A Gathering

Well it’s been a smorgasbord of a weekend. Simone’s daughter Tara arrived on Friday and her boyfriend Pavel flew in from Poznan around midnight just as the embers of our bonfire died away and the gluhwein and rum ran out. It was fantastic to see them over here for the first time since Simone Rösler moved over and Liam was really happy to see his sister and show off his new home. Saturday we ventured down to Belhaven Beach to let Tara and Pavel, who are both windsurf teachers, see one of our local surfing venues.It was a blowy cold northerly wind but despite the November conditions there were still surfers playing in the white tops of a pretty chewed up sea.The Bass rock was resplendent in faraway sunshine.

A collection of sea shells and a pair of sore knees later we were back in the studio for a chicken madras before bopping out again to town to catch the Haddington fireworks.We intended to head to the site but a stop off in the Waterside to meet up with my mate Rab had us holed up in the warmth longer than expected. As we stood outside by the river, chilled savvy in gloved hands the splutter of coloured sparks over a wall and some distant classical music echoing under the Nungate bridge,had us thinking we had missed it.We hung around for another few minutes and decided to head for home in order to mix the exodus from the park. Just as we crossed the bridge a barrage of fireworks exploded above the bistro and stopped us in our tracks. This was the main event and we were perfectly positioned on the opposite bank from the Waterside to catch it all. It was pretty spectacular and the customary “ooohs and aahhs” steamed happily from our mouths on a now brightly lit cold November evening.

A taxi home to the wood burning stove and a warm hi fi playing vinyl into the wee hours with glasses of rum and red wine to hand ended our day and we drifted off to bed the strains of John Martyn and Crosby Stills, Nash and Young still in our heads.

I picked up my Mum from North Berwick on Sunday afternoon to bring her up to our home for Sunday dinner. Simone delivered a great roast lamb and we had a fine family meal round the big table before I took my mother home in the evening. It was the first time she had met Tara for a while and she loved having the kids around and being with our new family.She’s in great spirits and I’m so proud of the way she has dealt with everything this year. An amazingly strong and resourceful woman and still a pillar to both me and Simone her resilience never ceases to amaze me.

After such a great weekend together it was sad to say goodbyes to Tara and Pavel at the airport but we knew the ‘Luftbrucke’ had been initiated and we know they will be visiting us more regularly especially when the snow arrives as they are both also avid skiers and want to see the Highlands.

Monday as always was a flurry of action on the front lines.
‘Crows’ was given the thumbs up and is now away to the production plant. Calum has the audio from Steve Vantsis and is mastering ‘Moveable Feast’ this week. Steve is putting together the ‘Farewell to Childhood’ audio and we are discussing a possible multi track mix with Chris Kimsey with another show and a DVD from the Berlin show potentially in that package.

Photos for ‘Moveable Feast’ are being assembled and the sleeve notes will be finished in the next couple of days as I need to get that rushed into position if I want it out for December with ‘Field of Crows’.

Another reason I need it in hand relatively quickly is that I heard yesterday that I will be in hospital for my spine operation on Saturday. It came at me out the blue and I was at first a bit nervous and reluctant to commit to such a quick turnaround but the situation is fast deteriorating and I need to deal with this as soon as possible.My main worry was how am I going to be able to watch the England v Scotland World cup qualifier on Friday night without drinking heavily! 🙂

I’ve been told I will hopefully be out on Sunday, just in time for my Mum’s birthday, and I’ll be able to get around although gingerly. Hopefully I will be recovered for Christmas but sadly I will miss the SAS band Christmas shows in the first week of December as I just won’t be ready for stage by then.

To add to the list I have an appointment at the Royal in Edinburgh this afternoon to follow up on the ultra sound I had done in May when they diagnosed a torn tendon in my shoulder. It’s still torn and certain movements put me in agony. I was told 5 months ago that I probably needed an operation to tie it together and today I find out how long the next wait will be. It’s another health issue that has to be sorted quickly as between that and my back/ leg problems I haven’t had a full decent nights sleep for well over 12 months. I just hope the NHS can deliver this time as I can’t afford another private operation just now.

I’m reminded of just how fast this year has flown by as I have to take the Volvo down to the garage to get my winter tyres put on. It seems like yesterday when I had them changed the last time.With snow in the forecast ( much to Liam’s excitement) it’s time to prepare for what looks like being a tough winter on every level.

It’s as full on as you would expect here but I am so looking forward to getting my mobility back and being relatively pain free. I’m frustrated at my inability to perform basic tasks just now and dream of getting down a gym to get this body back into some level of fitness and reduce an expanding waistline that hasn’t been worked on since I finished the last tour. It will all happen in time.