Normally at this time of year I am beginning to get the 'festive tingle' in my bones and starting to get the urge to begin playing Christmas music. I always find it odd that I perpetually get the urge to play Christmas tunes in advance of the actual festivities beginning but I guess its because getting into the right frame of mind to enjoy all that the festive season brings is an important part of the process...
This year, however, I am hopelessly behind with everything due to the urgency of sorting and getting rid of the CD's I was left by my old mate, Alan Gaywood. I have been working like stink over the last three weeks or so to sort, sell, box and send CD's to all of the online de-cluttering websites and in many ways it has been just like being back at work at Masons Music (a wholesale company) where I worked for 10 years selling music related merchandise like band t shirts, woven patches, caps and hoodies etc...
Ironically, I heard earlier this week that Masons closed down on the 4th of November. Life can be pretty cruel sometimes and even though I left in 2009 I have remained friends with my old boss and was hoping against hope that he and the business could survive the current trend and keep going. Sadly, the recent resurgence of vinyl records and the boost to the merchandising industry that shall bring has not come soon enough nor strongly enough and with mp3's taking over and rock music taking a backseat now to rap and R&B (which is not merchandisable) the writing has been on the wall for some time...
I feel very sad about the loss of my old workplace and upset when I think of the staff who will all now be looking for work again. To come out of work at any time at the moment is bad news but to come out with Christmas on the horizon and the worst trading period of Jan-Mar to come after that is even worse. Still, most of the lads I knew were good at what the do and most had good computer skills as well so hopefully they will be alright.
I have send out now over 30 boxes of CD's since I started! Alan was a lovely bloke but boy did he like a lot of C.R.A.P. music! Nothing very Christmassy about bands like 'Marduk' and 'Dark Angel' and while I like a bit of reggae now and then some CD's are INCREDIBLY samey and drive you nuts! I am getting very panicky now that Christmas is going to creep up on me this year before I am ready. I have e mails coming out of my ear holes, articles that need writing, social engagements coming up and performances that I need to rehearse for all waiting on the back burner while I try to get the CD situation under control! My bedroom has always been bad but it is SERIOUSLY bad now with boxes of CD's even stacked along the only remaining floor spaces. I can just about get in the room and round the front of the bed and that's it!
I noticed the other day that the Christmas Fayre at The Holy Redeemer in Upper Church Rd is coming up on the 26th of Nov and that reminds me that I need to find out when my favourite Christmas Fayre at St Clements Church in the Old Town is going to take place this year. I have missed out on it at least two of the last three years and will be gutted if I do so again! So much to do and so little time. Not only that but I am acutely aware that I need to spend some time on trying to build a life for myself with someone as well because time is running out for me at home - that's if I survive, of course...
Oh well, nothing more that I can do at the moment than try to keep pressing on with the CD's and see what tomorrow will bring...
No comments:
Post a Comment