The last time I wrote in here March was coming to an end and I was looking forward to a very busy three months. April, May and June were indeed very hectic months but also thoroughly enjoyable. I joined sister Anne and brothers Tommy and Colum to once again hit the road as “The Sands Familyâ€, heading to Germany for the first concert in Langenburg on April 3 and covering many kilometres before the tour ended on April 20 in Wernigerode. These Family tours are always memorable and eagerly awaited – and this one in particular, because we hadn’t toured in Germany in 2007 : the first year without touring there for longer than any of us can remember! But it was well worth the wait! 17 concerts in 19 days tested our fitness – and that of our Road Manager and Sound Man Dave Powles. But all of us, including Dave, came through with flying colours. Many happy returns to great venues such as Zehntscheuer in Ravensburg, The Cobblers in Germering, “Harry’s Farm†in Luechow-Reddebeitz, Raetsche im Schlachthof in Geislingen and Der Club in Heiligenhaus … but also some wonderful “first-timers†including Mosesmuehle in Langenburg, Waldorfschule in Gladbeck, Klinik Kultur in Duisburg and Schloss Landestrost in Neustadt am Ruebenberge. We had particularly memorable nights in Oldenburg and Bremerhaven where some more members of the wider Sands Family arrived to our great surprise and then joined us on stage. As always we met with many great friends from the past, including Niko Markin and his wonderful circle of comrades in Oldenburg … the good folks in Oberhausen, Kiel, Holzwickede, Alsfeld, Fuerth and indeed every where we played and stayed …. just too many to mention here. Great days and great nights – well done to Siegfried Maeker for putting it all together and to Big Dave for holding it all together! We look forward to the next one!