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.

22 March 2019

Sweet baby jesus would you look at the date, but tbh ive got a really good excuse, well i haven't but things have been hectic around here lately.  Apart from going to a PT, doing some awesome mtb in gosford and last weekend in Castlewellan, getting a lot of stuff in order for the band.

I know no one reads this but its still a secret and dont want to let the cat out of the bag just yet, but we are basically booked up for 2019 unless Hetfield + Co or Dickinson + Co come calling LOL. 

I have been to liverpool with Ryan viewing john moore university, a few gigs, in between all the mentalness that goes on in the mcclelland household. One of those things is Kirsty joining a triathlon club.  She has already done 2 triathlons to date but this years wants to do 3 so our lives have been consumed by training which is totally amazing she is such an inspiration and i have no idea how she copes with it all.

So this week has been good got to see Therapy? play in the nerve centre in Derry with a good friend only bad thing was it was a wednesday night and then i had a 2 hour drive home but you know what its been too long since i seen them play it was all worth it.

I was totally knackered on Thursday morning however and in the afternoon i met what is now my mentor for a invest ni training programme which runs until december.  This is something that both terrifies and excites me in equal measures, i have never been on anything like this and if truth be told never thought i would be afforded the opportunity but with things moving forward with our new owner he has seen something he approves off and here we are.

April sees a short trip over to Cardiff for a wedding that has now been postponed and a gig that has been cancelled but as usual we are going to make the best of it getting a 2 day break away is a rarity for us though i would say kirsty will be looking for a gym or at least a pool close by, where ill be looking for a good pub or a carryout and a park bench at least. May sees our first run of shows for Trucker this year and we are already in rehearsals, and we are all very excited to see what we can achieve this year.

bye for now

B

New year......New load of balls LOL 09/01/2019

So after reading my last post i think we got up to day before i left work for the christmas break, i had arranged to go out on what they call Black Eyed Friday with a few mates, which was great but it was an early night as i had so much to do on the saturday morning.  Kirsty and i did a bit of shopping, had breakfast and then headed to my office to wrap presents for the kids and by 2pm we had all that done.  We then went home and packed for our overnight in Ballymena, we made an unexpected trip to see the Pat McManus band play in The Diamond rock club and have dinner with our mates from the north coast and the inspiration behind this blog.  They say the unexpected nights are the best and this was a great one the hotel we stayed in was lovely dinner with great company and then a few (a lot) drinks at the gig was just what i needed after a mental few weeks at work.

Sunday was leisurely as you would expect and we sauntered home and got house work etc all done so christmas eve wouldn't be rushed LOL yeah right we made our usual rounds on christmas eve getting shopping etc picking up fresh produce to make dinner with including our Marks & Spencer online order. and then spend the rest of the day at home wrapping presents for family and friends.

Christmas day with the outlaws

Christmas morning was a very relaxed affair and after visiting family, i settled in to cook for 6, again all very relaxed and the easiest i've found it with bought starters and the key in my eyes brought gravy.  I generally dont drink on christmas day but had a few with my father in law which i really enjoyed.  Boxing day is a different affair as it is my birthday and after birthday presents and breakfast we decided to go for a ride on the bikes.

We had a great spin to blow the christmas cobwebs away

Birthday drinks followed later that day and then a few days of rest and mountain biking before the new years eve, which is a casual quite affair playing board games with the kids over a few drinks.

Back to work on the 2nd of Jan has its positives and its drawbacks but was 2 days before i was off again for a wedding, now i have to admit im not a fan of weddings but this was a wedding with a difference it was a humanist wedding and was amazing great company great venue and was a great night.

All dolled up with somewhere to go

So there we are in a nutshell all caught up....believe me this won't be happening again, but had a great christmas and new year and plenty to look forward to in 2019 so head down lets do this.

20th December

Sooooo, i did say this would be a Radom blog never regular and here we are again.

Been quite busy the past few weeks with both band and work.  Christmas is a bit of a mental time in my day job as we actually close over the Christmas period so every customer has to double up their orders including Tesco and the like.  All this has to be made and sent out before we finish.

On the flip side its usually a quieter time for the band as its usually Christmas party’s and covers bands but hey ho we were booked to play a festival in Troon (winterstorm) and a Christmas party in Galashiels.

Both were amazing in their own but very different ways, Troon was an early show 40 mins and over by 3pm, but with cirmcumstances our set was cut short but we had a blast, met so many nice people got absolutely hammered and met and seen in no order Kaned, Geoff Tate, The dead daisies, Bernie Torme, Toby jepson  and girlschool.  our hotel was fantastic too.  And the Brucey bonus was its only just over an hour away from the boat.

Galashiels on the other hand is 3 1/2 hours from the boat and don’t trust your sat nav if you ever drive and although its a really nice drive through some wonderful scenery the roads it took us were very narrow.  the venue in gala the mac arts centre is a converted church and the staff there were fantastic.  Our hotel there, not that we seen much of it was great too and we would love to go back.

Home 7pm on Sunday evening and up for work for the last week before the Christmas break on Monday.  So all n all a busy few weeks and cant wait to get off for a break, so beers with mates tomorrow evening, dinner and gig on Saturday night with friends and somewhere in there Christmas wrapping/shopping cleaning all has to be done so we don’t leave it all to Monday.  Hope this finds you well whenever it finds you.

MMMMM been a long time, been a long time so I thought I would do a wee update, have been quite busy lately my full time job has been quite a turbulent time as it was bought over and lots of changes, all of them positive i might add.  So as timbuk 3 once said the future's so bright i gotta wear shades.

Took a wee weekend in Glasgow with the bride to see Within Temptation, stayed in a lovely hotel, went to a roller derby had a great bbq meal and a quiet saturday evening, then a dander around christmas markets and shopping centre before the gig on the sunday evening which we loved,

Since then been busing booking gigs/boats etc for trucker next year and getting sorted for a fest in troon that we played at the weekend Winterstorm in Troon and it was awesome.  I had a 4am wake up call to get ready and collect the lads to be in Belfast for 6.30 for the boat and in a first We had the whole Trucker Team in tow which was brilliant. After a Team meeting on the boat sorting out who/what/where/when for 2019 and beyond we hit cairnryan and had a short jaunt up to Troon.

We arrived and got checked in, and after a short delay as a fire alarm went off we got loaded in and because of the delay were on before we had time to get even a line check, the first 1/2 song there was no bass but they soon had it sorted and the band played a blinder of a set to a pretty packed hall.  We rushed off stage and stripped it in record time to try and help claw back some of the lost time the crew had to deal with.

After packing everything away the boys did an interview and then they had a few beers and we decided that Simon, Darren and i would go check in at the hotel and get a taxi back so we could have a drink together. That turned into a fantastic afternoon meeting other bands, managers, promoters all whom had great things to say about the band.  We met amongst others Geoff Tate, Doug Adrich, Dean Costranovo, Kane'd, Girlschool, Wayward Songs, No Hot Ashes and more ive forgotten or was too drunk to remember but all were great craic. After a good night sleep for some!! got up had a great shower and breakfast and was told tales about the night before antics after i left for bed.  We left our hotel for the short drive back to cairnrayn and the boat home.

All in all a great night away and as a wise man said we packed in 6 weeks of touring into 1 night in Troon 

OCT 2017

So been a while since i've updated my blog so have decided to do a quick update, been a busy few weeks and with the nights drawing in(dark at 7.15pm) ive been rushing home from work and trying to get out on the bike when its been dry. 

Work has been the usual mental stuff, and been trying to book gigs for the band for summer 2019, festivals tours etc.  We did a acoustic sessions at Radio Nova in dublin last Friday night which was great all be it a long long day not home to 1.30am after a great session and interview with Tony, he had nothing but good things to say about the lads and Nova have been big supporters of Trucker for a long time.

Ive been doing Sober October and am 15 days in, not easy when people are offering you beers all the time, this weekend Trucker were in the studio recording 2 tracks for a yet undisclosed project so was up there all day on saturday and sunday, was very relaxing but long days but very productive.

Have no plans for the weekend coming so should be quiet and relaxing. Fingers crossed.

So after 9 days without a day off and sitting in a hotel bar all alone for a second night in a row I’ve decided to update my blog, lol not the best thing I’ve ever done but ya know what not the worst either. Full working week last week then 9pm on Friday evening in Belfast then all day sat and sun but at least I had the wonderful bride with me to keep me sane among the ravenous hoards to descend on the taste(less) fest every year. The traders all have a great sense of humour and make it worthwhile.

 I then went to work on Monday morning and then flew to every little helps HQ on Monday afternoon for a training course on Tuesday morning, but couldn’t get a flight out until Wednesday. Hey ho worst things happen at sea! So after a pretty good day at hq I’m now sipping a GnT while watching footy on the box to pass the time while annoying ppl and arranging crimbo prezzies via text.

All I’ve heard all day is about Metallica tix for slane and are we going NO WERE FUCKING NOT as a friend pointed out we decided after our last donington disaster no more outdoor fests in these climates, we are old men, and some have early onset dementia it seems! So anyhow hope your having a great Tuesday evening as I’m slightly pissed nai and am gonna leave the bar before I order another gin!

                                                           Hire car for a few days

                                                           Great view from my hotel

On a August bank holiday weekend

So as my ole fella used to say "when are you going to grow out of all that music shite", sometimes when i have to get up at 3.30am on a saturday night i wonder the same!

But back to the beginning of my wonderful August bank holiday weekend, not so early start on a saturday morning to collect a hire van, and pick up equipment from some of the band to make our life easier on a dark sunday night/morning, then off to set up a P.A system to D.J at a friends 50th birthday street party/BBQ. 

The next thing i knew i was heading to bed at 8.30pm on a saturday night, 3.30am comes around quickly especially when you are waiting for it from 2.  Up showered coffee made and on the road for 3.50 to collect the band and make our journey to dublin to catch a 8am ferry to wales.  Our journeys are usually uneventful as we have made this journey so many times over the last 10 years together and this one was no exception plenty of laughs of the bevis and buthead variety, and straight to our hotel only a 2hr 15min drive with plenty of time to spare. 

We are the headline act tonight so not on until 10.45pm so in reality dont have to be there until 9pm but you cant sell merch and make petrol money sitting in a hotel so after a great carvery lunch and a wee power nap, we all get ready and head to the venue.  Greeted by the crew and organizers and a load of Trucker Diablo T-shirts we have a quick look around to get our bearings and then unfortunately have to temporary unload the van to get out the merch which was the first things put in.  I get set up and nearly straight away start selling merch.  There is a great crowd who have been rocking from midday and are loving the variety of bands. 

We get to catch up with old friends and say hello to our new guitar tech Mandy, with a wealth of experience she really takes the pressure off the boys when we are doing shows like this and is on point all night on everything she does and loves her job.  Its all too soon when its time to load in and set up the gear for a short 1 hour headline set so we have been on the go 18 hours for a 1 hour set, no wonder people think we are mental. Some fans have brought our frontman Tom a cake and we after speaking to the festival organisers we decide to cut into our set for a wee rendition of happy birthday which goes down a storm.  And then its all over 1 hour gone in a blink of an eye  breakdown to side of the stage and a few signatures and sales later its time to pack up and load the van, we are now old hands and this and its like a big game of tetris and with help we have it done in no time and i take the boys and Mandy off for a well earned drink.

We get chatting to our mates in Falling Red and Wicked Stone who hang around to have a drink with us but after about an hour i retreat to the van for a snooze to let the lads unwind.  An hour later a rap at the window lets me know its time to head back to the hotel, 3.30am and its lights out for a 9.30am alarm call as we have to head back to holyhead for the ferry.  All up and with a mcdonalds breakfast inside us we head back the route we came and as we made good time we stop for a wee shop in holyheads morrisons and i pick up some christmas presents and corn on the cob for tea.  Back on the boat the lads have a few pints and its all plain sailing back to dublin and up the road to unload and i get home at 8pm sunday night. 

So as you can see not all sex, drugs rock n roll. 

                                            DINNER DINNER DINNER TRUCKER

                                                       MY AMAZIN MERCH STAND
 

Mid life Crisis you say? W5 i say!!

So, i've thought about starting a blog, vlog, podcast etc for a while now, spoke about fellow collaborators but nothing ever came of it.  So in true Baz fashion i've said F**k it and put keyboard to screen.

I remember doing some music reviews on Bebo (i think) anyone remember that? I did do 2 radio shows to see if i could after a friend suggested i should did it and never gave it to anyone as i didnt feel i had the time to do them in a frequent manor.  Im not the most eloquent or wordy person, think i have a D in my GCSE english but thats not what this is about, i have been reading a friends blog and finding in amazingly inspirational and with the facebook remember this day last year/2 years/3 years making me smile everytime i read it i have decided to give this a go.  Will it last i dont know, will anyone ever see it again i dont know but hey ho lets go.

No idea where to start this as i would say anyone whos reading this or has an interest will know who i am but a brief run down,   i'm a 46 year old married father of 2 teenagers Ryan (18) Amy (15) ive been married to Kirsty for 22 years and apart from my family my biggest passion in life is music.  From i was 15/16 i have hung around with bands, while i have no musical talent whatsoever i have a lot of friends who are amazingly talented, i did sing in a band but that was more because i would give it a go rather than could sing. I soon found that my talents lay in other parts of the music industry i have been working with bands from then booking gigs, carrying gear, artwork, liaising with bookers, record companies other bands etc. 

I now manage a Band called Trucker Diablo along with 2 others and while we are not setting the music industry alight we all love what we do when we get the chance to do it.  Being part of this band has brought us all some amazing opportunities we have travelled throughout the UK and Ireland meeting some amazing people along the way, played in France a few times and Ibiza once. I personally have made lifelong friends on the road.

So there you go a brief intro and ill try and get updating now and again, as i sit around and wait in some interesting places when im doing that thing i do.