chilled day

Had a lovely chilled out day today.  No, not just sitting around, or catching up on Christmas TV (thankfully, didn’t do much of that at all this Christmas)……   In between very enjoyable family visits, I had a “free” day, so I set my ipod to shuffle (currently on a Mark Knopfler song after a number from DelAmitri) and just got on with catching up on one or two work related things, which included getting my study/studio nearer completion having moved from one room to another

I have to say, doing these things not because I have to today, but just because I want to, has been very relaxing.  Along the way, I’ve been reflecting on how very grateful I am – mainly from a spiritual point of view as to where I find myself dwelling these days

So as I leave you for now, while allowing a bit of Nicole Nordeman to waft over me (a reflective song called “Anyway”), may I take this opportunity to pray that your 2013 is at least as blest as my 2012 has been.

My 2013? – I’m hoping those creative juices start flowing……

Another gig?

I don’t get to other people’s gigs often.  To be honest, some can be a bit mediocre and I went to this evening’s expecting more of the same.

I was pleasantly surprised.  I was quickly totally engrossed and drawn in by the musicianship and songwriting skill of  Paul Bell (I even forgot to use my camera!)  He was providing just under an hour’s worth of music at a  pretty formal cheese and wine evening – I could’ve listened for much longer.  What could have been a fairly “quiet” evening became a very enjoyable one – thank you Paul for reminding me how much good music can move, relax, stimulate the mind, etc.

Back home, I now feel thoroughly refreshed, chilled out – like a good wine (but without the hangover!)

from Gigs to Gatwick

Very much enjoyed recording a new track today – a Chris Rea cover (to be revealed on Friday night at The Cricketers gig). Will also be doing Lay Down Your Sorrows (Kate York) and hoping to learn Cliff’s “C’mon Everybody” between now and Friday evening.  I’m so enjoying this new venture and can feel my skills being honed even more as I stretch myself to embrace a broader range of material

Tomorrow, though, a shift of focus as I wave goodbye to my son and daughter in law as they leave to begin their new life across the pond. 

 

 

sowing seeds

Shirehampton, Bristol, 1950s.  When the area was finished there would be a green play area amongst the houses, but back then it was a few piles of rubble left over from the building work

The white bearded, stocky man who mysteriously appeared, sat down on the pavement next to the rubble, took out his concertina and began to sing and play.  Wearing his woolly hat and his big boots with thick socks riding over the top, he could perhaps have been a sailor from one of the boats at the nearby docks

As he began to sing, kids from the nearby houses came out to sit and listen….  “Jesus wants me for a sunbeam…..”,  “Jesus loves me this I know…..”   They were captivated, as was Elaine; she was fascinated – there was something about this man and his songs

 Elaine (who is now my wife) tells me that looking back she realises that those were the first seeds sown in her heart of faith and belief (she’d not had the experience of any spiritual input from her family or a church background)

 I guess the singing sailor (if that’s what he was) has no idea about the fruit that resulted from the seed he sowed that day.  Elaine says he’s one of the first people she wants to say “thank you” to if we get to be able to do that when we “shake off this mortal coil”

Sometimes, God only knows what affect we have on others through the things we do, the words we say, the songs we sing, the pictures we paint; but the seeds sown may well have fallen on good ground that will bear fruit all in good time….                                 

…and that’s why I go sing my songs in schools.

 

 

 

 

 

No 1.

Ok – so here we go – my very fist blog post.  It’s nearly 11pm and I’m currently working in three schools in and around Cheddar. I’m thinking this is going to be more of a factual first post, cos inspiration isn’t flowing at the moment, but hopefully this blog will become more intersting as time goes by

So bear with me and I very much look forward to you sharing the journey with me

Today’s school presentations featured two songs from a writer I’ve only recently discovered – Kate York (check out her new album NEW – no that’s not a typo, the album’s called “New”)

And of course my new toy aka Loop Pedal also made an appearance