LOST ON THE WAY TO PORTSMOUTH

"Did Tom text you the postcode?" asked The Other Matt. The Other Matt is the melodion player in the folk band.

"Um no," I said, "Can't I just follow you down?"

"Well, it's a long way," replied The Other Matt, "Here, let me find it for you. Basically, just head down the M3..."

I knew then, long before I packed the piano into my car, hopped in and strapped on the seatbelt that I would definitely get lost.

-

"What happened to you?" asked Tom, screwing up the cymbals on his Jalapeno drum kit.

"I got a bit lost," I said. The Other Matt chuckled. I didn't join in.

We were in Portsmouth, well, Havant actually, for our latest barn dance folky gig. I've been doing this for over a year now, plonking away with my left hand and improvising in the twin keys of G and D major (the melodion is a fixed-key instrument) with my right. I did manage to resist the temptation to slip into blues this time, much to my bandmates' relief. Plus, now that I'm getting much more familiar with the likes of Cumberland Square Eight and Planxty Irwin, I can actually look up and see what's going on in the room.

Last night was a sweltering night for throwing your partner round the circle. It was the traditional collection of smiling elderly relatives and young children having a great time, while everyone else manages the natural embarrassment. I was reminded that years ago, this was probably the best way to meet someone, swing them by the hand and promenade into the sunset. There were a couple of teenagers stuck to their smartphones in the corner, just to remind me which century I live in.

-

Of course, the thing with driving all the way there, is that you also then have to drive all the way back. I got home at about 1:30am, by which time the callers on the radio had grown increasingly eccentric and I had gotten incrementally more sleepy. What's more, part of the M3 was closed, which meant I had to take a diversion through Eastleigh. I sighed as the cones filtered me off onto the slip road.

I wish I could be better at directions. This morning, when I told my friends about getting lost on the way to Portsmouth, they laughed and said they weren't surprised. No, me neither.