Hopefully nearing some kind of resolution with council jobsworths as their boss proved just as petty. Have involved the press (good to have contacts) and hopefully the ridiculous situation can be calmed before too many people are terrorised. Will also use this opportunity to point out some of the council shortcomings in this area, such as their repeated failing to fix the "stream flowing over the steep path" anomaly that has been present for years and which the idea to fix always involves simply putting down more tarmac over the path (rather than fitting a diverting pipe as sensible councils would). Jeez, at this rate I'm gonna become a Daily Mail letter writer, pah, wash my mouth out with soap!

Did a couple of ambient ones including "dog day afternoon" but have struggled to fully concentrate on my work this week and ain't finding "Epic World" to be a great source of inspiration. It's all one-note evolving pads and I've never really coped well with those. Trying though.

Bizarre morning. Was just harassed by two jobsworth types wanting to give me a fixed penalty notice for walking my dog off the lead in a disused road. They said it counted as a "public highway" and that this was now a sin. No joke. Anyway, told them where to shove it. Very odd. Must find out when that particular law came in and what the details are. Madness eh?

Installing Epic World now, 7.something dogabytes of stuff. Tiddly pom.

Good day, of the three new tracks 2 are OK, one needed slight tweak (done). Now uploaded a new one (stalker). More tomorrow.

Moved Cirklon into top part of rack where I think it looks better. Dunno whether to keep Lancet in live setup or go all rack/programmed. Adding JV again but surely overkill. Still, no harm it being there except weight.

Started new track "stalker". More dark drama. And there's another, rather odd, ambient one and have started "menace". Good productive night.

Contemplating using Cirklon vertically again but still in the bigger box with Radias lower down. Moving stuff around in flightcases...

Moved bits of the studio around (again). More for the sloping Cirklon access than anything else. It means the JV2080 was dropped from the live set, replaced by the Radias which probably makes sense.

We'll see how I like it now. Sent three tracks for L to listen to.

A better afternoon yesterday. Admit I resorted to Martin's wonderful spacecake but whatever did it, I got a track dredged up from thoughts of childhood that's quite mellow/melodic/ambient and it uses both virtual instruments I have in for review. The result is too long for library but the first half will be ideal with a bit of trimming back (I got carried away with the duduk, you know how that can happen). Might have been inspired by a little bit of online chat first thing; the track is called "rope swing". Paul also thought one of my rambling dark tracks was OK. They don't all have to be classics I guess but I really want to give this library my best stuff...

Chuckled at latest SOS cover and wondered if it was intentional. Bammy thought the same thing. :)

Review came out OK, or at least I'm pleased with it.

Trying to work through my writer's block again today, ordered Epic World and then realised I coulda got it as download. Idiot! Anyway, waiting for Pat to go out which seems to make things easier. Thankfully she's put Holby City off now as its depressing tones seem to eat away at any creativity I might have. Only thing I hate more is Casualty. Lowest Common Denominator shite.

Think calm thoughts. Maybe do something ambient/melodic as the dark stuff is not doing me any good.

Funny day. Lovely walk in the morning then a frustrating afternoon not making progress with the library tracks. Am I trying too hard? The ingredients go in but the result is always overcooked and without flavour. In the evening went to M&T's for a fabulous meal, great night and good company. Now stuffed and contemplating my navel.

Good couple of Cirklon days. Analogue board fitted, some useful OS tweaks including note audition, mixer improvements and chase LED decay removed (the spangliness will return as a user config option or poor Colin will never recover).

Apparently I stink. Last night's naga proved too much for poor Pat who crawled out of bed around half two in the morning to take refuge on the settee. Hey ho.

Most excellent day, I now have the analogue board in my Cirklon (borrowing Colin's breakout box for the next day or so to try it out properly). Also got a few jobs done including finally fixing that LED decay (and removing poor Colin's hard work to go for a retro chase LED effect instead), mixer now has direct access and the store for scene/song seems to work just fine. A few other little details, hope to bag more today. Yay!

Some interesting stuff at NAMM, hoping it means a few choice items come my way. Synth-DIY to book. More curry tonight, I wonder? Poor Pat, she has a lot of patience, bless.

Contemplating the old sloping rack box for Cirklon as vertical ain't great. May also take Radias and leave JV at home, moving the Repeater around into the other case in its place. Will have a fiddle. Radias would be better for electronic/sequencey stuff, could leave SH-101 at home then and maybe slot in the MAM or Freebass, esp the MAM for the MIDI control that Cirklon can do. Maybe that's what I should push for today... :)

I'm sat listening to Mozart's Requiem, sipping a pint of Murphy's and reflecting on my day. It doesn't take much reflecting. At one point, during the cleaning of my studio space, I fell over and hurt my toe. A little later, replacing the vacuum cleaner, I disturbed my bong which was inexplicably still full of water. It fell and broke in half but also splashed my painting-in-progress, which made me a little unhappy that Pat had simply placed the bong on the bookshelf without, at least, emptying the foul water. That I have now done, inadvertently. I'm cleaning up, incidentally, because Colin and Tony are coming tomorrow. There will no doubt be curry but also Cirklon will advance some more and Colin will see how I work and probably sigh a bit.

My toe's aching a bit and as today is our "telly-free" day, I'm now returning to the Vonnegut I'm reading. I notice when I read dear old Kurt that my sentences get short and snappy. He really does inspire me to write more than any other writer. I wonder if that would amuse him? If so, his smile would quickly fade when he sees the number of semicolons I use.

Sent in review this morning along with screen dump. That should be that. No word from Liz but fortunately no hurry from me. Will email her towards the end of the week if still nothing. I've pottered with a few pieces that might become something if needed.

No reply from Picko re: his new track. He's either fuming quietly or doing something else.

Excellent day, surprise delivery this morning of two virtual instruments, one of which is superb. For review too so that's good, keeping me busy.

Not much done today except I did the mini review. Will send tomorrow after a last look. Nothing beyond 046 yet, hope to get an update soon. I expect the man's hard at it, or cursing rack dimensions...

Cirklon days...

Spent a little time tonight, starting to be able to do my mixes properly in Cirklon, hopefully getting better tomorrow. Note audition good and I think Colin now back firmly in coding mode. Excellent!

Gonna chill and watch Men Who Stare At Goats. Has to be my sorta film that!

Good day yesterday, I used the fact I'm between projects to move the studio around (must be spring) so I now have all my live stuff to hand. Seems if I'm to play alone I'll need to take a largeish gearpile, loopers, effects, keyboards. This now includes two main rack cases with the sequencer/Repeater and the JV/Fantom/P25K plus mixer. Stupidly, I forgot to leave a mixer channel for the Synthi and now I have to see if I can double up the Lancet/SH-101 through the Eventide delay and whether that pans them hard left and right, in which case I don't think it'll work. No other aux inputs on that mixer either so will have to rethink, definitely has to be no more than 16 channels or it's getting silly. Really would be daft to take two mixers! Possibly leave the JV out of it?

I have everything in sync (except Repeater, deliberately) - including the arpeggiators on the Virus, V-Synth, sequencer on the SH-101, KP3 looper and delays on both Eventides. I've got rack spaces spare too so still some flexibility for change. Cirklon ain't as perfect where it is compared to the nice angle in my rack but it's OK, will see how I get on. With a core song prepared and all the stuff I have to jam with over the top, should be quite fine for what I intend. Must see how I can improve setup time though as there's a fair bit of connection to do and break-down will take a while...

Pah, I'd forgotten the Fantom's inputs which I can use. Phew!

Sketched a few track ideas but little progress really. Pat stressing over horse but fortunately all seems OK again so I suspect it's time for an evening of indulgence and music. At least I can relax now all is well.

Just had this inspiration, after reading some Jehova Witness guff:

If eating an apple's a sin

You pretty much know you can't win

And with that in mind

I lift my behind

And drop the "good book" in the bin!

or

If eating an apple's a sin

You pretty much know you can't win

The invisible guy

Has loaded the die

So drop his "good book" in the bin!

Got a new softsynth to review - and instantly wondered why they'd want it reviewed yet.

Still nothing much happening with Colin, all too little too slow. I think he needs a work environment as he can't be pro music gear maker and babysitter at the same time. I dunno whether I should nag but that could just add to the pressure without really helping. Don't know what I can do to help...

Pat having a long lie-in this morning.

poem

What is a sin

We know it's not gin.

Control your rocks,

Don't covet that ox.

Your neighbour's wife,

can ruin your life.

Don't worship idols

Though it is rife

What is a sin

but a loss or a win?

The victor writes the history

what he leaves out is a mystery

The common good, a bloodless coup

what he don't like you mustn't do

Freedom hidden, fake free will

it takes just a herb to rouse old Bill

But faced with rape or theft or mugging

expect to see some shoulder shrugging.

Our taxes fund an endless war

They take our cash but what's it for?

Top dogs in pursuit of money

Worldly goods and milk and honey.

Bush, Blair and bankers worship god

He's on their side and their iPod

An ephemeral being, much like a ghost

His face crops up on towels and toast

Spread by missionary zeal

They take a myth and make it real

Plant the seed early if you can

Give me the child I'll shape the man

I left the club because I chose.

The emperor he wears no clothes

Or (v2)

What is a sin

We know it's not gin.

That used to be out

But now it's back in.

So reign in your rocks,

Don't covet an ox

(even a fit one

in suspenders and socks).

Your neighbour's wife,

can ruin your life.

Oh, and don't worship idols

Though the practice is rife

Bush, Blair and bankers all worship god

He resides in their team, their church and iPod

This ephemeral being is much like a ghost

His face crops up often on towels and toast.

Together they maintain a terrible war

Mouthing thanks for the taxes - but what's it all for?

Yes my cynical rants often fail to be funny

Just like these top dogs wagging tails for the money

Spreading their wisdom with missionary zeal

Taking a myth, making it real.

They say: plant the seed early whenever you can

And: give me the child and I'll shape the man

If you're going to believe cos you're plain fucking lazy

Don't come crying to me when you find it's all crazy

Try leaving the club and awake from your doze

Cos the emperor's laughing and wearing no clothes

Where are we? Almost at the end of the CSI stuff, just tidying up the last edits prior to uploading. Then it'll be touting for new work, want to try some other libraries hopefully to spread myself about and get better coverage.

Colin has been quiet for too long so hopefully an update soon. Gig in March and I should start thinking about it in a bit more detail. Well, some detail.