Monday, 6th June 2011 in US Tour 2011.
Tired today but hear from Barney that he has the children with him and we can Skype them before their bedtime. This cheers us both up but quickly I become moody and grumpy taking ages to do what I normally do easily and quickly. Possibly my mood is about coming to end of tour so that I am thinking more about sons and grandchildren and friends, and also the pile of my own work to come back to in the UK. I have about three new designs to think about and a lot of consultations to do. Up till now I have been immersed in the tour and had little time to think of much else, but as the end is in sight, I begin to be frustrated at not being able to get on with my work and really want to be with friends to whom Neil and I are equally valuable. Even a good friend in the US messaged his son while we were having lunch with him to say ‘Hi, am having lunch with NEIL INNES”. “Where are you going’, he then asked as I picked up my bag “I’m going to find out where I am, as I’m obviously not here’ I said, darkly. We laughed but I hate being the grown up all the time. Earlier Bonnie came to the hotel with a fan to interview Neil for a project she is about to do for the website. She is amazing – her website is enjoyed by all the fans and she puts up with both of us moody or otherwise. Later we drive out to stay overnight with Emo Philips and Kipley. They both look wonderful and it is so good to see them. After a brief chat and some tea, Emo walks us up a nearby mountain and I take endless pictures of plants to add to my infinite library, as well as some of Neil and Emo. Emo never poses for a straight photograph –usually pulls his hair across his face or disappears into his coat, so you have to catch him unawares. We reach the top and are high above LA. The cars are tiny dots and we watch the beautiful sun setting all around us. I didn’t realise how big LA is but from up here it stretches as far as we can see in all directions. We pass lizards on the way down but no coyotes or mountain lions I’m pleased to say. By the last few hundred yards our knees are painful and we glad finally to be down. Kipley has organised some Thai food and as we eat it a racoon and a skunk creep across the terrace, so close. Then we all play Scrabble. I lose but by then I don’t mind and go to bed happily, my angriness dissipated, my moodiness dissolved.