Bits 'n' pieces

August has been something of a 'bitty' month where I have had a series of small-ish projects to do (e.g. recording the demo for Moon On a Stick the musical for future promotional purposes, finishing draft 1 of City Girl (working title) a new musical I'm working on, doing a cue for a Discovery channel series (more on this later on),  working in London with a pop producer, and doing a few dead glamorous domestic things and future planning. It's been a lot of days here and days there without too much focused time of one thing. In such circumstances I tend to find it hard to feel like I've accomplished a lot even though I have actually worked quite hard. My friends tell me I'm too harsh on myself, but privately I have found this sort of bittiness tends to bring out a (perhaps unnecessary) sense of failure-to-do-anything-at-all.  Must be some strain of acerbic puritanism in my DNA.... however, Emerson said 'it's dearness that gives everything its value'. Memo to self.... read more optimistic transcendentalist thought....

As a cheer-er-up-er-er (good word, that) tomorrow I'm off to Manchester for a couple of days to visit my brother Dave which should be ace, as it is over a calender year since I was last there. 

Another bit of good news... the Tom and Jerry clip has just passed 3.5 million hits on youtube, and is now 13th in the all time Film and Animation You Tube clips for the UK! (Before I get carried away I should say it is up against other clips like 'World's Strongest Boy' and 'Pancakes II', and it's presence is ENTIRELY due to the fact it's a Tom and Jerry cartoon). However, I will draw what solace I can.

Some other good news: a fellow composer and good friend of mine Richard Blair Oliphant was recently nominated for an Emmy for his score for the NASA documentary. Well done indeed to him: very richly deserved - congratulations Richard!