The nights are drawing in...

Mid October already. Can you believe it? Time does, as they are heard to say, fly. The conkers have been and gone from the tree in the garden and it's almost time for lights on the bike on the way home - and on the way in if I get going quick enough.

So, what's been going on? Did the trio of Hip shows a couple of weeks ago which were all fantastic. The London one was preceeded the night before by Prince, and that should get a mention too. The little fella is amazing: never have I seen anyone look just so at home on a stage. In total control of the 20,000 of us in the (very impressive) O2 Arena; played loads of the hits and we all generally had a great time for a couple of hours. The aftershow was fun too, even if the purple maestro himself didn't show (half his band did). A 4am finish... how very rock and roll. Next night the Hip were playing the Astoria on Oxford Street and what a dump that place is. Awful sound too, but, hey - it was the Tragically Hip and we rocked for the whole gig from the froont of the balcony. Fabulous. I rocked so much that I'd lost my voice the next day.

A couple of days off and the it was over to Amsterdam for their two shows at the Paradiso Theatre. All I can say apout that place is that if you see a good band is playing there then just go. It's an old church and is such a cool little music venue with a great atmosphere. Right down by the museums at the south canals area of Amsterdam. The Hip gigs were just fantastic, and I am so glad I made the effort to see the in Amsterdam. The city itself is just a wonderful place to go and mooch about for a few days. Loads of art, culture, great food and good general wandering about to be had. The worst problem is avoiding getting run over by cyclists! We didn't bother with the Red Light area or 'brown' cafes. After wandering through that neck of the woods all that stag party stuff just seemed completely at odds with the rest of the things we'd been experiencing in the city so we gave it a miss, and returned to the quiet of the canal-side cafe culture.

I've had the kids at mine all this week, working (almost) full time and doing the school runs with them (round the ring road in the commuter traffic - yuck). It's been fine to be honest, but it's Friday now and I am wasted, as I just don't sleep as well when the kids are here. I've just got to amuse them for the weekend now! The finale of this weekend for me is seeing Rush in Manchester on Sunday night. Shouldn't have much issue staying awake for that one.

Next weekend Rach and I are off to the Lakes -Wasdale in particular, which I reckon is the best Lakes valley. It's just stunning. Stopping in the excellent Fell & Rock hut by the lake and there's loads of good hills and stuff round so fingers crossed for the weather. The reason we are going there in particular is to get to see the very wonderful Francis Dunnery on the Saturday in his home town of Workington (in the town hall!). Should be fun. Oh, and then I am off to Spain cycling for a week. Hurrah.