Seb Palmer

I’ve driven past this place, in Benwick, many times. Today I stopped for a look. And even talked to a couple of guys on site.

Lots of interesting stuff.

I have numerous crazy plans. Some of which could include steel beams. This place seems like a potential place to get such stuff.

Got Flo’, aka The Car, back Thursday.

That’s two days ago now. Cost a bomb (£1K!) to get the clutch replaced. But it could’ve been worse, and cost more. Luckily we’d just had a refund from E-On, of almost exactly the amount The Garage billed us. Carma!?

My situation delivering for Amazon Flex is alarmingly precarious, at all times. But much more than usual right now, alas.

I’d been at or near the top of their Standings scale for ages. So long, in fact, they’ve changed how they display one’s Standing, since I took the above screenshot. I wish I’d taken a screenshot whilst I was still riding high in the new look Standing.

But here’s how things, er… stand, right now.

I’ve had numerous occasions when they’ve chastised me and lowered my Standings. Usually only temporarily. Because I usually haven’t actually been at fault. This has been vindicated via my appealing, and getting replies like this:

But, so far, my appeals on this occasion – I’ve been told I’ve not been recording deliveries accurately (not actually true*) – have not succeeded. This makes a job which is, by its very nature (no employment is guaranteed, and there are no employee rights/benefits, like sick pay, etc.) already very tenuous, even more scary.

Especially when, despite me working hard and conscientiously, I can be mistakenly deemed at fault, through no fault of my own.

Having had just over a week off work, with no income – due to the clutch failing – is bad enough. But having to work under the shadow of the axe, now I’m back to work, ain’t pleasant. Esp’ as I need to do as much work as poss’, to make up for lost earnings.

Anyway, I can only do my best. Keep scrupulous records, and hope my standing returns to its former high level. The quicker the better!

In happier news. I got a pack of six wireless, rechargeable, motion-sensitive lights, mostly to illuminate our bathroom, where the lighting has failed (and we’ve failed to get an electrician able to easily/cost effectively fix things!).

I’ve out four up in the bathroom, and two on the upstairs landing.

Wow! Just found these old pics of me, as a long-haired youth.

Teresa and I have been tidying up, and doing various bits of home maintenance. During these efforts I found a number of old photographs. Including these.

I’m pleasantly surprised at my looks. I wish I’d have been a confident cocky type, back then. Instead of being painfully shy. Oh well… youth, hey? Wasted on The Young.

Stumbled across this, on YouTube.

It’s rather lovely, I think. I love Shuggie’s Inspiration Information album. But if you search for more in a similar vein, for the most part you’ll be disappointed.

There’s some more good stuff, sure. But most of his other recorded stuff, e.g. with his father, Johnny Otis (or indeed later, in his comeback career), is pretty standard blues, of one form or another…

Bugger-balls! More essential Joni is released from the JMA, or Joni Mitchell Archives. There’s also this:

Are the Hejira demos part of the Vol IV box? I guess I’ll have to find out.

I wanted to do this as an unboxing video. But I couldn’t find any of the gear I have for holding my iPhone like a camera, so I can use both hands.

Anyhoo… this batch turns out to be a total GB fest, as in George Benson. I didn’t realise, until unpacking/reading, but he’s even on the Esther Phillips disc that is part of this shipment.

Give Benson albums, and one Esther Phillips. The latter I got for several reasons: it’s a ‘72 release (which I collect); I love all the players; I love CYI/KUDU, etc. The Benson stuff is the result of my ongoing and ever growing love for George and his music. In particular his 1960s-‘70s (and even a little ‘80s) stuff.

The wonderful interview with Benson that Rick Beato did (below), fairly recently, was another factor. It was a reminder of what an absolute legend and mega-dude George is. And compelled me to go back to my Benson catalogue, revisit, re-listen, and expand it.

I already had near enough all of what I’ve just acquired. But mostly only as mp3s (or similar). And I don’t listen to much in that format. I’m a bit old school, and like a real physical object. CDs, in my case.

I’m a bit of a collector/hoarder. To the extent it may be borderline disorder! I’ve been collecting a fair number of Mainstream Records reissues (also via Japan*). And I’m very chuffed with them. I feel similarly drawn to these CTI 50th Anniversary reissues. So much so I’m compiling a list of as many of them as I can find. With a view to getting more, in future.

The above mini-gallery above is me looking at the packaging of just one item from this latest Nipponese order. I was a bit surprised that, unlike the Mainstream and Groove Merchant reissues I’ve got, which have multi-page booklets (albeit they’re in Japanese), these CTI 50th ones only have a single sheet; cover facing front, and a tiny bit of generic info on’t back! Mildly disappointing.

But as the above gallery also shows, they do, on the back of the jewel cases, list personnel. And that’s the info’ I’m most keen to have. Anything further I might be able to glean online?

Son, I love… I say, I love that ol’ Foghorn Leghorn!

The above pic is Flo’, parked outside our local ‘Spoons. We go there for brunch fairly frequently. It’s so cheap! And, occasionally, their Thursday evening Curry Nights.

First bit of news is bad… The Garage rang today, to inform us that Flo’ needs a new complete new clutch. I’d hoped it’s just be a clutch master cylinder, as the RAC guy had suggested it might me.

Well, it’ll cost a shitload more, as a result. Basically all the money we were recently refunded by E-On. Major bummer!

On a more positive note, a guy came out to us today from Anglian Water, and sorted out a blockage in the communal sewers, which serve our house and several others. So after several days living in fear of a poo tsunami, things are back to bog standard once again.

The ‘Flo’ Finished’ in this post’s title refers not to our car, thank goodness. But to the kitchen flo’. Which Teresa secretly finished painting, as I lay abed, snoozing, this morning.

There are a few spots that need touching up. And small patches I’ll have to paint where a wooden block has been holding white goods up off the floor (allowing us to paint a little way under them).

Teresa’s just returned from a trip to the chemist, to pick up a prescription, with some cheap but cheerful charity shop acquisitions:

I’m chilling watching The UK Snooker Championship, and Teresa’s doing little bits ‘n’ bobs…

With Flo’ at The Garage, we had to walk to Taymor Plumbing Supplies, on the other side of town. Before that we had a fortifying brunch, at The ‘Spoons, and then walked for about 50+ minutes, to Taymor.

We stopped to say hello to Ken, on our way, at his home on Norwood Rd. He may’ve been out, or working in one of his sheds. Whatever the case, answer came there none.

I bought some sink/drain unblocking stuff; supposedly stronger than what we’ve used heretofore (in respect of this most recent blockage; you can’t get One Shot anymore, alas).

I’ve used this Rhino stuff once before. And I believe it did the job then? Tho’ using it just now – pouring about half down the bathroom sink, and half down the toilet – has had no apparent effect.

Hmmm!?

In other news… Teresa’s over the moon, ‘cause the new little faux-woodburner she just bought (off Amazon) arrived today:

We’ve plenty to do. The toilet remains blocked and slow to flush. I’ve tried the Rhino stuff, boiling water, and even a plain ol’ plunger. No joy!

And the kitchen floor is minging!

So we’re repainting it. We need all this stuff finished – and my car back, in working order – ASA-effin’-P. Pref’ before Antonio returns from Spain.

I’ve had to leave a strip unpainted, as it’s a busy working kitchen.

We love Teresa’s new fire so much we’ve brought it upstairs with us, for a super cosy vibe in our bedroom.

I think I’ve posted about Steinweiss before? But I was looking at the fab little Taschen book I have on him again, today. And he’s just… well, supremely brilliant.