Robert Fripp's Diary

Red Carpet Club Heathrow Rising

09.38

Red Carpet Club, Heathrow.

Rising at 05.30. Willyfred was waiting at the kitchen door to welcome this beginning-day with his small, warm & delightful presence. The Minx rose around six, so I was able to adore both Minx & Willyfred before leaving. Kevin Taxi arrived punctually at 06.30, the Minx waved from the door as we set off. Always hard to leave a waving Minx, today especially so.

A beautiful morning along the A40 through Cotswold towns & villages as dawn slipped into early day. An uneventful & straightforward journey, check-in & security screening. The 3 tuning forks, carried separately & displayed separately, nevertheless attracted attention – as always.

Into the Club & computerising. Luke Willis is being baptised at 10.00 in Falmouth. Were I not here, I would be there. Nevertheless, geographical distance is no barrier to the expression of good wishes, so little Luke will not be far from my heart in just a little while.

The Minx has called – yippee! – and off to the gate in 30 minutes.

09.50  Practising: the first foundation of a practice is regularity. Six recommendations for regular practising:

Know your instrument;

Know your vocabulary;

know your subject;

know your repertoire;

listen;

play.

Whatever value any advice given at a GC course may hold, the juice is in the event, experiencing what is available.

16.15  Pacific Time, Red Carpet Club, Los Angeles.

A straightforward flight with a Finger-Picking Booby on my right across the aisle- Attack! Attack! Bite that skin! Examine! Bite again! – not throughout the flight, but often enough to wonder whether there was any remaining skin to be attacked, bitten, examined & bitten yet again.

Landing at LAX Terminal 7, taking the sidewalk along to United (Domestic) Terminal 6…

… and in the RCC with sufficient available time between flights to make calls. But my US cellphone is not connecting. Pooey pooey. E-flurrying before connecting to San Francisco…

20.23  Chez Sister, San Francisco.

The elderly passenger in the adjoining (right) seat was not quite a Booby, although fell to sucking his teeth for much of the flight. This was after the arrival of a large brandy which followed the beer: too large a brandy, in my estimation. Perhaps the stewardess didn’t account for the difference in alcohol content between beer & Courvoisier.

Sister was waiting in baggage claim to carry me…

… here to the Sunset district, one block from Golden Gate Park, where she has lived for 31 years. Family pictures are on display throughout Sister’s home, our Parents’ furniture & ornaments are here, and photos of my wedding to Toyah. Very much a Frippy home, then.

Fripp & Fripp will soon be on the road.

Dribble dribble.