tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47747853693380948662023-11-16T07:48:52.172-08:00Folk-ing it up for Folk's sake...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00729782905194727098noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4774785369338094866.post-48768478974032205672018-02-19T13:27:00.001-08:002018-02-19T13:27:20.448-08:00The tide is turning...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turning the Tide...</td></tr>
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Hi Folks!!!<br />
A busy beginning to the new year has kept me away from media, but already I have made a good start with concerts, gigs and rehearsals. As I am still also committed to an operatic career, I am really enjoying the varied mix of repertoire from opera, classical song, music theatre and folk. I love too, the interaction of talented singers and musicians that I am privileged to work with.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">with Helen England at Crimble Hall, Lancashire.</td></tr>
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Helen and I returned to this popular venue in January for an evening of music by Andrew Lloyd-Webber. I even got to accompany myself with guitar for the title song from 'Whistle down the wind'.<br />
I have worked with Helen and her husband, Phil (sound engineer) for a decade now and we have become great friends. We always have a crazy time together with a lot of laughter.<br />
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The variety of my work also brings a whole lot of fun and 'Madness'...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mad as a Hatter with Helen England</td></tr>
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I'm always excited at the opportunity to 'dress up' and 'make-up' and there was a lot of wonder as we stepped through the looking glass at this celebrity charity ball in aid of NSPCC at Mottram Hall, Greater Manchester.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mad for it - with Helen</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wonder of it all...</td></tr>
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More fairy-tale shenanigans continue this season as I take the role of Ramiro (Prince Charming) in La Cenerentola (Rossini's comic-opera version of Cinderella). It is over a decade since I last sang this role - it doesn't get any easier...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dates for your diary</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cinderella - Oh! No it isn't...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh! Yes it is...</td></tr>
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Great news on the album front!!! All the tracks are finally finished and ready to press. My first studio album as <b>Islander</b> entitled '<i><b>Turning the Tide</b></i>' contains 14 tracks of traditional, contemporary and original folk ballads. On all the tracks I am accompanied by myself on guitar and joined for 7 tracks by fellow opera singer James McOran-Campbell, on keyboards. James kindly lends his dulcet baritone to duet with me in 'The West's awake'.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keeping the West awake - with James McOran-Campbell</td></tr>
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This is an exciting time for me as I embark on this new path in my career; something I have forged for myself out of a natural turn of events and the desire for a change, hence the album title '<i style="font-weight: bold;">Turning the Tide'</i> .<br />
One of the tracks is a song of my own composition, '<i style="font-weight: bold;">The Loveliest of Days'</i>. It began as a poem inspired by a moment of revelation while at my house in France. It truly was the loveliest of days with the summer sun shining bright and all of nature in this 'remote and rural' idyll in full natural flow and I believe was a nudge from the natural world to stop 'doing' and encompass the joy of 'being'.<br />
The song was completely organic as it wrote itself with complete ease - the lyrics, the music, the concept and the making of the accompanying music video were all born at home in France - I hope you like it...<br />
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Two more music videos are on their way to accompany the album release - which will be in early Spring. And another two music videos are scheduled to follow soon after - so look out for those.<br />
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In the meantime, after our successful collaboration in almost two decades of music-making, James and I are busy rehearsing, compiling and putting together a concert of popular classical songs and traditional, contemporary and original folk songs that we call 'Classi-Folk'.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifCAhGSsdCmFHmne-WLMYNRm-MROOZ1j0nlFRkSDiSfrL2CgVO1K3HCVRJNohCVWGlkOhJCUpbzOkHGvsYHdxdP7lE6pSPXLCB3iBABTmU_Vhfjq_lHknB69TUJYPyZCJ-S7DSC0ipdx3s/s1600/IMG_20170917_134607674_BURST001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifCAhGSsdCmFHmne-WLMYNRm-MROOZ1j0nlFRkSDiSfrL2CgVO1K3HCVRJNohCVWGlkOhJCUpbzOkHGvsYHdxdP7lE6pSPXLCB3iBABTmU_Vhfjq_lHknB69TUJYPyZCJ-S7DSC0ipdx3s/s320/IMG_20170917_134607674_BURST001.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Songbird...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Classi-James...</td></tr>
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This heady mix of Spanish, Italian, French, English, Scottish, Irish and American song is a pure joy to put together. As tenor (myself) and baritone (James) we accompany ourselves with guitar, keyboard and percussion. It is great fun so look out for our tour dates. There's bound to be one or two of your favorite songs in the programme. First performance kicking off on <b><i>Saturday 7th April at 7:30pm - The Victory Room, Bucklebury Village, Reading RG7 6PG.</i></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tide turns...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silver light...</td></tr>
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Life on the Island is pretty quiet during these chilly winter months, but some of the migrating birds have already begun to return to the shallow surf of the sea 300 meters from my house. My hands and face are often frozen as I walk on the shore and I'm reminded of the opening lines of a song, 'The beach is a lonely place, this time of year...'<br />
All the early spring buds and bulbs are fattening and swelling in the 'Greening' which I so love and its really wonderful to watch and feel nature slowly awakening.<br />
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If I am not travelling, performing or rehearsing, I will be walking, writing or snuggled up by a driftwood fire swathed in blankets with a large single malt, courtesy of the generosity of Christmas past.<br />
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But I headed off for a well deserved city break to Madrid this month. It's been decades since I was last there and it was like visiting for the first time - I recognized absolutely nothing - which was quite refreshing, as was the chilly breeze. It was an inspiring trip taking in museums, galleries, palaces, streets, restaurants and bars. I even got to the Opera at Teatro Real and took in a fabulous Flamenco show at Casa Patas - which I definitely recommend. The musicians and dancers were awesome and the cultural fix really fired me up.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Madrid from the rooftop terrace at Circulo de Bellas Artes</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnaZt9Fha9xsaegpONneJiFDJfGvi2Ems40bwQEnvcbaVwvP0EDWX6KgPYr7RGWpniRojA-eJEUJ-XtablvcSKMxIfYe-W0Fe9IxMiTqdY4CscNSKk5QJHMcvcJsbEozUDx0rIqaY1U4Q/s1600/IMG_20180213_133248102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnaZt9Fha9xsaegpONneJiFDJfGvi2Ems40bwQEnvcbaVwvP0EDWX6KgPYr7RGWpniRojA-eJEUJ-XtablvcSKMxIfYe-W0Fe9IxMiTqdY4CscNSKk5QJHMcvcJsbEozUDx0rIqaY1U4Q/s320/IMG_20180213_133248102.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">El Retiro</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWVY1K_Y-U1gFIS2-RlGiB0ReqbT9JZmH66uzEeraJbhyGtlaU6xiIPZDMskgSitZ7NCM1H95aSZTelr08dMg6c2k3fRv4iXp2aTxpfv0cI9Va7yrpMewMMLhfpj11fy7HQoWFd9eb6wQF/s1600/IMG_20180213_195328794.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWVY1K_Y-U1gFIS2-RlGiB0ReqbT9JZmH66uzEeraJbhyGtlaU6xiIPZDMskgSitZ7NCM1H95aSZTelr08dMg6c2k3fRv4iXp2aTxpfv0cI9Va7yrpMewMMLhfpj11fy7HQoWFd9eb6wQF/s320/IMG_20180213_195328794.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Busman's Holiday at Opera Teatro Real</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmn7nbAxUYCb4-yJZ4UaQE74kMhGVvy7U7cznm-qV_-5VdAEFPtN6woaupsDwVxFFpH87g1I5DC0ni4W_jlWNi09rMat4tTZJIkuHsHV_Fdj7a28UQhwFhiJZbO677qvZxdY_SMH2SpgH/s1600/IMG_20180214_222939660.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmn7nbAxUYCb4-yJZ4UaQE74kMhGVvy7U7cznm-qV_-5VdAEFPtN6woaupsDwVxFFpH87g1I5DC0ni4W_jlWNi09rMat4tTZJIkuHsHV_Fdj7a28UQhwFhiJZbO677qvZxdY_SMH2SpgH/s320/IMG_20180214_222939660.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flamenco at Casa Patas</td></tr>
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<br />
I have some really exciting art projects to begin (and continue) as soon as some freer time becomes available - probably later in the spring. I have been working on some textured street-scapes on canvas that I would like to explore.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk-bz2TpYgzf9_7KwMmLczPiMyTXQNFDPRi5hOXPmboscsE4nqigzIFlr7NwDv4GkrpOx1yQgraVR0qupKn4RqM3lb8DM7CSBe8zCgHVfMROcGMYL9vta3nonYFYbf8IVeVkd41vsxCvwO/s1600/20161026_132408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk-bz2TpYgzf9_7KwMmLczPiMyTXQNFDPRi5hOXPmboscsE4nqigzIFlr7NwDv4GkrpOx1yQgraVR0qupKn4RqM3lb8DM7CSBe8zCgHVfMROcGMYL9vta3nonYFYbf8IVeVkd41vsxCvwO/s320/20161026_132408.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'On the street where you live...' (work in progress)<br />
Media: Card on canvas</td></tr>
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A friend has offered to help me produce and publish an illustrated book of my poetry, so I need to get back to work on that. And I have been invited to produce an exhibition for a concert of Schubert's song cycle 'Dichterlebe' (A poet's love) - this will be a nice challenge, much like the exhibition I did a few years ago for Schubert's song cycle 'Winterreise'.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzbmrKhocLFlJ69XHMy77Xb11vovtI9HL4coJfoAzc-31QaRu-8qTULdfhfBTKnU_QW4L8ADBMPZ9kSmrg4qmlVYCqo1IOyZtCeUURL7oWktXvDaD7Wd4B3VjOT0iv-kUMmh7dy5JpUgW/s1600/20150626_115249-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzbmrKhocLFlJ69XHMy77Xb11vovtI9HL4coJfoAzc-31QaRu-8qTULdfhfBTKnU_QW4L8ADBMPZ9kSmrg4qmlVYCqo1IOyZtCeUURL7oWktXvDaD7Wd4B3VjOT0iv-kUMmh7dy5JpUgW/s320/20150626_115249-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Winterreise'<br />
Media: Twigs, cloth, acrylics on canvas</td></tr>
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Perhaps I might do something similar to accompany the 'Classi-Folk' tour - watch this space...<br />
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I'm looking ahead to getting back on the water soon in my Kayak - 'The Jolly Roger'.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizlkXwZiS-t7yo5zsMIOtXdD68dAZ3IsVTtJFkccaze2kOcQHiBk2NVhbTX57irXegxNhUQycuAlvr9H4OW1AYEdq1H05lpfza6k3T_4ZuQuT0TxAZbpeIjh25tnunDiGiPcCXI8xbCJrL/s1600/IMG_20170527_124725745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizlkXwZiS-t7yo5zsMIOtXdD68dAZ3IsVTtJFkccaze2kOcQHiBk2NVhbTX57irXegxNhUQycuAlvr9H4OW1AYEdq1H05lpfza6k3T_4ZuQuT0TxAZbpeIjh25tnunDiGiPcCXI8xbCJrL/s320/IMG_20170527_124725745.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
and to renovating my 1973 Mirror Dinghy 'Undine'.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4u3FNZTjCGsdzhgFppLF98P7SvVKetAtHcoJIRSFWHTlCFXmejPSnipMV1SNbmnn8-qhtd1ExJbx9-vDz6Qfe1bASGqKLPXDAhQK_y8NsG9ht4jUP99nemUYRhsxXxvLRRp9WdBv-NbM/s1600/20150803_133045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4u3FNZTjCGsdzhgFppLF98P7SvVKetAtHcoJIRSFWHTlCFXmejPSnipMV1SNbmnn8-qhtd1ExJbx9-vDz6Qfe1bASGqKLPXDAhQK_y8NsG9ht4jUP99nemUYRhsxXxvLRRp9WdBv-NbM/s320/20150803_133045.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Undine'<br />
First renovation</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwqSs2T0KZIxU-jAP_BDFcVcPoZRv4kw9Ynyy6M8YrFbaD98OOwZTs31vBK6pMU6kIHJrvTtyBMAA3dPEmLDoZ4RFZ2KUbdnORr3rmPoGpn4beGJb3gfY5MT-QEVbrx_TtWsopIbRpJPKt/s1600/IMG_20170820_143320300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwqSs2T0KZIxU-jAP_BDFcVcPoZRv4kw9Ynyy6M8YrFbaD98OOwZTs31vBK6pMU6kIHJrvTtyBMAA3dPEmLDoZ4RFZ2KUbdnORr3rmPoGpn4beGJb3gfY5MT-QEVbrx_TtWsopIbRpJPKt/s320/IMG_20170820_143320300.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...we are sailing...</td></tr>
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I had some great sailing last season with this old girl until on the very last day, in a gust of wind, before the final tack - the mast collapsed as the main sheets came away from the gunwales. I had to dive in and swim us back to shore...<br />
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Meantime, keep warm and well - More soon - That's all for now Folks!!!<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00729782905194727098noreply@blogger.com0Sea View Gardens, Warden, Sheerness ME12 4NG, UK51.405178199999987 0.9049201000000266551.400225699999986 0.89483510000002664 51.410130699999989 0.91500510000002666tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4774785369338094866.post-41447436854831480592017-12-18T13:22:00.002-08:002017-12-18T13:24:09.672-08:00Glaedelig Jul!<div style="text-align: center;">
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<b>Glaedelig Jul!</b></h2>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJtwWzmHBnQiOiW0-04iOzHIzY2-yqjH4yEhYy49Ryna4rlVPYR8vBrh0zmGnabis_uI8uNs1K-ubn1dAUMVkJfwD5GePORche2OOPLa1qmz7m1dOHpEdd7pJiVPRwVjjCY6jrPNE0gwu/s1600/IMG_20171205_093408359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJtwWzmHBnQiOiW0-04iOzHIzY2-yqjH4yEhYy49Ryna4rlVPYR8vBrh0zmGnabis_uI8uNs1K-ubn1dAUMVkJfwD5GePORche2OOPLa1qmz7m1dOHpEdd7pJiVPRwVjjCY6jrPNE0gwu/s320/IMG_20171205_093408359.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas...'</td></tr>
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<div class="vk_ans" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: xx-large !important; font-weight: lighter !important; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span data-dobid="hdw">Gud Yule</span></div>
<div class="vmod" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<div class="lr_dct_ent_ph" style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">
<span class="lr_dct_ph">juːl</span></div>
<div class="vmod">
<div class="lr_dct_sf_h" style="padding-top: 10px; text-align: center;">
<i>noun - </i><span style="font-weight: lighter;">archaic term for</span><span style="font-weight: lighter;"> </span><span class="_Yht" data-term-for-update="Christmas" data-ved="0ahUKEwibnqPSjpHYAhXkBsAKHfYHB00QgCsIMDAA" jsaction="dob.uwt" role="link" style="color: #1a0dab; cursor: pointer; font-weight: lighter;" tabindex="0">Christmas</span><span style="font-weight: lighter;">.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mZxjx59NQD3zHGRsm2pNxWMdvgu8LV3EFT57l9vVPMLiss5SzDhY-Do0wYkP8IxG0nTQdOuIejl5bLyqfhM0x4eVb4z-gEK2h3OWX9Jowd1PLHzM9b9hyZBlaQhkFZFLHzKfnYuvEqOb/s1600/IMG_20171205_150825245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mZxjx59NQD3zHGRsm2pNxWMdvgu8LV3EFT57l9vVPMLiss5SzDhY-Do0wYkP8IxG0nTQdOuIejl5bLyqfhM0x4eVb4z-gEK2h3OWX9Jowd1PLHzM9b9hyZBlaQhkFZFLHzKfnYuvEqOb/s320/IMG_20171205_150825245.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you see the reindeer?</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;">Yule</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> or </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;">Yuletide</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> ("Yule time") was and is a festival observed by the historical </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germanic_peoples" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Germanic peoples">Germanic peoples</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">. Scholars have connected the celebration to the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_Hunt" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Wild Hunt">Wild Hunt</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">, the god </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odin" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Odin">Odin</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">, and the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paganism" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Paganism">pagan</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> Anglo-Saxon </span><span lang="ang" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C5%8Ddraniht" style="background: none; color: #0b0080; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Mōdraniht">Mōdraniht</a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">. It later underwent </span><a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianised_reformulation" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Christianised reformulation">Christianised reformulation</a> <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">resulting in the term </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmastide" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0b0080; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Christmastide">Christmastide</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_b62C6sGBxwa3DGC23TFOOoKRdxbZ1DPgMEjA-3H5_E_aJ41vHZDvMU4fMGGtzShgfdNNOxIjbY6yHp0WTiwguAT0aaLmI3xrOsww5COUA9XiHLsdE-bDBlFroZY1-EbppXMELpumhCc/s1600/IMG_20171205_150906078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_b62C6sGBxwa3DGC23TFOOoKRdxbZ1DPgMEjA-3H5_E_aJ41vHZDvMU4fMGGtzShgfdNNOxIjbY6yHp0WTiwguAT0aaLmI3xrOsww5COUA9XiHLsdE-bDBlFroZY1-EbppXMELpumhCc/s320/IMG_20171205_150906078.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Jewelled quiet times...'</td></tr>
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Hello Folks! It really is that time of year when the magic of the season twinkles and catches you by surprise. I'm still a big kid at heart and have some wonderful festive memories, but the older I grow - the more I love Yuletide! It must be the Viking in me. Although, I realise that it isn't the same for everyone and I have my own private wishes and thoughts for the troubled, the lonely, the homeless, the sick and the oppressed, particularly at this time of year. So may the cheer and magic of Yuletide drive away the cold and the sorrow from your festivities...</div>
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This is what my Christmas looks like...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFvXsSI0uxFBrCoCw4E4ybn0yoRUCHtO7whdWCv_gdB0pwWwwOhf1HI6KF5hLI2cF8tHTBGizlKwgoEkg8UxTT6Pbbx08KYPi-Z-_5j-sCy6zmRDiw5bJPha-bJ43nuuiTJc0sm6gibAt/s1600/IMG_20171205_182025483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFvXsSI0uxFBrCoCw4E4ybn0yoRUCHtO7whdWCv_gdB0pwWwwOhf1HI6KF5hLI2cF8tHTBGizlKwgoEkg8UxTT6Pbbx08KYPi-Z-_5j-sCy6zmRDiw5bJPha-bJ43nuuiTJc0sm6gibAt/s320/IMG_20171205_182025483.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...warm yourself by the fire...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmLEn8AFxVkSkk3r2jQta94RmFP-yTBYts6kq-eVg1_0rhB-9frZwW2yJkz1nTqv9aHRPvxGDf9G-6RhqnEqQkjfBjn3lM8YPP5-M-m4dEDzK-NbgJu3OHexoU29CmwPAAb0ddHInAEol/s1600/IMG_20171205_182102451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmLEn8AFxVkSkk3r2jQta94RmFP-yTBYts6kq-eVg1_0rhB-9frZwW2yJkz1nTqv9aHRPvxGDf9G-6RhqnEqQkjfBjn3lM8YPP5-M-m4dEDzK-NbgJu3OHexoU29CmwPAAb0ddHInAEol/s320/IMG_20171205_182102451.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Take time to reflect...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKifG2DzvW9y-av4zmNX5LlaURHpVF_OngvoSEHCncv20IjAFN-6PJ281Be9ZEWxhfGBYKf9uA4Dh2ajt-z8cRFPbQTi2v0JrlnCdAEWhwnFPjSR2mqzFU607EUGxCM1OrQfqfWHL0JUf/s1600/IMG_20171205_182109245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKifG2DzvW9y-av4zmNX5LlaURHpVF_OngvoSEHCncv20IjAFN-6PJ281Be9ZEWxhfGBYKf9uA4Dh2ajt-z8cRFPbQTi2v0JrlnCdAEWhwnFPjSR2mqzFU607EUGxCM1OrQfqfWHL0JUf/s320/IMG_20171205_182109245.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ahhhh! Christmas...</td></tr>
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So, with the recording all but finished, I am now waiting on Sean Kenny at Ten21 to add the finishing touches to the mixing and editing and hopefully soon in the new year - I will have my first folk ballads album. It's been an exciting and inspiring project - one I am looking forward to repeating later in 2018 with a second album. I am already scanning around for new material and have a huge bundle of music to choose from, including some compositions of my own.<br />
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Here are a few video clips as a taster from the final recording sessions at Ten21.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyeTJWy9FPHR3TNzDvN3N54_Bb-M3e--Uc5l1r2MAUD9JzUnPhqD_MgTnnNJP61-YwtiFto5wSgg8ln-WI_gQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Now I have to focus on pressing, marketing and performing. I have venues booked in the Spring of 2018 around the South East and South West for 'Classi-Folk' an eclectic mix of music from all over the globe and I am already looking at venues further afield for later in the year.<br />
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On a much needed day trip, James and I headed off to St. Margaret's Cove for inspiration and to blow away some cobwebs...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwI1ExvBZBdYQpBHkW9kguHieS-hZ9XuqIMrV5U4T8bRnBKoQkBOkDYOzyAOZtcze17DG4eNgW8gYWzbd0wAzN4Ne1xHgSLPtYUZ17aGVn-XU3BdGxGTj08SUZst6BCf0IEL2Gqv3VgOR/s1600/IMG_20171125_114820945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwI1ExvBZBdYQpBHkW9kguHieS-hZ9XuqIMrV5U4T8bRnBKoQkBOkDYOzyAOZtcze17DG4eNgW8gYWzbd0wAzN4Ne1xHgSLPtYUZ17aGVn-XU3BdGxGTj08SUZst6BCf0IEL2Gqv3VgOR/s320/IMG_20171125_114820945.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Always looking out to see what I can see...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnshCf82A4_azXoD36TaJd_VgUxSQqhDYK1SJhO9Dabh3jpgEJB9hE18hCWDINMFq7iFC1HW8YtZBFrfW0q9lAY3LRxJ97TnSiOEOjZmXs2mP4aefm-si9QVosVJM83O9BlNUvDlqqKtu/s1600/IMG_20171125_121845746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnshCf82A4_azXoD36TaJd_VgUxSQqhDYK1SJhO9Dabh3jpgEJB9hE18hCWDINMFq7iFC1HW8YtZBFrfW0q9lAY3LRxJ97TnSiOEOjZmXs2mP4aefm-si9QVosVJM83O9BlNUvDlqqKtu/s320/IMG_20171125_121845746.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Planning something...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fFNMFInArznKOlCzgWr8qsfuiZER3LPcse0XblC5xY4NQUkf-XcEBXtmhfaOHklO8Wgwi0sIA7eGVWUgeSoBdv1jGkvd4i6oUgLLx9KVnh_5_GPUft5xGFmmf0qMXIdAAFWGtgRtaxNG/s1600/IMG_20171125_123142713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9fFNMFInArznKOlCzgWr8qsfuiZER3LPcse0XblC5xY4NQUkf-XcEBXtmhfaOHklO8Wgwi0sIA7eGVWUgeSoBdv1jGkvd4i6oUgLLx9KVnh_5_GPUft5xGFmmf0qMXIdAAFWGtgRtaxNG/s320/IMG_20171125_123142713.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the edge...</td></tr>
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This fantastic boat shed on the beach was designed and built by local student architects. It has inspired me to re-think an idea I have had for years to build a boat porch at home - I was going to use an old boat - but now...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwMgKIAk3YwTYPHsJ5cGYfpz4qdFI8_btktDcDxo_6sq1mFGqJKgHliIA2k5PdLQOuZnHXgDEBNFw49kh8Nfqw0-rHjeGBpzDZps2dNz0qPlMdV7OyHnen-ldV-Ww71e1BWMBNghbRMP4v/s1600/IMG_20171125_114536314-EFFECTS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwMgKIAk3YwTYPHsJ5cGYfpz4qdFI8_btktDcDxo_6sq1mFGqJKgHliIA2k5PdLQOuZnHXgDEBNFw49kh8Nfqw0-rHjeGBpzDZps2dNz0qPlMdV7OyHnen-ldV-Ww71e1BWMBNghbRMP4v/s320/IMG_20171125_114536314-EFFECTS.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And with all the magic that this month brings, also comes the madness: On the first day of December - I put up two trees and decorated two sitting rooms with festive cheer (as you have witnessed in some of the photos), I got tickets to see Cara Dillon at the Gulbenkian - an excellent festive show - with great visuals, beautiful singing and fantastic band. The dry ice was a tad too heavy though! We spent the afternoon sipping hot chocolate, mulled wine and tramping the Dickensian cobbles of the narrow streets in the old part of town. A lovely prequel to Christmas. Then comes the crush, the constant shopping for loved ones, the lists to be made and executed, visits and logistics, traffic... It can and does get one down. In fact I succumbed after a 600 mile round trip for a concert gig up near Chester after a whiteout blizzard on the winding roads of the Peak District and fell foul to a really nasty throat virus, in which I completely lost my voice. It came with no warning and wiped the floor with me for at least 10 days - in which time I had given it (though luckily with less venom) to those closest to me - Sorry guys!!!<br />
One good thing to come out of the two days I spent in bed with a high fever was that I have written two new songs - I think I have enough material now for an album of my own music. As usual when I seem to grind to a halt, something takes over and just rolls. The inspiration for one song is a local true story of John Dyke, the last man to be publicly hanged on Penenden Heath, here in Kent. The tragedy of this tale is that he was innocent... The other song is a Lullaby.<br />
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I'm heading off to France with my folks for the festivities, to snuggle down in the country and try to blow away the last traces of the bugs and stresses in the glorious tracks and trails that I have come to call my second home. I will be a land-locked Islander, but the sea will never be far from my thoughts - but I do need a break and a change of scene.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNg0G3oI913GDvZhYbFiYkntuyDasXbAemIkqLSxifFafx9dLbizQ_gJTg3psr5iydQ0h9XeI4SOfNHM7IJdx3U0xCfMNP0nRQvSZI-zsuqVe7y_vS9CS3cOgwqDJGn2h9-yVNF_OMmc8-/s1600/Xmas+Day+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNg0G3oI913GDvZhYbFiYkntuyDasXbAemIkqLSxifFafx9dLbizQ_gJTg3psr5iydQ0h9XeI4SOfNHM7IJdx3U0xCfMNP0nRQvSZI-zsuqVe7y_vS9CS3cOgwqDJGn2h9-yVNF_OMmc8-/s320/Xmas+Day+5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Mistletoe and wine'</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Zc-V1UY1Y_DnzZS1LVg3_vjc9-_jkaSHSk3Zq8Hoestuhfx7fSBsmMeECuW_JEfwhHn5_u2WExaiMZ5GeCCdTn-fw3Gu8QLLwPWakwoAfTACnHdaL766tJr0NbzzwPFX408dU47LdT5-/s1600/Xmas+Day+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Zc-V1UY1Y_DnzZS1LVg3_vjc9-_jkaSHSk3Zq8Hoestuhfx7fSBsmMeECuW_JEfwhHn5_u2WExaiMZ5GeCCdTn-fw3Gu8QLLwPWakwoAfTACnHdaL766tJr0NbzzwPFX408dU47LdT5-/s320/Xmas+Day+6.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'The Holly and the Ivy</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJYKKh-Z_VhqPa3XOe2ZHWLrsUyH31rkOEoQEO8y8Op2j-SxKVljrVhb_dTGkDpML7fzm0dK4HxkVHfJIGIDfKI9yX1mfJpNpfMXYRDJYxcXZjFzZKBMB-1Uz18UbpWSH_AVjZQuE-2So/s1600/9+Jan09+019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJYKKh-Z_VhqPa3XOe2ZHWLrsUyH31rkOEoQEO8y8Op2j-SxKVljrVhb_dTGkDpML7fzm0dK4HxkVHfJIGIDfKI9yX1mfJpNpfMXYRDJYxcXZjFzZKBMB-1Uz18UbpWSH_AVjZQuE-2So/s320/9+Jan09+019.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Skye Time'</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUGiSz2nzC3rmgsGsQk68hP9yxFxY5Igb3djl9WtuXFwymFiVWVjMKSvtb-nWFFyBZ6DMRDFWzqdTHm0z8VcWD_g8qb9EbbCCLNxjNfaEfSsPbDmzXuKRAAkxcRTND1X-2ackcPq9YMgk/s1600/Snowman+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUGiSz2nzC3rmgsGsQk68hP9yxFxY5Igb3djl9WtuXFwymFiVWVjMKSvtb-nWFFyBZ6DMRDFWzqdTHm0z8VcWD_g8qb9EbbCCLNxjNfaEfSsPbDmzXuKRAAkxcRTND1X-2ackcPq9YMgk/s320/Snowman+2.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Play-time'</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI39rfs5ZL1RY3Wip67F2nrdnLtIpetUHTbGnavv07oNwklIKt3c3TBLkFraw3f6hCHZub4mvkUEvbGD1WGBWKiQUmKVhn5PSJpfsrcxt6hNtugCf2TiHbnRm3UmTaNvoaYXYaQ8tsBlPT/s1600/Mistletoe+and+holly+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI39rfs5ZL1RY3Wip67F2nrdnLtIpetUHTbGnavv07oNwklIKt3c3TBLkFraw3f6hCHZub4mvkUEvbGD1WGBWKiQUmKVhn5PSJpfsrcxt6hNtugCf2TiHbnRm3UmTaNvoaYXYaQ8tsBlPT/s320/Mistletoe+and+holly+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'In the bleak mid-winter'</td></tr>
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So this week in arctic conditions I had an idea for the designs of my album cover - I won't reveal the album title just yet as it is still gestating in my mind, but there are clues in the photos we took down at the shore-line on Saturday morning in minus 4 weather conditions. Certainly a case of suffering for your art though, we dashed out nearly one hundred images in about 45 minutes - I lost the sensation in my face and fingers in the end and James, with the camera, categorically declined skinny-dipping! But it was a beautifully sunny morning and just the right kind of crisp light that I wanted.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1p5grJeIkWWlkjY37RxpdXCXDES_mz4Ow09c7DvVBsT_rbR09oGVeZieBnjd7wn2G1XMqwVvm3LUhL8PUNMllmR_g-6FANb6qumTbLX3BdMLZbfwpYT17-PFFD3iPeFus0F6rCjgUgHHy/s1600/IMG_20171216_110108553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1p5grJeIkWWlkjY37RxpdXCXDES_mz4Ow09c7DvVBsT_rbR09oGVeZieBnjd7wn2G1XMqwVvm3LUhL8PUNMllmR_g-6FANb6qumTbLX3BdMLZbfwpYT17-PFFD3iPeFus0F6rCjgUgHHy/s320/IMG_20171216_110108553.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Wave to the ocean...'</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7NT0YpVqJAUgSRe1vRuonibGQaDdYfSswxK-etJQwFeHJRodZn0GeIpdLg6xRc9xnJwGuYitJTxLl3O7KCf5ycBN2UNxjOJCZNny5_pa1BvGt6r5Samo0Gu4F2hfvXflz7He2G3YkD-I/s1600/IMG_20171216_110606593_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7NT0YpVqJAUgSRe1vRuonibGQaDdYfSswxK-etJQwFeHJRodZn0GeIpdLg6xRc9xnJwGuYitJTxLl3O7KCf5ycBN2UNxjOJCZNny5_pa1BvGt6r5Samo0Gu4F2hfvXflz7He2G3YkD-I/s320/IMG_20171216_110606593_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuS4tkeQH4paUa6Lfx7x6lJZPiKHscYjFqaq6qQvzZNmx5ChhAPvvQpJGGMJiLsuqpX08j_-Rz0OA3aWxvkvSyyMP3FlTq4uIq149O1XjsPjlNY8T2CevejD1xx4avU7Z9ieaMuG848x3e/s1600/IMG_20171216_111525986.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuS4tkeQH4paUa6Lfx7x6lJZPiKHscYjFqaq6qQvzZNmx5ChhAPvvQpJGGMJiLsuqpX08j_-Rz0OA3aWxvkvSyyMP3FlTq4uIq149O1XjsPjlNY8T2CevejD1xx4avU7Z9ieaMuG848x3e/s320/IMG_20171216_111525986.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7PNjqZO4SHRKcdodRtOBTXOskYL9t2ACIXdkDePDg_VIjcM0tQMFkImB9VKl3sJkNX2myarSUx7oPpki56bQ8uVc1aCYhndYNwZxkwWImpBUqtov9f8RkbZ7XhNyXQ6dKiNRHTnTGWDY/s1600/IMG_20171216_111621743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr7PNjqZO4SHRKcdodRtOBTXOskYL9t2ACIXdkDePDg_VIjcM0tQMFkImB9VKl3sJkNX2myarSUx7oPpki56bQ8uVc1aCYhndYNwZxkwWImpBUqtov9f8RkbZ7XhNyXQ6dKiNRHTnTGWDY/s320/IMG_20171216_111621743.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'My love will keep me warm...'</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuYqofPfSAe3MOp7BR1xfnAsxu6VGy-y5GLVWtKRugTeeJCeVhPeYXGzWlG6iQdK2RXEawOdqEH98zg2xjzXevZHlC48YOJ_fbmNYbLExmrrIKCnku4eTRnmR6IHf2fvUmL6ObiV270Kb4/s1600/IMG_20171216_111837466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuYqofPfSAe3MOp7BR1xfnAsxu6VGy-y5GLVWtKRugTeeJCeVhPeYXGzWlG6iQdK2RXEawOdqEH98zg2xjzXevZHlC48YOJ_fbmNYbLExmrrIKCnku4eTRnmR6IHf2fvUmL6ObiV270Kb4/s320/IMG_20171216_111837466.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Had enough...'</td></tr>
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But this time of year is mostly about hunkering down and recalling the memories of before and hoping for the brightness of tomorrow and of course - it is about love. So I'm going to leave you with a few words that I wrote for a recent Yuletide and hope that its light will warm and cheer you. I wish you and yours a bright, beautiful, cosy and joyous Christmas, followed by a prosperous, healthy and a completely 'Folky' 2018.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Winter White</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>The purity of winter white curls around your head in swathes</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>and makes stars of your eyes.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Your voice in rhythmic tones lifts the frosty air in clouds</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>and perfumes the silent snow with song.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>And a smile that shines and glistens bright</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>melts my heart again, with love.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
That's all for now Folks!!!</h4>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00729782905194727098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4774785369338094866.post-42968171660150503242017-11-18T12:13:00.002-08:002017-11-18T12:13:54.779-08:00Autumn Glory<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMmEguwLhMCfOHTo5PGV6Kzm0jFHD3goVJluZuTjqnQu4pt1J2kSHX458Kj7JkgGmuBslqVH3h_vPte0UNuEINgF46cg6hyg15YwdLqxlnTfAQCiaEizz4kMHUI5h4indztB0QB3wL9tfW/s1600/Warden+Point+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMmEguwLhMCfOHTo5PGV6Kzm0jFHD3goVJluZuTjqnQu4pt1J2kSHX458Kj7JkgGmuBslqVH3h_vPte0UNuEINgF46cg6hyg15YwdLqxlnTfAQCiaEizz4kMHUI5h4indztB0QB3wL9tfW/s320/Warden+Point+5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"lest we forget..."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Hello Folks!<br />
I can't believe that we are already mid-late November. 'Who knows where the time goes...' Night's are long and getting longer - the mornings are crisp and stark. It is a time for hearty meals, roaring fires, warm clothes and cosy beds. I love this time of year though - I find it magical, beautiful and inspiring - I love that although nature begins to slow down and sleep, the promise of renewal is everywhere. My garden is still full of colour from autumn flowering shrubs and we will be eating the fruit of our orchards labours until the spring.<br />
I'm out at first light all togged up and scavenging the beach for something interesting, watching the birds, or busy clearing the garden and lighting bonfires of leaves and twigs - that smell is so intoxicating. Puts me in mind of the poem by John Greenleaf Whittier.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Before my driftwood fire I sit,</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>And see with every waif I burn,</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Old dreams and fancies colouring it,</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>And folly's unlaid ghosts return...</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
From 'Burning Driftwood'<br />
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or<br />
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<i>The evening fire whispers and puffs</i><br />
<i>Its flames, crackling its secret tales,</i><br />
<i>And you, I know will watch and let</i><br />
<i>Your fancy fashion a hearth-side yarn...</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
From 'Drifting home' by James McOran-Campbell</div>
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And it gives me an idea for the setting of another music video to go with a track from my Folk Ballads album. It doesn't however, give me any inspiration as to a title for it...</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0AdrQyfrIuBOR9vTOVtZnvaqLVSKKQ9nt20cwCM4O-u3F8qafJ3EYQV6HBQPUdCO4AhaY3OEqYuAeGQmW0pjbDH_52y-0VMnYEZjVfcz65GSzv5acZlodrkIRwcjnww7Sv5xboLxEA6dd/s1600/IMG_20170919_210751497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0AdrQyfrIuBOR9vTOVtZnvaqLVSKKQ9nt20cwCM4O-u3F8qafJ3EYQV6HBQPUdCO4AhaY3OEqYuAeGQmW0pjbDH_52y-0VMnYEZjVfcz65GSzv5acZlodrkIRwcjnww7Sv5xboLxEA6dd/s320/IMG_20170919_210751497.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fire-side tales</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
So this last few weeks has been busy with concerts and travel, my bread and butter, but rather excitingly, more recording sessions at Ten21 recording studio. Evenings have been spent sitting in front of the fire working out backing vocals, or working in my music studio on arrangements for keyboards and percussion along with my keyboardist James. After one session I met up with James at my local folk club to hear 'Gilmore and Roberts' - they are an awesome team and I was so inspired by their unique sound and finely crafted songwriting, I came up with the lyrics for a new folk tale and arranged it into an uptempo folk-song. So keep an ear out for that...</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_QbuuuiIDkJmyznBYvVYiUJCSXmnKF6M1h59GV2rFkD-Q_zAglgEYWD3AqE_bTjUMEB3Ma68diN4iIzOKvZWPHG8qwDYy7hq2DJ23IMi5P5M8sgQQRSPV-kvFXtplCl9kMcNchGmd3vE/s1600/IMG_20171112_121419097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_QbuuuiIDkJmyznBYvVYiUJCSXmnKF6M1h59GV2rFkD-Q_zAglgEYWD3AqE_bTjUMEB3Ma68diN4iIzOKvZWPHG8qwDYy7hq2DJ23IMi5P5M8sgQQRSPV-kvFXtplCl9kMcNchGmd3vE/s320/IMG_20171112_121419097.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'The engine room' at Ten21</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
The tracks for the album are really coming together and sound great, but I didn't expect to find the process so nerve-wracking and exhausting, especially recording my own backing vocals, but Sean Kenny's energy and enthusiasm is insatiable! The last session was particularly exciting because James and I were finally laying down the final four tracks for the album that we had rehearsed with keyboard and percussion (an uplifting detour from the tracks with just guitar and voice), one of the tracks is a duet. James adds a touch of grandeur with strings, piano, ethnic flute, oboe and a mix of woodwind and of course, his dulcet baritone - it sounds wonderful! <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FdlN_XF-rDhdvaWc9L3YORIClu7DC9n91_RM4kC4kk_rMFFHchI9UVSIzRWyY24mAs70n9ZOVQyj0oKNMApyDaerXgNuXxn0yesaNKoeHLZ9aAEFDryyVkdiPc4NzlfD4CURPJx5quxm/s1600/IMG_20171112_123718329_BURST000_COVER_TOP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FdlN_XF-rDhdvaWc9L3YORIClu7DC9n91_RM4kC4kk_rMFFHchI9UVSIzRWyY24mAs70n9ZOVQyj0oKNMApyDaerXgNuXxn0yesaNKoeHLZ9aAEFDryyVkdiPc4NzlfD4CURPJx5quxm/s320/IMG_20171112_123718329_BURST000_COVER_TOP.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">James and the 'Tyros'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVi8qP94UFNAhigzdaHFmsWE8E011aAmlUOU8LilmraXv2JtY-x9RUjdOwU_5D0mZ5-MatHAEySy-hpZi5YVw4DlTZ-13OtUX-d8AtZWh8T3pK7PuxfJ-YCq2Md9tY1NSQr8c5bcy64QF/s1600/IMG_20171112_123149648_BURST000_COVER_TOP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRVi8qP94UFNAhigzdaHFmsWE8E011aAmlUOU8LilmraXv2JtY-x9RUjdOwU_5D0mZ5-MatHAEySy-hpZi5YVw4DlTZ-13OtUX-d8AtZWh8T3pK7PuxfJ-YCq2Md9tY1NSQr8c5bcy64QF/s320/IMG_20171112_123149648_BURST000_COVER_TOP.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sitting pretty...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<div style="text-align: left;">
On one particular track, I was looking for a very haunting martial bass drum and snare. After playing around with my Bodhran and a home made beater that I carved from a hazel wand cut from my woods in France. I hit upon an idea - literally...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWyKgU_TI7N7n_Rv9E8-gJUqN1Mtf_cUCRuFo9szoGmVUwG1qitWMBSvA-iYRSrTWqloCjtHoXYNhyphenhyphen5sz6juMWY2OJT79J4n3mNCaFeO-kAQfkIUCyH9RUpLMdtMl2PYWSNbROvQwtQfj/s1600/IMG_20171118_170001434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWyKgU_TI7N7n_Rv9E8-gJUqN1Mtf_cUCRuFo9szoGmVUwG1qitWMBSvA-iYRSrTWqloCjtHoXYNhyphenhyphen5sz6juMWY2OJT79J4n3mNCaFeO-kAQfkIUCyH9RUpLMdtMl2PYWSNbROvQwtQfj/s320/IMG_20171118_170001434.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bodhran and home-made beater (carved Hazel wand, sheep's wool and the rags of an old shirt) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<br />
I beat the distant war drum for the track, but was stumped when it came to the military snare sound. Fortunately Sean Kenny is a drummer, and a very good one...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPxW2dCKSNibNfpthvGzTMrWZH6WVAfmYmWReXaEFQQJubd166Ru8yYsATiLdlQFFx_aZ2Gw6ro5zlCwS81JpAdlJF1Zmsb5rKvVgsEYcxnvpZttpJB-nyreK25IcC-0pTqE-1uADAsIjF/s1600/IMG_20171112_210138005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPxW2dCKSNibNfpthvGzTMrWZH6WVAfmYmWReXaEFQQJubd166Ru8yYsATiLdlQFFx_aZ2Gw6ro5zlCwS81JpAdlJF1Zmsb5rKvVgsEYcxnvpZttpJB-nyreK25IcC-0pTqE-1uADAsIjF/s320/IMG_20171112_210138005.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sean Kenny at Ten21 - a paradidle-diddle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Setting up takes ages, so we drown ourselves with tea and coffee...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOsaBZ8iUMq_9FbfCaz3RJfqyCzSsA2Rr3o_PTOknITbci7D786JTj_9n13tEhnVm3wwQ26Pn-41gEmUdLi-cFk_uGOAL8iA7SXzpP1yuRSMBwgvOGXulcQEusvbCl7nmVGR7mZYIH5Sn/s1600/IMG_20171112_123603239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOsaBZ8iUMq_9FbfCaz3RJfqyCzSsA2Rr3o_PTOknITbci7D786JTj_9n13tEhnVm3wwQ26Pn-41gEmUdLi-cFk_uGOAL8iA7SXzpP1yuRSMBwgvOGXulcQEusvbCl7nmVGR7mZYIH5Sn/s320/IMG_20171112_123603239.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soooo rock and roll...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hvu4O1gTWUwPpQhPe86ALGuCxl8nG4MZC7HgwnHTUFVVps5gLilJcGH4FX8mz595KZC9lhGkoUwYeW8nkNrOzxR5q3ExfPbvjnce80aOIjUFMMVRWysavves0TNvv5ln6rIHYikAIE2q/s1600/IMG_20171112_123610972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hvu4O1gTWUwPpQhPe86ALGuCxl8nG4MZC7HgwnHTUFVVps5gLilJcGH4FX8mz595KZC9lhGkoUwYeW8nkNrOzxR5q3ExfPbvjnce80aOIjUFMMVRWysavves0TNvv5ln6rIHYikAIE2q/s320/IMG_20171112_123610972.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rack and stack...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUKVCnRMCKBIcMkrEQhn8FSzTHEO4LEfupr8NlMOYrtkmNX-GIQ_speexo_QdWLUzHGyO0n0wZrDT6LKsum9FT6klPvBwVjT-YnkMspijfuqC3vnYnAwW4lhijkXzZ0xeluiIZweDH6r8-/s1600/IMG_20171112_171352790.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUKVCnRMCKBIcMkrEQhn8FSzTHEO4LEfupr8NlMOYrtkmNX-GIQ_speexo_QdWLUzHGyO0n0wZrDT6LKsum9FT6klPvBwVjT-YnkMspijfuqC3vnYnAwW4lhijkXzZ0xeluiIZweDH6r8-/s320/IMG_20171112_171352790.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking a break</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLuX6Lcs1d4NqJntdgTPPeKktpoQpZAeBVoXnU66YzXDX4N7AI-Zh6gmZoePyqGRnJdXQeRkTFQYsd_TsgBVCYOYzLmp0lTsH_F3z6Nh1wTFc2CjeCuxQ4w6OmezftbE3XnGQrl8bKpL8m/s1600/IMG_20171112_125459059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLuX6Lcs1d4NqJntdgTPPeKktpoQpZAeBVoXnU66YzXDX4N7AI-Zh6gmZoePyqGRnJdXQeRkTFQYsd_TsgBVCYOYzLmp0lTsH_F3z6Nh1wTFc2CjeCuxQ4w6OmezftbE3XnGQrl8bKpL8m/s320/IMG_20171112_125459059.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Testing...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil953vPKh4wlLE7b740LEXBpzqkvPvrKoWWs_IzQXP12PAzrrW3Ttflb-5la-NnTN_oo6u6JhZUJH4FTMJfAdHuAkyp-mSLMgZA-sXutv98nLQTfWxrxLRd0N69SRpeXd0yPv27Xf6H51m/s1600/IMG_20171112_125423914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil953vPKh4wlLE7b740LEXBpzqkvPvrKoWWs_IzQXP12PAzrrW3Ttflb-5la-NnTN_oo6u6JhZUJH4FTMJfAdHuAkyp-mSLMgZA-sXutv98nLQTfWxrxLRd0N69SRpeXd0yPv27Xf6H51m/s320/IMG_20171112_125423914.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Testing...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5lsHvR9jrnKqC6GMfmOXBvl48Iy_iUFo5O7hX5MC6KuG4Hcf4lldOOMUqvgyfGbXdh-0IwXJI9kRoTMqfRiFkcGGL4thKDguR3IXIHfJq0wOUdbZiO4dvydy8d3zDMSi-bdNOjl2QG5Tp/s1600/IMG_20171112_125618711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5lsHvR9jrnKqC6GMfmOXBvl48Iy_iUFo5O7hX5MC6KuG4Hcf4lldOOMUqvgyfGbXdh-0IwXJI9kRoTMqfRiFkcGGL4thKDguR3IXIHfJq0wOUdbZiO4dvydy8d3zDMSi-bdNOjl2QG5Tp/s320/IMG_20171112_125618711.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One, two, three</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And so with all the main tracks laid down, it just remains for me to finish working-in the backing vocals (I had a great idea for one of the tracks and have worked in a backing line of a different folk song over the top - so two for one - never let it be said that you don't get good value with Islander), and James and I will join forces again to complete the keyboards on the rest.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXTtygmxTbrxVSuLgRLFuoa80CSTK-sH7bkR3K6uUlu9_HCvLxRNs-cyw1EOJU5R534LWe87adaVYv3m_2q513y-NaBVwAECLVrzOmtuZRo4FzOrOB3I09FNdW_yhu6QsasEoyKGJnoMvr/s1600/IMG_20171112_201120207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXTtygmxTbrxVSuLgRLFuoa80CSTK-sH7bkR3K6uUlu9_HCvLxRNs-cyw1EOJU5R534LWe87adaVYv3m_2q513y-NaBVwAECLVrzOmtuZRo4FzOrOB3I09FNdW_yhu6QsasEoyKGJnoMvr/s320/IMG_20171112_201120207.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">James duetting...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZ5mSKItFt24HImbXufuKlx3iVVDdY63Y8JaIDMiG31va9NOYYMWE_JpAK75WmsUpjRgVM2ss8UHDzuf6VnyoQDFAgHxTq93yRXdVPYIwx7pk_-CaT4T6ttt3ttJUnjMsjjTuIzwkuorK/s1600/IMG_20171112_201146814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZ5mSKItFt24HImbXufuKlx3iVVDdY63Y8JaIDMiG31va9NOYYMWE_JpAK75WmsUpjRgVM2ss8UHDzuf6VnyoQDFAgHxTq93yRXdVPYIwx7pk_-CaT4T6ttt3ttJUnjMsjjTuIzwkuorK/s320/IMG_20171112_201146814.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">with me...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This weekend was meant to be putting the finishing filming touches to 'The old churchyard' music video - but time and weather got the better of us and the underwhelming response to my invites to over 20 local drama groups to help me with a few group scenes has forced us to retreat into the studio to rehearse - and a great session it was, with some lovely touches accomplished and ready to record at the beginning of December. At least we are being productive!<br />
<br />
I'm itching to get back into my art studio and get started on some new projects, but for now here is a selection of archive artwork...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3u0gnrRtBPYPfLUcE-4ZhXwA5ROerdvrdKiJYHvwzBBg7qQNEXVX_RCcq4F_WIQAiGUVZQnytGkV0akQo_HKVyRt9U29ixRG6YdFE2w7_aguK2toVpgU8WvivCOZ70eK_DN9bE2yR725Q/s1600/2012-08-02+16.37.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3u0gnrRtBPYPfLUcE-4ZhXwA5ROerdvrdKiJYHvwzBBg7qQNEXVX_RCcq4F_WIQAiGUVZQnytGkV0akQo_HKVyRt9U29ixRG6YdFE2w7_aguK2toVpgU8WvivCOZ70eK_DN9bE2yR725Q/s320/2012-08-02+16.37.41.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Periwinkle'<br />
Media: Poster paint on plasterboard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7J-gn5ecAMrzzSD7YBAE5si47E5zWeexwTQ1VGGCvUG58u-etvjpTvgZHVsDapzkvsqXdpziFiRrCU6bir3Ce5PgIIOvz_TTPJ0vjag6wolwGMtG_pFHkhtVqhBhjDgp1V2C078x8Fjo/s1600/2012-08-02+16.38.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7J-gn5ecAMrzzSD7YBAE5si47E5zWeexwTQ1VGGCvUG58u-etvjpTvgZHVsDapzkvsqXdpziFiRrCU6bir3Ce5PgIIOvz_TTPJ0vjag6wolwGMtG_pFHkhtVqhBhjDgp1V2C078x8Fjo/s320/2012-08-02+16.38.00.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Chakra Angelis'<br />
Media: Poster paint on plasterboard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiquDJ5raO-3PXn2D92qUNreitj6DrNu87RY6ADNHsq6ecojywDD2saDbSwF8G1YvIMR_q6nJ4XZK2HtETKSs29jJTfV9gm7zdCtYwdRh7ZhuhQDQROcsL4klABue1NXTl_QfNQg0OrwG-w/s1600/2012-08-03+14.21.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiquDJ5raO-3PXn2D92qUNreitj6DrNu87RY6ADNHsq6ecojywDD2saDbSwF8G1YvIMR_q6nJ4XZK2HtETKSs29jJTfV9gm7zdCtYwdRh7ZhuhQDQROcsL4klABue1NXTl_QfNQg0OrwG-w/s320/2012-08-03+14.21.43.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Autumn Glory'<br />
Media: Acrylic on Canvas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSDYImcdCFeJ7a_tDRNz_EYVWYTBWYRtONQU7AnfHpgB-A1xZGPjhm1uFTKfWauYv_sxV7cTz55vmZlDP70l69tLm4SpLRxbUBMJN9TODLl9zCv6UWP5miTq36BQ-Ppqnsu1G_6tdYYGXx/s1600/20140529_171204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSDYImcdCFeJ7a_tDRNz_EYVWYTBWYRtONQU7AnfHpgB-A1xZGPjhm1uFTKfWauYv_sxV7cTz55vmZlDP70l69tLm4SpLRxbUBMJN9TODLl9zCv6UWP5miTq36BQ-Ppqnsu1G_6tdYYGXx/s320/20140529_171204.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'You push all my buttons...'<br />
Media: Buttons, poster paint on Plasterboard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1iH8LY2-NNx6W-gt8KXDW_HORZnp2Vjr7hVcj7x_e4tceIXDpIb30YTZkZJcEl819mkRS9MKfeUHzACodtt1YpOe-mTaFIjxyGy7ZkY8vi4aUUEjqKFkETkddU49kd5_CUuvakJZD0KO/s1600/Stonehenge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1iH8LY2-NNx6W-gt8KXDW_HORZnp2Vjr7hVcj7x_e4tceIXDpIb30YTZkZJcEl819mkRS9MKfeUHzACodtt1YpOe-mTaFIjxyGy7ZkY8vi4aUUEjqKFkETkddU49kd5_CUuvakJZD0KO/s320/Stonehenge.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Stonehenge' A copy on Thomas Gainsborough<br />
Media: Pastel on pastel paper</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Keep warm and wrap up. Look to the skies for the glory of Autumn Sunsets and keep 'folk-ing it up', for folks sake! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVlIwQsZFYy3B_GNEgr0UusxYW5U3sprUZgs6pvd_jSBly17gHjjHq9v7KN0wVx0ZtWSMIsqVcWDdHBUz18mG5FJkTDhpLYbMt8yGAeE2lL2wCrPwVqLS4nuEDybs7kYhmgtrc2WKZR_w/s1600/Sunset+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVlIwQsZFYy3B_GNEgr0UusxYW5U3sprUZgs6pvd_jSBly17gHjjHq9v7KN0wVx0ZtWSMIsqVcWDdHBUz18mG5FJkTDhpLYbMt8yGAeE2lL2wCrPwVqLS4nuEDybs7kYhmgtrc2WKZR_w/s320/Sunset+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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That's all Folks!!!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00729782905194727098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4774785369338094866.post-40455973613800329222017-10-31T12:50:00.000-07:002017-10-31T12:50:43.886-07:00Gud Samhain!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpZX-UE0O3Tf620q6n0BmTgArsISJ825xkRzuqH6qnrO0630azMGrD8L61djGYaMShQLRpUdfTlaL8vsbs6r79r5ZC5j0ghhvF3f6nCjoFx3BCPeD-BgUnzE55CR8tjwazf9AxuAiMBG_y/s1600/Halloween+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpZX-UE0O3Tf620q6n0BmTgArsISJ825xkRzuqH6qnrO0630azMGrD8L61djGYaMShQLRpUdfTlaL8vsbs6r79r5ZC5j0ghhvF3f6nCjoFx3BCPeD-BgUnzE55CR8tjwazf9AxuAiMBG_y/s320/Halloween+2011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Gud Samhain!</div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Samhain</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> (31 Oct) -- Irish Gaelic for "summer's end." The standard Irish </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">pronunciation</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> is "sow-in" with the "ow" like in "cow." Other pronunciations that follow with the many Gaelic dialects include "sow-een" "shahvin" "sowin" (with "ow" like in "glow"). The Scots Gaelic spelling is "Samhuin" or "Samhuinn."</span></div>
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Hello folks!<br />
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Super effects from the Sahara sand storms in the skies over the Island mid-month...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmLepOJSo5UpFqyaExjjPjpqHOGmoCQK8pdy23-kwzzOzUQYsKijMkNmx5w6JslETx2Aa00Qq_ZaYcU1oOcKL_9Imate5vrrz1annk5tLB8qFlh-GRARIH6-REzQFCOAobt-QKe2IGgkU/s1600/IMG_20171016_175925023-EFFECTS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmLepOJSo5UpFqyaExjjPjpqHOGmoCQK8pdy23-kwzzOzUQYsKijMkNmx5w6JslETx2Aa00Qq_ZaYcU1oOcKL_9Imate5vrrz1annk5tLB8qFlh-GRARIH6-REzQFCOAobt-QKe2IGgkU/s320/IMG_20171016_175925023-EFFECTS.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sahara sand blown skies... </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtnk9o_jf_c0lE8tvv1_PJ_T79az-zatge8FQ_kmA7L_J33epUncaT9L1Yr5mNyTGdwb_ZgGV7RYJZ32xHNNlUHn_MGjdLrYs5sflHZgYub0014tp_wDeg2CayYyjnoVXdQwIlKhK1QI0p/s1600/IMG_20171016_180524161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtnk9o_jf_c0lE8tvv1_PJ_T79az-zatge8FQ_kmA7L_J33epUncaT9L1Yr5mNyTGdwb_ZgGV7RYJZ32xHNNlUHn_MGjdLrYs5sflHZgYub0014tp_wDeg2CayYyjnoVXdQwIlKhK1QI0p/s320/IMG_20171016_180524161.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I went straight down to the beach...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5itDQNh2A_5poQ06P9kouqIEwlFIfncVFKkCZ1hEkjo4tOyIN0MlKd_yW3Qal710XNm24mOAl2SjNJx5toW6hQTEs45yr6oij7Hyps_FMO2t96H2qFRaQFR6S5BRKa4vdWWz6_XAM5rb/s1600/IMG_20171016_180509261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5itDQNh2A_5poQ06P9kouqIEwlFIfncVFKkCZ1hEkjo4tOyIN0MlKd_yW3Qal710XNm24mOAl2SjNJx5toW6hQTEs45yr6oij7Hyps_FMO2t96H2qFRaQFR6S5BRKa4vdWWz6_XAM5rb/s320/IMG_20171016_180509261.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And look what I found!</td></tr>
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So, I had a good break in France. It was a quick dash to prepare the house for the coming cooler seasons and cut the grass and weed the terraces. All very invigorating and exhausting. Our trip was hot on the tails of a dash to Little Venice, London to sing two duets <i>(L'addio - Donizetti and An Eriskay love lilt)</i> at a memorial concert for our dear friend and singing teacher <b>Sylvia Rhys-Thomas</b>. It was a cold, blustery day, so wearing kilts was out of the question...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'In memory of Sylvia' - Little Venice Festival. London</td></tr>
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We then dashed back home to pack and load up the car and head off to Shirley Hall, Canterbury to see<b> Mary Black</b> in concert! It was unfortunate that Mary's concert clashed directly with <b>Tim Edey's</b> concert at the Gulbenkian. I will get to see him one day!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A quick pint - waiting for Mary Black</td></tr>
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Mary Black and her band was, as expected excellent. Then off we set through the night, fighting sleep to cross the Channel and head down to our house in France.<br />
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One of the other reasons for the trip was because we have a brilliant barn that we have been renovating - with a little help from a friend we re-roofed recently - it was a mammoth job, but needed doing! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before Renovation.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">During Renovation...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost there...</td></tr>
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We still have to renovate the interior and hope to set it up as a venue for small 'ClassiFolk' soirees in the future. But as it is there is something wonderful in the decayed elegance of this inspiring space. So we dressed it up and staged a set for an Islander/ClassiFolk photo shoot - Here is a sneaky peak...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFup8fjQAlExBbmaReaFQyqX1sT_8VMzvPmviF8kI83gEDhZSvIwdrvu41CLnEU6gFu3mptHfIIh4lHkDEIM28DhDyox_CJnmBFPGpJOnqZTlsLkN94IVfCWCPJgx152gwvgvs7kW9-16O/s1600/IMG_20171026_144729726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFup8fjQAlExBbmaReaFQyqX1sT_8VMzvPmviF8kI83gEDhZSvIwdrvu41CLnEU6gFu3mptHfIIh4lHkDEIM28DhDyox_CJnmBFPGpJOnqZTlsLkN94IVfCWCPJgx152gwvgvs7kW9-16O/s320/IMG_20171026_144729726.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remnants of the past...</td></tr>
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Original lime rendered walls over local stone. Most of this stuff was lying in the dust - not the guitar though!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking very 'Heathcliff'</td></tr>
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It was the most gloriously, sunny day and the beams of sunlight streamed through the open doors and windows Illuminating the fire smoke and years of dust... Not great for singers - but a beautiful effect.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Decadence</td></tr>
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The fire in this fire place hasn't been lit for probably 70 years and although we had refurbished the chimney when we re-roofed - It seemed to resent the smoke (or was it because of the complete lack of even a breeze to create a draw?)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Islander</td></tr>
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We got such good footage with the light and the space working together, we messed about for hours.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Islander and James - 'ClassiFolk'</td></tr>
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I even got to play and sing - the acoustics are great - So a gig in there is definitely on the cards.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Table for one...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smoke gets in your eyes?</td></tr>
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So, until sometime very soon we locked up and headed back home. I had then to dash up to Leicester to sing with Wigston male voice choir at the Little Theatre. What a great event! I was singing a mixture of Opera duets with Soprano <b>Michelle Carlin </b>from <i>La Traviata and La Boheme </i>and a couple of solos by Tosti and Handel. Fortunately, I had my guitar and for the first time ever - I accompanied myself to a full house. With slightly shaking hands I performed 'Lady Franklin's lament'. I survived!<br />
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No time for new artwork pieces but here is a small collection from recent sessions and the archives:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDllMM9fwcF-F7vdSIc1NObNm6D3c27mG-29qoNpuFxrmeyplspRR38Am59d6JTmwsGOheefBGTigAuqI10_JrNAUXOzkwNFmSCmCRQIK1ct7Oc6sIG8TbbMf4-hboxFvqR5ihCpbhUhFD/s1600/20160830_002257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDllMM9fwcF-F7vdSIc1NObNm6D3c27mG-29qoNpuFxrmeyplspRR38Am59d6JTmwsGOheefBGTigAuqI10_JrNAUXOzkwNFmSCmCRQIK1ct7Oc6sIG8TbbMf4-hboxFvqR5ihCpbhUhFD/s320/20160830_002257.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Spring wild flowers'<br />
Media: Pastel on card</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmaGjrWTT5mkytD-dBIPLyDztsQLrDxAXmyCsmy1tLl14DR5qIis5cVDYhQNX9ncNHrQ6Dujly9RVH-homqK0GKBIl9Unnd1-izIylFVrfd9bRk0WNKFAxKjEJ5DPzmiLymQ0jJk9nrZ00/s1600/20140502_145150-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1429" data-original-width="1504" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmaGjrWTT5mkytD-dBIPLyDztsQLrDxAXmyCsmy1tLl14DR5qIis5cVDYhQNX9ncNHrQ6Dujly9RVH-homqK0GKBIl9Unnd1-izIylFVrfd9bRk0WNKFAxKjEJ5DPzmiLymQ0jJk9nrZ00/s320/20140502_145150-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Moosey'<br />
Media: Poster paint on Plasterboard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtTCEYZovhL2rfzGZPvaG4u0jRL9At0wTo8a0ZhyRUO_DBmafltk0no4jEiZKVvZastPvF4Q8s2lc6btwJ6NaCmaxLgzj3dk1OQEhXJS74vCh1WtFXNWh2Lqk7nKSUo0HP_YOXAJWjPpU/s1600/IMG_20170629_161615845.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtTCEYZovhL2rfzGZPvaG4u0jRL9At0wTo8a0ZhyRUO_DBmafltk0no4jEiZKVvZastPvF4Q8s2lc6btwJ6NaCmaxLgzj3dk1OQEhXJS74vCh1WtFXNWh2Lqk7nKSUo0HP_YOXAJWjPpU/s320/IMG_20170629_161615845.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Summer Chorus'<br />
Media: Acrylic on Canvas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtscEXqrOn1G9GgGIeIfsHLyTV3GBTgPDymvllXk_abkrBToVr3mDT3sgXPWyK7RQ0XwcoLkwK-XL2iydwI3RKq424Yo0pcwi9zpH6AwuqzfMFboU4BKL5k8W9XtJZ_R4nlfvSjnrIjzJ/s1600/IMG_20170630_163410150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtscEXqrOn1G9GgGIeIfsHLyTV3GBTgPDymvllXk_abkrBToVr3mDT3sgXPWyK7RQ0XwcoLkwK-XL2iydwI3RKq424Yo0pcwi9zpH6AwuqzfMFboU4BKL5k8W9XtJZ_R4nlfvSjnrIjzJ/s320/IMG_20170630_163410150.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Amalfi'<br />
Media: Acrylic on card</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
In celebration of 'All Hallows' here are a couple of pieces in honour of the 'shadows'...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPSZUbno6WvNmz-3gi_fffDgmiYFjA1Hb35mjm4bnZCPHLd7eF2MeVhFVjatqFyrTU709rARpWpYGVvW-gtEbbIlWt3R1b_2U-Tf45l2tn4EhBGnVxtjIKWyiMi3MYxgqkMcZWMpQEGQ77/s1600/IMG_20170428_152954727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPSZUbno6WvNmz-3gi_fffDgmiYFjA1Hb35mjm4bnZCPHLd7eF2MeVhFVjatqFyrTU709rARpWpYGVvW-gtEbbIlWt3R1b_2U-Tf45l2tn4EhBGnVxtjIKWyiMi3MYxgqkMcZWMpQEGQ77/s320/IMG_20170428_152954727.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Dark Isle'<br />
Media: Poster paint on Canvas<br />
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</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiITBd412zt6up_B-a7Er0HpkIFJc6ElPA2uokJvbHNHdF04jbEAtAYgUjki0o4ANbPOcoOG_Wks9tU0jqGGLfUv9vKLiipkq4c-_iwNJwfqIklcFijluCLdVkdamv2erVpUsiUEO8bF7iV/s1600/20150617_131950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiITBd412zt6up_B-a7Er0HpkIFJc6ElPA2uokJvbHNHdF04jbEAtAYgUjki0o4ANbPOcoOG_Wks9tU0jqGGLfUv9vKLiipkq4c-_iwNJwfqIklcFijluCLdVkdamv2erVpUsiUEO8bF7iV/s320/20150617_131950.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Einsam'<br />
Media: Carved wood, paper and Ink</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I've had a cold over the last week and a cough (which I think I picked up from London - Cheers! for that...). But hopefully I will be in fine fettle to return to <b>Ten21</b> recording studios this week to put down some more tracks for my folk ballads album. A visit to my local folk club mid-week too, perhaps I'll give them a tune...<br />
<br />
More news again soon, meantime I hope you are adjusting to the changes in the season. I will be down at the beach to see what the tide has to offer, playing by candle-light, making 'Jack O' Lanterns' and pumpkin & apple soup and Devils cauldron cake. The veil between worlds is thin at this time, so look into the shadows and listen to the silence, there's where inspiration speaks...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5iRrRDweyImPlNn56-9WFeIAow_IuykEcalBFxTjnAGRvH8M_OnlJJOXY724o_MMuAbu5MabuDqaXfStM0atB2L4SeWtm0k9sktMOFQ13W5p1kxrPo1P0Vf2T5NTXpbfceCgnIjFnxeCS/s1600/IMG_20160821_213343718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5iRrRDweyImPlNn56-9WFeIAow_IuykEcalBFxTjnAGRvH8M_OnlJJOXY724o_MMuAbu5MabuDqaXfStM0atB2L4SeWtm0k9sktMOFQ13W5p1kxrPo1P0Vf2T5NTXpbfceCgnIjFnxeCS/s320/IMG_20160821_213343718.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'The tea-garden'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgQVAT9-LaVa1onSSOiJ4Eo2sqlrvV3Pm0n4OCtmvWHQf9ipB98oc4XkR3T5mYQe5PdYAtOOtofX1o0z3aAz-uNn_bzqoEauwgzRilJtB4NIcAkss4hiT-c6ktmJRInKEzRyYdkfKMSs9/s1600/IMG_20160821_220115972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgQVAT9-LaVa1onSSOiJ4Eo2sqlrvV3Pm0n4OCtmvWHQf9ipB98oc4XkR3T5mYQe5PdYAtOOtofX1o0z3aAz-uNn_bzqoEauwgzRilJtB4NIcAkss4hiT-c6ktmJRInKEzRyYdkfKMSs9/s320/IMG_20160821_220115972.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
Candle-lit folk...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
That's all for now Folks!!!<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00729782905194727098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4774785369338094866.post-1180232157961002982017-10-18T10:46:00.001-07:002017-10-18T10:46:54.080-07:00Turning the tide<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4yMT_X0zHV0t_VNEM3kUmY-5fuXvat3OeJeHQopLGOr5YOr4cb7SDJr_GNVCXdoemmR1un09te-WZXoVSdCMw5JbBeb24pszaYzCW-KCBYGyDJnvzWB_blfs7tYcY4X1UgYrLNrybc-n/s1600/IMG_20170920_070948137_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4yMT_X0zHV0t_VNEM3kUmY-5fuXvat3OeJeHQopLGOr5YOr4cb7SDJr_GNVCXdoemmR1un09te-WZXoVSdCMw5JbBeb24pszaYzCW-KCBYGyDJnvzWB_blfs7tYcY4X1UgYrLNrybc-n/s320/IMG_20170920_070948137_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early morning beach-combing...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Hello Folks!<br />
Most of my ideas and inspirations (the good ones and the not so good ones), happen when I am not working and when I least expect it. Usually on early morning walks like these...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgIxL9-MrkR2-d0sA4XtNrhG-35MrwAz61RCK4_4kdRZmTT53tVBa93Qz4aohDKd5mlec_HaQZRbSqkrhCKBOV_dfb5Sasb7aUDPHvnvGY_EiTu0XK7IiDB8x4cgHLz0tIcmjYz_8wIHyo/s1600/IMG_20170920_070936176.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgIxL9-MrkR2-d0sA4XtNrhG-35MrwAz61RCK4_4kdRZmTT53tVBa93Qz4aohDKd5mlec_HaQZRbSqkrhCKBOV_dfb5Sasb7aUDPHvnvGY_EiTu0XK7IiDB8x4cgHLz0tIcmjYz_8wIHyo/s320/IMG_20170920_070936176.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden sunrise<br /><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I've been known to be sprawled out on a far distant beach on "holiday" and spend the whole time planning the launch of new companies, programming concerts, selling homes and buying and remodelling rustic, rural farm cottages, even cottages by the sea.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3a_ll2zdZ05BN1ATdKHNw1mFwZ_dRvDrz5MYZw5lm1x8MGE6ueMhDYzE_aSansSMVHjBgXjYojgS9CbdwKOul5rh39aOgBufhRby3WE2uNHafLEqIMTXPBq1Me32Nop_Z2tXkcqqyx96w/s1600/IMG_20170921_073032036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3a_ll2zdZ05BN1ATdKHNw1mFwZ_dRvDrz5MYZw5lm1x8MGE6ueMhDYzE_aSansSMVHjBgXjYojgS9CbdwKOul5rh39aOgBufhRby3WE2uNHafLEqIMTXPBq1Me32Nop_Z2tXkcqqyx96w/s320/IMG_20170921_073032036.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Faerie treasure..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
But I don't think I am alone in this, as when we relax and slow down the mind chatter - that's when the magic happens...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlSYALb_YpbjE0F18qVW0qE7BpccD9D7GOaNbqs0MzvGpfsoj0xRnM2a7YVydAPGzRAOJmHePxl8vAekQ90vRnn3vc7XSnGZAcJmAKLvfuBbkfsIEiC0raKKWr_4OzCB2JL6Ue7Wt3bku/s1600/IMG_20170919_210751497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlSYALb_YpbjE0F18qVW0qE7BpccD9D7GOaNbqs0MzvGpfsoj0xRnM2a7YVydAPGzRAOJmHePxl8vAekQ90vRnn3vc7XSnGZAcJmAKLvfuBbkfsIEiC0raKKWr_4OzCB2JL6Ue7Wt3bku/s320/IMG_20170919_210751497.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fire-side Folk with "Songbird"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I guess that is what happened here. I was on a birthday break with my partner in Dingle, Ireland - one of my favourite places on the planet. The peninsula is stunning and wild, just as I like it. The music scene sparkling with huge talent. The company entertaining and needless to say the beer ...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF5EWOFZzZKX03qSQo-nfTIylGEIOJuCE7at1Uyy_ErdpDEHx7Sq5zWGbiJnleVgtdGuOZ_qk0hkrJhyphenhyphenLIHlGdOc45-qvwe4pDPd3k9B4W-cn29hEKREEF-RsBjq4aKRJp-RJjxjbvIaRC/s1600/IMG_20171012_184721325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF5EWOFZzZKX03qSQo-nfTIylGEIOJuCE7at1Uyy_ErdpDEHx7Sq5zWGbiJnleVgtdGuOZ_qk0hkrJhyphenhyphenLIHlGdOc45-qvwe4pDPd3k9B4W-cn29hEKREEF-RsBjq4aKRJp-RJjxjbvIaRC/s320/IMG_20171012_184721325.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Recording at Ten21, Kent with my new "Seagull" guitar.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It has taken a little while to organise and prepare, but over the last two weeks I have started recording my own Folk Ballads Album "Simple Folk". And with the help of Sean Kelly at Ten21 we are over halfway through laying down basic guitar and vocal tracks for the fourteen track album.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3NHmFDoGvDfQHOdbzyuB2eEB4bro1NJDvPQc0eeUjBWWPPtm9-TY6MZJC4McSkWg6nxFvqtHgmv-6qYmNbzUpJd2xaJRtmgIy5-vo2ABx2QemgXf3pv6FDEvnrrbEY880PZfYj3ekqreV/s1600/IMG_20171012_184805429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3NHmFDoGvDfQHOdbzyuB2eEB4bro1NJDvPQc0eeUjBWWPPtm9-TY6MZJC4McSkWg6nxFvqtHgmv-6qYmNbzUpJd2xaJRtmgIy5-vo2ABx2QemgXf3pv6FDEvnrrbEY880PZfYj3ekqreV/s320/IMG_20171012_184805429.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lost in translation...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
All I can say is that the tracks so far sound terrific and I am really excited to get going with the rest. Over the next few weeks I will be adding keyboard, oboe, accordion, percussion and backing vocals to some of the tracks, so although it is a folk ballads album, it should be varied and dynamic.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5foH7POjK_JQQxjlMKlIGUf51q422dAnA7bKlcMXFrVUtd9fX2diLCR_Vf5iKcuAYrkKBubq77PkTXsoN6yz284BDTpKyahm-murYNO6aL08R6xoOFp6VB6d-ObIStItRziBkTzM4OV4n/s1600/IMG_20171012_131707091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5foH7POjK_JQQxjlMKlIGUf51q422dAnA7bKlcMXFrVUtd9fX2diLCR_Vf5iKcuAYrkKBubq77PkTXsoN6yz284BDTpKyahm-murYNO6aL08R6xoOFp6VB6d-ObIStItRziBkTzM4OV4n/s320/IMG_20171012_131707091.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sean Kelly at the helm in Ten21 studios...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It has been quite a few years since I was last in a recording studio (a number of incarnations ago), but after a few practice runs we settled down to making music - I haven't felt the true pleasure of that in a long time.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaIHlfDmb4c5UcCZGPBwiJ7FWQmwUxp3Meo1_Z1fKgrjm30pJsS9h88e9BFNOlpbPLi8x-BMPA-D4mY5lzRYgSgA9TFesAiGITHU0RVnX1zzGvIF1mVjQZ7a9Lzgcn8_mAa_EXUgud1dNH/s1600/IMG_20171014_131659608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaIHlfDmb4c5UcCZGPBwiJ7FWQmwUxp3Meo1_Z1fKgrjm30pJsS9h88e9BFNOlpbPLi8x-BMPA-D4mY5lzRYgSgA9TFesAiGITHU0RVnX1zzGvIF1mVjQZ7a9Lzgcn8_mAa_EXUgud1dNH/s320/IMG_20171014_131659608.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stranded on the M25 with a flat tyre - what does one do?<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
As I am still a gigging/touring singer of opera and classical music, I am constantly on the road. It doesn't always go to plan, so one has to make the most of the opportunities as with this impromptu roadside moment. But over the years I have had great fun trawling the world to perform in all types of venue; stages, barns, theatres, stadiums, cruise ships, front rooms (I'm not joking), castles, stately homes, parks, and African savannas - marquees are the worst!<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQm21gJtDBGKudXtgk3wBRnkxeKAunvxQ656IhBbIgebyX2znFr104priXdRgNn17uWpKJMYksHtF0UDuRxL9rxCqd-b-joc_Extz4GAS0HHlPiYbXsiIcMRKRQ0jlbm_4z4k-oDBBURs/s1600/4+Celeb+Weddings+Gig+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQm21gJtDBGKudXtgk3wBRnkxeKAunvxQ656IhBbIgebyX2znFr104priXdRgNn17uWpKJMYksHtF0UDuRxL9rxCqd-b-joc_Extz4GAS0HHlPiYbXsiIcMRKRQ0jlbm_4z4k-oDBBURs/s320/4+Celeb+Weddings+Gig+7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weddings...<br /><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdJ6d8EE4w8KfQw6xvnzsQUmowsJLfN1yWBlKxqT7WVYTyJudwJSTb7413HsOBbAnjjwM9eXR68ZzEP1aEMwLkmJ9lOkP647-KtKFCmW7G1QZBgCMh6F8OklwOvXZLMP3DOdDKcHhIG5dT/s1600/Duke8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="720" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdJ6d8EE4w8KfQw6xvnzsQUmowsJLfN1yWBlKxqT7WVYTyJudwJSTb7413HsOBbAnjjwM9eXR68ZzEP1aEMwLkmJ9lOkP647-KtKFCmW7G1QZBgCMh6F8OklwOvXZLMP3DOdDKcHhIG5dT/s320/Duke8.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Opera...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxZ394AoBUY48y2NBopvEarDxraGJE72qCK0mG9bCWRXEfesKlQ1kGWGrdL8g_OKB4ZcyBorcgduYpRHhXZWeTrtJVzBQZYCpYsoUdDFNPRF26f0JFYBBsI8aJyoRcNQQD9Zml6_FL12j/s1600/Anthony+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxZ394AoBUY48y2NBopvEarDxraGJE72qCK0mG9bCWRXEfesKlQ1kGWGrdL8g_OKB4ZcyBorcgduYpRHhXZWeTrtJVzBQZYCpYsoUdDFNPRF26f0JFYBBsI8aJyoRcNQQD9Zml6_FL12j/s320/Anthony+8.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Musical Theatre...<br /><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6nWnQCwfglKTiRonnHythqIsgnKZe-XR5n8l1tjPsI8uhJqTfpkEbBLpUw02mGsiFMGjYILB5mrtrE5emOxh1Ow6YPsrKx9pyCtKqzOqBYCVNW1rHrNg_FspB7r-fh6tEkPvYgmb5hgL/s1600/concert2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="791" data-original-width="1191" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6nWnQCwfglKTiRonnHythqIsgnKZe-XR5n8l1tjPsI8uhJqTfpkEbBLpUw02mGsiFMGjYILB5mrtrE5emOxh1Ow6YPsrKx9pyCtKqzOqBYCVNW1rHrNg_FspB7r-fh6tEkPvYgmb5hgL/s320/concert2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Concert...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJBn7TjrMEdU-gYP2Yzk8P7v93DSO98pLSJnsWWI8P1VMexT5m37dCNXFcsrs_g3FhMs8TyHnaUQAIOlEiFhIJYrKW3msEVs31MzrCdLXZWAJmAU30D9cgqcIvGfdni07-9Al0zL4Ptie/s1600/Mikado2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJBn7TjrMEdU-gYP2Yzk8P7v93DSO98pLSJnsWWI8P1VMexT5m37dCNXFcsrs_g3FhMs8TyHnaUQAIOlEiFhIJYrKW3msEVs31MzrCdLXZWAJmAU30D9cgqcIvGfdni07-9Al0zL4Ptie/s320/Mikado2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A truly wondering minstrel...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwR87AYHMemU-cYq-740BEABm1lYATKiiwE_3JG5gt1s9UwGMRNZ1y4Q1FdyjlsSfhsLkmIKsfiKtcx094ni-XVIKQXcVMc3vMYRFY0T2zEp3iF0Ja_YDPMAUhRWoxFnsHQTRf_diyQPG/s1600/hank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1169" data-original-width="832" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwR87AYHMemU-cYq-740BEABm1lYATKiiwE_3JG5gt1s9UwGMRNZ1y4Q1FdyjlsSfhsLkmIKsfiKtcx094ni-XVIKQXcVMc3vMYRFY0T2zEp3iF0Ja_YDPMAUhRWoxFnsHQTRf_diyQPG/s320/hank.jpg" width="227" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even Panto...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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And so, in the tradition of moving onward and keeping afloat in a constantly changing seascape, keep a look out for new updates, previews and news of what comes next as I await the turn of the tide and look forward to some plain sailing.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisN1zY0ZPJciJX1mFq8SGkdf_MwZE9lIRDG9ts4sPYsA24qagxjkvnoBOq_6BJFj2TXjyqsEI6r55IDXDLv5sqTreYyf1g5Vfx4oudv5EHaQh3oiILfGlOSAWhilT9yvUfdNsLqS1h4YBr/s1600/20160112_112827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisN1zY0ZPJciJX1mFq8SGkdf_MwZE9lIRDG9ts4sPYsA24qagxjkvnoBOq_6BJFj2TXjyqsEI6r55IDXDLv5sqTreYyf1g5Vfx4oudv5EHaQh3oiILfGlOSAWhilT9yvUfdNsLqS1h4YBr/s320/20160112_112827.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sahara sunset</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
On the art front, I'm still creating and with my head full of new ideas will be heading off to my rustic french retreat to try and let it all out.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGC8cvjB_HUx5_HmHW3NyViFb1o6lybxtsrawj9ErVt3U4d-QRQfRdiwPACteQxpEfYYIk_My74UE3fzThTaSwUdiQGtiIG3NjL3OR58ReMgL1G1jKPV5rOAESTP730kbDQdS0rNULey0/s1600/20160112_111707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGC8cvjB_HUx5_HmHW3NyViFb1o6lybxtsrawj9ErVt3U4d-QRQfRdiwPACteQxpEfYYIk_My74UE3fzThTaSwUdiQGtiIG3NjL3OR58ReMgL1G1jKPV5rOAESTP730kbDQdS0rNULey0/s320/20160112_111707.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cherry blossom<br /></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_9jehJBRK36UPR_lgnmeaUgoq9ZdcGiX6gr6n6peO8GzXHpOiWnk_WL0QJp6n5aXCWD6AVONT3WHUQgQXnpzQvL8JZTVYozvGb9pie8nYgW43NcK5w1ulihfX3iVgGIBOm3CD2exX9J5s/s1600/Stealth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_9jehJBRK36UPR_lgnmeaUgoq9ZdcGiX6gr6n6peO8GzXHpOiWnk_WL0QJp6n5aXCWD6AVONT3WHUQgQXnpzQvL8JZTVYozvGb9pie8nYgW43NcK5w1ulihfX3iVgGIBOm3CD2exX9J5s/s320/Stealth.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hunting</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And so as I head off to France for a "break" watch out for more photos, artwork and possible sound/video clips. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd9nQz1ouufw7xD8mFk-_g_dMsNYJEwaHxoNTuFwlzEI8IoUJftTNEe2KvOO57xfAL5IgDxXaGCuGHOw8HTOYCn16feuXuZaUFNZISLpVTaHg0sNgKpTG45sfGVMCTx4JyzKkEmJq6wPu4/s1600/IMG_20171009_135737488.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd9nQz1ouufw7xD8mFk-_g_dMsNYJEwaHxoNTuFwlzEI8IoUJftTNEe2KvOO57xfAL5IgDxXaGCuGHOw8HTOYCn16feuXuZaUFNZISLpVTaHg0sNgKpTG45sfGVMCTx4JyzKkEmJq6wPu4/s320/IMG_20171009_135737488.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Thanks for listening.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00729782905194727098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4774785369338094866.post-31536372367491490002017-09-19T02:29:00.003-07:002017-09-19T02:55:32.495-07:00Recording and concert rehearsals - Island Art<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVT9PseV79UmT4HUASuwYzkbbcjhB9LY13ZnTW8gqDGNhKjiudcQBDolzmQqBr-RprZXNQrM6V4xzHhB6Oy-jis6_ZrBwuSIS-BaryjblxiNlEpXi4Mf-XlWfn9lExvS3QgcyLvRoMiqeD/s1600/Alexsea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1032" data-original-width="1600" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVT9PseV79UmT4HUASuwYzkbbcjhB9LY13ZnTW8gqDGNhKjiudcQBDolzmQqBr-RprZXNQrM6V4xzHhB6Oy-jis6_ZrBwuSIS-BaryjblxiNlEpXi4Mf-XlWfn9lExvS3QgcyLvRoMiqeD/s320/Alexsea.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Surrounded by the sea</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Hi! As the rehearsal process has begun in earnest for the first recording sessions of my new folk ballads album (still untitled), and work through rehearsals with James for a series of 'Classi-Folk' concerts (due to kick off just after Easter 2018 in Berkshire), I thought I would share a few snaps from the rehearsal sessions here at 'Apple Tree Studios'. We have made a great start!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYgoYEdpWGkWCpaQsxJp4IZv4CDXiBOZobSX8L_ZMu3cY1WSnwYj3niC2aMj_lJvrlk_l1mC6wNCsvx-yvVtx89U1Ee3o-zIIyk_Ng-seCwLY_ajmSq3Cpw3NJsifP6cifU1wb0nV_VVr/s1600/IMG_20170917_134708288.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYgoYEdpWGkWCpaQsxJp4IZv4CDXiBOZobSX8L_ZMu3cY1WSnwYj3niC2aMj_lJvrlk_l1mC6wNCsvx-yvVtx89U1Ee3o-zIIyk_Ng-seCwLY_ajmSq3Cpw3NJsifP6cifU1wb0nV_VVr/s320/IMG_20170917_134708288.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Trying' out the new Seagull guitar.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cRHfYRrlTzaBHs3uwYLfWcyUkr6KYcG-8qraW75kHVETMmLrub82ngi5qlARCz3sBz5-zcgHHK8mreAp8N_IkHn4A8bACf7w8yWm1udNVtNS9sNoAIUjokpY9iO24KH9K1BTxB_9DL9v/s1600/IMG_20170917_134832846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cRHfYRrlTzaBHs3uwYLfWcyUkr6KYcG-8qraW75kHVETMmLrub82ngi5qlARCz3sBz5-zcgHHK8mreAp8N_IkHn4A8bACf7w8yWm1udNVtNS9sNoAIUjokpY9iO24KH9K1BTxB_9DL9v/s320/IMG_20170917_134832846.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">James on the Tyros</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3imeL6Tf65OyY2VpI3vjqbxuBI0eL-B4l3eQO7aIkJ8VFDgi6dnpdiwsjiv0a98WmDUJEIDckXWMIQz7Nsx_9OkpymuNd3cwcc9UUbrme9C2Xp5iT9dCT0SS2t6Gz7fnjYo0OkIFJtTvB/s1600/IMG_20170917_134512682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3imeL6Tf65OyY2VpI3vjqbxuBI0eL-B4l3eQO7aIkJ8VFDgi6dnpdiwsjiv0a98WmDUJEIDckXWMIQz7Nsx_9OkpymuNd3cwcc9UUbrme9C2Xp5iT9dCT0SS2t6Gz7fnjYo0OkIFJtTvB/s320/IMG_20170917_134512682.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Memorising the music is proving more mesmerising!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnKBhWz8ox_OjA6Ch_RytRtG8A_RGGre4PbgCxtK5vaVCG6-VthYQaVIVgiknSj1hXn68AYB7vbuS42N60kPqZS2G4PL_MQwTQuHSYO9vyCKUzzItBzYykCC4QtkZ3vc-R7Yo94zBn-Ki/s1600/img002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnKBhWz8ox_OjA6Ch_RytRtG8A_RGGre4PbgCxtK5vaVCG6-VthYQaVIVgiknSj1hXn68AYB7vbuS42N60kPqZS2G4PL_MQwTQuHSYO9vyCKUzzItBzYykCC4QtkZ3vc-R7Yo94zBn-Ki/s320/img002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
So the rehearsals continue and I will be sure to update as I move towards the recording sessions. Hopefully I can bring some sneak videos soon as filming for the music videos recommences next week - I need good weather! And perhaps a few snips of the playlist.<br />
We are still out attending gigs and scanning for good venues. We had a great night at 'Bloomsbury's' last weekend. The Roosters and Jack's Hotel were great value. More soon!<br />
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Meantime, here's something else!<br />
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My wanderings and meanderings around the nearby Island beaches and countryside often reward me with inspirational 'gems' which I work up into something 'crafty' in my attic workshop. My art alias/avatar is 'Sasha'.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<u>Beach craft</u></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFWxGvtatRUVZkSzKK2TZ_mOrYQ3byIPhwyOvDT1ar4_cS062EKVk9INmvqVqhRI-NmbxQDuz-XrXh2BiieLB8Yi9rwGHcxKx5mcC8TFAGLQOrwgHcpV_dSItrJlGQdFwF1Zi6i4T0Ap2X/s1600/20140529_172745-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="1600" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFWxGvtatRUVZkSzKK2TZ_mOrYQ3byIPhwyOvDT1ar4_cS062EKVk9INmvqVqhRI-NmbxQDuz-XrXh2BiieLB8Yi9rwGHcxKx5mcC8TFAGLQOrwgHcpV_dSItrJlGQdFwF1Zi6i4T0Ap2X/s320/20140529_172745-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tower at Stintino, Sardinia<br />
Media: Sea rolled pebbles and glass, chalk and poster paint on board.</td></tr>
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The materials for this piece for instance, although not on home turf, were collected from a beach on the Island of Sardinia while on holiday - these pebbles were heavy in my luggage. I recreated a popular scene from the local coastline. There should be 50 items in this piece, commemorating a friend's landmark birthday...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj8kQlsx5u52Z18tmfC7O9H62BgyO3lI4KOLUMVO4ZfnuCBb3MxrCyE_SwVATqyiYYiXhYYNiXeVkgzPRpT0nivMIPztCAFxEn0jvHhJh9ifePZiuSTRWz61rdOH798RW5ynPBwSgLv8kK/s1600/20150516_180953-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1275" data-original-width="1045" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj8kQlsx5u52Z18tmfC7O9H62BgyO3lI4KOLUMVO4ZfnuCBb3MxrCyE_SwVATqyiYYiXhYYNiXeVkgzPRpT0nivMIPztCAFxEn0jvHhJh9ifePZiuSTRWz61rdOH798RW5ynPBwSgLv8kK/s320/20150516_180953-1.jpg" width="262" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Neptune's Star'<br />
Media: Driftwood sticks, sea glass, sand, experior house paint and plaster on board.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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'Neptune's Star' is a symbol from a folk tale I have written called 'The sea-queen of the North' (available soon in a compilation of original folk tales entitled 'The Jacobin Garden').<br />
I used paint that I had left over from decorating my summer house.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONbK2UBWcdgAi0wKW4NP5YwH_HITZ_xNUMQkIUhyphenhyphenPyhi_fhiKoJ5gMqmeJMZeYmj-8dsKHzkz8poivxet1KIe4fZC3wsjDsRrRa6A1_jvMrNq5vUliiylRZsH1BgwPP27gC1tVWM3E2sJ/s1600/20150520_160751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiONbK2UBWcdgAi0wKW4NP5YwH_HITZ_xNUMQkIUhyphenhyphenPyhi_fhiKoJ5gMqmeJMZeYmj-8dsKHzkz8poivxet1KIe4fZC3wsjDsRrRa6A1_jvMrNq5vUliiylRZsH1BgwPP27gC1tVWM3E2sJ/s320/20150520_160751.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Sail on'<br />
Media: Slate tiles, driftwood, string, boat paint on boards.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07vYB4MUk2d526rkFXGcdtZPbn1n7ibd3IWTepVwPwrfAkmn11fWdBPs3SwBaDrLqISr6NfpUhn7mmVudvieVAdDCSEUZHrsC2Slo0F6zoTCK7of0bilgPDd3z4sVh3V_XA4BrFK7gTcQ/s1600/20150610_222232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi07vYB4MUk2d526rkFXGcdtZPbn1n7ibd3IWTepVwPwrfAkmn11fWdBPs3SwBaDrLqISr6NfpUhn7mmVudvieVAdDCSEUZHrsC2Slo0F6zoTCK7of0bilgPDd3z4sVh3V_XA4BrFK7gTcQ/s320/20150610_222232.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqzk6LGlLxZjnr43c-U2L17qRK6qDRCmZZ_wLEG_6dr1GytUJBeeKl0zJzN-KpPxTmrsNwBgo6FH7KmNOBNn8nNGu-SRdQUmGAgXnCgUSQXDZ_M8I701SMFHmHlRbMS0b6SyDuYhcMC4T/s1600/20150610_222131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqzk6LGlLxZjnr43c-U2L17qRK6qDRCmZZ_wLEG_6dr1GytUJBeeKl0zJzN-KpPxTmrsNwBgo6FH7KmNOBNn8nNGu-SRdQUmGAgXnCgUSQXDZ_M8I701SMFHmHlRbMS0b6SyDuYhcMC4T/s320/20150610_222131.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Under the sun'<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Media: Slate tiles, driftwood, string, boat paint on boards.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I love coming across 'junk' and making something fun out of it. Here I used left over paint from my recent boat renovation.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj8ffdzlFfbRTyG4SJ0ufCnWTF1z9RoUi5tbz8cE-0D_4dRY13LdqqGGSuez3CL245Lg90LrmHCe7ti3FMTcXFsVRawO57Yv0ZU2hTvTsrRT-kDtbzPI-CcmMcx935f9Wtv72iv6_MAQfi/s1600/IMG_20170919_093145650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj8ffdzlFfbRTyG4SJ0ufCnWTF1z9RoUi5tbz8cE-0D_4dRY13LdqqGGSuez3CL245Lg90LrmHCe7ti3FMTcXFsVRawO57Yv0ZU2hTvTsrRT-kDtbzPI-CcmMcx935f9Wtv72iv6_MAQfi/s320/IMG_20170919_093145650.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Sea Fever'<br />
Media: Slate tiles, driftwood, poster paint, plaster, sand on canvas.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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One of my favourite poems and classical folk songs 'Sea Fever' by Messers Masefield and Ireland. I wrote out the text for the first stanza on paper, tore it off in strips and embedded it into the fabric of the waves (plaster mixed with sand).<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<u>Just for fun</u></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmOo2vVQ63WL5Jmk2Fj8NcT1lKc47mvCAXefERkExLJzI2xdajxkL1QcLnPcQda6Bx8T8rm1XTgx_RMRPeP3GCY-xuyKb4vYH8L7fGyNDsJxaaQNDoSK4nqWy2HEDPOZg3-Ov_3JuXuGNm/s1600/2013-06-23+13.15.03-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="640" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmOo2vVQ63WL5Jmk2Fj8NcT1lKc47mvCAXefERkExLJzI2xdajxkL1QcLnPcQda6Bx8T8rm1XTgx_RMRPeP3GCY-xuyKb4vYH8L7fGyNDsJxaaQNDoSK4nqWy2HEDPOZg3-Ov_3JuXuGNm/s320/2013-06-23+13.15.03-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'At the beach'<br />
Media: Acrylic on canvas.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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This subject is one of a series entitled 'Gone to...' As in 'Gone to the beach', 'Gone surfing' etc - just a bit of fun and pun. Look out for the others as they appear - they will soon be available in packs of cards.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_rcJBBgDzMcjmm3ZjzYqXTve2qPycRX1kC8QmprWxGSNJYQtONzpK5Djwlq87i12GAhpzrkcUkQme-NNOr6EHY6jByJg8P0lACVpATD95rH7qxGEAXJCKGYEA8zNr5WYk5ZjV2xU1U7z/s1600/2013-06-23+13.17.22-1-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="638" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_rcJBBgDzMcjmm3ZjzYqXTve2qPycRX1kC8QmprWxGSNJYQtONzpK5Djwlq87i12GAhpzrkcUkQme-NNOr6EHY6jByJg8P0lACVpATD95rH7qxGEAXJCKGYEA8zNr5WYk5ZjV2xU1U7z/s320/2013-06-23+13.17.22-1-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Gypsy Caravans'<br />
Media: Acrylic on canvas.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u>Abstract</u></div>
<br />
Here are a couple of abstract paintings using a palette knife.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXjdWeVeuoIjlZD0BDoPienSnNkXY3fFi1p0iGzhrv1jHSGL8gZDfRq_XVGvo7eQ-2weZmhagE92FIQ5TN1pNPYAhjJrS6vVjaF3VhnJCAorNvufupP3bXnbkIQ5rM89TV6Vv8v0QsxZ8/s1600/20160225_155138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSXjdWeVeuoIjlZD0BDoPienSnNkXY3fFi1p0iGzhrv1jHSGL8gZDfRq_XVGvo7eQ-2weZmhagE92FIQ5TN1pNPYAhjJrS6vVjaF3VhnJCAorNvufupP3bXnbkIQ5rM89TV6Vv8v0QsxZ8/s320/20160225_155138.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Sunset Storm'<br />
Media: Acrylic on canvas.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1PkJ8EQBO5-SvFKDrM3sw3nWo2_w8AT9brys35q_h3Mh5YxwQdFOXvO6yRI5dVIGJf3fBc8ZZvRdgwME4RINDABwC303-YYA5qZMDtSDDif5pj3jMEgBrYxp-cPeCLBeyLEyjXxFSvGRK/s1600/20150617_172225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1PkJ8EQBO5-SvFKDrM3sw3nWo2_w8AT9brys35q_h3Mh5YxwQdFOXvO6yRI5dVIGJf3fBc8ZZvRdgwME4RINDABwC303-YYA5qZMDtSDDif5pj3jMEgBrYxp-cPeCLBeyLEyjXxFSvGRK/s320/20150617_172225.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Eye of the storm'<br />
Media: Acrylic on canvas.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyumex64nppRnT34Ftng-8bCl0Dap8FONsPWKsXcsGUBJB1tR8eNSInWrBlaeykkX5iSImXDXSVPJKAgRZ73WrhPhEsxgeqrYjqlc5kk7l2iRhYmR0uundjswTwENy6yGwee0S-WACzAWk/s1600/20150627_120019-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyumex64nppRnT34Ftng-8bCl0Dap8FONsPWKsXcsGUBJB1tR8eNSInWrBlaeykkX5iSImXDXSVPJKAgRZ73WrhPhEsxgeqrYjqlc5kk7l2iRhYmR0uundjswTwENy6yGwee0S-WACzAWk/s320/20150627_120019-1.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Irlicht' - (Wil 'o the wisp)<br />
Media: Acrylic on canvas.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Look out for posting of other art pieces in various media which will be available soon in my online shop 'Sasha's Stash'. Thanks for looking. And don't forget to look up - there's more out there than on here...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00729782905194727098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4774785369338094866.post-48257633191210127392017-09-09T03:44:00.001-07:002017-09-09T03:44:19.458-07:00Notes from an Islander...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjag9qM1NjD9I0ugw1uk2fC2RHmlymPc0VeUNlarfT9eQoC2wnjJCYvCVJ_zDYk3e7GDmRYv20RHktcyO3OLHqAlbF6JP40dKHkDUDuLrPtMsnovJs1VHGqhprRZzedRt2x3OcxhMWukC/s1600/2013-09-11+16.26.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a name='more'></a><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjag9qM1NjD9I0ugw1uk2fC2RHmlymPc0VeUNlarfT9eQoC2wnjJCYvCVJ_zDYk3e7GDmRYv20RHktcyO3OLHqAlbF6JP40dKHkDUDuLrPtMsnovJs1VHGqhprRZzedRt2x3OcxhMWukC/s320/2013-09-11+16.26.55.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love beach-combing this isolated strip of beach!</td></tr>
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I am an Islander! That will never change, as long as I live, wherever I live. As an artist in various fields I am constantly inspired to create. As a professional singer in the classical field I have enjoyed more than 25 years travelling around the world and performing operas, operettas, musicals, oratorios, concerts and recitals, but I am now ready for a change. Which brings me to my next project...<br /><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjygDENlQwFWtxsRa9HwBXKxJ_6FoZeXjoCf0W0ANh5NHh_iu9v4OBOLmxFEIZCFEsd9NErPZg2P2w7wXlZZCltSyPHUv1z1e8mNmb-LICGljIy0TJKfdvdo7gV0Mav1Um1CulwECfWn8hq/s1600/2013-07-08+16.28.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjygDENlQwFWtxsRa9HwBXKxJ_6FoZeXjoCf0W0ANh5NHh_iu9v4OBOLmxFEIZCFEsd9NErPZg2P2w7wXlZZCltSyPHUv1z1e8mNmb-LICGljIy0TJKfdvdo7gV0Mav1Um1CulwECfWn8hq/s320/2013-07-08+16.28.16.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old friends Oswald, Eustace, Horace and I salute the Sun...</td></tr>
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The ideas have been in my head for a while, but this morning 9th September 2017 I made it real.<div>
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<div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Day 1: 6am - Cool but dry bright morning. Myself and my cameraman, James, drove down to Harty Church to begin shooting film footage for my music video of "The Old Churchyard". We met not one person, save for a covey of young Partridge and flocks of other field birds along the three mile stretch of twisting road - no traffic! Perfect conditions! Back home for 'hot' breakfast by 9am! </span></div>
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The purpose of this video is to accompany an album of traditional, contemporary and original folk ballads which I am in the process of recording. There will be two other videos; "Who knows where the time goes" and "The loveliest of days" (my own composition) filmed both on the Island and in rural France. All songs will feature on the album. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfEEnh44I10IgFlNwvkigvUit_7OwEUBkX2iXlc6oiGIz6xQIcvX6Z_5VcZvcL0MhQkarKwL4jfTWRqfqpYRIViiNJ_ixBma3lctxVpwsiJUmNoaRpa2-uOYePtMHddBjuU8DcNJiUrC3X/s1600/The+Bay+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfEEnh44I10IgFlNwvkigvUit_7OwEUBkX2iXlc6oiGIz6xQIcvX6Z_5VcZvcL0MhQkarKwL4jfTWRqfqpYRIViiNJ_ixBma3lctxVpwsiJUmNoaRpa2-uOYePtMHddBjuU8DcNJiUrC3X/s320/The+Bay+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The coast is clear...<br /></td></tr>
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The purpose of this blog is to record this project and share it with you. I hope you will enjoy this journey with me and that I prove to be an entertaining travelling companion.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA1ZLmWBG6svYiRcg7zyixpH8KuQnlhGqyS-o6D1GWKHVqVGbwnZhSMA-gJMbjP59ep5KWaxM2gR6Tqjya1lSpMwC6Kgrad_g_Kj-Kz2Kz0b9P4hb6kbPw0YmXPPwxlHq6Dea4OiOPYENB/s1600/DSC00038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA1ZLmWBG6svYiRcg7zyixpH8KuQnlhGqyS-o6D1GWKHVqVGbwnZhSMA-gJMbjP59ep5KWaxM2gR6Tqjya1lSpMwC6Kgrad_g_Kj-Kz2Kz0b9P4hb6kbPw0YmXPPwxlHq6Dea4OiOPYENB/s320/DSC00038.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moon-walking at the location of my music video for "Who knows where the time goes"...</td></tr>
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In the coming months I will be preparing for the recording; filming and editing video footage and organising a series of concerts around the country with fellow singer/musician James, entitled </div>
<div>
"Classi-Folk". The concert will feature songs from my album as well as a collection of songs, duets and ballads from an eclectic mix of the classical and folk genre - including, Italian, Sicilian, Neapolitan, Spanish, French, English, Scottish, Irish. Dates and more details will become available as we progress... Watch this space.<br /><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Ib9FT3Zpzx1UcsS6e7SFFQspHVs8uq9JaCHyKj4wCV0CqSFaq4AOonAUpGRFzZCuXgD54UT9Gc6VAV2qtsRME5M3rcnfdsNdoJpdOcblC8tDPf8gr0PrA2S2OFW5oaScbUYuPya-zA9D/s1600/Harty+Church+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Ib9FT3Zpzx1UcsS6e7SFFQspHVs8uq9JaCHyKj4wCV0CqSFaq4AOonAUpGRFzZCuXgD54UT9Gc6VAV2qtsRME5M3rcnfdsNdoJpdOcblC8tDPf8gr0PrA2S2OFW5oaScbUYuPya-zA9D/s320/Harty+Church+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harty Church - The location for my Music Video "The Old Churchyard"</td></tr>
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<br />Just over a year ago, after a long period of silence, I took up my guitar again. I was always a novice, but as I began to discover new repertoire from the 'jewelled' folk tradition I realised that I loved accompanying myself - I devoured new songs, airs and ballads and learned new chords, techniques on the guitar - my new-found love. Although still a novice I have collected together a number of beautiful folk ballads, some haunting, some joyful, some sad, some uplifting and thought provoking and all poignant and relevant to a changing world that needs more than ever, love, forgiveness and peace. I have worked in my own arrangements and will be collaborating with fellow artists on keyboards, percussion, bass and strings to create a diverse playlist (which keeps growing)!<br /><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMzTt8yI7Btq8bONFDHU3X1sJvzf85kHI8IiycmsyI4EdtNAygxqSoUN-Cp96ZTqHGOuZHMadecnw-oL80aGxuzJvvFNVlTWlbLWOFwCVJQZ9J1hjEAfSngM2zHOXt1ncSSsm4FQw9wG9r/s1600/Shellness+Sept+11+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMzTt8yI7Btq8bONFDHU3X1sJvzf85kHI8IiycmsyI4EdtNAygxqSoUN-Cp96ZTqHGOuZHMadecnw-oL80aGxuzJvvFNVlTWlbLWOFwCVJQZ9J1hjEAfSngM2zHOXt1ncSSsm4FQw9wG9r/s320/Shellness+Sept+11+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sun, Sky and the sea...<br /></td></tr>
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I would love to take you along with me on this journey, who knows how it will turn out! I'll keep you updated on progress and all the many other artistic projects that make up (and sometimes haunt) my life. Look out for photos, videos, sneak previews of the tracks and updates.<br /><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5BHBWFROjP8oFzZPdEWAwIBGjlrGo-pABwo4GaaEdn4zy49C4Jd5TJ27MusiCH08oosIdtNr86MbHIK_Qdp7bR9-KSUOoQObcrH0udNVpB6VwSA7H5BsgnDBaIiRzuON3Fg6IV-KXGmQ1/s1600/Warden+Bay+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5BHBWFROjP8oFzZPdEWAwIBGjlrGo-pABwo4GaaEdn4zy49C4Jd5TJ27MusiCH08oosIdtNr86MbHIK_Qdp7bR9-KSUOoQObcrH0udNVpB6VwSA7H5BsgnDBaIiRzuON3Fg6IV-KXGmQ1/s320/Warden+Bay+8.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ideal for sailing?</td></tr>
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If you are a folk musician/singer or would be interested in a collaboration project (I have still yet to work with a Didgerydoo-ist) I would love to hear from you!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9OceI0uZ-eHlABZfII60at0jwhfUiVwYIse1SCfMf0m_7T-t7hkE7-0mJCE-zoOEIPm-bfF33ApEY-SiaaNScfddDZ1cNQ2RmsfNQxpWYJalnoaJoUOqNHlG1mcmJoT79-gH8TvV17Bs/s1600/Warden+Bay+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9OceI0uZ-eHlABZfII60at0jwhfUiVwYIse1SCfMf0m_7T-t7hkE7-0mJCE-zoOEIPm-bfF33ApEY-SiaaNScfddDZ1cNQ2RmsfNQxpWYJalnoaJoUOqNHlG1mcmJoT79-gH8TvV17Bs/s320/Warden+Bay+13.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...at the heart of the beach...</td></tr>
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Meanwhile - the tide is in, the weather is still good for a young Autumn and I am going Kayaking...</div>
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