Today was Swiss National Day and/or Horses Birthday - take your pick. I also won Pinch-n-Punch, First-of-the-Month with a surprise attack on Rita!

Because the weather was fine, we decided to also make it a washing day, and so while I continued making pan-stands, Rita washed as many of the new sheets and doona covers as could be hung on the front of the barge.

In the evening, we went with Veronique to St Nicholas de la Grave to attend a Jazz Concert. Because the weather had turned threatening again, it was transferred from a garden setting to the community recreation centre, which was quite a nice venue. We (Rita) had a good long chat with the President of the local Musical Society, which is also responsible for organising our concert on August 28. At the end of the evening, she invited Rita up to tell the audience of about 150 people about the background to the Pans on Fire tour, and many people seemed very interested in the idea of seeing the steelband concert. During the second half of the concert, the President stopped the players for an important announcement, and then proceeded to send two baskets through the audience collecting money for the band. It reminded me a bit of the collections during church services, but it was very effective in raising money for the band.

The Michel Oliver Jazz Trio (double bass, piano and drums) was very good; individually fine musicians, and a good combination. By way of comparison, I’m glad we’ve got 18 people in Pans on Fire!