Nick Lewis

This morning’s walk.

In bloom.

Maybe at some point I will be able to watch “The English Patient” without crying throughout the last ten minutes.

Evidently, that point still hasn’t been reached this evening.

What an erotic, sublime yet utterly devastating film.

Back home now.

Escape to the country. Or deeper into the country.

A respite weekend has arrived for me.

Today’s new book haul from Waterstones.

Just two dystopian, threatening headlines from The Guardian today.

All part of the same concerted conservative push (or should that by ‘putsch’?) to change the times back to 1820.

On a Saturday night you either go hard or you go home, and I went home.

Now listening to a ‘Boulez at 100’ concert by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, while sat in my living room, sporting a very snazzy dressing gown, perusing The Economist and The New Statesman and downing Green Tea. 👍

At a Jazz gig in Haverfordwest.

“Nice…”

This morning: Tenby.

Evidently entering my ‘Tony Montana Era’ (as the kids say) this Summer…

New shirts courtesy of T. K. Maxx.

Day off. Cefn Sidan beach.

New books, a current ‘Mr. Toad (intellectual) Enthusiasm’ and curiosity of mine: Carl Jung and one’s own ‘Shadow’.

Quite the view, approaching Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire.

Pit stop at New Quay.

Vodka + Bitter Lemon + Darren Aronofsky’s “Requiem for a Dream” = Saturday Night. 👍

Dystopian times call for Dystopian measures.

Morning walk, down by the river.

#Carmarthen

Obviously listening to “Never Let Me Down” or some of Herbert von Karajan’s more bombastic recordings at high volumes surely haven’t helped the situation but one did what did back then needs that had to be met in the moment.

Apparently, my hearing is actually fine for a man of *cough* 48, but my body and brain are continuously set to permanent alert, so I am having to address that one way or another.

In all seriousness, my tinnitus has been very bad of late due to accumulative life stresses (other physical symptoms are also due to be investigated), so I am grateful for this device that helps train my brain to mask it. Otherwise my life would be a continuous Junior Vasquez Sound Factory Mix.

Age…

I went to the doctor, complaining about a high pitched whining sound in my right ear and it is apparently something called “Neil Tennant”.

1) Giving off some Oppenheimer and Harry Lime vibes in Bristol last weekend.

2) Channelling Urquhart via Gekko at an onsite meeting on Tuesday.

This evening’s cultural distraction.

A view from a hotel room, Bristol.

About to watch at the cinema…

Day off and so slumming it at the local multiplex with this…

New purchase…

Politically I’m still weighing up which progressive force in Wales - Plaid Cymru or Welsh Labour - is best placed to resist the surge of Reform UK. Welsh Labour, despite being the more natural home, seems weakened by incumbency & recent missteps. But the question remains: who can best hold the line?

Amnesty International We campaign for a world where human rights are enjoyed by all

I’m already a member of Amnesty International, reinforcing my commitment to human rights on a global scale:

www.amnesty.org/en/

The rise of regressive politics in the UK and globally is deeply unsettling.

Rather than passively watching it unfold, I’ve taken a step: I’ve joined HOPE Not Hate. Their work in countering extremism and fostering resilience is more vital than ever.

hopenothate.org.uk