Still counting miles ...

The reality is a good few of us have less time to spend before we die than we have lived.

That isn’t a sad thing …simply a fact. As I approach the half century, the number of good years left are unknown so time is precious. There is a cruel irony that when I was younger I was seriously hog tied financially due to blind compliance we societies expectations which I duly complied with. Didn’t everyone have their first mortgage by the age of 21 already having started a savings endowment policy a couple of years earlier. Didn’t everyone use the slim profits from the sale of their first flat as a deposit for a bigger place before doubling the mortgage. Of course the reduced income from having a family also helped the “work ethic”  that mean as a man, you have you provide ? This all led to a need to work overtime to make things balance – typically a five day week topped up with weekend overtime. Financially sound yes but also exhausted with the changing shift patterns bad for health but hey, I fitted in with expectations. Not all bad but time was traded for cash and unlike a pawnbroker, there was no opportunity to buy time back.

Years later, things have improved – that early effort has meant the $$$ is needed less and time freed up.

Now valuing what time is left, I have an habit / borderline obsession with filling life with stuff I like. Part of that is live music and seeing a mix of new and auld favourites.

With Tim Barry opening for Chuck Ragan and Hot Water Music down in London, the only thing that was really under consideration was logistics. The most time efficient was to jump the train from Glasgow south to Euston, meet up with ma pal Joe for food and a beer, grab the gig then catch the overnight train back north to Glasgow to be back at work for 08:30.  Was it worth it, damn straight …an amazing show from two folks who put all their energy into every gig.

The biggest waste is to waste time itself …make times count !

I sleep best with the rain upon this shed

Still counting miles, but I'm not sure

How many good ones I've got left

In some ways I know that I should settle down

But it ain't in me right now, so I'll keep on moving slow

And keep looking all around

Tim Barry - Shed Song