Friday 29 March 2002

This week we heard about our Scottish Arts Council funding for next year - not as much as we'd hoped for, but enough to keep us ticking over nonetheless, so Marie and I got together yesterday to develop our plan of action for 2002-3. We've got a few other funding bodies to chase before we can get everyone's diaries booked, but we're on the way. The very expensive New Year Messiah idea will have to wait for another time - classical music respectability remains out of our reach for the time being, what a shame (!).

Meanwhile, we've been offered a very interesting open-air gig in August, which I hope works out. Details will follow here if/when it's firmed up.

Yesterday I made a brief appearance on Brian Morton's show on BBC Radio Scotland masquerading as a rock critic, reviewing the new XTC box set Coat of Many Cupboards. As Andy Partridge once said, 'We're very big with people who get their records for free'. Another guest on the show was to have been Michael Winner, to talk about the late Dudley Moore, but when he realised (just before going on air) that he wasn't the only friend of Dud on the programme, he promptly hung up, saying 'I don't do group interviews'. Make your own judgment on this ...

Suddenly spring is making a convincing showing around here - I've spent a fair whack of the last two days in the garden enjoying the sunshine.