode:

Pre-gig interviews

Intro

An interview with Dave Cochran

Another Day from BBC Tapes Volume 5

An interview with Roy Harper

These Last Days from BBC Tapes Volume 5

The Festive Cock 50: see http://www.stormcock.net/vb/showthread.php?t=1841

Credits/Copyright

Post-gig interviews

Please note that the Roy Harper music used in the podcast is copyright Science Friction Ltd and used with permission.

For all your Roy Harper music needs visit http://www.royharper.com

To give feedback on the podcast please leave a message on the forums, or contact me at podcast [at] stormcock [dot] net. MP3 submissions are very welcome.

Thanks to Simon Foster for the photo of Roy and Nick on stage.

Well, here it is, a week after “MY” podcast came out, and the reality is much different than the “NoCelebrity's Fabricated Life” I have posted on my blog.

My original and follow-up announcements received much enthusiasm from family, friends and musical acquaintances. I have received three VERY POSITIVE face-to-face comments on my song “Model Woman” and my “other contributions” to the PODCAST. Unhappily, I have received ZERO emails since from family and old-friends who have actually listened to it, but ONE email from a special talent!

I was mildly excited about the upcoming podcast release featuring my original song “Model Woman” and other material when I left the house late in the morning to mow the lawn and do other yardwork. I was chuckling to myself over the absurd idea this could be my last chance to do such things without the paparazzi analyzing every aspect of my technique, or worse, criticizing my attire!