Wednesday, 14 January 2009

Or should that be a Belated Happy New Year?

Either way, it's a new year and I hope it's happy.

I feel really good about this year, and as much as I think I feel a bit of this every new year, this one's slightly different.  Different in that I don't expect anything.  Not that I have no plans or that I've lost my drive, just that I feel quite content to let things unfold just as they should.  I spent so much of last year deliberating over decisions, and being that I'm that indecisive guy that spends an hour in the video shop before throwing the head up and leaving with nothing, deliberating over bigger decisions is not a good thing for me to do.  I try to be considerate. Weigh up the pros and cons of a given situation before making a decision.  Thing is I find I make better decisions when I don't think about them, just go with my gut instinct.  So this year, I'm returning to my old order.

I plan to get out on tour sometime between April and June, just looking at dates now so I should have something for you very soon.

The plan is to record a couple of EPs between now and then. I'm hoping to get time to record one with Leo Abrahams that we've been talking about for a while... 'Portraits of the Artist'... with songs I've written about various artists that have inspired me.  The other EP is up for grabs, but I'm thinking I might like to document some of the songs that I've written for Ella (my daughter)...we'll see what feels right when I hit the record button.

In the meantime here's some photos of what I've been up to the last few months:

My Dad's old friend sent me a picture he found in his attic of my family before I was born


Some friends got married: I think they like the cake!


in a very nice hotel (the Prestonfield House, Edinburgh)


where we had Champagne and cookies at 11am


And saw a ghost


I tried to pat a highland cow, that in turn tried to kick me


meanwhile, some other friends got engaged...they've never kicked me


I went to my daughter's school fare, were someone had baked a house!


Then some other parents put on a concert (I played a little bit myself actually)


I bought some wool there to knit Ella a scarf for Christmas


I felt a bit girly but then I saw this


Besides my friend Jane always knits me stuff, so it must be good!
She knit me an Elvis wig this Christmas


JV was in a making mood too... she made Chutneys and sauces


I decided to make more stuff this year


I went ice skating in Canary Warf


had some wine


then walked home under the Thames with the old Rock Star that is Naz


also had some good walks with JV in late autumn


took Ella to Winter Wonderland...not much wonder but lots of land


had a nice drive to a gig out west


then did a gig at the Barbican (with David Coulter, Leo Abrahams, Jarvis Cocker etc...)


Did a bit of busking on the train journey there, met some nice people (one of them gave me a tenner)


Flew to Belfast for some gigs at the menagerie with David Holmes


met some people that reckon they're from the 'Westside Massive'


Also met Laim, and actor from the (WONDERFUL) film HUNGER...
didn't look at all hungry to me


I wasn't hungry either, David fed me...
a steak & potato, mustard and HP sarnie with a cup of tea and a rollie at 2am....
that's when you  know you're alive


saw a man fling my guitar about like it was made of foam on the flight home


got home in time for Christmas


did a session at the Greenwich Dance Agency, making music for Dancers


Saw Monkey by Damon Albarn (with David Coulter)...
whilst in the queue I saw another monkey with a strange leopard type fur


also saw hope in lots of places














and here...let's hope it lasts


After all that, I got very sick, lay on the sofa consuming old movies and soup



I guess I should really try and keep you up on theses things as they happen and then you wouldn't have to gorge and starve... maybe I suffer from blog bulimia!?

Have a great new year everyone, I'm gonna give you everything this year, but you've got to be good boys and girls...f