Ah, its Monday morning, the sun is shining (although its freezing outside), I've just made a big pot of coffee and I am listening to the vocal wonder that is Eddi Reader - it first thing in the morning and already today is one of those days you want to keep in your pocket for a long time...ahhh...you're welcome Willie Stewart!

Anyway, fast forward to reality...Monday, stuff to do, diaries to write and blah blah blah...

So, where were we? Yep, now its September...and feel like I just got off the plane from Mexico on January 17th 2004! It has been a quick year - but the good news is that it ain't over yet!

Ramble, ramble, ramble...the coffee's kicking in!

So, September...


1st - 12th September Well, it was a quiet one - and that's the end of my diary for this month - nope, no, only joking - you should be so lucky!

It did start off as a quiet month - mostly me just ranting about the whole Catholic thing in Rome and the Vatican and the money and the US elections and zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz - even I get tired listening to me!

I'd resolved to finish off loads of tunes and so, there I was, ready, pen and guitar in hand - mind you I'm not sure how that works - but then, next thing you know, I'm fast forwarding to one of my favourite West Wing episodes, or checking my e-mail, or doing some very important laundry, or looking out of the window - you know, really important stuff like that...the tunes will have to wait until the muse takes me, or until I get back up to Lewis.

I did do some writing (fortunately, since it is my job!) with a girl called Yvonne Lyon. Pretty amazing voice and I hope that, if you hear that she is playing, you will get along to see her.

I have also been writing my wee hands off with the wonderful Mick Slaven. It seems every time he picks up his guitar, I come up with some tune and the next thing you know, we have another song!

So, then next thing you know, I was at some Scottish Exec Literacy & Numeracy thing at Parkhead. Yep, Celtic football ground - it was great fun - no, not the literacy thing - that was pretty dull, what can I say? I mean I'm sure if you were into it, it would have been great, but, well, nope, shaping that type of policy doesn't really do it for me! I am sure they were saying something that someone understood, but to me all I heard went something like -

'And so blah blah blah, when we blah blah blah...'

What I did learn though was that, during the growing season the grass at Parkhead is trimmed THREE TIMES PER DAY. Yep, per day - now, that's a number I can relate to!

I also had a meeting this week about running a series of songwriting workshops in Glasgow for its 16 DAYS of Action for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. This will consist of 4 x 2 hour workshops and a final performance of the songs that the women involved will write. I am looking forward to this one. Its not until later in November and I'll let you know how it goes - I know, bated breath and all that!

Charlie is my darling, my darling...go Eddi! Stop drinking coffee Carol...


13th - 19th September This week I got to see Marj and big Tom Uri (both of Karen Dunbar Show fame) playing. Well, I know Tom, he's my wee brother's pal from school. I have heard him singing many times. His voice is velvet and warm and versatile and just magic. However, I hadn't heard Marj (well once at the ArtsGame during a workshop) but not properly. Well, I was just blown away...I think that she is a very funny woman, you can see that in her performances during Karen's show, but her singing voice is pretty astounding. If you hear of her playing a show, then I would definitely get along to listen. Also, it was a cover night, not original material - so, what's not to like about listening to such a stunning voice singing anything from Joni Mitchell to Alanis Morrisette to REM.

This whole week was kind of social, you know out, listening to music, visiting my family in Edinburgh and all that kind of stuff - however, the highlight (much as I love all of those people) was that THE WEST WING was returning to real telly! IE Channel 4 on Friday night - Go away world, I am busy. And, even thought I am taping it, I am watching it too, just so that I can watch it again and again and again - oh, dear I am so sad. Not only do I watch re-runs of the West Wing, just after it has been on, I also refer to the five terrestrial channels on tv as 'real telly'!


20th - 30th September Well, this week was tinged with sadness. My pal Sacha visited from London. She, Chris and Ruby were here to bury Chris's dad. It was pretty sad, however, I did get to see them, even though all I did was encourage Chris to drink more whisky. My other pal's mum died. It is so sad...again, she was 80 years old and ready to go, but its just horrible to see your wee pal in so much pain. Still, we gave her a great send off - so, I think if she was there she would have been happy!

As well as some sadness, there was a lot of laughter...

I don't know if you remember, but last year, after I'd been to Iona and Mull, I resolved to 'do' two Scottish islands a year. Well, as you know, this year I'd had my quota, what with Lewis and Harris. However, I like tradition, so thought for September weekend, I'd go to Barra, then drive up through South Uist, Benbecula and then into North Uist. Well, it was a good idea, but went kind of pear shaped when Hurricane Jeanne made her presence felt - ie, who could be sure that the boats would be running. So, I located a wee chalet at Lochailort (just south of Arisaig) on the west coast. It was great cos it would be handy for getting the the small islands - Eigg, Rum, Muck and Canna. Nae bother. Off we went, bikes, food, booze, books and incense sticks galore. We got to our wee chalet, in the middle of nowhere and slept quite late the next morning. Nae bother, it was Friday, September weekend, holidays. We went up to Arisaig to get a boat to one of the wee islands - any one would do! Only to be told that we had missed the boat that goes to Rum, Muck and Canna and that it doesn't go till Monday - weather permitting!

Okay, change of plan. Go for lunch into Mallaig then spend the day driving down through Ardnamurchan - lovely - then a wee cycle to the pub at tea-time. Well, that was good, cos the rain stayed off and we did cycle the short 4-miles to the pub - sadly though most of it was uphill - I thought I was going to have to get an iron lung - just for extra breath! I have never enjoyed a beer so much as I did in that wee put in Glenuig!

So, next day, off to Arisaig again in order to catch the boat to Eigg. We thought it was about ten minutes up the road. And, it probably would have been had the road not bee single track and perpetual zig-zag! We got to the pier only to see our wee boat pulling out. Eigg would have to wait another day...!

Only problem was that, next day, the hurricanes came again - the boat, even if we'd made it on time - wasn't going anywhere! Suffice to say, my Scottish Island tradition will have to wait till next year! Still, we had a great weekend full of good food and good books and good mainland walks...phew, hardly a passage from the Visit Scotland website eh?

And then its was home to October...

Lots to do this month. Not least of all prep for the Tron Gig. I am getting there and really looking forward to it. I hope that some of you can manage along...it should be a fun night.

Meantime, have a safe and warm October and let's pray that America wakes up in time to vote...

Carol