Shocking Revelations in Igh Life, and a Jan update

When I worked at Titan, in the mid- to late eighties, my immediate boss, the late and much missed Gamma (Paul Gamble) and his friend Dave Hodson used, unless my memory is playing me false, to frequent an establishment known as the Groucho Club.

I've just read the third volume of Stephen Fry's memoirs, in which is detailed the kind of thing that used to go on at the Groucho Club, and for all I know may still.

Gosh.

In other news, they took Jan's toe off yesterday. She apparently watched the procedure with fascination and seems reconciled to it. What happens now I won't know till they've assessed her this morning, but from previous experience this is the point at which the hospital starts looking at its watch, straightening the furniture and remarking casually on the excellent bus services back into town, so presumably as soon as she can put weight on the thing without fountaining blood everywhere they'll be looking to reclaim the bed. And I have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA how to get her home from Bristol, or even Bath if they send her back there.

More when I know more. Thanks to everyone for good wishes, prayers, thoughts and so on. I think we might need them for a while yet.

There's a piano in the atrium of Southmead Hospital.

It has a sign in front of it saying "Can you play the piano? Be a volunteer pianist! Contact Ruth Sidgwick" and there's a phone number.

If we lived in Bristol, or if Southmead Hospital were closer, I would be so there. There are few things I'll do for nothing, but playing music is about three of them. And let's be honest, that's about what my piano playing is worth.

Anyway. Yesterday afternoon, as I passed through on my way home, it was open and untenanted, and I was tempted and I fell. I had a little noodle, finishing with Sam's Song in the traditional manner, and as I started to get up a lady passing called out "don't stop." Or it might have been "don't! Stop!" I can't be sure. Anyway, I did a little bit more, but the first part of Changing Lives defeated me, and so I decided I had been right the first time and wended my way.

Today the piano was covered up.

I hope I haven't offended the authorities by playing when I wasn't on a list or something.