Well reality bites and back to work. It's surprising how much work can mount up on my desk in two days. Receptionist has just asked me when the next gig is. I don't plan to attend Dublin or Derry but may have last minute change of plan, children permitting. I did hear a rumour of Belfast on 4th January at the Empire but one of the road crew denied this.

Well what a weekend. I'd just about started to come down from the buzz when I heard the F.A.cup draw. Shrewsbury V Everton. Cliff I will be supporting the underdogs, but wont really care.

The gigs were fantastic, although disappointed at the lack of moshers. George and Rick and a few of us were mixing it up in there though. Just about recovered from my escapade in Rotterdam (another story to tell my grandchildren). Missed my train (or so I thought. Apparently I was dropped off at the wrong station. Not your fault Stote007). Ended up being the only white person in a rave club to get out of the cold (it was freezing and cheaper than a hotel).The idea was to wait in there while the next train came at 5am. Didn't feel threatened at all and end up dancing all night in a haze of smoke (that didn't smell like any cigerettes I smoke).

All this after an Undertones gig! And I've got another one to go to. It's got to have been a dream. It was great to meet you all, some of you for the first time. The Chat was good and the welcome in Holland was really nice.Looking forward now to the video release and new c.d. And hopefully some more gigs. Cliff I've got 2 address's for you, e-mail the right one to me so I can pay you for the T-shirt. I think one of my new year resolutions is going to be to get on the site a bit more.

Mouth still sore but getting better, Lindsay. More injuries from the mosh pit.

Very jealous of you all. Glad to hear the gigs went so well. We had a baby boy on Tuesday morning (a week early). Mother and baby are doing well. So didn't mind 'too' much that I missed the gigs. Really looking forward to the gig on the 28th.

Wilke, did the tape ever arrive?

Congratulations Liam, have a Smirnoff for me. I think I've got the cold now after returning to the relatively tropical Glasgow. There are no happy brass monkeys in Amsterdam.

Congratulations Liam. If the gig on the 28th is only half as good as Amsterdam (or Rotterdam) you are still in for a blinder. My new years resolution will be to stop turning up for the soundcheck half an hour before the band and the road crew arrives. At least my football team has made Arthur happy. No doubt Cliff can't wait until the 21st when WBA get their next 3 points.

What football team is that George? Sunderland were so poor last night the victory was hardly worth celebrating. Amsterdam sounds like it was brilliant and a great break as well!

Congrats Liam - hope everyone is doing well.

Congrats Liam. Keep in touch about the 28th December, we're all gonna meet up beforehand.

congrats liam on the new baby see at the dec gig. thanks alex got your e mail .p2 tape came today not bad tssy

congrats Liam

Yes Liam - many congratulations!

Thanks everyone. We had a bit of bother deciding on a name. Finally went with Tom for his first name and Mark as a middle name. Just happen to be the name of The Ramones drummers (Tommy Ramone and Marky Ramone). Would love to see some photos from the Amsterdam trip.

Did you hear that Colin? Colin?

Well done Liam, I can relate to all this baby talk now.Oliver was gonna be Tom for several months until we changed it late on.Prepare yourself for everything people have told you over the years, its all true and all worth the trouble.You'll find yourself getting involved in conversations you never thought you would; 'oh ours was an epidural' or '8lbs 3oz' or 'I'm still not convinced its mine'...and you'll find yourself rushing home from work.

Many congrats Liam, My son is called Tom as well. You'll have to get him a drum for his 1st birthday with those names (and maybe earplugs for your better half). Love your story Derek. The Paradiso changed to a dub/hip hop club after the Undertones finished - it was really good although now I wished I had gone to bed early every night in Amsterdam and only drank a couple of Shandies.Still it was allworth it.

High points - the friendliness of all the Dutch people, dancing with so many familiar faces around, meeting others contributors including Rick who we now know does exist, that superb venue which looked like it was straight out of 'The Sin of Pride', hearing the new songs again. I thought it was one of the best Tones gigs Ive seen and surely they cannot now doubt their popularity. How you you top a gig like that? -oh yes Alex moonwalking on stage did come close.Off for another early night.

Derek, Julius, Sorry I had to dash off on Saturday without seeing you guys. Just like Cinderella I had to be home by midnight for the babysitter. As it turned out my wife tipped up 10 mins later, so I could have stayed after all. Derek, I'm still feeling gutted about leaving you in The Hague on Friday night - you're a hero for making the best of the situation! Shins are still giving me gyp after Friday's exertions - had to stand like an old man at the back on Saturday!!! Roll on next time.

donald did you ring me on sunday night? george did you say something about the band playing belfast the last gig they did there was one of the few bad gigs they done.vinny thanks for the pics tssy

Not me Wilke , I had no voice at all sunday night!

Just thinking how great the weekend was, it was amazing seeing everyone or the first time. I have been in contact with you for 2 years and consider you as friends but only met Lee till now. So, it was great to see you all, I really had fun although it was difficult to catch up with the language; some of you may not have noticed but normally we speak dutch in Holland! Great to meet Derek and George and have them as roommates(well, some only did turn up at 0745 in the morning..) Doninblack, George we had a nive chinese meal, Alex, cliff, Linzi, Jackie, David, Donald, Wilke, Vinny, Rick, Hnery to many to mention. Great to see Rick have a good go at pogo-ing at the paradiso, just like he never retired from gig-visiting.

Atmosphere was great, even Cliff and Rick got on very well and Jackie if you ever want an other Nijntje, I'll tell you an other story, how about Nijntje in de Tent? Great Linzi and Alex made it to the nighttown after arriving. The gigs were amazing and I am really won over by Paul's voice after hearing him in real for the first time, I spoke a few other Dutch people today and they are all convinced by his voice although they admit being sceptical beforehand: but now Feargal is forgotten. Great how accesssible the band is: backstage both nghts, drinks for us, coffee after the soundcheck in nighttown, they take a real interest in us. The new songs are good: you have to hear them a few times, they are growers

also great to talk to Vinny and Wilke after the gig in Paradiso and meeting Carl, the sound engineer from the 80's.

Still recovering from a fantastic weekend in Holland. Highlights for me, were the band finishing the set with a storming Get over you to leave everyone on a high and then adding a repeat of Teenage kicks in the encore. I am also well pleased with the Poster from Rotterdam (for which I must thank Derek who could have had it for himself) which has the 'Wall' photo from the first album, but with a black bar across feargals eyes. The Drummer from Riplets is pretty good as well!

alex any luck with the flights to day for the gig.thank julius it was good to meet you to .i dont remember but maureen told that i seem to say if anyone came for the derry gig they stay in my house i only have a three bed room house so some of you would have sleep in my by shed.there was piece in the local paper today about the amsterdam gig . tssy

Mickey Rooney wrote a piece for the Derry Journal and they used one of my backstage pix of Mickey. The Derry News is doing a piece on Thursday with about 4 or 5 pix. Wish I could do it all again this weekend!! Here's to the 21st or the 28th Dec.

Billy Doherty Drummer The Undertones on 12:58 9th-Dec-02 ref:#18019 Hello folks, Just a short note to thank everyone who came to the Dutch shows in Rotterdam and Amsterdam. I absolutely loved the shows. The support from everyone was very much appreciated. Thank you, thank you, thank you. The songs which I loved playing were Shutdown in Rotterdam and When Saturday Comes in Amsterdam. I love all the songs but those two just sounded that little bit special on those nights. Hope to see everyone one again very soon. Billy Doherty (Drummer The Undertones. YOU ALL MISSED THIS, IT WAS BACK A FEW PAGES. WE HAVE TO STOP THIS 'WHITE' BUSINESS, EVEN FOR A WHILE TO SEE HOW IT GOES?

There seems to be some sort of delay before contributions from non .net humdingers appear. This means that the site can appear a little bit exclusive but if we stopped the white business, Anna and her mad mates would reappear again.

Is that the Mickey Rooney? Does Elizabeth Taylor work on the Derry Journal as well?