Suddenly, I realise how busy the past couple of months have been, touring, completing promotion-duties and getting through myriad personal commitments, all told, and I haven't described a moment of it.

I leave on an early flight tomorrow for warmer climes to visit close family, so there won't be a great deal of words forthcoming right now.

It had to go.

Didn’t meet Ian Anderson, after all. But the setting was fabulous, baroque gardens, a Georgian Schloss and a big crowd in the sun. But did meet Bryan Ferry at Glastonbury Abbey. We shared a touch of small talk and that was that. He might actually be quite shy, and like myself really come to life once the light hits him. For the first time, I asked Michael Eavis for a photo together, though we’ve met on several occasions. He is a fascinating man; strolling around like a lost punter, shorts and wellies, and the ubiquitous Dutch beard – unmistakable! Back indoors, the following weekend the Holmfirth show brought a big smile to many faces, both out front and backstage. I’ll try to arrange something special, maybe festive, but different, if I can for the December 28th show there. Maybe I’ll shave – no, I won’t go that far!

It’s been the most glorious summer in our garden for birdlife and associated action. The wee ones!! Robin feeding robin, beak to beak; blackbirds emerging downy and innocent; chaffinches galore, yellowhammers and their young, a juvenile great spotted woodpecker has emerged from the hole in the Scots pine tree; and feeds on the hanging net feeder at the ancient pergola. By ancient, read near-wrecked. Woodpeckers have long been pecking at its holey frame, getting grubs as an appetiser before raiding the nuts. The pergola needs rebuilding, but to take away a food source for that beautiful creature – I’m torn! Even the family of Greenfinches have this year survived the malcontent mouser cats that last year devastated their nest. So, a glorious summer in the garden, for sure. 

Just heard some of my team spotted Mike Johnstone in the bar of our hotel after the Buxton concert. If true, wish I’d spotted him, too. I would have said hello. We’ve met a few times in the past. “Hello, Mike”.

Just finished mixing the Birmingham recordings. Sounding good. Will package it as a double CD, of course, and might be able to get it on-sale at the end of June. Even now, there are moments in there that still stir my hackles. The memory of that night is now right up there among many memories from a long career that I can almost warm my hands on. We still hope to announce the Manchester edition by the end of this month.

Looks like our second “The Human Menagerie & The Psychomodo with Orchestra & Choir” performance will come next year, in April, at Bridgewater Hall, Manchester. We’re waiting on clearance for either Saturday, April 12th or Saturday, April 26th. I imagine we’ll set up a similar ticket-buying link on the website as we did for Birmingham, giving registered members first dibs. Sounds a long way off, but – hey, it’s good to have something to look forward to! I’m still hoping the show will go on at the Royal Albert Hall, but single-night dates are hard to acquire at that venue, and I really do want a Saturday, so people who travel long distances can relax without losing time from work. I’ll try to give it a unique feel, so I’ll look for different “bonus” tracks to throw in. Keep to the period, but let us know any suggestions.

Symphony Hall came, and went. Hard to believe it’s behind us, to be honest. Roger Searle, my Production Manager for the event, and I worked on it, on and off, for about a year. Reading all the reactions from many of those who were there, I feel humble and touched. Never in a career close to forty years long, have I felt such a rush, such a warm glow, as I did during that first minute or two, preparing to break open the riff of Hideaway. I thought for a moment of looking around to see who else had strolled onto our stage. It was crazy for a flashing moment, then overwhelming. It’s been a plan for many years, to play those two albums in their entirety, in sequence, but I do credit one or two band members and at least one fan’s Forum note from a couple of years ago for the encouragement to actually get on and do it.

Rehearsal notes:

Norway. Spectacular hardly does it justice.

I am very pleased to say that we play there often. It is an expensive country, even for the natives. But that might be all that’s imperfect with it.