So I'll try and make this a weekly thing. I was discussing the subject of writing last night with a friend (and a bottle of wine, it's true), and we decided that regardless of who reads them, these blogs are a good idea. Anything to get pen on paper. Text on screen. Speaking of which, I should certainly write some more songs. I tend to go through long periods without doing much, maybe scrawling bits here and there, and then give myself an absurd deadline for completing an album.

I think it works for me. Driving back from Scotland on Saturday night (just outside of Glasgow, if you're interested) I had the BBC World Service on and heard Nick Cave interviewed about his new book 'The Death of Bunny Munro'. There is something brilliant about artists who could rest on their laurels and their previous material, live it up and tour once every couple of years, cranking out their greatest hits; but instead keep producing fantastic, rich material, challenging themselves and taking risks. There are certainly lessons to be learnt here - about working, creating and performing. I'd love to think that regardless who was watching or listening I'd try and play guitar and write a few songs.

This is also a reason I find the 'illegal download' debate so interesting. For what it's worth I'd far rather people downloaded and heard any music I make than not. I accept that not everyone can afford £10 - £13 for a CD, and so if they need a copy, I hope they get it. It does amuse me when 'artists' who have been given huge advances on their CDs by their massive labels start to complain about 'illegal downloading' like it really affects them; like they wouldn't make music unless they got their 6 or 7 figure sum for doing it. Eddi Reader wrote about this recently in her blog on her Myspace page, and I agree completely.

So enough of this rambling - once again I'm avoiding going for a run on the basis that it might rain. I should really just suck it in and get out there... so all the best to all of you!

Dave