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For the second time in a month and with great regrets we are cancelling tomorrows outdoor show at Kirribilli due to smoke.

That last burst of nasty smoke this week finally knocked me over and singing is not an option presently.

The forecast is for more of the same tomorrow, what a bummer.

Meh.

Nothing god to say about it.

It's been a heck of a time, both inside and outside.

We watch the news, we close our windows and buy cheap ineffective smoke masks from the chemist while the city is surrounded by a curtain of flame.

If you live in the country or the bush, it's drought or fire or both.

As 2020 beckons, the 21st century reminds us that History does not stand still.

There's no escaping the occasional thoughts of end times and apocalypse as we watch swathes of the landscape burn and learn that 41c is the new black.

It's early AM here and the smoke has lifted from town. It's that dark quiet time of the night when the outside world has retreated. Even the hoons in the street are quiet tonight. 

It might bring on a moment of reflection, as again, the years in the stormcellar roll on and pass like nothing at all.

Doing the tour planning is a task at the moment. You, dear cellar dweller, by now know the Australian Rules of Blogging. 

Well, my rules anyway. Some of the process and the things we do to get organised are fairly mundane, involving spreadsheets and google docs.

There's also a lot of ups and downs. But that's our business and we tend to keep that to ourselves, as seems reasonable.

Winding up heading to Memphis in 2020, is...well...random.

Perhaps 'chaotic' is a better term. These weather patterns change, and it's part of our ethos to understand that and act accordingly.

It shifted our other planning considerably. By now we'd normally be in the studio. There's a backup of songs, more songs that need a test, more stuff to make.

Finally with a little clear air, both metaphorically and literally, I had a chance to get back into making some video stuff tonight and I realised how much I have missed it.

Yeah I know it hasn't been that long, the Crossfire video was only a few months ago; but it feels like it was a long time ago.

I had a chance to review some of our clips and I notice the years of their releases and for the first time I was struck by the passage of years.

We've been focused on making stuff for a while now, and without saying it's all been one happy blur, it does possess the constancy of 'now'.

We've been, I have been, fortunate to make the stuff we have made, with the people we have made it with. 

As I started more work again tonight I experienced the continued sense of satisfaction of the doing of the work.

We're living right now, in the world as it is. Perhaps with less regard for the ideas of the past, and I'm fairly certain that's a damn good thing.

I also realise this is a long way for me to say I'm stoked to be making another video.

If I express a little gratitude to you too, dear cellar dweller, and hope that you keep yourself sane and safe in these tumultuous times.

We're going to keep doing what we do, as best we can, as long as we're able. I hope every time you get a moment's respite from the weather and conditions out there that it strengthens you, so you can deal with where we are all at right now.

It's people who live here, in the sense of now, that create the future.

It's seen looking forward, it's understood by looking back, and experienced now, when you realise you are here, alive.

I hope music is the fireman for your soul, as it is for us.

I look forward to your continued company, when you feel like it, here in the stormcellar.

PS: yes I am making a vid or two.

PPS: Ok lets get some retrospective action going here

Woke up this morning to another blanket of smoke over the city.

Everyone's got a cough, it's been affecting everyone.

Just when it looked like it was clearing up, and it was grand to have a few days of clear(er) air, now it's back again.

Mr Wizard called me last night to talk about the outdoor show on Saturday. We have to look at the options AGAIN. Ye gods.

Smoke is starting to become a factor in our planning.

It's not that Sydney hasn't had bushfires before, some have probably even come a little closer to the centre of town than this recent lot, it's the inescapable, cough inducing smog.

It's necessitated a trip to the doctor for at least one band family member.

The sunlight has been orange for weeks, hanging clothes out on the line is inadvisable and everyone's buying Masks for breathing.

Up in the mountains, they did back burning and lost another 20 houses.

Oh yeah and yesterday was Australia's hottest day on record.

Not much to do but to wait it out. Our thoughts remain with the people closer to the front line of the burning and the firey's out there trying to do something about it.

We're waiting to see how the air is for Saturday before we venture outside.

if you're in Sydney, stay safe and indoors if you can.

Since we started the 'weather permitting' project I have been blown away by the artisans and crafts folk out there in our little old community.

A while back, I tried Nonna Maria's Gnocchi.

Heck I am a risk taker.

I was 10/10 Full On Italian grandma Level Awesome.

It's taken me months to hook up with it again.

Yesss...today was my day.

This is a genius with a potato:

Once upon a time I had a perfect pasta in Leichhardt. I have been chasing that Boscaiola for 20 years.

When I experienced this dish I realised i had found a worthy successor.

Well played Nonna Maria.

You got game.

Big game.

I dig these market shows. Thanks guys, I know you all went to an effort.

Smoke filled valleys on the way up, blazing sun. Fire engines hurtling past on the way home.

Things are still pretty hairy out there for folks.

We did a small fundy thing yesterday for the Firies. What a time.

Makes me grateful for the small stuff.

Like a perfect dumpling :-)

Thanks Nonna.

Smoke cleared enough and my voice recovered enough.

Also; Gnochhi