The Music from UNCLE

I am lucky enough to live in a wonderful part of the world. Bermuda is another world. It really is.

A tiny island of just 60,000 people, a place with a complex history. There are a lot of wonderful people here. There are also some cool things starting to happen here such as code441 and wearebermuda.

It is Christmas time. The last Saturday before Christmas and there are parties everywhere. Many of them are company parties. You know the thing, you sort of have to go along. With luck you'll get to sit with some of the people at work you actually like. As the night goes on, if you are lucky, you will find some like-minded people to spend time with.

This year, no office party for me. So, we went to a local bar. There is a DJ every Saturday night at this place. The dance floor is always packed, for a simple reason: he knows his crowd. And he always walks around before he starts, plans his work and works his plan.

Last night there must have been 60 cars parked in the area. The place was packed. Everyone was having a good time.

Now only in Bermuda could a DJ start the evening with My God is Awesome, follow it up with Silent Night and already have his audience tapping their feet and getting into the mood.

I'd never heard My God is Awesome before. Actually, I am sure I must of heard it, just hadn't really listend. And I only really listened this time because it reminded me of the Awesome window manager I've been using awesome the last few weeks and it has had a huge impact on the way I use my computer. And I am only scratching the surface of what it can do.

So this was followed up with You can't hurry love, an old version by the Supremes. Another special song for me.

Then there was One Love, Electric Slide, complete with line dancing. Bermudian line dancing has to be seen to be appreciated. Last night was typical. A mixture of regulars to the place and those just there for the party. Everyone having a good time together. There were a lot of Happy people.

My music tastes are a bit weird. I pretty much follow the crowd. And my guitar music. I have been (very slowly) learning to play over the past few years. I have a few books with tabs, most of them have the word easy in their titles.

I would pick a song and try the patience of those around me by playing it over and over again, badly. I would look at the tabs of some and think, no way I can play that. But now I am starting to get a little better and a little more adventurous. I am noticing songs that have been there for years ready for me to play. Song of the moment is the The Joker. Like all good songs, there is lots of scope for changing the lyrics:

I'm a picker,
I'm a grinder,
I'm a lover,
I'm a sinner,
I play my music in the sun

Grinder not grinner, in tribute to the Sheffield Grinder.

And seeing as I have a bit of a git obsession:

I'm a puller,
I'm a merger,
I'm a midnight coder,
I get my checkouts from github.

Thanks Uncle, old stuff still works. Sometimes it works way better than the new stuff.