Wednesday 21 April 2010

I was off on my bike to the other-worldly surroundings of the Arlington Baths this morning with Bill Lloyd. The pool is quite beautiful in the sunshine, the water is bracingly cool, and the Turkish suite with its coloured glass lights in the ceiling dome is pretty much as it was in 1875. The Victorian showers that spray you from all sides are great too. Last time I was in there about 10 years ago, there was still one of those wooden steam baths that you sit inside on an adjustable stool that screws up and down, with your head sticking out a hole in the top. It was fantastic ... but health & safety inspectors removed it soon after to stop people cooking themselves.

Which reminds me, can anyone explain why the Gents toilets in the Citizens Theatre smell exactly like Carlisle Turkish Baths did two decades ago? Uncanny that I can remember that precise smell after so long. And no, it wasn't what you'd expect a gents toilet to smell of.

On my way home today there was time for a haircut, lunch in the park, and dropping into the university for some fortepiano practice, and a seminar looking at a fragment of a 14th century Gradual with a funny painting in it.

And some good news, the PRS Foundation has given us a grant towards our Revenge of the Folksingers project in December! We've still more money to find, but it's a great start. Whew.