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...
And just like that… everything was fine again. All because I slept for twelve hours last night. I struggle with sleep here. Part of it is the time difference, we are nine hours ahead of the UK and so I’ll often be up late engaged in zoom calls. That stuff is going...
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...
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...
Writing – whether it’s songs poems or diary entries – is my reset. It’s my cleansing routine, it’s my “Excuse me I just have to go and freshen up”. Writing is my therapy and my friend. Writing allows me to escape but doesn’t punish me for the privilege...
