14 Years and still in love

Today is my 14th Wedding anniversary and I am so proud to say I still love my beautiful wife Tamara today. It's true what folk say - love does grow. It's easy to fall into habits over the years and take each other for granted. I'm not going to pretend it's all been easy - anyone who does is either deluded or very fortunate - but I think our relationship is the strongest it's ever been.

What's the secret?

Honesty and trust. Two words difficult to stick to because there is no place to hide from the truth. We share everything and have only spent a few days apart since our wedding day.

Here's to many more years.

Moving time

Not not a bid to draw you into an emotional debate, even though it has been an emotional day - no, literally a moving day. Mum moved across the other side of the country today. I know, if you're in america that's a plane journey, but I think a four hour drive across archaic roads is far enough away from my mum. She's moved to a nursing home (that seems very professional) just five minutes away from my brother and some of her closest friends. She's been living just ten minutes away from me for a year and a half, but has really only had me as a visitor and so has become lonely and therefore unhappy. My hopes are she will now feel more settled with her friends and my big bro near her.

I really must keep this blog up to date.

Mikael Nordin

Have a listen to this guys music.

It's awesome. A fantastic blend of guitar and vocal. I am so inspired by the sound he creates. It typifies the sound I would love to have for my solo stuff. Full of passion, hunger, the right sort of raw. And a voice to complement so very well with thought provoking lyrics.

Check it out Mikael Nordin's myspace by clicking on the title of the blog entry.

Watch myspace

I've spent all of my free time in the past couple of weeks re-recording some of my favourite songs. I'm in the process of finishing a new acoustic version of Design for Life. The current version on myspace was recorded as a quick demo with a bad throat and bad sound card. The new ones will have live bass and guitars on. I'll be interested to see how they come out.

The reason for the renewed effort is two-fold really. First, I've been itching to do the recordings all summer, but was stopped by the pneumonia. Secondly, I want to send a copy of a better quality recording to Cross Rhythms, a Christian Radio Station from my home land, so that they can review it. I'm full of excitement and trepidation at the result of this mini project. Maybe I will be able to let a wider audience have a greater access to the gifts God has given me.

There's a couple of new ones as well: Arms of Love, I Will Praise You, Lord and Tomorrows. I've been asked to choose six of what I think are my best songs. It's so difficult because they all feel part of me. I know that God will guide in the choice. If you got any suggestions please let me know. You may possibly confirm my prayers.

How did I miss this before!

I don't know how I missed this before. I can't get over how many artists there are in the world and how ordinary my music is compared to them. I feel humbled and in awe, inspired and hungry to explore new ideas. MYspace is an awesome tool. I discovered it through Jadon Lavik website and decided to have a go. If you visit myspace you must join, there's so much to look at. Myspace url is http://www.myspace.com/stevelowndes

I just visited Ben Folds myspace, who is an artist I was introduced to recently and promptly bought both his albums. If you haven't heard him yet, YOU MUST!

I'm also grateful to anyone who has taken the time to listen to my amateurish recordings, particularly those who've added me to their friends list. I was amazed at the guitar technique of Jon Gomm. Another must to listen to if you're into outstanding acoustic guitar playing. Be sure to view the video as well.

I think I could merrily spend all day in myspace listening to the immense talent out there.

Doing my thing!!!

So how are you?

Feeling good I hope. Uplifted, inspired and ready for action.

What are you doing today?

I'm just about to get ready for one of my annual double bass gigs. It's a cabaret at the Drill Hall in Lincoln and has been one of my favourites for a long time. A fabulous amateur choir, 'The Hungate Singers' with a jazz trio, piano/bass/drums who work as session players. One rehearsal and then gig - that's how I like it. I'm getting to play some popular hits along with some bebop jazz and even jazz rock tonight, so it should be fun.

 What ever you're doing I hope you had as good a time as I know I'm going to have.

TTFN

Is he really three!!!!

Jack had his third birthday today. He looked a bit shocked when he saw all the balloons. I thought it was Christmas with how many presents he had. Tamara put a balloon on one of his presents and put it by his bed. He woke us up at 6:30 in typical bubbly fashion with the present in his hand. I love to see him so excited. Then he was treated to two present opening sessions. One wih us hen one with his mum. When I got home from work it was time for party hats all round. Jack insisted!
It was a lovely day for all of us. So Happy Birtday Jack.

And I thought it was just a bad cough!

At the beginning of the summer vacation I picked up my usual summer cold. I always get some form of annoying minor illness after a big show, but this seemed a little different. It came on as a bad cough on the weekend we went to Centerparcs. As a result I didn't feel strong enough to go swimming because I was getting short of breath quite easily. By mid-week it was getting quite bad. The weekend we got back I took mum to Congleton for a weeks respite care (but that's another story) so it was the following Tuesday that I finally got to the doctors. Anti-biotic - come and see me in a week. By now the cough was painful and was making me sick. Second lot of anti-biotics and still no better. So then it was an x-ray. Any way, 12 days later I'd heard nothing so I rang the doctors and asked them to confirm my suspisions that the x-ray was clear. I was told that I had to come into the doctors - then told to hold the line. The secretary had spoken to the doctor who said I'd had pnuemonia in my left lung. To say I was shocked was an understatement. It's no wonder I've been so negative and down recently. I've still got a croaky throat, so my plans to re-record some of my songs over the holidays have been totally scuppered. The good news is I don't have it anymore and I'll soon be able to sing again - because it's easier to sing when you can breathe. LOL

Back to School

I really must post here more often. I been a bit wrapped up in myself recently and as a result haven't really felt like posting here. It comes back to ambitions and dreams and the frustration invovled when they are apparently unobtainable. Yes, I've always wamted to be a singer songwriter who is recognised and respected in the business. I've always known it doesn't work like that, so I just keep plugging on. Every door that seemingly opened was rapidly slammed shut in my face in all walks of music making for various reasons. And taht includes in Christians circles as well. I guess I'm not knocking on the right door. But one things for sure, I'll never stop knocking.

The most recent let down has been turning down a job as a professional bass player for a years work. It was mine for the taking, but it wasn't to be. Every circumstance pointed to the fact that, as much as I wanted it and was wanted to do the job, it would have caused more problems than it was worth. Don't get me wrong, I love playing. I never feel more alive than when I'm performing for a big audience. The biggest so far, as a bass player, is 14,000 at the Killerton Festival (Will Young was there the next day). So to turn it down made me feel like I had been bereaved.

So on with life. I have realised something through this experience. Whilst I've been complaining and wallowing in self-pity about teaching at school, I have not been honouring my God, my wife or my family. I have been causing hurt by people worrying about me and the decisions I might make and have not demonstrated respect to my management. So this term I have decided to put that right. I still intend to write my songs. I'm in the process of re-recording some of them and recording a song that isn't listed.

So there it is ..... back to school. Who knows the future, or what this life will bring.

Can you believe it ......

... someone just posted a "SPAM" comment on my blog. How low can you get. If it isn't bad enough getting spam mail in your inbox and through your letter box. Unwanted tele-sales calls while you're trying to settle the baby and door to door sales men pestering your personal haven - YOUR HOME.

When will companies realise that we don't want to hear it, see it or 'experience' it unless we pick up the phone ourselves or walk through a shop door. That's when we expect to be pestered. I object to my personal privacy constantly being invaded by un-invited guests. If I'd have known that opportunistic parasites post such comments on blogs, I wouldn't have bothered. The purpose of this blog is to record my thoughts as they happen, mostly for me so I can look back and see what a wally I was, and maybe for anyone who might find my rantings of use to them, for whatever bizarre reason.

So there you have it. If you're trying to sell something advertise where people have given you permission, however wonderful your product is, not on my blog. I have asked permission to use every link on my blog. To any potential unwanted posters -
BLOG OFF!!!!

Hooray! Hooray! It's a holi-holi-day

Tomorrow we go to Centerparcs at Thetford. I can't wait. Tamara is really excited. I'm writing this while I'm having a break from packing. Jacks coming too which is going to make it even more special. We got him a swim vest and other floaty stuff and he's telling everyone where we are going, too. So it's ta ta for a week, cos' holidays here we come. If you want to know more about centerparcs, click on the title. This picture is the view from our room last year.

Bible.org

I recently came across this website. Thanks once more to the good folk on the Michael Card forum. I downloaded the E-sword bible along with three versions I don't have. It allows me to compare the different translations which is very useful in songwriting and really helps in attempting to develop an understanding for the text in general. I often compare more than one translation. This tool makes it much easier to see the versions side by side.

Problems Are For Solving

Problems Are For Solving

I just stumbled across this blog. It is thoughtful and very well constructed - unlike my haphazard thoughts. I am most impressed. The blog belongs to James3v1.