My old friend and folksinging buddy from my Troubadour days back in Jo'burg — Leon Rabinowitz, alerted me to this open mic that has been running for a number of years. They do Theme Nights and this was one that piqued my interest... A night of Simon and Garfunkel, which of course also includes Paul Simon's work. Yes, unbelievably I awoke at 4:15am on Saturday to take part in the event which began at 8pm Sydney time. It was interesting, I learned a bit from the others who played tunes I had previously never considered, and by previous allotment, I sang "Dangling Conversation" and "American Tune" which covered all of the S&G and Simon bases. It was interesting. It was bloody difficult — (Try singing at 7am sometime!) I was exhausted for the rest of the day! Still, I got to hear and meet a few ex-pat South Africans and that was good.

I was asked to step in at the 11th hour to do an outdoor set with my SAMW friends, "Broken Fingers" Ed Loechler, Sandra Waddock and Jeffrey Benson on this overcast Saturday afternoon out on a field in Acton, while various children-oriented festivities went on around us. I performed a set of my own songs, while Ed did his own set, and Jon Roper (who kindly provided the sound system) did a set of his own. A very pleasant afternoon, even though it rained.

My old band mates, Bob Littman, George Pultz, and Eric Luskin had a brunch gig on a beautiful warm sunny September day outside on the former parking lot of the Burren, a well-regarded tavern in Somerville. They had asked me to join them to sing a few songs which we had done in our "Maple Street Project" days... but one song turned into four and it was a very welcome reunion.

Nick Noble invited me to be interviewed on air on his Thursday evening folk music program. He had read my book "Mel, Julian & Me" and he was very enthusiastic about it. So I drive out to Worcester that night and I went on second after he had interviewed a songwriter form the band Orleans. He asked me which of the Mel, Mel & Julian recordings I'd like him to play and I said "please play anything you like". He chose "The Irish River" a rollicking nonsense song we had recorded for out 3rd album "Miscellanea" and proclaimed that it was the best version of the song he had ever heard! A similar accolade was given to his other choice "Darcy Farrow". Both very welcome compliments from a respected DJ and fervent folk fan! I sang a couple of my own songs after he plugged me, and the fact that I am a present-day singer song-writer. It was all very much appreciated.