Didn't get much done yesterday. Wrote a "Sounding Off" - my usual "things were better in the old days" sorta rant but without much venom. Guitar/Drums stuff arrived but I didn't get into the studio, maybe today.

Off to see some head honcho in the Caring world today, not entirely sure why but a free lunch was mentioned. Dearly hoping I'll get into the studio later although Pat wants some help opening a gate so she can go riding. Might grab a couple of hours late afternoon/evening. Dearly hope so!

No word back from V about what he wants from me in Berlin. Don't want a repeat of Croatia where I prepare loads of stuff but don't get the opportunity to play it. May as well go with nothing and jam if that's what he wants. Still undecided on laptop - know it's probably the way to go but the laptop I want is so expensive and seems foolishly extravagant.

Seem to have today off Les as we're doing this meeting on Wednesday, presumably Laurie thinks we're a star turn so will try not to let her down.

Got a decent mix of "chugger" yesterday, Tony's guitar did the trick nicely. Awaiting drums (have ordered a rock drums CD and guitars too).

Made the mistake of watching my first world cup match - more of a mismatch really. England deservedly crashing out.

Very hot

Really should have gone to Glastonbury. Hope Harvey went down a storm.

Tony came and did some chuggy guitars for me. It was very hot up there.

I'll see what I can do with them tomorrow but think it could be OK. Now I want better drums though.

Pat working until 8, then Dr Who and a salad plus a bottle of wine; simple pleasures. :)

Tomorrow supposed to be hotter still. Brilliant English Summer at last.

Thank Heavens For Wavelab

Awesome programme; its batch processing is so incredibly fast. Have converted 96 files into 16 bit 48k wavs, 320kbps 48k MP3s, 128kbps 44.1k MP3s and all like greased lightning. Well, 10 minutes for the lot give or take.

Now to get the files onto DVD and in the post. Then "mad guitars" for the rest of the day...

Ah well, my own fault for introducing the concept of "voicefree" mixes, having managed the much harder task of having voices accepted. However, it does make sense to explore the broadest possible uses. Just means more work doing more bounces and conversions... hey ho :)

Logic crashing again, just loading in songs this time. A random thing though which is really great.

Solstice

Well well, another lovely summer day (the longest of the year too). Sent off the new CD (A Different World) with contracts and all cuts etc. Sold EX8000 to a nice guy from Accrington. Cash totting up towards laptop, could be I don't have to sell the Nord after all. No worries either way.

Gonna try to do the heavy metal guitar thing now and see how far I get with that. Feel a great urge to laze around, I'm really not designed for heat.

Cool, heard today my first US CD is going live soon and am just completing the edits for the "A Different World" one. All good!

Have advertised Nord Wave. Could be a foolish thing to do but with the cash I can get a decent laptop which will run all my mellotron samples and enable me to do proper gigs without carrying piles of hardware synths.

Noodling along. Did edits for 5 tracks, tidied up all the crap from the hallway and that middle room to hopefully cheer Pat up. She's still down from the whole loss of bottle thing with the horse riding.

Another sunny day and I enjoyed it lots. SH-01 being picked up tomorrow plus I got commissioned to do a painting and agreed to meet some of the SOS gang at Synth-DIY next month.

Dropped a line to a new library company touting for business. May try DW again too cos they're where the decent cash is.

Weird, thought I posted something yesterday but apparently not. Didn't get owt done yesterday though so no great loss. Sunny again today, must be more disciplined. Doing the 30 and 60" edits for Absolute and more Cirklon testing. And finishing oiling the decking.

Gosh with posts as vital as this I can't imagine why I wouldn't return one day when writing my autobiography!

Field Day

Well, I think we've had the best of the day. The sun's disappearing into hazy cloud and there are the sounds and smells of barbequeues being had. I believe there's a football game going on, perhaps at this very moment.

Was nice to see Longridge Field Day after so many years. Had a brief chat with Harvey, Dave H, Robert but it all ended too quickly. Could easily have stayed but didn't. Pat's working until midnight, helping out again. I'm starting to wish she could drop that job - or at least just stick to the hours agreed. Alone again, naturally. You tell 'em Gilbert. I could work on the SH-01 review. It's pretty much done; Roland didn't come through with any answers so I'll be a little careful with some of the wording. I hate to speculate but what else can I do? Ah well.

I have a bit of an urge to just play with the Synthi all night. Can't be bothered with telly, not gonna touch those tunes again until Monday when I start the edits and Cirklon still ain't quite progressed far enough to really do what I want on it. With stuff out of the box, so many variables that I'm starting to think perhaps one or two multitimbral modules is the best way for structured stuff to play live. The idea of instrument sets seems a good one now.

Rambling and not even stoned yet. I think I may remedy that next though. Then we'll see. If I do the review tonight I get tomorrow off. Coulda gone to that festie thing after all. Harvey's playing Glasto too, which is excellent. He mentioned having four tickets, almost wish I could go. Hmm.

Wonder what the point of this blog is. Am I ever gonna look back at this and remember anything of the day from it? Mum's sore arm, apparently she was mad at us going for another drink. I wish this condition would clear up and she could drop the steroids.

SH-01 review going well - an easy one to write thankfully. Two new tracks also making progress, I think at least one will be good, possibly both. That will leave just one to complete this project - then it's just a matter of all the edits and mp3 stuff.

Concentrated on SH-01 review and have now started writing up my notes. Also got a new track "Come On" which is possibly my first porn soundtrack. It's quirky but fun.

Pat still suffering after her walk, will see what she's like when she wakes this morning.

No Les today, he's on hols, so a bit of freedom today. How shall I use it?

Anniversary meal with Sam and Dawn. SH01 arrived plus started a new tune that's definitely promising.

Good day

I know all days can't be like this. But how cool is it to be sitting here drinking Guinness, smoking my pipe and making tracks I'm actually rather proud of - and that's my job??!!! The track "More" is really rather good even if I did have an earlier fear it sounded a bit like a Vangelis track (can't remember which one).

Fab sunny day, walked the dog, cut the grass then smoked some. Hah!

Fab Day

Lovely sunny day. Two tracks coming along nicely, February 13 and More. Pat working midnight until 06:00.