After Den Haag, we had a return to Hamburg. We've played here before, on our misguided first euro-exploration, and it was a strange gig, playing with a scary Oi punk band of supremacists called "Genetiks", but probably should've been called "Send Das Buggers Back".

This gig was a last minute addition to give us a point in between Den Haag on Tuesday and Aarhus on Thursday, so we weren't holding out too much hope for the night.

As we arrived, the mood of Hamburg got me excited straight away - it's such an atmospheric city, especially by the harbour - huge cranes everywhere, and mist adding a magic sadness to the view.

The club was very simple, with only two mics, and no stage, but there was a great atmosphere to the building, not least due to the owner, Rolf, Santa's ageless punk brother (we found out he was 47, but he could have been 27 or 67! A big beard, and bald, but very young hands! That sounds weird).

With no carpet, I had to resort to my age old trick of taping sticks to the floor to stop my bass drum sliding around, and also the kettlebell was used for the first time this tour (I've been ill)

The hotel and food were amazing too, with skull and cross bones nylon bed sheets (insert my usual gag about someone finally reading our requirements)

After the gig, we met a lovely guy from a Bavarian ska band (that's blatantly oompah yeah?) that were touring Germany - he was even wearing Leiserhosen, and totally hammered. He enthusiastically took us to the "hooker street", which amazed us with a post-apocalyptic looking barrier preventing women from entering the street! After two minutes of being harangued by scantily clad ladies, we ran away to our hotel like giggling school boys.

Amazing town, wonderful people and I can't wait to go back - not for the hooker street! Pfff.