This is my Christmas message without the aid og a spellchecker. I thank everyobe for visiting my website, so ably handled by Andreus Thul (thank you Andi).

I I would foirst of all like to aploogixe to all those whose questo=ions have remained unanswered for such a long time. The truth is that Andi sends them to me and somehow life seems to intervene and so they sit on my hard drive covered in digital dust while I galivant off around the place a sif I had somethiing better to do. There’s no excuse really and the more I klag behind the less likely I seem to be to start. So sorry. I have to rectify the situation so here’s a thought – I will troll throug and pick only the ones I like and attempt to get up to date. So hold off for a whiole and don’t hold your breath. Sorry agaion.

A banner year for the band, a great set of tours, very enjoyable, many lovely people all over the place, so many special moments. Bananas has now become a sound and not a fruit. And an attidude. I thank all those who braved the elements and wafted their way to a venue somewhere not near here in order to be in front of a stage where we walk. The band is the band because of you (bowing).

Next year is going to be a rathr different kettle of fosh. I am really looking forward to the next band writing session and the following album. Er.. CD.

I’m an iPod and iTunes fan. I buy qyuite a bit on the net these days. Believe it or not I have to spend relatively endless hours waiting for someone else who is waiting for someone else or else locked in an airport VIP room with nothing on but CNN, yet again, oh, and a full set of clothes, mostly. I won’t talk about the hours sitting on planes spilling drinks whilst attempting to unwrap the plastic cutlery which is totatly useless againt the muscular food-substance thrust in front of you, as if you were hungry. For these and many other instances of enforced down time, I trust in my music, a good book, the scenery and my music. I listen to all kinds of music for all kinds of reasons but I thought I mifgt give an example of music that I’ve listened to lately – Turin Brakes, Steadman, Gomez, Starsailor, Los Lobos, Monte Montgomery all had great new music to my ears this year and I regularly listen to Bob Dylan, Nick Drake, JJ Cale, Mose Allison, Richard Thompson, Air Jazz’s Tribute to DP, Shawn Colvin, Suzanne Vega, a Jimi Hendrix boot, Michael Petruciani, Ry Cooder, Oliver Mtukudzi (in particular an album called Tuku Music), various African compilations, Taj Mahal, Frank Sinatra, Bela Fleck, Neil Finn in his various incarnations, and many (x2) others. They’ll probably come to mind later, when the medication kick s in.

For those of you who like progressive rock, I have to recommend a new album called Helmet Of Gnats. That’s the name of the band as well. The drummer, Mark Conese, is an old friend (he played on my song The Mask) and he and his three band mates have been working on this album for a whikle, in between life. They recorded it using my multi track nmachine, for which they generously gave me an unsolicited credit. It is a superb album, if you appreciaty progressive rock. If you like The Dregs you’ll love this. www.helmetofgnats.com and www.ambientrecords.com

I wish you all a great holiday season, may your ears be filled with sounds in the shape of a sunflower.

It’s a tough old world out there and I try to count my blessings, count yours and find peace.

Good luck all,

RG