Blog 2010

New Year Blog - Jan 1st 2010
A Funny Thing happened to me on the way here ...

That was a crazy, yet very human, New Year's Eve. Not sure when it technically started, as I'd been pretty much on my own throughout Christmas. And quite contentedly so ... if there was ever a need to switch off and let it all go, I posessed that need. Call it bah humbug if you like, but I kinda gave all this year and caught a nasty head cold by return. Enough already, I needed a break ok ...

So due to the onslaught of impersonal junk texting that goes around, I thought it would be nice to contact some friends in person and wish them well. First up then, Lemn Sissay who has recieved an MBE for 'Services to Literature'. A dear friend from the 'early days', Lemn is resident writer at London's South Bank, and there was a question as to whether someone of his sincere and deep political leanings would accept the award. However after much deliberation he took it, and much to the respect of many. Indeed, I would go as far to say that his true award is the respect from peers and those who admire his work.

It was a lovely start to the day, and brought a very positive mood. From then onwards though, well, if you've had a difficult 2009, you're not alone are you. I was supposed to be celebrating the wedding of a friend who recently lost her sister to cancer and then saw her newly launched charity collapse. Not so, for the wedding was cancelled, someone had been a naughty boy and to say I was gutted for the girl is an understatement.

Still, someone else who's been a good friend this year told me she'd found a little love lately, and this again made me happy. She'd had a lousy break-up, and seeing a recovery in someone, albeit uncomfortable at times, is a good thing.

Onwards, a mate who lives alone and gets on with it, has serious toothache and I'm lead to believe it's the work of the tooth-devil. He tells me news of another acoustic gig closing, a dear lady friend who is so down she's staying in bed most days, and reminds me in earnest that I've still work to do on the new recordings.

He asks about my dog, she's not been well. I rarely mention Shannon here, however she's not a young pup, and it niggles me these days where we might need to go from here. Still the vet tells me that for her age she's in good nick, even if the warnings are clear, and I am in all honesty so not ready to lose her, or for that matter see her in discomfort.

Looking ahead, it's not easy to be positive about this place, this country, although I suppose the bigger picture shows that we live on a mountain of bad history, ao any crumbling is only to be expected, even if it appears to be carefully managed to ensure that the moderate become the poor, with the poor looking less like a minority.

I have to say though, that whilst we have many many brilliant and awesome people here - they are all around us, and are the heart and soul of the island - there's a general feeling of hardship amongst the population in general that is spurred on by the frustration of not having all everyone wants. This remains a country with lots more wanting than needing, and the curse of 'self-ism' shows no sign of abating.

And therefore, I look to 2010, a year ending in a zero, pivotal in that silly way we get with numbers. I am braced for a fight, not because I want one, but because as you get to a certain stage of aging, loved ones around start to stumble and fall, and whilst you start to see the frail years appearing over the horizon, your dilemna is that now more than ever, you need the hard nosed determination of youth to squeeze the good juices out of every drop of life, live the riot and share the energy.

I only hope therefore that wherever and whenever, you find me in good health with energy and genuine loving friendship to share. I will look to give another new year another good go. Yes I'm still promising a long overdue new cd of songs, and yes I personally want this to happen now more than ever, quite simply because I need to move on.

This could be a year of difficult decisions, then again there's sure to be plenty of magic around, so let's not let that go, embrace and live to share.

As always, stay special, thank > you < :-)
dp x