Cars and guitars

Sunday morning I arrived at a farm on the outskirts of Bethersden, queuing behind several intriguing ancient automobiles. The other drivers turned into the entrance to the showground; I drove around the back to the trade paddock. I set out my stall along the front of the pitch marked by wooden pegs, seeking out level ground for table and roll holder, trying to avoid the abundant supply of sheep poo which had been graciously provided by the field's previous inhabitants. The day before I had been showing at Ulcombe village's craft fair, and the entire day had been damp, grey, and drizzly. Just before I left home, the murky white sky had been pierced by a patch of blue and a shard of sunlight, and suddenly the summer seemed to have been here forever.

There had been a little confusion when I entered the paddock; after pointing out my van and asking where I should be, the man directing the cars thought I was meant to be in the exhibitors' area, as Lucy, being a 1978 Leyland Sherpa camper, met the age criteria for the show - being open to pre 1980 vehicles. I quickly realized once the cars started to fill the spaces behind my pitch that age was the pretty much the only criteria she met! There's a line between classic and just plain old, and although these Sherpa camper vans are a bit of a rarity, there's a long way to go in my restoration project before I'll be taking her out for inspection next to the likes of these hot rods.


As is now my custom I took my guitar with me for those quiet patches. Well, I might as well get in a little fingerstyle practice where ever I can, I do need it! One man recognized it immediately as being a Crafter, the same model as his own. I've lost a few buttons since I first put them on last year, but it's been across the Atlantic with me as well as being thrown around craft fairs. Since then I've had a bit of a break, not having a fair to prepare for, and despite the weekend's practice, it's been bass mania that's overtaken me this week.This is my bass, not much to look at, I know, but everyone's got to start somewhere eh? I promised myself if I could progress to a certain point (known only to myself of course) I'd buy a fabulous bass, maybe a bit like this... This week I finally gave in to a song that's been in my head for ages - it's Wish I Didn't Miss You by Angie Stone. I don't know why I didn't just find it and buy it before. I saw her perform it on tv years ago and thought she was amazing. The bass line is a sample from The Backstabbers by the OJays, and is simple, although relentless as it loops for the entire song. Since I found the tab I've been playing non-stop, and although my left hand fingers went past red and sore days ago, I've added four new songs to my playlist. Guess what I'll be doing tonight?