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
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.
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.
