Tuesday 28 November 2023

UP EARLY to get sourdough in the oven – when it’s done I go out for a paddle while it cools!

I’m not out too long and make a couple of reels to post one my socials to thanks everyone who came out and supported the Scottish shows last week.

I spend the whole day on a production run for West Highland Way Gifts – two events coming ups this weekend….Drymen village hall on Saturday and Buchan Christmas tree switch on at the Memorial Hall in Milton of Buchanan.

Monday 27 November 2023

ISMO’s still asleep when Margaret and I have breakfast before I hit the studio for my first Zoom guitar session of the day.

When I go back to the house I help Ismo with some logistical stuff then Margaret drives him into Glasgow to get the airport bus…the goes on to get some shopping,

I have two ‘market’ events this weekend and need to make some West Highland Way Gifts’ stock. Apart from a break for a young guitar student’s in-person lesson at the house I spend the afternoon casting pendants, pins and earrings.

My usual Monday evening Zoom guitar student is away this week so I spend the time tidying the studio and getting stuff prepped for my Wildcats’ livestream. Despite the prep, there’s still some techie issues but the livestream goes fine in the end.

Sunday 26 November 2023

BREAKFAST finishes at 10am in the hotel, so we’re up at a decent time to partake.

We’re on the road by 11am and stop off in Dundee for some shopping before rolling up at home just after 2pm.

Ismo goes for a sleep – Margaret and I unload everything and start getting stuff put away.

I spend the rest of the afternoon in the studio sorting out some video for Ismo and Margaret prepares roast beef, Yorkshire pudding and all the trimmings for dinner 🙂

Saturday 25 November 2023

WE need to leave for Aberdeen about 1pm….we’re up late tho’ and ai have a bit of a mad dash to offload last night’s video footage and restring my guitars.

There’s also the ‘day of show’ promo to be done.

We leave on time and get to Aberdeen with time to check into our hotel then on your way the venue to load in.

The Blue Lamp is a cool space – the PA is good albeit self op – but we have problems keeping the iPad linked to the mixer. We muddle though too’ and everything goes well.

There’s a great turnout and we all have a grand time….and it’s good not to have a big drive post-gig.

Friday 24 November 2023

TODAY it’s my turn for a long lie…Margaret has a meeting with one of our MPs.

I do a load of online stuff and drink coffee before getting up then make breakfast for Ismo and I.

Margaret told me we’d sold out of leather bracelets, so I get busy making a few for the merch table. While they’re cutting I get some last minute promo done for tonight’s show in Arrochar.

After a late lunch we hit the road and get to Arrochar late afternoon. Hall manager Tom and soundman Col are ready and waiting when we get there and we have a relaxed set up and soundcheck before doors open at 7.30pm.

There’s a good crowd – there’s a good few walk-ups as well as our advance sales and we have a fantastic time.

We’re home and having some pizza soon after midnight.

Thursday 23 November 2023

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…

Wednesday 2 November 2023

MARGARET’S away at 9.30am for a meeting with the housing minister…and I get busy with a bunch of stuff before Ismo gets up.

I do some ‘day of show’ promo for tonight’s gig in Glasgow then sort out some other bits and pieces.

We have a late breakfast then Ismo and I check out some gear we need to tonight’s gig.

After lunch we chill for a while then pack the car and head into Glasgow.

Soundman at the Glad Cafe is Ritchie who has everything set up in a dance and soundchecks go smoothly.\

We have a bite to eat in the cafe out front then hit the dressing room when doors open.

There’s a great crowd in, especially for a Wednesday night, and we have a blast.

We’re home soon after midnight, have some grub and a blether then bed…

Tuesday 231 November 2023

AFTER my guitar student arrived for her session I get busy with some online promo for the forthcoming run of Scottish shows.

Then I head into Glasgow to pick up our pal Ismo who’s come over from Finland especially to be my special guest and open all the shows.

When we get back Margaret and I have a quick turnaround to get down to the village hall and set up for a local place plan drop-in section. All goes well and we get back soon after 8pm and I knock up some pizzas for dinner….

Monday 20 November 2023

I GET some stuff processing on the laser with my ‘workaround’ focusing then get set up for my first Zoom guitar student of the day.

Next job is sorting out the pix of Freya and Aaron from yesterday’s photoshoot and send a link off to Catriona and Will to download the results.

There’s some leather patches to be finished off so Margaret can sew them on to beanie hats for the merch table.

There’s two promo videos to be made for the upcoming shows…one for posting today…and another ready for tomorrow.

I manage a quick walk and drop off a vinyl then get back and prep for another Zoom guitar lesson and my WIldcats’ livestream on Facebook.

All go fine then back to the house for dinner.

The rest of the night is spent on a slideshow for tomorrow’s (Tuesday) local place plan at the village hall.

Saturday 18 November 2023

IT’S DAMP and grey, but not too windy so I push through the desert to stay tucked up in bed and go out for a paddle. It’s a good excuse to do some livestreams and promo for this week’s upcoming shows.

Margaret has breakfast ready when I get back…and the new lens for the laser cutter has arrived. I install after breakfast and…no difference!

There’s deffo something funny with the focus on then machine. When I decrease the ‘proper’ focus length I manage to get it to work after a fashion but I can’t work out how to properly solve the problem…or what’s wrong.

I spend more time than I like on trying to make a wee tool to reset the focus into a range that has a chance of working. I’ve wasted soo much time and material on trying to sort this I’m almost ready to ditch the whole fucking thing!

We’ve folks coming tonight and before they come I need to test out some lighting and camera flash stuff. Catriona’s asked if I could take some pix of the kids tomorrow (Sunday)….