UK Tour 2026

 

1.       Thursday, September 3^rd - Hampton-Hilton Hotel Edinburgh - When we went to the baggage claim we found that one of our bags had been "delayed".  We told them where we were staying and they said they would send the bag to the hotel. (Kristi's two bits): This is our tenth tour ten years since our last and as of the 11th of September, the 25th anniversary of our first (okay, figure that date out folks; needless to say that's a story of its own).  It does feel to our small perspectives a bit momentous.  It will probably be our last though we have no reason to see any doomsday scenario ahead.  We've deliberately avoided stomping our carbon footprint too hard with this kind of travel.  But how sweet it is to be still able to do it!  The British Airways baggage snafu has me wondering about the entire scenario since the receptionist staff at our hotel Hampton by Hilton at the Airport were way too familiar with the routine.  But lest I give the impression they're remiss in their intentions to get the bag to us yet, I should refrain from criticism...so far!  

2.      Friday, September 4^th - Visit Malcolm & Mary LeMaistre – see Malcolm’s trees and out to Indian Dinner.  It was really great to see Malcolm and Mary.  We first met them in 2001 at a festival in Scotland.  Malcolm casually invited us to visit him at the performers party at the end of the festival.  I don't think he really thought we'd come, but we did and we're still friends after all these years with many visits to hear about his projects, and watch his forest grow.

3.      Saturday, September 5^th - Leave Hampton-Hilton Hotel without the big red bag.  We were at the hotel for two nights and stayed a good deal of the day waiting to get the bag but it did not come so we left without the bag.  It is a 50 pound bag and it contained Kristi's amplifier, two stepdown transformers, extension cord, ProCo 9 camera, Tascam DR40 digital recorder, and much more.  We drove to Guisborough to Fox and Hounds Hotel.

4.      Sunday, September 6^th - Meet Val Monteith-Towler for dinner & play Guisborough Folk Club @ Rugby Club.  Val brought an amplifier for Kristi to use – We also found a phone charger to work with 220 V.  It was great to see Val - long conversation and she was terrific helping us with our sound, and generally being supportive.  It was our first gig in the UK this year.  (Kristi's two bits):  Kudos also to the members of the Guisborough Folk Club for a lovely turnout of receptive, friendly folks, and in particular, Anne Wilson, club coordinator, for all her help.  I believe this was our sixth year performing for the group.

Rugby Club  before performance

Val Helps

Val & Kristi

5.      Monday, September 7^th - Drive to Odiham to Air BnB – stopped in rest area to sleep in car for an hour and a half.  It was a long drive from Guisborough.  (Kristi's two bits):  Steve is doing a fine job driving these wiggly, narrow roads that seem to get more congested every time we come.  And while I'm being ethnocentric, I'll carry on with more insignificant things that seem to me to have changed in twenty-five years here (as if you're interested): 1.  Colas I order come cold now instead of warm, and frequently have ice.  2.  Chain hotels with reasonable prices are everywhere now, replacing the more expensive bed and breakfasts that were our only choices in 2001.  3.  Adults now openly reveal their knees in the form of shorts, which were nowhere to be seen in 2001.  Maybe an exceptionally hot summer has had something to do with that. 4.  I have yet to see clothing drying on a clothes line.  That was the way most people dried clothing from the wash ten years ago.  Of course these are strictly superficial observations easily disproven by anyone wanting to take issue with me.

Air BnB Odiham

6.      Tuesday, September 8^th – order and pickup stepdown transformer so I can use this computer – in the evening I ordered a new bass amp for Kristi that . . . but that evening we had a radio interview in Alton, which was a short distance from our air b n b.  There were two guys who did the interview, one actually doing the interview (mostly just playing some songs) and the other guy who we had a long talk with.  You can see some of it on our Steve and Kristi Nebel Facebook feed.  (Kristi's two bits): This show is called Acoustic Cafe, hosted by Brian Player, and airs on the community station, Wey Valley Radio.  They're tireless volunteers with a loyal local following, much appreciated by us and others in Hants.

7.      Wednesday, September 9^{th  -}  Waited for the amplifier to come  - when it got here we had to try it out and thankfully it works well – good enough to do the job.  Also the airline proxy was found and they are going to get the big red bag to us when we get to Sawbridgeworth and are visiting Geoff Leeds.  We went for a walk which buoyed our spirits a bit.  (Kristi's two bits):  The entire saga of the missing bag has caused enough consternation, panic, and anxiety to make me recall the simple, sage advice to a high school classmate from her mother as she faced career changes and identity crises: "When you have problems that overwhelm you, just figure it out!"  That was my credo in dealing with the missing parts of our required elements which were in that big red bag.  We did figure it out, so that now, with or without the bag, we can and will manage with what we've got.  Thus we're able to sleep at night knowing I have an amplifier for my electric bass guitar, and we have an electric stepdown transformer enabling us to use all of our electronic devices in this country.  Needless to say it's a big relief.

A dog begging attention from strangers.

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