Touring Fun

We find ourselves in the delightful village of Tuddenham, outside Bury St Edmunds, with a night off that coincides with the magnificence of the Eurovision final!

Much cheering and dancing that is best imagined rather than described.

The gigs have been coming thick and fast, with many miles passing by.  It's been fun but the driving has taken a bit of getting used to.  It's been a particular delight to see old friends again.

Here's a pic from one of our early gigs in Coventry (thanks to John Wright for this one). We had a lovely time seeing Denise Bull and some of her family while we were there.

We've made a point of spending some time on this trip exploring some of the places where we've been playing.  After three previous trips, we finally took the time to visit Arundel Castle, for example.  The weather was kind and the trip was unforgettable.

Alnwick Castle was on the list earlier,

Along with Deal Castle,

and the occasional shopping arcade (we decided there was no room for the horsey)

Tomorrow we're heading off to the Chester Festival for a couple of days of fun and song.  But first a long drive!

More news to follow,

Love to all

John, Nic and Em

Onward we roll

We're over a week into the tour and it's proving to be an exhausting delight to be back.

Last night saw us at Deal in Kent. Lovely club.  We've already racked up 2000 miles, with many more to go. We took the time to enjoy the seafront today, along with a quick visit to Dover before heading back inland. Tonight we'll be playing at edenbridge (still in Kent but up the other end). The new songs from Clouded House are going down well (especially beaver!). Much fun.

The road rolls on.

On the road again....

And so we're back once more. 

Landed at Heathrow yesterday afternoon in a fog of sleeplessness and geographical dislocation. Immigration/customs (both official and strange local), then car, drive, hotel, food, shower, pillow slam.

Awoke to find the outskirts of Hounslow as inviting as ever.  Ah, Costa!

A long slow breakfast, slightly quicker packing of the car and then on our way.  Google said 6 and a bit hours so of course bank holiday Friday saw us arrive at Susan and Malcolm's just South of Alnwick Castle just shy of 11 hours after we left.  The sign that said "Queues Likely Until August 2015" seemed prescient.  An all-too-brief stop at Jacey and Brian's helped us to maintain reasonable caffeine levels.

Another bed beckoned but the lag of the jet sees me up and sort of about at the unfamiliar hour of 7 in the morning.

Slowly becoming used once more to the ways of the road.  

We settle in now for a for a spell of recovery, unsheathing the instruments and the employment of loin-girders for what lies ahead. 

More to follow.

John