It has been a strange week. There is lots to do here, but my mind is already in England. On Monday, I will be leaving for Bogota, and then early Tuesday morning, my 14 hour flight to the UK.

Spaarndam

The three weeks following should be full of adventures. My main priority? To spend as much time as possible with my kids in Skelmersdale.

My youngest son Davey and I are making a 4 day trip to Holland for Easter, where we will be meeting up with Daniel, my oldest. We will be visiting family and friends, and Davey has requested a bike ride along the canals. That should be fun. Oh, and Dutch pancakes of course.

Plus, I will be playing a gig with my two Dutch half-brothers Peter and Sander in Spaarndam, a quaint little harbour town. Only time for one rehearsal, so it will be minimum preparation and maximum spontaneity.

Greys and Salome

It has been five months since the last time I left Villa de Leyva. It has also been the longest uninterrupted time for Greys and me. Especially since the birth of Salome 3 months ago, we have been getting closer and closer. She is delightfully direct. She often makes me laugh. She sometimes makes me cry (usually in a good way), and when I realise how much we have been each other’s constant companion, I go gooey inside. I am going to miss her a lot while I am away.

I am also going to miss Salome. She has just started ‘talking’, not with words, but with sounds. She is clearly communicating, and the little sounds she makes are soooo cute! She is a very ‘easy’ baby. She generally sleeps through the night and she is often happy just to ‘be’. I am wondering if this is anything to do with her Down Syndrome.

The last event before I leave will be my first proper concert in Colombia, at La Maloca, this Sunday. I was scheduled to play at a benefit concert for Haiti a while ago, but that never really happened. Thirty minutes before I was due on stage, the heavens opened like I never experienced before. It doesn’t rain often, but when it does, IT DOES! The stage and everything on it was virtually washed away. I ended up jamming with the local musicians in a tent though. That was good fun.

...bow down to get in

La Maloca, this Sunday’s venue, is a very special place. It has a domed roof, and a well right in the middle. I will be sitting immediately in front of that well, to make use of the sound-enhancing effects from it. No amplification, just me and Blondie, my acoustic guitar.

The entrance to the theatre is very low, so you have to bow down to get in. This is on purpose. The design is based on the ‘indigenous ceremonial home’, in perfect alignment with major spiritual energy lines. It is a great honour for me to have been invited to play. I only hope that my pigeon Spanish is sufficient to communicate a little. I will have to get my dictionary out and prepare.

I am going to miss Villa de Leyva too. I have come to the conclusion that this is the nicest place I have ever lived. The combination of Colonial-style buildings, the ideal temperate climate high up in the mountains, and the special blend of locals and creative people from all over the world make it totally unique.

The trip to England and Holland will be a great adventure, but it will be lovely to come back to Villa de Leyva too.

Life is bliss