My Backing singers

Played at Celtic Ireland last night and was kindly joined by 3 guys on holiday who provided backing vocals for most of the songs!



Playing at this place is an interesting experience as you never have the same audience twice. It is very much a tourist type of place especially with it being so central in Brugge. There is also a suprising numbers of students who go there so the set list must be as varied as possible.

Last night started very quiet with only about 30 people there but after a couple of numbers the place swelled to around 75+. Playing in Belgium is an interesting experience compared with England (or Netherlands for that matter) as from an audience point of view, you are there purely for background music and so they always talk over the top of you. Play a song they dont know .... the look at you in a very strange manner, so I have no perfected the art of introducing my songs as other peoples ..... this works well! Having the 3 guys sitting right next to me and singing along to pretty much all the songs made the night go quicker (I play from 10.00 - 00.00 .... followed by a 75 minute drive home) and very relaxed atmosphere. They genuinely enjoyed the night ... thanks guys!

Update on Donald ...... it was all a dream .......

My Fiancé Killed Donald Fagen

Donald came round my flat last night asking about the possibilities of using one of my songs on their up and coming tour. I was very excited about this and we talked for hours about music. We were having such a great time until Louise came back from shopping.

She was upset that a) he had turned up unannounced and b) we had opened her special bottle of wine we had been saving. She started shouting at both of us in an uncontrolable rage..... which resulted in her pushing Donald down our stairs. He crashed into the bookcase and split his head wide open on my set of Grove Dictionaries ...... Good way to go really.

Happy Monday!

Yes, it is Monday! Aren't Mondays great! There is soimething fresh, new and exciting about then! Its the start of a whole new week of excitement, fun and jolity!

For me however, this Monday means pain and anguish as it was the first Cricket game of the season. Despite lengthy warm up, stretches and exercises, it still feels as though my muscles have been replaced with iron rods! But I am not complaining .... much

For those curious to know gig lists etc for the up and coming weeks ..... please see below.

Thursday 27th April - Celtic Ireland, Brugge 22.00 - 00.00
Monday 1st May - Bizon Holiday Special! 20.30 - 02.00
Wednesday 3rd May - Celtic Ireland, Brugge 22.00 - 00.00
Thursday 18th May - Celtic Ireland, Brugge 22.00 - 00.00
Saturday 20th May - L'Alphabet, Brussles 21.00 - 00.00

This is the "Bizon" in case you have never been




After this I have the small matter of the Wedding ..... then the honeymoon (Iceland .... the country, not the shop) .... and then

Thursday June 15th - Le Chat Pitre featuring "Roman and Myself" for 3 hours of birthday fun!!!!!

Caption Competition

Sorry for the long delay ... but just back from France. All went well, but more details later.

Finally some photos from the Stag night.

A small selection .... but more will follow ....

Feel Free to think of your own captions! Winner will recieve a prize so wonderful ... you will not believe!

Roman must concentrate as he soon realises he is working with professionals



Eric shows his hand at Sax!



The Staggers!



Good evening and welcome to the Bizon!



07.45 Sunday morning .... and still a smile!

Goin' South

Tomorrow at 04.00 CET we will be making our way down to the Sunny South of France to do final preparations for the Wedding.

Any thought of blogging from France is foolish as the sellotape and string that holds together the telephone cables together in that part of the world would most definately break under the stain of a Blog entry!!

So ..... hope you all have a great Easter Holiday and blog to you upon our Return.

Andrew and Louise

Sorry, Its been a while

Currently in London for work which gives me the chance to grab those things you cant get in Belgium. It is a strange list but I dont think there is anything wrong in going to Tescos for Ambrosia Rice Pudding, Jacobs Cream Crackers, Revels, Creme Eggs, Stilton cheese, Toffee Crisp and Flake.

I have to admit that I felt really annoyed coming out of the shop especially as the till girl (is that sexist?) was the most obnoxious and annoying person I had met in London. Rude, short and curt can only describe the manner in which she deposited my carefully choosen goods into the bag, literally demanded money from me, threw the change back in my hand without a by or leave. (OK, maybe I shouldn't have worn my Newcastle Scarf). Anyway .... not happy.

Something else troubles me about Londoners .... why dont they look you in the face on the tube? I love to people watch, especially during the student break in Brussels, but here they seem to live in their own little world ignoring all that is going on around. They almost seemed ashamed of what they are doing, where they are etc. Odd ..... or maybe it is me?



I spent a really nice night last night with my good friend Jeremy and his good friend, so now I suppose also my good friend John. Jez has just moved into a new place .... but has the added attraction of a small recording studio next door which they are also renting. Not only did they provide excellent food and wine, but they also provided me with more MP3s of old 70's music that is commercially unavailable. I can now throw out all of Rick Wakeman LPs as I have them all now on MP3. Listening to them is purely nostalgic. They are truely awful listening to them .... but sleep soundly now I have them ... Thanks Jez!

Well, I feel a lot more refreshed now after a weekend of pretty much doing nothing. Back to the grind this week at work with a 2 day trip to London, followed by another night in Brugge, then a trip to the British Embassy to sort out one final bit of documentation for the Wedding.

We then will have 6 days in France to arrnage all the final pieces of jigsaw for the wedding. There is still lots to do but I think once the french trip is over, things will be much more clearer ..... we hope.

Sorry, Its been a while

Currently in London for work which gives me the chance to grab those things you cant get in Belgium. It is a strange list but I dont think there is anything wrong in going to Tescos for Ambrosia Rice Pudding, Jacobs Cream Crackers, Revels, Creme Eggs, Stilton cheese, Toffee Crisp and Flake.

I have to admit that I felt really annoyed coming out of the shop especially as the till girl (is that sexist?) was the most obnoxious and annoying person I had met in London. Rude, short and curt can only describe the manner in which she deposited my carefully choosen goods into the bag, literally demanded money from me, threw the change back in my hand without a by or leave. (OK, maybe I shouldn't have worn my Newcastle Scarf). Anyway .... not happy.

Something else troubles me about Londoners .... why dont they look you in the face on the tube? I love to people watch, especially during the student break in Brussels, but here they seem to live in their own little world ignoring all that is going on around. They almost seemed ashamed of what they are doing, where they are etc. Odd ..... or maybe it is me?



I spent a really nice night last night with my good friend Jeremy and his good friend, so now I suppose also my good friend John. Jez has just moved into a new place .... but has the added attraction of a small recording studio next door which they are also renting. Not only did they provide excellent food and wine, but they also provided me with more MP3s of old 70's music that is commercially unavailable. I can now throw out all of Rick Wakeman LPs as I have them all now on MP3. Listening to them is purely nostalgic. They are truely awful listening to them .... but sleep soundly now I have them ... Thanks Jez!

Well, I feel a lot more refreshed now after a weekend of pretty much doing nothing. Back to the grind this week at work with a 2 day trip to London, followed by another night in Brugge, then a trip to the British Embassy to sort out one final bit of documentation for the Wedding.

We then will have 6 days in France to arrnage all the final pieces of jigsaw for the wedding. There is still lots to do but I think once the french trip is over, things will be much more clearer ..... we hope.