Saturday 21 November 2009

Ages since I wrote anything. Am sitting here listening to the Shirley Bassey album of songs by current writers. She still has a great voice but also that same tendency to be a bit histrionic in her performance which of course her fans love and looks good in performance. My musical tastes have always been very varied and I think that is rather typical of people who grew up in the 50's as there was very little choice in radio and music was not divided into categories as it is today. A friend of mine wants to start a radio station that plays everything and I hope he succeeds as it's really needed.

It's gloomy outside and since I last wrote the autumn has come and all the leaves have more or less fallen. There are a few late stayers but they should be gone soon and then we go into Christmas and after that what somebody once called "the bare bones of winter" when the trees are mere skeletons against a wintry backdrop. It's at this time that I make my search for the first snowdrop or the first sign of daffodils poking through the ground. Spring begins for me when this happens and then I just watch for each new development. There is always a little melancholy attached to this time of the year and then a little lift when the New Year comes around and the light starts to change.

I have been asked to do a radio special next year of my years in the business in the 60's and the people I worked with. I hope it happens and the idea has been shortlisted at Radio 2 so we will see. It will be fun to do and maybe it will open a few new doors. I have a feeling that changes are on the way next year so maybe this will be a part of them. Let's see what happens.