I'll be out at about 8 but that's fine so I can do that I'll be quick ok get ready lets try it you see its the same both times except the three notes at the end so you see where he's put the fingers on the different strings that's what you play yes you see you can do it its just a bit different at the end don't worry its a lesson its not a test I didn't learn to do it this way I just made it up so that's why I don't know where 'A' is so you should do it this way there thats right anyway little and often little and often its only been three weeks right? don't worry. it doesn't matter. yes, I need to go out now. I'll just do the washing up

I expect it'll be better this time because they'll have got his guitar up in the mix so it'll sound right and anyway they'll put on a show with big lights and bits of mdf or something so whatever it'll be busy anyway so I want to get there soon enough to tailgate some drab couple in matching latitude shirts onto the floor just one pint these shoes aren't quite right I don't know why I changed them the other ones were fine no one ever sees your feet that's what I always say its true why am I wearing these then. why's the car park so busy must be one of the literary evenings here as well look there's half of mill hill road trying to work out how the car park barrier works that must be why there's nowhere to park in this poxy car park oh its alright right back here that's fine I'll just have to run at the end.

it's not that busy I'll have that space at the bar please no I always have a ten pound note everyone has a ten pound note carlsberg that'll be it for the night its only half eight who the hell are these sub-arcade fireites all I can hear is "that cello player she's fit" I haven't got my glasses on not getting them out now oh that bass player is annoying that song is alright your voice is terrible that's over. good. so come on then. hurrah. and there they are got more hair of course straight into whatever that song's called oh straight into another never really sure that's a good idea and bullets right ok done that now.

silence. little clap. beery leer.

and that's the strength of it for the next hour I mean they're good and everything but there's only so many times you can step up to the monitor and pull that clown face although I like it when you all get mental and swing around like apes but I think you're just pretending really and what's with your guitar again I can't hear it at all this time stupid. "thanks" "yey" "you've been very welcoming" in the same way a dentist's waiting room is welcoming but you're at the uea what do you expect. "that ricky ross from deacon blue, he really knows how to work a crowd I mean there was "i>no atmosphere" which somebody actually said as we were walking out which made me kind of want to kick her but I was distracted by the fact that she said there was no atmosphere when they sound a bit like joy division. crossed with camel. or something. I won the guess the encore competition I was having with myself in my head. and then I get home and watched the andromeda strain. it just gets rained away. fancy that.

© Tim Caynes. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License

Disclaimer: I work for Sun Microsystems, but this is nothing to do with them and it's all my fault, even though I might sometimes mention Solaris or something.