There’s a little time between the nest online session after which I grab a guitar and some gear and head to the school in Balloch for an afternoon session with some of the kids.
When I get back I spend some time rehearsing for tomorrow’s (Thursday) show in Newcastle then start packing gear ready for the morning.
I manage to get out for a wee walk in the forest – getting a bit lost having had to go off piste round some fallen trees – before Betty comes along for some dinner.
UP EARLY and on our way to Edinburgh to pick up Les. She and Margaret are getting their hair done and I’m off to visit Seabass Vinyl.
We make good time until we get near the airport and stuck in an extreme;y slow moving traffic jam that adds a good 40-minutes to our journey.
As a result they’re nearly half an hour late at the hairdresser’s house. I have plenty time so make it to Seabass on schedule.
Interesting time looking round and chatting. They have the labels and are expecting the print delivery for my album any day now…and the stampers for the test pressing should be there in a week or so.
I get back to Portobello and pick up Margaret and Les then we go to Piggs in Morningside for tapas. Very posh, but very good.
We’re a bit tight for time as I have a guitar student coming at 4pm. I text them to see if 4.15pm is OK…it is, and means we’re home in time.
I have another guitar student coming at 6pm then I manage a walk up the lochside in the evening sun while Margaret makes dinner.
UP early to get the sourdough in the oven…it’s not long out when the guys from the air pump installation company arrive.
They’re here to do a follow up survey of the work. All seems fine.
Margaret is trying to help Mikey with his accounts and finances. I hit the studio and prepare artwork for the Still Friends pins – a limited edition backers’ pin for some of the Kickstarter backers and a run of a different colour for general sale and promo.
Mikey heads off at lunchtime and I work on video edits. A re-edit of the Come WIth Me video we shot as one of six tracks the other week and a live track form BluesAlive in Czech back in November.
I have a break for a lesson when my guitar student arrives then back onto the video edits.
Next, a batch of pasta dough then a quick walk before my Wildcats’ livestream on Facebook….
STILL running some production experiments in the office then decide to take a walk and deliver an order to someone in the next village.
Kinda chilly and no sunshine, but it’s still a nice day and I enjoy the walk.
When I get back a bunch of pewter coins to run some more processing experiments on. It’s tricky to process because it’s got such a low melting point….but it’s still metal!
Back in the studio I start working on the Spotify pitch for Come With Me which is set for release on 16 May.
I realise I haven’t edited up a Spotify canvas – probably a good idea to upload that before the pitch to show I mean business.
Mikey rolls up and we have dinner, blether, then bed….
WE SLEEP in. A lot. I musta turned off my alarm rather than hit snooze.
After our late breakfast I hit the studio and get the audio masters, artwork etc for the CD edition of the new album off to the manufacturer.
Once the priority jobs are done I deal with some emails and social media stuff then do some more work on a special commission – a pewter kilt pin featuring a Welsh dragon and the recipient’s initials.
It’s intricate and challenging, but starting to take shape.
I also cast some pewter blank to do some laser processing tests.
We’re meeting Betty, Liz and Kate for an early dinner at the local pub. What a laugh we have…then back to Betty’s for a nightcap.
NOT TOO early when the kids come and wake me up by jumping all over me…7am.
I have a busy day though. An online guitar student at 9am followed by an in-person lesson.
Margaret’s taken the kids swimming to give us peace. She’s meant to be coming back so I can get the car to go to the dentist and be home in time for another student’s first lesson.
It’s getting close to when I have to leave and she’s not back. Not answering her phone. Sheeeeiit!
Luckily Dawn, my guitar student, is still here and gives me a lift to the dentist’s where, finally, Margaret returns my calls. She forgot. Jeez, I reminded her before she left to take the kids swimming!
Anyway, all works out fine and I’m home just in time for my new student’s first lesson…he’s accompanied by his mum and sister.
My afternoon is spent in the studio finalising CD pack and on-body art as well as audio masters to go to the CD plant tomorrow (Thursday).
Will comes to pick up the kids and has a coffee then we get ready for Betty coming round for dinner…
UP EARLY to get on the road to Perth for our son-in-law’s Dad’s funeral. He died quite suddenly a few weeks ago.
While a sad occasion, the services at the crem went well and we joined the family and other friends for coffee and a snack afterwards.
We’re home late afternoon and I spend some time in the studio working on CD packaging for the new album before Fiona comes to pick me up and we take Nova a walk up the hill.
When we get back Catriona has brought the kids who are staying the night..she heads off and Margaret and I take the kids to feed the ducks before they go to bed.
