Was that just one year?

We're nearly finished with 2011 and it seems an awfully long time since last new year. This is odd, coz since the dawn of my period spent on this planet, it seems time has only ever sped up, not once slowed down until now

However, this is probably coz it's been a fairly intense year, full of many ups and many downs

January - my house got reposessed, what a great way to start a year. A combination of fibromyalgia that went undiagnosed for a long time, ATOS(sers) and lots of little incidents of bad luck had left me financially screwed. I remember at one point a bailiff calling, me explaining I have 10 pounds and that's to feed me for a week and him demanding it (clearly ticking a tenner of a 4 figure debt is more important than me being able to eat)

Anyway, this complication of being homeless was solved by the legendary DJ Buddha, who offered me a place to stay - and who I will now always be indebted to. Moving to Scotland had a lot of mixed emotions for me - I was moving to be closer to the band Cross The Border, and thus the hope that we'd realise more of our ambitions with less travel needed, but I was also moving away from my love Susan and my family, not to mention a great group of friends (though much smaller than a year before due to some lack of empathy for my condition).

Still, it was a fresh start - something that was desperately needed!

Feb-April

I'd begun settling in, found an open mic just round the corner from DJ's house which was nice and friendly, opportunities to meet up with Stoo for songwriting and planning the future, trips to see Susan and my family and a couple of weekends away at Fiona of Flying Pixie Promotions house. Optimism had begun

However, it was at this point that Gary "Sketchy" Painting left Cross The Border. It was a very low time for all of us, for a long time I feared I'd lost him as a friend forever.
Still, the show had to go on and so we advertised for a new guitarist and also sought to get a bass player - all of which fell together remarkably quickly and a new line up was born, with Alistair Bell, John Duffy and Richie "Biscuit" Neville added to the band

Rehearsals began in earnest

At the end of this I also went on my 1st holiday with Susan at a cottage near Berwick. It was a great week in most respects - the beaches were fantastic, weather good, Blondie bounding along and making doggie friends.

However, one thing was a little odd. I dont care whether you believe in such things or not, makes no nevermind to me, but there was a very dark entity there. Its presence was centred on the landing and 1st bedroom. I sensed it almost immediately, but didnt say anything to Susan, as I didnt know if she was particularly sensitive to such things and didnt want to scare her. Then a couple of days in she asked "do you feel that?"
A couple of nights we had to sleep with the lights on - while I wouldnt like to give myself any tags of psychic or whatever, I've felt certain things my whole life and this was one of only two entities I've felt that were purely dark. Not just angry, pissed off or trapped, but evil - a lovely holiday it was, but one I was glad when it ended safely

May
Once again a big hearty thanks to Djay Buddha as this was the month I began recording my solo album with him in earnest (some work had been done in April, but that months post was long enough lol)
Hearing songs I'd been playing for so long coming back to me was amazing and I learnt so much through the whole experience.
Cross The Border began getting gigs with the new line up that went really well, bookings for more were coming in, including SchottenRadio Sommer Party and Merry Tom Folk Festival, when we'd given up on the year as far as such events went due to all the changes - it was exciting!

June

More gigs, more rehearsals, Cross The Border getting tighter all the time, my solo album having violin added by Yuuka Yamada - this alone would've made June a great month, but it wasnt this alone

At the end of June we went to Germany for SchottenRadio's Sommer Party and it was one of the best experiences I've ever had in my life, musical or otherwise.
The trip in the campervan with Fiona, Dj, Alistair, Yuuka and the awesome Don Nicolson was a blast. Me and Don took our instruments on board the ferry and began jamming, first outside where a couple of people started dancing, before I gave someone a basic percussion lesson (I do hope he went home, bought some kit and continued to learn) and then went inside to the bar where Don ended up getting half the ferry singing along. It was a truly magical and unique experience, being so off the cuff

Then when we arrived, we met the mighty howler Basil Wolfrhine and his family and friends. I've never felt so wanted and appreciated - so well looked after! Then our German fans began arriving and made us all feel so special. It was a weekend where I felt like I'd achieved everything in music that I ever wished to. I could've died on the journey home and been more than content with my lot

July

Merry Tom Folk Festival - playing this was brilliant. Meeting old friends such as Nobby of Nobby's Brewery, Hugh "he can fix anything" Wilson and so many more I darednt do too long a list in case I missed one.
We played Mad Dog Mcreas song "Am I Drinking Enough" to half of Mad Dog Mcrea - Damien Scarr their double bass player has one of the best laughs I've ever heard! Before they dedicated it to us for their performance of it as they closed the event on the main stage (saying, most untruthfully, that ours was the better version). A very special moment

However, we also knew that this gig was going to be Alistairs last gig with us, as he'd been offered an opportunity with another band that was too good to refuse and Yuuka Yamada had also decided to leave, but hadnt been able to make it to Merry Tom.
This was a very saddening time, but was all done in the best of friendship

It was around now that I realised how much I missed seeing Susan and my family on a regular basis. I had to move back down south to be with them.
I spoke to Stoo (though being a little cowardly I kept putting it off) and it was agreed that whilst I wouldnt leave the band, that I wouldnt be around enough to be a full time member.

August-September
I finished the recording and mixing of my solo album and prepared it for release. By now I'd had the addition of 2 musical legends in Steph Macleod and John Duffy - so proud to have them both on my songs! - and it was sounding great
I also had to prepare and complete my move back down south. It was very emotional for me, moving to be with so many who I loved and yet leaving so many that I loved behind. I just wished (and still do) that I could remove the chunk of country in between the 2 and set it adrift

October-November
I was back down south, living with Susan, my album released (which went better than I could've hoped) and solo gigs were starting to come in. Though there was (and always is and will be) stressful moments and events, the year was coming to a close on a high
When me and Sketchy met up at an open mic, had a jam and decided to reform under the name "Bearded Flagons"
Due to one thing or another, we've not had many gigs or rehearsals since, but what we've done has been fun - and hopefully will continue for a long time

December

The last month, the close of the year. I guess this is too near for me to reminisce in the same manner as I've done with the rest, but there's been gigs (though I started the month with a heavy bout of fever), family fun at Christmas and plans made for the future
The future really does look good right now, I've so many plans, ideas and dreams - and realistic ways to realise them - that when I look back to a year ago today, I wonder how I got so lucky
I know I've done a lot to achieve this change in fortunes myself, there's no way I could've done it alone. There's so many I have to thank for helping me through this that I wouldnt know where to begin, but my family, Susan, Djay Buddha and Stoo Nicol have been the major players

I would say something like "dont you just love a happy ending" but this aint the ending, at least, not of my story, just of a chapter - and the next chapter has a very optimistic title!

Love you all - especially those who've had the patience to read this far