Wednesday the 1st of May 2013
Fee went out in the morning to film a music video or something I don’t know. I went to find her but she wasn’t where she said she would be so I walked about on my own and met her later. Great long trek to the river but more sunburn, obviously.

Andre at Bodyspace had organised the show at Maus Habitos - a big space with a couple of rooms high up above the Porto rooftops. Wide views over the city and wonderful old furniture in each room. We had a great sound to boot and spent the time before the gig eating Andre’s Michelin 3-star dinner back at his great apartment.

Come the show and I started, really enjoyed myself - nice little audience and all sounding fine to me. Fee played and spent most of her set being confused about what language to sing in - Spanish and English being the better choice over her native German, but neither quite right for her tonight somehow.

It’s a nice evening though and big thanks to all who helped put that one together - hope to be back for more.

Thursday the 2nd of May 2013
We planned on filming a video in the barber shop across the street from the house, but when we asked the old fellow in there didn’t seem so keen on the idea so we had a bit of a frantic hunt for another that would work. We found one right by the train station and I jumped in the old chair and the guy went to work flying about my mop. I’m not a fan of the hairdresser visits in general - not so keen on the holiday conversation and the girlfriend questions - but this is obviously easier when neither of us can understand each other. After the chop, and with both eyes firmly on the clock I rushed through a song in there and then we trotted down to the station and grabbed our air-conditioned train 3 hours south to Lisboa.

Arrived to super hot weather - I think this is the furthest south we would be on the tour and felt like it. Lisboa being Lisboa we had a few hills to climb to get to the venue - kind of tough. Anyway, we were evidently to be playing in the bar of a clown college restaurant type place, and to be honest the last thing I care to see after dragging a suitcase up a hill in the scorching sun is a pair of clowns with brooms and juggling balls laughing at me. Thanks but no thanks.

Contact with the promoter before this show was less than perfect - Fee’s name on the poster / online stuff was spelt wrong, she was now apparently Austrian and the show was listed as being free to get in despite the agreed deal that included the money from the entry. So things beforehand weren’t looking too well and, after getting asked to leave the seats in their restaurant we had been shown to, we were then told that the promoter couldn’t make the show - so we couldn’t really clear some of the details face to face. Anyway, some long-winded, pretty dumb conversations later and we agreed on some sort of arrangement. Didn’t feel great though - really shitty promo, mean deal, bad communication all through. Perhaps proceed with caution when approaching the folks at Bartô Do Chapitô in Lisboa - they were grinning through their teeth whilst throwing us from the table.

BUT the sound man was great and super friendly - good job sir, thank you.

Anyway, moan, moan - we play to about 20 people who are lovely and I do enjoy myself and then we head off.

Friday the 3rd of May 2013
Day off, much walking, drinking, eating, none of your business. They have the best trams in the world in Lisboa but everyone knows that.

Saturday the 4th of May 2013
Day off, much walking, drinking, eating - then long, long bus ride from hell station in Lisboa through the night to Madrid. Most of the way much annoyance at the loud american kids complaining about the ‘bitch at the hostel desk’ or, rather, ‘the, like, bitch at the, like, hostel desk.’ Slept for 20 minutes somewhere along the way listening to an old album of mine - works every time.

(Instagram)

Sunday the 5th of May 2013
4 or 5 days off in Madrid ahead. Tired, weary, hanging out with friends, playing songs in bars, eating, walking, flea-market, Orson Welles Kafka film at night, loads of sleep, not enough sleep.

Monday the 6th of May 2013
Reina Sofia gallery and wonderful Motherwells, more walks, food, accidental late night.

Tuesday the 7th of May 2013
Walked for England, park, 1€ hot dogs. Fee and I did a radio interview in the evening and I remember that.

Wednesday the 8th of May 2013
Prado, Bosch, park, walking. Here we are up to date. Phew.

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