Just about to leave for the airport. It might be the shortest day of the year in terms of daylight, but it is certainly going to be hectic and hopefully enjoyable on two counts. Just read last night that the song 'Little Donkey' was written by someone from Sunderland, and no Cliff it wasn't about the football team. Don't suppose I'll get the band to play it.

While it is excellent news for any of my colleagues who are to be made redundant I think its bad news for me and the rest who are staying at our company. The company lost a court case which means that anyone being made redundant from this closure and probably any other going back to 1989 is entitled to a full pension irrespective of age. No-one had taken account of this in the closure plans. Best guesses so far suggest it's going to cost approximately £35m. The whole closure was going to cost less than that.

Have a great time anyone going along. Tell us all about it.

ERNIE: TONY DOHERTY manages the Nerve Centre venue, give him a call on 02871 260562. Good luck and keep me posted.

alex and donald i have sent you an e mail let me know if you get it thanks tssy

George did you make it to the Clock then? It is about 2 minutes drive from where I live. Very dodgy area (but then again isnt the whole of the north east?!)Feeling very fragile today as the end of term has finally arrived and me and 2 mates who should know better went night clubbing after our works night out. Sad to say, 20 years later, nightclubbing is still a totally overrated experience. The best bit was the crack in the Q to get in! All us oldies did was moan about how cold we were and the entrance price!

Nothing here Wilke

Sorry- that should be 'clubbing' not 'nightclubbing'. Really showing my age now. I see REM are touring-Dublin is already sold out. Talking of which where's your report so far George?

Well the weather in Dublin is crap. Raining. My glasses are covered in raindrops. The old fogies are walking round trying to put your eyes out with their brollies, which you can't see cos your glasses are wet. At least the sound check was nice and dry. The ambassador is a more interesting venue architecturally than the Olympia. It probably holds over a 1000 as well. Haven't seen any posters advertising the concert. Apparently SLF are playing Dublin tonight and Culture Club.

From what I can gather the band or at least a couple of members are going into the studio to do or redo some tracks, including one whose working title might be the Cruelest Thing. The set list was still being done by Michael when I left the venue. Julie Ocean is in tonight. The support band is Little Hooks, who are a two piece harmony/guitar band. One of the members is from the road crew so will be familiar to several of you. Peter is over for anyone who can remember him from Galway/Limerick. I recognised his face but had to apologise for not remembering his name. Old age!

Time for food. I am meeting Peter at 8:15. Support band on at 8:30. Undertones 9:15. Looks like it is early closing in the Ambassador.

my glasses are covered in teardrops...2-2 for f*ck sake.

I imagine the Undertones will be on stage at this very moment, it's just before 10pm.By coincidence 'teenage kicks' has just been played on BBC2 in a programme about toys and gasmes through the 70's & 80's.Still gutted about todays result, loving a football team can really hurt at times.

games not gasmes

Well, George is probably pogoing right at this very moment in a rainy dublin, thanks for your reviews. And keep us posted. You must feel great Jackie to have a few weeks off. Still have great memories to a fortnight ago. Today was the first day I had an idea my kne is doing better, but I am still strumpling around. Have 2 weeks off now, total chaotic week at work, we have a reorganisation going and I am not yet sure at which office they expect me after this break....you can look negative at it which I felt all day yesterday, but today I got the positive approach by thinking: well 3 offices want me, so that's not bad at all. Anyway those Riplets-girls from rotterdam are doing quite well: right now all dutch musicmagazines and even some newspapers have pieces about them, their future seems to look bright

On the link you can see some videoclips by the Riplets and hear a recent radioconcert, it is a site form the dutch radio

george enjoy the gig.taking my son to lord of the rings has anyone seen it is any good.elvis is right now i never have and never will see what the hell was so good about him all he did was sing what the black people of the time were doing maureens a big fan by the way.tssy

For those who doubted the Harry Potter/ Undertones story!!!!!!!

Sorry, doesn't link well. See the BBC FILM 2002 website.

Thought LOTR two towers was tremendous - what did you think Wilke? Elvis in the 68 comeback special is the coolest cat ever, uh huh.Your wife obviously has great taste in men Wilke!

Just listening to your interview on the Film 2002 site Vinny. What a star!!

Quote from BBC Northern Ireland 'LITTLE HOOKS & UNDERTONES' Derry act Little Hooks have been adding their backing vocals to the upcoming Undertones album. If they'd asked me I would have done some for them!!

Proof if it was needed that Rangers are truly the spawn of satan, quote from ex Chairman david Murray 'He told Scotland on Sunday: 'Come on, we're past that. Sing 'Follow, Follow, We Will Follow Rangers' but leave out the undertones.' I rest my case.