Goodbye 04

It’s hard to find words to describe the tragedy of the Tsunami. This year has seen enough suffering before the loss, in the last few days, of so many lives. Whereas ninety nine per cent of the suffering seen till this week was from the hands of mankind its hard to lay this one at our own door. I have little else to say about it other than to note the fantastic response from the public, which bears out the fact that goodness and hope remain within the majority.As always it paints huge perspective and I know that our thoughts and prayers (if you pray) go out to so many, or as many as we can comprehend given the huge scale of loss. On Dec 18th I crossed the finishing line. As far as I can work out it was the 249th performance in the last 13 months. It’s not a schedule I think I could do again but it was a great ride. It’s hard to measure these things but I think it was all worth it. I do know that I have never had a year when I have received so much criticism and complaints, not about the music itself but about what I, or the music was saying. I have felt a frustration with politicians and leaders this year that fuelled the crazy schedule and kept me hungry to be doing my little bit. I guess with that sort of response you must be doing a little good and not just preaching to the choir. I think that frustration, combined with fatigue that led to unparallel emotion in the last two shows. I’m not sure what I think about it now, I remember apologising to crew and Nige, but they wouldn’t hear any of it and said some lovely things. I don’t look at the message board that often, but I couldn’t help but notice the discussion that followed those shows. It’s made me think a bit about the message board and its purpose. Some of the rhetoric there makes me a little uncomfortable and it may need some re thinking next year. Yesterday I went to London and played a session on Radio 2 with Bob Harris. It was a good way to end the year and draw a line under everything. Normally when you know its national radio (and the drive time show has an audience of over 6 million) you get a little tense, but Bob was great and I could have been playing in the kitchen at home. It’s already made me look forward to writing and playing music in 05. Thanks to all of you who emailed into the programme and indeed for the amazing support given to me in the last year. When the last minute ticks away tomorrow night I hope it ushers in a wonderful new year for you, and that we can all see some light come seeping though in 05. Lets walk on. Thanks everyone, thank so much…happy new year x