Our resolution to write here each week hit a bit of a bump after, well, the first week, but we’re back on it. I’m going to be wearing a handkerchief with all four corners tied to remind me from now on.

Thanks to everyone that made it out to our Brixx show, and to those who stuck around. It was a late one but a lot fun.

Work on the album has begun in earnest this week, with ears ringing and mics scattered around the bathroom. It’s too early to get excited about yet but it’s been fun so far.

A quick thank you and sad farewell to Hulberts in Edmonton. It was where we played our first open mic, first gig and then second gig after returning from England. From the first time we played their open mic we knew we had entered a special room, more a community than anything else. A listening room is a rare treat and I’m sure many people would agree if I said it must have had a lot to do with owners Chris Martyniuk and Cameron Gertz that this place was so dearly loved and will be so sorely missed.

In international news, stories of another closure slowly filtered across the Atlantic. A stalwart of the East London community, The Saray Kebab House, closed its doors. If you’ve never lived in England you may not be aware of the importance of Kebab House in a community, a place where you always end up after a night out.

I’ve spent time there eating til my eyes hurt, played its arcade machines an unreasonable amount, nurtured old friendships, made new ones, watched a man with a meat cleaver being chased by a man with a hole in his head, all good times. It was individual in everyway, they were always pushing the envelope, even down to that fact they wallpapered their speakers, if that’s not revolutionary home décor I don’t know what is. It may not completely define my young adulthood but I’m pretty sure I’d be a different person if it hadn’t been there while I was growing up, if not at the least a little healthier.

We've been putting down some new tracks this week. Scott and I have been experimenting in the hottest apartment in Edmonton, trying to work out how best to incorporate the sound of police sirens on a violin track.

We've also confirmed our second gig back and have a few more in the pipeline for the summer. We're back at Hulberts where we played last month, the difference being they now have a selection of about 200 beers to choose from so I'm waiting to see how that's going to effect our performance.

This week we've been enjoying Joel Plasketts latest offering, especially that second disc, and have given into to Passion Pits promise of the greatest of all summer records.

Here’s where we’ll be keeping up to date with what is going on in and around the house, as part of some kind of early spring resolution we’ll be trying to bring you weekly updates when we can. You can subscribe to john dear updates here.

This week we were collectively blown away after seeing Patrick Watson live at the McDougall United Church and altogether bemused that though it is May there were still snowflakes the size of fists falling from the sky. When the people of Edmonton hear my accent they can't stop apologizing for the ‘Alberta Weather System’.