Two things I love…well, actually, one thing and one person. First, the thing. Remember I wrote here about my disappointment at not being able to buy Moleskine journals at the Moleskine stall of the London Book Fair? Well, it all got to be a bit too much so I went on the internet and bought two. And here they are. Aren’t they lovely? The larger one is a replacement for the one that I keep as a diary and which is soon to be full of my fevered late night/early morning scribblings. But I’m most excited about the pocket size one, perfect to fit into my handbag, red and so quite visible and not, I must say, made of the skins of moles (the fact that they are both leather and so probably mean they are made of something else’s skin is a fact better left unmentioned). But now maybe I’ll write down all the crazy things that go through my head when I’m “at large.” Sure, I’ve always kept a small notebook with me, but this one is so much more fun to use. Aah……
And now for number two. At the last minute, a dear friend called to say she had a spare ticket to last night’s Bob Dylan concert at the Roundhouse, and did I want to go? Did I want to go, she asked. Silly. So we went even though it meant standing, which was much less of a bother than we had thought. Dylan was wonderful. Better, I think, than he was the last time I saw him two years ago at Wembley Stadium. That time he seemed somehow tired and sullen. But this time he was bouncy, smiley, full of energy. He played lots from his new album which will obviously be a must buy. But he also did a lot of what I call “guess the song.” I love this actually. He takes an old song, and as if it were a poem, he changes the “line breaks,” eliding words which you wouldn’t expect to be elided, changing cadences and rhythms so that it is both an old and a new song at once. Fantastic. Plus, I love going to a concert where the artist, and most of the audience, is even older than I am. It’s all so civilized. Dylan comes out without an annoying warm-up band at 8.00, plays his concert, finishes at 10.00, we all go home and are safely tucked away in our little beds by 10.30. Perfect! Here’s a clip I found on Youtube of the concert he played the night before. Gotta’ love the white hat, too.
Got to be good.
I noticed when I saw him in 2000 that there were people older and very much younger.
Didn’t know there was a new album. They don’t have that in stock at the boulangerie either!
Glyn
The title of your post made me melt just a little bit. Just about my favourite things evah:-)
Glad he was bouncy this time. He certainly looks jaunty in the clip and I hope his never ending tour keeps on being never ending so I can catch him sometime soon.
And I have a new red moleskine too!
Ooooh jealous of both! Really like the big diary sized one. Wouldn’t have minded going to the Dylan cocnert either, niiiiice. Think he’ll ever venture further South?
Glyn: …just the fact that you’re shopping in a boulangerie is fantastic enough, regardless of what they sell there!
Lane: Isn’t it funny how the fact that there are now red moleskines make them even more exciting? I’ve become a big red fan these days. It’s my new favourite colour.
DJ: Dylan’s been playing all over the place. I’d be surprised if he wasn’t down your way. It feels like he’s hitting everywhere while he still has the energy left in his bones (thank goodness!).
I really need buy any type of book, moleskin or not. I keep writing wonderful fantastic ideas on slips paper and then losing them.
So glad you enjoyed the Dylan concert. We never get big names in Botswana but next month Shaggy is coming. I am wondering if my 45 year old self and my husband’s 47 year old one can manage a concert with all of those 20 year olds. I’m sure it won’t be as civilised as your concert was.
I am soooo envious! (Of the Dylan gig, although the moleskin books look cool…)
Ooohhh I love Dylan….am most jealous!!!
C x
Lord, that takes me back years! Lucky beast that you were able to go!
By the way, did you know Moleskines are made in China – I love them, but kinda put me off…
Bob dylan rocks! I also happen to be a fan of his son, Jack, of The Wallflowers, an alternative/rock band. The younger Dylan surely inherited his father’s great music genes.
to Absolute Vanilla: materials fpr the Moleskine notebooks are from Italy then shipped to China where they are assembled. Can it be a case of cheaper labor?
Nyles: Thanks for dropping by! I think the Wallflowers are great too, and was freaked when I first heard how much he sounds like his dad.
Hi Sue! Well, where were my manners. LOL. Thanks for the warm welcome.
Yes, father and son are so alike. I wish for Jack to have the same enduring career Bob has. I love both of them.
And I love my little black Moleskine, too!