I had my hearing tested on Thursday. I'd figured that given the abuse my ears have had over the years, it would be interesting to see if they've suffered. I've also been meaning to buy some earplugs for use in noisy environments like sitting in the middle of symphony orchestras (I'm not joking). Anyway, my hearing turns out to be very good indeed, which is just as well given that it's how I earn my living. Despite what anyone will tell you, a good musician is the one who can listen, not necessarily the one who can play.

On Friday I went to Grangemouth to check out a harmonium that's for sale. It was small (ideal), a little beaten up, and most of it worked. Unfortunately, as I'd feared, its pitch was around 450Hz, so it's not much use as a performing instrument. Hey ho. This is the case with most American organs and harmoniums in Britain as prior to the 1920s that's where pitch was, and they're very stable instruments.

While I was driving across the country in the intense heat, David G left a frantic message on my phone, just as he was leaving Halifax for a flight. Apparently Spring Any Day Now goes off for manufacturing on Monday, so I've just got tonight to check out the booklet copy for errors (assuming they actually send me the thing as promised - they haven't so far).

And now the Edinburgh Festival has started, which allows for lots of encounters with interesting musicians. Last night was rounded off with Charles Mackerras enthusiastically showing me in his score the bits of Janacek's Glagolitic Mass that have been restored after the composer cut them for the first performances. He made the cuts because a) what he originally wrote was just too difficult for the players and the chorus, and b) he couldn't get a set of pedal timpani. Earlier on, Garry Walker was telling me what fun it is to call up György Kurtag for advice, as he sings and plays piano down the phone with great commitment, and Thomas Trotter warned me that Strauss's Festliches Präludium (in which I get my shot of the Usher Hall organ in a couple of months) is loud but crap. Funnily enough, the organ solo in the Glagolitic Mass could easily be a track by King Crimson - a huge bass riff with upper parts in different metres over the top.

I bumped into May Halyburton backstage, who said 'do you know exactly a year ago [a year ago yesterday actually] we were on the big wheel at Chicago's Navy Pier?'  In fact I've been bumping into friends all day and just about managing to say hello as we rush past one another - I could have quite a fun social life if ever had the time.

Meanwhile, BBC2 has been showing lots of Laurel & Hardy two-reelers for the summer holidays - bliss.