footie's blog

I spent this afternoon with an old friend, Pete Dyson, who now owns Studio West recording studios in San Diego. He was playing host to 30 school kids (and their teachers, parents and assorted hangers-on) who were making a charity record in aid of the Hurricane Katrina disaster relief fund. The whole event was the brainchild of music teacher, Joretta Harris, who had organized the whole event, written the song, laid down the backing tracks with some musician friends in Atlanta, and organized for with the 30 or so parents of the children for them to be there.

I've spent a couple of weekends in San Diego over the last couple of months. With a great seafaring tradition, there are some great maritime tourist attractions.



Without doubt one of the most spectacular is the Star of India (pictured).

On a recent business trip to Lippstadt in Germany, we were entertained at an unusual restaurant called Braumuhle near the village of Schmerlecke. Braumuhle (literally brewery mill) brews their own beer on the premises. There is a bar on the ground floor, then two floors of restaurant seating above - where all the original working parts of the mill are still visible. IT is not huge inside, but there is a large beer garden where they have held several open-air concerts (including Chris de Burgh - aaagh!).