Friday 14 November 2025

WE HAVE breakfast in our room at the Premier Inn and get a few bits and bobs done then pack the car and start the journey home.

A stop at a Tom Horton’s – never been to one before – for lunch and I take over driving until Glasgow.

First stop Costco for fuel and some shopping, then Tesco, then home.

Betty’s invited us out for dinner with some of her family and we have a lovely evening, back to Betty’s for a nightcap then home for a (relatively!) early night.

Thursday 13 November 2025

UP AT a decent time to get the car packed and on the road to Darlington.

We split the drive and get to the hotel just after 4pm – just in time for a coffee before we carry on to load in at the Forum.

Manager Kirsten and soundman Matt are there to welcome us…it’s a nice room and Matt is an ace engineer. He’s looked after my sound here before.

Doors open at 7.30pm but showtime isn’t ’til 8.30pm so I chill in the dressing room then play the same two-set show as the previous album launch shows…first set being the full album and the second a ‘normal’ set.

There’s a good crowd in and it’s nice to see some familiar faces. All goes grand and we’re back at the hotel by midnight 🙂

Wednesday 12 November 2025

TWO back-to-back guitar student sessions this morning. The first online, the second in-person.

Once I’m clear I hit the office to finish a big batch of paperweight stands for Manson Glass which takes me to lunchtime.

There’s a some brass guitar pins to be made to replenish the merch stock for tomorrow’s (Thursday) show in Darlington and some last-minute promo fro the show.

It’s a bit damp and grey but I need a walk so head up the lochside and get back just as darkness falls.

Margaret’s off to a neighbour for a ‘girls’ night’ meal so I make some pizza and have a glass of wine in front of the telly…

Tuesday 11 November 2025

I DECIDED to head into Glasgow early and get some fuel at Costco before my appointment at the optician to get new lenses put in my clic-frame reading specs.

After the optician I go to the bank, pick up some shopping and get home in good time for lunch.

The plumber comes to fit the new kitchen tap. Between he call outs, work and the new tap we’re £350 worse off. All because of a bust thread somewhere in the old tap that meant it kept coming loose from the worktop.

In the studio I record some radio idents for a radio show in Ireland then get busy in the office – I have 100 paperweight stands to make for Manson Glass.

I’m back in the studio when Betty arrives for dinner….

Monday 10 November 2025

THE USUAL Monday routine of an early alarm to get the sourdough in the oven…then, once it cools, breakfast and off to the studio for a session with a Zoom guitar student.

There’s a load of stuff needing done in the studio – and some gear to check/sort before we head to Darlington later in the week for my final show of the year.

I edit up some video clips for tonight’s Wildcats’ livestream on Facebook and prepare for a Help Musicians’ focus group meeting…which is subsequently postponed.

Darkness starts to fall and I finally mange a quick walk before the livestream.

Sunday 9 November 2025

I’M FEELING pretty broken this morning but no time to lie around – Maureen’s and Debbie are coming at 10am and we’re all heading up to the war memorial at Rowardennan for Remembrance Sunday wreath laying.

It’s pissing rain and I’m on photo duty for the local community trust (ie: Margaret!) which has organised the event.

There’s a good wee turnout despite the bad weather.

Back home I sort the photos an post them round the local social media then have a kip on the couch in front of the fire.

After the Darlington show on Thursday there’s no gigs ‘til January….14 January at the Black Bull, Gartmore to be precise.

I’ve been holding back announcing as it’s both geographically and time close to Stirling…now I can ‘announce’ and get it posted on my website and some of the other listings websites.

Then it;s time to go to our pals Duncan and Irene’s for dinner and a very fine evening 🙂

Saturday 8 November 2025

WE HAVE a bit of along lie to try and recover form the last couple days.

After breakfast burritos I make an 80th birthday cake topper for Fiona who has had a last minute request to make a cake for someone.

In the studio I run some strings repairs then we hit the road to Stirling. Not far to go. But we have quite an early get-in and soundcheck.

All goes smoothly – soundman Dave has worked my shows before and lighting and other stuff is all handled by Leah.

Showtime is 8pm and there’s a good crowd in and I do a similar show to the last couple nights with the new album making up the first set then a second set of ‘old favourites’.

The merch table is busy after the show then we get back to the auditorium and load out.

We’re back home in time to drop by Betty’s for a drink – she’s had a bonfire party for her daughter’s birthday.

Friday 7 November 2025

BREAKFAST at the Holiday Inn finishes at 9.30am so we’re downstairs just after 9am to make sure we don’t get caught short.

Checkout isn’t ‘til 11am and I get most of the work I need done before finishing some stuff off in the hotel foyer. It’s release day for the new album.

We share the drive to Irvine and both manage to grab a nap (while the other drives!) before loading in at the Harbour Arts Centre (HAC) just after 5pm.

Sound man Rory helps us in and we get set up, soundchecked and merch all sorted with time to chill in the dressing room before doors open just after 7pm.

Showtime’s 7.30pm and I play the same format as last night – the new album in its entirety for the first set and a ‘normal’. There’s a good crowd in and a nice mix of familiar and new faces.

Thursday 6 November 2025

STRAIGHT into the studio to sort out gear and get everything packed so we can get on the road to Aberdeen at a reasonable time.

We share the drive and park up at the city centre Holiday Inn Express to drop off some stuff. There’s time to chill for an hour before we have to load in at the Blue Lamp.

All goes smoothly although there’s already people arriving just after 7pm and doors don’t open ‘til 7.30pm.

I hit the stage at 8pm and play the first of two sets. Set one is the tracks from the new album – albeit not in the correct order to avoid swapping instruments all the time.

After a short break I play a second set and uniquely the encore calls are for more banjo!

Wednesday 5 November 2025

I HAVE a 9am online session with a guitar student then it’s straight into a local energy club meeting – a sub group with some of my fellow hydro society directors and others.

There’s some time to make up set lists for the album launch shows and run through some of the songs I haven’t played since recording the album

Another online session with Help Musicians then a late lunch.

I get a few admin things out the way then, at last, get out for a paddle. It’s the first suitable day weather-wise in ages and I kill a few birds with one stone by doing some livestreams to punt the upcoming shows.

It’s dark when I get back to shore then I get some of the gear sorted for an early start tomorrow before Betty arrives for dinner.