Wednesday (again!)

Ross dropped a bombshell to Jo yesterday - he wants to move out. What's not to like about free board and lodgings, meals cooked for you and all your cleaning, washing and ironing done for you? - a lot it seems - I haven't spoken to him about it yet - he was too busy gaming last night - but we're going to Manchester this weekend so I'll get a chance to talk to him (or more probably, listen to him!) properly then.

Ross has seen a 2 bedroom place out in Lumphanan going for about £525 per month. It would take about 20-25 minutes to get to work in summer, but longer in winter - and no going home for lunch. If he were to share it - with possibly Thomas - he could maybe manage, but it'll be tight on his own. Council tax, fuel and food alone would probably more than double his outgoings - and then there's his road tax and car insurance, plus the cost of replacing the car when it eventually dies - maybe next year? Doesn't leave much for the "toys" he likes to keep buying.

Jo was a bit down at the prospect - I think she was quite enjoying looking after him again - and the two of them always did enjoy a natter. She's also still a bit concerned after her visit to the doctor on Monday and the follow-ups she's now got to do. Her chest and back pains are becoming more prevalent - but hopefully it's auto-suggestion only.

I went back to Bannatyne's yesterday - my first visit for a while - in fact, I was there twice just after we came back from vacation, but hadn't been back since then - until yesterday. I went through the usual routine, but cut down the time/effort or weights to make sure I could cope OK. I don't feel too bad today so it must have helped. Now, it's indoor footy again tonight - that'll hurt a lot more!

I sat down to catch up with part 2 of the History of the Guitar last night - I missed part 1. I found it a fascinating history lesson - Jo sat through it as well and had the good grace not to comment until the very end when the sight of Hendrix playing Wild Thing was just too much for her and she went off on one - you know, the usual rant about dentist's drills etc.

Most of the documentary was historical - it opened with the apocryphal story about Robert Johnson going to the Crossroads and selling his soul to the devil in exchange for becoming a great blues artist. Kelly will remember Cream's more recent version of the old song - "I went down to the crossroads, fell down to my knees....". The film showed where this allegedly happened - at Clarksdale, Mississippi - they sell t-shirts to the tourist nowadays, but Wikipedia casts doubt on whether the junction here of Highways 49 and 61 is correct, or whether it should have been at Rosedale at the junction of Highways 1 & 8.

The film went on to talk about the Mojo triangle of music - New Orleans/Memphis/Nashville. This struck a chord with me - it's definitely on my wish list to hire a winnebago and tour round the music hot-spots of the Deep South, and then perhaps up to Chicago and head west along Route 66. We went to Memphis when Lucy was first moved over - but it was only for a day, and Beale St isn't the same in daylight.

What about a list? Actors? De Niro, of course - brilliant - and funny when he wants to be. Meet the Fokkers might make it in to my top 20 films. Hoffman as well - apart from the Graduate and Midnight Cowboy, Rain Man was terrific. And then there's Newman - Butch and Sundance in particular.