I can list a fair amount of personal ‘Bests’ that I am quite proud of but you cant live in memory’s most of the time. This year for me having OK days feels more important than ever, rather than looking for anything intangible in the future. I am changing in my outlook.

I just kind of plough on doing my one thing really, music. I have dabbled in other vices, I used to do a bit of photography and I have always doodled artistically a little. As you may also surmise I used to read a lot in the past. I have also read far to much on Psychiatric/Psychology stuff. Plus I used to do proper computer stuff (programming and whatnot) and I have an honorary degree in Hypochondria Medicine….

Manageable is good. I have learnt my lesson in that regard really as couple of years back in 2023 I was trying to get about 6 different musical projects off the ground. Most of those crashed and burned apart the Boomers/Orchard and Jons lot. More than ever I say do what you enjoy and to a certain extent the future will take care of itself. Even Putin’s going to run out of road in a year or so… Its not much but having my music/room studio available when ever I need it has upped my quality of life. Its humble compared to what a lot of others have but its mine.

So as to my thought processes. With regard to music I write/create. An idea may come about on say the piano. I will write it down in a very simplified form so i dont forget it. I might not know it is going to be a song or instrumental music. I start playing with idea an it grows organically as I record parts and finds a form. It might take 3 hours or it might take a week. I might even work on something else in the gaps. I wouldn’t get up and think today I am going to write a protest song about Gaza, but I might include thoughts about in the lyrics but not explicitly. I kind of just flow through things then go back and revise them. I am a river flowing over and around and through things, rather than digging a ditch for the water to flow down.

I have had a rough day or two due to an arthritis flare up, but I have a few days that are undefined. I hate the fact that I can’t generally speaking do early morning stuff as that often puts the brake on some activity’s. I am amazed that I managed to get up for the Ferry’s and Le Shuttle on our french trips, but we did preload everything in the car the evening before pretty much so we were on the road by 9. But that was 9 years and more ago. If I had less day to day pain I would be able to do more of course and so might be more active and sociable generally. This years just been a bit more difficult on that front. Just finished the tune I was working on over 3 days. Quite pleased with it actually. Go me.

August approaches. Do no harm. That’s all folks.