Midnight means it’s a hundred and one

So much never gets said or done

Where rain is only a rumour

Over before it’s begun

- Howe Gelb

It’s ten thirty in Phoenix, Arizona.

We were supposed to fly out seven twenty.

It’s going to be a long night.

I’m talking to the man next to me.

He’s a university lecturer, seems nice.

I don’t even know if all my bags will fit in the car when I get back to Glasgow.

I’ve really excelled myself this time.

Mucho baggage.

Shouldn’t have bought those high tops and fur capes the other day.

Was interesting trying them on when it’s a hundred and five outside.

Kind of made me delirious.

I wrote my first ever Christmas hit in toasty town too.

Howe calls it toasty town.

He has a way with words that I enjoy.

It was over a hundred degrees when I penned it. I was homesick for the U.K. for a couple of weeks.

Couldn’t stop listening to Billy Bragg, Kirsty MacColl and The Pogues for a entire fortnight.

Contrary Mary.

The grass is always greener.

Now I’m not sure if I want to come home at all.

I’m coming back for my family.

I miss them.

And my band.

And Claire Campbell and Ella.

(I’m due a trip up North and down south to the seaside soon.)

And my engineer, Dave P.

It’ll be good to see all of them!

Though the last three months have been great.

I’ve fallen in love.

The desert has stolen my heart.

And sort of healed me too.

Kinda.

And I am sunburnt and my hair is straw.

A vision of loveliness.

It’s way too dry out here and hot beyond any kind of decency but I just love it and that’s that.

Tucson is nice and slow and it suits me.

The Mexican food does not suit my waistline. It’s too delicious.

In Sabino Canyon, it is sleepy.

I am slow and sleepy.

It’s a good marriage.

Me and the mountains.

I’ve met so many lovely people here too.

And I need to see them again.

And those mountains!

Those beautiful, beautiful mountains.

And the electrical storms.

The hikes.

And those ugly Colorado river toads.

Cindy and I saw one that had been flattened in the street the other day. Double ugly.

Think I might go try and live there for a while. Maybe during or after I get this record out of me…

I hope so.

I think I’ll see if I can get my three year visa renewed and off I’ll go.

And I think I’ll get a lot of British visitors in the Winter months.

The Scottish snow birds.

And if my Dad finds out about the golf he’ll go nuts!

Yes Sir, it’ll be nice.

I go to Denmark on Monday. With big Dave. To record with Howe and the Danes. I got some good ‘uns for them.

Not been in Aarhus since I first met Howe in July 06 and now Marie has a wee baby…can’t wait to see everyone…life is grand…