The sandwich…..and yes, this was unexpected.
Whilst composing commissioned meditation work for a client during the depths of winter weather and depressive dark misery, during January 2025. This album baby gestated and birthed!! It kind of ‘piggy backed’ on the work I was doing. I was in a kaleidoscope flow state of ambient, transient mellowness.
Whilst meditating lots (I use the Headspace app daily too) and good exercising habits. I thoroughly enjoyed and really got into the zone. Composing on evenings after my day job work and weekends. Good habits, good productivity and achievement.
Then the bastard lurgy hit, which cumulated with one of the most annoying coughing, violent sudden sneezing, pissing of ones pants… literally infections of recent years!
I can’t thank ‘Tena Lady’ enough! Sponsorship welcome 😉
With chest death rattling crolsh, nose whistling – thinking it’s the cats miaowing in the distance, only to find it’s my snotter playing a penny whistle!
Of all the lurgy viruses I’ve been infected with, our dances with ‘Covid juice’ have been mild in comparison. This one has been a dragged out Fucker!
I thank the Power of Grey Skull for spare rooms and ear bud noise cancelling headphones!
My wife Ange, got it first. Her cough has been louder than a relentless foghorn with jazz hands! Each double tap one over the last 2 weeks has destroyed my very soul! Fortunately she managed to get a Doctors appointment and antibiotics last week. Which nipped hers worst bits of it in the bud! I was very worried for her and her pants too!!
My coughing manifested fully during an NHS conference with hundreds on Thursday… only during the talks mind!! Sucking a constant supply of Jakemans honey and lemon throat sweets. I won’t repeat my ‘gratitude words’ and perfect timing for this!!
Then I go down the list of which one of you gave it to us.. swearing to Ange that next year. We are doing a self imposed lockdown and seeing no one in winter! Yes full drama queen reaction! ‘All about me again’ as she has reflected.
The journey of life, taking responsibility and lessons can be harsh at times.
Samhain 2024 cumulated to a 2am visitation to A&E for me, a very kind, helpful and understanding A&E Doctor. Followed a month of being monged out on opiates, which in my younger years I’d have thoroughly enjoyed.
An irreversible health issue diagnosis of neuropathy followed, it had suddenly reared a very ugly and painful head (that culminated in more Doc and nurse visits, new meds and a harsh lesson in self monitoring my blood sugars better & care with less cake!)
Fortunately I’ve come out the other end feeling a lot better. So far my fingers and feet have settled and instrument playing is not now affected.
I also can’t recommend Acupuncture highly enough. It’s helping my knee arthritis and peri menopause symptoms no end too! (Thanks Bev!)
But when life gives me lemons! Drink with honey and a positive mind set.
I’ve found much joy in making freshly squeezed orange juice on a weekend. Nesting with an open fire and our cats, Figgy and Rambo during the cold winter. With little alcohol intake and more water and herbal teas as a habit. I’m feeling pretty darn good.
I do feel at peace with myself at last. I know where I’m going and where I want to be. I also know that making music makes me feel wholly satisfied. I’m walking my path and life’s purpose. I’m not seeking answers anymore. Just indulging in Dogmen and cryptic witness stories.
I’m also enjoying lots of audiobooks on Audible. Breath by James Nestor is educating, leading me into The Wim Hof Method. Miriam Margolyes ‘This Much is True’ read my her, is a brilliant and hilarious memoir. We have booked to see her live this year too. She is a national treasure!
I’ve been enjoying podcasts: Tranquil Awakenings, Luanna, Dogman Encounters Radio, Deborah Hatswell BBR investigations.
A multitude of YouTubers. (Cried my eyes out as Occy – Max & Occy died the other day.) I then watched series Earth Abides, which cumulated in more obscene blubbering about the dog FFS!!
- Elsa Rhae & Barron
- Camper Vibe
- Vanwives
- Philly and Keely
- The Endless Adventure
- Eamon & Bec
- Just Rowan
- Attaché
- Betting on Alaska
- Trent The Traveller
- Eva Zu Beck
- Peter Santenello
- Trout and Coffee
- Ally Marie Brown
- Cecilia Blomdahl
- Simon Wilson
- Travel Beans
Entertainment wise. Thoroughly intrigued and enjoying. It keeps away the awfulness that the daily news brings.
I’m continually adding to my sound therapy practice. The joy of ever expanding experimentation & increased repertoire of tools/instruments. Just creating a new healing vibrational space has been enlightening and healing.
I’m getting more music royalties now. Which really helps reinvesting.
Big thanks to Elixir Strings. They ran a Facebook Xmas competition, where entrants could post their fave string set by them in the comments. I won a set!! Simply winning, and then a being sent a set of my fave strings, I’ve used for years. This was an excellent high five moment that Brucey McBruce Bonus would be proud of!! Sponsorship welcome! 😉
With the mundane chores covered by our robovac and a working dishwasher. More time can be allocated to enjoyment, productivity.
Day job wise – I’m doing a Level 3 apprenticeship standard in Data & Insights for Business Decisions. I’m privileged that the NHS supports such training.
Whilst I love making music. It and creativity is ‘me’ through and through. I do love a bit of day job data crunching and contracting in Procurement. I still have so much to learn though, nearly 2 years into this role. But I can say – it’s my favourite day job I’ve ever done, so far!! I thank my brilliant colleagues and peers for making it a really good experience I get paid to do.
Stinking Rita, our band are sad that our usual rehearsal/ jam space – That Weird Shop in Sneinton, Nottingham has shut. But many shenanigans to look forward to. I love you all!! Xxx
The album pitch!
In a world that moves too fast, tranquility is the rarest luxury. It’s the soft stillness that settles your mind, the calm that quiets the noise, and the peace that fills your soul. Imagine stepping into a space where time slows down—where stress fades, and clarity blooms. Whether it’s through serene landscapes, mindful moments, or calming sounds, tranquility invites you to reconnect with yourself and the present.You deserve a life touched by peace. Embrace tranquility and rediscover what it means to truly breathe.
Tranquil Meditations track listing
- Zodiacal Light (Meditation)
- Svalbard (Meditation)
- Yutori (Meditation)
- Alpenglow (Meditation)
- Ascension (Meditation)
- Divine Journey (Meditation)
- Ethereal Sunset (Meditation)
- Mangata (Meditation)
- Zephyr (Meditation)
- Ortus Solis (Meditation)
- Hollow Tree (Meditation)
- Agartha (Meditation)
Music has really helped me focus on positivity, good mental health and achievement during the month that some are skint and just rest.
Music recharges my batteries. As I set the intentions and channel. Then I recharge in the summer sunshine – which often means going abroad to warmer countries. England’s weather is mostly guaranteed to be overcast and grey. Yes I will be celebrating my 50th year in Cyprus.
Having moved house a couple of times. Firstly – as we needed a bigger space. Sadly that didn’t work out and whilst the property was cheap rent, we ended up having a whole heap of issues. It needed lots of work with fixing its damp and new horrors kept being uncovered! Lesson learned when you move in during a heatwave!! Which didn’t help our health. Disappointingly some folk think they can play being ‘landlady and landlord’ – and basically money grab, without looking after the basic requirements of providing a decent and legally compliant home for people to live in! For all the bullshit people spout. They always get found out and caught out in the end. I have no words for the sheeple that jump on other peoples beef, when they only accept their ‘opinion and truth’ of events. Not the actual reality.
“Beware of jumping on someone else’s bandwagon; you might find yourself fighting a battle that was never yours, only to bear the scars without the reward.” — Unknown
Fortunately – fate is ace! And through going through these challenges. We’ve ended up in the perfect place to live, which we love. This afforded mass dejunking. Which I highly recommend – it’s liberating!!
We moved out of Nottingham. Which we had wanted to do for a while. Plus my day job allows 3 days home working per week, 2 days in the office. So I can commute.
I digress… Back to the music!
I’d previously compiled a few tracks from my repertoire (and edited them down to shorter lengths.) I began composing new ambient, electronic ones.
Less melody, more calm.
And so unexpectedly, an album I had on the back burner was finished. So I’m releasing Tranquil Meditations on 3rd March 2025.
I’m also currently composing and recording album WITCH. Not this weekend, as am still full of this virus. Which is frustrating. But sometimes one has just got to call a time out and rest and recover. Yes it is a tight squeeze fitting all of this in whilst working full time. But I procrastinate less and crack on working hard.
We’ve a busy summer working at festivals/events. I’ll be performing live at a few too. So autumn/winter is my composing time.
If you want to see what we get up to. Check out our Adventures with Clange YouTube channel. We just bought a van to convert for road trips. ‘Philly Minky’ is her name.
This is still the funniest thing we have done to Ange’s Parents.
Bliss…
Be kind to others and to yourself. Don’t be a Twat like us!
Claudine
Earth Tree Healing 