Lack of lactose

25th

I got up ridiculously early this morning.  It's not like i had a choice in the matter.  

Just so you know, this is going to be post purely containing my moaning.

I started the day off well, by burning my toe on my hair straighteners.  It didn't hurt at first, but now it's killing.

I got the train from Headingley to Leeds.  It was packed and the conductor didn't come round to collect my fare, which is such an inconvenience because you need a ticket to actually leave the station.  Thankfully I managed to collar an unsuspecting conductor, who kindly took my fare and printed me a ticket.

I smiled rather smugly, feeling very pleased with myself that I didn't have to queue with the swarm of office-working commuters, as I walked past.

Just to piss me off, I had to pay £80 to change my original train ticket to London to an earlier one (sorry Domino).  I must stress at this point, that this was not my fault.  Even though I am terribly dis organised.  It felt good that it was someone else's fault for a change.

I bought myself a soya latte (and a caramel macchiato, for the man in my life).  Lactose is so last week.  Got on the train, found a table seat next to the window, so I could wave at Doncaster on the way by.

The train conductor kept making a patronising point of announcing to his passengers to NOT leave any luggage or personal belongings behind.  As much as I find this patronising, I did leave my massive red bag on the train the other - it only contained me LIFE.

So I guess he does have a point.

I wrote this ages ago, but forgot to post it...

21st

Still feeling sick.  COming off stage and wanting to vomit is not something that I'm generally into.  But for some reason, I've been making an unwanted habit of it these past few days.

The London show was some kind of crazy.  It was fun, but all the while I was feeling sick, I just couldn't let my hair down.

I've not had a drink for the past 4 days.  Which is probably the longest i've gone without booze for a solid month.

We've arrived in Canterbury and i've come to the conclusion that this place is definitely NOT for bands.  Dev reckons he's in the future.  This place has Lazer Quest.  Which makes me think that it's certainly NOT in the future.  I remember when there was a Lazer Quest in Doncaster.  Which then turned into a Visage nightclub, which then turned into a Trilogy nightclub.

I digress.

I noticed the first signs of spring today.  A million daffodils lined the historic walls of Canterbury.  Which made me happy for a split second, until I realised that my iPod battery had run out.

22nd(ish)

Driving back from Canterbury.  Not being able to sleep.  It's 3am and I can't help but notice the many illuminated windows.  My mind begins to wonder, what could possibly be going on in there.

Curiosity killed the cat.  And vise versa.

Trainspotters

Train ride:  Leeds to London.

Hello Doncaster.

Of all the train stations I have visited.  Granted, Doncaster being the most frequent spanning my 23 years, I have only eve noticed train spotters in this humble town.

Honestly,  you would've thought that these people would have something better to do with their time?  Like go to work?  Or do some DIY?  Anyway, there wasn't just 2 or 3 of them, but an army of them.  All equipped with a fold out stool, a flask and a deer stalker hat.

Each to their own and everything, but I just find this strange.

Having said all this mind,  my Dad does own an LP purely compiled of different steam train noises, my Granddad was an engine driver and my boyfriend is in a train related band.  Maybe I should give into my destiny and join the troops at Doncaster station.

Goodbye Doncaster, I was only passing through... maybe sometime soon though.

The snow seems to have missed out a few places on its sweep across the country.  It hit Harold Street, that's for sure (See photo of icicles on my car).

I've had to ditch the leather coat, due to the last button finally falling off.  It was getting a bit drafty in there so I've had to resort to my 'Hi, I work in a bank' coat.

Much to my distress.

Feelin' Stabby

As an actual fact, I feel so sick right now.  It's rather shit.  

Only 3 gigs left of the tour now.

I'm in Leeds tonight.  Feels good.  

From Dull to Liverpool in 60 minutes

Feeling a little bit grim right now. 

I'm sat in the BBC studios in Liverpool having left Hull at 7 am this morning.  I'm stealing their internet and drinking their coffee.  Thankfully, I am not needed for this session.  

The weather seems to have taken a sudden plummet into sub-zero temperatures.  This does not bode well for Lightspeed morale.  We like cold mornings as much as we like actually getting up in a morning, i.e not a lot.

The gig in Hull was a funny one.  Witnessing Pab's frustration after being told he couldn't touch the graphic eq, was worth the journey to Hull alone.  

The Sugars came down to the show and they restored my faith in the northern accent.  

We drove right past Leeds today.  It's the closest i've been to my home for almost a month.

Today, I woke up at 6am with the TV blaring and the light on.  Only to find it was the end of Teletubbies!  I didn't even think that that program was still going....

Anyway - proceeded to get out of bed in a daze and witch off said TV and light.

Went to a T in the Park press conference.  Which was decidedly very boring.  But Lightspeed got a 'Big up yo self' from the festival promoter.  Which was good.  And the food was amazing too.  Buffet the vampire slayer.

I wandered around Glasgow for a while and bought some ridiculously high shoes, which I probably will never wear. 

Played a gig at King Tuts then went to ABC for some serious Indie Disco action.

I wish I had something more interesting to say.  But alas, my brain has turned into plain brown rice.

V Day

Fuck V day!

Today, I stayed in bed until midday.  Got a cab into the centre of Glasgow (Which was just round the corner...) with Dev, who got recognised by the cabby as 'that bloke on soccer am.

Dossed about for a bit.  Stumbled upon the Apple Shop and proceeded to bask in all its crisp white goodness (and steal their wifi).

Dossed about some more.  Bought a Bukowski poetry book and the re-issue of Thriller.

Went to see Babyshambles at the Barrowlands.  What a place!  Not sure how I felt about its clientele like, but the atmosphere was electric.

Got a cab back to the Travelodge (£3.10p).  The end of my V day resulted in me and Pabs sat on the edge of the bed, drinking cheap red wine out of mugs, eating cheese and watching dirty music videos.

Foggy

Today, I trapped our driver's arm in the van door.

I am getting pretty bored of eating cheese and ham sandwiches.  If I ever have to look at cheese and ham, collectively, or individually, ever again.....  I may have to kick off my own face!

I actually managed to fall asleep in the van today.  Which is definitely a first for this tour.  The last time I had my eyes open it was blazing sunshine and I was admiring the sheer magnitude of some crazy bridge we were crossing over - somewhere in Scotland.  Excuse my ignorance.  Then when I woke up,  we were trawling through thick fog, nearing Aberdeen.  Pretty weird.

Anyway, I keep saying this to myself that I need to stop drinking!  But who's gonna turn down a bottle of Scottish Malt Whiskey... NOT I!

Neil Dung

Today has been pretty average to be honest.  The usual slaggery of thinking that pretty much everyone needs to fuck off.  It's becoming a pretty bad band mentality.  Things can get gnarly when you're couped up in a van and sleeping on the sofa in a travelodge.