Hakuna matata

It’s early Saturday evening. I’m sat down. I’m moving at approximately 70-80mph. I’m in a van. Some call it a tour bus. I’ve been travelling like this for about 8 hours now, regrettably with a couple left ahead. I’ve watched a beautiful crisp sunny and bright autumn day come and go only to be informed that when I am finally released onto the streets of Glasgow it will be raining.
Surrounding me are the faces of men, of musicians, of friends lit up by their various glowing screens, just like me, getting on with whatever they are getting on with. I’m guessing twitter-checking, email-writing, Fifa12-playing, message-texting. Oh don’t get me wrong we chat, we laugh a lot but it’s dark now and I’ve just discovered the lights in the back here have joined the ‘Totally Fucked’ club started earlier today by the DVD player. The atmosphere is comparable to that bit on a longer flight where they turn the lights out and expect you to sleep. If you’ve never been on a longer flight where they turn out the lights and expect you to sleep what basically happens is… Ok, you get it. It’s boring. I never sleep in those situations, in these situations. I’d like to.
“But only boring people get bored” Yeah well I’m not a boring person and I’m bored so go figure. (Accidentally sounded quite American there, considered changing to ‘you do the math’ well, potato, potato).
The beauty of having a glowing screen in front of me is of course that I’m not really, truly bored, I’ve got the world at my fingertips and about 10% battery left to enjoy it.
I’m not complaining, I enjoy all this, ok so not so much the long drives but getting to visit all sorts of places you would never go otherwise, playing great gigs to lovely people. Getting to do what you love for a living. I’m not rich but I’m certainly NOT complaining.
This tour has been great so far, the crowd in Norwich last night were ferociously up for it, I’ve noticed gigs on a fri/sat night seem to always be a healthy percentage more lively, for obvious reasons. Everyone knows the album now so it’s great to have everyone singing along and have a crowd that are there just to see Charlie rather than having to win over mixed crowds at festivals and universities as we have been over the summer.
Loads of radio sessions mean that we’ve had a few early starts in a row so looking forward to a lie in tomorrow! Naaa mean?!
Oh and exciting news!
Over the years I’ve visited most of the service stations in the UK, look out for my book later this year entitled ‘Service Stations in the UK - A practical guide’ with advice, tips & tricks on when to stop, when not to stop and what best to do when and if you’ve stopped. Here’s a quick passage from the book:
Moto Washington Northbound on the A1(M)
COFFEE DRINKERS: Don’t just accept the lengthy queue that’s undoubtedly trailing away from the counter of the costa coffee adjacent to the entrance. You’re better than that. Next, walk right by the auxiliary costa stand situated half way down the dining hall, smugly if you wish because you’re not one of those idiots, your time is too precious. Head into the ‘Eat and Drink’ area where you’ll find a third and unpopulated costa station. Bingo. You’ll have used the toilets, washed your hands, picked up a sandwich, even played the arcades before Mr Loser in that first queue even gets a chance to say ‘Latte please’.
TEADRINKERS: save 20p by getting a large tea from uppercrust instead. Same Tetley teabag as Costa are using.

The book also features handy hints from band mates of mine.
Reuben (Drummer) on ‘How to know when you are actually stopped at a service station and not just waiting, at traffic lights, for your children to finish school etc’

Ste (Tour manager) on ‘Getting them to make you a proper northern brew rather than giving you boiling water with a tea bag in and directing you to the UHT milk’
ALSO on defining Baps ‘large face-sized pieces of bread but with no discernible features’

Nick (vox/guit/the rest) on ‘Cutting a large chocolate cake with the thin piece of plastic that surrounds it, successfully’