As a creative I tend to have a very strange relationship with the results of my labour; during the actual process they are loved, despised, ridiculed, loved again and finally, often with a sense of relief and exasperation, released into the world … where they then occasion the same feelings in me again as they did during their formation. There is always the feeling of something not quite finished, or not quite right …
It is a very masochistic lifestyle; I feel forever trapped in samsara, the endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth or, more often than not, dukkha or the world of suffering and dissatisfaction; forever falling short of nirvana, or the condition of being free from suffering and the cycle of rebirth.
The same can be said about today‘s composition to some extent; it is a re-orchestration of a piece that first saw the light of day a couple of years ago. It was originally inspired by an old photograph of my son Tom and, although less than two minutes long, contains some of my favourite progressions and has therefore always held a special place in my heart.
As does, of course, its dedicatee; I am exceptionally fortunate in having in my son someone whom I love, admire and am fiercely proud of. Without wishing to sound too messianic he is the only one of my creations that I have no doubts or regrets about. He was, of course, a co-production and so you would not expect me to take all the credit and, in fact, I take none whatsoever. He is without any shadow of a doubt, a really nice guy and one with whom I could spend many, many hours.
At 17.17 hours today he will have reached the ripe old age of 27 and I hope you will join with me in wishing him the happiest of birthdays, sequestered as he is, far away from me in the leafy splendours of the Cotswolds.
Happy Birthday Tom you splendid bugger! All of my love always ❤️❤️❤️
