9 June 2022…and onwards
Now we’re on a roll and everything has settled down into a groove both in the studio and with all the logistics surrounding it. So it was with the deepest possible joy that Jimmy the discovered his rental car had somewhat unexpectedly committed hari-kiri overnight and even the central locking no longer worked. Ignition: lifeless.
Excellent! This is what we need!
But never fear! Jimmy immediately contacted the rental dudes who said, ‘no problem…we’ll get somebody to come and get it.’
So far so good. In the meantime, we have a schedule so Jimmy left the paperwork and keys with the nice hotel people (who have been excellent to him all along) and I went to pick him up. Sure enough while we got going ten miles away the man came and got the car; so far so good.
Next step is to get a replacement car. So, Jimmy got on to the rental people — which was easier said than done — and finally got to speak to a dude. Well, this particular dude could not have been less helpful during a conversation that somehow seemed eerily familiar…
Jimmy: Hello Mister Rental…can I get a replacement car?
Rental Dude: Maybe.
Jimmy: Um, well, can you tell me where it will be?
Rental Dude: You need to go to the airport and get it.
Jimmy: Okaaay…but I’m working and don’t actually have either the time or the wheels available to do that…hence the rental car. Can you deliver it to the hotel?
Rental Dude: No. Don’t you know there’s a war on?! And it’s my lunch time?! And I have better things to do than wait on you?! And travel chaos is gripping Italy?! And my underwear is too tight?! And my tiny manhood hurts?! You ungrateful America!
Jimmy: Thank you Mister Rental. Have a nice day.
Rental Dude: @%$#&%@!!! Go away.
So, Jimmy declared war on them and, during our breaks between tracks, phone calls flew in all directions, with no help being particularly forthcoming as they pretty much failed to reply to anything. Nevertheless, we bumbled on and were racking up successful recordings. In the background Anna held down the homestead fort, doing all the endless stuff that needs doing to look after 11 dogs and 7 cats. Molly still not eating properly and getting perceptibly weaker, so we’re traying anything we can to break that cycle. She’s an old girl but we don’t want her going anywhere for a while. The big dog Scar disappeared for a few days and returned looking like he had been possibly poisoned by something, so we’re keeping an eye on him. Plus, we have an imminent new recruit with a little stray feline guy who has been badly burned and needs a home urgently or he’s back on the streets where he won’t survive.
Anyway….
Eventually as the tensions with Rental people ratcheted up to Def Con One, a different Rental Dude (known thereafter as Rental Dude 2) actually phoned Mister Waldo, and could not have been nicer. The upshot…still no car — and no car will be forthcoming — but suitable refunds were issued, apologies made and détente reached.
The recording ploughs on. It’s just a matter of getting the best versions of each track and so far it’s sounding great. Very confident this will be a very good album. Not many to go now.
After a heavy day yesterday and a proper ear battering for both Jimmy and I we took the late evening off and went down to the bike club to have a beer and introduce Jimmy to this fine body of people. It was a welcome break. Lift off at noon today (Sunday), just to give us an easy morning. The end is in sight….and it’s all looking good. What could possible go wrong now……..?
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