As soon as we went passed the last house and into the first field you could feel the wind. Pushing at us, passing all around us, pressing clothes to bodies. Dipping our heads down ( in defence? Respect?) And the noise, roaring across the ears. I pull my wooly hat down lower over my ears, a gesture only.

As we went into the next field, I could hear the voices of children playing football in Fleckney, carried by the roar, in the roar, over distant hedges, other fields, finding me here. But we keep walking and the sound is gone.

Go listen!

YOU AND THE NIGHT AND THE MUSIC

[As titles for radio shows go, I am so behind this one]

The publication of Woody Guthrie’s resolutions list (I read about it courtesy of the awesome Brain Pickings site), which I saw sometime in December, made me ponder about the whole idea again. His list seems so humble and yet so inspiring. These little things that make such a big difference, sometimes even just thinking about them….

Learn people better…..Read lots good books…Keep hoping machine running

I had a look at a few of the people who’s blogs I follow to see what they’re upto this year and felt the same ways about theirs too – please go to Crafty Fox and to There are always flowers for more inspiration.

As for me, I’m not going to be as bold as to print out what I would like to achieve this year. There’ll be ore streamlining, for sure, but it will all be to live and experience more.

A golden vane atop the tower.

[Charlcote Park]

Yesterday I took a slow stroll with some friends and our children to the top of Beacon Hill in North Leicestershire. Sheltered by some rocks for tea and biscuits then went to look out over Leicestershire from the trig point. The wind was incredible – I put my hood up to cover my ears somewhat but still the roar was there and constantly pushing, touching everything. It felt fantastic.

I have a record coming out! It’s called ‘Humming New Time‘ and it’s out on Olynka records, a new label set up by Tom Morris of Her Name is Calla. It’s available on download or as a limited number of CDs with hand printed linocut sleeves (it took a while to get them right!)NOW!!!! I intend to write soon about the record and what and why it is but in the meantime, here’s a picture of the sleeves drying in my kitchen

and you can stream (and purchase) below

It got it’s first review too!

But this is not all. This weekend I do my first gig in around 14 months. I am a bit nervous and worried about it all but I/m just about ready. It’s at the Red Tent in Leicester as art of the White Noise Festival Christmas event. Robot Needs Home have released a compilation for the event of local acts doing Christmas songs to which I have contributed a version of ‘Silent Night’. It’s available as a cd on the day or as a download from the Robot Needs Home store. It’s only £2 and every single penny raised from the sale and the event itself goes to LOROS. So dig in!