We live close to the River Mersey. Isaac's wake, a week ago today (and how quickly that week has passed) was at Ashton- on- Mersey cricket club, down by the river. It was somewhere we walked with him quite often and when we were looking for a venue for his wake we needed somewhere which had a good outdoor space so anyone who wanted to be outside could be. I still don't feel fully comfortable being inside a pub and sit outside out of habit now. We walked down by the river yesterday, a good round trip past the cricket club, over the river, skirting the edge of Urmston and back under the M60. It was peculiar seeing the cricket club a week on. We don't get many sunsets in south Manchester but the picture above caught one of them, the sun dipping below the treeline behind the river. We're going to go back to see him today at the cemetery. We went twice in the days after the funeral, once to leave him a mini- Christmas tree. We said to each other last Friday we were going try to have a Christmas of some kind and that's what we're going to do.
I realised yesterday as well that I haven't done the annual self- indulgence that is the Bagging Area end of year list. I did start putting a list of favourite albums and songs together back in November so that'll give me something to do in a few days time.
Some festive songs to take us into Christmas. First up Cocteau Twins 1993 cover of Frosty The Snowman, originally released on the Volume CD. There's something about the Cocteau's sound, all that reverb and those chiming guitars which is very wintry. I'm not a big fan of Christmas songs but this one will do.
Back in 2011 when Johnny Marr and The Healers put out a freebie download, an instrumental with plenty of guitars, acoustic and electric. In a world where ex- Smiths have veered in divergent directions morally and politically, choose Marr.
I was listening to Life's Too Good by The Sugarcubes recently, an album I think I'll come back to on these pages soon. In 1988 Iceland's finest released Birthday on 12" with three remixes by The Jesus And Mary Chain (Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Christmas Present). This one is the one for today.
And finally, something bang up to date and released yesterday by Pye Corner Audio for Christmas (if you fancy your Christmas a tad dystopic). Get Thee Behind Me Santa is all backwards sounds, drones and distorted synths. Find it at Bandcamp (free/ pay what you want). And well worth whatever you feel you should pay.
Happy Christmas.
It's not really appropriate to wish you a merry Christmas in the circumstances but will be thinking of you and here's hoping for a better 2022
ReplyDeleteAs Ernie said
ReplyDeleteWell put Ernie.
ReplyDeleteAdam, I just hope you all manage to get some kind of a rest over the Christmas period. Thoughts are with you still.
By the way...Johnny Marr needs to print some t-shirts with CHOOSE MARR on the front.
A lovely post. And as all have said above - thinking of you and sending very best wishes and the chance to take some comfort in happier memories for you and your family x
ReplyDeleteBest wishes to you and the family and hope for a better 2022 x
ReplyDelete...and from us as well.
ReplyDeleteThinking of you and your family this holiday season. Take care.
ReplyDeleteThat's a beautiful photo. Thinking of you and your family Adam.
ReplyDeleteChristmas is a time for kindness and goodwill. However you spend it, I hope it gives you all whatever you need. Thinking of you and your family Adam. Take good care of each other.
ReplyDeleteVery best wishes to you and the family, Adam. I can't pretend to know how you may be feeling at this time, but I hope you all find some comfort and joy in the time you have together at home, missing but celebrating, looking back and looking forward. Thank you again for everything you have given this year, I hope we can continue to give some back in the year to come. Take care.
ReplyDelete