We had been flip-flopping the Polish/German boarder,
there was a happy tone, in Poland;
...the Germans were,....'steady'.
But,...
things seemed to be,..'have'(?),.. tipped.

We rolled into Cottbus.
The day we 'tried',
a bigger 'show' took to the Streets.
German youth,..
and 'refugees' went at 'it'.
The Police fought their way to the middle,..
and caught,
..MOST of 'it'(!).
They advised us to pick another town.

We rolled down to Görlitz,
just in time to witness bottles flying thru the markt-platz,
in the evening.
Stones followed.
Yelling, screaming,...faces getting punched in.
The Polizei came with tear-gas this time.
(I'm glad they were DIFFERENT Police(!),..
they might have thought,..
WE were the culprits!)

We rolled out of towne,
headed into Bautzen.
We played one set,...
on the other side of the markt-platz,....
yelling,..
stones,...
they started flying and running in OUR direction(!)!
I stood there with a stick,...
(A stick?,...!)
((no one ever acused me of being clever.))

,quickly realized how hopeless,.
helpless(!),
the situation was!
Bottles. Stones.
Africans and Arabs chasing Germans,..
Germans chasing Arabs and Africans,....
It was crazy,
....in the moment.
Later, it was simply sad.

We packed up our hoddle,
waved the Police "good bye".
Wished them,...
'Good LUCK!'.
And headed for home,...
spend some time getting the truck 'inspected'.
(passed!)

We headed out again, last Thursday;
this time, in the direction of 'the holy',...safe(!),...West.
Hamburg.

After playing the first day,
we weren't sure;
"Is it us?"
The mood was in the basement.

Friday,....
we thought everyone had been fed sour fish(!).

Saturday,....
I was looking for bread(!),
to eat,
with MY sour fish!

Sunday,..
Monday,....'Unification Day',...
hanging heads.

, . . . . . . . . ö. . . . *. . . . . .

Lots of folks believe, when the economy is grinding,
temperment is,.....
'positive'.
The German economy is,...has been, in the groove(!),
for quite a while;
I have the feeling, though,
the folks are 'tired'.
Not beaten,..
or broken;
but,..Tired.

The 're-Unification'.
The 'EU'.
The Euro.
The expansion east.
The Bank Crash,...
Greece's crash,..
"terrorists".
"refugees".
I have the feeling,
the folks would really like a year off......

Ever-optomistic-Monika said,
"It's simply Autumn."

I don't know.

Often, we as Performers,...'Artists',
bring 'others' out of the ruts;
with our 'doings'.
They need their Poets and Artists,...
surprisingly(!),
they often REALISE it!

But when we're down,...
lost and looking around,...?
Hang it up?
https://flic.kr/p/MqMeGW

Pause for the cause?

Write?,...

In the Autumn,
one can feel the Winter's stare.

We're taking a deep breath.
Tomorrow,
lowering our 'expectations'.
Keeping the diesel-tank full.

Roads can take us anywhere.
Sometimes,..
they drop us off,
...in the middle of no-where!

breathing deep,
gallagher

Wow thanks for posting. I didn't know things were bad in your neck of the woods

...bings to mind an old Dylan song " Times they are a-changing"

Sorry to here of the unrest and how it is effecting your show... Things are rarely as good or as bad as we think they will be... so hopefully, you will find better luck at your next stop, be able to relax and enjoy the show again !!! Update us when you can... Best of Luck.

Thanks for writing. My hope is that cooler heads can prevail - especially in the days with crisp fall air and changing leaves.

We don't read much about those happenings in our local papers. At best, possibly a few lines. Really like your reports, but be careful where you park your family.
Wishing 'yunz' good luck .........

Thanks for the update, you have a very unique vantage on what is happening.

🎶 the times they are a changing,....🎶

Jakeg, thanks for the 'luck'.
(I always enjoy reading your little note,
at the bottom of your messages(!).
Makes me smile every time!)
thanks.

The world don't stand still, does it!,..?
We just 'welcomed' our first cold snap(!),..
It's funny,
in the summer,
we never think things are going to change(!!),.. 🙃

🎶 the times they are a changin' 🎶,
but the fool remains the same(!). 🙃

We're thinking about changing our Show concept,
....we have to play, another month,
..at least.
We're toying with the idea of 'sizing down'.
Less space.
Less set-up time.
Less attention,..
less money,...
Less stress.
..,just not yet sure, with what.
{might have to get the type-writer out again,. 🤔..}

🎶 Accentuate the postive,... 🎶
,did Dylan write that?
smiles,
gallagher