As always, my life away from Integra revolves largely around family, travel, football and music and, where possible, combinations of all of these!
The big news of the last few weeks is that I am fulfilling a personal dream by recording an album of my own material that will be complete and available later in the year.
I have been working with Piers Nolan at LongDog Studios who is helping me turn my simple singer songwriter material into something more polished and professional. I am immensely pleased with what has been produced so far – watch this space for more news (including the charity Christmas single in aid of Diabetes UK and the Propertymark Trust) in due course!
The first few tracks off the album (entitled Prodigal Son) will be released across all the usual channels (including Spotify and Apple Music) under the name Michael S Day.
The wonderful multi award winning blues artist Alice Armstrong is also a graphic artist and illustrator (www.magiccabinstudios.com) and has produced album covers and artwork for many artists (as well as herself) including The Cinelli Brothers, Dom Martin, Brave Rival, Catfish and Elles Bailey. I am delighted that she has also produced the lead artwork for mine!
Many of the songs that I am recording have been fine tuned and honed at the many open mic and other gigs I have played over the last few years.
I have played live on eighteen occasions so far in 2025, at the Blues at the Tropic, the New Inn in Maidenhead, Uncle Tom’s Cabin in Cookham, the Ivy House in Chalfont St Giles and the Wycombe Arts Centre in High Wycombe.
I love the opportunity of playing in front of a live crowd and it provides a great opportunity to try out new material in front of a supportive audience.
In September I am honoured to be playing and recording three original songs as part of The Narrowboat Sessions series. This is a fabulous opportunity and a unique experience. The Narrowboat Sessions are recorded on (funnily enough) a narrow boat and the group has over 118,000 followers on Facebook.
I am recording on 19th September for later release.
As well as playing, I love seeing how the professionals do it and regularly attend live gigs.
Since June I have seen Long Road Home, The Bluescasters, Down to the Wire, Jimmy Regal and the Royals, Doris Brendel and Lee Dunham, Rollo Markee, John Verity, Papa George and the Matt Edwards Band.
In the remainder of the year the FD and I have tickets to see the Patsy Gamble Trio (with Muddy Manninen and Keith Thompson) in Stroud. I was honoured to be able to support Patsy and Keith last year at a Blues at the Tropic gig.
I also have plans to see Nigel Bagge, Mississippi Macdonald, Papa George and the James Oliver Band.
The FD and I will be seeing Wishbone Ash on no less than eight occasions on their forthcoming UK tour which commences in Chester in September (two nights incorporating the annual Ashcon event) plus Basingstoke, Milton Keynes, Harpenden, Chester and Wimborne (two nights with my brother Chris and his wife Lori over from the USA).
The Ashcon event in Chester will see me play a set as part of the fan’s night on the Thursday at the St Werburgh’s Parish Centre. I will also be playing on the Saturday afternoon at the Live Rooms.
As I write, the football season has got underway and I am currently incredibly optimistic about the potential of the Watford squad. There have been a number of new signings – all young and with great potential that, under the leadership of new Manager Paulo Pezzalano, will, hopefully, be challenging at the top end of the table.
I attended all four pre-season games and four of our first five competitive fixtures – Charlton away, Norwich at Home in the Carabao Cup and QPR and Southampton at home. Results have been a little mixed but it’s a marathon not a sprint! (they always say that it is the hope that kills you!)
Travel is a big part of the FD and my lives every year. To date in 2025 we have had breaks travelling around France and visiting Riga in Latvia. We have a few short breaks in the UK later in the year (Stroud, Chester and Wimborne) with our next overseas trip being to Oslo in January for a few days, where will also take in another Wishbone Ash gig as some evening entertainment!
We have also booked to go to Italy in May next year, visiting lakes Garda, Como and Maggiore. We fly to Verona and return from Milan.
Later in 2026 we have a road trip to Scotland planned, focusing on the islands of Arran, Skye and Mull.
Finally, other family stuff . . firstly I want to record how immensely proud I am of my daughter Carrie who, as well as holding down a full time job and looking after a family with four children (with help from husband Ian!) has successfully completed her BA that will enable her to move forward with her plans to become a teacher.
My granddaughters Georgia and Ellie have also recently successfully completed exams and practical training in their chosen fields of child care/education and hairdressing.
My other grandchildren are all well, loving life and getting more confident (and cheeky!) with every passing minute.
Finally, the 28th September will see my daughter Carrie and myself undertake the London Bridges Wellness Walk for Diabetes UK. This will be the third year we have taken on the ten mile walk.
This is a cause very close to my heart as I have been a type one diabetic for over 35 years and it undoubtedly contributed to me requiring a triple heart bypass in 2021.
If you are able to support my efforts and donate to help Diabetes UK support the one if fifteen people in the UK who are diabetic – you can do so at my Just Giving page here.
Thank you
Mike
