1st - 7th September: Well, you know I'm fiercely loyal to people like Johnny Cameron, his guitar playing constantly blows me away. Then along comes this guy, Stuart MacLeod, you know, he's going to play some guitar, Johnny's going to concentrate on mandolin and stuff. Big Stuart, I called him (to differentiate between him and Wee Stuart of course) Then Johnny leaves the picture - a big hole for someone to fill...

And how well has Stuart done that? Its amazing...yeah, its different, but he is an amazing player. He encompasses a really broad range of style and incorporates them all into one sound.

 I (jokingly) call him Mr HemiDemiSemi quaver...he plays so many effin notes. And, when we were in the studio, it was easy to see how talented he really is. Not only his playing...and he played everything on the album - apart from Alby's bass and Johnny Deas's piano - he even sang. But no, its the whole package you get...he's playing all the guitars and bezoukis and mandolins and stuff, then he's engineering and working the desk, then he's 'comp-ing' all the parts AND he's able to be inspirational to anyone who's playing/singing on the record.

There's a wee moment when you're singing, just after the song stops, its kind of a crucial moment...you know, how was that take? was it any good?...and immediately Big Stuart's talking down the headphones telling you how great it sounds and how great your voice is - its not easy for me to find someone who inspires my singing so much - with him it was very easy!

Gwen Mosson came into sing some backing vocals this week, as Pamela Airlie had done. This was a brilliant experience. Stuart and Gwen used to play together, years ago, in Wild River Apples. Their rapport was great, mind you, I don't think I've met anyone who hasn't had a great rapport with Gwen! Like Stuart, Gwen works really well, she listens to a song once and then just does it - an amazing talent - plus, I love having her around, she is a really warm and positive presence.

 On Tuesday of this week, I had a wee treat. One of the songs we chose to do is a Martin Stephenson song and through Tam Balloch, I have a tentative connection with Martin. I said to the guys, kind of in a jokey way 'maybe we could get Martin Stephenson to do some guest vocals' and they replied in the same jokey way 'let's try'. And that was it...Martin Stephenson came down and sang his song with me on my record! Excuse me? How cool is that? Big Stuart is a real Martin Stephenson fan and was really thrilled about working with him - then next thing you know, Martin has booked in to record his new album with Stuart - BLOODY MAGIC!!!!!

 But before we crack open that bottle of champers...let's talk about the session with Martin Stephenson. What an enormous, beautiful, warm, generous person he is (he was taller than I expected). You know, he couldn't get over the fact that we were doing his song. He kept thanking us, and complimenting me on my singing, then Stuart on his playing and engineering. He was a real treat to work with. He sang on his song and added some backing vocals to another. Again, he was a real professional...got in, got the job done, but made me believe that he really did love what we were doing with his song. It was a treat to add to the bowl of treats that this album has become.

This week two new things started...Lynn Smith, with whom I worked during the ArtsGame, asked me to do vocal workshops with her stage school. The StarMachine in Milngavie. The whole idea is to work with weans on drama, dance and singing. Well, this is great, although it does get me thinking about the cultural differences between the kids in Milngavie and those in Renfrewshire - same talent, different support...without sounding too negative...its a sad, unfair, unbalanced world - yep, sounds too negative - Sorry!

The other new thing was that my wee Caitlin Rose started a class in the Scottish Ballet! She looked like a beautiful dancer with her wee tutu and her hair all pulled back in a bun - when did she stop talking like a baby and become this ten-year-old teenage vision?

I managed to squeeze in some comedy this week...the wonderful Bruce Morton has a new talent night in The Stand in Glasgow on a Wednesday night. I didn't catch the names, but some of this talent was astounding...this young guy did a whole sketch about religion - never an entirely safe subject in Glasgow - he was absolutely brilliant. I will try to find out his name because if you hear of him playing, its worth a listen. Also, the headline act was Des MacLean - well what a laugh...he came on stage...or rather Tommy Sheridan MSP came on stage...at which point Amanda and I looked at each other and whispered 'Tommy Sheridan???' While Des-Sheridan-Maclean was saying 'I know what you're all thinking...why is Tommy Sheridan doing comedy?' no kidding, he was just the image of Tommy...anyway, that was a wee bit colloquial, a kind of 'had to be there' sort of story - sorry!

Before we move onto next week...its time for a shameless plug! I told you I have been working on the PRSF New Bands Festival, well its all under way and set for October 17th-19th and 24th& 25th in the Liberal Club, 32 High Street, Paisley. The first weekend is an entirely acoustic weekend and the second is electric. It will be a good one and if you want to know about tickets and stuff then call 0141 849 7360 - go on, they're only £3 and there are four bands on each night - pretty good no? okay...time to move on...

Well, this year, as you may know, is a big birthday for me. I am really looking forward to it - probably more than other birthdays. I think because I have a December birthday, I don't usually make too big a thing of it, but this year I am, big house party, music, dancing, singing - magic! But, to top it all, I booked to go on a big road trip to Mexico at Christmas - I am so excited! I went to my Brother's house, he and his wife are coming too, and booked it! I've never booked a trip so far in advance in my whole life - unless its a tour - but, you know its usually teletext/lastminute.com and we're off that afternoon! But nope, I have three months to get excited about it. I'll let you know how it pans out - IF I ever get back...! No, no that's not meant to be scare mongering...its just that I am going to Chiapas (site of the Zapatista revolution in 1994) and while there, celebrating the ten-year anniversary of this uprising (new year's day) I will be taken captive by General Marcos (the leader - with the beautiful blue eyes) and will be held as his sex slave and stuff until the (un)necessary authorities come to rescue me and then...oh, sorry, off on that one again! Suffice to say, since having studied Mexican politics at uni...I really want to go there!


8th - 14th September: I had a gig coming up this week...but that was okay, we weren't in the studio since Big Stuart had to go in for an op on his knee - ! But then, if Big Stuart is in hospital, then who's going to play guitar at the gig - aw naw, help! Pamela was going to be singing at the gig and, wait a minute, isnt her boyfriend a guitar player? 'Hey Colin, gonni play guitar at my gig?'. And, god love him, he did it. One rehearsal and he played the gig - extremely confident or just plain mad? - thankfully he is both. The gig was in Aberfeldy as part of the Heart of Scotland Festival. What a beautiful wee place Aberfeldy is...you know, its about an hour and a half away and all I ever do is drive through it to go somewhere else...It was nice to stop there for a while, especially in such good company...Alby, Colin and Pamela - on dear, how we laughed. You know when you are telling a story about some really intimate detail and you realise as you are telling it that everyone - including yourself - is thinking 'why is this information being shared?' - why indeed! Goodbye self-respect...

I also had tentative discussions this week about running the ArtsGame over the October school break...you know putting it on as a showcase to other libraries and community initiatives throughout the UK. It would be great if there was some funding put in place to provide follow-up for this kind of project...anyway...


15th - 21st September: This was a quiet week for me, still plugging away on the NewBandsFestival - all coming together. And in the studio, Big Stuart was back, limping, chucking up and, obviously in lots of pain. There's nothing for me to do except offer moral support when I can. But I enjoy being there and watching how the whole thing's coming together. I am starting to learn the new songs on the guitar, I'm getting there, but its tough...I think I'll leave the hard parts to Stuart (as ever!)

Stuart also asked me to be on the judging panel for North Lanarkshire's battle of the bands. I did this last year too and was happy to be asked back. Not least of all because another judge is Stuart Cruickshank from the BBC. This is a guy I have known throughout my whole career, he has been nothing but encouraging and supportive of whatever I, or any other Scottish artists, do. He is a real inspiration. Plus, he knew me when I used to sing in This Perfect Heart wearing pink jumpsuits, with a brass section who used to drink tea out of posh cups and with chandeliers as a stage set! I think I ought to show Stuart more than respect - he really has the dirt on me! As per last year, this was a great night. Although, its always difficult to judge such a subjective thing. The band I wanted to take first prize actually ended up with second, they were great, really different and interesting and quirky - they are called Jygogatron. The band who took first place were also excellent - Luma - the were more of a pop set up with a great singer who stepped in at the last minute.

Another gig this Saturday night, in the Tron as part of the Merchant City Festival. This was a good night...I was sharing the bill with the wonderful Michael Marra. What a man he is...his songwriting talent is second to none, he is like an author who notices the minutiae that make all the difference to the story. He is also the only person I have shared a stage with, whose lyrics comprise 'I drown kittens in a bucket!' ...of course, another wee nuance from one of his stories. I think Michael Marra is like Burns...his stories are timeless and will be sung and studied by future generations. My show was great fun, that wee room in the Tron is great to sing in...in fact I will be singing in it come December 5th...I think this will be the last show of my thirties and, strangely enough, happens exactly after my show in the Pavillion to launch Precious Little Victories...memories...

I knew that during the show, there were a few die hard CL fans in the room...they were the ones who heckled me while I was on stage! (of course I love it) Even the poor guy who asked for First Disciple last time I was in the Tron...'I think you'll find that song's called Judas' I said...even he was there, as he always is, supporting me and cheering me on. And there was the phantom video-er who always attends the shows with his mum - it was a great fun, but too short, night. However at the end of the night I met an old old acquaintance...a guy whom I'd met during my time as a card carrying member of the Labour Party. He's still active in the party and a fairly visible party activist...oh how I wish I'd known he was there BEFORE I went on my rant about George Dubbya and Tony Blair having unleashed world havoc...and how in 1997 all my hopes were in a wee box, with Tony Blair and New labour at the top of the pile and how both Tony and New labour had slowly crushed my hopes and dreams one by one without a care and...'hello Carol, how are you...' gulp...!

Me and my big mouth! Will I ever learn - ? Probably not!


22nd- 30th September: Things are still going on in the studio...wee bits here and there, Stuart is putting all the other instruments on...his solos are back-of-the-neck-hair-raising! Also, on the studio front, another wee treat this week...

We had chosen a Stuart Adamson track to do, and asked his daughter Kirsten to sing some backing vocals on it. Not surprisingly, it was smashing! Her mum, Sandra, a good pal, came along too. Acht, it was great fun. Kirsten is only 18 years old and her voice is fantastic...its funny, she says things like her dad...you know, instead of 'I' she sings 'ahiy'. She lent us the most beautiful guest vocal on that track and sang on one other.

Things are coming together...I'm getting very excited!

I also got to see my wee gal on a school night this week. Not a good one though! Her eyes had huge red circles round them, she looked like she had been off school all day, crying...well, she'd been off school all day, crying! Her wee cat, Darcy had been knocked down and killed. The wee soul had spent the day in tears...after ballet she came round to ours and you could see her cheer up. I know it has to stay in perspective but, when I think of her wee face...I could just cry! Of course, we were all very sensitive, watching what we are saying...well almost! I think I'd mentioned dead animals in conversation, Emma, when discussing a work situation mentioned that she was jumping about like a scared kitten, Amanda mentioned that her singing was like a cat dying...bloody hell, the wean was being pulled through hell...thing is, these are not our usual turns of phrase I don't think! I guess we were watching what we were saying a little too much!

As September weekend was coming up, we had considered a trip to London for but Sacha was away, and I knew that David Blane didn't want us to come down if he couldn't get out to party! Now Sara, a lovely new CL recruit based in Chichester, sent me a beautiful book on the Scottish Islands and so, we packed the car up, bikes and all and headed off to Mull and Iona. I had long wanted to visit Iona, not least of all to go and ask John Smith what the hell happened to the Labour Party! But also because I had heard it was nice. Honestly, there aren't enough ways to say how beautiful it was - it is impossible to convey it's stunning landscape...beaches so white and deserted you'd swear you were in a bounty advert...it really is something to behold. I am often told of a certain spirituality that is present on the island...I never felt that personally, although I did meet many people who were visiting with their respective churches...not least of all a woman, who should remain nameless.

We were having a drink in 'bar' which was right next to 'restaurant' (hey, can't slip anything past those islanders!) and got talking to a couple of women who were visiting the church. I was landed with the serious one who wanted to talk politics and religion - oh joy! Amanda told me the following day about her conversation with this lovely, church-going woman. She was talking about how she would like to travel when she retires and all the places she wants to visit...not least of all Amsterdam, cos she thinks its 'time to try that whacky-backy'!! Well, whit a laugh, it just didn't seem to fit, still, I guess that's what they mean when they talk of 'holy-smoke'.

There was also a ceilidh and bbq up in 'village hall'. It cost £10 for both and the food was absolutely exquisite. There were the usual suspects, ie, vegi sausages and burgers...but then came the stuffed peppers, then the amazing salads, then all the couscous. Honestly, how can people say Scottish Fayre is dull and unimaginative, this food was out of this world.

A strange thing happened too...by sheer good fortune, we ended up eating with the band...of course the conversation got around to what we all did for a living and so on and the accordian player said 'Carol Laula? Not Carol Laula from Alloa?' err well, no...can there be two Carol Laulas? And yes, it seems there are...years ago, he used to play with a singer called Carol Laula - I am amazed at that...I wonder how to track her down...?

One night on Mull and two on Iona - it was a magical time and is just the beginning of my Island tours...I have resolved to visit at least two per year - That is something I am very much looking forward to and Thanks Sara for the book.

So another month and another CD done...I will now go and attend to my scooter...its a year since I got it - doesn't seem like all that time has passed, especially since I still love it so much. So its MOT, tax and insurance time...I think I'll clean it too! My wee sister keeps telling me to trade it in and get a car, my mum can't quite believe that I am still enjoying it so much (although I think she's secretly hoping that I keep it till mother's day next year so that I can give her another harum-scarum backie!).

I hope that October keeps you warm, happy and well and I look forward to seeing you at some of the shows over the next wee while.

Cheers for sticking with me!

Carol