Yes. Many motions towards the door, coming and going!

The new album is out - yesterday was the official release for "Plastic Guitar" here in the UK. I don't have a clue what people will think of this one - We've already gotten the Stewart Lee/Sunday Times review and he gives it 3 stars, compared to the 4 he gave "Drug Free." So, this new disk is one star less good maybe! I don't live for reviews, but obviously they can come in handy, especially in my eternally-unknown position in this world. But I like the songs on the album, even if I forget what they are! Hope the kids flip some wigs!

I've been mad busy with gigs all over. This is a good thing, a great thing even, in the scheme of it all.

Berlin concert got canceled, but we had a great time in the city anyway. Caught an Argentinian band called Onda Vaga - wow! Walked into a bar, they were gathered at the front, singing with no mics, filling the room with gorgeous harmonies. Their album is excellent, must add.

Hamburg was lovely, the first gig being at Hasenschaukel. Look it up - great website! Packed house this time, very satisfying. We were meant to stay at the band apartment, but when we got there at 3:30am, the key didn't work. We wandered back through St. Pauli at 4am and crashed at the club. Rather sweet, and Anya's mother gave us wee rabbit cookies for breakfast.

We crashed next night with Daniel and Nadja of xrfarflight and Binoculars respecively. Both are amazing musicians doing inspiring things, far as I can tell! Sat around in the kitchen and played a few songs, much good fun. They were off to Berlin, so Lorna and I roamed the city some more, headed towards Pony Bar for the next concert. It was ok, but felt a bit less special, like the audience was just there. They paid some attention, but I'm not sure it was a proper music crowd. Still, forward march!

Off to Bremen to do a few songs during Simon Felton's set. He was touring as part of the Songs and Whispers scene, and we agreed it would be good for me to meet Heiko, the fellow behind the curtain. The audience was more subdued than I was sure about, but I'm glad I played, I think! And "Banana Song" seems to be doing the trick - that's the track that's selling the new album. Yum. Wasn't very keen on Bremen otherwise, and I felt like I was dragging Lorna through some sort of job interview. She's very patient, and we make the best of things, but a Weds night in Bremen, crashed at a Youff Hostel wasn't our idea of fab!

After many trains and stations, we arrived in Holland. Wow! Beautiful! Amsterdam itself was a bit much to absorb, and my massive headache didn't help. I'm convinced the Dutch are fuckers! They really seem to poke at tourists, to play with the delicate minds of those new to their fair dream land! Ha! Ho! We managed our way to the first of several coffee shops, and were suitably impressed. Once we regained the ability to walk again, that is. Did I mention what a beautiful city it is???? Everything there is to be looked at. And the sounds all around are wild - the magic bells, the freaks screaming on bikes... so much. I played an open mic at Skek. This went down well, and I sold loads of cds. Yeah, I HAD to do "Drug Free" there, didn't I?! A blast, to be dull about it.

Home to Cambridge for the night, then on the bus again to Oxford for a spastic set with Schnauser. We trashed a few tunes, but many were gold. Rusty, hand-slicing gold, but gold nonetheless! Best bit might have been the "everybody play a solo now please" spot in "Banana." We had joy, we had fun!

Brighton was next, supporting Kevin Seconds who BARELY made it from Germany! They'd missed a ferry and we thought the show wasn't gonna happen. Instead, Sam Russo and meself plus a few other folks decided to just start playing, make something happen. So, we passed the guitar around for a couple hours. I'm so not punk rock, I don't relate stylistically or thematically, but it was funny how my songs still fit in to the mix. But Kevin DID make it! Around 11pm he staggered through the door, completely wiped out from what sounds like a hell journey. He put on a great show, though I know he was teetering. I'm delighted to hear songs from "Rise Up Insomniacs," his recent solo record, gotta say.

I'm back in Cambridge now. It's gray outside and in, Autumn crawling all over the airwaves. Saw two deer in the garden. Never seen more than one at once, so a thrill. I'm off in a few days to Prague for a gig, then Paris for two more, then Germany again. I love all the travels, but can admit to feeling a bit lost in all of this. Is this computer my proper home right now? God knows! And I've got so much recording to take care of. Working on two records, "The Psychedelic Mynde of Moses" and the "Introducing..." disk. Rather overwhelmed and under-inspired. I don't have anyone to work with here, and it's hard to get it up for hours of tambourine edits much of the time. I've always preferred recording to gigs, but making albums in solitary confinement isn't thrilling anymore. Gotta get out of this town!!!! Berlin, have you got a room?!