Buses.

You wait 251 episodes to get one of my boys on the pod, and just like that you get the other one.

Actually it was all a bit odd this week, Ant is away in California so we have been juggling and crowbarring, just to find a suitable moment to sync the time zones and press record. And yes before you ask, crowbarring is a word.

Anyway not wanting to be the odd brother out, Nial was able to join us for a chat that threw up some Hoggarthian nuggets of random fact. Two hundred and fifty in and we are still unearthing this stuff, everyday is indeed a school day.

Love'n'ladders

h

TCD Merch Store

Become Purple and support the show

The Invisible Man Volume 1: 1991-1997

The Invisible Man Volume2: 1998-2014

Facebook

Instagram

Website

I don't know if it is because we are in a new year (Happy 2026 btw) or because it feels a while since the 250th, but this episode feels like a new start, maybe a do-over, or even a hard reset.

(of course all of that is merely a figure of speech, and for those of you that worry about these things I am not currently trying to press a little button on the base with an unfolded paper clip).

Anyway Ant and I have been having production chats about what the next incarnation of TCD (...sorry Lucy) is going to sound like, and the first thing that came to mind was 'get some more guests on!'.

And so that is where we have started, and for #251 that means we answered the oft-quoted-call, and got one of the kids in.

Love'n'third-born

h

TCD Merch Store

Become Purple and support the show

The Invisible Man Volume 1: 1991-1997

The Invisible Man Volume2: 1998-2014

Facebook

Instagram

Website

It's not every week that you get all five members of the beat-combo on the same episode of a podcast (in fact it is possible that we were popping the 'ol podcast cherry, collectively speaking).

But then it isn't every week that we record the 250th episode of TCD!!

It made for an eventful recording process, and indeed a game of two halves, as we huddled around a single microphone in my hotel room in Utrecht to try and make this semiquincentennial episode something a bit special.

And do you know what? I think we might have managed it! Despite being “post-the-best-gig-in-living-memory” shattered, the boys brought their 'A' game to the table, and Ant (bless him) has put in an extra special effort to wrestle the edit into submission and sprinkle it with sparkles.

It's been a special project for me, one that so many of you have embraced and carried on your shoulders, and for that I will always be truly grateful.

Love'n'milestones

h

I had a rare old time in Poland last week, in fact it may well be the best h natural show I have played there. Despite a little apprehension on my part, it all went swimmingly, as you are about to hear as we discuss the gig and the set-list in some detail.

Of course the next few weeks are going to blur a bit, what with the upcoming Marillion Weekend in Utrecht, and then the run of solo shows that (by tradition) draw the curtain across my musical year. All of which I am looking forward to.

But that doesn't mean that in the midst of all this gigging activity, Ant and I don't have one last TCD trick up our sleeve before we sit expectantly around the fireplace waiting for the big fella.

And we will let you ponder on that, as you listen to this week's ramble.

Love’n’just the one chopstick.

h

TCD Merch Store

Become Purple and support the show

The Invisible Man Volume 1: 1991-1997

The Invisible Man Volume2: 1998-2014

Facebook

Instagram

Website

There are so many reasons why we don't do a video version of TCD (...sorry Lucy) but we got the sense that many of you didn't believe us.

So as Ant was round at ours anyway, and as Vibes was on hand to assist with production duties, we decided to tiptoe out 'till our feet only just reached the floor.

What that means is that you get a few mins of audio-only, before we will redirect you to the YT link so you can be hypnotised by the act of Christmas admin.

Huge thanks to my boy, who has slaved over this...

Sound'n'vision

h

Chapter 248 in all it's glory

TCD Merch Store

Become Purple and support the show

The Invisible Man Volume 1: 1991-1997

The Invisible Man Volume2: 1998-2014

Facebook

Instagram

Website

It’s a full on chapter of TCD this week (….sorry Lucy) with all the bells and whistles that are now synonymous with our artform.

Firstly we have a guest. The inimitable Lucy J. joins us, bringing with her that wonderful frisson, that you only get when a special personality has rocked up in your own backyard. And of course when Lucy J. is in the house, we get some insider goss, and this time it's all about Pompeii.

Secondly we have the ad-hoc drop-in (in this case twice) both as a preamble, and a post-title introduction. The bit where you have to listen a bit more closely, just to stay with the convo, because we have changed tack without giving you fair warning.

And finally there is the obligatory BLEEP, employed as a protection mechanism because I have invariably strayed into a cul-de-sac of rantiness, or indiscretion. Of course it's normally Ant who has manoeuvred me there, but just because he crosses them over I don't need to head them in.

Enjoy.

h x

TCD Merch Store

Become Purple and support the show

The Invisible Man Volume 1: 1991-1997

The Invisible Man Volume2: 1998-2014

Facebook

Instagram

Website

It's all got a bit of a 'rockumentary' kind of a vibe this time, as I take you behind the curtain at the ProgStock festival in Noo Joizee

Recorded from my hotel room overlooking Manhattan, on the morning after the night before, and with me not altogether compos mentis. So in amongst the normal TCD bants, we talked about the gig a bit, as well as the details of a fab few days grooving around NY & NJ.

Thanks for the invite, and to everybody that helped in terms of getting me on (and off) stage, and at the right places at the right time. As it turned out the journey back only became eventful after we had touched down in the UK, but I will have to tell you about that on a future pod. The gold stops us...

Love'n'souwesters

h

What is a Nor'easter

TCD Merch Store

Become Purple and support the show

The Invisible Man Volume 1: 1991-1997

The Invisible Man Volume2: 1998-2014

Facebook

Instagram

Website

Listening back to this weeks chat, and it is fairly obvious that if you have never been to Cornwall, or holidayed in the UK for that matter, then a lot of the references might seem a bit bewildering.

I am not sure it is possible to explain in a succinct enough fashion for the purpose of these notes so lets try a few images...

1. This is a fairly typical example of static caravans on a UK holiday park
2. This is a good example of the kind of 'scenic road' I was talking about, but the one that we traversed had higher hedges, dark overhanging trees and two ruts of a road surface.
3. The Looe river hitting the sea, with the beach where the Kernowfornia stage was situated
4. The East Looe and West Looe River Catapult
5. The Sardine Factory website

As you were.

h x

TCD Merch Store

Become Purple and support the show

The Invisible Man Volume 1: 1991-1997

The Invisible Man Volume2: 1998-2014

Facebook

Instagram

Website