Been dreaming of writing or polishing off a fair few solo self written songs over the last weeks. Some recorded part ways. Some still floating about in my mind. All needing to be polished up or completely re-recorded.
But over the past month to weeks…other needs were/are a plenty.
8 thoughts.
1). Frankie the Fella (kittencat) and attention seeking of a permanent nature as a Bengal/Maine Coon cross breed. He does not stop. When asleep even, the slightest sound has him jumping up and enquiring what it’s all about. He’s a true Summers’ cat…..his mind for enquiry can’t switch off!
2). Pure simple exhaustion from travelling, sometimes through storm damage resulting in floods. It was a 130 miles one way drive to Worcester (260 miles return trip sometimes in one singular day. I am so good at maths! Not. I achieved 5% in my mock ‘O’ level exam at school). These trips happened a fair few times in order to help our daughter and grandchildren to move everything from their old house and then subsequently decorate (by painting every wall) their old house to brighten it all up. Now in their new home, Angie, myself and of course our daughter and grandchildren couldn’t be happier. So well worth the efforts. And Christmas should be an absolute joy for them all now. Each of the four now have their own bedroom.
3). However. Through these efforts and being old now, it resulted in subsequent illness. Extremely debilitating dizziness, spinning, night sweats, nausea, headaches, sleeping over two whole days to heal and awful feverish night sweats were symptoms. I believed it to be either exhaustion, coming down from a high stress period in life, dehydration, or, most probably I believe as a nurse deliberating, an inner ear viral or even bacterial infection.
4). Christmas decorating and trying to get motivated when still feeling rough from the illness experience. Loved it though. My Nan was egging me on from her place amongst the stars. But, in reality, I was very dizzy still and the slightest turn made the spinning reoccur and had to grab at the nearest support. And I was climbing up ladders into the loft/attic to search through our 50 years of Christmas collective. There are some dozens on dozens of amazing decorations still in boxes up there. But, I reached my limit when I thought the symptoms would heighten and my immune system would crash again.
5). Nursing a broken back molar tooth from biting down on something in the breakfast muesli about 3 months ago and snapping it in half horizontally. Ten weeks to wait for an available dentist appointment for it to be fixed. Having been fixed it broke down straight away due to bite pressure. It was apparently bite pressure from the upper molar that caused it to happen. So back again last Friday and now perfect. But I wonder if it breaking contributed to an inner ear infection.
6). Application of generally looking and reading at how to improve technological knowledge with the Apple M2 home recording system, all over the last four weeks, are hampering progress. It worries me subconsciously that I am not up to the task of getting decent sounds on the table. But you never know unless you try. Glass half full belief.
7) AND! Ggggrrrrrr! Being scammed on Facebook when buying our bulk logs supply for the open fire over winter. They didn’t arrive and the seller disappeared. With the money being paid up front. So I was outside yesterday breaking down the two year seasoned beech sawn tree trunk we got taken down due to high winds shifting it a bit too worryingly. Shame really. The bees loved its sap laden leaves. Nice! Spring/Summer visits made the beautiful sound of a Beech Tree with bees a-buzzing. High winds made a resulting need for the horrible sound of a Chain Saw with blade a-buzzing.
8). Just basic realisation of I’m getting older. I can’t do what I once did. As a staff nurse there were very many days of high pressure, stress and simply being run ragged. Those years have all but put me into the sphere of fragility now. However, remaining positive in retirement by decorating the house top to bottom, moving onto the gardening need to turn a jungle into something more manageable (and grow vegetables too)……and having music back in my life has each in their own way, been priceless. The best vibe healing scenarios imaginable.
And so. I realised I am changing my nature from now on to life as currently exists. Playing CD music choices this morning? No pop rock and playing the songs that everyone knows to bring a party atmosphere. I chose Kate Rusby and her folk drenched beautiful sounds. I have ordered five of her winter/Christmas CDs. The first, While Mortals Sleep, arrived yesterday and is absolutely a pure treasure of an album.
Followed by Christmas Concertis, 21 pieces by Corelli, Locatelli, Manfredini, Torelli, Albinoni, Pachelbel and Vivaldi. The best 50 pence charity shop buy ever.
Now playing are the Benedictine Choir. Another 50 pence bargain too.
From AI Google search:
‘The Coro de monjes del Monasterio Benedictino de Santo Domingo de Silos, or the Choir of the Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos, is located in the Benedictine Monastery of Santo Domingo de Silos in Northern Spain. The monastery is situated in the province of Burgos, at the end of a small valley’.
THE FOUR GALLERY PHOTOS BELOW CAN BE ENLARGED BY TAPPING ON THEM. YOU MAY WANT TO SEE CONTENT INFORMATION. THANK YOU.
Self writing songs presently are a bit hit and miss application wise…..ergo the need to listen to a more relaxing choice of music. Hot salted caramel cane syrup infused black coffee and a gluten free mince pie accompanying this very nicely indeed.
It’s ‘nice’ (my word for the day) to have the accompanying harmony and musical instrument stuff playing around in my brain alongside the few days required to gain strebpngth back. See! I can’t even spell strength. But! Be nicer still to ‘lay those sounds down in reality…..man!’ I am postponing reality. But January will be the realisation of starting afresh. I believe it will be a great period in my life.
And my hopes for next year? Recording the songs properly and releasing the music onto Bandcamp. Maybe a few little open mic gigs locally. However…..I have realised the past year long weather has been awful. And I want to feel like a hippy again. Burning with the need to play outside the VeeDub Bus, on the beach, fire pit burning and a few beers in the fray with a couple of mates. Guitars in hand and playing our self written songs.
Next song in my head? Not a Christmas song to write. That can be next year’s ambition. If you are interested, here are the beginnings of some lyrics. I have the melody. So half way there.
Nice!
There she goes.
Looking for all the world like an angel.
Her friends tell me she’s gone for good
It’s understood
But I don’t believe them
Because she promised me we’d be together
Old and grey
Walking hand in hand
By the sea.
Until we….
Touched the sky….together.
And we’d fly…..together.
Forever high…..together
And yet still……together…to
Catch one more day.
Gray Summers 
fixing up your place, getting the garden under control, and diving back into music are such awesome ways to spend your time and keep your vibe right. each one has its own kind of magic—like making your space feel fresh, feeling chill and connected to nature, and letting music just hit your soul. here’s to keeping the good energy going and loving this new chapter in your life, Gray. I look forward to new sounds from you. x 🌱🎵✨
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Thank you cookie. Love your emoji choices. And your words are once again both heartening and comforting. And, I also look forward to songs coming from your soul too. We’ll make a pact for 2025 that we shall both achieve an awesome self written song result that shines ever so brightly. It has to be pretty ‘magnesium burning white brightly’ to out perform the others though. 😊
We had a friend, a former business partner of Angie’s in the Wholefood Shop, who moved to North of England to open up a vegan food shop. She did really well until COVID broke. After that, she struggled and eventually had to close. Why this observation? She called her shop ‘Leaf’ (the emoji you sent). Because she was running the shop on her own, and therefore not getting a holiday, Angie and myself went up to Yorkshire and ran it for her, for various weeks over the years, a fair few times. It was based in the Piece Hall in Halifax which had a vibrancy all of its own. Bands played there often, and the record store sold lots of old and new vinyl records. The guy who owned it had vinyl music playing in his shop all day long. He sold coffee and cakes too. So I found myself in there for a break listening to music I had never heard before. I found Richard Hawley’s music from those visits and have all his albums now. We stayed in Adrienne’s converted Warehouse apartment. A huge industrial living space vibe which was awesome. We caught a train into Halifax every morning and got to chat with the familiar commuters. Because we loved the area, we went on our own holiday breaks to the same places too. With more time on our hands we went around the charity shops, local towns, villages, tourist centres, etc. on our breaks and the whole experience of those times was pure joy. The people up there are so friendly.
What I’m saying I suppose, is your little leaf emoji shows that both self new beginnings, and helping other people in their new self beginnings too, can bring unlooked for wonderful scenarios. Create positive energies and life is better for it.
And as you say, create your comforts around you, get a self healing plan in place and anything can be possible. Even a ‘magnesium burning brightly’ equivalent to an amazing new song vibe.
Cheers cookie.
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😊
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Ugh! So sorry to read about the potential ear infection (or some other such infection that brings down your energy), Gray! Ugh! And yes, I would be curious if the broken tooth contributed to you feeling ill, from either going into their office the first time (I always feel like I might pick up a ‘bug’ when going to any type of medical office). Saying that might be because sick people congregate in those places (though not so much in a dental soace), or because they keep them ‘too clean.’ My dad used to say I had asthma due to mom keeping our house spotless. But I don’t know. I never really felt that way. Now, his words come up again so it apparently seeped into my subconscious! Ha!
So, as cookie said, all your pursuits sound glorious! I know you will figure out the music studio room/equipment. Open mic nights sound amazing! Do that! Wow!! At least your spirit is willing. I can’t imagine doing it. I’m so lazy currently.
Oh, “Summers’ cat…..his mind for enquiry can’t switch off!” I love that! Soak up some energy from him!
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Thank you Sheila. I went on ward rounds with one particular doctor. He said that both of us never ever had a day off ill in the time we had known each other. I had 20 years of no day off from work at all. The doctor said if we could bottle our immunity system, we would make a fortune. His thought was that we met crises in disease every day at work. And our immune system coped because it had to. Backed with being a vegetarian and needing to focus upon ensuring nutritional balance for health….I truly think he was right. Hence your comment of ‘too clean’ ringing true.
cookie has valuable insights that are a fantastic collective of honest and thoughtful responses. As are a fair few of the small collective of amazing regulars I have visit. And of course we all exchange positively. We all have in fact a great bunch of contacts. cookie’s poetical style of writing in both songs and blogs makes great listening and reading. Your blogs are diverse, positive and educational. Others have their brilliant insights too. To be honest, retirement would be far duller without the WP experience.
I have sang to the day hospital patients before when a nurse. But that was an all around collective and join in singing theme. Simply sitting and playing guitar and singing? Not sure that I would not include the GB songs, or parts of the songs and without vocals, to give body to the experience for the audience. I bought a small live ‘mixing desk’ for £10 from a charity shop which would work perfectly with an iPad playing the GB stuff and a microphone to sing and play acoustic into. Fun times!
Frankie? Has slept quite a while today. I’m burning Frankincense and Myrrh resins, so maybe it’s that. Cheers Sheila.
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OMG, Gray! You didn’t have a day off (from nursing) in 20 YEARS?!? Dude, you’re a rock! That’s the most incredible thing I have ever heard!
No wonder you retired when you did and want to do all fun/creative stuff now. Oh, and yes, I bet singing to your day patients helped you and them!
Frankie? Yes I bet those lovely scents are helping him too! I know they will help you.
I listened to all cookie’s songs as listed on her most recent post and you just reminded me I need to comment on her page. Yay!
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Not all were nursing Sheila. About six or seven years were in social services. But, yes, it was a case of ‘just get on with it’. Luckily no illness of any major kind was experienced. First time off was for an actual surgical operation. Was off for about eight weeks after it. So collected all my days off in that one huge period. 😆
A fellow nurse ran day hospital and asked me about three times a year if I’d do a music session. The Christmas ones were always nice ones. That nurse, and another, and myself ran a Mindfulness course twice a year in the local community. The NHS paid us to run it. Shocked! It was really well attended too.
Frankincense and myrrh resins, when melting in a metal bowl over heat from tea light candles is an amazing aroma. Benzoin and, I think, styrax is in there too. Can’t remember as I mixed them all together an age ago now. But very Christmassy.
cookie’s voice, lyrics and songs a very special. Very talented. Wish I had that smokiness vocally. Cheers Sheila.
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While life can be overwhelming at times you can take some solace in the fact that you are contributing to the lives of so many around you, including readers of this blog. It is a blessing that you have Frankie the Fella, who unbeknownst to you is watching over you.
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That’s a wonderful comment Steven. So thank you for expressing it. Frankie? I shall willingly accept your magical insights on this matter of his ‘angelic like’ watching over me presence. That is very reassuring.
My wife, daughter and grandchildren wanted us to have him live here in Wales. They all wanted him to stay in Summersville. The new rented premises of my daughter’s stated no pets. When they were all in vocal encouragement at the time, Frankie jumps up next to me and snuggles up purring. I thought there and then about his intelligence. The Bengal/Maine Coon characteristics of both boisterous, intelligence and friendly nature is inherent in him very much so. I actually do feel an affinity with Frankie. He climbs up and looks me full in the face as if studying my inner thoughts. He keeps stealing my leather chair though! Cheers Steven and all the best to you.
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Don’t do it Gray! No Christmas song please?🙏 Also take care with the crackling. 🥃 🥃 S
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I’m no Pretender at believing I could write one in earnest Shep. I haven’t an ounce of an idea how to begin. So you’re safe….even at ‘2,000 Miles’ away. 😊 Listening to Kate Rusby winter albums at the moment. Three have arrived so far over the last week. So very folk filled Christmas vibe at present. Just found out my double CD Salvation Army albums. So will take a listen this afternoon. 34 beautiful brass played carols to drench myself in.
What is crackling Shep? I agree with the JD glass half full emoji for Christmas…definitely. Years and years ago I bought a limited edition 3 litre bottle that is in a tilting frame. It was emptied very long ago. Over a decade ago I reckon. But was thinking of refilling it for Christmas and the New Year months ahead. Cheers Shep and back at ya…..🥃🥃 💫
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Salvo album way to go….I did have a listen to a couple of non Chrissy toons by Kate – very nice….we used to listen to (in fact I might try and locate) A Winter Garden: Five Songs for the Season by Loreena McKennitt. Recorded and released in 1995….it has a wow factor…pork crackling – they can break a few teeth.🦷🐈🐕
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I’ll look up Loreena. Listening to Salvation Army tunes as I type. Lovely reminiscing. Remembering when going with my Nan to the Hall when I was a teenager. Especially this time of year. I lived with my Nan for a number of months when my Mum was ill. Dad worked full time, so Steve and myself lived with Nan and Aunty. The Hall? The smell was always of furniture polish! Intense too. Even now using Pledge I can think of those times. I use it on a an Indian board game called Karum. Discs flying about need a highly polished surface to float over.
Been vegetarian since I was 18 Shep. No fish either, so bones can’t do it either. I can only break my teeth on nuts it seems. 😊 That’s what happened to my back tooth. Muesli/Granola mix. All good now though. It was a bad dental filling intervention where the bite factor between upper and lower molars was not done properly, causing pressure and the bottom one eventually said ‘enough already!’ Cheers Shep.
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A CD for around £10 on Amazon for A Winter Garden Shep. Also a nice CD collection of many of her albums too. Seems like a fair few musicians I’ve been looking at recently. But sometimes they have albums that are really hard to find. And when you do, they cost silly money.
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