I do watch people, not in a pervy way, but am a people watcher.

I saw the effect of a certain chap and hhe semews unaware of how fond of him people are.

He is indeed, a good hearted man.

Ken Arkley - this is for you chuck!

The lovely Marie Little is the inspiration for this song.

The gentle, tender way that borth Maries and the Folkie Family have supported me goes beyond a mere "Thank You" 

Indeed for me, Angels don't have wings, they do indeed have guitars

A very early demo, scooped up from a tape made years ago.

Harvey Andrew's album 'Friends of Mine' is my all trime favourite album of his, reflecting both on his life, and mine.

My parents spilt up when I was 15, and the fallout at home was very damaging.

I had a small 50cc motorbike and used to literally get lost in the myriad of little lanes in South Wales, where I was living at the time.

I drove into a forest and found a little lake, a place of peace. Often revisited, as I sat on the grass, gazing at the calm water.

I lost my innocence there when I was 16, moved away aged 19 to Eastbourne, and life has certainly been a rollercoaster.

When I think of those I have loved and lost, and now very much alone, I often think, 'If I knew then, what I know now, I'd be, a different me'

For those suffering from unrequited love …

Oh, if only I had the confidence.

I'd rather be on the shelf than in the wrong cupboard, not that I have not had the odd silent 'crush' on a couple of men that never knew....

Written after the loss of my eldest Daughter.  

As ever, trying to do the 'Keep Calm & Carry On' I was taught to live by  - dealing with the loss alone with no support. Daring not be upset in case it upset others.

It can relate to any dark moments in life... but would you be there for me if I fall?

We met up to swap cars, one last hug, and feeling of sad regret.

The marriage was over, no malice, we'd just grown apart.

I convinced myself that I could make it alone, and I have.

Another chapter.

Being a Military child, an only child, and a child sent to boarding school - it's bound to have an effect.

That feeling of never settling, and never belonging, and coming from nowhere in particular.

When people ask me where I come from, it's the most difficult question to answer, and is usully, "Nowhere" 

A long lost love.....

Social Media and the Government had us all brainwashed, and scared.

I spent lock down alone, so as alwasy, music kept me from going batshit crazy.

So, in a nutshell, this song is about lockdown and missing human contact.

Of all the awful things that I have had to deal this, this is by far the worst.

Losing my eldest Daughter changed me. She believed that she would be a star.

Can't say much more on that really. 

My youngest Daughter always seemed to have that 'lost' look, even her Teachers commented on it.

 A Divorce is never easy, and for a while things were very difficult, and that's all I am going to say about that.

My Ex-Husband  and I have been amicable for years, and his 2nd Wife has been brilliant.

This song is just a chapter in my life. That's all.

Being single for so long, I don't want to jump into any fire with both feet until I ger the know him and feel ready to commit to any type of relationship.

Best to sleep on it I think.

I am always caught out in surprise if anyone takes an intrest in me.

The ones I knock back are the married ones or ones in a  relationship - all too common these days.

I get bashful if I really like them, so this song is my alter ego or what I called, 'My Diva Head' 

Being so very awkward, I find the moment has passed, and they are soon with someone else.

The trouble with being a nice, kind person, some people kick against that.  They  transmit how they feel about themselves, in saying that I will never be able to do this or that.

Or escape the legacy of cruel words.

Words can cut deep, but I cannot be anyone else but me, and my Daughters only had kindess and love from me, and I told them how proud I was of them.

I tend to avoid negative people.

I found this poem online and put music and a chorus to it, whilst reseaching the death of my Great-Great Grandfather, who was killed in a pit explosion.

William Martin died on the 11th November 1985 in an explosion underground at 'A Winnings' Colliery in Nottinghamshire.

He left his wife Mary with 10 children.

I bought a guitar off David Walker, and it dicated that I write a blues song...

Time is one of the two things that I ask of anyone.

Kindness & Time

 Time is free to give but rarely given.

I never know where my Mother is.

So, when she was away (as always), I sometimes used to pop down to South Wales, where she had settled, and house sit for a week or two.

I was sat in her armchair, staring in screensaver mode at the walls, full of pictures, and started to focus on the pictures themselves.

Most of the school pictures I had sent though the years of my daughters, are framed and hanging on the walls. Getting older through the years.

The house used to be alive with people, and is not more of a sad  shrine. 

The song started off as pretty bitter, but as I left it a while, it became a song of tenderness for the past and all the better memories of this old house.

Needless to say, I don't house sit anymore.

Halloween time 2024.

I was getting ready to the Sunderland Folk Club's Halloween night, and this song fell into my head.

A very, very basic demo of a story about good overcoming bad.

Having moved, on average, every 3 years, I am used to moving to places that I have never lived in before.

I learnt to get on with it and make the best of it.

My 2nd Section 21 in March 2024, had me yet again, searching for a home. 

Not easy these days with a housing shortage, sky high rent and jumping through hoops be accepted for a house. The council and housing associations had nothing.

For the first time, I was asked to stay.

That  had a profound effect on me, had I found a place that I belonged to at last?

The North east of England was one places I had never lived in before, and I fell in love with the area, and my Folkie Family.

I was lucky enough to find a home, and yes, I stayed.

Living in the North East of England, getting snowed in is not uncommon in winter.

Not being able to go out, I sometimes take on 'Song Challenges'

(Ian Tyzack - challenge accepted)  

A rough demo.

This was written for my dear friends John & Toni Dickens.

John Dickens is often my guitar buddy, and a top chap!

Seeing the way he loves Toni inspired this song, and I asked him on the Thursday if I could write a song about them, he said yes. The following Monday I sang it.

 John was a bit shell shocked, but the song is a three way song of tenderness, 

"Women to woman I'm telling you, I can see why he loves you" 

Have you ever had the rather unpleasant experience of someone that you thought the world of, then projecting how they feel about themselves to you?

We all have events in our lives that we keep to ourselves, but all they see is someone who is happy go lucky, and positive, and they try to drag you down.

Not on my shift pal.

The short answer to that... is no-one.