We barely got home in time to call the Pateys for a ride to their place for the girls, since I was booked for a carseat clinic as well, the first one I'd been able to work since last year due to impeccable timing of Suzuki group classes. In the winter we have clinics in car dealerships or other enclosed spaces, but for the July clinic we gambled on an outside clinic... and lost. Boy, did we ever. It rained, stopping only for a break to pelt, shower, pour, and drizzle. Once it merely fogged. But all our appointments showed up eventually, and Shelley, Sheri, Pam, Bethann, Andrea, Stella, Vicky and I got a bunch of seats done. I don't think we even had to take any seats for disposal. Pam's and my last appointment was pretty close though - if the dad had owned instead of borrowed that five-year-old seat that he could bend inward with his two hands, it would have gone under the axe in short order. The year-old seat with the huge base in a narrow little Suzuki SUV was a close shave as well, but Shelley our hero managed to wrestle it in. We clued up on time and declared it a good clinic, arses soggy from hanging out of car doors all day notwithstanding.
After supper at Pateys' Jean and I went to the CD launch of the new album by Jean Hewson and Christina Smith, August Gale. Christina's been one of Jean's local heroes ever since last year's Beginner's Blitz, so it was not to be missed nor gone to alone. It was a fine concert as expected, and a good turnout from the Folk Arts Council and Suzuki crowd, and many others I didn't know. John Harris, Eleanor's classmate-to-be, started the step dancing and was soon joined by his sister and half a dozen other girls; Shawn Silver, the Irish dance teacher, led the little group for a circle or two. I had to browbeat Jean into getting up and dancing against which she resisted, but managed to screw up her courage at the encore of "Running the Goat", and impressed at the very least four or five people who mentioned to her how well she danced! We made it home at nine-thirtyish and I seem to have been the first person to submit the CD to CDDB and freedb. Well done J&C, it's always a treat to hear you.
Christina's inscription on the CD: To Jean - keep on fiddling! Love, Christina
Jean's inscription: Jean: what a great name! Jean
P.S. The Accordion for the Revolution has been purchased and the tabs interpreted. Jean has learned the first couple of lines, slowly, and is determined to learn it all in the next two weeks. I hope she doesn't disappoint herself, since I, having once again strongarmed her into doing something I know she will enjoy but won't just jump into otherwise, haven't a word to say no matter how well she does. Reports are that accordions are selling well, so there will be lots of beginners - encouraging news.