A week of holidays so far and lots of things done, and lots of time spent doing nothing. Some interesting discoveries though ...

Lots of entertainment can be had with the mechanism of a music box, to prove that we don't just hear through our ears. The basic sound-producing mechanical device is very quiet, but when it's put on a table or other resonator, it's amplified hugely.  Put it on your head and your skull resonates (this particular one played 'We Three Kings'), put it against your elbow and put your hand to your ear, and your hand becomes a loudspeaker. Endless fun.

I went into the new Apple store in Glasgow recently, which was almost as strange an experience as the last time I went into one, in Manhattan to buy my iPod: that was in the days when you could buy an iPod mini, remember them? Despite the fact that almost all musicians have Macs, I work on Windows (to finish this sentence, smug Mac users can insert their own smart-arse sarcastic reason on my behalf, I can't be bothered). I don't have feelings as strong as this - I rather like Macs actually - but I found the smiley atmosphere in the store a bit disturbing, like a diabetic who's stumbled into a scientology convention by mistake. Some fellow Scots had clearly been brainwashed by some Californian cult and were urging me to try things out: 'Turn it up loud, that's what it's for [ingratiating smile]'. 'Uh, OK [fearful expression, taking one step backwards].'  I wondered if some machine had scanned my credit card as I walked in the door and identified me as a likely customer than a potential thief: somehow if I was looking a bit more like the back end of the week I don't think I'd have been urged quite so enthusiastically to get my mitts on the merchandise. Or maybe if you try to nick something steel shutters slam down and cut your body in two as you leave. There's got to be some sort of concealed nastiness at work behind the scenes.

I've also been recording some tunes: a casio-based bit of silliness, some overdubs on a couple of tape loops James Donegan and I made 26 years ago, and a nice little piano tune that gradually transforms into an unforgivable guitar solo.  And I'm teaching myself how to use compression when mixing, to turn music with range, subtlety, and depth into flat moronic swill that you only have to half-listen to (joke).  But now I really must apply myself properly to dance band repertoire.

Anyway, happy discovery of the week was watching clips of Iva Bittová on youtube. You can too, isn't that great?

P.S. for readers outside Scotland ... Given that here we're supposed to be the world experts on New Year, you might be a bit bemused if you've already wished a Scots person a Happy New Year and got a (momentary) blank stare in return. This is because you only do this AFTER midnight on the 31st, not before. If you're not going to be seeing someone for a while, you can however wish them a 'Happy New Year when it comes'. OK?  Glad to be of service ...