In case I haven't mentioned it before, I sing backing and lead vocals with a band called The Subtle Genes. Before the pandemic, we rehearsed together on a regular basis and played a few gigs in and around Bucks and Berks. All of the songs we’ve played are cover versions, ranging from The Cure’s Friday I’m In Love to the Stereophonics’ Dakota. Lockdown put an end to all that, so we recently … [Read more...] about It’s never too late to become a singer-songwriter…
BLOG
How will history judge us in our ‘digital afterlife’?
I’m something of a sucker for true-crime documentaries, so last week I watched Netflix’s latest, Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel. The central story is about the disappearance of Elisa Lam, a 21-year-old Chinese student who stayed at the hotel in 2013. But there are other narrative threads: about the history of the hotel itself (a dark one); the area adjacent to it in downtown Los … [Read more...] about How will history judge us in our ‘digital afterlife’?
Why I’m still a believer (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
On my birthday bank holiday (the Monday after a Saturday anniversary), I sat watching big flakes of snow drift to earth. I was in a melancholy mood, listening to a Spotify playlist of songs from the emotional drama This Is Us - a beautifully curated soundtrack that perfectly complements the series’ superb storytelling.After blubbing my way through two more tear-jerking episodes, I sought … [Read more...] about Why I’m still a believer (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Will you still read me when I’m 64?
I grew up listening to The Beatles. I was 10 when Sgt Pepper was released, so I’ve been aware of When I’m Sixty-Four for a long time. This evergreen song has informed some of my beliefs about ageing, and what age is considered to be “old”. So I accept the inevitability of someone quoting the lyrics at me when I actually reach the age of 64 in the next few days. Part of me is horrified, part of … [Read more...] about Will you still read me when I’m 64?
Why we’re all living with some kind of ‘living loss’
“I’ve been crying my way through This Is Us,” said my niece. “Hands down one of the best series ever made. Deep therapy. Love and loss.” I hadn’t heard of this series before, but as I have access to Amazon Prime at the moment, I checked it out and started watching the first season (there are five). It weaves together the stories of four generations of the Pearson family, revolving around … [Read more...] about Why we’re all living with some kind of ‘living loss’
At last, a leader who believes in ‘we’ rather than ‘me’
As I watched the swearing-in of POTUS 46, I wept like a baby - just like I did when the networks called the US election for Joe Biden back in November. They were tears of exhaustion and relief that, finally, 45 no longer has the power to wreak damage on the world. After an anxious wait during which American democracy was shaken to its core, Trump finally departed the White House (I had to … [Read more...] about At last, a leader who believes in ‘we’ rather than ‘me’