Well how does one sum up an entire year in a humble 'notes' form? I won't even try! Yes, it has been too long since I sent some fresh words to this corner of the web but forgive me- the world has been a hectic place to live for me for so long...

To get started let me joyously exclaim "NEW LIVE ALBUM- AVAILABLE LATE OCTOBER, YAAAAY!" I will be posting the master today & the artwork will be signed sealed & delivered to the printers this week all ready for the Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival. Thanks all involved in finally pulling together this project.

I really am not going to attempt to describe all the great gigs that led up to our recent sabbatical but here's a few festival snapshots:

Lunch with Mal Webb & Aaron & Kasey from Stringmansassy at Queenscliff

After the Port Arlington festival it was time for a break from the Jigzag duties & lots of yoga retreats were attended & classes taught, lots of Liz Frencham solo gigs were played, lots of flowers painted, lots of bouzouki played, & solo album recorded, lots of people danced to The Drive, lots of vegetarian sausage rolls & flourless chocolate cake was baked, & blues guitar chops were worked on. There was also quite a lot of travelling. I made trips to Ballina, Melbourne & W.A. while Greg went to the USA & New Zealand for lots of yoga study. Plenty of music & social time together, just no formal Jigzag gigs. We did however make one exception during our time off which was to take part in a really lovely & intimate concert held at the Cafechurch space in Glebe. We joined our dear friend Maree Robertson to sing a few songs about how to work through heartbreak & we drank & ate together. What a beautiful night it was! My personal highlights were Caroline's version of Joni Mitchell's 'A Case of You', Maree's song 'Washing it all Away' with audience singing along heartily & my friend Pete Harding's spectacular song 'Square One'. Greg also played a particularly fine blues solo on Tony Eardley's version of 'Heartbreak Hotel'. And I can't go past the feeling of playing 'Skimming Stones' (the first song of Steve Vella's I ever heard) & pulling out those notes as I reminisced about England & mused about Melbourne.

Anyhow, more notes when we've actually done some of these album launches, but don't forget handy hint No.11: Let your tall boyfriend walk down the steps first- good opportunity for a kiss that doesn't lead to back problems!!

~liz