September 2022

 This is beyond a joke now, 2 years from my last post? How am i meant to remember what happened in the past 2 years when i cant remember what i had for breakfast?  I will go as far back as i can remember and give a brief update decided the hours / conditions i was working under wasn't conducive for a happy work/life balance and after a conversation with my doctor / boss decided i was going to step down from my job as transport manager.  I was taking some time off to sort my head out with help from work this turned into 8 months and just before i was due to go back to work i took a stroke.  Now having stroke in my family history i say this with all humor i didn't have a real stroke.  Yes i have lasting damage as in no feeling in the left hand side of my face and lower left arm but have full movement and even though i can still type better than anyone i know i am a bit slower.  

Went away a few times in the van Kristy and i to tollymore, fermanagh, sligo, then for our wedding anniversary down to dingle and then up to a hotel in Anthery which was great.  I should've bee back to work march April 2022 but when speaking to my boss they had building work to do so put it off for a while.  I say a while in fact it was August 2022 before i went back starting phased return 9-2 daily for 2 weeks then adding in 2 9-5 days for the last two weeks of August then 9-5 Tuesday - Friday is my new full time hours.  It was very tiring at the start but am getting into the swing of it.  In between all that Amos/Arthur did A levels and on results day totally blitzed them and got straight into Queens to study history/archaeology.  We relocated Amos on Monday  12 Sept into halls via adsa home/ikea then asda for shopping for Amos/Ryan.  Classes dont start to 27 Sept so we will see how that goes.

Did a weekend of gigs with Trucker in September Glasgow headling, Galashiels Headline and Chesterfield festival.  All 3 went great Glasgow being the worry as it was that long from we had played there but small but receptive crowd made the boys feel right at home, we have played Gala 2 times before and knew we had a fan base there and the gig was amazing with a perfect venue with amazing sound and lighting made it great.  We didn't have high hopes for the chesterfield gig as it was put together very quickly after rock n the bowl was cancelled due to cost pressure.  venue was small put perfectly formed but loading in through the front door through the crowd isnt ideal.  But the combination of great sound and off the wall crowd made this the gig of the weekend, even with the drum kit falling apart couldn't dampen the bands spirits. Selling merch while the band were being fabulous until i decided enough was enough i gathered them up into the van and back to the hotel for a decompression of beers and pizza.  We all had an amazing weekend and cant wait to do it again in October.  

September 2020

 How the f**k did that happen? its not September 2020 and shit has been real all summer.  2020 the year of Covid19.  It has messed up many a plan, many a life and the repercussions will be felt by many for a long time to come.  But its not all doom and gloom is it?

TBF its has been pretty hard on us, with aging parents trying to be sensible with them, 50 + hour working weeks for both Kirsty and I and Ryan working round the clock in asda it has seemed there isnt enough hours in the day to get anything done.  We have been trying to get away to unwind in the campervan but again not easy, we need to get household things done and are conscious we have a daughter that needs parental help now and again(not that she would ever admit it)  

My last post was in April and i have honestly no idea what has happened since then in our world, a few nights/weekends away in the van to Sheppard's rest in draperstown broke up the boredom of lockdown as it is a pub with a campsite.  I did take a bad tumble of the bike at Davagh on one of these trips and have decided my trail days are best left behind me as old bones/muscles dont heal as fast.  Then a great trip to fermanagh/sligo/achill/clifden for 5 nights was planned and successfully executed, we have upgraded the van with new batteries solar panels gas locker and recently seat spiners for the front twin seats. 

08th April 2020

So looking back at the old blog i notice last entry was January of this year, seems so bloody long ago with all thats been going on in 2020.  Life has been getting in the way of blogging which i do find therapeutic, so maybe should put a bit more effort in.

As i speak everyone is fit and healthy but wont jump ahead.....

When i last left you avid reader we had bought but not received our van, well it finally happened and we couldn't be happier with it, Adrian who built and sold me it was working on it making adjustments that we had asked for and did so superbly.  So when we collected we had a wee drive and then showed close family and friends it.  Was a few weekends later we actually got away in it just for a night. I booked onto jordanstown caravan park as Kristy had to work in Belfast so we were going to travel down park up, get the bus into Belfast and while Kristy worked in Belfast central i would peruse the shops(go to the pub)  However mrs mental had other ideas and went over on her ankle so couldnt work.  We went ahead stayed which turned out to be the coldest evening of the year in the van watching TV, playing video games, reading having a few beers.  It was fantastic we both loved it and had a great nights sleep.

pulled the awning out for a look at it in the dry

                                                             breakfast of champions

                                                       overlooking Belfast Lough cheers Finlay

A few weeks later we went to dundonald for another night and found that the heater had stopped working, there is a fault in it and it hasn't been fixed yet.  

                                                                  chillin like villins

After all that exciting times, the band had a couple of UK gigs to play one in Poole in Dorset at a holiday camp, we took the overnight boat to Liverpool as it would ensure we would make out load in time and not miss a nights sleep.  it was one of the best crossings we ever had and after a short trip to pick up our amazing guitar tech Mandy we begun our 6 hour drive to the south coast of Engerland.  Didn't seem like that long as we had loads of room and Mandy to entertain us with tales of driving in the snow capped alps with snow chains in a 7.5 tonne truck, she is some girl is our Mand and makes our set up so much easier.  When we arrived at the Planet rock festival we checked in and had a few hours to kill which meant my job was made harder as i had to stop the lads from drinking for a few hours LOL nah tbf they are complete pros and know we have a job to do.  Once we got set up with gear and merch thanks Ali the boys ripped through a great 40 minute set to a great crowd.  I did manage to have a great meeting and a chat with a planet rock DJ before we got totally bladdered.

Being the responsible one i stopped drinking and got to bed early as we had another 6 hour drive back to Liverpool for a headline show.  We didnt have our Mand with us on this trip as he was driving home with her hubby Ian.  We landed in Liverpool to go to another Legends home studio for some rehearsal time and a wee recording session, Chris is a sound man and has worked with some amazing people from Therapy? to Dio to being the current sound man for the Kaiser Chiefs, not only did he record us and do our sound that evening at our gig he offered his services when he could in the UK.  Sunday morning then was Boat day and a 10:30 sailing was great cause it got us home at 6.30pm, however when getting back into the van, it had been damaged by some idiot not securing crash barriers which had fallen and hit the passengers wing and door.  After a discussion with staff they signed off on fault and we were on our way.  shitty way to finish a great weekend but hey ho.  finally got van fixed and back last week so its all good.



Then it all turned to shit,  since then we have been hit with Covid 19 had a mental rush on the shops and then been told to stay at home, now some of us are at home but still working away, and others have to go to work cause we are part of the food chain and thats the state of play as of now in April.  Gigs being cancelled left right and centre no one knows whats going on with Schools, Universities but you know what we are all still fit and healthy and thats the main thing.  Im missing my mates, missing my trips away in the van but we have it better than most.

    

So once again it seems i've been neglecting my blog o balls but i did say it wouldn't be a regular thing as im shite at keeping up to date, last update was july and so much has happened since then, gigs,  weekends away, de stressing walks in clare glen, cycling in gosford all have been super

                                                         Alice cooper in Manchester Arena

                                             uppa mexicians Kirsty  & Amy in Manchester

Took amy to Manchester to see Alice cooper which was superb, had a great time away no car using public transport and took in a gig and had a great day in a Arcade Club playing old and new video games.

did a few gigs with Trucker this year 9 in total including this with the wildhearts who were amazing, got to have a chat with Ginger and then afterwards drinks with Danny what a laugh makes all the late nights early mornings worthwhile. Also did a few with our good mates Nasa Tricafest, Hilden, Galashiels and then their album launch in the limelight which all were great fun. We then decided to have christmas drinks with our uncle Aidy

                                                                  big mistake LOL

But biggest news was Kirsty and I bought a van, i say bought its now January and we still havent got it yet but it will be worth the wait when it arrives.  We want to travel, cycle, walk and this is the way we have decided to do it.

Cant wait to get started hopefully in the next week or so this silver dream machine will be tearin up the road somewhere near you.  

July 2019

So been working in my current job for 16 years, and have cried for 16 years about having to take a week off in july, prices to go anywhere jump sky high and then leaves it a long time to my next stat day in december.  After being bought over in oct/nov last year i knew this wouldn't happen this year and we would have an extra 5 days holidays to take when we wanted and guess what?  I really really needed/wanted to be off LOL.

We did close for 1 day and we decided we would go away for a few days to relax as things have been pretty hectic in both our jobs recently and you know what, it was fantastic secluded spot nothing planned, no mad nights out no gigs no big cycles no training just chill in a great spot.

We did have a few drinks wee bit of a bbq and see a 2 piece band play a few numbers, had a small leisurely cycle (inc flat tyre) and then a wonderful evening out with friends followed by a early morning sea-swim (for some) and then home on a perfect day to bbq before returning to work on monday morning.  Its weekends like this that make you realise how good you have it, how awesome this place is and how lucky we are.  Cant say the same when its pissing down and freezing.

So with summer stretching ahead and a few gigs coming up, work about to ramp up yet again its head down and plough on.

Breaking The Call 24/25/26 May 2019

30/05/19

So went away with the band for our first shows of the year last Friday 24/05/19, prep started well before then with booking hotels, boats, vans etc but then on thursday evening the real prep started.

PREPARATION FOR GOING ON THE ROAD

With a 4am start we headed for the boat in Dublin, and then with a 3 1/2 hour sailing and a 4 1/2 hour drive at the other side we arrived at the Call of the Wild Festival in lincoln a little bit weary.

However after getting booked in and having a walk around the festival site and meeting some familiar faces we got into Gig mode,  and with the help of our amazing crew, Ian and "our Mand" and the fantastic COTW crew we got set up and ready to rock!!

Trucker at Call of the Wild

Tom and Simon at Call of the Wild

Trucker Diablo Pished 

We had a fantastic day and evening at COTW and headed back to our hotel, and after a beer and a cloven hoof cocktail headed to bed 22 hours after id got out of mine.

But guess what? Bright and early the next morning i was wide awake and after trying for a hour and 1/2 i gave up and went and got breakfast and coffee and started to edit a video. After a few hours others started to stir, we took our crew for a well earned lunch and after that when to procure some refreshments for the afternoons festivities.  Despite what everyone thinks we very rarely get to let our hair down on tour we have somewhere to be at a certain time someone to speak too photos need taken etc etc and then the gig sometimes gets in the way, but on this day we only had a 30min slot for Tom to do his awesome solo set and then it was party time.  And boy did we party, we brought a BBQ and cooked burgers and hotdogs backstage had a laugh with good mates and watched some awesome bands while kicking back and having a great time. Deffo a day to remember.

Baz-e-Que

So after a nice lazy morning we had breakfast and headed to Bromsgrove for a headline set at the Breaking Bands Festival. We have played a few years ago as sub headliners so it was great being asked back to headline on their 5th birthday.  We checked into our hotel and had a sneaky pint before we headed down to the site for 5pm as Tom was playing another sneaky afternoon set at 6pm, the boys had a beer and watched him nail it in front of a great crowd.  Then all we had to do was chill and meet old friends in the crowd before our stage time at 10.20 which took a while to arrive but when it did boy did we have to shift.  We only had 20 mins between bands which realistically is too short to get sorted but hey ho we do what we can and hit the ground running with and explosive set.  The boys are having a blast and the crowd are lapping it up and before you know it boom its all over and we are clearing the stage and loading the van.  

Simon at Breaking Bands

Trucker Diablo on stage at Breaking Bands

A quick bye and a short drive to the hotel we have a few beers and talk shit for an hour before we hit the pillow for a quick 5 hour snooze before the alarm goes off and we have to hit the road again to make our 2pm boat back home.  We drove over 800 miles played 4 shows in 3 days met loads of new and old friends drank beer ate burgers and had an absolute ball. 

But best of all we laughed from we got into the van together until i dropped Terry off back home at 9pm on monday night, ppl always ask why the fuck do you do this and you know what, at 4am when i'm dragging my ass out of bed after only 5 hours sleep i wonder the same myself but remembering last week end while i write this really makes me understand why i do this and its in the first line of this paragraph, "we laughed from we got into the van until i dropped terry off back home"  That's why we all do this the music the friendship the laughter, and sure what else would you be doing? Watching shit on TV? Fuck That!!

BTKOR 

Busy Busy Bee

So things have been motoring on at an alarming rate lately, work has been chock o block Trucker Biz has been busy too also been doing a lot of training with Kirsty who was traingin for a triathlon at the start of may (last weekend)

All went well for her, but weekend before it we went for a weekend in Wales, it was very relaxing and we had a great time with good friends and some new friends.  Not sure you care but heres a wee video i made from the weekend.

https://youtu.be/KSfNvbbggLI

So just back into the normal daily grind with meetings, courses and all the usual stuff that happens when you are a global business monkey LOL. ATM i am planning gigs for the end of the month with trucker in lincoln and bromsgrove in engerland cant wait to get away with them again seems so long since we had a gig.