No worries - we'll all be waiting right there for you!

You can come and keep my beagle company for the summer - she also works for milk bones and belly rubs.

I will also be at home with nothing to do for the next year. Come visit. You can relax or try to whip my cats into shape.

If you need to feel the freedom of the road, get McCann to hit the road and camp your way around the island. You spend all your time riding around Canada & the US, have you explored your own home?

We will still be with you come August (although I was hoping more for early August). By then everyone will be itching to be in the spotlight again.

I really think that you should consider pitching a reality series in the meanwhile. I think it would be blast to follow you around & live vicariously through the beagle. You & McCann could take a bike trip across country with camera crew living off the kindness of strangers, sharing your canine wit and wisdom. I'm sure they can come up with a doggy side car so that you might let your ears flap in the breeze.

Or coming to my town might always be an option. Seems we're billeting a lot of friends' pooches lately and its rare they ever really want to leave... we've got the good cookies ;)

Of course we'll all still be with you! You could go on tour by yourself, Tosh, and we'd all line up to pet your head and bring you tasty snausages.

I would say come and visit me, I know all the secrets to keeping a dog happy and always coming back for more,alas I live in a small apartment and don't have the room for a dog...Sorry:(

I will always be there for you and the guys.

A job, you say?  Funny you should ask... I've got this historic theatre, you see(http://whitesidetheatre.org/), badly in need of renovation and fund-raising.  The stage is small, but certainly big enough for a beagle and a guitar.  And if you will work for bones, that's perfect for us, as we have no money.

Also, summer is a great time to be in Western Oregon, as it's not as wet then.  The trees and mountains are big here.  Scenic splendour all over the place.  And the woods are full of the cotton-tailed ones.

And as long as we're coaxing you to the West Coast for the summer, I think we could put together a lovely itinerary between Portland (Oregon - not Maine), Seattle, Vancouver, and Victoria.  Long walks on the beach, chasing bits of driftwood, nosing through tidepools, hikes in the mountains, and much, much more.  
I've got a lovely Border Collie that would be keen to show you around for all the fun!  :)

festivals, and sessions.

Drag BoB out too!
ZZZZzzzz........

At the risk of sounding like someone who's coming off this weekend feeling a bit overwhelmed by fiction and in serious longing for more of that which is real (and I am...and I am), I must confess to being impressed with your honesty. If you're taking suggestions for the summer, I'd love to see you take some of your recent studio work straight to the very first solo CD by a GBS band member. There's more than one way to go down in legend.

I think you should take Thing One and Thing Two for a tour of your favourite road spots...Sean is always sad to be away from the boys and possibly missing big events in their lives...I think you two should make the most of this opportunity and make some father-son-and pooch memories and do something grand together...and if the rest of us are lucky, it might even inspire a few new songs...

Of course we'll all be here...in fact we'll be missing you lots...checking back here for updates and to Sean's rantings on Twitter...please remember us Tosh and stay touch!

Personally, I think you should upstage Doyle and spin off a classic. "101 (Damn) Beagles."

Best get to work, Tosh. They don't make themselves, you know.

We love dirty dogs here.  If you find yourself in Ohio this summer, stop by.

I suggest weapons training...when Alan comes back you can challenge him to a duel!

I'm sure you'll figure out something to do over the summer.  Perhaps a solo project or hitting up a few Friday night jam sessions at Erin's are in your future?

Tosh - We'll be sitting here waiting for anything you and your human are up for, believe me.  Talk Bob the Instrument Stud into doing a little tour with you two - many a venue here would be overjoyed to have ya, and we'd love to hear more of the Shantyman's gorgeous tenor  any day of the week. Or get Sean to work on that CD LGE mentioned above, in between some great walks with you and the wee beastlies. At any rate, Fortune's Favour will still be with you, as will all of us, ready with the belly rubs and bones.

Whatever you do, keep in touch, ya dawg, and tell that to your Twittering human as well!

Tosh! Maybe there is a role for you too in this Robin Hood movie. I'm sure you'd look in tights... LOL. Just ask Russell and he'll hook you up.

Hopefully, Alan doesn't like acting more than singing, because then, we'd be in serious trouble.

See you on St. Patty's Day!

Dog agility classes?  That'll keep your owner fit :)

Hmmm..what you ask for sounds reasonable
I say you're hired!
Would you ind helping me mind the horses and tag along for some tracking exercises? Being in the farm and woods is always fun, yes? haha
But think, You may have 6 months to kill, but at least you don't have to kill them in Kentucky..ugh
Hi Ho Silver!

Karra

You should have entered that contest to watch over the island in the Great Barrier Reef, it's only 6 months and pays really well. Surf, sand and sun, seclusion with your family in paradise, maybe it would be too much to come back here after that long.

Enjoy your time whatever you choose to do.

I suggest you get Sean to write the main song for that Robin Hood movie and make it an award winning one so that Doyle can watch Sean sing at the OSCARS!!!  That would a movie I would go to JUST for the song--of course Sean should figure prominently in the video.

Clownfish is right.  In return for being such a good sport about merry Sir A'Dayle's absence, make him promise to get the producers to use "Time Brings" (what better song for a troubadour with lute in tights?!) in the movie.  Then sit back, smile modestly, and collect the royalties.  

Never fear, Alan knows where he belongs.  All will be well.

Sean,

Can't offer many ideas on earning money: Most of my ideas regarding you, would be for you to publish develop your poetry, and your individual song writing.  You've only appeared to take a risk and publish a few poems, "Stay" is an excellent poem in and of itself, and I'd hope you'd have more original work to share.  
Another idea would be for you to work with some of the people you've worked with before to develop your own or co-written originals.  
A third idea would be for you to organize a collection of stories of Newfoundland.  You appear to have a variety of native Newfoundlanders to rely on regarding their traditional stories, actual stories of growing up in a fishing village and the change that took place when the industry was halted.

However, If money is currently of little concern and you can take a 3 month vacation?

1. Spend quality time with the sons.   They grow up way to quick, and would love to spend time with their hero.
2. Reconnect with the wife.  Being pulled onto the road has to be trying, taking a second honeymoon might be a great idea for both of you.
3. Visit family, US mid eastern coast weather is supposed to be warm, and the cherry blossoms are great.
4. Visit friends, the home-based friends that you normally don't get to see due to the road.  Surprise the friends that are out on the road touring?
5. Reconnect with Newfoundland, tour newfoundland like your a visitor, go on a whale watch, take the kids to where there great grandparents grew up?

Anyhow good luck with the down time, and I hope we can hear a bit of a preview if you do any composing, poetry, etc.

Oh Tosh, it sounds like time to see if Chris Trapper (and his pup?) are available for some marathon song-writing!

There've been many great suggestions here - time off is NOT a bad thing!!!

Seriously, we will all be here when you get back on the road.  No worries.

Darlin' Tosh...we are all proud of Doyle (and yes we CANNOT WAIT to see him in tights), but we will be here waiting for GBS when you all find your way back to each other.

As for you...there have been many great suggestions - let me add mine, I'll be in St. John's next weekend, so if you want to return the favor, you could always spend a couple of weeks in Northern California.  Benicia is a lovely little town, that is definitely dog friendly  :o)

I think you have plans Tosh buddy but my vote (let's pretend I have one) goes to cutting a solo album with that prolific archive of tunes you've written (the one the gbs.com quiz contest lead me to believe exists).

Then, perhaps, tour premier singer-songwriter-friendly venues like The Carleton on Argyle in Halifax...all for love, bones and belly rubs of course (as opposed to lucre).

But what do I know. WOOF!

Tosh --  be a canine ambassador -- I hear the Obama's are getting a new dog and you could show the new pup the ropes...Spring is beautiful in our fair city.  

The new pooch is going to need to learn the rules of the road and who better than from such a wise road hound as you -- although, I admit their accomodations on the road may be more plush.  

But he/she will need to know how to handle pulls on the tail from little ones; travel with an entourage; avoid the paparazzi; how to (and not to) upstage the "handlers"; and how to deflect, distract and blame others...c'mon Tosh, you're the sweet face of GBS -- you need to pass on your wisdom and road rules....perhaps there's a reality TV show in there on Animal Planet!

paws up! here's to many belly rubs

We are very excited to hear about Alan's big shot but are very disappointed that we won't be seeing Great Big Sea this summer.  You guys are always welcome in Buffalo, you know that.  Maybe a solo debut is in order?  I know a set of pubs that would love to have you, I'll buy the first beer!  I've been a huge fan of GBS since your first cd back in the 1990s.  'Sea of No Cares' was my wedding song, I hear your songs and think of home.  I want my children to be raised on your music and learn to appreciate traditional music as much as we do.  Don't be glum, all things happen for a reason.  Lift the chin, have a beer, the sun will rise tomorrow and we, your fans, will still be here.

Here's to the Shanty Man!

Tosh,
The suggestion from here at the kitchen table is for you, Sean and Bob to go on tour,  and call yourselves "Wee Pond." LOL! A solo album sounds loverly - why not get together with Jim Fidler and do something with him?

But mainly, enjoy the boys and take long walks. Been on the tour boat at Bay Bulls recently? Visit the lighthouse at Cape Race. Climb on the rocks at Fort Amherst. Go camping in Terra Nova. Learn a new instrument or three.

Hey, do whatever makes you happy and rarin' to sing for us in Washington DC on the 21st of August. We'll be here!

It is time for bones and belly rubs and all things good for the beagle-soul.  Six months off is something we mere non-bus-dwellers dream of.  You'll be living a dog's life, soak it up and enjoy the time off.  
Rest assured we will be here for you long after August.  
And if you need to get out on the road, you'd be most welcome out here this summer, solo or with a few friends - say - how about the Colorado Irish Festival ;) ?

Cheers!

We will be here when Alan returns. Don;t you worry.
And in the mean time,,, plot some ego pricking "adventures" for Alan. :P

Tosh:

McCann was unbelievable in Chicago, and it's good that your being honest about wondering what to do this year.  If the young ones are old enough, maybe a trip to the west coast to Gros Morne or up to St. Anthony's to Lans Aux Meadows?  Unless McCann has been so traumatized by his own childhood visits to these amazing places?  There's nothing quite like the wildflowers in full bloom during a NF summer, and my guess is it's been a long time since the band has had the chance to enjoy home when its warm.

That said - I look forward to hearing new songs, music and McCann singing at the Oscars in 2011 when he sings the nominated song from Ridley Scott's to be named Robin Hood.  

But never doubt - we will still be here.  I figured out that this past weekend was the 7th time I've seen GBS since we were first introduced to them on Paul and his dad's Whale Cruise in St. Anthony's (highly recommended BTW).  We had SUCH a good time at HOB - I can't imagine ever missing the band when they are here.  I will always buy their CDs, post them on every social networking page I have and spread the word.  

Someday, the 16+ year overnight success story will be realized and I'll say I knew GBS when.  And this from a woman who once was in an apartment in the summer of 2003, when a State Senator from Hyde Park wanted to be a U.S. Senator, and he came to meet with about 20 of us in this apartment to talk about winning a campaign against all odds.  Yes, I met Barack Obama twice in 2003 and early 2004, and knew then, like I know about McCann and company - this is the real deal.  True talent is hard to find, that's why I'll always be there for GBS.

Take good care of yourself (and McCsnn and family too).

You're hired, I'm gettin lazy, need someone to walk on a daily basis. you may lick my face in the morning to wake me up, you may lick your balls when i am not watching and you may *play* with the cat. you will get belly rubs galore, food and lodging and maybe even some french poodle fragrance from the neighbours' canine lady.
what will mccann do? mmmh...don't mind him coming along...he can make himself useful by singing the brrod to sleep.
sounds fair?

No worries, we can't wait to see you whenever you find the time. I would certainly hire you for the summer! You can lick your balls on the couch without scolding. Bring McCann as well, I'm sure I could find something for him to do!