MY THURSDAY morning guitar student is away this week and next so I get on with some admin work before heading to the studio to work on the new material.

I’ll be recording/tracking everything here and had hoped to get my pal Paul (Savage) to handle mixing duties at Chem19 studios…problem is, I’ve left it a bit late to check his availability as I’m planning to get this done early August.

I call Emma, his wife, to see how the studio – and Paul’s – schedule is looking. Things are tight but she manages to find a coupla days. Phew! We have a good old catch up and chat for a while then I set up for a Zoom guitar session with one of my students.

There’s a half-hour between the end of the session and an online meeting of the Musicians’ Union Live Performance section committee. I make a quick sandwich then spend the afternoon discussing issues affecting live and touring musicians with my colleagues.

Still quite a nice day out there when the meeting draws to a close and I manage an hour or so’s walk up the lochside.

I spend some more time on the songs when i get back then head to the house, spark up some charcoal and grill the pinchitos Margaret’s prepared for dinner.