Category Archives: music

Rain And More Rain Mostly

Diana Stone and Jan Jackson
Diana Stone and Jan Jackson @ Broadstairs Blues Bash

It’s a bit damp again and my bones ache. February is going pretty quickly so far. I stil feel a bit out of sorts generally and very tired.  Its good though to be up and doing stuff again with other people on a regular basis musically.  It looks pretty certain that we are in the last phase of Covid-19 now and maybe life really will be almost back to normal by spring.  Many of my friends and acquaintances  are now back in to the old routine already.  Fingers crossed. My first pub gig for two years went OK apart from the travelling in a massive storm and through floods which was not so enjoyable. We got rebooked too. Financial concerns are still a bit of an issue at present though. I just have to hope that some of the new ventures will work out. I don’t need much, just enough. We will see. 

 

 

I have started getting a little more active again and it feels a bit strange to be honest. is this the new post-covid world?  Its amazing what a little bit of activity and social contact does, my mind is reawakening to what’s possible again rather that just thinking about managing everything in a very constrained manner. I am also not feeling so lethargic all the time. That’s a big difference. I should do a test later to see if hanging around with a lot of people has given me the plague again. If I am active again regularly I would expect my weight to go down to about 9st 8 or thereabouts again.

You can go by the pretty route and perhaps arriving is not always the most important reason for taking the journey.      

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” (Chinese千里之行,始於足下pinyinQiānlǐ zhī xíng, shǐyú zú xiàlit. ‘A journey of a thousand Chinese miles (li) starts beneath one’s feet’) is a common saying that originated from a Chinese proverb. The quotation is from Chapter 64 of the Dao De Jing ascribed to Lao

 

 

 

 

 

Hold That Thought

I may be playing my first gig plugged in gig  for nearly 18 months at a small festival, so I need to test some gear which I have started doing.  Hopefully it all still works.  It feels quite odd to be preparing for it though. I am a bit worried that it go badly wrong but fingers crossed anyway. Today at the time of writing I have had a messy day where not much seems to have been achieved despite my best efforts. Getting back on my feet after such a long break is an effort. Confidence wanes and all that. I am very likely to run into people I know, which may be a bit weird after so long. Currently I am waiting for a result on my regular covid test as I am rehearsing tomorrow with the Monday band that has not got a name yet, a few have been suggested and are under consideration.  I quite liked the ironic “Stairlift To Heaven”, though it is perhaps too near the truth and just a little bit to close to home. I have the usual level of February grumpiness to contend with too.  I am keeping up with my own personal music adventures along with the other projects too. I was recording today among  everything else I have been trying to sort out. I am stil very much in the one day at a time frame of mind too.  
So here is my most recent effort, a trance and violin instrumental vibe. 

Well some things never change and my anxiety just will not go away. It is  less severe than it was but its their like background noise all the time.   I should be more relaxed as there is much more for me to be positive about again, but the last couple of years have knocked the stuffing out of me.  I guess its the same for many others of course.  I have to try to plan but not worry too much. So I look ahead whilst trying to have no care for the morrow.  Mission impossible. The trees are starting to bud and everything is coming back to life locally. We still have building work going on in the street outside even as we start our 5th year here. Its not too noisy but there seems no end in sight to it. Today they were putting in extra drainage as well. 

‘We know what we are, but know not what we may be.’

(Hamlet, Act 4, Scene 5)

As ever… 
 
   

Further On Down the Road

Hello from the hale and ancient. Though I am not justified and I don’t drive an ice cream van.  Though I guess I could of course?  I am not sure really. 65 years old, good grief. It makes you want to have a lie down don’t you think. Yesterday was a good day, some recording during the day on a new song. then a Band rehearsal for my new 60s and 70s cover band that was fairly good.  The sun was out and I didn’t ache too much, so mostly a winner. Freezing in the rehearsal rooms though I must say.  Today I  will be back to recording and practice again and other light duties. I am also waiting for a delivery which is a bit tedious as I cant get on with my recording until it turns up as I won’t hear the door.

I have a new song: 

And there’s more.  I am slowly getting a bit more active socially and seeing people again which is nice but taking a little time to get used to again after a long time.  A new year and its already very different.

Diana Stone in 2022
Diana Stone in 2022