Saturday's Wedding

In the background of this picture is Old Winchester Hill, on top of which is a fort a couple of thousand years old. I wonder if our forebears and ancestors, as they toiled with hand and primitive tool to dig the magnificent ramparts and ditches, had any idea what would happen in mid-July 2013. What would they make of the arrival of the Thomas Lord Old Gits, ready to dig their own groove?

It was hot. It was sweaty. But the sun shone magnificently (and after the weather twelve months' ago, no-one is allowed to EVER complain about sunshine) and there was a slightly refreshing easterly coming down the valley.

Having set up in the morning, we regathered as the sun was beginning to dip.

(That's not the main marquee, by the way). We waited until the happy couple had made the most of the spectacular sunset for their photographs, and then watched as they had their first dance. And then we kicked off.

I think we all agree that it was one of our best gigs. The floor never emptied. The dancing was hard and fast, and, as last week, the dance floor wasn't big enough - and it was a big dance floor.

It was one of those evenings where good feedback makes us play better, and as we played better, the feedback got better. True, we had a couple of technical stumbles, but we effortlessly carried on through them. We even got to do our encore in full!

One test of a gig is the hour afterwards. Those who had to relieve babysitters were sent on their way, and the rest of us cleared up, all on a bit of a high. And even when we'd cleared up, we didn't seem top want to go home. Instead, there was some severe rifling of the buffet, and a mass outbreak of cheese and peanut scoffing took place. (New band name suggestion: The Cheesegrazers). Ian would have joined in with this undignified face-stuffing but was busy with a new fan.

Huge smiles all round. Sort of sums up the evening, really.

Saturday's Gig

Five years and a day after the first gig by the modern-day TLOGS, we set off to Beauworth for our latest booking. There had been a few concerns. Would the scorching temperatures make the evening unbearable? No - there was a respectable breeze blowing through the tent. Would the fabulous view distract the band? Not a chance - we're too profesional for that.

And then there were worries expressed by our lovely host: would we be too loud? Would the oldies find it unbearable? Would any of them dance? In the end, all her worries were unfounded. There was lots of dancing - of the Dad, Granddad and Grandchild variety - sometimes all three at once.

It was a very jolly evening, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. I overheard two lovely snippets as we packed up. "I say, weren't the band good?" said one voice in a Terry-Thomas style. And the second - "The dance floor didn't seem big enough!" - was a top compliment.

I then had a phone call from our host, thanking us profusely. She, too, had been thrilled at the dancing, especially by the oldies. Her only disappointment was that no-one had ended up in the pond!

Fantastic.

A surprise visit

Nice to see Tessa making a whistle-stop visit to the British Seedhouses HQ. I must say she's looking well. It looks as if BSH have done quite a bit of building work recently - I'm amazed they got planning permission for all those towerblocks. Witham St Hughs has certainly changed a bit over the last few years. And they really ought to get the Environment Agency to sort out the drainage. That's looks like it'll take ages to soak away.

The Next Gig on the Batoffo Tour

I went on a recce to the site of our next gig, and this is the view from where the tent will be. I'm sure it will win a prize in the 'Most Picturesque View From a Gig' category. Although we'll be inside the tent at the time, so we won't actually see it.

And I'm not saying that we're keeping up the tradition of not venturing very far, but if the resolution of my camera had been better, you would have been able to see TWO venues we've played in the distance!

NB for VTFs (Volume Ten Fans): this gig is going to be in a smallish tent, so biblical volume levels will not be needed.

Monday's rehearsal

Another fantastic gathering on Monday night. All this lovely weather (ironic that the Azores High has arrived within a couple of days of the useless muppets at the Met Office forecasting ten wet summers) meant that nobody was out spraying, and apart from John and Mindy, we had a full turnout.

Not sure that we actually did anything from our official setlist, but we manged to waste two and a bit hours having a lovely time playing anything else that sprang to mind. I think we touched on Sad Cafe, Herb Albert, Santana....blimey, the list was endless.

News that the bassist is now a Grandfather and that the huge pianist has been recommended a new hip confirms that we truly are Old Gits.

I'd just like to say that Grandfatherhood has mellowed and moderated Dave's language...I'd like to say it, but.........

Heard on National Radio (part 2)

Who would have though that, only weeks after John's appearance on BBC Radio 4's 'Farming Today', another member of the TLOGS would appear on the very same Saturday Morning programme?

Listen here , but be quick; it's only up for a few days.

How many bands of any type and calibre can claim to have had 28% of their members on Farming Today?

Seen in the Press, part 45

At last, we're front cover material! Well, up in the top left corner, anyway. And I'm not sure about the 'tweedy' bit, but we're on the front cover in one form or another. Inside the July issue of The Field is an article on middle-aged rock bands, and the TLOGS feature heavily. Some very good pictures, too. So rush down to your local newsagent as soon as you can to get your copy. You'll find it on the top shelf, between Razzle and Humungous Jubblies. Apparently.

And, no, that's not Boris Johnstone on the cover, it's Lord Percy. No, not the Blackadder one; the real one. Yes, there is a real Lord Percy.
.