14th of February
Here’s a wee Valentine photo for Susie. The beautiful mountain is Mt Rainier from White Pass Washington. It was a really bonnie day.
7th of February
The Californians have taken the drive thru culture to new heights – 315 feet! Have just driven out of California and into Oregon after some great shows. Thank you everyone who has kindly supported me on the way – I liked your giant redwoods so much I bought one! It is only five inches tall but will catch up with this fellow after a couple of thousand years. Oregon is looking lovely in a spell of very pleasant weather. I’ve already had a lovely show in Corvallis and am looking forward to seeing a bunch of great folkies in this beautiful state.
1st of February
‘A pinch and a punch on the first of the month’. Hello folks I’m well into my US tour and had a rest day in Santa Cruz where I snapped these friendly Amish folk watching the surfers. So far I’ve stayed healthy and had some great shows. Thanks so much to all the kind folks who have helped me on my way. As Sheldon would say “You’re good people, Leonard”. Im not finding it easy to keep up with my blog and facebook but I have some good snaps that I will post soon. Tonight is a wonderful gig at the Freight and Salvage in Berkely. I’ve been playing there since my days with the Old Blind Dogs and have some great pals there. The weather has been sublime but I have passed areas badly effected by recent fires and mudslides which has been very sobering. I have a busy spell coming up, but amongst great friends and great scenery so i’m looking forward to it all. All dates are on my website. best wishes to you all!
20th of January
Malcolms let rip! Beth and I performing yesterday at Celtic Connections in a very snowy, wintry Glasgow. Susie was also performing with me at the Tron Theatre, but I have yet to be sent any pics. It was the first real concert of the year for me and is always a rather nervy one. No-one at the festival has performed much since before Xmas and suddenly it’s all gets all very serious! We had a great show and Beth and I then performed at the late night festival club venue, The Drygate Brewery. I was particularily delighted when one of the other acts including Ewan Robertson and Ian MacFarlane sang my version of ‘Lochanside’ – a real moment for me! Today is a beautiful clear still sunny day with the ground covered with snow and the mountains visible from the road back to Perth looking magnificent.
14th of January
Staggeringly good brushwork – Popped into Perth Museum yesterday to see Landseer’s iconic ‘Monarch of the Glen’ which has been bought by the Scottish National Gallery from a big whisky company and is currently touring the nation. It was commissioned for the rebuilt House of Lords in London back in Victorian times but never displayed there, and had been in private collections ever since. It is known mainly for the many, many knock offs and reproductions it has spawned over the following centuries, but the original is huge and truly breathtaking. The ruggedness of the mountainside says The Trossachs to me – very much Rob Roy country. Bound to get any hill walkers pulse racing. We had to tie Susie down after she saw it or she would have been off to the hills (which are strictly for separating the rivers as far as I’m concerned!)
