Interesting journey back from Dublin via Heathrow. I went through 3 security checks where myself and my fellow passengers were barked at by lumpy young officials. For those that rarely fly, you now have to strip down to basics, take laptops out, remove water bottles, belts, shoes, don’t joke with the staff, stand there, raise hands….
I think the terrorists have won.
In fact, I have to say that the freaking U.K. has become a virtual police state where driving on the roads is concerned. I absolutely cannot keep an eye on all these silly speed cameras….and the parking rules…I can kind of relate to Mike Oldfield having his fill of all the rules. People don’t think anymore. Whatever happened to common sense, something our nation was revered for all over the world. This tour landed us with two parking tickets and prior to that I got two speeding tickets, having not had one in 35 years.
O.K. that’s my rant over.
Ireland was fab. Great to see all the new development in Belfast and of course, Dublin continues on a pace. Derry was a first and I liked it as a city. The audiences rocked and the whole thing floated along on a sea of Guinness. We saw beautiful parts of Britain on this tour and as I said before, it was a blessing.
Been taking some time out listen to music. Andy Fairweather Low and his band were rehearsing in the room next to us, prior to the tour, so I picked up his new CD. Good one. You can really see how Clapton and others lean on this guy. Christian Guyonnet turned me on to Stephane Mellino’s new CD which has some nice gypsy - tinged songs and Muddy turned me on to Eddi Reader’s album where she sings the songs of Robbie Burns. There’s some charming material here along with the classics like Charlie is My Darling – as a result I ended up studying his work for the first time. He was a lover and a mensch and it’s easy to see why he is Scotland’s national hero.
Then there’s the new Eagles and Joni has just released a new one. But they don’t need my help. A few more days break, preparing for the US tour and doing my accounts then it’ll be, “Don’t make a fuss, get back on the bus.” Next stop “ Happiness in Annapolis” to quote the man from Johnson City, Mr. Mike Allen, who, I believe, has some treats in store for you all on the first date. My treat will be some of those fine Chesapeake Bay crab cakes. Mmmmm
A.P.
