Hottish day. Didn't get a lot done, lots of crashes. I've raised 3 fault reports now, hoping there's a way round this.

Lots of moaning and groaning with Dawn's business again. Very disruptive and seemingly no end to it.

Have raised a couple of problems re: recent drum machine review, sent off the first one this morning with screen shots. Have done a fair bit with the second now, don't think there's a lot I don't understand about it now. No reply re new track. Will be glad when these are over, I don't think tension is my thing.

It was the heatwave today I think. Most of the morning and a fair bit of the afternoon. I think it's done though.

BBC Glastonbury coverage the usual dire mixture of repeating the same stuff and lots of annoying chatter from folks who have surprisingly little to say but take a long time to do it. Like me eh? :)

FAther forgive me, etc. and it's been almost 40 years since my last confession. The thing is: I'm watching Coldplay. And, worse, I think they have some decent songs. But that must be the worst lead singer voice in popular music? The falsetto doesn't suit him, sounds like a strangled cat. So weak.

I'm a whining old man eh? Did new track today http://soundcloud.com/smokyfrog/breaking-the-cycle# and completed one drum machine review and made a start on another. Easier one to grasp this one, not so deep. Good day but Pat tired.

Sometimes I struggle to go with my own philosophies. Such as "if you can't change something then make the best of it". I still moan and whine and get grumpy when my precious composing time is interrupted. Can't get across the point that I write music best when alone, unheard. Editing, tweaking all no worries but blowing air on that first spark!

Pascal came round, brought some wonderful, inspiring music.

More drum machines today. Good job I like 'em.

Wrote quick review that totally failed to mention you-know-who or his crappy patches. Tempted but was proud I could resist.

Now, work!

Aha :)

Pat working 5-midnight, some cockup.

WOrked out well, review done I'd say and new track started, pretty much a full length sketch just a few rough edges to polish and a few transitions to do. A wee smoke and beer may have helped. Dammit but it always does! That peace and being able to leave something looping until you see the thing it needs, have to be alone for that kinda indulgence. :)

Then a wicked new track from Volker on myspace. Top day!

Made good progress with two reviews over the weekend, using stuff is the key, like in songs.

Nothing done today. Our Dawn working in 'her' office. So an afternoon wasted. Hey ho. Arranging to meet with Pasc sometime this week, John suggesting we meet also but I really don't think I'm gonna have time. Want a day with Pat and I just have too many reviews queued up, not to mention I should be writing some music. But not today, well maybe this evening I'll get some peace.

Jeez I sound like a right moaning old git. Dunno why this malaise, apart from news of horse I guess. Also nothing on horizon to really anticipate, spose there's Synth-DIY next month but I feel I need a holiday. Really do. No sign of shares cheque yet.

Damn, Thursday already. Reviews stacking up and have got the first deadline at least (and already realised I need 500 more words). Sent off tense_4 so we'll see what happens with that. Gonna be busy for a while, even forgot today was the day Pat and I have been taking off together lately. Slow down dude!

Oh shit, the vet gave Pat the verdict on Murphy. As bad as her worst fears, he'll be drugged up now until his last days and not long for those either. Can't believe her bad luck, especially as no horse has been looked after better.

It's a sunny day but somehow it should be raining. I've abandoned work for now, can't get in the mood. Instead it's lager and Vangelis (Oceanic) and moping. Have cashed in BT shares and I think once it's all over Pat and I will go off for some time away. Maybe Centerparcs, always a good refuge for us. I'll take the iPad and see if it really is any use for working with by itself.

Maybe I'll cut the grass. Feel I should do something. Why is writing this shit cathartic? It's meaningless, I never look back over it, I avoid putting anything other than surface thoughts and sanitised ones at that. Baffling really. But I feel better having done it no matter how thin and unappetising it is.

Finished and submitted a track "the waiting", awaiting feedback on that and a couple previously. Very little get up and go, or perhaps it's got up and gone and I didn't notice. Would do another Cirklon video but all my renders turning out shite, no real idea why. Gonna try another program as Sony Movie studio is a bit of a pain, very slow and getting on my nerves. Why is the render never like the preview??

Mmm more sun = less work! Did some work on tense_3 yesterday, it's sounding OK I think. Another listen and slight production work over the weekend sometime and it's complete. Probably not today though, it's glorious again and supposedly gets colder after today.

Good meal last night, must've been hungry though cos we were only there for just over an hour - a record considering we had starters and sweet too!

Sunshine!!

Magnificent day. Worked in the garden. Meal at night for last week's anniversary. Might get to studio later, dunno, sorta in the mood annoyingly enough. Probably that bong and all the writing to the Independent that fired me up. Silly old fart I am.

Looks like some of our Berlin performance wasn't recorded or if so, has vanished. Hope it can be unvanished as it's a bit stupid to lose what I think was a good gig. Typical though, alas.

Little to report today, a track done (tense_2) and seems OK but will sleep on it.