January
1st 2013 and here I am sitting at my computer, listening to Curtis
Stigers’ ‘Let’s Go Out Tonight,’ and gathering my thoughts and intentions for
the coming year.
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| Myself and Curtis Stigers Photo kindly taken by Matthew Fries, Curtis' fabulous piano player Bradford, April 2012 |
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| Curtis Stigers & his fabulous band, signing autographs on the concourse, The Sage, March 2012 John 'Scrapper' Schneider, Cliff Schmitt, Keith Hall, Curtis Stigers & Matthew Fries |
I'm
very aware that across 2012 this blog drifted from its initial concept; but it
seems that that was a reflection of my recent reconnection with my musical
self. Music has always been a hugely important part of my life, but over recent
years other things had taken priority; mostly my therapy trainings and
PhD. Back in March 2012, a very
unexpected and exciting encounter at The Sage, Gateshead (thanks in part, to
Curtis Stigers and his band!), opened me back up to my musical creativity and
since then I’ve found myself being able to write songs again (the lyrics of
some of which I’ve posted on here in previous entries), playing my guitar and
piano much more and joining a choir.
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| Countdown to flash mob Auld Lang Syne |
I
ended 2012 performing to an almost sell-out show in Hall One of The Sage, as
part of a choir backing an Abba Tribute band; and I & started 2013 singing
Auld Lang Syne as part of a 3-part-harmony flash mob performance with my
choir. It seemed like the perfect ending
and beginning for me …
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| Party on The Sage concourse with the James Taylor quartet |
2013
feels like an important year for me, and one which I am looking forward to with
excitement, hope, and apprehension; I turn 40 and I (hopefully!) complete my
PhD. I know it’s going to be a
challenging, frustrating yet ultimately satisfying year if I am able to
complete my thesis over these next 12 months.
To do this though, I need to be focused and organised. My thesis has
to take priority across 2013, although I also need to ensure I have fun and
freedom too! And for me, the downtime is
going to be filled with music.
I
intend to commit to writing regularly on here again, and I suspect my entries
will focus on my thesis progression, my continuously developing thoughts around
it as me, my data and my computer become even more intimately connected!
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| Elsie & I studying together |
I also though, want to ensure that these
entries reflect the musical progression in my life too … and who knows what
2013 has in store there!!
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| The piano playing cat |
And
of course, tangled in all of this will be Elsie, my cat, who turns up wherever
and whatever I’m doing; studying, songwriting, & whatever else I happen to be doing, she'll be there with me!
Wishing you all a fabulous 2013 filled with love, happiness & lots of nice surprises, x
