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What a frustrating day. The British Gas engineer turned up to fit a smart meter to our gas supply, did the preliminary checks then turned the electricity off so that he could fit the smart meter to the system. When he began to take the electricity supply boxes apart he discovered that the interior of one was scorched and hot. He asked if we'd noticed any burning smells and when we said we hadn't he showed us the scorched interior of the electric box and told us we were lucky it hadn't caused an electrical fire and burned the house down. We said that, three months ago, an engineer from N-Power had been to fit a smart meter to the electricity supply. He said it looked like he'd done an extremely poor job of the wiring which had been arcing and had caused the wires to burn. As he went further into the supply he discovered even more faults, poorly attached wires, not properly tightened connections, etc. In the end he said he couldn't continue with the job as reconnecting everything would pose a serious fire risk. He said it was the responsibility of N-Power to come and fix it and suggested I get on the 'phone to them straight away. Of course, it's not quite as simple as that because when you dial N-Power all you get to speak to is a pre-recorded message and are given different options to select by pressing the buttons on the phone, none of which, of course, are suitable for the problem you have. To cut a long story short, it took about half an hour of hanging on the phone whilst some God-awful music played over and over before I could speak to someone. Then the routine of proving I was who I said I was and the usual "this call will be monitored for training purposes" etc, etc. Once I'd explained the problem, I was put on hold again for almost ten minutes before the girl came back on line, only to tell me she was still trying to contact an engineer and would call me back in about 15 minutes. Meanwhile while, we're sitting in the dark with no lights and no heating and it's a cold and dismal late afternoon. Eventually, she calls me back to say the engineer is finishing another job and will call me when he's on his way. This indeed happens and the N-Power engineer arrives at our home. The British Gas engineer has kindly hung on to explain the problem to the N-Power guy who agrees that the N-Power fitter had done a 'shoddy' job when he'd come to fit the electricity smart meter three months ago. However, he made the excuse that the engineer was probably a contractor working for N-Power. That may well have been the case but obviously didn't make any difference to the fact that our house was in danger of an electrical fire. The gas engineer then left and the N-Power engineer began the lengthy repair of the supply system. Meanwhile, of course, we're shivering in the cold and dark. After some time, the supply was restored and the house lights came on. Then the N-Power engineer said the problem had been caused by 'our' electrician. I replied that there is no 'our' electrician and never had been. The only electrician to ever work on our supply system had been the N-Power smart meter fitter, three months previous. Trying to shift the responsibility perhaps? Anyway, the electricity is now restored and I'm able to turn on my computer and type this journal entry, (though I've lost yet another day of important 'Plectronica' preparation as a result of the problem.) And we'll have to make another appointment for British Gas to return to fit the gas smart meter again. Other matters... I'm told that I'll soon have some news about the live streaming of the 'Plectronica' event, so stay tuned to this journal and my website. I'm posting a photo of the new album boxes currently sitting in my dining room. There are 288 copies of the new album in these six, very heavy, boxes, and every single copy has been hand signed by myself. These copies will be on sale at the event on December 1st. Now, I need to continue trying out different guitars for the various tracks that will feature in the live set, and thankfully my studio has electricity once more... Another flyer for the 'Stupid Serious' album... Six big boxes containing 288 signed copies of the 'AUDITORIA' album sitting in my dining room...

Spent two and a half hours at the hospital this afternoon. The various eye tests and scans showed that my right eye's condition has deteriorated and there's more fluid at the back of the eye than the last time I was scanned. The doctor said I need more frequent injections, which wasn't exactly welcome news. I'll keep this journal entry short as I'm having difficulty seeing as a result of the blurring effect of the various drops I've had in my eye this afternoon. (Drops to dilate the pupils, drops to anaesthetise the eye, and iodine drops to sanitise it.) It's stinging like mad at the moment. This morning I had a conversation with Paul about the streaming of 'Plectronica'. It looks like it is going ahead and there will be announcements soon about how to sign up to watch it live from anywhere in the world. Let's just hope I don't get nervous and end up making major musical mistakes! British Gas are coming tomorrow to fit a 'smart meter' to our gas supply. Apparently it sends our gas usage automatically over the internet, so there will be no more estimated bills. (We recently had one fitted to the electricity supply.) It doesn't cost us anything to have these devices fitted as the government says that every household in the UK has to have them fitted by 2020. Seems it's compulsory. The only problem is that the electric supply to the house will need to be turned off for two and a half hours whilst the smart meter system is installed, (even though it's the gas supply being fitted with the meter.) So, it looks like I'll lose even more valuable 'Plectronica' preparation time, something I could do without. Anyway... Here are four more photograph's of the artwork that will be for sale at the event. Two drawings made for 'Plectronica.' Two more drawings for 'Plectronica.' And two further drawings for 'Plectronica.' A pencil sketch, a decorated mask and an oil pastel canvas...all for sale at 'Plectronica.'

Hauled some flight cases out of the shed in the garden today. They're now taking up space in the dining room. Two heavy ones filled with cables required for the live set up at 'Plectronica,' one VERY heavy one containing my synth guitar unit and power supply, and one MASSIVE, but at the moment empty one, which I'll need to load my triple tier pedal board into. A start, at least. Much more gear to pack though, not least the guitars. Still haven't been able to actually allocate guitars to the individual tracks, though I have decided on my Gus G1 midi guitar for 'Golden Dream Of Circus Horses,' a number I'll be playing in tandem with Theo Travis on the day. That leaves lots of guitars still to decide on for the other 13 pieces... I've also taken photographs of the artwork that I'll be offering for sale at the event. Some of these photo's I'll attach to this journal entry, with more pics to follow later. I've also added an extra drawing to the guitar that will help raise money for Sara's Hope Foundation. This new drawing is on the back of the guitar. (I've already made drawings on the front of it.) I'm now given to understand that the guitar will be raffled, rather than auctioned as I'd originally stated, which gives more people chance to win it, rather than just the well heeled. Still not completely rid of this debilitating cold though. Wish I could summon up a bit more energy. Tomorrow I've got an appointment at the hospital for yet another stressful eye injection. As always, I'm dreading it. Unfortunately, I won't be able to make any further progress with the event preparations until the side effects of the injection wear off, which will be 24 hours later. And that's all for now. This is the drawing I've made on the rear of the Eastwood Classic 6 guitar which was kindly donated by Mike Robinson of Eastwood Guitars to raise money for the Sara's Hope Foundation Charity. A selection of the artwork I've created for the 'Plectronica' merchandise stall. One of the ceramic plates I've decorated as a souvenir of 'Plectronica.' The other plate I've decorated for sale at 'Plectronica.'

Travelled to Wakefield today to take my Mum shopping to the supermarket. Our regular Saturday visit had to be postponed until Sunday this week as Emiko had a commitment to help out at a local charity fund raising Christmas Fair. Certain problematic issues to do with the upcoming 'Plectronica' event are now slowly beginning to sort themselves out. Much still to do but it's definitely getting there. This coming Tuesday I have another eye injection session at the hospital, which, as usual, I'm not looking forward to, but the real downside is that it will rob me of a day's preparation for the event. The injections have a very negative effect on my vision for around 24 hours and my eyes are extremely sore afterwards, so very little work will get done. Had a conversation with my guitar tech Andy Newlove who is in Berlin at the moment. Looks like he will be back in the UK the week before 'Plectronica' so will be able to pick up all my guitars and equipment a couple of days prior to the event. We're hoping to set everything up in Fairview studios sometime before the show so that the gear can be checked out and any problems remedied. I only use this full set-up when I play live, (the last time being over a year ago,) so we need time to make sure everything is still working. I also need time to remind myself where all the different sounds reside on my pedalboards. My Gus G1 midi guitar has to be tested too as its Roland synth interface is quite a complicated set up. It's astonishing just how much 'kit' is needed for these basically one man shows. My live set up involves 3 different digital guitar multi-processors, plus a midi synth guitar unit, a looper and extra delay unit, an on stage mixer, e-bows and a couple of other gadgets, a stereo monitor system, etc. I guess that's a lot of gear for just one man, (with lots of guitars!) I'm hoping to find time tomorrow to photograph some of the artwork I've made to offer at the event. I'll post pictures here in my journal if I get the opportunity. Have attached a portrait of myself painted by artist and one time fellow Ings Road Secondary School pupil, Ruel Hudson. Hope he doesn't mind me showing it. We both attended Ings Road School in the late 1950s, early 1960s and also went on to attend Wakefield Art School together with Ruel taking a Graphic Arts course whilst I opted for the Fine Art one. (Note the Wakefield Star award Ruel's added to my baseball cap...a nice touch! ) That's it for tonight...

Spent most of today signing copies of the 'Auditoria' album. Managed to get about half of them finished. Might try a few more tonight but otherwise will plough on tomorrow. As a result of the concerted effort to get the albums signed, I've not been able to make any further progress with the 'Plectronica' artwork. Something is going to have to give with all this stuff. There are still many important things to sort out, not least the myriad equipment and guitar preparations, which will take a few days. Time is running out I'm afraid, and it's all becoming too intense. Not helped, at the moment, by various Cherry Red Records distractions. Unfortunate that the re-issue of 'Sunburst Finish' coincides with the complex 'Plectronica' preparations. As I've said earlier in my journal entries, far too much on my plate right now. Managed, whilst eating my lunch, to catch up with the nation's ongoing Brexit debacle on the BBC news. What a tragic mess... David Cameron deserves to go down in ignominy for launching this horror on us. His referendum in 2016 was a monstrous mistake and now we're faced with the ugly, negative and divisive result. I dread to think what will happen next...Jacob Reed-Mogg for PM? God help us all. I find it hard to understand the mentality that leads us away from the European Union. I consider myself both a British citizen and a European. I'm proud to have been part of Europe, but now that privilege seems to have been stolen from me because of a 'leave' campaign that was fought on the basis of lies and illusions. Jingoistic nonsense...It needs to go back to the people for a final vote, now that the pros and cons are properly revealed. THAT'S democracy. Not that the hard core Brexiteers will allow that for one moment of course...they're far too worried that too many people will have had second thoughts and changed their minds about it, (which they probably have.) The first referendum was founded on a hoax, a dead dream of Empire. In light of all the chaos that has ensued, we need to be given a chance to vote, once more, now that we are much better informed. Surely, the rabid Brexiteers will have nothing to worry about if they're so sure that 'the people' will still vote in sufficient numbers to continue on the path to leaving the EU? But, there's the rub...will they? Need to take a break, but no time for relaxing, work to do...

This morning a note was pushed through our letterbox informing us that packages had been delivered to one of our neighbours. I wondered what these might be, something for Emi perhaps? Or one of those impulse buys from the Bangood company in China that I sometimes fall for and later regret? But, on further investigation, it turned out to be six very large and very heavy boxes containing 288 copies of the 'Auditoria' triple album, sent direct to me from the pressing plant for me to sign and eventually put on sale at the 'Plectronica' event. I carried them, with a great deal of effort, from our neighbour's house into ours. Approaching these physical tasks as if I were still in my twenties is not a good idea. Although I try to deny it, here and now, on the cusp of being 70 years old, I'm certainly not up to such things. (The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak', to quote an old saying.) Anyway, the boxes now occupy a great deal of space in our dining room and await my signature on every one of the 288 copies. It will take me several days to accomplish this mammoth task. Managed to do some more artwork for the event today. I decorated one of the two ceramic plates I've bought. Looks quite good, I think. Another one to attempt tomorrow. As I've mentioned before, my failing eyesight makes this kind of work more problematic, but, as the old saying goes, struggle against the dying light...Or, 'sod that for a game of tennis' (in blunt Yorkshire parlance. ) Several 'phone calls this morning. Ian Haydock rang and arranged a date for him to come over to our house and bring prints for me to sign for the event. Then Jon Wallinger rang to talk through some of the details to do with the live streaming of 'Plectronica', and the next Bandcamp re-issue of one of my out-of-print albums. Then Mum rang to share her experiences at the hospital today, then Paul Gilby called to discuss details of which videos I've chosen to be projected at the event, and other stuff connected with it, including the live stream. On top of that, the man who is sorting out our tile problem in the bathroom called to say that he would be coming this afternoon to deal with the grouting of the tiles. So, despite still feeling under the weather with this awful cold, I've had to keep my wits about me and plough on regardless. So, where are we now? Well, all those albums to sign, obviously. Much more artwork to create, guitars to choose for each number, service and pack for the live set, equipment to disengage from the studio and cart downstairs ready for collection, clothes to choose (all is vanity,) for the performance, more instructions to type up and print out, etc, etc... Do I make a rod for my own back with these events? Well, it seems so. Do I love or hate doing them? Probably a combination of the two polarities. I fear them, yet also welcome them. It's like opening a guitar case and staring at the instrument and thinking, 'Heck, I don't know whether you're going to be my enemy or my friend today...' It's a completely random experience. Something that happens in the moment. And, for the moment, that, is where I must leave it.

Managed to make one more drawing today but finding it difficult to see clearly. My eyes, it seems, are getting worse. Nevertheless, I got it finished and placed in a gold frame. Its titled 'Blue Star Guitar.' Also decorated a Papier Mache mask, which I've signed and will offer for sale at 'Plectronica.' I now have 5 drawings and the mask ready for the event but still need to create and frame a few more drawings. I have two ceramic plates to decorate too. Thought that my cold would lessen its grip on me today but, to be honest, it's probably worse than yesterday. Feeling flat and tired and have a very sore nose. My son and daughter, (Elliot and Elle,) are coming over at 7:30 tonight for dinner, which should help lift my spirits a little. Emi is cooking a selection of fish and seafood and there is a wonderful aroma of garlic wafting up from the kitchen. Replaced a broken string on my Musicvox Mi-6 guitar and will try to allocate it to one of the tracks I'll be performing at 'Plectronica.' With so many nice guitars to choose from it's difficult to settle on which ones will suit which tracks. I usually take a different guitar for each piece, and as there will be 14 tracks played live this year, that means choosing 14 guitars. I'll see if I can cut it back a little, maybe use one of the guitars on more than one number. My Gus G1 midi guitar might work on two of the 'Orchestra Futura' trio numbers. We'll see... Was told today to expect a delivery of 288 copies of the 'Auditoria' triple album which I have to autograph. Quite a task in itself. These will be on sale at the event. Any unsold will be added to the remaining stock and will then be sold by mail order. (Though they won't go on sale until a couple of days after the event. Attendees get a pre-release, early purchase opportunity.) I now have a half-hour before my insulin injection is due so I think I'll try to run a couple of the newer backing tracks and try out various guitars with them before Elle and Elliot arrive.

Despite my heavy cold, I travelled to Willerby and Fairview studio to master the backing tracks for 'Plectronica' this afternoon. The sneezing had subsided a little but I felt just as bad this morning, a rough voice and a head which seems to be constantly producing endless supplies of goo. I perked up a little at the prospect of spending a few hours at Fairview with my pal, mastering engineer, John Spence. I decided to take my recently acquired Eastwood/Backlund 'Rockerbox' guitar over to show John, who seemed to be mightily impressed with it. Part way through copying the new backing tracks from my DAT cassettes to Fairview's mastering computer we hit a problem. The Fairview DAT machine suddenly stopped reading the track locate idents and would no longer play the tracks. After trying various remedies, we had to give up. Luckily I'd brought the draft assembly CDRs with me and we were able to take the required tracks from them. Back at home, I put the DAT cassette that had been problematic at Fairview into my home studio DAT machine and it played without any problems so I think there's a fault with the Fairview machine which, hopefully, can be sorted out for future use. Of course, DAT tapes are considered somewhat 'old tech' now, (though it seems like only yesterday they were the latest thing.) Much of my studio operates on equipment I've used successfully for many years and I'm not keen to go down the stereotypical computer software route to achieve my recordings. There's something about the gear I'm using that feels 'right' and intuitive. It's old-school to a degree I suppose, but I like how it doesn't get in the way of the music with too much technological head-scratching. It's a musical way of working which encourages a free flow of ideas and gets quick results. Basically, it suits me just fine. Now, as the night comes in, my cold symptoms intensify and I'm wilting a little. Tomorrow I really need to get more artwork finished. Besides the drawings I have a mask to decorate and two plates. I'll also have the task of signing 250 copies of the 'Auditoria' triple album as soon as they're delivered from the manufacturers. Enough typing for tonight...

Feeling very rough right now. This awful cold has got a strong grip on me and I've been feeling lethargic and down all day. Haven't ventured out of the house at all but have managed to make a couple more drawings/artwork for the 'Plectronica' event. A struggle though as my eyesight is gradually worsening. Have to travel to Fairview studio tomorrow though. It's the only date available to master the backing tracks for 'Plectronica.' Time is running out and there's still so much to prepare. Must get these 14 tracks mastered and burned to disc in preparation for the event. Lots of first World War armistice commemorations on tv today. What a tragic and sad loss of life that was for millions of people...the stupidity and madness of conflict when civilisation breaks down and favours despots and dictatorships instead of compassion and cooperation. Watched French President Macron give a very fine and pertinent speech in Paris which I thought was right on the button, decrying nationalism and urging more global unity. Quite the opposite of the dangerous and twisted ideology the current, so-called 'President' of the USA spews in his humorously illiterate but shockingly intolerant speeches. What has the world come to when so-called 'world leaders' succumb to the politics of division and fear to motivate and manipulate those who possess no informed opinion of what really is needed to make things better. I sometimes feel like giving up on it all and letting it take its sorry course, (and I expect many, many other people do too, turning away from it all with either indifference or dismay.) But that is no solution and leads to the kind of complacency that allowed Fascism to blight the world in the 1930s. It's a cliche of sorts but nonetheless true...'Those who aren't aware of history are condemned to repeat it'... Maybe I'm feeling a little low and depressed. I, like so many others right now, could do with a little more positivism.

Have been feeling absolutely rotten today. Constantly sneezing, blowing my nose, intermittent coughing and exhibiting the energy of a stoned-out sloth. This cold has, as is often the case with me, brought things to a standstill. I should be working on the art for 'Plectronica' but couldn't face it or focus on what was needed. Had endured a terrible night with little sleep too, which didn't exactly help matters. Didn't go out for my usual walk around town this afternoon either, so my blood-sugar levels were higher than usual when I tested them before dinner. Took an extra unit of insulin when I self-injected but I suspect that the 'ready meal' I had for dinner won't help matters. (Emi is out this evening at a farewell party for the boss of the charity she does voluntary work for, hence my 'make-do' meal.) I had to deal with the man who came to fix the tiles in one of our bathrooms this afternoon. Again, Emi was out doing flower stuff so I dealt with him through sneezes and sniffles without her help. It's like trying to connect with stuff through a distant mist. Watched 'White Christmas' on tv whilst the guy worked on the tiles. I've seen this film endless times but it still gives pleasure somehow. I love Bing Crosby's voice, of course, and Danny Kaye's clowning is funny and so well crafted, but Vera Ellen dances wonderfully too and seems to have such a tiny waist. I find her rather attractive, I must admit... I'm scheduled to visit mum in Wakefield tomorrow but am worried about passing this awful cold virus on to her. We may have to give it a miss this weekend but I'll see how things are in the morning. Now, it's back downstairs to sit in front of the tv and see the latest news from the UK and US, none of which is going to lift my spirits, I fear...It's getting more like the 18th Century than the 21st.

Woke up at 5am with a violently sore throat and that strange but familiar feeling that a nasty cold was imminent. Hardly slept at all until I eventually got out of bed and went downstairs, sneezing and feeling decidedly under the weather. As the day opened up the cold progressed to a streaming nose and a flat, lethargic, low energy feeling. Right now I'm sneezing and spluttering and definitely smitten by a virus. Not good... Getting rid of these colds usually takes a couple of weeks before I'm totally clear so I'm hoping it will be over before I have to perform at 'Plectronica'. At least it has started now and not the week before the actual event. Attempted a drawing to frame for the 'Plectronica' merchandise stall. It turned out ok, I think, though I found it difficult to see clearly because of my macular degeneration. I fear 'll lose my ability to produce much more artwork as the deterioration gets worse. But, despite having the cold virus, I went out to a local art supplier and bought some coloured A4 card to attempt more drawings and a table top magnifying lamp to see if it might aid my sight when creating these drawings. Listened to Bob Dylan's 'She Belongs To Me', one of my all time favourite Bob Dylan songs, (along with 'Love Minus Zero,') and felt a warm, positive uplift. I love the lyrics of this song and the relaxed, contemplative atmosphere it conjures. I first heard 'She Belongs To Me' when it was originally released, way, way back in the 1960s. I also remember getting a call from a local Wakefield band back in those days, who asked if I could stand in for their regular lead guitarist who was ill. (Can't recall the band's name, unfortunately.) I was still in my teens back then and living with my parents. I grabbed my Vox AC 30 amp and Gibson 345 and was picked up and taken to the youth club where they were playing. (I think it was a youth club or maybe it was the local YMCA?) Anyway, one of the numbers they played that night, alongside the usual Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley standards, was Bob Dylan's 'She Belongs To Me.' I'd never attempted the song before but was familiar with the arrangement and, (I hope,) made a reasonable job of the guitar parts. It's funny how some of these dusty attic memories remain fixed in consciousness after so many years...I can still see the room that the band played in at that long ago time, and feel my nervousness at not quite knowing what they were going to play. It was a 'flying by the seat of your pants' experience but added to the rich flow of musical history that I've been lucky enough to take part in. On a purely personal level, my musical timeline extends from the 1940s swing bands that my mother and father adored, through skiffle, to late '50s rock n' roll, to early '60s guitar instrumentals, to modern jazz, to mid '60s mod 'freak beat' and 'Stax', 'Atlantic' and 'Tamla Motown' soul music, through to late '60s Psychedelia, and on to Prog, Glam and Punk and New Wave, Electronica, etc, etc...the entire gamut of 20th Century popular music, plus a rich colouring of classical, neo-classical, avant-garde and experimental music too... It's been, as they say, a long strange trip, but an absolutely rewarding and educational one. How lucky to have been directed by whatever magical means down this astonishingly rich and vibrant path...Thank goodness that I was so fortunate. No more typing for tonight, and no attempt at drawing, recording or playing anything. I'm going to take my sneezes and wheezes downstairs and watch something mundane on tv. Maybe my dvd box set of Gerry Anderson's 'UFO' series. Or perhaps just fall asleep in front of the fire, (which is probably not even lit...) Oh, well....

Today was spent dealing with the filmed interview about the 'Sunburst Finish' album. Matt and Mark from Cherry Red Records arrived just after midday to set up the cameras and lights in the small space of my home studio. It was very tight in there but I think we got something useable done in the end. Then John Leckie did his section of the interview in our dining room and, lastly, John and I did a joint section in the lounge. Hopefully, it won't come across too badly, though there were moments when we were both struggling to remember exactly what we did 42 years ago when the album was recorded. We were also given gifts of the luxury box set of the album which I have to say looks absolutely top notch. A really fantastic package that does the album proud. I think hard core fans will be knocked out by it. Matt and Mark departed around 7pm and then John and Emi and I went to the village pub once more for a dinner together. John is leaving tomorrow for home after spending three days here. It's been lovely to see him again. I don't know when the next time we'll get together might be, but I hope it's not too long. A warm, fond farewell in the village pub car park then we were off into the night for the brief drive back home. Caught up with the news of the US mid-term elections and was pleased to see that the Democrats had taken control of the House Of Representatives. Control of the Senate was never really on the radar for them, so that didn't come as a surprise, but it's a good outcome for the Democrats and hopefully shows the way the country is drifting for the 2020 elections. Now, with the Cherry Red interview complete, tomorrow will be focussed on the ongoing preparations for 'Plectronica.' Really have to knuckle down and get the various pieces of artwork under way, and after that, concentrate or guitar selection and essential equipment preparation. It's all go... FLYER FOR A FORTHCOMING ALBUM ON SONOLUXE... ANOTHER SHOT TAKEN FROM THE RECORDING SESSIONS FOR 'QUIT DREAMING AND GET ON THE BEAM'...JOHN LECKIE AND MYSELF HAVING A LITTLE FUN AT WEST HADDLESEY VILLAGE HALL

Spent a lovely evening with my dear friend John Leckie, remembering old times and exchanging stories of our long journey through music. So many adventures for each of us since our first collaboration on Be Bop Deluxe's 'Sunburst Finish' album. Meeting up with John once again brings home what a rich history we each have left behind us...a long trail of music and memory. Tomorrow we start our filmed interviews about the making of 'Sunburst Finish.' I've been given a preview of the interview questions and they're quite detailed and comprehensive. Whether I'll be able to answer them all is uncertain, some things have slipped away over the many years since the album was recorded. And as I've noted many times before, that period is not something I particularly keep in focus. Nevertheless, I'll try my best to come up with stories that might illuminate the making of the album, and John, I'm sure, will also do the same. Now, I think it's bedtime, but not until I've checked the tv news to find out how the US mid-term elections are progressing. Hopefully, there will be a weakening of the Trump administration.

Today I managed to decorate the Eastwood Classic 6 guitar that will be auctioned at 'Plectronica' in aid of 'Sara's Hope Foundation,' the charity I'm a patron of and which gives free holidays in Greece to families whose children are suffering from cancer. Mike Robinson of Eastwood very kindly donated the guitar for me to scribble on so that it can be auctioned at the December 1st event. The money it raises will all go to this very worthy cause. The charity was started by the Hoburn family who lost their daughter Sara to cancer some years ago. The charity is named after her and has helped give some respite to other families struggling to come to terms with the illness. I hope that one of my fans at the 'Plectronica' event will make a generous winning bid on this one-off instrument. John Leckie arrives here tomorrow afternoon, in readiness for the filmed Cherry Red interview we're doing on Wednesday. We're having dinner together tomorrow evening which will be nice. Actually, I need to book a table at the village pub, must do that in a minute or two. Fireworks going off all around at the moment, bangs and whooshes as neighbours do the bonfire night thing. I've kind of left all that behind though. Making a change to the 'Plectronica' set list...I decided that I need just one more up-tempo number in the set, so I'm going to swap out 'The Eye Of Heaven Shines' for 'What Furnace Is Thy Brain' which is a bit more energetic. Insulin injection time now, then a 'phone call to the village pub to book that table... THE GUITAR THAT WILL BE AUCTIONED AT 'PLECTRONICA.'

Spent most of today over at my mother's in Wakefield, as we do every weekend, helping her weekly supermarket shopping expedition and spending time sitting in her lounge chatting about old times. My nephew Julian's wife, Lyndsey, was visiting with their two daughters, Bethany and Amy. Always nice to see them and, of course, the children were delightfully entertaining. My late brother Ian would have been so proud of them all. Tonight has been taken up with emailing Theo Travis, Dave Sturt (and our possible 'mystery guest', ) information about the 'Plectronica' performance, including the set list and the keys of newer pieces. I've also sent them mp3s of the backing track choices for them to consider. Amazing how long it takes to type out this sort of thing though. I'm sure it was quicker in the 'old days' when we simply picked up a 'phone and spoke directly. Almost finished typing out the charts I'll be using for the live performance...just three more to go and then they can be assembled in a folder for referring to when I play. (If I can see them, that is.) Emi and I are meeting a friend for lunch tomorrow at a relatively new eatery in town. Always a bit of a concern regarding my diabetes requirements but, hopefully, there will be something on the menu that will be suitable. It's sometimes depressing, having to be so careful about what I eat, but I have to keep in mind that doing so will possibly keep me on the planet a bit longer. Got a fresh supply of Insulin from the local Pharmacy yesterday, plus some new needles for my daily injections. I jokingly refer to this as my 'fix' and myself as a diabetic 'junkie,' but, of course, it's not a joke at all, whether blighted by diabetes or a dangerous drug addiction. There's a pragmatic acceptance of diabetes and its daily insulin injections, (which help to keep me alive,) but, on the other hand, heroin, by contrast, gradually drags people down into a self-destructive spiral that ultimately leads to oblivion. Drugs...some sustain and some destroy. And that's all for tonight. Time to switch the studio off and attempt to sleep...

Almost finished typing up and printing out my performance charts for 'Plectronica.' Just a few of the newer backing tracks to transcribe, but I'm keeping these charts as basic as possible, just an indication of base key, any chord changes that might throw me, and notes on the basic sounds I'm likely to use. All the rest is pure improvisation on the days of the performance. I'll choose and make a guitar changes list later. (essential for my guitar tech Andy Newlove to line the guitars up in the right order and get them tuned for each number.) Took my car to Halfords today for a desperately needed new windscreen wiper fitting. All working fine now. Emi was out most of the day, meeting a friend of her's who is briefly over here from Japan. The lady was travelling from Edinburgh where she had been visiting with her daughter, who lives there. She stopped off in York to meet up with Emi and they had lunch together. My blood-sugar levels were a bit too high at midday. I try to keep them from getting into double figures and am usually fairly successful at this but today they were far too high, and for no reason that I could asertain. I'd eaten the same breakfast that I always eat, taken the same insulin injection dose as usual, but, when I tested before lunch, the levels were high. This occasionally happens but there's no logical reason for it. As long as it doesn't become the 'norm' I should be able to get away with it. I shoudn't really give away the performance set list details for 'Plectronica', but, to heck with it, here it is. 14 numbers. The titles marked with a * are all new pieces, and titles 9, 10 and 11will be the 'Orchestra Future' section of the show. Also, Theo Travis will join me for track 8. Ok, enough for tonight, back to work... PLECTRONICA SET LIST: 1: 'GLORIA MUNDAE.' 2: 'I ALWAYS KNEW YOU WOULD FIND ME. 3: 'FOREVERTRON.' * 4: 'THE EYE OF HEAVEN SHINES.' * 5: 'BEYOND YONDER.' * 6: 'LUXEODEON.' 7: 'BLUE AMORINI.' 8: 'GOLDEN DREAM OF CIRCUS HORSES.' 9: 'THE INSTITUTE OF ENCHANTMENT' (DEPARTMENT ONE.) * 10: 'THE INSTITUTE OF ENCHANTMENT' (DEPARTMENT TWO.) * 11: 'THE ANTIQUARIAN FUTURIST.' * 12: 'A DREAM FOR IAN.' 13: 'BEATNIKS FROM OUTER SPACE.' 14: 'BEYOND THESE CLOUDS, THE SWEETEST DREAM.' FLYER FOR THE UNRELEASED ALBUM 'STUPID SERIOUS.' COMING SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE...

Finally arrived at a set list for the 'Plectronica' performance and have burned it to CDR for reference purposes. Next step is to take the original DAT tapes to Fairview to transfer to the mastering computer and then put everything in the correct order and create the master disc which will be used on the day of the event to form the backing tracks for the performance. I now have to type up my charts for the set, which I'll need to prompt me on each number's twists and turns, then print them out and arrange them in a physical folder which will sit on my music stand at the venue. Problem is, my eyesight has deteriorated so dramatically from the diabetic macular degeneration this last year, that I'll hardly be able to read the charts when they're on the stand. I'm already having to hold a magnifying glass up to the computer screen to check the accuracy of my typing as it is. It's sometimes very depressing but things could be worse so, keep on keeping on, as they say... Contacted John Spence today to arrange a date for the backing track mastering. The earliest he can fit me in at Fairview is the 12th November. Should just allow enough time for me to sit at home with the mastered tracks and select the right guitars to suit each one. Maybe I'll manage with less guitars this time...(or maybe not.) So many nice instruments to choose from, it becomes a bit of a lottery to some degree. The three new 'Orchestra Futura' tracks should prove interesting and not too difficult for us to tackle 'blind' with no prior rehearsal. I've kept them extremely simple in chord structure, just basic, modal drones with plenty of scope for live decoration. I like the idea of static tonal centres but with lots of filigree, jig-saw puzzle decor on top. Space to wander and time to dream. These improvised live 'overdubs' are always dependent on the mood of the moment and the quality of the sound, particularly the on-stage monitors which have to convey as much detailed information from the backing tracks to the musicians and myself as possible. It will also be interesting to see which of the tracks our surprise guest chooses to play on too. (Reminder: must email him the three choices as soon as possible so that he can choose one that he feels comfortable contributing something to.) Artwork to start this weekend, though I have my usual trip to Wakefield on Saturday to visit my mum. Telephoned her twice today, as I do every day to make sure she's ok. John (Leckie,) emailed an interesting photograph to me today. It was of the two of us, taken during the initial recordings of my 'Quit Dreaming And Get On The Beam' album. The location of the photo' is the village hall in West Haddlesey which we used as our recording space for the album. I lived in the village at that time and hired the village hall for the purpose of recording. We had the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio parked just outside, with microphone cables snaking from the truck into the village hall via the windows. It worked out really well, but we had to vacate the premises some nights as the hall was used for the ladies' 'keep fit' classes! The nice thing was that, after a day's recording there, John and I could stroll back down the quiet, darkened village street to my home, (Haddlesey House,) where we'd relax with a nice meal and a glass of wine. Seems like only yesterday, but, in truth, it was a long time ago...happy days. Have been feeling like I'm catching a cold. Taking the usual precautions and hoping it doesn't get a hold prior to 'Plectronica.' JOHN LECKIE AND MYSELF IN THE EARLY 1980s. THE PHOTO' WAS TAKEN IN WEST HADDLESEY'S VILLAGE HALL, WHERE WE RECORDED THE ALBUM ; 'QUIT DREAMING AND GET ON THE BEAM.' THE SINGLE 'DO YOU DREAM IN COLOUR?' WAS ALSO RECORDED HERE. IT WAS A SIMPLE, UNPRETENTIOUS WOODEN BUILDING, BUT IDEAL FOR THE LOW-KEY, RELAXED RECORDING OF THE ALBUM. WE WERE OUT OF THE REACH OF THE RECORD COMPANY'S EXECUTIVES AND FREE TO PURSUE WHATEVER WE WISHED. A TIME WHEN CREATIVITY HAD FEW COMMERCIAL CONSTRAINTS... A FLYER FOR 'STUPID-SERIOUS', A COMPLETED ALBUM AWAITING RELEASE...BUT WHEN?

Still being dizzied by the whirlpool of stuff going on around the 'Plectronica' event coupled with Cherry Red's requirements for me to do a little something to help promote their re-release of 'Sunburst Finish.' Spoke last night with my old pal, and one time co-producer, John Leckie who is planning to come up to York the day before the filming of the Cherry Red documentary interview about the making of 'Sunburst Finish' John and I go back a very long way, right back to the 'Axe Victim' album which John did some engineering on for a couple of the tracks, (way before we teamed up as co-producers for the 'Sunburst Finish' album.') John and I have one of those almost magical relationships that I treasure so much...No matter how long the gap between our various reconnections, it always feels as if we'd never missed a day's conversation. It's an easy, warm and encouraging vibe. I've always felt comfortable around John and we're like brothers in arms in many ways. There are very few people in the music business that I feel so much at home with, (my good friend, recording engineer John Spence being another,) and I value their friendship tremendously. It's that mysterious thing of souls being connected by a similar wavelength. I think we're fellow travellers through time... I've finally managed to make some inroads to the set list for 'Plectronica' though there's still a fair way to go with it...trying to balance the style of different tracks, moods and key signatures takes time. I think this will be a rather 'chilled out' set though, with very few up-tempo numbers. Mostly laid-back, ambient, moody, neo-jazz instrumentals. But hey, it's my birthday gig, possibly my last public performance, so I'm allowed to indulge myself to a certain degree I reckon... Once the set list is settled, I have to take the various backing track tapes over to Fairview for John (Spence) to master and assemble onto CDs to use on the day. Next task will be to decide on which guitars work best with each track. I like to take a nice selection of instruments to these concerts, varying them from time to time, but I always have new ones I'd like to feature, plus old favourites to dig out. The choosing of guitars is as important as the choice of tracks. Because these events are one-offs, only one gig per year, there's a steep re-learning curve every time I decide to do one, a necessary re-acquainting with, not only the material, but with the technology, the various sounds and pedal effects switches and so on. I don't exactly have the simplest set up in the world and it's easy to forget the layout of it all due to working in an entirely different way in the studio all year. Bound to be mistakes and confusions on the day but, what the hell... Well, I shouldn't be typing this...there are more important things to deal with, but, at this time of night, perhaps the most important thing is to get some rest...

I'm reminded of the old 1950's BBC TV children's series which featured Harry Corbett and his glove puppets, 'Sooty and Sweep', whose magic incantation was 'Izzy-Whizzy, let's get busy' whenever they needed some extra power to aid whatever outcome they were seeking from a particular situation. Childhood nonsense, of course, but I could benefit from such a fantasy right now. Making very slow inroads to the set list for the upcoming 'Plectronica' event, and not nearly as much progress as I'd like. These Cherry Red Records Be Bop Deluxe reissues have come at a difficult time, especially regarding the pressures on me to get everything ready for 'Plectronica,' But I guess it's a commercially advantageous time for them to release the reissue, especially with the focus being firmly on my, (maybe,) last live concert. Whether it will be my final live performance or not is a moot point...If health grants me the blessing I desire, it will certainly not be my last...I'm railing against that with every fibre of my being. Tonight burning several new backing tracks to CDR disc so that I can try improvising some guitar to them. Have to arrive at a final decision about which tracks to include in my live set. I'm keen to include as many newer tracks as possible, but also need to make sure some older favourites are in there too. At the end of the day, it will be something of a lottery. I don't know whether to pour obsessively over this stuff or to say 'screw it' and just arrange a random mix of my live material. Whatever, it's sure to disappoint those old Be Bop Deluxe fans who have decided to attend the event, and who might be expecting me to dig into long forgotten tombs and exhume the decaying corpse of Be Bop Deluxe. I'm so sorry, but that's not going to be the case. The set, (if it is indeed to be a farewell live performance,) will only feature the low key instrumentals that relate to my here and now, (and of which I'm most connected with and fond.) This will be an event to celebrate my wider interests and reach, not to look back, but to look forward with renewed optimism and hope of fresh adventures. 70 years old is, for some people I guess, a milestone, a major event in their lives...but for me, it signifies very little. I have so much, much more, to achieve. I've only scratched the surface...

I've completed the backing track I was working on for a possible 'Orchestra Futura' piece at the 'Plectronica' concert. I've titled it 'The Antiquarian Futurist'. Still not convinced I've got the right kind of piece for our 'mystery guest' to play on yet though. I may well try to create yet another track, (or at least start one,) tonight before retiring to bed. A cold day, today, with sleet this morning. Weather has shifted from the unusually mild days we've experienced recently to something more wintery. Feeling the chill. Drove to Wakefield to visit my mum, as usual at weekends. Took her to the 'Ridings' shopping centre in Wakefield and then to the supermarket. She has difficulty walking but is still focused and alert. Had a good conversation back at her house about her childhood and our family's, (somewhat mysterious,) past. I think she's so brave living alone at 90 years of age and managing to cope without professional carers, despite her physical infirmities. More terrible events unfolded in the USA today with a gunman shooting and killing people attending a baby naming ceremony in a Synagogue in the Pittsburgh area. And this just after a right-wing fanatic had mailed 13 bombs to people who had expressed various criticisms of so called 'President' Trump. This hate-filled gunman apparently drove a van with anti-liberal slogans and pro-Trump pictures plastered across its windows. Isn't it obvious? If you live in a country where the gun laws are lax enough to allow fanatics and madmen to access them, you're going to inherit a barrel load of trouble. Aside from the tragedy of this, what I find difficult to grasp is the sheer ignorance and hate that drives these kinds of people to such brutal acts. It seems that, even in the 21st Century, a time that we once imagined would herald a utopian, egalitarian society, the primitive, reactionary, and downright ugly side of human nature still oozes out like poisonous puss from a canker. It's hard not to despair but, for those of us who would never stoop to such behaviour, we must keep faith in our finer instincts and not allow ourselves to sink down into the gutter alongside those who act in this way. It's a very sad and deeply shameful state of affairs... All we can hope for is that the current mess that affects, not only America, but the UK too and the world in general, will gradually abate to be replaced by a more tolerant, progressive, open and kinder understanding. Easy words, not easily put into action, I fear. Apologies for attempting...

Struggling to get the things done that I need to do for 'Plectronica.' Have been sorting through some of the new backing tracks I've created but decided to dump some of them, particularly the ones I'd intended to use for 'Orchestra Futura's' set. I've just now completed anotuher back-track for 'Orchestra Futura', as yet it's untitled, but I think this one might be ok. There's no opportunity to rehearse so I'm keeping these trio tracks very simple, at least in terms of their chord progressions. All are basically drone tracks with the occasional shift in key but with several decorative elements and lush sounds to compensate for their harmonic simplicity. Also have a few new tracks to place somewhere in my solo set. Which ones and where they'll go is still to be decided. This stuff takes time and is made even more difficult because of the 'one-off' nature of these concerts. It's not like putting a regular touring set together and going out on the road for several months of the year and having the material burned into your brain. These once a year concerts are like starting over again every time. A new set, new numbers, new running order, and the re-learning of how the live equipment works and what guitars and sounds are needed for the chosen set list. Various other distractions have robbed me of valuable time too, not least the domestic issues with gas boilers, car MOTs and so on, but with duties for Cherry Red's reissue of 'Sunburst Finish' as well. Did a 'phone interview with 'Classic Rock' magazine yesterday. The journalist who interviewed me was Rob Hughes. It was a pleasant interview but, to be honest, I've long lost the knack of presenting myself as some sort of rock n' roll God in these things. I'm perhaps somewhat too dismissive of my past achievements for my own good. Living in the present rather than my more commercial Be Bop Deluxe past can create frustrations from time to time. Be Bop Deluxe is both a blessing and a curse, I'm afraid. But it can't be undone. Got to travel to Wakefield to help my Mum tomorrow. The usual weekly trip to the supermarket in Wakefield. Always good to see her and help as much as we're able. I still call her twice every day to make sure she's ok. A short list needs to be made next for the 'Plectronica' set...then a running order, and then take the backing tracks over to Fairview for John Spence to master. After that I really must try to make a start on artwork. Several drawings to create and frame and so on. Plus, I now have a guitar donated by Mike Robinson of Eastwood Guitars which I'm to decorate and put up for auction at 'Plectronica' to benefit 'Sara's Hope Foundation' charity, (which I've supported for some years now.) As always, not enough hours in the day, and not enough energy available to me at this time of life, especially with my various health issues. Never mind...try to do the best I can. It will be what it will be...

A frustrating day with too many domestic distractions for me to turn my attention to the work needed to prepare for 'Plectronica.' Emiko's car, which we took to the garage this morning, required quite a bit of expensive work on it to get it through the MOT. Cars are a regular drain on money, but a necessary evil these days. Anyway, I bit the bullet and paid the bill. The British Gas salesman arrived and spent an hour or more surveying our house for the possible installation of a new boiler. He was nice and very persuasive and actually did a good job of selling the product and installation and who, incidentally, seemed to have a genuine appreciation of music, (which we discussed,) but I think the look on our faces when he revealed the price said it all. £4,500 is totally out of the question... We have a few days to decide if we'll take up the offer but I'm afraid it's a no-go. Anyway, I gave him a couple of my albums in the hope that, perhaps he will forgive us when we finally decline the deal. I suspect he's on a commission basis, per sale, so I'm sorry to disappoint him. It's a tough world out there... Tonight, after dinner and my usual 8 o'clock call to my mother to check on her condition, I finished the track I've been working on these last couple of days. It's essentially a backing track for the 'Plectronica' event but I've also overdubbed guitars on it so that it can be used on a future album. The 'non-overdubbed' version has also been mixed to use in the live performance. It's tentatively titled 'The Institute Of Enchantment, Department Two,' (I have another track titled 'The Institute Of Enchantment, Department One') which may also feature in the live set. I really must start to sort through all this material and try to arrive at a set list and get it all mastered at Fairview, ready for the event. Absolutely no artwork prepared for the merchandise stall yet. Nor have I found time to decorate the Eastwood guitar that will be auctioned for the 'Sara's Hope Foundation' charity which I support. Such a lot still to do, including equipment preparation and packing, guitar choices and what to wear, (always a problem.) Have to get the new video components finished too and transferred to Paul (Gilby's) lap top to project on the day. The possibility of streaming the live event is still unresolved at this moment too. Ok, it's nearly 11 pm but I have to get back to work...

Another day gone and not nearly enough work done on the 'Plectronica' preparations. Had to deal with a gas boiler problem and service today. Seems we need a new boiler as the one we have is around 17 or 18 years old and becoming increasingly unreliable. So, a man from British Gas is calling tomorrow to have a look at our current central heating/hot water set up and will file a quote on the cost of replacing it with a new system. That too will rob me of time that I could better use for work. I will also have to take Emi's car in for an MOT tomorrow morning, which makes the day even less musically productive for me. (And I suspect that there will be some expensive work needed on the car to get it through the MOT too.) Had to take some exercise late afternoon to get my blood sugar levels down, so we went into town and had a walk around, then dropped into a wine bar/cafe for some refreshment before returning home. Looking at the decor in the wine bar, it was interesting to see the clash of antique mirrors and lamps from different places around the world mixed with more contemporary elements. Which got me thinking. We live in a time when history is constantly available for our perusal via books, photographs, films, video, museums and the internet. There's a rich tapestry of history at our fingertips, Likewise our ideas of 'the future' come into the equation too...The newest technological developments, artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, advances in computer science and so on, plus the speculation of where this all may lead. Then there's a weird mix of past and future, echoes of a time when we dreamed of flying cars, jet packs, utopian cities and unlimited supplies of energy, the retro-futurism that, strangely enough, has inspired the technological here and now. We seem to have arrived at a point in time when past and future converge. This perspective wasn't available to our ancestors. They could only live in the present with limited access to the multitude of time lines and cultural, global richness that many of us enjoy today. (Though it's fairly obvious that there's an aggressive backlash against globalism and a retreat into insular, isolationist attitudes. I guess from the kind of people who put Trump into power and, here in the UK, dragged the country into Brexit with all its contentious ramifications.) So, these are indeed strange days. We sit in a kind of target zone, shot at from all sides, past, present and future. How we make sense of it all, how we cope with the barrage of information, the endless distractions from things that really matter, will determine our real future. It will take much more wisdom to fathom out than a few idle words on the internet...

With the honorary doctorate behind me and the magical experience that the day in Winchester brought me, it's now back to the reality of having to deal with the simultaneous task of preparing for the upcoming 'Plectronica' event and also various requests from Cherry Red Records to promote their upcoming 'Sunburst Finish' reissue. The two things are colliding, head to head at the moment, and I'm becoming increasingly confused by what I'm supposed to be doing from one day to another. To be perfectly honest, it would be better to just concentrate entirely on 'Plectronica' but, as the reissue of Be Bop Deluxe's 1970 something album is due for a November release, I can't escape the duties of promotion that go with it. Regular readers of this journal, (and of my website forum posts,) will know how ambivalent I am towards those old recordings. If I'd never created another note since that time, I may well be more comfortable with them, and glad to unearth the recordings and 'cash in' on their revival. (If such a thing is possible for artists within the music industry.) But with my unbroken chain of recording work from the 1970s to here and now, I hope that I can be forgiven for feeling a little dismissive of those younger, less aware times. Yes, I know, I should feel proud of the music I was involved with back then, but here's the rub, at least for me, it was all very much 'back then' and certainly not now. It inevitably no longer reflects the person who I am at almost, (unbelievably,) 70 years old. It was music made by a young, (and even more naive than I am now,) man in his twenties with absolutely no inkling of what life was to hold in store for him. And life did hold so much more in store as it always does, some of it difficult and challenging, some of it surprising and magical. It seems to me that the hardships of life either harden you up and make you cynical, aggressive, angry and bitter, or somehow knock off and soften the sharp edges, make you philosophical, pragmatic, more gentle and mellow, reflective and wise. I wonder on which side I fall in that equation? Somewhere in the middle I guess... I didn't intend to ramble on in this journal entry in such a fashion and I think I've lost the thread of what I really wanted to say. There's a new, half-finished backing track awaiting my attention. The dials and controls of my tiny home studio are glowing invitingly in this dimly lit room. Here is where my heart resides, where my dreams struggle to find form but are never perfectly realised. It's the chase, the journey, that yields the best result, not the arriving at a destination, not the goal but the play of the ball. Remember to look out of the window and enjoy the passing scene...

Got back very late last night after an extremely enjoyable day in Winchester. Emi and I were up at 6 AM to prepare for the long trip and it was sometimes uncomfortable in the confined space of the train to endure the four and a half hours it took to get to our destination. Once there, however, we met up with our friends Colin and Caroline Hunter who met us at Winchester station and drove us to the Cathedral to meet John McKenna, one of the University's governors, who had proposed me for the 'Doctorate Of Arts' honorary degree. John turned out to be a lovely, kind man who looked after me throughout the ceremony and read a flattering introduction to the assembled Cathedral audience just before I received the official honorary degree. The degree was presented to me by the Chancellor of the University, a man who just happens to be television presenter and master gardener Alan Titchmarsh. Alan is a very genuine and erudite man whose talents, from the evidence of his inspirational and enlightened closing speech, extend in several directions beyond his more obvious gardening expertise. I was very impressed and enjoyed chatting with him after the ceremony. Of course, there was the formality of robing up prior to the procession into the Cathedral. My robe as an honorary 'doctor of the arts,' was mainly red with purple highlights. I also had to wear a kind of wide cap with a tassel, not the mortar board I'd expected, but which I rather liked and, in photographs taken afterwards, made me appear quite the traditional academic from history. With my grey goatee beard and the tasseled hat and robes I resembled Dr John Dee, the Elizabethan Magus and Polymath and a personal 'hero' of mine. What fun! Nevertheless, I was quite nervous about the whole thing and worried that I hadn't prepared an acceptance speech, (not that I could have read it with my failing eyesight if I had.) So I just spoke a few words off-the-cuff, from my heart, and left it at that. After the ceremony was over, (and it included many highlights, as well as Alan Titchmarsh's fine closing speech and a very nice performance from the student choir and string ensemble,) we retired to the Wessex Hotel for tea and cakes and wine, (though, due to my Diabetes, I had to forgo the cakes.) Then a dash to the station to catch the train back to Yorkshire. Two fans waiting for me outside the station with albums to sign, which I signed happily whilst keeping an eye on the minutes ticking away to our departure time. Once safely on the train we settled down for the long trip back home. No restaurant car, no cafe counter, just a small snacks trolley, which couldn't be wheeled through the train due to the number of passengers who were unable to find a seat and had to stand in the vestibule or in the aisles of the carriages. The hours ticked by, relieved temporarily by my iPod which played back '40s swing music and Tony Hancock radio sketches for me. Couldn't read though as my eyesight proved too problematic and pulling out a magnifying glass to attempt a better view of the text was embarrassing. Eventually the train creaked into York station and we got a taxi home. Our beloved cat, Django, ran to meet us as our footsteps crunched the gravel to our door, so pleased to see us after a long day alone. I can't begin to explain how much this innocent creature means to us, how he has brought so much fun, joy and warmth into our lives. Those who are cat lovers will know and understand perfectly what I mean. I'm encouraged by the fact that so many artists and intellectuals have been cat lovers too. I've always thought that a person who has a rapport with our feline friends is a person you can trust. Jean Cocteau and Austin Osman Spare were both photographed with their cats...and both are heroes of mine. Today, we visited my mother in Wakefield and tonight decided to eat out at our favourite village pub. A proper meal as opposed to the sandwiches we ate yesterday. More work ahead though, lots more, and my sense of panic intensifies... BILL, ROBED AND HOLDING HIS 'DOCTOR OF ARTS' DEGREE IN WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL. ALAN TITCHMARSH AND BILL IN WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL, 19TH OCTOBER 2018. (Both photographs taken by Emiko Nelson.)

Today has been busy with one thing or another, though tomorrow will be busier. Steve Cook, hairdresser and occasional keyboardist, came over to our house today to trim my hair in preparation for tomorrow's trip to Winchester to receive my honorary Doctorate Of Arts degree. Steve arrived on the train and I picked him up from the station and took him back when the snippy deed was done. Always nice to see Steve, regardless of haircuts. I've known him since he was a junior at Vidal Sassoon in Leeds, way back in the 1980s. Spent much of the day sorting out what to wear for tomorrow's ceremony and packing a large shoulder bag for the trip. The bag contains a copy of the latest 'Fortean Times' magazine and a paperback book I bought from a second-hand bookshop which tells the story of 'The Shadows'. It was written some years ago and I'm not sure how truthful it might be, but it will hopefully keep me entertained on the long trip to Winchester and back. Don't know how easy it will be to read on the train though as I can't make out any text without glasses and a magnifying glass. I'll probably look like Mr Magoo to everyone passing my seat. Also packed my iPod and headphones in case the reading proves too difficult. Music may be the only way to pass the hours of the journey. I have some Tony Hancock radio sketches on the iPod too. which are always good for a nostalgic trip back to younger years. Suffered a nasty fall tonight. We went round to our neighbours who have said they'll keep an eye out for Django tomorrow and let him in or out depending on his mood. We went to explain a few things about this and in the darkness outside their door I tripped over an iron boot scraper and fell heavily to the ground. I sustained a couple of nasty wounds and a few scratches. My ankle was quite badly cut by the sharp edge of the boot scraper and my knee was gashed and bloody. Also hit my head on the floor and have a slight headache as a result. When we returned home, Emiko helped me clean the wounds and large band-aids were applied. The ankle is still bleeding though and I'm walking with a bit of a limp... Have to be up at 6 am to get ready for the journey to Winchester. An ungodly hour for me, I'm afraid. We'll get a taxi to the station and hopefully everything will be on time. Taking my Diabetes kit with me, Insulin and needles, blood test meter, etc. I suspect my regular blood-sugar management routine will be disrupted somewhat but hopefully things will not get too out of hand. I have some jelly babies in my bag in case of 'hypos' too. (When blood sugar drops too low.) It's a juggling act in many ways, trying to keep it all on a reasonably even keel. A pain in the bum having to deal with it on a daily basis but it's essential as Diabetes is life threatening left unattended. On an entirely different subject, Eastwood guitars tonight announced a new 'deluxe' version of the Backlund Model 100 guitar. Regular visitors to the Dreamsville website will have seen the photo' of me on the home page with my original Model 100 which I've had for a couple of years now. But, wow, this new deluxe version is stunning and is fitted with a vibrato arm. It's in a beautiful pearl white and comes with three different coloured pick guards. It also has large block pearl position markers on the neck, (which would help me immensely as I have severe eyesight problems.) Eastwood are apparently only producing 12 of this model. I've attached a photo' of one with the red pick guard but the green pick guard works superbly with the pearl white body. Do I want one? Well, what do you think? Of course I do! How can I justify it to Emiko though? Say it's an early Christmas present to myself? Sneak it in the back door and hope she doesn't notice? Damn, I wish Mike Robinson wouldn't keep coming up with such stunning guitars and tempting me so sorely. Eastwood really have a great take on unusual guitar designs and it seems to be paying off for them. Bravo! As much as I'm drooling over it though, I can't take the opportunity to buy one...Emiko would go ballistic... Now I'll limp off and sulk and try not to keep looking at this six string seductress... The Backlund Super Model 100 by Eastwood with its red pick guard fitted. And here's photo' of the Super 100 with the green pick guard fitted...Nice!

Just completed a 30 minute long video titled 'Uncanny Valley,' to project behind myself and 'Orchestra Futura' at the upcoming 'Plectronica' event. A half-hour of random images that will add some visual interest to the performance. I've been working on this for several weeks and glad that it's finally finished. However, I'm adding several audio tracks from various albums of mine so that it can be uploaded to the 'Essoldo Cinema' section of my website after the 'Plectronica' event is over. A second life for it. But, for the live performance, the album tracks won't be heard in the auditorium, only the live improvisations on the day. The video will form a silent accompaniment to the new live tracks I'm working on. Speaking of the live tracks, I've yet to decide on which ones to include in the set. Especially difficult is preparing something for 'Orchestra Futura' to improvise over. It's tricky getting the balance right between too little sonic information to too much. It needs to be something that doesn't negotiate too many chord changes as we'll have no time to rehearse...it's literally made up as we go along, in front of the audience. Instant composition in action. We will probably also attempt one or two pieces without backing tracks, which is even more risky, especially as I'm the only person in the trio with an instrument capable of playing chords, the sax and flute and bass being more single note oriented instruments, (though the bass can produce some limited chordal material.) I also have a problem playing chords now because my arthritis makes it very painful to form certain chord shapes. It's a struggle and very frustrating. One thing that has cropped up is the possibility of another artist sitting in for a number during the live set, possibly as part of the 'Orchestra Futura' performance, expanding the trio to a quartet for one piece. I'm not going to reveal who this might be. If it comes off I want it to be a surprise, but if it does work out, those of you who have tickets are going to remember it as a very special moment. Enough said! Still haven't found time to make any inroads into creating original artwork for the event. I've bought two large white ceramic plates to draw on, plus a cardboard mask to decorate, and a sheaf of A4 sized coloured card to make several drawings on and then place in frames. I've even bought some DAS clay to make a couple of three-dimensional pieces but, how much of all this will achieve fruition is a moot point. There just aren't enough hours in the day. Arrangements were made today for the filming of a Cherry Red Records documentary interview about the 'Sunburst Finish' album. It will take place on the 7th November here at the house, using my little home studio as a location. My old pal John Leckie is travelling up with the video crew to share the interview with me. I hope he can remember more about the sessions than I can! Also, I've today been emailing back and forth with the press officer of Cherry Red Records trying to fix up a date for the 'Classic Rock' magazine interview...it was supposed to be a face-to-face one but arranging a mutually convenient date and time has proved difficult so it's now going to be done via telephone, which can be a little strange without being able to read the other person's facial expressions...but I'm sure we'll get by. Equally frustrating is that the main focus of the article will be on an album I made over 40 years ago. I've tried to avoid becoming stereotyped as 'the guy in Be Bop Deluxe' for many years now, but it still comes back to haunt me! I shouldn't complain though, as it was the launch pad for my continuing career. Despite that I've not exactly traded on the '70s era like many other artists. I've had much more to say. It can be frustrating when I get constantly tagged with that old chestnut, 'Ships In The Night' when I've created so much more music over the years. I'm not dismissive of it...it certainly served a purpose and, whilst it's perhaps my least favourite Be Bop Deluxe song, I do recognise its role in gaining the band and myself slightly wider commercial success. That said, these days I'm quite content to work in a kind of semi-obscurity as long as I can get by and make the kind of music I need to make without any commercial constraints. And that is a rare thing, a blessing of sorts. The internet has its downside but it has certainly allowed me to connect directly with an audience of like-minded people who appreciate and enjoy my work. And for that, I'm very grateful...

I'm not going to write up a full journal entry today as I'm just about to go out and have dinner with Emiko at our local village pub, (which does excellent meals, though I'm limited in my diet due to the Diabetes problem.) Instead I'm going to share a quick photo' I took today of my new Backlund by Eastwood 'Rockerbox' archtop guitar which arrived this morning. It's a retro-futurist beauty and very well made. I've already recorded a track with it and it sounds perfect. (And it's in a lovely 'strawberries and cream' colour which matches my 'Astroluxe Cadet' and my 'Backlund Model 100.') Also, today saw the reissue in digital download form of my double album 'Songs For Ghosts' which quickly sold out when it was in limited edition CD form last October. A very richly textured album filled with vocal and instrumental tracks which I'm pleased to make available again for any fans who missed out on it first time around. Meanwhile, enjoy the photograph...Left to right: 'Backlund Rockerbox,' 'Astroluxe Cadet,' and 'Backlund Model 100.'

Emiko's 70th birthday came and went in a flash last week. We sallied forth for a meal in the evening to a seafood restaurant in the city with my son and daughter, (Elliot and Elle.) Strange how the letter 'E' figures in my life, Emiko, Elle, Elliot...and my father's sister was named Elenor, (though known as Nell.) Anyway, we had a lovely meal despite me suffering from the usual problem of hearing parts of the conversation due to my partial deafness. Noisy surroundings tend to aggravate the condition and I end up nodding and smiling, but not really being able to follow the conversation. Everyone remarks on how youthful Emi looks. It's hard to believe that she's 70 and two months older than myself. Japanese people seem to age so well, unlike myself. Every time I catch a glimpse of myself in a mirror I'm horrified by what it reveals. The brutality of the real... Elliot's girlfriend, Nic, took some photographs of me the other day for the exhibition she's mounting. She's a photographer, (amongst other talents,) and the photo's were head and shoulder portraits, the kind, I suspect, that reveal the reality of the subject matter rather than airbrushing it out. I await the results with a certain amount of trepidation! Still attempting to record new backing tracks for the 'Plectronica' event. Struggling with an uncooperative recording system though. Gremlin afflicted and sometimes refusing to boot up. Very frustrating. Nevertheless, I manage to get something done though it takes an inordinate amount of patience and a certain amount of bad language. Time is flying by and my sense of panic increases every day. There's tons still to do. The package artwork for the 'Auditoria' triple album is now complete and should be going to the pressing plant very soon. When we get the finished albums back, I have to sign enough copies for all the people who are attending 'Plectronica.' Have made preparations for the trip to Winchester to receive my honorary Doctor Of Arts degree. Train tickets purchased that will hopefully get us there and back in a single day. It will be a long and exhausting trip, leaving home very early in the morning to arrive in Winchester around 1 pm, then a rush to get robed up in the gown and mortar board traditionally required for the ceremony at Winchester Cathedral. The event is due to finish at 4:30 pm which should leave us enough time to get to Winchester station to catch the five to six train back home. We'll arrive home around midnight. Although it would have been more comfortable to travel to Winchester the day prior to the event and come home the day after, doing it in a single day will make it easier on our beloved cat Django. We couldn't get Elle or Elliot to take care of him as they are otherwise occupied. It will be a long day for Django alone in the house, but we'll leave him plenty of food and water and hope that he doesn't get too stressed by our absence. Bought a book on the Cathars of France, (though I already own several on that subject.) Put it on the mountainous pile at the side of my bed, so many books awaiting my attention. It gets harder and harder to read though. My eyesight is severely depleted due to the diabetic macular degeneration. I really shouldn't buy any more books, the house is already totally awash with them, but I've loved reading since I was a child and books are my treasure. Strangely enough, I rarely listen to music these days, (apart from working on my own,) but books inspire and inform my curiosity endlessly. Finally managed to set a date for the filming of a Cherry Red Records documentary interview about the upcoming reissue of Be Bop Deluxe's 'Sunburst Finish' album. The filmed interview will be done here in my tiny home studio. We'd originally planned to do it in Abbey Road Studios where much of the album was recorded, but the cost of hiring the studio for a couple of hours was astronomical. So it will take place here in my humble recording room amongst the clutter of retro toys and piled up equipment. November 7th is the date of the filming. To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure I have much to offer in the way of interesting stories about the recording of the album. It was such a long time ago and I only vaguely recall the process of recording it. Unlike many bands from the '70s, I didn't stop making albums when the commercial side of my music moved on to more adventurous realms. The amount of music I've created in the ensuing years makes remembering details about music I made 40 odd years ago difficult to recall. I'll do my best, but, I think it may be a little disappointing. What isn't disappointing is the arrival, next week, of a new guitar. It's an Eastwood made, but John Backlund designed, 'Rockerbox,' a retro-futuristic archtop guitar which I'm really looking forward to playing. I've chosen the two-tone red and cream version with a Bigsby trem. John's guitar designs are terrific. He shares a similar love of '50s modernist design to myself and I've been so pleased to see his partnership with Mike Robinson of Eastwood Guitars working out so well. A positive note to end on. Now for dinner and, after I've eaten, a call to check on my mother and then further work on the 'Plectronica' backing tracks until bedtime...

Last day of September and I can feel the change of the seasons in my bones. The trees are only just beginning to shed their leaves, a little later than usual it seems due to the extended summer we've enjoyed this year, but bushes in our garden are showing an abundance of berries which usually points to a harsh winter ahead. Temperature has dropped tonight which, so far, hasn't stopped our beloved cat Django from venturing out into the fields surrounding our house. He likes to roam and hunt when darkness falls after an afternoon snoozing on our bed. Took time out from my complicated schedule to go to Saltaire this afternoon, though we set off a little late. It's a long car journey, around two hours, to get there, but nice to arrive next to the familiar edifice of Salt's Mill. We had lunch there, my usual small Ceaser salad and a glass of house wine, which was very enjoyable and hopefully didn't raise my blood-sugar levels too much. Looked attentively around the fabulous range of books that the mill carries, wanting to buy many but unable to justify the expense, especially due to the problems I now have reading with my diabetes impaired eyesight. However I bought two paperbacks, one a book written by Billy Bragg on the history of Skiffle music in Britain in the 1950's, which I'm looking forward to reading, albeit with the struggle of holding a magnifying glass to its pages. The other book was an autobiography by 'Cosey Fani Tutti', one time member of 'Throbbing Gristle' and 'Psychic TV' and a confrontational artist in her own right. I've often had mixed feelings about those groups and the narrow division between art and deliberately salacious, purient deviancy but must admit to having a sneaking respect for their pushing of boundaries. It's a grey area that throws up a lot of questions about who we are and how we view ourselves. It will be interesting reading I suspect. Here on the home front, the packaging art for the 'Auditoria' album is nearing completion. Just a tiny adjustment to the text font and then I think we're there with it. Quite a big project to get all three discs/albums finished, mastered and packaged in time for the manufacturing deadline. Hopefully, we're on schedule... Still have concerns about the honarary doctorate arts degree ceremony coming up very soon...Haven't yet sorted out how to take care of Django while we're away. A serious worry for us. If it was a local thing it wouldn't be such a problem, but Winchester is a very long way away... Another ordeal with injections into both my eyes coming up this week, (on Tuesday.) I wish they could find a better way of getting the drug into the back of my eyes other than by sticking needles into my eyeballs. But it seems this is the only way and must be endured. Working on a new backing track for 'Orchestra Futura' which we will possibly perform at the 'Plectronica' event in December. It's a fairly straight, '50s style jazzy piece but with a couple of sonic differences. Need to continue with these backing tracks and compile them and choose which ones will fit the event best. Have yet to begin working on original artwork for the merchandise stall at 'Plectronica.' I imagine it will be a bit of a struggle with my failing eyesight. Now, though late, it's time to continue with the aforementioned backing track...there's no 'clocking in and out' with this job.