I don’t do this often folks, and even less for music that’s not my own in some way, but Jubilee Hall (my lovely acoustic trio) played on Monday night with a fabulous musician called Alex Cornish, and after visiting his MySpace page last night, I really really had to share his music with you, because it’s been getting under my skin.  In a big way.

I strongly suggest that you go check out his music – it has tinges of Radiohead, with a dash of almost Early Coldplay.  Strings, smooth guitar, great vocals, and great melodies.

Don’t believe me? Have a listen for yourself on his MySpace page

This guy’s not to be missed.  I believe he’s touring the UK in September – details are on the Myspace Page, so if you’re nearby, go check him out.

Can you believe it folks? This month marks 5 years of blogs-on-record.  There was the odd blog entry on Blogger before this blog began, back when I was getting ready to go to China.  But then I found out that Blogger is one of the many blocked websites in China.

Who remembers Webmaster Matt? He was the amazing friend-I’d-never-met (Of course, I did meet him eventually, and actually had coffee with him today) who set this blog up for me, and hosted it back in the days before I had my own webspace.   Back in the days when it was called The Orient Express.  Throughout that year in China, I took you with me on a train from Shanghai to Urumqi. We began to explore Chinese food together.

You came with me for my first day of classroom teaching in China, you sympathised with my cat, Mushuk, when he was forced to sing soprano for the rest of his life.

Who remembers that first day when it started snowing? Or the day I forced Mushuk to pose with my new Firefly DVDs when they finally arrived while I was living in China (was it really 5 years ago!?)

I told you all about the Primary School where I was teaching, and the day I nearly set my apartment building on fire while the primary school was also having its own fire too.  You all celebrated christmas with us in Kelamayi with those Crazy Canadians, Chris and Pat (I miss you guys!) and more westerners than I’d seen together in one place since I’d arrived in China.

Browncoats mourned when Lux died, and celebrated when Serenity was announced.

I had adventures in Kashgar, Beijing and up to the Heavenly Lake on horseback with Kazak guides.

And then suddenly my big adventure was over, and I was home again in Australia.  But not for long.

For Mark Saul, that crazy Aussie piper and composer, invited me to join him on an adventure which would see me move to Edinburgh, and take me to so many interesting places and rockin’ festivals.  I’m so grateful to him for the opportunity.

And almost as soon as I arrived here in the gorgeous Edinburgh, I got to fulfil one of those big all-time dreams I’ve harboured since forever – I got to attend a Hollywood Red Carpet premiere.  OK, so it wasn’t in Hollywood, and I didn’t actually get to walk on the Red Carpet myself, but I got to go to the Big Damn World Premiere of Serenity.

Well, the next few years have been a little quieter and less adventurous, with the exception of more shows with Mark Saul, and a lightning fast, super spontaneous trip to New York to visit Yarnmonster Jess last January. And since then I’ve been pretty slack with the blogging, mostly cause I don’t seem to be having a very adventurous life.  It’s easy to forget, living in a city like Edinburgh, just how incredible this city is.  So here’s what I’m going to do.  I’m going to start taking my camera with me everywhere, and attempt to document the comings and goings of this beautiful, breathtaking place.  Eventually, one day, I’m going to go back to Australia (not now, not yet!) and I want to be mindful every day I spend here, how lucky I am to live here.

So, here’s to five long years of blogging, and here’s to many more to come, dear friends and readers.

This fabulous picture was sent to me by Ubiquitous Jessie, from her little sister who’s living and working in Canberra, poor luv.

“A few weeks ago in Sydney there was a major Catholic gathering and the pope went along to inspire the kiddies of Australia:”