Hola come va? (Havana here we come, or Havana came to me!)

Last night we went out! I had the best night! We went to see the Buena Vista Social Club. (Not the film, the real band!). If you've never seen them I urge you to go (if you like Latin American music). The musicians were muy fabulosa! Some of them were ancient. The double bass player had to be helped on and off the stage he was so frail. But the musicianship was completely astounding. They had trombones, trumpets, flutes, clarinets as well as the usual stuff (bongos, piano, guitar, organ,). The pianist was this really cool young black guy in a long frock coat and a black pork pie hat. He could play piano so fantastically, he got a standing ovation at the end. (Can you tell how much I enjoyed it?). I was particularly heartened to see this big venue in Ipswich (which I am still prejudiced about it not being London) full of people who were having a good time. And I sat behind the bass player from Jools Holland's big band who was in the audience. Ask me how I recognised him? I didn't, but Nicola did (who came too, with her teenage sons and some of their friends). He lives up the road. Bet if John Peel were still alive I would have seen him too as he lived near Ipswich. (I'm very impressionable).

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Well, got a busy weekend ahead. I'm cooking dinner tonight for my sister and her husband (by way of a thank you for doing our guinea pigs!). As an antidote for all the heavy creamy stuff I had in France I'm going to go Eastern fusion tonight (!). Beef, chili stir fry, tofu satay and something else I'll think of later with coconut in!

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Tomorrow we're off to London (again). It's the marathon on Sunday. When we lived in London the marathon went past the end of our road. It was an annual spectacle not to be missed. Our friend Mick is running his first marathon (for the Ron Pickering charity) so we are coming down to see him. (He's a sports journalist and will be miked up at various points to give his opinion on the proceedings - so you might see him on telly - but probably just hear him on BBC London). The Saturday night we will be staying with our friends 'The Wests' and on the Sunday we will be going to Lettuce's for lunch. Then to Mick's (and family) for four o'clock to crack open the champagne in celebration (let's hope) of his success.