Walking In The Air | from The Glass Age Diaries | February 6 2024

Walking In The Air | from The Glass Age Diaries | February 6 2024

Taiga woke up seething, as despite there being snow on the ground, school remains open today in Minatomirai. He’d gone to bed optimistic, with snow forecast overnight and the school putting out an emergency message that it ‘might’ cancel. But at around 6am they sent a...
Rouse Ye Women – International Women’s Day

Rouse Ye Women – International Women’s Day

When I wrote the song Rouse Ye Women about the Cradley Heath Chainmakers’ strike, I knew it needed a singer of super strength and spirit to sing it. I was so pleased when Elizabeth J. Birch accepted my invitation and delivered a powerful and emotive vocal...

Take It Easy | The Glass Age Diaries | Feb 1 2024

Coat, hat and gloves on, I scoop up his school bag / randoseru (?????) by the leather shoulder straps and heave it onto his back. He pushes the door open to leave for school he turns to me, sighs and says: “Another long day at school for me.” It can be hard to get the...
Silence Is Never Complete | The Glass Age Diaries | 30.01.24

Silence Is Never Complete | The Glass Age Diaries | 30.01.24

Two men in their 70s do Tai Chi at the park. Wearing matching sleeveless bomber jackets, warm jumpers and khaki cargo pants – their bicycles discarded by a nearby tree. As if lead by a conductor, they move effortlessly and gracefully in sync. I imagine a...