Random Acts…

Thinking today about “doing good” it strikes me there is little financial gain on offer to businesses to do inherent good without some kind of quid pro quo; and I’m reflecting on an old tweet from a usability and user experience chap:

If organisations will never do good (as there’s no business case) or won’t do good until there’s scale for gov funding: perhaps doing good needs to be a side hustle in projects by individuals #SmallGoods pic.twitter.com/czV5WKlpPV

— Alastair Somerville (@Acuity_Design) February 9, 2018

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Hope for Sutton Project Launch

I’m some six months (and a bit) late in writing this, but it’s been a busy time.

The Hope for Sutton project, which encompasses a range of activities and initiatives supporting the local community in and around Mere Green launched last October. As part of the celebrations I was delighted to present an original piece of composition recorded and performed by students from three local primary schools. In return for their hard work I decided to keep the recording online for free, so they would have easy access to hear themselves in what is technically a world premiere.

Sinking the Ark

It’s funny, isn’t it, how difficult its can be to express an idea. I had a concept of what I wanted to do, but I was under the impression the work already existed and I would be presenting somebody else’s genius.

The “Lottery Test”

I have been encouraged in recent weeks to apply the “Lottery Test” to things I undertake in everyday life. The test is simple. Were I to win the the lottery and be free of financial worries, would I continue doing the things that occupy my week?

Curinating

It’s been a while.

Honestly, I haven’t felt like there’s much to write about on a blog recently. The last year has been busy, and while good, there have been things I needed to deal with more urgently than composing and delivering blog content.

Watch!

In a fit of barely concealed astonishment it occurred to me recently I have no idea where to buy a really good cheap watch. Argos, it seems, still has a decent line in basics. But whereas I used to nip along to see what was in the shop window of Steve’s or drop by Tesco on a quiet afternoon, there seems to be fewer independent shops than ever and all of the watches in Tesco have bling on them. I’m allergic to bling.

All I wanted was a basic watch to tell the time with. Everything else a watch might do I can use my phone for. I just want a timepiece.

Fortunately, Argos came up trumps.

Except the strap’s a bit tight.

 

 

Giant Dwarves and other minor errors

A couple of weeks ago I ordered pieces for a game I have recently invented in conjunction with Vince Connolly at Asgard Games in Walsall.

Directing Music in Mere Green

I’m very grateful to the Rector and congregation of St James’ Chuch, Hill for allowing me to come into their church community and cover the vacant post of Director of Music for a while. We had a choir practice last night and I’m playing for my first Sunday service this weekend. There’s a wonderful pipe organ, a baby grand piano, choir and all sorts going on in what is a very busy parish.

Long Hot Summer

Greetings. Again, apologies for the lack of updates in recent times, but things have been busy and conitue to be busy and frankly there’s not a lot of time to write.

Also, to both of my regular readers (Hi Dad!), some of the events recounted here will be familiar because you may have been there at the time.

New Game, UKGE, catching up and half an idea

Were I even halfway concerned about my audience (rather than this entire blog being largely a vanity exercise) I would open with a meaningful apology for my recent absence. The only issue with such an opening gambit is that I’m really not sorry at all. I’ve been rather busy. However, I have few things to share with you.