Silence

All this talking gives me a headache sometimes.

I wish I could write silence to you every day.

Water

Water really has a strong smell!

This may be something of a surprise.

I have had so many diet restrictions in the last two years I am like a temple now. Water has a smell! Next thing I will be bruising when air particles hit me. I suppose this is the Princess and the Pea syndrome. I am allowed peas, so that's possible.

The greatest irony was cutting out dairy from my diet. I am The Man Who Won His Own Weight In Ice Cream. In 1998! It was Ben & Jerry's. And I haven't finished it, obviously. But they let you have vouchers so you don't need your own deep freeze warehouse.

I used to put it in my biography when I was a bit short on competition wins.

Not ostrich: working

The answer to this constant threat of atrocities etc in London - for me, someone practising the piano at home all the time - is only to check the news occasionally. I looked once today. Result of not checking the television every two hours: work achieved.

And I still know what the official line is on events (I check my internet links). And I can put the events in their proper place in my life - something that happened but is not stopping me from being effective.

Anxiety!

Feeling anxious would worry me.

Giving

Is it OK to charge money to give a concert?

That question does not apply within the UK - you will never have the opportunity to be paid for a concert except in extreme circumstances. Music in Britain is not considered a professional activity, therefore no-one expects to pay you.

However, I'm talking to you - out there, all over the world (wherever there's a computer, anyway...this is not actually everywhere, you might be surprised to hear).

I would really do concerts for no money. You're paying me by letting me play - that's one of the things that keeps me alive. However - I do need some money to literally physically survive long enough to do the next performance. And I'm quite cheap!

For a free concert you'd have to put up with my own choice of repertoire. I would take requests (where possible) because I'd be doing it for you, for the audience, so I'd like to give you what makes you happy. It's called GIVING a concert, not taking one away!

But what you like isn't always what's good for you. Lots of music has been forgotten or hidden so you will need to hear some of that. Pleasing the audience has a variety of meanings with me.

Please give generously! I will try to do the same.

Inspiration

Inspiration - is that a word that's used lightly?

Or perhaps it's just a figure of speech nowadays.

Real inspiration - ask me about it.

And I might tell you...