Cardiff, Wales

For some reason I woke up at 4 this morning and never got back to sleep, consequently running on low all day. I spent a couple of hours over breakfast with Neil Diamond & Co. who are in Newcastle for a show this evening. We all worked together for about 17 years through the 70's and 80's and they are still very much like family to me. We've both been touring many of the same places this year but this is the first time we actually ended up in the same city together. Great seeing them all and catching up. From there it was back to my hotel to pack and leave for tonight's show in Cardiff.

It's Guy's 45th birthday today and Susi had the most remarkable cake made, a perfect re-creation of a bottle of Bombay Sapphire Gin complete with label, cap, logo and the words "Healing Vitamin G". Absolutely brilliant. I'm sure Guy with have a picture of it on his site, www.guyfletcher.co.uk. A short sushi fueled flight to Cardiff and the International Arena for soundcheck and show. Guy's son Max joined us at the gig this evening along with his friend Peter, as did Mark's boys, Ben and Joe. The guys are very good musicians, Ben a great drummer, Max and Joe favouring guitar and they're all really coming on strong, along with Matt and Danny who are now playing guitar, not to mention the rest of us laying around the dressing rooms of Europe strumming away, it's become a real college of musical knowledge. Everybody's always got an instrument in their hands and figuring out something or another.

After the show there was another reception for a bus load of great teachers and students from the school that Mark's boys attend, wonderful meeting so many of them. Also at the reception was Zoe McCollugh a wonderful 18 year old guitar player, originally from Newcastle and now living in Wales. She has already recorded several albums and has played all over the world with some legendary guitarists. You'll be hearing of her someday.

It was late when we left Cardiff for London where we'll now base for the next 12 days. Exhausted after a very long and busy day.

So long,

Richard