Cashtration in gloomy England

Another warm sunset, temperatures today and tomorrow pushing the mid 20’s so the shorts are now out until November, and the winter clothes put away.  I had to drop my daughter at the Thornton Allan’s at around 5pm, also known here as beer-o-clock last evening, and despite my determination to eschew alcohol for 24 hours at least, I was summoned from my car to join them in a beer and then to try a what they considered to be a very reasonable Cote Du Rhone white that Paul had discovered at ED’s (rather a downmarket supermarket of which I had not been previously aware).  If I had not had the top down on the car, I may not have heard him and been able to escape….. Apparently they had bought one of this vintage to try at lunch with the Wing Commander who has an inestimable appetite for wine, though mostly reds as far I recollect and it was declared decent enough to go back and get another case ready for sunset.  I am afraid to reveal that they may need another visit today to replenish supplies.  Personally, if I am forced to drink white wine then Montrachet or Meursault are acceptable, but a Cote Du Rhone from Ed’s?  I am sorry, I could barely finish the third bottle…..

A grim weekend ahead, as I must leave the sunshine to venture back to the dreary UK, partly to witness the unveiling of the new John Otway book.  I shall be immediately sending a copy over to my lawyers to demand action to correct the  no doubt numerous libels that it will contain, then off to down town Putney for another Otway show.  My picture today is from the archives but as you can see I look just as well today as I did then…and as slim.  From there to my old stomping ground near Aylesbury for a ridiculously overblown public enquiry about the barn annex in my house in Weston Turville (a mans home is his castle in a manor of speaking).   This event will no doubt cost £1000,s and they will end up kicking me in the balls all because the annex is used as a holiday let!  Talk about cashtration (Pete, this is deliberate!), Boy, let me at the Govt budget, I could cut billions from it easily! – perhaps source the wine for Government hospitality from Ed’s?

Jet Spotter, John Otway and myself circa 1977 at Wild Willy Barretts 3rd or 4th wedding

Contact with my old friend Paul Conroy who used to work at Stiff Records (where he once signed John Otway) as I find a former employee of his Fiona Grimshaw hard at work at Savilles in Plascassier.  It reminds me of when Paul was Managing Director at Warner Brother Records in London, and Otway had made a Christmas record, a version of Jerusalem.  Paul wanted to sign it, but then was clearly overruled by his A & R team, refused to return my calls for several weeks, so we hatched a plan, John pressed it himself with a Warner Brothers label!  Result?  they gave in and released the record, which was another failed hit record for John.

Do not fret though, faithful followers, I shall be posting from the deep dark depths of depressing drudgery every day so that you can join me in the misery of cloud and rain, so to brighten things up, here is a picture I took over the weekend

chris France

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