Pleased with my creation from Mikey’s sketched idea…
FIRST job of the day is take Mikey’s (stepson) pencil sketch and turn it into a round brass piece.
The biggest challenge is re-creating the artwork to make it less detailed and ‘spidery’ – especially as the finished brass piece is to be just 25mm.
Once I’ve created my artwork and depth map I set up the machine to process the brass and hit the office. It’s gonna take between two and three hours.
I have some bits and bobs to do for the community hydro society then I work on a news release and PR/promo plan for the upcoming release of Come With Me – the first single from the acoustic album to be released in November.
After lunch I check the brass and, after a bit of finishing work, am pleased with the result.
Our pal Dorothy drops by for a coffee in the garden and put in an order for a custom brass necklace.
Betty and Fiona are coming for dinner tonight so I get all the prep done to make chicken enchiladas.
We have a grand night…finally getting to bed about 3am!
I START the day with a 9am online guitar session. I’m just finishing when my next guitar student arrives at the house.
There’s half an hour to get some stuff done in the office before a Scottish Music Industry Association online session then a quick lunch before I go to the school in Balloch for a session with the kids.
The sun’s shining when I get home and I do the first grass cut and strip of the year. No doubt that’ll become a weekly occurrence until autumn.
I take a walk to Betty’s to drop off something I made for her then back home and into the offie to work on some other bits and bobs.
Dreamt I Was 100 from last week’s show at The Cluny, Newcastle
THE usual Monday routine of early alarm, sourdough in the oven is followed by a shower, breakfast then an online session with a guitar student.
There’s a bit of work to be done on a special commission for a custom pin/brooch. I get a rough design knocked up and run some prototypes.
Back in the studio I sort out video footage from last week’s show in Newcastle and start to edit up a couple of tracks to spin into tonight’s Wildcats’ Facebook livestream.
After lunch I take a walk along to drop some stuff off at Betty’s then my regular Monday afternoon guitar student arrives with her mum.
I manage to get the two video tracks finished and have time for a walk up the lochside before the livestream
We have a late dinner then get on with some more work…having been granted access to Apple’s music pitching tool I give it a bash for the upcoming release (16 May) of Come With Me – the first of a series of six singles from the new album scheduled to drop in November.
GREY and damp outside…but no wind.So it’s good for a paddle.
Catriona and the kids are coming to stay so I hang off going a paddle ‘til they’re on their way and we’ll meet up at Milarrochy so the kids can get a shot on the board with me.
I meet them back at the house for a late lunch then they all go to feed the ducks and I get on with some merch orders.
Once the kids are off to bed we make dinner and chat ‘til the wee hours.
AFTER a good breakfast at the hotel I get a little work done then we check out and hit the road home.
We stop off at a garden centre south of Carlisle where Margaret decides to buy a lilac tree off all things.
Next stop is for a sandwich then homeward bound.
After dropping all the gear off in the studio I manage a little work in the office trying out some new ideas to speed up the production of some of my metal jewellery. Doesn’t quite work tho’!
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.
