29th September 2000

I was visited this week by Mr Mitt and his delightful wife Treeeza. He
came up to Big Top to blow his harmonica all over my new songs before we
retired to the Spice Carraige for a large curry. He was followed the next
day by Mr Kiley, the drumming man, who came up and played some perky
percussion and even a large cardboard box on one of the tracks and then
retired to the Spice Carraige for a large curry. Instead of moving with
the technology we seem to be moving backwards so I don't suppose it will
be long before Wally gets a tea-chest bass and Nigey Nige joins in on his
accordian. I have been doing a lot more physio at home trying to get my
leg fully vibing so I bought a mini trampoline and have been doing some
low impact aerobics every morning in my bedroom. I guess all I am missing
is the pink leotard and plastic breasts and I could pass myself off as the
new Jane Fonda. I am off to Wales to do some recording with Captain
Blaster next week so I will update next Friday. I think I will be mostly
sitting on my arse ordering people about (no change there!!) and helping
the Captain sound like Todd. Back next week with more Tales From Wales.

21st September 2000

I have been hard at it in the studio today singing my nuts off. I was
supposed to get a visit from the Wally the Welsh Flake but he blew me out
at the last minute, the dodgy taff. He has promised to make an appearance
next week and if does he can do a spot in the wise words and defend his
shabbiness and general tardiness. I got a computer for the studio this
week and it has been giving me stress which is why I have taken so long to
do the diary this week. I thought computers were supposed to make life
easier not get you totally pissed-off (you were warned about these
outbursts!!!!). Still haven't heard the mix of Two Tribes yet so I suppose
I will have to ring ZTT and ask them to send me a copy and hope the cost
will be taken from my next royalty statement. I popped by Tommy's FGTH
site and it seems that most of you are not very happy with the selection
of tracks that ZTT have chosen and that the forthcoming "enhanced cd" will
be more of the same stuff you have already. I guess it was a little
optimistic to expect them to make any real effort for the people
purchasing the fucking thing. My mate Kev tells me that there are copies
of Pleasuredome and Liverpool in digipak sleeves in record shops in Dublin
but I have yet to see them here. The new songs are really shaping up and I
cannot tell you how excited I am. As each layer gets added then I get more
impatient and want it to sound like it does in my head. I cannot wait for
you to hear it because i think it is a giant step forward from the last
album. Mr Mitt is coming down next week to blow his chops onto selective
tracks and will hopefully have some good news for me regarding a duet that
I want to do on the new record but we will have to wait and see if that
comes off.

10th September 2000

Came back from Liverpool last night with my three kids in the car after my
second visit in a week. I was previously known as the Anfield jinx but my
two visits so far this season has seen The Reds score six goals and take
six points. I have just picked up a new pc for the studio and I will be
jumping into the world of hard disk recording from tomorrow. I think it is
only fair to warn you that the next few weeks could be very stressful and
you should probably expect to see one or two outbursts from me slagging
off the new technology as I grapple with bastard and try not to lose my
temper / data. The new tunes are taking shape and now that the kids are
back at school I will be able to get stuck in to some recording over the
next couple of weeks. Met up with Ket last night and discussed all the new
things we are going to have and he is going to get stuck into that so
hopefully there will be some new vids etc in the coming weeks. I still
haven't received one single photo from someone holding my album so seeing
as it's all action this end then you lot better pull your finger out at
that end!!!!!

6th September 2000

I am back from my short stay in Jersey with The Laws and The Packs where a
wonderful time was had by all. Having done all the tourist stuff in
Jersey in previous visits the only new adventure was a day out at Jersey
Races. The racetrack is on the corner of the island that faces Sark and
Guernsey and is a brilliant location but a lot of horses don't travel
over. I went to the races with JP, a bit of a tipster in his spare time,
and we both lost our shirts. He got an odds-on winner in the first and I
couldn't pick my nose. The fact that there was dramatic loss of beer
tokens did not dampen our enthusiasm for "the sport of kings", more like
"the sport of mings". I will be speaking to Ket the Web-Geezer on Sunday
about the new site (honestly, it's coming soon !!!!!!) and I hope to have
lots of vids and interviews and stuff for you to stream. I will be buried
in the studio for the next few weeks to finish the new tracks apart from
short day trips to Liverpool to watch the Reds. Going up tomorrow and then
again on Saturday. I ask you: Does it get any better than this: holidays,
great friends, footy and great new songs?????? I think you will be the
judge of that!!! Got to go as there is a cold bottle of Budvar with my
name on it.