FRIDAY

  Well, that's the first month of 2007 out of the way already, quite strange how speeded up life can become, wish it could have done that a couple of years ago.  But I suppose it does brings us all a step closer to more presents this Christmas!  Haha.

  But at the moment everything's groovy as they say, me and Gem celebrated 8 months together on Tuesday (even though yesterday was our official day) which is fantastic, I can honestly say with my track record as far as women and relationships go, i'm very suprised that we're still together and still very happy.  Also, the little lady's birthday is coming up on February 8th so as you can imagine i'm frantically looking for suitable presents to stay on her good side!  Haha, nah, i've sorted one main present out, just got to sort the others now but i'm looking forward to her coming down on the 9th as we're out for dinner that evening.  Of course every silver lining has a cloud!  On the Sunday (2 days later) i'm back to hers to meet her ENTIRE family...shite, her Mum's always been pleasent enough to me but Gem does have a tendancy to make her family seem a bit frightening, especially her Nan who (apparently) doesn't even think Gem's having sex yet and doesn't 'agree with it'...I got news for ya Nan!!!  Hahahaha!!!

  Other than that, The Painted Player is trading comfortably, a regular influx of work both from customer orders and Ebay Sales is keeping my head above water for the moment and i've cleared one of my credit cards already...and sebsequently cut it in half and thrown it away, evil!!!  New models are being released all the time, my Jack Bruce FOOL VI only last week, and with my recent investment in some high-class power tools, i'm now putting together a line-up of Luthier Specials including the Slade Super-Yob, John Entwhistle Lightening Bass and the Live Aid 'Africa' guitar.  So should be a busy year, the only drag being my website which is taking a lifetime to sort out but i'm hoping with a little help from upstairs that it will be up and running efficiently by March.

  So, that is pretty much it for the moment friends, life rolls on with a comfortable sense of similarity and my neice and nephew are both doing really well, Samuel is laughing his ass off at his silly uncle who can't stop mucking about and little Eliza is getting more and more beautiful every day.  Can't wait to celebrate their first birthdays later this year.  This year will also be mine and Gem's first 'birthday' too haha, so looking forward to celebrating that in sunny Nice on the French Riviera (holiday).

  Take it easy everybody, a special nod as always to my lovely Polgara who is no doubt preparing like a headless chicken for her up-coming wedding this summer (still had no invite? :p).  Also, expect The Review to make a welcome return later this spring once the official box-office season kicks off with Ghost Rider and Frank Miller's 300 - nice.

Walshy Boy.