Friday 23rd April

Got up early this morning and headed straight to Cafe Cheri to send the choice form. I have decided to look at the connection between extreme cases of autism and dyslexia and the amazing creative ability which often comes with it. Mary arrived too and we spent about 2 hours there. Then I stepped outside. Today was the beautiful day which was meant have been yesterday. It was so warm and sunny I took my book and sat in the market place on a bench for most of the afternoon. Then I went home and spent a good hour practising the guitar (with the window open) and had a ‘who can play it the loudest’ song contest with the flat two floors below, with songs such as ‘Cotten Eye Joe’ and ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’. Jesus, if I could hear it so clearly up here I feel very sorry for their adjacent neighbours. At 7.45 I went to meet the others at Club 106 where the gig was being held. They were all meeting at the fountain but personally I thought it was silly for me to walk 10 minutes in the wrong direction so I said I’d meet them there. It was over the river and right on the quay front, set in a large circus tent and a smaller tent, with a portable toilet block. I must say, the french have succeded here too. The toilets were clean and had loo paper, and running water, unlike the horrible portaloos we would be provided with in england. The concert was amazing. It started with Los Campesinos, a band from Cardiff who I thought were brilliant. Then in the interval, a local band, Alice The Goon played in the drinks tent, who I also really liked. And then The Go! Team played. They were probably my least favourite to be honest but they were amazing to watch and very loud. Two drum kits!! There was also a bit of a mosh pit going on and I got bumped into several times, and Mika got beer spilt all over him, which probably made me not in enjoy it so much. After emerging from the tent with ringing ears guess who we bumped into? The radio man. So Mary arranged everything for tomorrow and Grace is going to go and be her translator. They have also said to bring some english music so I might give them a couple of Sam and Daisy songs.