January 2007
So, a couple of things in January – god, seems sooooooo long ago!
We got home on the morning of the 15th and by 3pm that afternoon I was bloody working! Can you believe it?
It’s funny though...well, for a start, can you call hanging about rehearsing songs with some lovely young people work? And, when you have that jet-lag thing going on, it’s almost like you’re not tired at all – kinda like there’s a big bit of cotton wool wrapped all around you.
Anyway, yes, back into workshop mode. Which was worth every minute because I was working towards a show of the stuff I’d been working on with these young people since October last year.
Here it was, would they be okay? Would the venue work out? Would the people who funded it be happy? Would the people who employed me to deliver the project be impressed? Would the young folk enjoy it?
All these questions which were answered yes! The most satisfying one was that, yes the young people enjoyed and yes, they totally cut the mustard. It’s funny that, when you’re put on the spot, you always manage to get it together and they did. They were brilliant – and me? Of course, I was greetin’!
The show was two weeks after I got back and I was working every day and night between those dates.
The day after the show was a real treat though, I sat on the couch, made myself some lovely (Salvadorian) coffee and watched about four episodes of the final season of the West Wing. I only have four left to watch and, I gotta tell you, I’m really putting it off – I don’t want it to end!!!
January also saw me onstage with one of my favourite, most beautiful, gentlemanly, lovely, humble guitarists – the Mighty Johnny Cameron!
He and I were playing at a Celtic Connections show where we celebrated the wonderful songs of Matt McGinn.
So, on one side of me I had David playing beautiful guitar and whistle and cittern, on the other I had Johnny guest-ing on one track, playing banjo. That in itself was just tremendous.
Johnny’s great. Building a new studio – I mean literally building, from the foundations up to the tiled roof – and living for today. He is still a wonderful man and no matter if he never manages to play with me again, I feel truly blessed to have him as part of my life.
Anyway, tears over...let’s, move in to February
February 2007
A quiet month indeed. I have been trying for sometime to get a space in my diary to get away and write some songs...you know how I can’t manage to do that in my own house – well, you never know when some laundry is needing done, or when the toothpaste holder needs cleaned!!
So, I found this lovely wee place in Creiff – Muthill to be precise. It was a tiny wee house which looked like it could’ve been a garage. Mind you, that was because it was a converted garage!
It was lovely. On my first morning, I woke up to a three-inch blanket of snow all around the countryside...and I waited – for inspiration that is – some came, but not much, an still I waited...I drank some gin...and waited, and waited and waited and at last some came – hall-e-bloody-luja! I got a few tunes written. Mostly about my recent travels and other such stuff – lots of tragedy and stuff like that, so, particularly Carol Laula-esque...I’ll be playing them in the April shows...I’m looking forward to it – hope you enjoy them
And really, that was February...self-indulgent fun, fun, fun – and I call this work!?
Although I also took that huge step of finding out about getting mortgage and buying a new house – argh...I’m actually thinking of moving from my beautiful flat after twelve years (next week) and moving to a house with a garden and space for my wee studio to become my big studio. Only problem is, that in order to get somewhere with space that doesn’t cost my life, I’ll have to move to bloody Outer Mongolia!
Will keep you posted on that one.
And now, into March, I am writing this and after all my talk about spring, I’d swear it was a November night out there...maybe we’ll see if that new mortgage will get us a property in Spain!
Take care and I’ll see you at the end of March...
Carol
xx