Just been watching Sex in the city and Carrie was writing her blog and it reminded me that I hadn't bothered with mine since the accident. Nothing much to write about really, haven't been anywhere. My car was a write-off, Norwich Union are sending a cheque next week for £750. Then going to go out with Trevor to look for a new one , I'd like a Golf but they are too expensive unfortunately, not really sure what we will go for in the end. I am loads better than I was, still aching whenever I do something but the pain is nothing at all as bad as it was. I'll never be able to watch a car accident on the TV again without wincing. Derek phoned yesterday to tell me there was a job going in the garage at work that was right up my street as a crash test dummie.

Neave is doing great, has slept right through the night 3 weeks on the trot. I'm really going to miss her when I go back to work, I've even stupidly started putting on the lottery in the hope of winning just enough so that I don't have to. Rachel has gone out with Esther and Heidi through Bishop tonight, her first real night out on the drink. Paula, Jeanette and Minne Magoo cancelled so she wasn't in the greatest of moods.

Have bought more software synths, I'm becoming a bit of an addict, Dash Synthesis had an offer on for all there synths ...only $129, how could I resist? Eve is brilliant with somefantastic, sounds, Engalis is probably my favourite because the sitar sounds so cool. Also bought Oberhiem's Auto Tune for my vocals, not sure if it will do the trick but have worked out how to do the Cher effect. Haven't done anything musically, just been messing about with odd loops and stuff , will try and get a couple of hours in the back room tomorrow and do some work on "Spaceage Superstar"(funky song). Haven't heard from Geoff since well before Christmas, will have to phone him soon.

Have been watching some of my Christmas DVD's while I've been off work, the first series box set of the Tomorrow People has now been watched and enjoyed, also started watching odd episodes of Citizen Smith, Power to the People, I am definately on a reminising trip at the moment. Have even been watching Man about the house, George and Mildred and Robin's nest on Paramount, is that sad? I'm not sure. I do know Robin's Nest has the coolest theme tune ever though, Denim did a great version of it. My favourite songs of the moment are from the new Belle and Sebastian l.p. "I'm a cuckoo" and track 12 but I'm not sure what that ones called, an excellent l.p. have been singing along to it loads while in the kitchen.

Watched a really sad program last night, "For the benefit of Mr Parris" , 20 years ago up and coming Tory MP Matthew Parris spent a week ion the Scotswood Estate in Newcastle to see if he could last on the dole, he didn't. To follow up that program last year he went back and tried again, this time he just about managed it. He met some really unfortunate people. I know that 20 years ago I would have hated the man and everything he stood for but this time he seemed to have more compassion and I started to like him although he still wouldn't blame Thatcher for the situation some of those people found themselves in. I went to sleep feeling really guilty about where I now live, I know I was only 16 when that first programme went out but I'm sure I was a nicer person then, I cared more about other people and the predicaments they found themselves in, now though I think I just have have a fear that one day I might end up like them, In a tiny little flat somewhere, depressed and hooked on prozac, it just seems so easy to fall into it, lose your job, lose house, lose your wife a never ending downward spiral.. I remember that claustrophobic feeling from my flat in Bishop, Lambton Street suddenly felt like a mansion when I moved in there, all that space to walk around in, it was like winning the lottery!

Have finally started to read a book, I got it off Norman last year for Christmas , Tom Courtney's "Dear Tom", it's all the letters that his mother wrote to him years ago while he was just a fledgling actor, only just started it but so far so good, I am going to try and read a book a month at least.

Rachel phoned in sick for me today, probably have the whole week off, couldn't possibly do any painting with this pain. They came to pick up fiesta today, the guy said it was most definately a write-off, so I had to empty all my gear out of boot which really knacked my neck. Alan Reid phoned later and told us the same , so we are just waiting for Norwich Union to get in touch to see what they offer us for the car.

Chatted to Kat from Maladjusted , she said the Bulldozer Crash CD-R was on the way soon, but didn't mention the Kosmonaut 7", I guess there is no rush for that coming out, it's not as if we can promote it at the moment.

Rachel posted my sample CD to Computer Music today so I'm just hoping they like it, will e-mail them Wednesday night, see if they got it OK.

Rachel and Neave have gone to Auntie Grace and Uncle Arthurs' with Norm, Esther, Tony and Naomi. I'm going to stay at home, I'm aching still but I can tell it's getting better. Been doing my exercises and the worst one is trying to touch my ear on my shoulder it's a killer. No pain, no gain!

Sorted out CD of Synthetic Treasure to send to Computer Music, so fingers crossed they might want to use some of my samples. That would be nice if I could carve out a side career in sample creating. I guess we'll just have to see what Ronan Macdonald the editor of CM makes of the CD. Also parceled up the kosmonaut CD for Peter of Linplug in return of the RM1V manual that he sent me. Hopefully Rachel will send them for me tomorrow.

Currently downloading FL Studio 4.5, not actually sure what new and exciting features it has but I'm sure in amongst it's 30mb download there is something new that I will like.

Uploaded some photos to Bonusprint last night , so hopefully they will come sometime this week.

Feeling much better today, only had two of my painkillers so far and it's quarter past three. Marc sent me a copy of his CD today the liberty ship Tide, mastered by ahem stephen maughan at porterfield 73. I would say it's probably my favourite l.p. of the year!

Esther popped around at about dinnertime to bring back Neave's changing mat, Naomi isn't very well, was sick in tesco's yesterday and has been sick about 4 times today, poor bairn! Neave had a good night slept from 9 last night until 5 this morning.
Catch up from yesterday ............Rachel went to Alan Reid's to pick up a courtesy car, a Ford Ka, which she says is quite nice. Me Mam and Dad came down with presents from Lanzarote, a camel and a punky haired duck for Neave, some rock for me and a spoon for Rachel.

Too much pain to type today, if feeling better will catch up tomorrow.

HAPPY NEW YEAR. I know I always start the year off with the good intention of keeping a diary for the whole year but never ever actually do, I might manage the first few days days I think when I used to write in my electronic journal, I managed at least 3 weeks without missing a day. I will try but i know I'll fail. I'm writing this in a a little discomfort as I'm am currently suffering from whiplash, a bad back and sore wrists and arms, the result of the car crash on Tuesday. Me and Neave were in the Fiesta and Rachel was following in the Polo , we were taking the Polo to Mill Garage to have a look at it because the airbag light was staying illuminated when you drove it. As I left the motorway and slowed down at the Faverdale roundabout to see if anything was coming the sun was blinding me so I stopped , unfortunately Rachel was behind me and the sun was blinding her and she thought that I was still moving and ploughed into the back of me. I didn't know what was happening all I remember was my glasses flying off , scouring about on the floor looking for them and diving into the back of the car to see if Neave was OK, she seemed to be, I looked out the rear window and Polo was all squashed up at the front and at first glance it looked almost on top of the fiesta, Rachel was fine though, apart from nearly getting knocked over as she jumped out of the car to see if we were OK. We were in a bit of a state and didn't know what to do, loads of people went passed but nobody stopped until I went and tried to push Rachel's car off the road, I almost managed it on my own, then a lorry driver and a couple of young lads stopped and gave me a hand. We phoned Esther and Tony who came and took us hospital, Neave was OK , she was checked out by a couple of doctors and given the all clear. One of them had a look at me, testing my reflexes and stuff, said I had whiplash and to be prepared for it to get worse over the next few days, going off the pain today he was right. We managed to get home in the fiesta, but only just.

We went to Esther and Tony's for New Years Eve, I wasn't going to drink just stick to my tablets but decided not to be a party pooper and had a few Reefs to ease the pain, didn't seem to work, I did manage to spill half my WKD on Esthers' newly cleaned carpet, clumsy tit. Neave was a bit unsettled as if she knew she was somewhere else. We stopped up till about 12.30 then went to bed, Neave only woke up once. We got up about 8-ish I think, Esther made a great breakfast of bacon sarnies and teacake and plenty cups of tea.

Had a right lazy day once we got back, well I am in a bit of pain, phoned me Mam and Dad who have had a nice time in Lanzarote, they are going to walk over to see us tomorrow, we might be getting a courtesy car from Alan Reid's tomorrow aswell if the Polo isn't a write-off that is. I don't think it will be. Rachel did all the housework she must be knackered running after me, feeding Neave and everything else.

Started to sort out Synthetic Treasure Sample CD for Computer Music magazine and see if they are interested in buying them for use in the magazine.