April Journal
“The need to document my insanity is an affliction I have not yet cured myself of...”
― Lydia Lunch
April 1st.
Up at 6. Coffee in study/library. J off early to meet her friend on So. Shore. We'll meet at U Club this evening for reception.
Drain in bath sluggish. Had our super treat it so we shall see.
April fools day. Does anyone do April fools pranks anymore? I have not since about 14 or 15 years old. Apparently Google did and really screwed up. A very bad idea.
Off to Houghton Library to meet with DM about R_ _ _ _ _ t visit in September. Will try and arrange tour etc.
Opera tonight after Club reception - Lowell House. A first. will hear Salieri's "La Grotta Trofonio'. I suspect it will be either very good or very bad. Fingers crossed.
Long convo with DM re proposed tour of Houghton. Will contact PA for arrangements. Did learn that B has an event that the day we are looking to do the tour which may complicate things.
DM and I did sort out were the UC early archive had gotten to. It is accessible.
Light lunch at home. Will leave for Club reception about 4:45.
Nice review of the Lowell house Opera in the Globe today.
April 2.
Late night yesterday! Reception at UC very nice - decent buffet and good crowed. Left in good time to get to Lowell House by 8. Met BB at porters lodge and went in to hall for Salieri opera. Opera exceeded my expectations. Singers were quite good indeed and the band excellent under Jones's conducting. but ran late and only home by 11:30PM
Up very late indeed - 7:45. Had coffee here. Left for COV and lunch at 11:40. Got lift from SE. Big lunch today as there were ten guests in town for RSA convention brought by EH. Three of us shared cost of these guests for lunch. Chef did a decent lunch. Conversation intelligent. Sat next AP. Home by 3:45.
In the post the Simon Raven book "Places Where they Sing." arrived, Can't imagine what happened to my original copy. Never mind had this to re-read now.
Full day tomorrow - Farwell reception for GT tomorrow at chapel after morning Eucharist. G&S performance of Pinafore in afternoon followed by supper at COV. Seems we are very musical and social recently as there is BSO concert Tuesday with Haitink conducting and Perahia on piano. Leaving for NYC early Thursday for book fair. But have meeting with MC on Tuesday prior to concert and conference call with PD Monday PM re company funding.
April 3.
Low Sunday. Woke to snow and ice. More like Christmas than post Easter. To services this AM. There was a reception after service for GT who has stepped down as superior of the monastery and will be going off for several months on sabbatical.
G&S performance this afternoon - HMS Pinafore. Light supper to follow after performance at COV. Ticket crisis dealt with - in part. GP mislaid his two tickets. Have numbers so will deal with box office to sort it all.
April 4.
Walked over to Radcliffe Yard a bit early I thought but when I got to Agassiz Theater the Lobby was full of people milling around. Did not see GP or JP at first so went to box office to deal with issue of lost tickets. Saw GP and JP near box office. Explained as best I could to box office. They asked oh your LS and they had all our ticket numbers. So they said no problem. And I said fine but they m[need a ticket to get in! So ticket was given and they were in but sat in the two empty seats we knew would not be occupied as P.Od and K.Od were ill.
The performance of Pinafore was excellent. In fact I am tempted to say the best performance of a G&S piece I have ever seen there. The voices were excellent, they projected and articulated very well, the acting was very well done indeed. Over all the production had more energy than many I've seen there. A nice note at the end - LP a senior in the production playing Buttercup shed a few tears - I guess realising this would be her last G&S performance. Quite affecting but she needs to know there is life after G&S and Harvard.
Bitter windy day yesterday even though it brightened. Walked to GP's car to drive to COV. Arrived for drinks and all was set up in the Library as usual. Lively conversation at drinks. I circulated and felt everyone had a super time at the show. Dinner went very well - coronation chicken and sticky toffee pudding to follow. Also decent wines.
Woke to day to some snow - may continue on and off for the day! Clearly not much of a spring these past two days. But no mind as need to do a load of desk work today - pulling together materials for tax return, call MA DR about notice received Saturday about some return not filed etc. etc,.
Need to pull papers for conference call via skype tonight re funding for the company.
A full day ahead and was up a bit later than I hoped to be. Trying day yesterday what with reception after morning services for GT and the show and supper.
April 6.
Full day yesterday. Up early again. Pottered about at home in morning. Out at 11 to run errands. Went to Dickon's for light bulbs, bank to pay credit card bill, CVS to pick up prescription. But the major errand was getting a new IPhone. Got an SE to replace my IPhone 5s. This took a bit of time. Sales person in store was technically proficient but perhaps not the best to sell phone - but pleasant enough to deal with. Externally the new phone could be a clone of the 5s! I suppose its what's inside that counts.
I did not get back much before 1:40. Out to Harvest for a burger with J at 3 as we would have no time for a proper dinner yesterday. After the burger went off to U Club to meet MC to discuss implication of doing clinical trial in Singapore. Turns out MC did have experience doing a phase 1 trial there. So will brief PD on this today by email. My hesitation is still the language issue for the measures our draft protocol calls for. We shall see.
After drinks and consult with MC took E trolley to Symphony Hall to meet J for the concert. We saw Haitink conducting and Perahia on piano. Programme was Beethoven 4th piano concerto and Mahler 1st. Concert was brilliant! Went to the Oak bar after for a drink before going home. Taxi home a rip off as usual, Home really late. Up later this morning! Need to do a bunch of stuff today, pack etc. as I leave for NYC early tomorrow for the book fair. Also have memorial service at noon today for M.
April 8.
Up early yesterday for train to NYC and the annual Book Fair. Took the Redline to So. Station. J came with me as she had to be out of the house as cleaning lady was coming. As usual redline crowded and some people as rude as usual. But we got there.
Train on time and left on time. Got on the "quiet" car. Train fairly full even out of So. Station.
Ride OK but Amtrak internet a horror. Would not let me get email or message. When I finally disconnected from their Wifi everything worked. Overall they could and should run a better service.
Got to NY about 2. Taxi to club in fairly heavy traffic. Met EH and GP here for a very quick drink then off to Donahue's for a snack. We then met RC at the Cosmo Club fore a cocktail before going to the fair. Looked around. Saw Q's, Maggs and TB. GB's daughter came by and we then went off for some dinner. Ended up at Donahue's again. T was on the bar so we good to see him.
Taxi ride back was a horror! Driver was lost getting to 44th! We finally ended in Times Sq.! Walked back to club very tired.
Will go to Fair about noon - collect books and see some people and look at what might be had.
Have dinner tonight with DB at The Century just down from here.
So long day today. Breckers with GP. Saw TB to chat up. Working here at Club and off to book fair abut 1.
Trolled dealers I needed to see. Ran into to EH at TB's booth. Bought two books (Later Italian Pastoral Drama - 1583 & 1590). Picked up books form Q's.
Tonight out to dinner with DB and then back to Harvard Club to meet up with Q people for drinks etc.
April 9.
Met Q people at Rooftop bar last night after my dinner with DB at the Century. Dinner ran a bit later then I had anticipated so had to rush off. Made my apologies to DB. Dinner was excellent - lamb - and DB choose a really nice claret. He I guess is a bit of a wine connoisseur.
Conversation back at club mostly about books as to be suspected. Not a late night thank goodness. Left my coat at the bar but thankfully was able to retrieve it this AM. Will need it later as there will be some rain and possibly snow.
Sort of a free day today. Will go to Fair about 6 to meet up with AD then off to dinner hopefully at Donahue's. Will try and make a reservation.
May take myself to the Morgen Library or just may settle in here at the club. The club is quiet this Saturday thus far.
Gray day here -- some rain/snow possible. May just hang at here at club and skip Morgan.
April 10.
Leaving today for Boston on 1PM train. Bag packed still need to pack up papers. Will try for a cab about 12. When I was just out they seemed scares.
Had a good dinner with AD yesterday at Donahue's. Good convo.; AD opened up more and was not as buttoned up as he usually seems. I find I like him a great deal. Will send him catalogues from COV exhibitions.
Back here not too late. Tooth a bother about three but got up and took a pain killer. Back to sleep and fire alarm goes off about 5:18! Hurriedly tried to dress or at least get trousers on. Thought it might not be wise to show up in my pants only. Realized how not easy this was and had visions of being burnt up in my pants or worse still naked!
But no one much seemed to be exiting to hall when an announcement came on which I could not understand but seemed to be the all clear. Learned later that the announcement said no need to leave one's room.
Had breckers with TB about 8:45. Talk was of fair and collecting books.
After breckers went out to buy Tylenol and tissues. Went to Century to drop off envelope for DB. Place locked but managed to raise a janitor and left envelope with him. Said he would leave it somewhere in Hall. I've no great hopes it will get to DB but wrote him as to what I had done.
April 11.
Left for Penn Station yesterday just before 12. Got a cab n good time and was at station massively early. Settled down to wait. Train 5 minutes late. Usual crunch boarding. Almost knocked down by someone on my right, my blind side. Got my seat5 in Business class but car was full so chap sat next me. He proceeded to spread out arms etc. and was practically in my lap! Thankfully at first station he was able to move to a seat next his wife. But I did not have the seat to myself for long as another chap came along. He totally lacked any social shills and spread out worse than the first chap. He also snorted constantly clearing his nose. As the tike went on he then proceeded to hum to himself. Idiot was totally annoying! As it was he did not get off until 128.
Home around 6:20 not bad time for a regional train. But I must say journey could have been more pleasant.
Supper at home last night with a decent bottle of claret (Ch. Damase 2011). Was very tired so to bed on the early side.
Work early today as I wished to print out a set of the exhibition labels and pull books off the shelves we are taking to put in the cases at COV for the new Exhibition. Will be taking out the old one today as well. Labels still need to be proofed but will use the set I printed as place holders until I can finish them properly - hopefully by the end of this week but the week may be too busy and this too ambitious and expectation. CLF will pick us up here and drive over to 77 Mt. Vernon. After we finish up at COV will get some Lunch at Union Club.
CLF and JF picked us up at 11:30. Hit Red Sox Traffic of Storrow drive. Old exhibition came out quickly. Sorted books for ne exhibition and played about with labels. It be came clear that labels were too large. Shall try a smaller type face. But also clear there is plenty of room in the cases for the exhibition. Will refine labels and hope to put it all together by the weekend or early next week.
Wen to Union Club for lunch at bar. Both had the scrod and I a horses neck... Back to COV after to wrap up then Redline to Cambridge and stop at bank. Home now and knackered! Medical appointment blind eye eval. tomorrow mid morning. Will try and use Uber to get to appointment. Weather looks to be a bit doggy.
April 12.
A totally wasted day! Heavy rain this AM. Uber did not work at all after re-loading the APP and credit card info. Kept asking to verify payment as it was doing on NYC. Finally gave up and took a cab from the Charles. A total rip off at 25 dollars.
Had an ophthalmic appointment this AM at 11:15. Arrived there at 11. Got home at 2:10. Three fucking hours for a 5 min. consult!
Clearly I need a new Doc. Have a shit load of work to do and have not even had lunch!
April 13.
Finally a day with no great outside commitments. Up later (6:30), coffee then wash and dress in time to walk to hospital at 8:30 for INR test at 9. A bot chilly in the wind walking along the river but plenty of sun. INR high (2.9) as I suspected it would be due my stupidity in dosing with a med with antiplatet activity. Will adjust for a day or so by continue after on regular dose.
Out for a coffee after with J to Algiers. Ran an errand to get mailing envelopes to send off exhibition catalogues to AD and DB. Dropped off trousers and shirts at cleansers. Hope and at desk to work on labels.
Finished adjusting type size for all labels and now need to enter corrections for proofed labels.
Outside events tomorrow (Anniversary mass at Gardner Museum; Symphony in evening - Mahler 9) will impact on what I can get done. Clearly I won't be able to finish installing the exhibition until next week! Had hoped to be finished for this Saturday. As J has meeting I will need to cook this evening. But the cod receipt is easy and Potatoes Anna do not take a lot of effort.
Have heard nothing from EH re sale of my Italian collection to Hopkins. I suspect he was all stuff and nonsense about wanting to purchase. Fine by me either way. He does strike me at times as a bit taken with himself - exaggerating his position.
April 14.
Mostly a work day in study. Printed corrected labels for SE to cut. Will see him for lunch in Cambridge tomorrow. Reads some and contacted PA about Rowfant visit in September. Agreed to meet over coffee tomorrow morning to discuss details.
Early dinner at Harvest as we had symphony at 8. Had a burger. Way too big and too many fries. So left a bit.
Took #1 Bus to Symphony. By the tom we hit Boylston St. and MA Ave. bus very full. Arrived just after 7. Went in to hall for a drink before concert. Just after sitting down TM and her husband FM arrived and sat with us. Very odd running into them.
Concert, Mahler 9, very good indeed. Took T to Harvard Sq, and walked home form there.
Have to be up early tomorrow to meet PA for coffee at 9. So now off to bed!
April 15.
Up on early side. Coffee in study and began working in Labels as I needed to have them done to hand off at lunch today to SE to be cut and trimmed. Also had to meet PA over coffee to settle details of Rowfant visit to Houghton Library in September. Met him at Algeries Coffee shop. Back home to finish correcting and printing labels. Finished in time to leave for lunch at 11:50
Met SE handed off labels and collected the book he had been working on for me. Talked about COV and what is seemingly lacks leadership. Also discussed issue of EH and sale of my Italian collection to Hopkins.
Went to Slates after lunch to by printer paper and clips for pencils. Finally home. Read this afternoon. Went out with AS and JS to dinner at Gran Gustio. Good dinner. Tried their sea bream. Quite nice and interesting prep. Home and writing up notes and journal. Free weekend as I nor J made any outside commitments.
16 April.
Up later this morning despite getting to bed earlier last night. Coffee in the study as usual. Was out of the house by 9:20 for a morning of errands - dropping off trousers to be taken in, haircut, buying some wine. Met J for a coffee at Algeries after hair cut. It was crowded more so than usual for the hour. Must have been the Saturday. But as the Boston Marathon is Monday there are lots more people around. Even at an early hour the Square was crowded.
Had email from SE today saying that his friend and classmate, PR, at Amherst died without gaining consciousness. He was in a freak accident. A truck threw up a rock off the road whilst driving from Tahoe to CA and wen through the windshield and hit him directly in the face. So very sad.
Quiet day otherwise. Out this evening for a drink at Noir and ordering some Indian food from Tanjore. May go to COV tomorrow to begin work on setting up new exhibition "Corrogatio Nugarum". Hope to have it all set up for Ladies' Day at COV - a week form today.
April 17.
Went out last night as we proposed but did not have a drink at Noir. Fairly full when we go there. But there was a pert there that were so loud that we decided to leave and try Rialto. My patience and tolerance of places that are so noisy that you can't hear the person you are with has been exhausted and I refuse to subject myself to people who can't behave reasonably in a public place. Any way Rialto was quiet and we had our drink in pleasant circumstances.
Went to Tanjore for food. We got a table with no problem. Group of 5 what must have been block mates eating next to us but they were finishing up and in any case were not overly loud. Decent dinner. Forgot how much I enjoy their Nan.
Home and read for a while but in bed just after 10. A dull life indeed.
Up late today! Woke at 4:40 and had a "Wee Wettie" but went back to bed and did not get up until 7. Coffee in study as usual. J off to church which I gave a miss. Had a nice long shower instead. Dressed and did email correspondence Spent some time setting up a money transfer account for my Italian Bookseller FG. Sent off a token amount to see if it all works.
Day spent either reviewing tax prep docs or beginning to accession books I brought back form NYC fair. Did two Cinthio tragedies and a Cecchi comedy.
Out to Rialto for dinner tonight. Place very full likely because of Marathon tomorrow. Had a new bartender who was a disaster pouring our wine. Have never seen such a niggardly pour. Let him know how I felt and probably embarrassed J. But service sucked and frankly the wine pour was a joke. Ah well lesson learned - better off at home. One saving grace food was OK.
Began looking at the novella I had been working on and reviewed what I had to date. Am resolved to getting back to writing it and trying to finish it. A sad story - some of which one can read on the blog.
April 18.
Quiet day. Up just before 6. Coffee as usual in study. Out late morning to pick up cleaning and stop at Post Office. At home for the day. Worked at accessioning 16th century Italian drama books for Q's and FG. Finished these along with English books for Pirie auction. Watched latest episode of Grantchester.
April 20.
Yesterday spent good deal of time putting in new exhibition "Corogatio Nugarum" at COV. Finished u working by 5 and went over to Union club for drinks and some food. Ran into TG who was going off to some concert but had a bite at the bar before leaving.
Home not too late and just puttered around. Did some work earlier today for Insurance issue about putting books in exhibition.
Out to do errands - cleansers, light lunch at Algeries, hardware store and bank. Out tonight to COV monthly meeting and talk. Need to read RM's minutes for him as he is off playing in London re the replica Palmyra Arch - hobnobbing with Boris!
Sanders lost primary vote in NY. For my money he needs top drop out now. He does himself nor the party any good at this point.
April 22,
Yesterday was the day our cleaning comes. So we were out by 8:30 to UC for breckers. J went off to an another appointment after a quick breakfast. I lingered over coffee and the FT.
Finally took myself off to COV to finish putting in the current exhibition. Worked until J joined me. We pretty much finished the bulk of the work by 12:30. Locked up and headed down the hill for lunch at UC. We were meeting AA and SE for lunch. Good lunch and good convo. Had not seen AA in some time. He is off next week to Prague and Vienna.
Today will hopefully be quiet. Have to do some corrections on labels for the exhibition then print and trim. May go out to dinner with MP who says she is coming to Cambridge. We shall see! Plans with MP are always a work in progress. She may need a bed so again we'll see.
Warm yesterday - 24+ and today will be about 22. Hint of summer. Even just two days of such warm temps brings out the buds on trees etc. Despite global warming this has in many ways been a late Spring.
April 24.
Saw MP Friday. She had driven down fro Rokeby on Friday on the bike. Apparently it has been acting up. This likely due to the fact that when she put it up at Rokeby she never drained the petrol etc. and there developed a bit of corrosion. Luckily she met someone on the road who helped her out. I do worry about the trip back. We had dinner Friday evening at Nubar. Was fine but for the boors who sat next us (some pig cops union was having meeting at the hotel) and six tried to crowed into a table for two next us. All very uncomfortable especially as the woman next me was a true fat cow. All crude with no social sense or manners. But then they were cops right!
Went marketing Saturday as we had not really been to Fresh Pond Market in some time and we need lots of things for the lunch today. Got Zip car. Second time I've driven since losing the sight in my right eye. Went ok. But of course this is just around Cambridge - not been on highway as yet. Not sure I am all that confident to try that as yet,
We have AC and her BF N to lunch today. Have not seen AC in some time and never met the BF. Should be interesting I suppose. AC living in Brighton now - with BF.
Hope to have a quiet week coming up. Nothing big on the calendar. Do need to finish sorting out labels for exhibition and settle details about an open house for it.
Also received email form Companies House in UK about new regulation I need to sort out. Ugh hate this bureaucratic stuff. But must be done and can't be ignored.
April 25.
Yesterday a full day - cooking and prepping for Lunch company. All went well I think. The joint was rare but all seemed to like it. AC and the BF were 15-20 minutes late as they had to hunt for parking. He a bit quiet at first I think as he did not quite know what he was letting himself in for going to lunch friends of AC's parents. But warmed up and certainly ate well. Talk mostly of music as that is their lives. Both serious performing musicians. They say they will be in Boston for at least another year but are not wedded to the area (Of course AC grew up in Watertown here and went to BB&N. The BF's family from Vermont and his father a violin maker outside of Brattleboro. He struck me as a bit if a music nerd but cute whereas I think AC the more forceful and sophisticated personality (like her mum). They left at 5 so a three hour lunch!
Up late today and mostly a quiet day. Went out for a coffee to Algeries and then to the bank to deposit cheque. Gray day this AM and colder than I thought it would be. Back here and worked on bill paying, Companies House issue and finally fixed study window.
April 26.
Up at 6. Coffee as usual in Study/library. Day was cool and wet. Did not venture out but spent day here working and reading. J went off to a talk at the Statehouse library and then to lunch at Emmet's with RT.
Worked on accounts and cut out labels against going to COV to finalise exhibition by replacing incorrect labels. Created two new labels for the prints in the exhibition.
Enjoyed listening to jazz on WHRB whilst working and reading in library. I really enjoy "The Jazz Spectrum" on WHRB.
Have been reading or rather re-reading Pepys' Diary in the Everyman edition (dirty bits mostly all expurgated!) I have to hand. Curious how I find it holds my interest. This is a change from Waugh's diary which I have also been reading.
It was also nice to have time and space to myself today.
Out tomorrow to COV about exhibition and then to UC for lunch and library meeting at 3.
Spoke with our money manager about possible sale of Italian collection to Hopkins and how funds should be invested if sale happens.
Emailed JR about godchildren and his lady wife. Also emailed Quaritch about a book. Florio's translation on Montaigne's Essays - second printing 1611. But it is dear and not sure I should buy it. It may as I suspect already been soled.
We bought tickets for Stoppard's Arcadia being out on at the Central Sq. Theater. Never been there but have been told the production is worth seeing. We go a week today.
April 27.
Up early today just after 5. Coffee in library/study as usual. Listened to jazz on WHRB and reviewed mails. Dealt with COV issue of Open House for Exhibitions. Executive got it so wrong as to what Hx. and procedure was. Wrote FM and pointed out errors - likely to no avail. May just step aside as co-ordinator of exhibitions. Have frankly had enough of gross incompetence of those elected to office this year. Have reached an age where fighting these battles not o=worth the energy. Will do catalogue for the current exhibition and then quit! Frankly FM turning out to be a loss as president of COV!
Out after 11 to Boston. Stopped by COV to change a few labels in exhibition then on to UC for lunch. Stayed at Club for Library meeting. Then T home.
Tomorrow need to work on Company House matter.
Month drawing to a close. As usual seemed to have gone quickly - age perhaps makes tome move faster?
Had invitation from Caius for May week party but takes place before I go to UK so will not make it.
April 28.
Spent a miserable night last night. Sinus headache. Woke at 1:20. Too hot in bed. Got up and camped on study sofa. Dozed on and off after taking Tylenol to 3. Woke again and cat wanted food. Fed cat and took another Tylenol. Restless until six when I got up and tried the bed again. Slept till just after seven. Miserable and tired all day. Went out about 11 to run one errand then back home. Read and sorted papers and pulled books off the shelf for Saturday COV lunch. Wrote SV about corrections for exhibition broadside. Will cost 60 dollars for a new printing plate. Told him to go ahead. But did little else. Supper, watched some video and so to bed.
April 29.
Up early. Sunny but cool day. Mostly worked in library/study trying to sort out Companies House requirement. Read some. Windows ten tried to install on one computer - worked all day - but failed to load. Have no clue as to why it did nt work and took hours and hours,
For some reason the "Beautiful Bitch"
Well she was quickly dismissed. Had no desire to relive the nightmare she created to ruin my life!
COV lunch on Saturday. Need to talk with FM about exhibitions. Not sure where that convo will go. But need to set him and Exec. straight about the Hx.
April 30th.
At COV. Unloaded on FM over the issue of money for Exhibition openings. Also set him straight over hx. of exhibitions ay Club. He liked none of it. And I frankly could give a flying fuck! I am no longer convinced he makes a good president. We shall see. Decent lunch though - good table with interesting thongs presented. Won't be there next week. Oh and paid PC last of the dues money I owe.
A good deal of time wasted trying to install Windows 10. Took hours to down load and usually Failed.
Out for some dinner at "Park" yesterday evening. Had not been there in quite some time. Patty melt was ok and drinks decent. Full but managed to get decent seats at bar. Very much a younger crowed there.
May 1st.
Up early. Coffee as usual. J off to church. I stayed here to work on the Windows 10 issue. After much effort got it to load and install. Also up graded to office 365 (2016).
Made a birthday card for SE.
Dinner at home tonight. Had loaded I-Tunes on my Surface computer and purchased the movie Brooklyn. May watch it tonight.
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AND SO ENDS THE APRIL JOURNAL
Clearly a dull thing
