And now, for a holiday... although a little dance with the Queen comes first.

It's been a massive week, massive weekend and a long year.

I'm knackered, nick nacked, completely paddy whacked. It's been a busy year and I've not really had enough downtime, I feel drained and a bit ruffled and am looking forward to getting on a plane today and disconnecting for a couple of weeks, reading books on the beach, dreaming and listening to music. I'm taking my guitar but am not really thinking about writing... I need to reconnect with myself before I can move on, that's how I feel.

This week was cool and busy, although I was really dissapointed to cut the studio sessions short it was the right call. It cleared my head and I have had so much to do getting Drama Queen and Superbug ready for digital release and sorting out the new store at indiestore. So I spent time doing all that out and sorting out all the other things to do at the end of the year which always somehow add up to seem like a huge un-scalable mountain which you have no time climb don't they!

Mad Masters is shaping up really well. Eliza came over for a chill and she put some vocals down on it and another track I'm demoing at the mo. Might well end up on the final cuts. Also I saw Jayson at the studio the other day and heard some of the new tracks which are shaping up for his album release next year - they sounded great and I'm looking forward to hearing the rest! Me and my compadré Chocolate Soufflé have been working on a string arrangement for him, woul be cool if that ended up on the album. I've also been looking at remixes and various other things but more on that next year.

The weekend was great, Max Zastiera, my drummer and the doctore of tempo came up from Brighton to munch some dins and drink some booze and the next morning we caught up for brekkie with my mate Sam who was also coming to stay from Yorkshire. I was completely exhausted but it was nice to feel the start of the slow unwind and great to see them. The boys went off and I spent the afternoon working on some beats/loops and mixing some other stuff for a friend, also kept an eye on the rugby (what a great weekend it was, with the Munster match being so close until the last few minutes and Quins beating Stade at the final whistle with a drop goal after a 29 phase play!) Passed out late arvo and attempted to watch Mothman Prophecies terrified and with my eyes closed for most of it. Caught up with my mate Sam again and then hopped a few parties, was a good eve. Then yesterday caught up with some friends and munched obscene amounts of pancakes at My Old Dutch Kings Road and had a good chill.

Time to go now, gotta reach the peak of the admin mountain before I get on that plane! Realised I haven't written anything about the new release! But this is a personal blog though isn't it... Maybe I'll write another quick one for that in a min... Actually, forget that - you know what, my new singles Drama Queen and Superbug are out today!!!!! ;) You can check the spiel and find out more at : indiestore.com/castlefanous , myspace.com/karimfanoust and karimfanous.com