Christopher's Online Journal

Last night I watched a wonderful conversation on YouTube between Don Henley and Billy Joel, who obviously had deep empathy, and love, for each others music, and lives. Henley surprised me by talking of Walden and Thoreau, also by mentioning Zen, and then OnBeing which is one of my favourite podcasts. Billy Joel asked Don Henley which came first in his songwriting, the lyrics or the music. This reminded me of a songwriting workshop which I had recently attended when the host said we had to write the music first, which for me, as a total non-musician, would have been a wrecking-ball of an instruction had we not been collaborating. Photo by Caio Silva on Unsplash Fortunately I was partnered with John Newby, who pretty quickly got the music flowing, and I was able to write in a way that I don't ever remember doing before, all my previous attempts at songs being words first followed by some pretty nauseous monotone sounds, which most definitely don't qualify as music. So no poem thi...

Yes, but Monday morning in the Sailor's Arms in Newquay is nothing like the Friday nights from my teenage years. Still, the surfing schools were busy, even in the wind and rain, and we got a proper pasty to eat on the way back to the car. Newquay is being extended big time with a Duchy of Cornwall inspired estate, all creams and pinks and blues. But all too close together and more or less all sold, which is a pity because the light is good and Watergate Bay isn't a long drive away. Penzance also looked good in the sun, although the Newlyn Gallery was all embroidery, which I am told is popular now, thanks I suppose to folks staying home. Not really my cup of tea, neither the ice-cream shop, which only dealt in cash! But joy of joys, a Japanese garden in the neat and tidy village of St Mawgan, also, within walking distance was the best fruit scone with jam and cream in the whole of Cornwall. Good, and matched up by Marija's beef mince and lamb mince lasagne, sumptuous, and I ...