This is a companion piece to a similarly-themed article on Pete’s site which, all things being equal, should be published at roughly the same time.

A few short steps away from last week’s Memphis playlist, this week we were listening to Elvis. It was mostly not awful.

Lawdy Miss Clawdy from Elvis Presley: Having said that, i didn’t like this much.

Mystery Train from Elvis At Sun: The thing I like most about this is the percussion.

Long Black Limousine from From Elvis In Memphis: A bit of a dirge. Heh.

His Latest Flame from No1s: Why is this song so familiar? For some reason I feel that it featured a lot in certain of my teenage years. I don’t know anyone called Marie, and I dislike the song; but I cannot recall the precise reason that I know it so well.

Tomorrow Is A Long Time from Tomorrow Is A Long Time: With its delicate guitar sound and simple beauty, this is the hit of the playlist. This song makes me understand why they called him The Voice. While listening, I feel it is the most romantic song in the world, and yearn to be dancing in the arms of the man I love. I am waiting for the original Bob Dylan version to be provided, for research purposes.

Good Rocking Tonight from Elvis At Sun: Sounds as though the commercial call of the dancefloors has been heard by this point. I bet he really did have a pair of Rockin Shoes.

I’m Leavin’ from Burning Love: Lovely melody and sliding vocals; this one will stay on the iPod.

In The Ghetto from From Elvis In Memphis: A dull tale of woe.

Heartbreak Hotel from No1s: My initial thought was “blah blah,” but then I actually listened, and the vocals on this song are FAB, and the instruments not overdone. I think I would like to hear this song covered by Pete’s band.

One Night from No1s: Puts me in mind of a sleazy old man giving the come-on to some girl who doesn’t know any better. I object strongly to the notion that for Elvis, one night with said girl would make all his dreams come true. I feel that most girls would find the offer of a single night less than romantic; not that were all looking for a great big commitment, but what about her dreams? Obv. it’s the 1960s and this is Elvis Presley offering to spend one wonderful night with her, so perhaps in fact that would be a dream come true for thousands of girls. It just seems kind of arrogant.

I mentioned that we had turned down the offer of a new cold, having been moping and ill since early December; Pete pointed out that I seem to be finally feeling human again, and it would be a shame to revert to zombie status. I realised that I am indeed feeling human: I am a much nicer, less grouchy human, too, despite the general work-related crappiness of Monday mornings.

It’s good to feel good, if you know what I mean. I find that I have patience to dawdle along with the Small Boy, who likes to poke at every fallen leaf and ask what’s that this mama? over and over again. And the better I feel, the nicer I am, the better I feel, etc. Awesome.

I taught my second breastfeeding class this morning, and my tutor assessed it. Initial feedback was good, despite having one of the BFC’s classic trip hazards in the class, the Man With A Farming Background. Luckily he was mostly very positive and only a little bit hung up on mother’s diet affecting the composition of breastmilk, because that’s how it works for cows. I could sense my tutor gnashing her teeth in the corner. But we’re NOT cows! she exploded, as soon as the group had gone. She kindly admired my forbearance in response to the question: can you mix breastfeeding with normal baby milk? I may have gained extra marks for not commenting that breastmilk is normal baby milk.

Plans have changed for the weekend, as first of all an antenatal teacher called me and asked if I could teach a breastfeeding class tomorrow instead of next Saturday. My tutor will be assessing this class, so when she agreed to it, it became the new plan. This leaves me scurrying around to update my agenda and get a flip chart from somewhere.

Then our weekend guest informed us that she has a monster cold, and having had a run of illness and disease since November, we have turned down the offer of a new one. We feel bad about it but we think she would understand. For the second week in a row, I have got too many sausages out of the freezer. But at least I won’t need to rush back after my class. And of course I hope she feels better soon.

We are waiting to hear from a new childminder about a possible vacancy. Current CMs don’t do any school pickups or holiday cover, which was not the case when Bernard first started going there. Given that he could start preschool next term or the one after, this is now an unsustainable arrangement. We need to get him established with a new CM well before starting preschool, of course, so that is one of our many current projects.

And it’s after three, so I must wake the small boy.

This is a companion piece to a similarly-themed article on Pete’s site which, all things being equal, should be published at roughly the same time.

I wasn’t thrilled about the Memphis playlist to start off with. I have in the past explored old-fashioned r&b stuff and not been lit up by it. For me, its place is playing lightly in the background, while drinking coffee or perhaps cocktails, in a cosy cafe in some European city. I did once do that sort of thing, you know. But apart from two tracks, it has really grown on me over the week…

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