Blues and Soul music dominated now, Clapton, John Mayall, and The Blues Infirmary …What? Who the hell? ..I hear you cry. A local Band, Dave Graham, Drew, Tony, Dave Merrillees recorded for posterity, not profit.
I revisited St. James Hall with them for their practise sessions. Least I could do was record them after they vanned me to Bristol Poly (The Nice), Glastonbury Town Hall (John Mayall & the Blues Breakers). Summer that year became focussed on Long Haired Festivals, including some in the various parks of Bath. Mick Ringham introdued me to Theo Dunn who was organising one of the festivals. Dressed in my (mother made) brightly coloured silk shirts and shiny medallion. On the grass dreaming of hot "San Francisco" nights, and long hazy days. Plenty of "Weed!" too, no not Bill & Ben .. just Bill and Sue, nearly. Life was getting good, but "all my lovin`" was destined not to last long, time to get real again.
"Time to go home": Second home that is, or was. The R.U.H. beckoned me with a shiny new invitation .. Mr. Headley Hall requests the pleasure, .. at … My dressing gown was packed and I booked into Helena Ward again. Fat Margaret (with the vac.) and Sister Jones were the only old faces left. Richard Bliss (houseman) and Ed Galizia (anaesthetist) got me ready for my next big break. "Ow!, that really hurt!" was my response to their enquiry when I surfaced again. Morphine is a wonderful experience, so much better than Cannabis. "We had a few problems, and you won`t be able to dance any more" said Richard Bliss, (not that I could anyway). My right ankle was now impossible to move side to side or up and down. Yet more vital nerves and muscle had been damaged in the rush to reunite both ends of the Tibia bone.
Two years had passed, and I was still in plaster. "How soon do think it will be off?" I asked. "Hopefully next year, just keep your weight off it this time!". I had many drunken nights of swollen leg in plaster and this allowed me to be stupid enough to tread on my fragile support, this kept breaking the callous nearly as fast as it formed. So; I laid back to think of England (and all the girls who sailed in her.) and I thought; "when should we start compensation proceedings?, I need more microphones, and a much better Tape Recorder." I waved this question at my Solicitor, he waved it right back and said; "Until such time as it can be ascertained the full limitations and extent of any handicaps resulting from your injuries we will be unable to proceed with litigation against the driver from Hell." .. Well if I had understood it correctly, it was a case of "don`t ring me" then!
Mick Ringham introduced me to the Beatles "Sgt. Pepper" album, and that Liverpool sound was firmly back in style. Hamish Imlach reared his "Hairy Mary, Cod Liver Oil & the Orange Juice" in my face as well. Mick scoured the music shops (and the dustbins!) for inspiration and unusual artists. "Sipping Strawberry Tea" from Tiny Tim was to haunt me for nearly 40 years before I remembered where the melody came from. Things were moving fast now, I had a job to keep up. Cider at the Beaufort (long gone, now a car park off Queen Square), a one roomed, down the step Pub where the green nectar was the cheapest in Bath. The Dugout, Salamander, Hatchetts, Keel Club etc. would have to wait a year or so before I could afford them my custom.
So, here we are again, nearly at the bottom of the page. I am learning fast from my new mentor (Nobby Ashdown) about life, how to get rid of "crabs", how to pick a good horse to bet on (he used to be a Farrier), how to grow a moustache. How to wear button on collars & cuffs, Pigs Trotters are best, Barley Water helps you pee, how to use a suppository, (too much information!). I`ve not much stomach left for more of this at the moment!
(Nor unfortunately, had Nobby).
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