Before my trip to the cinema yesterday to see In Bruges I popped into Fopp records. The plan was to buy a Crosby, Stills and Nash CD (my inner hippy has been in overdrive since I saw the BBC3 documentary Byrds to the Eagles and I was missing CSN madly) but while I trawled the marked-down CDs I also spotted a Belle and Sebastian compilation. A collection of the EPs.
I nearly bought a Sons & Daughters CD, but no, Belle and Sebastian. And all those little random memories I have of B&S sprinted through my mind... Being in Glasgow. That tape Pete made me of an album that I wore to a hiss. Being round at Pauline's and listening to them incessantly. Byers Road... And then I was off, thinking about what time the film started and did I have enough time to look at the Max Mara summer collection in Kendals. (Which I did, and my it is beautiful).
While I'm in the cinema, with my phone off, a friend rings. Sandra. Haven't spoken in months. I ring her back this afternoon.
Apparently Pete's dead. Died of a heart attack around Christmas. He was 50. He'd been living in Leeds. When I knew him he lived in Manchester, latterly Chorlton, where he propped up the bar in a pub where I worked Sundays for a bit. Seem to remember he drank bottles of beck's.
Since I moved here I haven't been to Cholton much, there's no reason to. I didn't know he'd left and you know how it is with some friends, you drift apart and then you come upon each other and it's like you've never been away. I'd see Pete when I was living in Edinburgh and came down to visit Pauline. I saw him before I went to Costa Rica and Peru. And he was there when I got back. Well, that's all going to change isn't it.
So, Serendipidy. I've discovered something sad but I've also spent all afternoon walking and thinking about the nature of life, and how short it can be. And my best conclusion; probably best not to fanny about letting stuff make you miserable.
So enjoy this! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_at7lEGpjg
