I relayed a story from Devoree, a CL fan in California who thought that I was playing in Irvine California. In doing so, I managed to ascertain that NO-ONE in the crowd had any idea how old Irvine is and why it has a royal charter - not to worry, at the end of the night some nice gentleman in a bar told me that Mary Queen of Scots had hung out there in sixteen hundred and something and that's how Irvine got its Royal Charter - so there!

I even shoved in a few tunes, old and new, that big Stuart had never heard and d'you know what? he played them like he had been doing it for years. Its one thing to be a technically talented musician, but quite another to have the feel and play a guitar part that fits with a song, rather than just a guitar part. I have always been surrounded by this type of musician and Stuart MacLeod is no exception to this rule, he is a real asset to the whole CL thing.

 At the end of the night, I did that signing thing, you know where those who bought CDs that night had them signed. I am actually starting to really enjoy that part - the only problem is that it is taking me longer and longer to sign cos I keep on talking to folk!

Anyway, Judy did her sums from the merchandise and she was short a good bit of cash - oh-no - surely not! There was no possible explanation...so what could have happened? Oh my God, something had gone wrong after all. Surely though, if someone at a CL show had taken the wrong change or been charged the wrong money they would have rectified it - Right?

Right! I got an e-mail next day saying that a buyer had gone home with more money than they had taken out, AND that they had bought two CDs and two T-shirts AND been given change of £60! So, all's sorted. Judy still has a job and I can still afford my mortgage!

And it's true - CL fans are so polite - Thank you

C'ya in Cumbernauld....? I know I want to...!

Carol


Monday 16th - Saturday 22nd September 2002

Monday 16th - had a wee rehearsal with Stuart, Stuart and Alby. Not too long and just wanted to go over a new song that I fancied trying for the weekend...we did manage to rehearse a little but, oh, what's in a name...! Stuart McLeod talks almost as much as Stuart Brown...then Alby started chipping in - about their weans - for over half an hour - I thought it was only women who did that kind of thing!


Wednesday 18th - guitar maker/pal - Micheal Ritchie - brought round my 12 string which he had been repairing for me - for free! It had a crack in the neck and he fixed it - big pal. Maybe I'll use it at the weekend for that new song...?


Thursday 19th - So, Thursday I had to go for another interview. No presentation, just a face to face interview with the programme director of Common Purpose...great sounding company with really forward thinking ideas insofar as encouraging people and empowering them with their own lives. Only problem was, the lovely guy who was interviewing me kept doing that stifling yawn thing...oh dear. I wish I'd just had the balls to say 'son, just yawn...and while we're at it, why don't we cut this short and save some time...'. Of course I didn't say that and, as my pal Leenie says, 'you never know...', although, I think sometimes I do know, and its not just the gypsy in me!


Friday 20th Anyway, I had another interview with the people who said 'thanx, but no thanx' on the Monday - you know the presentation that was the best ever...blah, blah, blah...Well, they offered me some part time work on a consultancy basis, given my extensive experience in the music industry and stuff. Funny how disappointment becomes opportunity. I say this because it means that I can still put a lot of time into writing some new songs for a new album which, by the way will just be me and my guitar - any maybe Johnny - recorded AND released sometime within the next year...and I get to use my uni stuff - for which, I'm sure you will remember, I sweated blood!!

So, it was off to the gig. Alby picked Stuart and me up at my place and we had a leisurely drive through to Livingston. The venue was HOWDEN PARK. It has just been done up and has a lovely bistro and stuff. Last time we were there it was a fantastic show. This time was no different. Susan Thores from the venue had set out tables and chairs on the actual stage so that there wasn't too great a divide between the audience and the stage, it was cosy.

My cousins Helen and David from Canada turned up too - bonus!

I wanted to try a wee different thing whereby I sign cds about fifteen minutes after each show. That way, I get to meet some folk who by the record AND they get to have their cd signed - I don't know about them but I know I love it when that happens for me - I so wish I'd taken my Osmond's CD when I met Donny - and I'm NOT joking.

The response was great - also, I think that the venue is happy too cos it gets more drink sold!

The gig was so much fun, with Jiggy's pal asking about getting a new CL t-shirt as the one she had on was threadbare...'nae bother' says I, there will be some for sale at the interval. Well, we had a wee interval (a la James Taylor) and what d'ya know, she came back sporting her new CL t-shirt - now there's dedication - did I say thanx enough - could I ever. AND, there was the lovely wee guy down the front who gave me a row for saying a swear word during 'Gonna b u'. Well, what could I do, I was thinking about George Dubbya...! And Jim, who came with his pal, who is Arthur's pal, who came both nights...and will be 'coming to see ya next week'. This is just magic.

Also, I've had great response to the album so far, many fans of my music have been saying how much they are enjoying it, Billy Sloan is playing it, as is - hopefully - radio 2 (might need some help with that though - call up and request it!!) Furthermore (oops, was that too MA-ish) , Billy has invited me in for a live session in a few week's time - watch this space....

But later on Friday, I had to be home. You know that way when you are just tired and want to crawl into that wee cocoon that you call bed and be cosy and sleep sleep sleep. And sleep I did...


Saturday 21st - I got up and got ready for my pal's wedding. It was a beautiful big showbizzy type affair in Eastwood and then in the Glasshouse in Queen's park. What a beautiful day it was. Sharon Scotland was the bride, she's an amazing illustrator from Broughty Ferry (I stayed at her place in New York for a while) and no doubt you've seen her work in many magazines and newspapers without even realising...She is beautiful anyway, but on Saturday, she was just stunning. But, who couldn't be when your bridesmaid is Caitlin Rose...right?

Anyway, couldn't stay for dinner, I had a soundcheck at EAST KILBRIDE ARTS CENTRE.

Now, the last time I played here - it was February just before my exams and it was an absolute stoater of a gig...folk singing...chatting...requesting songs...being cheeky...but that was before!

Before I had gone for my first every interview...in the EAST KILBRIDE ARTS CENTRE! In fact, I've had two interviews there - both for arts officers and the like and both I didn't get - do I sound bitter!!!!???? Seriously though, I did have very good interviews there - the first two of my life in fact. Certainly the first where I had to give a presentation....

Well, you know, most folk would let it lie, wouldn't even mention it............Me? Not likely. Needless to say, it was the crux of my chat all night...taken, I'm happy to say, in good humour by those in the venue and, I hope, by a wonderful audience. No different to last time, singing, chatting, asking for songs, being cheeky - man, I love it...

It was another great night for the First Disciple tour. Plus, we sold lots of CDs and a couple of T-shirts...as well as a few copies of Still, which was repressed at the same time of FD. It warms me up, knowing that people are interested in what I am doing and what I am singing about.

The venue staff at the EAST KILBRIDE ARTS CENTRE do everything in their power to make you feel welcome and comfortable - food, tea, coffee, wine, water...basically anything that the performers want - thanx.

Then it was off to pick my entourage up from the wedding - don't ask me why but I inherited an Ice Sculpture that ended up melting in my bath over night...crucially however, I inherited a bottle of red wine - one that big Stuart was no doubt willing to fight over - I WON!

Anyway, another wee show next week and quiet for a wee while till the Cumbernauld Theatre... I think I should have another couple of shows in London before this next wee stint and no doubt Jo will put the dates up on the page.

Meantime, take care and thanx for all your support and good wishes...all of which make me feel magic - ta Carol


Wednesday 11 - Monday 16th September 2002

Okay, so I know, I failed in to meet the challenge - I took my laptop but no phone cable so I couldn't send e-mail! Not good enough, I know. Anyway, better late than never - here goes my wee jaunt up north...

Wednesday - Got the CDs - look great - I love bennie and Marg & John who did the design and the photographs - thanx. It was a nice ending to a day that saw me preparing a presentation for a job - interview being Monday at 10am, leaving me only one full day to prepare - PANIC. Still, as I said, I managed to take my laptop up north and did a bit of work on it while I was away - read on to find out what happened with the job...oh and the gigs... 
 

Thursday - I called Tam (who was coming with me) and suggested that we leave as early as possible given that there had been floods and that there may be congestion on the roads and what if it rained again and what if the roads were closed and what if we miss the gig...'aye right' says Tam 'We'll leave at eleven', humouring me as he always does - incidentally, I wanted to leave at 9am!

So, off we went. It was a beautiful day for driving. I wanted to go the long way up through Glen Coe but, as ever, time was against us...and you know there were the floods and stuff - right! Anyway, the East Coast is quite a commanding site. It reminds me how much I love Scotland. There was that nice feeling of anticipation, you know the one where you wonder if its all going to be okay while knowing (somewhere in your mind) that its going to be okay.

And "okay" it was...lunch in Pitlochry was nice and tasty as was the weather. Then on to very sunny Inverness past a cow and bull who were "making love"! But what of those floods and hold ups? Yep, you guessed it - there were none!

The MAPLE COURT Hotel was the venue. WONDERFUL. A lovely wee place right on the south bank of the river and just a nice walk in to town. Lovely rooms and lovely hosts lovely food and a really nice room for the show. I got to meet Rob Ellen (a friend of yore and promoter who booked me a lot during the Tennents Live days) and his partner/good lady Ann, who were promoting the show. My own pal Anne Dickson - singer and guitarist extraordinaire - came along to play a couple of tunes with me. It was going to be a fun night. Only things was, only a handful of people turned up! And what a night it was...

I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but singing is the best thing in the world - apart from world peace of course! And here I was singing to a handful of people in Inverness - undeterred - I had a blast. Anne sang a few tunes with me and I persuaded a lovely man called Doug Piggott from the crowd to give us a few tunes. Rob called it "one of the great nights in the face of all adversity". I know he felt for me, as did Donald - another guy from yore - saying to me not to be disheartened by the turnout etc. But in all honesty, it makes no difference, I LOVE to sing and perform - even moreso when that handful, crowd, heaving mass, are listening and enjoying it as much as me - and I swear that I often enjoy my shows more than anyone else...doesn't seem fair. Also at the show was local radio star - Jason Rose. He even admitted to having a copy of Still AND bought a copy of First Disciple AND invited me into the show the following day for a wee session. 
 

Friday (13th) - Nice breakfast at the MAPLE COURT then back to my room to work on my presentation - taking shape now.

Lunch in Inverness then off to Moray Firth Radio and a session with Jason. There is a nice feeling when someone follows you with such interest and has done so much preparation for an interview - it makes you feel kinda famous or something. We had a wee chat and I sang three or four live tunes - Creep, In a Dream, Bring Down the Rain and I can't remember the fourth.

Then, off to Ullapool - one of my favourite places in the world, not just Scotland, but the world. The drive was beautiful - well what do you expect in such a beautiful and stunning country. Then we arrived in Ullapool at teatime to the most beautiful weather. The CEILIDH PLACE was the venue. If any of you have been there then there is nothing I can say about it that you don't know or feel, if you haven't been then there is nothing I can say that would capture all it is. Magical is about as close as I can get. It's not just a hotel, although it has beautiful hotel rooms, It's not just a restaurant, although it has beautiful a restaurant, It's not a just bar, although it has beautiful bars, It's not just a bunkhouse, although it has a great wee bunkhouse and It's not just a venue, although it has a great gig venue. "It's a CEILIDH PLACE", says Jean the owner. Jean and her son Jonathan treated us like royalty. They were warm, kind and generous...

Just like Steve at LochBroom FM who invited me in for a wee session at teatime that day - "can you get her to bring her guitar?" he asked Tam. "Ocht aye okay" says me. LochBroom FM was far removed from that wee green shack it used to broadcast from. A nice wooden building in Ullapool's Industrial Estate - eh? Ullapool's Industrial Estate? Yep, there it was, along with the boat builders and the textile centre, broadcasting with the studio door wide open - not quite the same deal as an industrial estate anywhere else in the world. Nope, all quite and calm and welcoming. Steve and I had a wee chat live on air and he asked me to sing a wee song...then another...then another...then another...then another "just till the news". I was there for ages, and Steve and I were loving it. Another Ullapudlian (made that up myself) - warm, kind and generous...

Just like Junior, his lovely wife and Nicole and Rosalee their twin daughters - Tam's old pals - who just happened past and were staying next to the CEILIDH PLACE and saw Tam and I at dinner. Wee twists like these make special times ever more special.

Just like the audience that night. Warm, kind generous and embracing - even those who came up from Glasgow to take in the show AND some walking the next day (I should know your name from the wee chip but I'm sorry to say I don't) the crowd laughed at all my jokes and gave some back chat and you can imagine how much I hated that!!! Another great night for the First Disciple tour. We sold lots of CDs too - thanx to those who bought it, I hope that you are enjoying it. 

Alas, I had to get to bed early as I was driving - the beautiful drive - back to Dingwall and up to Thurso for the 12 noon ferry to the Orkneys the next day...so, off to bed and an end to Friday the 13th - what numpty suggested that this was meant to be? 
 

Saturday - 6.30 am couldn't wake Tam...I'd left him drinking malt in the CEILIDH PLACE, could it be that he had stayed up till 4am drinking? Surely not...surely no...surely...aye! Called his mobile and he did that "yeah caz, I've been awake for ages" thing - AYE RIGHT. "down stairs in five minutes" I said gently (!). The sun was just coming up and arguing with the mist about whose domain this was...the sun won for a time. Then it was misty pretty much all the way to Thurso...no, what am I saying...all the way to The Orkneys and back. Didn't make any difference though, the drive was stunning. Although, open for debate and all - I think the west coast is much more dramatic although every bit as stunning as the east coast.

Now it was 8.30, Tam was begnning to sober up and I was getting hungry - Dornoch, a lovely wee place went to when I was youth hosteling as a wee girl. We found a cafe called Luigi's - and oh how I wish we hadn't...

The (I guess) owner was standing behind the counter and didn't manage to say hello to us - busy smoking and talking to two bikers who'd mentioned that the "coloureds" bring down the prices of the property - eh? were my ears deceiving me? Nope, apparently not, Mr Behind-the-counter piped up "where I come from, Bradford, is so full of blacks that you would know you were in a British city". OH MY GOD! Here was an English man with, with a restaurant called Luigi's in a Scottish town. Is it me, or is there something wrong here? By all means, come and settle in Scotland, but PLEASE don't extoll the hardships of 'others' encroaching on your territory, regardless of their colour or creed - PLEASE! 

"can we go somewhere else?" I asked Tam through gritted teeth - "oh yes" said he...and away we went and, funnily enough Luigi and the Luigettes didn't even flinch!

Sadly a wee bad taste has entered my childhood memories - I think it will be sometime before I pass through Dornoch again. Still, undeterred and VERY hungry, Tam and I continued up towards Thurso (my gypsy grandfather's birth is registered there!)... again a beautiful drive, beautiful colours and no bulls getting their end away - lots of humour about Dornoch though...We did manage to find a wee place in Berridale. Scrambled eggs, beans and toast - yummy. Scrabster, here we come.

We caught the ferry, nae bother. Along with some women from Thurso who were going to Stromness for a wee hen night. Mother, auntie, daughter and sister - called June, Jean, Jane and Jan - no kidding! We were told that 'The Old Man of Hoy' was coming up soon so we went outside to look at this stunning sight. Indeed it was stunning, and something I'd only ever seen in books or on telly. Even more special were the three dolphins who popped up to say hello to me on the way over - I felt all warm, you know like the way a good song makes you feel - my first ever sight of real live dolphins - take me now...

Yvonne (Scouser) met us off the boat to give us a life to WOODWICK HOUSE HOTEL in Evie. Now here was a special woman ...she took us on a wee tour of the island and showed us some spectacular sites - stone circles and mine home - just magical. She also showed us the roads upon which ONE could drive at 100mph if ONE so wished...! I didn't.

So, off to the gig. WOODWICK HOUSE HOTEL is beautiful and, given that quite a lot of the island seemed quite barren, this garden was lush, with trees and flowers and a wee church full of ivy which still sees the occasional wedding. Again, warm and generous hosts - Gloria gave us wonderful food and beds and a lovely gig. What a great wee crowd too. Some CL fans and some not. Again, the gig was great fun, I managed to get a wee gab with most people in the crowd in an (extended) interval. There was the naturalist guy who said I was really lucky to have seen the dolphins; the lady from Edinburgh who liked to close her eyes when she listened to music; the Orkadians who told me that that was what folk from Orkney were called; the CL fan who had Still; the crowd of girls who told the creepy story about the flickering candles; the music teacher who was originally from Paisley and knows my wee brother Nick - I didn't get your name, so if you read this then please mail me and let me know so that I can tell Nick I was you - and so many other people who, I hope enjoyed the night as much as I did. Not many people have such a self indulgent job as mine. Oh yes, and about half way through the second set my wee brother (in-law) Cameron came in with his pal Graeme. What a wonderful surprise, special wee guy that he is...

That night, Tam and I sat up till 2am drinking red wine and sorting George W Bush right out - hopefully it will work and he will have another job by next week - something like road sweeper - not that I have anything against road sweepers, its just that I imagine that job is a little less dangerous.
 

Anyway, up early-ish - 7am - to get the 9am ferry back to civillisation. Unfortunately Gloria, who ran the gig, suggested that I leave it for two years before I play there again. Rather a long break I thought so, watch this space...

The ferry was fine and gave me a little time to work on that effin presentation. 

We drove down from Thurso that day to Glasgow. Well, it was Sunday and I had the interview/presentation at 10am the following day and I hadn't properly finished or practised it. The bummer was that I would miss The West Wing and Six Feet Under - the only two telly shows that I watch. Acht well, it would be worth it, I would get the job - right?
 

Monday, up at 6am to go over it again and iron my clothes and my face and stuff. Went to the interview which was great - "presentation and subsequent chat were great, one of the best presentations I've been involved in..." so one of the interviewers was telling me, right after he told me I didn't get the job...! 

Acht well, back to the drawing board on the job front. Apart from that wee glitch, my shows were great fun, those people who came along to the shows were fantastic and took my cheek in great humour and even gave me some back - thank you. Roll on this weekend when I have another couple of shows in Livingston and East Kilbride - see you there? If not, I'll let you know how it goes - eventually!!

Carol