Computer Doesn't Know What It's Doing - Its a Computer

I went to see Handel's Messiah yesterday at the Concert Hall - the second of January. I'm glad I went. I must have enjoyed it, at half time (sorry the interval) I really was looking forward to the next part. Last time I was there was for REO Speedwagon and Deep Purple before that. Both of them pretty good. With the classical concert there was something more 'grand' about it - with the fantastic singers and huge choir at the rear and all the other musicians -with the conductor like a wee Van Der Graaf Generator in the centre of it all - there was a living-room performance feel about it - where the performers and audience were sharing a bit of camaraderie - there's always a bit of idol worship (in the colloquial sense) when the writer and performer of the original material is there for a 'rock' concert I think.

I managed to use my 2002 underground ticket for the last time. Despite being told I had 8 journeys left at Partick, my return from Buchanan Street was halted by the ticket barrier instructing me to 'Seek Assistance' in worrying red letters - which I did only to be told 'computer says no' by the attending lady. There is something about the sickly cogs that turn around in our neo-American rules and regulation obsessed society that is inanely impersonal and incredibly disrespectful to the individual. OK rant over, I feel a little better. Now that I'm thinking about it, what about all these street cameras - I noticed a new one less than a hundred yards from my house tonight - are they really necessary - of course they aren't - everyone that goes up takes away a tiny bit from our dignity and privacy. Like global warming though its so incremental the worries of the day just drown it all out.

I plastered a bit of a wall today - and it was by no means a disaster - having done a weekend introduction at the start of December the key was practice but it would have been easy to get cold feet. Anyhow my friend also on the course was more than happy for us to get started on the walls of a room he is in the process of putting a kitchen into, so I was able to do the less visible parts. The results I would say are 'passable with care' like the road north. Ha ha.

I watched Notes On a Scandal on DVD tonight. I love both Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett. It possibly lags a little but not enough to actually want to switch it off. It was quite a disturbing movie, not in something like a weird backwater town in America having a guilty secret - more everyday - with the study of the way people can use one another to try to get close in an attempt to alleviate loneliness or get some other benefit. Available if anyone wants to borrow it.

More plastering planned for tomorrow, smaller wall which I will do all myself - lots and lots still to do better.