flying toPittsburgh
We really didn’t know what to expect from yesterday’s gig at The Castle in Boston University . We knew it was for the Philosophy Department welcoming their students to a new session; what we didn’t know was quite how much fun it would be, and how enthusiastic and knowledgeable they were. Even in Scotland it’s rare for someone to come up to the CD table afterwards, spot a copy of ‘Fiddler Tam’ and say ‘wow, Kellie, he was quite a guy, wasn’t he?’  We played for about 75 minutes without a break and it felt like a lot less. And among the desserts on offer afterwards was a quite astounding trifle. I was too busy eating it to take a photo, so here’s one of my hotel bathroom instead.

I played the Duncan Burnett Pavin instead of Reinagle’s East Nook of Fife, as I’d spotted a 5-volume leatherbound history of the Queens of Scotland at the back of the room, and the Burnett/Kinloch/Mary connection seemed like an interesting story. It wasn’t until this morning that I realised that Reinagle had an opera house in Boston after he left Scotland, and I didn’t play his music there. Next time …

A tableful of seafood seemed like a great way to finish the day off, before it was time to say our farewells to Steve. As well as being our sponsor for the week, he’s had the very valuable skill of knowing what kind of people might enjoy what we do, and how to attract them. This goes well beyond the business of organisation and underwriting: somehow he’s ensured that each time we’ve played this week it’s been a satisfying experience on many levels. Now that’s impressive.  Thanks Steve.

in Boston, cycle path signage is very clear 

There was just time before leaving to visit this great comic shop – my bedtime reading is now the Acme Novelty Library vol. 17 -and to make a couple of phone calls about an academic task that has to be accomplished this week.  We had a brief moment of drama when the taxi dropped us at the airport and drove off with DG’s briefcase, but we got it back in plenty of time.