IN A BROKEN DREAM – The Vampire's Wife

I feel a great need to share this song with you all. Perhaps I already have! This is Rod Stewart’s greatest vocal performance which, for anyone who is a Rod Stewart fan, is saying something. He sang this with a little known band from New Zealand (although Wikipedia says Australia) called Python Lee Jackson, active from 1965 to 1969. The group had recorded In a Broken Dream in 1970 featuring Rod Stewart, as guest vocalist. I have no idea why. The song is so beautiful, so epic, so antipodean. A pure and sublime classic. Love Susie. x

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcLlq_DXpY8

Every day I spend my time

Drinkin' wine, feelin' fine

Waitin' here to find the sign

That I can understand

Yes I am.

In the days between the hours

Ivory towers, bloody flowers

Push their heads in to the air

I don't care if I ever know

There I go

Don't push your love too far

Your wounds won't leave a scar

Right now is where you are

In a broken dream

Did someone bow their head ?

Did someone break the bread ?

Good people are in bed

Before nine o'clock.

On the pad before my eyes

Paper cries, tellin' lies

The promises you gave

From the grave of a broken heart

Hmm

Every day I spend my time

Drinkin' wine, feelin' fine

Waitin' here to find the sign

That I can understand

Yes I am. Oh.

Don't push your love too far

You know your wounds won't even leave a scar

Right now is where you are

In a broken dream

And don't you forget what I say

IN PRAISE OF MARILYNNE ROBINSON

I haven’t heard a sensible word from my husband all week as he finally gets around to reading Marilynne Robinson’s new book, Reading Genesis. ‘Oh God, you’ve got to read this, babe!’ he keeps saying. ‘Wow, you’ve got to read this!’ Meanwhile, I’m deep inside A Year in the Life of Wendy Whiteley by Ashleigh Wilson, which is having much the same effect. I’ve had a lovely time in Sydney, reading and swimming in the McIver’s Ladies Baths, Australia’s only rock pool dedicated to women and children. There is nothing quite as exhilarating as swimming in the rain, except perhaps watching Nick perform in the evenings at the State Theatre. Beautiful.

THE EXTRAORDINARY WENDY WHITELEY

My husband and I spent a lovely afternoon at Wendy Whiteley’s house, overlooking her amazing ‘secret garden’ in Lavender Bay in Sydney. Wendy and her husband, the renowned artist Brett Whiteley, set up their family home there in 1970 where they lived together for two decades. Brett painted many of his iconic Sydney Harbour pictures in the house. Brett was a defining influence on Nick as a young art student and musician living in Australia. It was a perfect day spent with an absolutely fascinating and powerful woman.

AH, MY DEAR ANGRY LORD

I love this terse little poem by the English poet, orator, and priest, George Herbert about the contradictory nature of religious belief, its good and bad sides, and its joy and sorrow. There's nothing like a bit of hard religion on a Sunday morning!!