Autumn and Oasis

Talk about taking Keats too literally. 2nd of September and we wake to thick mist which is only now dissipating.

We even have the mellow fruitfulness; a few plums this year after having none at all before.



The apples are looking wonderful:


Of course we only have one plum and one apple tree, so it's not exactly an immense harvest. The plums tend to get insect nibbled too quickly but the apples are delicious.




And the toms, well, they get the watering they need *laughs hysterically*.




I'm not convinced there's enough sunlight to turn these green little marbles into anything more. I don't mind really; these have already won my love with their scent, just as the crabapple does with its beautiful Spring blooms. It's all good.

The season's not looking so good for buddies trying to buy Oasis tickets. These guys always seemed too self conscious for my tastes, couple of OK songs but that's it. Current ticket prices for major bands/singers is a bit eyebrow raising. Bruce Springsteen was the one that came nearest to tempting me. But £200 a ticket? And that was for Cardiff rather than Wembley, though both would have meant plane or car, plus overnight stay and food for two people, so we're probably talking between £800 and a grand. That could get us to Iceland or Istanbul for a couple of weeks, or buy us weeks at teeny little festivals packed with many different bands. Sorry Boss, you're cool but you're not that cool.

The buying of Oasis tickets is currently a matter of uproar across Blighty. £350 per ticket? Hilarious. And there's more expensive than that. Friends are complaining bitterly about what's called 'dynamic' ticket pricing, where the tickets go up according to demand, and demand is insane. Upwards of £400 has been quoted. No, no, no. I hear much indignation and don't share it; luxury item, discretionary spend, if enough people refuse prices come down, though of course that never happens cos people are keen. I get that it is hard on, say, parents whose children want to see Taylor Swift when other kids in school are squealing about it. But, even though this may bring idols tumbling from their pedestals, bands and managers do have their say in price setting. What matters is transparency. It's transparent to me that Oasis are not doing this because they adore their work, they want the money. Nothing wrong with that, it just switches me off, even supposing I was enthusiastic in the first place.

And anyway, a few years with bad habits and they might be happy to appear at festivals again, almost like musicians who don't fancy themselves to the point of farce. In fairness, assuming I am still around I won't be impressed by them then either.

Fear

My father died after having been admitted to hospital. There was something up, they took him in, found nothing. He was sleeping in a hospital bed when he died, all very peaceful. But there had to be an autopsy because he had been given the all-clear. They found COPD, perhaps no great surprise given that he was a heavy smoker all his life. He was 73, just over a decade older than I am now.

My aunt was properly old when she went for an operation that might kill her, to stave off a condition that would kill her. She survived the operation but never regained consciousness.

Looking back, I am thinking of the friends and family who have gone. I don't feel anything like that around me, but does anyone ever? And I remember the nearest I have had to a death dream; stepping off a hospital gurney and walking away.

It is a very very tiny chance. But if you thought it was coming, what would you say, and why not say it now before chance and time cut the breath out of your sentence?

I'd say:

Thank you X
If I owe you an apology, I'm sorry.
If you owe me, debt cancelled. We are not going through this nonsense again on my account.
Enjoy your love and have some more.
Wishing you beauty always.
Party on!

I don' think today is that day. But as I sit here able to take stock of this little fear, these thoughts are worth remembering.

Now, let's get this thing done.