Tuesday 11:15 and I am enjoying my home-sweet home. Traveling is fun, but it is always a pleasure to get back to your own "bed and breakfast". You could say my trip started already Sunday evening (nov 2nd) when I performed down-town Fredrikstad. It was a celebration for our FFK, the local football club, that made second place in the series. No one had expected this when the season startet, so there were thousands of people ready to rock´n roll and have a party. I didn´t go to sleep afterwards because I was on my way to Torp Airport by 02:30 already.

Day one! Took a small plane to Copenhagen and from there to Moskow. We had 4 hours to kill and of course a few drinks, sort of to ease the worries of flying with Airoflot for more than 8 hours! Well, let me tell you that Airoflot made a laughter of its bad reputation. It was just as good as any other Airline. Nice service and not to uncomfortable either. As usual, I couldn´t sleep during a flight. We arrived Vladivostok at 11:00 the day after (day 2) because of the time difference- 9 hours. After check in I drifted off to dream-land and didn´t wake up until the day after.

 Day three! The usual - Lunch, -take a look at the Venue. Sound-check and then back to the Hotel to get ready for showtime. This was a rather small Club ( 300 ) and when we came we faced a lot of business dressed middle-aged people sitting by their tables eating first class dinner. We thought ; Oh my God - We are gonna blow their ears off. As it turned out everyone had a real great time. It was an easy crowd . A lot of cheering between songs, yeah - but everybody sitting down until we reached the last 3-4 songs. Then all their energy bursted out into the open. Became good friends during that night with the Club Manager who wants me to move to Vladivostoc , where he will provide me with a big house and two women to my disposal 24 hours a day!!!  All I have to do is to do Karaoke-Shows at one of his 4 Clubs every now and then, when I feel like it. I guess I am a likeable guy ??? Hmmm...tempting! ...no - not really.

Day four!  After partying with the Vladivostok people for a while, we took a night train, 12 hours to Khabarovsk. As usual, I couldn´t sleep. After arrival I "died" in my bed - and I even missed the sound-check. Mr. Hensley and the others knew that I needed the rest and decided not to wake me up until only 30 minutes before the show. Usually this is a disaster for me. I am a heavy smoker and I need some hours to get my throat in shape, drinking coffee and have some fags (cigarettes). But I did well and this was a nice concert hall with 800 cheering Russians. The same as Vladivostok, in terms of people sitting down politely until the end of the show, and then get really carried away.

Day five!  After the show in Khab we took a Bus to Blagoveshensk ( 12h ). As usually I couldn´t sleep. We came to Blag at 13:00, and as a rutine it was straight to bed for this guy, simply to be able to give full gas for two hours later in the evening. Great Venue again, lots of people ready to rock.

Day six!  This time we got to sleep over to then catch an early flight to Moscow. We had a day off there and I used the oportunity to play turist and visit the Red Square and stroll along the streets of Moscow. Man it is huge! And it is very beautiful too ( guess the outskirts are not as fancy though ). Stayed at a Business-Class Hotel and the journey ended in style.

Day seven!  Slept late ( Wow ) Didn´t have to drive to the airport before 13:00,- what a luxury. The flight went to Frankfurt and from there to Oslo. I was home at 03:00 Monday night to end the tour!

Obs!  This was long,- hope you managed through it. If this gets lost in transmission I will kill myself !

In general : I love Russia - But...and there are many buts. First of all there is a major culture crash that you simply have to try to get over. While driving cars randomly get stopped. The policeman will make up something that you have done wrong. Then you have the choise to pay 500-1000 rubles cash, straight in his pocket, or you may deny and then you get a fine for 10.000,- which you have no chance at all escaping from. An easy chloise isn´t it ? We were offer for this once, but when the policeman realized that we were a western-group, he backed off and said ;" rock´n-roll," with a funny accent. The feeling of Mafia is all around and the saying "Money Talks" describes Russia all too well.

There are plenty of Hookers there,- sure like in every country. But many of these girls are offered to us Rockers for free by their "owners" as to say welcome my friend. This is so sad to experience,- and so is the poverty that you vitness all around you. BUT...go to New York my friends and you will see much more poverty than in Moscow. So I am not at all saying that our western culture is better in each and every way.

Finally I have to mention our Road-Crew Hårek and Helge. If it had not been for them, we would not have played a single gig. As all bands traveling we have our Rider that describes what we need of stage equipment, what we want to eat and drink and so on. In Russia eating and drinking was no problem,- no sir!

But our guys had to battle with the promoters all the way. "Where is this-and where is that". There will be no show if not - bla-bla-bla! They had to reconnect and retune PA-systems so that we could play like we want to.  H+H - Thanks a lot !  A great job - nothing less!!!

Early tomorrow I am off again! And to where...Russia-Yeah! This time it is Krashnodar-Volgograd-Vladimir! Not as heavy traveling as last trip and now we have so much more experience. We know what to look forward to and what we should be aware of.

More when I get back... love you all