The year began with a conversation with an old friend of mine called Doug Koy who is a TV personality from Vancouver BC. He has been making a documentary about Israel which he told me was a look at Israel through the lens of how the country has amazing resources and people and how the country is a blessed place for many reasons outside of just a religious context. I was intreagued by this and took him up on an invitation he gave me to submit some original music for the project, by writing what was to become my first song of 2009 called "In His love He has Chosen you" I will begin recording this song very soon with the idea of it being included in some way in the project. It is very exciting  and also illuminating for me especially because although I undrstand that Israel is a historical place it also seems to be very strategic in the Middle East. I was very saddened by the images of the fighting in Gaza and my prayers went up for the many innocents caught in the middle of everything.  I don't pretend to understand it all but there is something way bigger than what we see in the natural going on there.

The documentary I mentioned before can be explored at www.theoriginalprimise.com

Other musical stuff is mainly localised at the moment which is probably good given the snow in Canada! I have loved performing with the Andrew Smith Trio locally. Andrew is an amazing tap style guitarist and an awesome song writer and a great friend to boot! I have also been involved with a teriffic sustainability conference here where the organisers use various forms of media including video, dance, oratory and music to convey some of the issues related to sustainability. Again it has been challenging for me as i am generally one who feels pretty overwhelmed by the enormity of the issues which leaves me feeling pretty helpless to change much, but hey I have been turning more lights off and the thermostat down abit more lately. Every little bit can make a big difference! ( I wrote a song the other day with that as the title!!)

I am feeling the urge to get back in the studio to record some new songs for my own CD and although I have nothing planned as yet I think it is in the pipe. I've just got to get the crap out of the pipe first!

Thanks for your kind interest in what I get up to it means a lot to know that you are mindful of me and my work.

Keep the creative juices going,

Untill next time take good care and make sure to love your family with everything you've got

Graham

Life has been made even sweeter lately by the safe arrival of our new Daughter Anya Esther Rose on the 19th October.  She is very cute and has brought much joy to our home.  The profound experience of new birth brings many things into focus and also raises many new questions and concerns as I observe this rather strange world we live in.  There is so much uncertainty everywhere and yet I have been reminded again that I was born naked and with nothing, completely dependant of others to help me and even though I fight it, the fact remains that I still am dependant on others for help and ultimately I actually don't have anything really, it is all lent to us by the big Man who one day will call me home as naked as I arrived here! What a wierd life eh?

Anyway that's what our baby has done for me! Made  me review life and regain perspective again. Perhaps you haven't held a baby for a while,  I encourage you to do so again and sit in the peace of the moment and let God speak to you. It's qite amazing what comes into your heart.

I am also laughing a lot lately because a few years ago I bought an old Lap stell while on a trip to Vancouver.  It was an impulse buy costing probably twice as much money as I actually earned from the gigs I did on the trip.  I justified it by saying that it will make me money if I learn how to play it! Anyway since then I have become a bit of a slide guru in these parts and pretty much every recording session I have done for people recently has been a Lap Steel session!! I am thinking of getting two half coconuts and a grass skirt so I can look the part now! It is all very funny for me.

So anyway these are my latest meanderings, thanks for stopping by the site. Please feel free to let me know what you think of it all.

Have a peaceful Christmas.

Love

Graham.

I just go tback from our Northern BC Tour with my good friend Russ Rosen and our band of friends. It was an amazing time. Very cool to be in a place where it doesn't get dark! it was always hard to know when to stop playing because we had no reference point because many of the shows were out doors. We went as far north as Fort Nelson which is 300 miles up the Alaska Hwy.  We saw moose and bear and Eagles and the odd human! Canada is an amazing vast place!!  The music was realy fun and it was great to bring hope to some towns where things are very tough for people, Mackenzie was one such town. The people there are resiliant and are holding onto their faith in the face of real hardships.  We loved it there and counted it a joy to play for those people. Every town we went to we were so welcomed and appeciated. Those Northerners know how to throw a party!!

As part of the fund raising for this trip we printed some great T shirts. If you would like one you can get them at http://russrosenband.ca

Thanks for droping by the site.

Blessings on you and yours

Graham.