It’s early morning in Manchester and the earliest I’ve been up in a long while. It’s nice to see the sunshine after being in Ireland and the UK for 10 days and not seeing much. I’m listening to Patty Griffin’s Downtown Church. The dampness here creeps in under all layers. One would think I’d be used to it coming from a coastal town. This morning’s sun, Patty’s voice and a sleeping bag are providing me a cocoon right now.

I flew overnight to Belfast, landing with crossed eyes on Feb1st and slept the entire day. On the 2nd I met up with Maeve O’Boyle to start our little 6 date tour. After the first show in Belfast I was scooped up by Jenn Kimball staying in Culdaff, Donegal, a part of Ireland more north than Northern Ireland but considered the south because of the borders that exist. I saw the coast looking out into the Irish Sea, sheep, Malin Head, 2 rainbows, and the quaint town of Carndonagh. In the evening we went to a session at a small local pub The Persian, where the Henry Girls lead the way with fiddle, tin whistle, accordion and harp. I sat in, sang along and had a sip of Guinness.

The next morning Ry took me across the Greencastle Ferry to the Giant’s Causeway before catching a bus back to Belfast where I again met up with Maeve and we drove to our show in Slane, IE. Royal Wood HAPPENED to be in town, having just played the same venue, so I roped him into singing!

Then it was off to Scotland via ferry and a lovely drive to Edinburgh. We played a venue called The Caves and it was literally just that, apparently a part of a buried underground network of spaces. That night I stayed outside Edinburgh with the talented Karine Polwart & family whom I’d met at Celtic Colours in 2008! The next day I met up with two more Canadians I went to university with and didn’t know were there til they showed up at the show. After a quick walk up to the castle and along the Royal Mile I hopped a train to Glasgow to meet Maeve in at Oran Mor. I had fish and chips and “mushy peas“.

Next morning was breakfast with another amazing Scottish artist Lori Watson whom I met at Celtic Colours as well and she got me onto my next train to York, England where I spent the night and next day. Tiny streets, short doors and windows along “the Shambles” made me think the people in the 1600′s were extremely small. It’s a wonder why they’d need such a huge Cathedral. I walked up the 275 narrow steps of the Minster to see York from above. I hopped another train to Manchester.

Gabriel Minnikin was waiting for me there and got me to my gig at the Blue Cat. This brings the story to yesterday when Gabe and I went to the studio and recorded some vocals on his new recording. Last night his roommate cooked English dinner of chicken, “veg” and two kinds of potatoes. Then tea and “biscuits”. Then rummy – and I won!

I have one more stop on the trip and that’s London where I’ll get to by train today. Totally going to email the Queen and see if she’s up for tea and scones in the next couple days. She doesn’t seem to be answering my txts.

In my player: In my player: Paper Beat Scissors, Patty Griffin’s Downtown Church, The Swell Season’s Strict Joy

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