There are worse things in the world than a rainy Sunday afternoon in Cambridge with the Incredible String Band singing away about puppies and Krishna.

 Istanbul was amazing, in all its ancient and modern glory. Hard to think clearly about it, as it was full-on and overwhelming in so many ways. The gig came at the end of almost a week there, and I felt comfortable enough, in a nervous and smoke-choked way. So, "banana" translates as "muz." Good to know! I dodn't know if my pop songs were gonna sound out of place in Istanbul, but really, pretty much all I heard all week was Gang of Four, Can, Beyonce and Madonna. Simon Johns from Stereolab, now living in Istanbul, DJ'd at Arcoada the night before I played. We heard lots of traditional Turkish music being played by buskers, but it was so cold at night that we never stopped long to listen. This is my only regret, not getting to hear more Turkish music. But I'm invited back and we're already planning the trip, so I'll be sure to save space on my mental hard drive.

Oxford was a few days later, the Bullingdon on Cowley Road. previous gig there was a strange one with Allyson and Su in front of about 6 people. This time it was just me infront of maybe 12! But Ox usually vibes me up in such a way, and I swear I was getting the full force of the Golden Light that flops around that town. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Lewis Carroll, Radiohead, Stornoway - there's something good in the oxford water. Anyway, I'm kinda finding my feets again as solo performer, and in Ox, as much as I miss singing with Su, I have an audience that seems keen to give me a bit of room to move. I've been bringing out all sorts of songs that ain't before been played in town, and in so doing, I make peace with my my back pages.

Speaking of, we saw "I'm Not There," the Dylan-y film with various actors doing the Man in various stages of his glory. The mid-60s stuff is brilliant, with Cate Blanchett doing a genius job. A lot of the movie just felt like a movie, floppy and stiff and so-what. Digital and clean and dull, but every time a few notes of music came on, Yeah!

Cambridge this week at the Portland Arms, after a fun trip to the BBC for a radio spot. Now, I played on Thursday, after seeing my hero Don McGlashan in London the night before. What a gig he put on. I mean, I never got to see the Mutton Birds, and he coulda come out in a grumpy mood singing songs about wheat germ and I still woulda been thrilled to see him. But he put on the best, most loveable show, and I'm still buzzing. "Anchor Me," "Pulled Along By Love," "A Thing Well Made" - I mean, pick any single one, but the show went on forever in the best way. But I was supposed to be writing about Cambridge and the Portland Arms. It was a benefit for Strawberry Fair, always a good cause. But a slow night, and I've been really done with Cambridge for a while. I see Kim every so often, and he's delightful. Being able to work with him is still shocking, have to say. But otherwise, I don't have many strong musical connections here, and I struggle to find gigs. So I wasn't holding much hope Thursday. Started the set with "Give it to the Soft Boys," a song it seemed nobody had ever heard. Uh, that's a little bit of a let-down in my mind. And then Heather NAILED  me with a banana. Yum! I know she meant it with affection, and she ain't the only one in Cambridge to ever offer  said fruit in such a manner, but it was a hard moment, it took much effort for me to not lose it. I mean, I'd just started my set, with the "Banana Song" scribbled in at the end, so I hadn't come near it. She explained, when I gently asked what the fuck was she thinking, that she was already drunk and if she waited any longer, her aim would be shit. Ok, thanks! But in true "show must go on" spirit, I carried forward with the rock, saying nothing about this being my last ever gig in Cambridge boo-hoo etc. It turned into a bit of a spit and snarl fest, probably as much to do with the Dylan flick as the fruit hit, to be honest, but all I wanted was to get through my set and get off stage. It was a really charged night, but I think maybe it turned out better than it seemed. I met a guitarist who, at least on paper, sounds quite right for what I'm doing, so we'll see where that goes. And we met a girl from Istanbul who had just barely missed my set there. She's friends with the folks who own Arcoada. Even cooler in the 2.3 degrees of... way, she's going to be doing some studying with a friend from California who teaches in Cambridge. Small world shrinking all the time. So, we've got potential guitarist and new friends and the Incredible String Band on a rainy afternoon. Another cup of tea and I think I'm sorted!