I’M Up early, showered, had breakfast, out the door and on my way to Balloch for a music session with the kids at school by 9am…everyone else is still fast asleep!

Margret and Ismo are having ‘breakfast’ when I get back…I have a coffee then hit the studio and download all the video footage and stuff form last night’s show, do my daily blog and then some ‘day of show’ promo for tonight’s gig in Edinburgh.

We have a late lunch hen head for Leith Depot. There’s nowhere to park on Leith Walk so we pull up on the pavement to load in and get grief from a traffic warden. No parking on the pavement. It’s illegal. Immediate £100 fine.

I apologise and explain. We skip the fine and Margaret moves off… when I enquire how we’re meant to load gear into the venue (there’s no back entrance or other access) she just keeps repeating “no cars on the pavement. Immediate fine.” At that she slaps a fine on the beer lorry stopped behind us to off load kegs and pick up empties. Even they are not exempt!

I get the no parking on the pavement, but I don’t understand how all the pubs, restaurants, shops etc on Leith Walk are meant to get deliveries, let alone stay in business. Sound like a right fucking mess to me.

Anyway, we get set up and sound engineer – who’s doing my sound before – is fantastic. The venue has moved downstairs and is a better space than the last time I was there.

There’s a reasonable turnout for week night and both Ismo and I have have a blast.

Hope before 1am for a snack and gig debrief before bed. Just two more shows on this run – Three Villages Hall in Arrochar tomorrow (Friday), then The Blue Lamp, Aberdeen on Saturday…