Reflections on Fall Tour, 2023.

 Thoughts and Reflections

I am writing this to you on February 14th, 2024. I leave for Europe on February 20th.

 I know it’s’ late but there are some thoughts and pictures from the Fall 2023 tour. Also, some info on a new album and other projects.

 I’ll be honest, I wasn’t really looking forward to the tour in August 2023. I felt I wasn’t prepared, had no new tunes (I actually did), no hilarious gags (not that there ever were) and frankly the thought of being on the road for 14 weeks terrified me. My Dad died on July 14th, and I was really unsure if I could actually get through the tour without breaking down. He was always with me on the road. He literally joined me on the road a few times, but I would call him after shows to tell him about the screaming fans and endless underwear thrown on stage, and the useless hotel pillows. He was always interested. He was interested in the working part of being a musician, none of the glitter and the rouge, but more the nuts and bolts. He was definitely a nuts-and-bolts Dad.

 How did the guitar sound? Was the AER amp loud enough?

He loved hearing about the mishaps and weirdness of travelling from place to place. Turning up at a complete stranger’s house with a guitar, suitcase and bodhran (drum) case. I know he would have been happier if I’d stayed a teacher, but that was because he was constantly worried about whether I could make a living, but deep down I think he loved the fact I was out there actually doing it. Of course, there have been times that I also wished I had a regular job, where I don’t have to find the work, let alone do it.

 I tried to make him laugh. I know deep down he would have preferred me to stay in teaching. The security of it, and the little glow of pride when you mention that your son is a teacher, (I know that feeling because my daughter is a teacher). I took that away from him when I quit my school job in Canada in 2007.

 This is a complete ‘Knights Move Thinking’ (when you change the subject matter, to one in a different area) moment, but on the subject of professions, I will never forget the stunned silence in 2020, when we were renovating the house, and we had stopped for lunch. There was about 5 of us, electricians, carpenters, and tea makers like me. The youngest of the crew was a young lad of about 18 who was helping the drywall guy. Sometimes I can't help being the teacher, so I asked him what is dream job was…. His answer not only surprised me but left me with no reply. I challenge anyone to come up with a constructive and encouraging response to: “Work in porn”.

We almost lost Ray, who was the eldest of the team and had just taken a bite of his lobster sandwich.

 Anyway, back on topic. I arrived in Dublin on September 6th. I have already written about the Irish part of the tour (on facebook), and you can have a read of that if you feel like it. Although I have added some pictures here in this dispatch

 But being in Ireland so soon after the funeral, actually felt right. I played in Glenbeigh and Killarney in Kerry, Rathdowney in Laois, and Rostrevor in Northern Ireland. I also did a school workshop in Kildare, at the school of my nephew and fine singer, Mikey Larkin.

 I started the German stretch of the tour in Hagenow at a wonderful school. The first public show was in Neubuckow, (don’t worry no-one in Germany even knows it).

 I visited 14 different schools. Because of privacy issue’s I cannot share photos for most of them but some I have permission for. I worked with thousands of children who gave of themselves and trusted me when I offered them the microphone, and for that I can never say thank you enough. The teachers who allowed me into their school and classrooms, thank you. For all the friends new and old that picked me up and dropped me off at train stations, you are by far the very fuel with which I run on. When that someone is waiting on the platform with a smile, and enthusiasm then I know the gig or the workshop will be totally fine.

 I cannot tell you how many trains I boarded and alighted. Total KM’s covered is around 30,000 including the flights of course.

 I slept in 35 different beds and was welcomed universally everywhere I went.

 Lou and I met up in the magical city of Einbeck. I was picked up at the station by Martin the owner of Tangobrücke, in a rickshaw…first time for everything.

 Time on the road is brilliant and I love it and feel so lucky, but it is hard too. The work in schools is such a joy, it’s been the most amazing journey. However, they are two quite different roles for me to undertake on the same tour. This unusual mixture, plus the pandemic have meant that I have not known if I would ever write the songs for and record the kind of CD that I would like to again.

 This has changed. Fin our youngest son (many of you will know him) is visiting us in Nova Scotia at the moment. He has encouraged me to rethink the whole album thing, and together we have started a new project. Fin is producing the songs in our attic, at least he is when the wind isn’t blowing a hurricane.

 I am considering ways to fund the project. Perhaps creating a Patreon, or asking for sponsorship, perhaps people paying upfront, our maybe paying for a House Concert in advance, or maybe I paint your house, nothings off the table!

 Thank you for being in my life.