Category Archives: history

The light of a 1000 Stars

Time might just be getting a little used up by now I think. A new song and I may take a little break as the creative well feels pretty dry and needs replenishing. My mind is in freefall now I think.

Loves the thing in short supply often in our go get em neo lib capitalist world. I want world peace and a huge bank balance. Of course I do, don’t you. If only it was that simple.

Just keep you fingers crossed something will change. What else is there? At the heart of peaceful neighborly relations lies the recognition of individuality. Each neighbor brings a unique set of values, traditions, and perspectives to the table. Or do they. Perhaps they desperately try to fit in. Embracing this diversity should make our collective tapestry inclusive and open doors to a wealth of experiences and insights. Rather than viewing differences as barriers, we should celebrate them as opportunities for learning and growth but that is often really hard.

Living peacefully with our neighbors while respecting their differences is not just an aspiration but a fundamental aspect of harmonious coexistence within communities. In a world characterized by diversity in culture, beliefs, and practices, fostering mutual respect and understanding becomes imperative for cultivating a tranquil environment where everyone can thrive. In essence, living peacefully with our neighbors while respecting their differences is not merely a utopian ideal but a practical imperative for building thriving communities and possibly the survival of the human race. By cultivating a culture of understanding, respect, kindness, and cooperation, we pave the way for a brighter, more inclusive future where diversity is celebrated, and harmony prevails.

Embracing a mindset of cooperation and collaboration promotes mutual benefit and collective well-being. Working together on common goals and initiatives strengthens community ties and fosters a sense of belonging. Whether it’s organizing neighborhood events, participating in community projects, or simply lending a helping hand, collaboration reinforces the notion that we are all in this together we hope, although I am pretty sure some of us are not.

Painted Smiles

Especially for winter. The Valentine’s day post. There are a lot of very lonely people about of a certain age it seems.

Here be monsters, when I read the news. Its not getting any better. You can it seems die of innocence in many parts of the world. On my drive to rehearsals the signs of an early spring are popping up. Its also very warm again for this time of year. A sign that the world is changing perhaps? Tell me if you have heard this one before. My body complains as ever so no change there. I am finding it difficult to keep up the effort to exercise daily, but hopefully over all I am doing enough.

Currently I am working on a new solo piano tune running through various variations on a theme. I will let it ferment a while.

Talking of ferment. Mostly things are jogging along reasonably OK as in having fun with music and having a bit of regular social contact. Really I can’t complain on that score. What’s going on in the world upsets me greatly. Gaza obviously. Ukraine I saw on a BBC news report is having munitions shortages now which makes me think that Putin “winning” is now very lightly indeed. Even Labour winning a couple of by-elections relatively locally did not give me much chear, as IMO as I feel they one simply by not being as awful as the other lot.

And as I type this:
“Jailed Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny dead, says prison service”
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-68316979 Well no surprise there really. They got him in the end though they took their time about it..

I had a quick panic about possible unpaid bills and of course having checked I had indeed paid them on time. What triggered it was having more money than expected. Of course it’s now a year since having a reasonable stable income that is not dependent on music and performance.
My emotional brain has not caught up with my logical one yet it seems.

Confidence and Imposter Syndrome

Some days you feel like a fraud. Well I do. Yes indeed. What’s to be done about it? I have got a little lazy recently, not learning things properly. It’s a mindset that is easy to get into. I was very anxious when I arrived at the gig yesterday. Much more than the last time I played there. I did relax as it progressed. Just one of those things I guess. If I was doing regular solo stuff I would be OK with it I think. So its all back to doing stuff locally a bit I guess if I want to try and progress that side of things more. I really do find that I cant learn stuff just for the sake of it. I have to apply it somehow for it to stick. Although I can still learn new tricks I need a reason or an external challenge to spur me on and make it stick. Solo is a rare thing for me and to be honest really a last resort unless I turn it in to a piano bar thing with lots of standards (American song book 30s to 50s) and some originals. I just prefer working with others. It’s a little less intense.My performances are a bit variable at times I feel.

The sun is out as I write today. Another week of rain expected though. I have two rehearsals this week to fit in. But not much else. I looked at a song I have written, and played it. It’s not quite ripe for recording yet though. So in the meantime I have started working on another idea.

So here is a recent one to be getting on with instead:

I must go now and check how the sunset is proceeding.

The sunset was excellent and I hartly approved of it. A very good effort indeed.