Day 2 and Leeds is a-bustle this fresh Friday with Christmas getting underway. I pass through the German market near the venue, offering plenty of tasty-looking foods and tempty drinks as well as nick-nacks and sweets but we’ve got our soup and stuff back in the Academy so any further indulgence would be gluttony on the part of the likes of me who’s more than round enough already.
When I got out of the bunk here today I had a quick little run up the hill past the University; a part of town I hadn’t explored before - past college buildings, civic structures and churches, all standing stoic and motionless, and in front of them hundreds of lively students coming and going of a Winter Friday lunchtime, full of the joie-de-vivre of youth. I turned down a small tree-lined lane down a hill past a Catholic College, with most the last of the leaves lying in damp heaps on the footpaths, the dryer ones being blown wildly about in the cool Northern England wind.
I love Summer, that’s regular enough, but, actually, I love Winter, Spring and Autumn as well. I love the crispness of the air this time of year, and wrapping up in cosy clothes and going out for a walk. I love the sharp, clear, precious light in the sky and I love lying in bed late without the guilty feeling of missing out on too much sunshine or things you could or should be doing. I love looking at the lovely women in the streets dressed in hats and scarves and furry collars and boots, their breath a fleeting little warm cloud. I love sitting in a small pub beside a fire, supping a creamy pint of Guinness or a smooth ale, or even a hot whiskey, listening to lively conversation. I love this travelling around Britain at this time of the year, on tour, from venue to venue in our bus, living the (admittedly well organized and fairly comfortable) life of the nomad; visiting all these towns of which we are not really a part - of their work or their school: of shopping or cooking or watching Coronation Street and X-Factor; living in a space where we’re more observer than participant, our crucial connection coming each night when we take the stage and go face to face with the people who’ve bought their tickets, organized time off and transport, booked baby-sitters, invited friends and made their way to the gig for a night out of songs and fun. We owe them as good as we can give every time and we live off their enthusiasm; we surf their energy – the smiling faces, the singing along and the dancing.
