Maria has just left to catch the train back to her house. I'm sat in her flat, I have beer, I have music, I have a guitar and I have pen and paper. But no Maria. Tonight was the last time I will see her for a while. Its so s***! I hate having to say bye to people! In the end I just said I'll see ya later, but we both know it aint gonna be tomorrow. It was bad enough saying bye to Maria's friends the other night at the party, but I havn't spent every day for a month with them.

s***, I'm finding it hard to write this stuff tonight. I can't get my head straight to even begin thinking about what has happened since the last update. I think I'll go chill for a bit, then carry on...

Ok, I'm back. I think if I start from today and go backwards it might be a bit easier. Today me nd maria went to the big lake at Leipzig by bike. Beautiful day, sun was shining, nice and warm. Fantastic scenery on the way down, we were riding through the autumn forest. The most amazing, vibrant, natural reds, oranges, yellows and green surrunded us. Theres something very satisfying about carving your own path through the fallen leaves. Once we arrived at the lake it was like being on holiday, lots of small yachts on the water, the start of a wonderful sunset and the feeling of the sand beneath our feet. Maria went to the waters edge and after paddling for a bit the way she was moving reminded me of the lyrics from the song "round here" by counting crows. It goes something like this..

"She's walking on the edge of where the ocean meets the land, like she walking on a wire in the circus" Brilliant image that I saw in reality today. I think every time I play that song on the street now I'll be reminded of this moment.

Yesterday was great musically and financially :D I met this guy with the most amazing voice I have ever heard on the street. So powerful, so emotional and an incredible range to match. The guys a legend in my eyes. I've got his email address so we can exchange song texts when we write new stuff. We had no chance of making any money on the street during the day so we got some coffee's, sat outside and compared material. Great atmosphere, I loved every minute of it! He said the easiest thing to do is write a love song, the hardest thing is to write a happy song. Him and Werner sat down and though about this problem before coming up with a song about shoes. Needless to say, he urged me to try write a happy song just to see what the challenge was like. I had some ideas earlier while I was talking to Maria, but lack of pen to paper means I have now forgotten them :p Nevermind, something else will transcend into my mind no doubt.

He was also telling me about a technique he had read about mental blocks. If you ever find yourself struggling to come up with some good lyrics go to a coffee shop. Sit there and tell yourself you cannot leave until the song is finished. It worked for him, but I told him my solution is to drink beer. It lubricates the mind :D at least thats what I think haha.

Also that day I eventually managed to play some guitar for money. In 2 hours I had 50 quid. Two or three times I had a crowd of about 8 to 10 people stop and watch me for about half an hour. Great feeling, I always put on more of a show when people are watching. Its nice to be able to talk to the people afterwards too, most of them, if they are not genuinely interested give the impression of interest and it gives me a chance to waffle on about where I've been and what my plans are for the next few months.

So what am I gonna do in the next few months? I head down the the south west of Germany tomorrow with Andrea. Then I think I'll buy a bike, cycle my way through Switzerland and get to Italy for the start of winter. After that, maybe fly or take a boat to Greece. For sparta of course! No idea what the busking will be like in any of these places although I have read good things about Italy and been told that things are good in Switzerland for the old street performer. As always though, the accordian players are your worst enemy wherever you go :p haha I'm sure they aren't all bad, but they are everywhere. Maybe the accordian players think the same thing about guitarists?

Of course these are all loose plans and are very likely to change at the last moment. Such is life I guess.

Anyway its time for me to write some songs, the mind is suitably lubricated and ideas are flying at me from every direction. Lets hope I come up with something good, I also need to remember to finish those god damn work in progresses!

Peace guys xx