News
Newsletter ‘Salt and Light’ #11
Thank you to everyone who kindly donated to Shelter for our Christmas song release. I’m grateful that I had a wonderful Christmas in Wales with my family, and I’m filled with hope, at the cusp of the New Year, for a happier, healthier year ahead for all.
My Christmas Gift for You
I bring to you a new song, born of an experience a year ago today on Christmas night when I held my niece, Ffion, (welsh for foxglove!) and watched her sleep, with the profound feeling this moment was a gift from above. I felt so much love for her, I stayed awake the whole night and watched her sleep. The experience was intensified by the fact it was Christmas Night, and my mind cast to the nativity story.
Newsletter ‘Salt and Light’ #10
As I was writing a Christmas song in the church this week, the star of Advent was being hoisted up into the tower, ready to be lit as a symbol of commemoration for the coming of Christ into the world. A large old key dangled from a long piece of string from the ceiling of the church, before a bright yellow star was raised up into the cloisters by the hands of a local church warden standing at the top of the 150 foot tower.
Newsletter ‘Salt and Light’ #9
I’m very excited to announce that I have a brand new DVD available today to pre-order in time to arrive for Christmas! The DVD includes footage of 13 songs played LIVE at St Laurence’s Church, Ludlow, in July, as part of the Fringe festival, my first concert back after 18 months.
Newsletter ‘Salt and Light’ #8
Piglet was a very small animal. For this reason he was able to squeeze out of tight situations. Once when Owl’s house fell down, though there was a heavy branch across the door and the only way out was through the letterbox, Piglet could escape.
Newsletter ‘Salt and Light’ #7
In Yarpole, a small nearby village, I found optimism in the form of an elderly lady with a brightly coloured Snoopy pouch with the words in bold “let the good times roll.” She told me she carried it with her during the pandemic like a mantra, a good luck charm, a reminder that despite all that’s wrong in the world, there’s no use in a cup half empty.
An Evening of Comedy, Piano and Song – A Gala Concert with Deborah Rose and Alistair McGowan
When a comedian and a folk singer use the same local church to prepare for their respective comeback concerts, the constellations align and these two very different artists decide to join forces and put on a gala concert at Walcot Hall, Lydbury North, on Saturday 13th November, 6.30pm
Newsletter ‘Salt and Light’ #6
This summer I’ve reclaimed a part of myself. It was a part I thought was lost forever: the road warrior within. Dinner at service stations, traffic jams, running low on fuel (well, completely out), parking tickets, and loading up the car with amps. leads and high heels.
Newsletter ‘Salt and Light’ #5
A friend took me to Kyre Gardens, in Tenbury Wells – an enchanted land of lily ponds, buttercups, stone faces and secret doorways. I was reminded of the verse I was given as a child by Dorothy Frances Blomfield, ‘the kiss of the sun for pardon, the song of the birds for mirth, one is nearer God’s heart in a garden than anywhere else on earth.
Newsletter ‘Salt and Light’ #4
After over a year of the absence of live music I’m thrilled to be able to invite you to a concert in real life, real time – on Friday July 2nd at the beautiful St Laurence’s Church, Ludlow. Rehearsals are underway and I’m really looking forward to sharing my new music with you.
