Hi

Well I can't quite believe it, my first whole year of blog entries. It doesn't feel like a year since I started putting down my escapades and thoughts for all to read. Reading back at some of the entries I am so glad I started as it is so easy to forget all the things I have done and achieved. Here's to the next year of adventures.

and back to me...

Hi

Back from India now and it's back to trying to finish the Live DVD. It was a good trip from a non music sense but it was a shame I couldn't get some footage for Travelling Man. As I said before I will be back later in the year so hopefully I will get some time then.

I can't believe I have been writing this blog for nearly a year, the 25th July 2005 was the first entry although the website didn't go live until 1st September. It is really interesting to read those early blog entries and I had forgotten all the trials I went through building the site.

and back to me...

Hi

Well with the upcoming DVD release I though it would be useful to get some feedback on a couple of the tracks that I haven't had before. The first of these is "In another world". Here's one review I have had;

"Well I like live performances cause you know nothing was cut and pasted in and its all in one take, also shows the natural talent, guitar and vocals....I like this song...The guitar sounds great, easy chord structure but gets the job done...The vocals again simple but efficient... The lyrics are cool and I can feel the writer...Good Job!!"

Thanks to everyone who has made some comments so far.

and back to me...

Hi

Still no let up in the weather, it's a little bit frustrating although I knew it would be like this at this time of year. I am due to come out again towards the end of the year so I think that might be a better bet. For those of you who have never been to India I suggest you try and do it as it is a very humbling experience to see people with nothing to their name still managing to enjoy life. It makes you realise that problems we may all have are actually very trivial in comparison.

and back to me...

Hi

I have arrived in India ok although the prospect of doing any filming this week for the Travelling Man Video is doubtful as the weather is very bad. It's monsoon season here. Mumbai is chaotic at anytime but in the monsoon season even more so, I will have to try and see how the week pans out to see if it is possible. My choice is to film at the Gate of India which apart from the Taj Mahal is pretty well known. Anyway time for a little history lesson.

Mumbai's principal landmark, the Gateway of India is a huge archway on the water's edge at Apollo Bunder. It is the starting point for most tourists who want to explore the city. This famous monument was built to commemorate the visit of the first ever British Monarch, King George V and Queen Mary in 1911. The Gateway was built by the British and designed by the architect George Wittet. The first stone was laid by the then Governor of Bombay on March 31st, 1913. The Gate was formally opened in 1924.

It is 26m high structures, complete with four turrets and intricate latticework carved into the yellow basalt stone. Ironically, when the British Raj ended in 1947, this colonial symbol also became a sort of epitaph: the last of the British ships that set sail for England left from the Gateway.

So now you know

and back to me...

Hi

I am here in the lounge waiting for my flight to Mumbai, it never ceases to amaze me that you can travel so far around the world in just 8 hours, only the 4000 or so miles. I have flown a lot but when you see the size of a Boeing 747 it is still amazing they can get off the ground. Here's a few facts I found on the internet.

It has six million parts (half of which are fasteners) made in 33 different countries.

Just one engine on a 747 produces more thrust than all four engines on an early model Boeing 707 combined.

When pressurized, a 747 fuselage holds over a ton of air.

The term Jumbo jet has always been associated with the 747.

Although the upper deck might seem small compared to the size of the whole aircraft, it can seat a significant number of people: JAL has 86 seats on the upper deck of its B747-400D aircraft.

The 747 is certified to fly on 3 of its 4 engines. A 747 can successfully take-off even if an engine fails after rotation, and in many cases the flight can continue to its destination.

On 24 May 1991 an El Al Boeing 747 airlifted a record-breaking 1,087 passengers - Ethiopian Jews flying from Addis Ababa to Israel as part of Operation Solomon.

and back to me...

Hi

I have just received some advice that the trip next week is still on, I just wish that anti-malaria tablets didn't make feel so ill. I suppose it's better than malaria though.

and back to me...

Hi

I have just heard that there have been some terrorist bombs in Mumbai with a lot of fatalities. This has obviously put my trip next week in doubt. I am trying to get some more information and advice. I never comment on political or religious matters in this blog but I have just one question for those who carried out these bombings, why?.

and back to me...

Hi

I have just found out that I have to go to India next week, late notice I know but I haven't been there for a few years so I'm looking forward to it. I plan to go to Mumbai (Bombay) and Hyderabad and of course I will be taking my video camera to try and get some footage for Travelling Man. One slight problem with this is that it the height of the monsoon season so the weather may have the last laugh.

and back to me...

Hi

Well after 2 days really going through the live DVD I have made great progress and I think I am back on track to get it released soon. I know I have said this before but this time I hope I am close. I suppose the one thing that is holding me up is that because I am doing it all myself I am being very precise with everything. I hope that this will in the end make it so much better.

I am going to make a tentative release date of 1st September.

and back to me...

Hi

Just got back from Athens after a week working. It's going to be a busy weekend as I really want to make some headway on the Live DVD as it's really starting to drag on so I will be hard at it. The actual video editing and audio mixing is just about done although there are so many little bits that need to be added and refined. Hopefully by Sunday I will have some more news on how long it will take.

and back to me...