Two Mothers: 40 Years of Songwriting

This is quite an early song of mine written in my twenties for two girlfriends who fell in love and found a way to have a beautiful baby boy. Off course, he is all grown up now. 

The track is on my Beautiful Bearded Lady Album. I think this was my first solo album on CD format.

It's very beautiful to look back over my 40 years of Songwriting. When I started, we didn't have the technology we have today. No computers at all and lucky to have a cassette player. I think I will go in the loft and see if I can dig out one of my first cassette releases. There were 2 cassettes with a band called Clouds Over Egypt - I married the guitarist and we are still together ... and then my first solo cassette was called Unplugged and Personal ... I seem to remember there being a song on there that I really liked, called Paper Handkerchiefs - about an amazing tree in Brecon ... yes, I'll have a look for it. Off course, if someone out there has a copy of it and could send it to me digitally, that would be fab. 

I've put my favourite songs on Bandcamp ... here's the link ... 

And here's a link to my website ... 

Random Gifts of Kindness for World Sounding Healing Day

It was World Sound Healing Day last week on the 14th February. I had so many offers to come and play my sound healing instruments with others but it felt really important to be with my loved ones to celebrate in our own small & special way.

Me, Maisy & Jeff went to listen to the sea. I figured Sound Healing is a 2 way process. It's not just about us giving positive vibes to the earth, it's about listening to earth giving positive vibes to us. Reciprocity is key, give and receive.

As we stood on the beach together wrapped up, I almost wept. The sea sang so beautifully that eventually I was compelled to chant with her. To stand bare foot on her sand and let her lap her icy fingers around my toes, was immense joy.

Off course Maisy was oblivious to such majesty because there were seagulls that needed chasing and water pools to splash about in and most importantly, holes to dig.

And Jeff was happy too, saying in true Valentine style that if I am happy, so is he, which is quite remarkable given that we are divorced.

It was such a heart warming experience that I decided it would be rather lovely to share it with whomsoever would like to share it.

I chose 12 shells from the beach, took them home, washed them, wrapped them in blue tissue paper, and then offered my facebook friends a Sound Healing Day Shell. 

It was truly beautiful wrapping them up and sending them off to everyone. It made my heart absolutely swell. 

Since, I have been thinking alot about random acts of loving kindness .. Actually, I wrote a song about it just today.

Contemporary Dance Film Shoot at Bishop's Palace, St.David's Cathedral, Cultural Olympiad

As part of the Cultural Olympiad,

LegaC Contemporary Dancers with

Arts Care Gofal Celf

had a site rehearsal on the day of the Event.

They had already invited me to film them and use some of the footage for my production as a film scape, but the weather kept filming at bay.

You can read in my earlier blog telling how we ended up in Whitland Town Hall!

 But on the day of the Cultural Olympiad Launch the sunshine kissed St.David's beautifully.

Bishop's Palace came alive.

However, it was very hard for me to get any film footage that I could use for my production because ...

People were wearing plain clothes, or walking across me .. it was their reheasrsal and so I decided to stay in the background.

Even so, I haven't been through all my film footage yet ... but I'm sure I will be able to get some amazing shots on slow motion.

This piece on the stairs was absolutely stunning  on film. Everyone had gargoyle masks on.

The section where the dancers caught the wind and danced with their wings looked amazing on film .. bit harder to catch with stills though!

Look how dance fills everyone with joy!

Afterwards, back stage, I did manage to get some AWESOME film footage asking dancers to do specific things, but they were exhausted and resting for their performance, so I only filmed them if they felt able.

Arts Care Gofal Celf Dance Co-ordinator,

Laura Hackett, asked me to take a few informal shots back stage.

'Cauldrons and Furnaces'

And then LUNCH!

Or filming for Chez, ME ...

This little lad will represent our character

Dafydd as a child.

The hat and scarf travel through films with the walking stick.

 

Others did what dancers do when they are relaxing! Head Stands off course! lol!

The girls sat chatting ...

... or snoozing

It was very touching to watch some of the dancers supporting each other with extra rehearsals.

And then onto the business of making oneself blend into the stone  ...

  

The Bishop's Palace.

These are the 39 Steps ...

I need to film my character Dafydd crawling up these steps! This is where I want to bring actor,  Simon Morgan Thomas

when we have good weather. 

Oh and I must show you these Bell Ringers who were absolutely wonderful.

I'm thinking they could record a piece with me to signify the bells ringing at the bottom of Cardigan Bay as part of the opening piece: The Legend of the Lost Lowlands. I spoke to the leader and hopefully she will email me.

Meanwhile in town, the streets were absolutely packed with procession and pilgrimage.

On my way home I stopped off at the beach to watch a kite fly across the blue ...

And to sneak one of nature's trinkets into my pocket to remind me of my wonderfully creative day ...

 Thank you Arts Care Gofal Celf

LegaC Contemporary Dancers

& all the wonderful team!

What Fun!

THIS COULD BE YOU! 

If you want to join a dance class,

or you want to get involved in ANY community arts in Carmarthenshire or Pembrokeshire,

why not contact Arts Care Gofal Celf.

www.artscare.co.uk