Just Do More, Richards

I remember when Christmas was a fairly straight forward affair, you know back in the days when I had a regular job. Make it to December > put festive tunes on headphones > not enjoy Christmas party > hang in there till the 23rd, annoyed that I only have four days off.  Of course, these days I'm totally in charge of my own destiny, and I've treated myself to a bit of a festive break - in fact, I won't be working from 22nd December - 3rd January, which I feel I deserve as, as it stands, I've taught for 25 days in a row.  So what's the stress? Ah, the usual. Still haven't got 12 venues for our 12 gigs of Christmas marathon day which is creeping up...seems that just as I have 12, a venue pulls out. Cambridge: you're actually starting to annoy me now.  Two days before that, Vicky H and I are hosting a joint student gig where her singers and my drummers join forces. Should be fun but we've lost half the band due to better paid gigs (well, gigs that pa...

I don't mind working 7 days a week, I think, although annoying that I didn't do my show, the Barcelona break did me a lot of good. It also helps that I love teaching drums, especially at this time of year because it's all Christmas songs! The days are going quickly, alongside all of the lessons, I performed another house show - another performance of Many Cars, this time is worked well, and FH are back in rehearsals for the forthcoming shows. I've got gigs left this year with 5 different bands.  But, as always, teaching Christmas songs signals one thing: this year is tumbling to a close. Not that I should complain...it's been a good year with plenty of adventures, but my mind is very much in 2026 now. New shows are being booked for next year, with three festivals already confirmed, writing a new show for Alex and Nicole, launching ESBAD (Everyone Should Be A Drummer), band gigs filling up. Just seen a trailer for the film I was in a few months ago, that looks great ...

There had been a few issues in the run up to my Barcelona Fringe festival show. Mostly a minor disagreement about what time slot I'd have (they wanted me on later, I wanted to be on in the afternoon as it's a play, in a festival mostly filled with stand-up...they agreed with me eventually) and then pricing (as I was out of town/country, I wanted to be a 'pay what you want' show, they wanted to charge 9 euros...I backed down on this one). But the communication was good, quite a lot of promo. Wifey wanted to join me for this one, which she always does when I get the 'nicer' gigs (New York etc), thought we could tie it in with a little sight seeing.  On Thursday, just as I was about to go onstage to perform the latest house show of Many Cars (which was fine, incredible audience around Steph's place, performance was a bit rushed but it's not short of nice lines and quirky moments - it wasn't bad) I got a message saying my Barcelona Fringe show had been c...

Okay, that title was a bit misleading. More than the 'first hints' - I've been feeling festive since schools restarted in September and have been continuously told to 'reign it in a bit' by...well, students, mostly. Kids these days aren't as excited as they used to be. The teachers are, though.  Half-term last week was mostly spent shopping; IKEA, Costco, various other outlets...has to be done, I guess, but I do find it all rather stressful. The rest of the time was spent writing, all new stuff for next year, running one-off courses (to students, all of whom now want to become regulars) and then on Sunday I played my first electric gig with Stateline Sinners. Frankly, a bonkers bunch of lads, but a talented lot. The gig, at the wonderful Six Six Bar in Cambridge, was a cracker. Big, dramatic, some moments of improvisation (understatement) but a whole lot of heart. More of that soon, obviously.  We're now into the Christmas term, student concerts everywhere, ...

Tis the season for...man flu. We've all got it, we all moan about it. Some of us still have to do the shows, though... The lessons were mostly fine, drums drown out the scratchiness of my throat and the kids were happy to get this first half-term of the school year out of the way. A couple of gigs with the blues band last week, Thursday at the retirement village and then back to our hotel residency on Friday. Different singers for both of the gigs, both offering something very different but equally brilliant, it's all a nice project.  Saturday I was back performing The Many Cars show, this time around Phil's house - he's the dad of my close mate's wife, so a new location for me but a lovely audience all the same. I was really struggling with losing my voice and was mega snotty, but they stuck with me. Didn't feel as sharp as the first performance, but they still got a good 80 minutes out of me and it's a nice story. I like this show a lot.  Half-term now but...

That was a daft old week, last week. Having had my first day off in a very long time on Sunday, Monday was back to 9 lessons in 9 different locations. My car started making 'that' noise again, the one that was fixed by the garage but clearly not fixed because on Tuesday morning, on my way to teach, it started again, even louder. Overtaking a lorry in the fast lane of the A14, my car lost power - red battery light flashed on, followed by all of the others, and it went from just under 70 miles an hour to 10. I honestly feel like I should be dead, and I'm so grateful for the awareness of all the other drivers around me, all of whom backed off as I struggled across three lanes to a hard shoulder before the AA could come out to help. The AA were great, there in under 45 minutes, diagnosed it as the automator (why didn't the garage spot this?) and got me home. Borrowed father-in-law's car again for a few days. With my battery charged up to give me about half an hour's...