JUNE 2026

Well wasn’t June a bit of a scorcher. I don’t know about you but I tend to stop functioning when it’s ridiculously hot like that.

Aside from the heat, I have been really struggling lately. I’ve seen all the programmes/adverts in tv about dementia but until you live with someone who has it, you really don’t know what it’s like. It’s really nasty. Moreso when you aren’t able to get any help or support.

SPAIN

I managed to escape to Spain for a week at the start of the month with SPPS Songwriting Retreats. It started ominously enough when the plane landing at Malaga decided to do a go-around having touched the tarmac….new pants please !

It was great to be in an environment with like minded creative souls and seeing old friends as well as new ones. Got some good therapy in too being able to talk through my problems with my friends.

I co-wrote 5 new songs: Mother, Know You Again, Hail Mary, Warmer and Heart On Me. Co-writing is great fun if you’ve never tried it. Oddly, it’s a great way to improve your solo writing as you carry all these other people in your head with you. At least I think that’s what the voices are !!!

Now the trick is to keep getting together with my co-writers and get the songs recorded and put out there.

HANNAH SCOTT

The weekend just gone I went to see Hannah Scott as part of Walton Fest. Never been before and I found the gig by chance. And a lunchtime gig to boot (when you hit a certain age, you’ll understand the joy of that !).

I headed down to Walton and had a thoroughly good time. A pretty cool venue in a converted barn. I’ve not seen Hannah before. She was really good and some of the lyrics were sublime. I even managed to get a couple of song ideas of my own during the gig which would good. It let me know my radar is still working.

Naturally, I made sure to visit the merch stand at the end and bought some CDs.

ROUND UP

Hmmm I actually feel a bit better/more positive about things having written this. On reflection, I have been creative even though it doesn’t feel like it most of the time.

JULY

What have I got planned for July ? To be honest, I just need to take each day as it comes at the moment. There’s things I want to do, things I need to do. Will I get to do them ? Who knows at this stage.