Weekend in Istanbul

Just returned from a fantastic weekend break in Istanbul with my brother Dave. We had a real blast visiting the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia, The Topkapi Palace (which I was very interested in, having read about it at length in Dorothy Dunnet's novel Pawn In Franckincense), and the atmospheric underground cisterns. We also took a boat trip across to the asian shore where we drank Raki and watched the sun set over the Bosphorous.... it's been a really welcome break from the routine, and I feel refreshed and raring to go.

Now have returned and hit the ground running with business as usual at Southampton University, a wedding to play for on Saturday (which should be a lot of fun), and the Cheltenham Jazz Festival on Sunday (2-4pm, check the listings). I am really looking foward to working again with Kate Brown who as well as being a supremely talented jazz singer is also a good laugh. I look forward to hearing some of the other acts at the festival, including Groovestone, who are fantastic.