I was reminded by someone messaging me, of how much of life is directed by that glorious thing: Chance. I had been desperate to play the violin at school, but I was at the back of the queue and all that was left was a cello (and, I think a… Continue reading

Hi there, I write this on a beautiful cold day that started with a frost. I can see across the valley from my bedroom window as the frost picks out the hollows and you can see the bits that are colder than the rest. I had a great time on… Continue reading

Greyhounds/Galgos Some of you may know that I have developed a great fondness and fascination for greyhounds since I got my first retired greyhound some years ago. Here’s a little bit of their history and something of their situation today. Greyhounds are amongst the very oldest breeds of dogs, pictures… Continue reading

Here we are again, after mists and mellow fruitfulness we have the midwinter festival. I love thinking of days way back in prehistory when I’m sure people were much the same underneath but their surroundings so very different, long before Christmas was thought of. Fire must have been such a… Continue reading

Hi there – I’m sorry it’s been so long – again! Trying to avoid the opening ‘Well’! The new cd is going to be very exciting as Justin Elswick aka Sleepthief and his partner in music Israel Curtis, have kindly agreed to produce the new music. It is a little… Continue reading

Coos, who does the excellent work on this site, has reminded me in the past that I always start the diary entry with: “Well,…” Well, it’s tricky not to! But here goes without a starting ‘well’… I’ve had such good times and some very bad times since I last wrote.… Continue reading

I had a great time in Monterey with the TED convention; surrounded by great thinkers really made me feel like I should have tried more at school and not bunked off to the music room to practise cello… I met many interesting people doing a myriad of incredible things as… Continue reading

I’m sitting with the wind raging outside with the dogs curled up by the fire galloping in their sleep and making little muffled ‘woof’ noises. Possibly the best way of taking exercise in this weather… I’ve been working on new songs and some are approaching readiness. It’s always a little… Continue reading

There was such a hard frost last night that the ducks could almost have gone skating this morning. I am really glad that tomorrow, the 21st, will be the shortest day, or is it today I’m not quite sure; anyway, the upshot being that from now on it’s a downhill… Continue reading

Hi everyone! I had a great time in Milan – I love Italy, I think it’s such a fantastic country, the food, the architecture, the history but above all the people. I have never met an unfriendly Italian. It was a very early start for the plane; I was staying… Continue reading