David's blog

The gig in the local community pub, seems to have gone well last night, and I am glad, as I was getting a bit worried in relation to how many people were turning up there these days, the pub was quite full last night which was good. I hope I contributed to the success with advertising on twitter and telling the local rag about it and radio program.  I also scotched a rumour which might have gone around and done some damage to the pub, I hope the pub works out as people have worked hard to make the place a a success. From what I have read on social media people enjoyed the night and its good to have some feedback, and hopefully the event will be repeated in the future.  People will attend gigs in the future now, as they know they will have a good time.

  This is a link to a piece of computer music I created.    https://soundcloud.com/david-jones-8/getting-there   As you can see its on soundcloud, it has a lot of mistakes in the arrangement and in other areas.  The main thin that gets me about it though, is the sound of it, well the sound of the drums and the bass.  When I play the bass and drums together, the bass sounds different to the way it sounds when its soloed and the way I originally put it in to the midi thingy.  It sound a lot better with the drums, but I can't seem to recognise the bass line I wrote in the midi thing, it is completely different as far as I can see. when I solo the bass it sounds like the bass I put in but when un solo it and let it play with the drums it 'changes'  I guess the only thing I can put this change down to is the influence of the drums, but I would like to know what influence the drums, are having on the bass, how thing works, so I can recreate it again of course as it sounds cool.

Here's another link of the deep house music I am trying to ge the hang of whic is not easy,   https://soundcloud.com/iliaskatelanos/addex-envision-ilias-katelano as i have said am learning about computer music, and doing thtrought the medium of deep house, had a session again today,and its tough not being able to get to grips with it due to not being able to see properly. I guess these things are sent to test us, I contacted the old college I was at to ask if they could help and whether I was missing something and I wasn't so that is ok I will keep on keepin on now

Today, I got a hdmi cable through the post, and I now have a very large monitor for my computer, I wish I had got one a long time ago, as they are also so cheap.  I brought so I could see the DAW a lot better, I am surprised how much better it is to see,  Its also a lot easier to type too, I don't have to bend over the laptop any more. Today was also a historic day for the Welsh rugby team, they beat South Africa for only the second time in history, I did think they were a bit lucky with the sending off.

Another fairly tough day on the music tech course.  I have some concepts explained to me, but they are not easy for me understand a lot of the time.  I am not too keen on doing the assignments either to be honest.  Today, my first idea of composition was changed, I thought you just build up from the bottom up and I guess in a way just hope it works, but I guess that was a bit naive, it involves having a tune, or riff to work with in the first place I guess, the same as I do with the guitar. I am still struggling with the interface too, its not very VI friendly, I don't what to click to do what, and there are small bits on there which tough to see.

 A few months ago I went for an interview for a job in a call centre.  When I got there, they said, they would do the test first, which I guess made me feel uneasy as I was not told about these test, I was uneasy because, I was worried that the tests would be in a format I would not find accessible, anyway, the people who were setting the tests were, were very helpful and got me what I wanted, but the hastle could have been saved, if I was told there was going to be a test and I could have asked for the test to be in a certain format, one of the testst was a psychometric test, which asked some strange questions, which I eventually lost patience with and did not bother to answer  them properly, they just seemed to go ond and on. Anyway to cut a long story short I did not get the job, due to the tests apparently, I thought I had done badly on the other tests, not the psychometric ones.  Other vacancies have come along in this place in the last few months and I haven't had an interv

https://soundcloud.com/david-jones-8/c-erddoriaeth-ty Above, is a link to piece of music I completed, with a lot of help from the teacher, the other day, its done in Reason, I have now started another one, and its not easy I think I have understood things like what the combinator does and how to get going then I get into a mess again and its very frustrating. I am not too sure if I will ever get the hang of this programme. I guess this piece of music has to be a bit differerent and I need to do more work on my own, but I am still floundering around, I am not sure if its because I can't see some of things going on or not, the teacher also explains things and I can't quite grasp what he is on about it does my head in, more frustration.  basically the whole thing is very frustrating to be honest, I have not been too well lately either which does not help I guess. The fair was in the village today, I did not take much notice of it, maybe that is because of th way I am feeling

After reading an article about House music, it was recommended I listened to this, and take note of the structure of how a track is put together.  In my course today, I worked on a part of the piece called the break, where, the piece changes from one thing, which it needed to, as it was getting a bit boring.  I had originally put this break in randomly I guess, but it was advised I put it in the 65th bar I think, which was not explained why, but then again I did not ask either. the break ends in the drop, which was explained but it went over my head really.  This house genre is new to me, but it seems a good gnre to get the hang of computer music as I call it. I came across other terms today, too, like closed chords and open chords, keyboard playing is not something I really want to get into doing but it seems it is going to be part of the course and most midi controllers are based on the piano.  I also used some filters too, for the bass and the drum, to get some interest into the

Today I had another go at writing a House track and nearly finished it, it sounded really good, the drum thing the 4 on the floor was done and then some other things were added to pad the sound out, the bass was just a simple root bass thing and then the tune wast strings played in a simple tune with 3 notes.  The arranging needs doing tomorrow, I was given a lot of help from the teacher but the aim is to do it myself one day, just create one from scratch, I don't know much about house music but I like the beat, I think its because it comes from disco.  I found it really interesting how different sounds made the tune change, there are so many different sounds you can get from these computer machines, I hope this type of learning will help me with other aspects of music, that is hopefully help me play the guitar better I guess, who knows.

Yesterday on the music course I learnt where to put your fingers when you start playing the piano, today I was told how to do a bass line in a piece of music, and how it is suppose to go with the drums  I had been told by a friend that the bass and the drums go together, but was not sure what he meant, now I think I know really. Also today I think someone explained to me how a function works on the interface, so I will give it a go one of these days. There was not that many on the course this week, maybe it will not be carried on, well I hope that's not the case it would be a shame really.  I think I am learning a bit more about this program reason too, its not that easy to find things, but I am sure I will get the hang of it in the end.  I still seem to have the same interest in learning how mixers work, the one at the school does not work right at the moment, but it will be good to do some recording on it.

well I learnt about this  stuff today, I had never heard of the term shranz until a couple of weeks ago, a fedllow student on a music course I am doing apparently created a piece of it on his Reason, the funny thing is he had never heard of it before he created it.  On this music course too, I was today given a  piano lesson. I have tried to learn the piano before but given up, but on this course I am doing it will prove invaluable as the midi keyboard is the input instrument is a piano keyboard for the midi thing.  I have  come across many types of names for music since starting this course.  Apparently this shranz is German industrial music, from a quick listen to this I am doubt it will go mainstream but you never know I guess.  In relation to the piano , I remember the fingering to going up and down the keyboard. playing scales, but I did not know about keeping your had close to the keyboard, which you would think I would really as I am a touch typist, and learnt the theory of

Well I have done three days of this music course, and its pretty tough going to be honest, been feeling like quitting most of the time and just going home.  Its hard to see what the things are on screen, hopefully I will get used to it, its quite fascinating what the thing can do though. Today I learnt that you arrange the music by moving the block along, so it comes in at a  certain point, after so many bars of music.  There is jargon that is confusing on it too, velocity is something to do with volume apparently.

It has been a funny old day, I got up to look at the jobs bulletin, and there was a job there that I had applied for before a few weeks ago, so I will give it a go, I have the copy of the appllication form I filled in for that one on here, so I will only have to cut and paste, as when I applied for the job last time I was given and interview. so in theory I should get another interview and this time I will be better prepared you would think as I have been through it before.  The title of the job is a bit different but its basically the same job, there is a high staff turn over there it seems. After attempting to fill in the application form, I| went for a sauna and swim, the sauna seemed hotter than usual.  I managed to forget my swim shorts at the pool somehow or other, I guess the memory is not what it used to be.  The other week I forgot to take a towel with me to the place. When I got home I found that the phone is not working right, its nto receiving any calls, which in one wa

I started another music technology course on thursday, and it uses the apple mac computer, which I haven't used before really and therefore I don't know how to change the accessibility features on it, well not yet anyway, I should have taken the chance to have a look at them while at the RNC, it feels like I was there years ago now, I guess I miss the place.   The software being used is Reason, and I don't know how to use that either, but at the minute its about magnifying in and out, which is not ideal as the mouse is not that easy to control either, its going to take a while to get the hang of this computer, but the course is interesting, though the day is long, well I find the computer stressful too. Today is my birthday, though its not something I want to celebrate anymore, nothing to celebrate about getting older I guess

As I have stated before in this blog, I got this blind cricket taster day set up, a couple of weeks ago, and it was at Colwyn Bay cricket club, I had not been there before, but I had passed it a couple of times, on the bus.  Anyway, when I got to Colwyn Bay, I was not too sure where to get off, the bus, which stop, I should get off at, I got on the number 12 service and the guy who was driving it, said that I should look out for the name of a certain stop, to get off, so I did this and, low and behold, I got off right outside the cricket ground.   If I am trying to get visually impaired people to get to this ground, this bus will be ideal, as it comes from a long way across north Wales, Rhyl I think, so VI people just need to get to the bus stop then the bus will take them to the ground and and tell them where to get off, which is really cool, and quite considerate towards VI people, the bus is also free if you have a disability. The number 12 service is also very regular, which hand

I received another communication today, regarding the blind cricket project, it was from the people who came from the Blind veterans, they said they enjoyed the time at the session, and will ask if its ok to hold another one at their place.  It will be on a weekend and therefore it will give other's more opportunity to come along, that's if its ok with the people who run the place, I guess.  I was surprised the person answered to so quickly but I guess they know me now so maybe that was it. I also received some correspondence regarding my college course which is suppose to start in a couple of weeks and apparently go on for 2 years but according to the letter it is only lasting just under 3 months, I don't know if this is an error but I guess I will find out soon enough.  The first day is a marathon, from 9 until 6 in the evening, that is a long one, hopefully I will get a chance to learn a fair bit though.

It has been a week, since the cricket taster day, and it seems to have gone a bit quiet, maybe I need to push a little more, so I have contacted a person at the blind vets about doing another taster session on a weekend this time, in hope that more might come along to session, and I would be a bit closer to getting a team to play a game in the near future. I have been nominated for that ice bucket challenge, I don't mind doing it but would prefer it, if I had a cameraman to do the video, it would be fun to be able to nominate someone else to do it.  I saw a couple doing it in the village, I was a bit anxious that it had reached here and that I might get nominated.

I decided to go for a swim and a sauna today, I find the sauna quite relaxing, but when I got to the sports centre and went to the changing room I was not relaxed, I had forgotten to bring a towel, so what do I do, go back out and get my money back or carry on, I could not be bothered to go and get my money back as it would have involved I paid by card, so I guess stupidly, some would say I carried on, but with the intention of not getting too wet, so I went to the sauna which of course has dry heat in it, and therefore I would not get too wet, if at all, In the sauna I came across a towel, I thought to myself I would borrow that, for some reason there are a lot of clothes left in that sauna, I guess, its used as a drying room.  Its not a great sauna really, the door does not close properly  so the heat escapes, I guess in winter the sauna is not warm at all.   I then went to the steam room and got pretty wet, but I guess I had a towel at this point, so I was ok, it wasn't mine b

Well its one of those dreary boring bank holidays again today, thank god its the last one for a few months.  Its just  like another sunday, no buses no shops, no one around they are the pits. It has been a good weekend though.  In the village, there has a been a beer festival, with some music thrown in, there was a variation of people taking part from bands, old bands new bands, to young people singing on their own.  It all took place in the local community pub, it was nice to see the village with some life in it for a change as its pretty dead here most of the time it seems to me. It is only August and this dump I live in feels pretty cold today, and with the price of utilities going up and up, its going to be a long horrible winter I guess. I am still thinking about the blind cricket session I had the other day, in hindsight, now I guess I was a bit naive, there is no history of blind cricket in north Wales, so to set some thing up is going to need educating of the people who m

Today was the day I had arranged a blind cricket taster session at Colwyn Bay cricket club, I was a bit apprehensive about how many would turn, and I was right to be apprehensive as not many did turn and some were even duped, in a nice way, to attend.  The bus was late as usual, so I was panicing a bit, but one did eventually turn up and got me to the train station, I was not sure how to get to the cricket ground really, I had never been there before, anyway I got to Llandudno Junction and decided to get off there and get the bus to Colwyn Bay, but there was no bus it turned out so I then got the train there and then a bus to the ground, there seemed to be no one there when I got there so I went for a walk to the shop, I went back after being to the shop and there seemed to be a few people around, and that's how it stayed, just a few people, the development officer a very nice chap, said he did not expect that many to be there anyway, I am disappointed, as I put a fair bit of eff

I did not go for the Wednesday sauna today, as I missed the bus, to Porthmadog, I was not bothered about going there really as I was there yesterday. I guess I can go tomorrow morning instead. I have been trying instead to get to grips with this recording equipment, its not easy I can record but I am not too happy about the sound that I get I am not too sure if that's because I not hearing the play back through speakers and only through headphones, its maybe my equipment I don't know, its hard to know what's what, I guess I will see how it goes with it

Well its the day after the disappointment of yesterday.  I am a bit gutted I didn't get the job, but on reflection I guess if your face does not fit it does not fit. Well I think I have told most people now of the change of time for the cricket session, just need to now see if I can drum up some more support for it in the meantime, I am not sure where to go and find these people who might be interested, but I got a good piece of advice about putting my phone number on the poster, which I have done. I think its word of mouth that will get the message out there, as long I get about half a dozen interested in playing it will be ok, I can use simulation glasses for fully sighted people who can they simulate the eye conditions which are around, and make for a bit of fun I guess.  I think it could be a good way to raise some money and have some fun with other groups in the community. I have looked at the weather forecast for next week but I guess there is not much point as they don

I am trying to arrange the above event, its proving more difficult than I thought and there have been moments, where I regretted starting the thing.  I thought I had the day and time all worked out but the coach told me he could not make the time, I had told a few people of the day and time, I should have checked with the officer first really of course but I guess I was hoping it was going to be ok, I guess things are not arranged by hope.  Anyway I have a time and date now just hope the fact that I have to ring these people who I had told again does not piss them off and they still decide to come. I have not managed to tell everyone today I feel pretty lousy as I have been refused a job, I guess these things happen but they are a drag to be honest, especially when I have not bothered for a while and when I do I get rejected, its tough, I had an inkling that my face did not fit, but I guess I was anxious about the job and was not too sure if I wanted it, but the opportunities come an

I had an interview this morning for a job in the council call centre, it was more involved than I had thought, but maybe if I had thought a bit more I could have guessed there was going to be some testing involved, I did some psychometric test, not sure what one of them is and I did an email test and phone test, I made a basic error on the phone test I forgot to take down the persons details but then again I guess I could have been forgiven, as I already had them there,  I guess the test was more in relation to the protocol, the way of doing things but I was also nerves. One of the ladies who was attending to me was very considerate to my needs, as I have a sight problem she took it on herself to make the print bigger, I was very grateful for this and if I had seen her on the way out I would have thanked her again, but the main interview was in another room.  I now have to wait for the reply, my gut feeling is that I will not have got it, I tried every trick really, I told them I cou

I went to an exhibition today, which was about the first world war, it mainly seemed to be full of photos of men from my home village who had fallen in the great war, they were all young obviously not ravaged by time.  It was a bit sad to think that so many young men from the place where I grew up were killed, it had their names and the names of where they lived, the names of houses and streets are the same today Sometimes you feel the outside world does not affect what happens here, but I guess it must do as it dragged a load of the young men here into the conflict which was going on at that time, I am not sure I agree with them going to fight, but that is neither here nor there, the fact is they did and that was what was going on at that time. My grandfather was in the first world war, but he was lucky enough to survive, even though he did leave his calf muscle over there in wherever he was, it must have been hell for him really and I guess I will never know what he saw there, al

Well I bought this audio interface yesterday to do some recording on my computer, it seems to produce an ok sound.  Last night though, I broke it, by mistake, there were so many cables that I pulled on and it interface ended up on the floor, now its quite a solid unit, so I thought it was would be ok but by landing on the carpet it must have done some thing to the front of the unit and now some of the switches are stiff and I can't work the phantom power switch without using something to pull it back out again, which is a pain.  Baring in mind I brought this in from america on ebay, I can't really return the thing, well not without incurring really big postage costs anyway and a big repair bill I guess so I am stuck with this not very perfect interface, it did not fall from a height really, I guess the robust exterior flatters to deceive. The thing does work but its the problem with the phantom power that is most annoying but like I say I am stuck with it now, I only had it

Oh, for a decent bus service, the 'service' we have round here is absolute rubbish, its called the number 1 service, but I think, if there was a number 2 service, it might be better, the number one service from Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog, does not have any competition, it has the monopoly, and therefore it runs the route to suite itself, and not to suite the customers.  People say you should complain, when they are really late or when they go early or even when they don't turn up at all, but it has been done, and nothing has changed, it is still as crap as ever, some would say it is better than nothing, but I am not sure it is, if there was nothing, then maybe we would have to make alternative arrangements, which I am sure would be better, but this thing is still there and we keep giving it a a chance, it is ok now and then, but it will eventually let you down, and mess up your plans.   It has no right to be called a service as a the definition of a service is to se

I went for a walk yesterday, to check it if it was suitable to take some people on it, and its not as bad as I thought, I did however take a diversion along the old railway track which was closed in the 60s by beaching, and has now got a lot of over grown greenery on it.  It was used for a while by the power station but that has stopped for years, it would need a lot of money to get it up and running again, i would like to see the track being dug up and a path put there, so people could have a nice walk from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Llan Ffestiniog, as opposed to having to use the main road, people could also cycle on the place where the track used to be.  These old railway tracks have been dug up in many places, as well as been reopened, but I don't see this one being reopened as some of the tracks further down the line has been removed.  The mawddach way the walk from Dolgellau and Barmouth is an example of an old railway track used for leisure walking and riding, this route is

It has been a long boring Sunday as usual, they are usually crap, its tough being back here really.  Today, was the day of the cricket between Dorset and Hampshire, if Hampshire failed to win, then we would win the league, as it turned out, they did win so we came second, oh well I guess, that's how it goes. I was a bit surprised at how drunk I was last night I did not drink that much at all.  I need to carry on and do some painting soon, to finish the living the room I guess I will get it done one of these days.

Well it has been very hot today, its been nice though, I guess its good if you don't have to work, I got my college report today too, its a bit off the wall really, as it does not seem to corrispond with the way I felt things were going or went. I got this call on this app viber today and I can't believe how clear the reception is, its clearer than the one you get off the ordinary phone. I have also been trying to set up my computer too, its been a lot of hastle due to updates and things, but I think its ok, well I hope so anyway. 

Well I am back on the laptop, it has taken a few weeks if not months to sort this out, it was my own fault, hopefully I will not do the same thing again and that I will be more careful with it this time, as, well I will have to pay next time I guess. I have been home nearly 2 weeks now, and its not geat, hopefully things will improve. I have tried to get some work but nothing so far, this course I have applied for looks interesting enough.   At the college did some music recording hopefully I can put what I have learnt to use soon enough either here or in some other situation, I don't want what I have learnt to go waste and I would like to build on my knowledge if I can. I did write to some recording places but they did not get back to me. Had a bit of a jam last night it was not good really I am not too sure why, if it was because there were too many people there.  The pub was empty, I am not too sure what is going on there either. I doubt I will use much of the laptop, as

Well this is the second week of being at home and not being at college,  now I have to find things to do myself, where when I was at college it was there on a plate.  I was not too impressed with the course really. I am not too sure whether coming back here was the right thing to do either,  I saw the cricket facebook page this morning and I guess I miss the team thing there. There is not blind cricket thing here, I have tried to contact an organisation which might fancy holding an open day, but they have not got back to me as yet, they are obviously not that interested I guess. I was a bit disappointed with the result of the football last night, I would have liked Argentina to win, but I guess that's how it goes.  For some reason, my wrist is hurting while typing this, its not as if I haven't typed for a while, It wiIl be better when I have my own laptop back and hopefully I will not break it this time though I have been typing for a long time, I am not sure what is going on

Well hopefully this time I will learn, and not be too rough with my laptop, I have to now, use the library facilities in the mean time and its a real drag as it does not have the same facilities on it that my laptop has and its an inconvenience to say the least.  I went to the ne next town this morning to use the library and it was on the verge of closing a waste of a 10 mile bus journey.  The library times are inconsistent round here, they should be more consistent and then they would not be so  frustrating. I am now using the computer at the other library and its a pan too as the thing does not have access technology on it.  I have received some message regarding the laptop in relation that it will be picked up soon, I am really hoping I can be more careful next time as this process is a real drag, it just seems to be going on and on.

well I had and interesting encounter in that app tinder this morning. I understand it is used by people who are looking for casual sex and that is what I got this morning a young lady who lives near or so she says I guess who was looking casual sex with guys, she quite an attractive girl and could find a boyfriend no problem. She could also get sex with any man really not sure why she matched with an older guy like me. It is hard to know if the interactions on things like tinder are genuine too Today is my first week day after college and have slipped into the old way of living no problem it was shit then and it is now too

Well here we go into the last week of college life, not sure what is going to happen when I get home, I guess the idea is to find a job, not sure how easy that is going to be.  The weather has turned today its a lot wetter than it has been and not to warm.  I have developed a painful elbow somehow, no idea how it has happened. I don't think I have got as much as this course as I thought I would, well I am not sure what I thought really, but it has been a bit dissappointing

Blimey what a fus it has been trying to sell an old android phone to the bying shop CEX.  I went down on Monday and I had to cue for ages to get seen to>  When I finally was attended to, they said I could get 13 quid for the phone, which was fine but I had to become a member for some reason.  I did not have the ID they required for this so I decided to go back another day. I went back today with ID, this time they offered me more money for the phone which was great, and then said I would have to come back in an our after they had tested it, so off I went.  I came back to the shop to pick up the money, well that's what I thought I was goingto do anyway, but when I got to the shop, apparently there was some software on there that stopped them buying it, I wish I had known this earlier, so that I would not have wasted my time. I wonder may other people's time this company wastes,  I will not deal with this company again I don't think they are basically time wasters as fa

This is just a snap shot of the living room at college, which I took today, it is where the communal tv is and its next to the kitchen where people prepare their food and things.  There is a table in the living room also where you can have your meal if you don't want to have it on your lap while watching the tv.  The day started off really stormy but it has improved now and the sun has come out and its quite warm. Today I also received confirmation that I have got a ticket for the walk at the weekend, I am now looking forward to this as I will get our and about and wil be able to meet new people and also see the Hereford countryside, I have only seen the town so far, since I have been here and not much else.  it is a very nice town but it will be nice to go rambling a bit, the arrangements for the start of the walk have thrown me a bit, i thought they were starting from Hereford itself the centre, but it turns out it is on the outskirts, which makes sense as the countryside is

Well I have a month left in this place and the weather has got a lot warmer in the last couple of weeks, its quite stuffy here now.  The time I have spent here has flown by really.  I am actually a bit apprehensive about going home, I hope its not to the same situation I left.  I have not done much today just try to recover from a hangover.  I have got a common problem right now, the fact that someone is ringing my phone and withholding their number, they have rung me a few times today, its a bit strange, I am wondering who would waste their time doing this kind of thing to me, its usually people who are popular this kind of thing happens to, I guess someone is bored and decided to do it I am not sure who it might me as I guess anyone really can get hold of my phone number these days. I have not had a call for a few hours now, maybe they have got bored, I don't really want to be woken up so early again, and don't really want to switch off my phone either, I will see how it go

today is the first really warm day of the year. For some reason the college feels the need to still have the heating on, which in this day and age is not cheap.  I had a bit of a stroll round Hereford this afternoon, there seems to ber a lot nice eating places in that new shopping centre.  I think there is a quiz this evening, so might pass the time with that.  I have to keep the windows closed in my room due to being allergic to some stuff in the air.  It is hard to believe there is only few weeks left, hopefully I will find something to do after, I have read the ESA stuff and I think there is a way round it. The heating has finally been put off, it is a lot quieter in the room now, and therefore I guess I can get more of a night's sleep..

Well I haven't written in this for a while now, I am not sure, maybe as I have been a little bit busier than usual.   I am still struggling with the course and understanding how things fit together in relation to the recording process, hopefully I will grasp a bit more of how it works in the remaining weeks.  Its hard to believe the time is nearly up here, When I started in January 6 months seemed a fairly long time and as someone said, it seemed as I was not going to last the course but the truth is I guess, I had nothing else to do.  It has taken a long time to get settled in really that is probably or maybe due to the fact that I find it hard to adjust to things these days, or we all do as we get older I suppose we get stuck in our ways.  I jsut hope the moment of coming here carries me on to something positive after I leave this place in July. This place is a lot smaller than it was when I was here before, I am not sure what the future holds for this place, good things I hope

I went down to the Hereford river Carnival today.  I had never been there before, when I was in Hereford last time I don't recall the event being on the calender, it might have been I guess.  It was your typical family day out which you could be at in any part of the country, the only thing that made it stand out I guess was the fact it was near the river wye, and this was part of the carnival.  I had been asked to help with the sound but I was not feeling too good this morning so decided not to go.  The pic is a photo I took while I was there. There was a lot of things going on Hereford today, the were more visitors to new shopping center which is called the old market, and which I remember as being a market, I am not sure when it stopped being a market, but I guess it is still a market but its not selling livestock now, and there is not much bidding going, you just pay the price on the tag these days.  What you buy these days is dead usually too, well you hope it is  There

You here this tune everywhere these day, I bet the guy is loaded now, its a good groovy tune though, it will keep him in riches for the rest of his life I guess due to royalties, fair play to him, he has worked for it not like our wretched royal family who are just given everything for nothing, this system just leaved a bad taste in your mouth, when everyone is struggling to get buy under this oppressive tory regime which wants to punish the poor in every way it can.  Its time Wales made a move to get away from this wretched Britain shitr, and had a go itself at making a future for itself, I can't see it happening anytime soon though, well not while I am alive anyway, which is a shame, it has been a life time dream to see Wales as an independent country but like a lot of other dreams I have had it will never happen.  I don't think any of my dreams have come true really though some say that they do come true, well maybe they do for some people, who knows.

I only came across this song this morning, it was being played on Radio Wales which was about Cerys Mathews going on a journey along the A470.  I am sure it was recorded,  the programme I mean.  I remember the Cyrff, but at the time I had some snobby attitude to Welsh music and would refuse or not bother going to watch any Welsh acts, well after hearing this song I now regret going to see them.  I am srue I had plenty of opportunity as these bands were playing round here all the time.  I thin this is a really fun song and would have been great to jump around to live, which will not happen now I guess as the band have long since disbanded, they were together in the late 80's I think, maybe into the 90's.  There was another band which was as big as them on the Welsh pop seen at the time, which called this Anrhrefn. This songs reminds of the 80s style late punk era and is pretty catchy I think.  I think am now a bit more broad minded in relation to Welsh pop music, lon

Well here we are again, its Sunday, not my any stretch of the imagination, a day I like, they seem to drag on for hours and hours, I guess they have been ok while I have been away, there are things to do there while there is not that much to do here.  I have been listening to the football and reading a bit while also using the twitter to update the pub things.  I could have gone for a walk but I guess I backed myself into a corner by saying I was not well in relation to going for a walk yesterday.

Yesterday I sent a photo to my sister on the Whatsapp thing on my phone, she got it there and then.  If I had wanted to send a photo to anyone years ago, from a distance as I am now, i would hav had to take the photo, get it developed and which might take a week or so, and then I would have had to send it to them, which can take a few days with the post.  Its incredible how things have moved on, things you could do yearsa ago which took ages are now instant. There is no need to wait for someone to tell you abour their experience any more you can be there with them so to speak.  YOu don't have to describe to people what's going on you can send them the pic instantly and write a small descrition, a picture paints a thousand words.  The would can be there with you experiencing what is going on.  I sent a photo of a singer on twitter today, so people could see what was going on here at the college

I have a new phone and read the review before buying it, that the camera was blotchy, well I guess the above pic proves it really, but there are other things that are ok on the phone, so I guess you can't have everything.  Teh pic is suppose to be of a guy called Sean Saye, who was recording in the studio on Monday, with backing drums, recording some old numbers from the 60s.  He was a very good musician, the voice could do with some work but otherwise he was good. I am getting pissed off with the IT lessons here, they tend to want to read everything, which is not a strong point of mine.  I would rather listen to the instructions than read them out, as reading can be a bit laborious 

Well Friday is here again, and I'm not going home this weekend but staying here in Hereford, the people who pay for me to be here will not pay for me to go home every weekend, though some manage to get that privalage, not sure why that exists, one rule for one and all that. I have no lessons today, so my weekend started yesterday afternoon, which leaves me at a loose end really and I am not sure what to do, I guess will go round Hereford for a mouch later in the afternoon, just to pass the time I guess, I don't really need anything from there.

Well it was Wednesday morning as usual, off to the recording studio to record, the students from the Hereford Art College,  Today the band was quite a large one and they played some world music song.  The person who has been recording these sessions in the last few weeks is leaving soon, and it will have to be me who will be doing the recording soon, which I am dreading right now as I have no idea really what I am doing, hopefully I will get some idea before I have to do it.  I will be glad when I have done a recording as its something I would like to achieve really not just so I can do it for myself but just as an achievement really.  I am not sure yet if I will be able to do it, which is not that good really as, like I will need to do it pretty soon, well me and some other fellow anyway.  The session involved a lot of overdubbing, I have brought a book on the subject of recording which has helped a little in regard, getting rid of the mysticism of the subject.                  I rem

Well I was suppose to go on an outing from the college today, but due to the fact that I have a bit of a cold I decided not to go, so its been quite a long day.  I have done a couple of things, but its funny how, when you step out of your routine, the perception of time, can change to some extent.  I am still not very happy about the accommodation that I have, especially when the people who I share with bang the doors, in saying that, they do try to be quiet I think, it was not so bad this morning. I think this cold will not hang around too long, as it seems not so bad today really, hopefully it will be gone by the weekend.  It is really strange being back here, and last night it came to me, what year I was here before, I received a phone call when I was here regarding some accommodation I had left, I left that accommodation in 2004, so it was that year I was here before, exactly 10 years ago.  I doubt there will be another opportunity to come here, which is not bad thing but maybe n

Well its that time again, where I will be spending the next couple of hours setting up the drum kit for the college students to be recorded on Wednesday morning.  I am still not sure what mic goes where and what they do, its a steep learning curve for me right now, but I guess I will carry on as long as I can and maybe it will sink in. Spring is here at last, it is a nice day today, though I do have a cold at the moment, not feel too bad though, so hopefully it will clear up quite quickly.  The time is going pretty quickly here really

Its been a lovely day here in relation to the weather, I guess spring is here at last. Yesterday I got a letter from the housing company who own this house, well who administer it anyway, they have put the rent up again by nearly five pounds, it just goes up in large increments like this every year now since they have become a private company, it was not as bad as this when it was under the council.  I guess they have done some work here and they were going to make me pay for it.  Its a bit of a sickner it has gone up so much I am not very happy, I do have options, but I am not that keen on any of them really. I have watched a documentary about the recording industry today, it was quite interesting I am not sure it was much help in relation to my course, but it was interesting.  Someone from twitter suggested I watched another one and it seems quite interesting the Dave Groll one, which was released last week, I hope watching them will help me in my course really will make things whi

Well, today the last but one day of my half term holiday, I have to catch the train back tomorrow, I am not that enthusistic about doing so, and maybe I won't, maybe I will wait until Monday, as I don't have a lesson really until the evening.  I am as good as packed really, there was no shopping trip, as I usually do on a Saturday, as I have enough food for the remaining time I am home. The above pic is of the spot the local public toilet used to be in, in the village, for some reason it has been removed, it is really a stupid move, taking down public loos, as poeple will always want to go the loo.  There are some changes happening here in the village too, the post office has shut and the golf course is closing down, its a good thing the pub was saved from closure, or there would only be the shop left, and to be honest, its handy but its pretty expnsive.

Well, I have been home a week already,  only a few more days to go until I am back in college.  I had no plans today, to do anything much and the weather was not very nice to start with and its a lot colder.   I rang RNIB regarding my benefit today, I have now been registered as blind and am therefore entitled to claim for the middle rate fo DLA, but DLA does not take any new claims, as it has changed to PIP, so if I wanted to change the DLA I am on now I would automatically get a claim form for the new PIP shit thing.  When I originally clamed DLA I was awarded it for 'life' or in the case of the Tory shit, until they decid to change it, in other words they are a bunch of liers, so I guess what's new, the Tories and other politicians are all liers I guess, just in for themselves.  Anyway I am not too sure now what to do, whether to go for PIP shit now or just wait until I am called to reclaim, which I think is next year sometime.  I had a lot of grief claiming the ESA th

Well its blowin' a gale here in Hereford, weather which I usually associate with home, I mean its windy and raining.  I am a bit apprehensive about going home tomorrow,  but according to the website, the journey will be fine.  The train journey should be ok but it could get awkward with connections maybe, I guess I will have to just go and find out tomorrow what the situation is.  I have a lesson in the morning but I am off.   It is all there is on the news these days, just the bad weather and nothing else really, its getting a bit tedious.  I never thought I would be back here again but I am and its quite strange really, it still is even after 6 weeks, feels like a dream really or is that, a nightmare?

Monday, well it starts off pretty light here, at college, I have one session in the morning and then nothing until about 4 o'clock, hard to know what do with the time. I had some bad news yesterday, Chris, a lad who I was at school with in the early 70's has passed away due to cancer, the evil that is cancer.  They seem to spend millions of pounds on the research of cancer, they get millions of pounds of donations, but they seem no further forward in the treatment of this vile thing, than they were when my mother died of it nearly 30 years ago, there was the talk, about 10 years ago that people would not die of cancer anymore, they would be able to have treatment for the rest of their lives, there would be no cure, but they would not die, the treatment would help them survive, but I guess that was a load of horseshit as I have lost a few friends in the last few years form this horror,   Chris was a nice lad, he was only 51 when he died, which was the same age as my mother,

Today is quite a nice day here Hereford, the sun is out, its been really dismal for the last few days, and its hard to get out for a walk and you can get cabin fever in this place after a while, it has changed a lot since I was here before there is not so much space as there used to be over the road, and there is not as many students as there used to be here. Its interesting to see how the gym which was, when I was here, a just a couple of bkes etc and is now a really big modern gym which serves the community here and has courses for students to work as gym instructors.  The massage place has changed too it now has many therapies here, where it was just one kind of massage when I was here before, little trees from acorns grow I guess.  It now possible to play VI cricket indoors, whereas when I was here before we had to wait for the good weather, there are also now 'coaches' here, where when we played before it was do it yourself. The best thing I got from here when I wa

Well, this is the third week of my time at the college doing a course which is suppolse ot be helping me learn about recording music, this has been an interest of mine since I started to write some songs a long time ago, I have writen about 30 songs or so over the years, which is not a huge output, well its pretty miniscule really but I guess its only a hobby of mine and I am not obliged to make a living out of it.  It seems to have got harder over the last few years to write songs, the impulse to do it is not so frequent.  I write the tune first, well I get a riff, or a play a few chords then come up with words as I go along, a lot people do it different ways.

I found out today, that they have stopped another bus service from operating round here, it would be nice for a change that they would introduce a new bus service, instead of cutting them, it just seems like one way traffic, so to speak, though they did introduce one a few years ago but it didn't last long.  The main problem with the bus service round here is the monopolisation of routes by bus companies where they operate the route to suite themselves, this is, the result of the privatisation of services, this is also evident in the electricity company suituation, where the cartel rules the roost in relation to prices. The bus service which has stopped is part of the number 1 service from Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog, there isen't now a bus which comes from Blaenau, at 11pm, this service has been running for years and was handy for people to come down after a night out in the pubs of Blaenau, now who knows how they will get back, drink and drive?  The bus was also handy

Today, I did my first ever recording in a studio, this came about, as I am on music technology course and they needed someone to record a song so I was volunteered.  I was not sure what song to sing but settled on Christy Moore's Ride On, I was asked to play the tune first and then sing over the tune, overdubbing I guess they call they call, this was awkward for me as I am used to doing both playing and singing this song at the same time, not one before the other, anyway I gave it a go, it wasn't even my guitar, but I did it anyway.  It wasn't great guitar playing but it would do the job. I then had to sing the song, it was hard to sing over the tune as the levels were a bit awkward, the guitar was too low and my singing was too high but it was the first time I had ever done this. The tune was then mixed down some levels were changed and then the finish product was recorded and I will get a copy sooner or later I guess, it was good fun, hopefully I can do more of this

Trying to write this post with music banging in my ears, there is a 'disco' at the college where I am right now.  It has been a nice day weather wise, but have felt under the weather due to the beer I drank last night.  It is really odd, how when you are put in  situation where there are a lot of people around and haven't been in that situation before for a long time, that you find the whole thing a bit overwhelming.  It  is like I have gone from one extreme to the other here, but I am sure its a good thing to have so many people around, I guess the best thing is to find the balance of the right amount of people, maybe I will find that, down this road I am heading right now, I hope so anyway.