http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siMkTr-uaOM

A VERY rough recording of an idea for my next song!

I'm offering my CD Full Circle for a one off cost of £5 for those that order it direct from me before Christmas.

Just message me if you'd like a copy at the promotional cost - 12 professionally recorded tracks at a silly price!

Treat yourself or someone else for Christmas.

During my three month trip to the Gambia earlier this year, I spent a lot of time playing flute with Moriba, a friend of mine who's a wonderful Kora player.

I've created a Myspace for Moriba and I so that you can listen to some tracks that we recorded. We're hoping to do some more in the future.

Moriba Kuyateh

Do add us as friends if you like the music.

Sorry for the lack of posts but I've been incredibly busy with the house move!

We're now settling in and the place is amazing. The house we're renting is set in 30 acres of beautiful farmland which is only used for hay so we have free access to wonderful walks. The guy whose house it is looks after the land very well and mows the grass nearest the house with an enormous sit on mower so we don't have to be responsible for that ha ha!!

The house itself is big and lovely - we have plenty of room for our things.

We had loads of people over during the weekend to help us warm the place up - it ended up being a party from Friday till Monday evening.

I haven't lived with anyone for years and years but I feel in my bones that we'll be very happy here.

View from Bedroom


Patio


View from Front

My god - thanks goodness one doesn't have to move home every week. What a load of old rubbish I had in my house as well as precious objects.

I've thrown out three enormous bags of clothes to the charity shops, half my books to Amnesty International Bookshop, there's still piles of crap! Plus you suddenly find letters and cards which take you back to the past with a bang for a quick trip down memory lane before adding it to the pile of junk.

I thought my house was quite clean till I looked behind cupboards and chests of drawers - yuk!

I'm so tired I could drop dead and the thought of unpacking it all at the other end doesn't appeal much either.

Ha ha - I sound really fed up but the truth is I'm very excited about starting a new phase of my life with my lovely man in a beautiful place in the countryside of Oxfordshire.

I'll still have a small place in Bristol, so I won't lose touch with my family, friends and musicians here.

I hope to have internet when we move on Tuesday but there could be a delay.

My Life in Boxes!

I've finally got my album up on iTunes - as I'll be away for quite a while between now and May this will be useful for those wanting to download it. You can still get a hard copy through CDbaby if you prefer! Either way it's very reasonable for 12 tracks.

I'm hoping to start recording again in the summer - so watch this space!

So guys - another whole year has passed by - unbelievable - is it my imagination or is time passing more quickly as I get older?

For me it's been an amazing 2008 - the highlights have been my first grandchild Lucia safely born, time spent with wonderful friends and family on and off line, a new relationship with a lovely new man, released my album, went to lots of wondeful live music festivals and gigs, continued to play and write music, and inevitably had to sadly say good bye to one or two people along the way.

2009 looks like being exciting with a three month trip to Africa to kick it off at the end of January and then hopefully moving to be with P full time in the countryside and lots more music to record - so watch this space and keep in touch.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009!

What have been your highlights this year and hopes for 2009?

I've had a lovely Christmas time with my new grandchild, my family and P! We spent Christmas in Bristol then I took the train up to meet P's son for the first time and then on to his brother's. We've now met most of each other's important relatives though there are still a few to go!

Here's P making a delicious batch of 36 Mince Pies


And here's a picture of me with baby Lucia!


I'm now in Cropredy at the van and yesterday we went to a funeral of a friend of P's which was sad as he was only a young man of 42 though the celebration of his life was very touching.

Tonight we're going to a gig at the Mill in Banbury and tomorrow a New Year's party locally. On Friday or Saturday we're off back to the boat in Belgium to deliver a load of batteries and hope to spend some more time in Brugge. Next week we're going to visit my dad.

It looks like January will be gone in a blink then we're off at the end of the month to the Gambia, probably till nearly May to organise the Kartong Festival. I'll have to start planning soon as I'll have to rent out my house and a zillion other things to make it possible. Time flies but it's exciting times!