Be careful what you wish for.  On Sunday I looked out of the window at my car and realised it was covered in the shale contents of Stoke Speedway.  (I'd been there the night before, it wasn't some meteorlogical miracle that carried it all the way to Brighouse).  I remarked how a good rain shower would sort it out.  3 days later and it's virtually never stopped bloody raining.  We have major roads flooded and all manner of rivers fit to burst.  So I'm sorry for tempting fate, I do feel partially responsible.*

*For the benefit of insurance companies reading that is a joke.

GIGS
I've done a couple of nights in the past week, at The Hop in Leeds and then The Hop in Wakefield.  That's a tour of Hops completed.  The nights actually contrast one another.  The Leeds venue is quite big with a big sound and the Wakefield one is much more intimate.  I enjoyed them both for those reasons.  The Wakey one was especially pleasing as it was a struggle getting there in the heavy rain, but once there it felt like a really worthwhile trip.

I'm doing the Chemic this Thursday in Leeds and then we shall see what treats are in store for next week.


STUDIO
I've been working on some new songs both from a writing point of view and also a guitar recording session.  More new songs are edging towards completion.  The floodgates will open soon!

LISTENING TO MUSIC
The Pet Shop Boys new album 'Elysium' is one I'm on with at the moment.  It's got a touch of class about it with some finely crafted songs and subtle but un-cluttered arrangements.  I like the 2 whimsical tracks 'Ego Music' and 'Early Stuff' especially.  The album also ends with a track-by-track interview with the band, which is something I might consider soon, co-writers be warned!
I also listened to Bob Dylan's new release 'Tempest'.  The title track is without doubt the most depressing song I've ever heard.  It's a very long lament about the Titanic going down.  Warning: Do not listen to this song after a bad day.  There are 3 or 4 other songs that give it a run for it's money too.  Long, lyrically-driven laments, over 10 minutes long, with absolutely no hint of light breaking through.  Maybe in years to come this will be seen as some under-rated masterpiece of which I've completely missed the point, but just now I'd confidently say it makes some of my darker material seem like Half A Sixpence.