Merry Christmas! We had a very quiet time, a bit subdued due to recent events, but lots of fun stuff for the boys and trips to Christmas Markets and the Ice Rink at the Natural History Museum (beautiful as always). Jake was very excited on Christmas morning and his face was a picture but of course Ollie doesn't quite get it yet. Next year will be a different story I'm sure! The best thing by far though was jgetting a friend of ours to dress up in a Santa suit and knock on the door just before Christmas. Jake had some of his friends around and the look on their faces when Father Christmas walked in was priceless. I've never seen so many big, wide eyes!

It's Ollie's first Birthday tomorrow and he has some of his little friends coming over for an early lunch. I really can't believe how the time flies and that little Ollie is growing up so fast. He's due for his first hair cut I think because he seems to have acquired my curly mad hair and it's all over the place.

We really miss Tilly Willy, especially as she loved Christmas so much. I know she was with us though, nosing around in the wrapping paper and sniffing all the presents, wondering which ones were for her. Love you sweetie.

Saturday 6th December 2008

Last night our beautiful girl Tilly went to sleep. She was only eight and a half - young for a Red Setter. She was the sweetest, most loving dog you could ever hope to meet. Tilly was never happier than when chasing squirrels in the park but she was just as happy to spend all day at my feet in the Studio. She loved us unreservedly and was very proud and protective of the children, always wanting to be where we were at all times. She was an angel and I know that she's still by my side. She has broken my heart and we miss her terribly.

Goodnight Starshine.

Friday 28th November 2008

Mike Lee died a few days ago, aged 39. He was a fabulous drummer and a lovely man. I first met him when he took over from me on the Robert Plant stuff. He will be missed.

I've been working flat out on Library stuff this past few weeks so apologies for not updating my newspage sooner. The album is pretty much finished and edited now so I'm hoping for a January release. I have three more albums lined up with a fourth in the pipeline so it looks like I'm going to be very busy until the Spring, which is great.

Jake's getting very excited by the prospect of Christmas. The Christmas lights were turned on in our High Street yesterday and he was beside himself. I'm really looking forward to Christmas this year and we're going to make it very warm and twinkly for our boys.

Thursday 6th November 2008

I am currently working on a couple of TV commercials as well as the final mixes and edits for one of the Library albums I am working on, so a busy time for me. It's beginning to look like I may need to upgrade the Studio Mac (already?) because it's been crashing a bit when some of the bigger programmes are loaded up. Might look at an eight core I think.

It was Bonfire Night yesterday and Jakey came home from school and told me all about Guido Fawkes and how he tried to bomb The House of Permanent but the Police got him, then later we let off some rockets and sparklers in the garden. Ollie seemed quite interested in the Roman Candles. Jakey and I are cycling off to another local display tonight too - brilliant stuff!

Wednesday 29th October 2008

Wow, been a long time since I updated - sorry for the dealy but I've been up to my eyes in stuff both in and out of the Studio. I've had some very fun sessions at Hear No Evil with a small brass section and a vocal session at Boosey & Hawkes, both for the album I am now finishing for Booseys, and there have also been several (yes, several) TV ads floating around that I have pitched for. Still waiting to hear back on those but the album stuff is going very well indeed.

Ollie is now 10 months old and very nearly crawling, although so far he only manages to go backwards. Jake is really enjoying his new school now after the initial tears and tantrums, which certainly makes our cycle to school in the mornings a more pleasant experience!

And of course, those of you who know me will realise that Autumn is my absolute favourite time of year so I am in my Elephant at the moment, clear blue skies, bright sunshine, freezing cold, open fires and mulled wine - beautiful! We went to Kew Gardens yesterday which was absolutely stunning, and of course it is almost Halloween so Jake (and me!) are really looking forward to going trick or treating around the neighbourhood in the dark on Friday night.

I shall post some new photos soon when I get the chance to scale them down a bit.

Friday 26th September 2008

The big news for me recently is that I loaded up Spectrasonics Omnisphere into my system on Wednesday, and what a programme it is! Stunning stuff, and very inspirational. Today I'm loading up Heavyocity's 'Evolve' and quite looking forward to that too. I've been a bit busy with loads of commissioned stuff this past couple of weeks as well as my library work, and I've also revamped the music for The Daily Politics which is now running again daily on BBC2 here in the UK.

I popped up to Audio Network for lunch last week with Andrew and Nik Kershaw as Nik and I are thinking of doing some work together to see what pops out, so that should be great fun.

Jake is now loving his new school, as I knew he would. Quite a stressful time for him changing from Nursery to big school but he's coped very well I think.

Sunday 7th September 2008

I am at last nearing completion on one of the library albums I have been working on. Recently I have been composing three tracks a week which is quite hard to do but a good discipline I think. And I am absolutely loving the new Toontrack drum software Superior 2.0 'cos it works a treat with the Hart Pro eDrums.

The Summer (such as it was) seems to be over here in the UK with torrential rain, flooding, and me reaching for the central heating 'on' switch, but the big news is that Jakey started big school on Thursday and so far seems to love it. He looks very grown up in his school uniform, although I had a few problems trying to get him to wear a shirt and tie on the first day (takes after me in that respect as I hate the bloody things). This of course means that we have a very quiet house during the day now which is lovely!

Monday 1st September 2008

Last week we picked up the new car, packed some bags and drove down to the South Coast for a couple of days, all of us plus big dog squashed into one hotel room. An interesting experience that I doubt we shall repeat in a hurry, but lovely to be down by the sea again. It is the first of the Month today, an auspicious date for me as not only is it the first but a Monday too which I tend to regard as a new start, especially when, as today, le soleil brille et le ciel est bleu and all that.

Monday 25th August 2008

The installation of Superior 2.0 has meant lots more Library tracks completed since my last update I'm pleased to say. Really enjoying it actually. For those of you who don't know, Superior 2.0 is a state of the art drum software package that one plays from an eKit, and as such is virtually indistinguishable from the real thing.

In other news we went to the Doctor Who Exhibition at Earls Court last week and although he loved the Cybermen, Jakey was a bit startled by he Daleks, especially when they came alive and attacked us! Oh, and we've bought a new car which we pick up on Tuesday (another Merc) as our current car is getting a bit small for us. That's about all really ... what else ...Jakey starts big school on September 4th but so far we have been unable to get him to try his uniform on!

Tuesday 12th August 2008

Bit of a slow week last week with only a couple of Library tracks under my belt, so on Friday we hopped onto the Eurostar and spent the day with friends in Brussels. Beautiful place! We've both been there before whilst touring of course but only ever got to see the Hotels and the Theatres, so discovering the Grand Platz and the Medieval streets and bonkers architecture was a revelation!

On firing up the studio after our two weeks in Portugal I discovered a couple of pieces of gear that simply refused to boot up. Normally my gear is on all the time and I have heard many arguments for and against this, it's just that if I'm in the middle of something I really can't run the risk of switching things off in case they don't come back on.

On Sunday we took the sprogs to london Zoo, and would you believe they have no Elephants or Rhino! Jakey only really wanted to see bats and giraffes so he was fine, but no Elephants at London Zoo? Then it rained on us (torrential rain actually) so we ran back to the car, came home, lit the fire, put on dry clothes and had popcorn.

Monday 4th August 2008

A lot has happened over the past few weeks so I'm sorry for not updating the news section earlier. Most of July was taken up with our holiday in Portugal. We borrowed a friend's villa and spent a few weeks in the sun. Every day we had clear, blue skies and high temperatures so we were able to lie by the pool or on the beach and eat ice cream until we exploded. Jake and Ollie loved it, especially the pools. Jakey spent most of his time in the water or listening to his iPod! On our return it was Jake's 4th birthday so we had a BBQ yesterday (in the rain). He had his main party at the beginning of the month so that all his school friends could be there. Great fun. Ollie is now 7 months old and turning into a proper little person. It was Nic's birthday yesterday too so last week I took her shopping in Chelsea and then out to dinner in the evening whilst our Nanny looked after the children - a day of bliss!

I'm still in the throws of finishing off a Library album but after the meeting I had before going away on holiday it looks like it's going to be a successful venture. The final date for presentation is August 15th so I need to crack on. The new Audio Network site goes live in a couple of weeks too so that's quite exciting, and a phone call to my agent tells me that there may be some TV ads on the way. All in all I'm very busy and having a great time!

I got my new iPhone the other day and it's rather fab! Can't get the SatNav to work properly yet but the email and Internet works a treat. I've downloaded some really good apps for it too.

Will upload some holiday snaps when I get the time ...!

Sunday 29th June 2008

It's not June in a couple of days meaning that half the year has already gone. I'm not sure where that went but I've been very busy with Library stuff (currently running at three tracks per week) so I'm quite happy that I'm fitting a lot in. I'm aiming to finish this current album by mid July so I'm on course for that. I've also spent a couple of afternoons loading up some new software, most notably Kontakt3 and Battery2, both of which are fantastic.

Ollie was 6 months old yesterday. I think I may have metnioned how fast the time seems to be going recently but that's just ridiculous. Blimey, he'll be at University before I know it! My eye has healed up amazingly well and I'm really pleased to say that my vision is no longer fuzzy. Which is nice.

The weather here in London has been amazing this past week, like Australia but without the skin cancer. Hope it keeps up because I've grown fond of my shorts and besides we're off to Wimbledon on Tuesday. Of course this generally means that it will rain but fingers crossed!

Saturday 21st June 2008

You can read an artist profile on me at the FXpansion BFD2 website by clicking HERE.

Friday 20th June 2008

Lots of Library tracks ready to go now and people calling me to ask if I have any tracks to give them, which is nice. I spent today finishing off a few bits and pieces in the Studio that I have been meaning to get round to for a while, not musical things but wiring and building and so on.

I had a cyst removed from my left eyelid yesterday, only a minor operation but nevertheless the thought of a scalpel and my eye with the eyelid peeled back made me quite apprehensive. As it turned out the surgeon was fantastic and after the anaesthetic kicked in I didn't feel a thing.

Monday 9th June 2008

I have been demoing for a few jobs over the past couple of weeks, fairly big TV commercials that always seem to fall at the last hurdle. It has become so difficult to get anything commisioned and on air nowadays but it's always worth trying. Apart from that I've not been in the Studio much since my last news update as I've been concentrating on housey things and on getting rooms decorated and furniture built etc. On the home stretch now though I'm pleased to say and I shall be making music again as of tomorrow.

The weather is beautiful in London (at last) and there have been lots of fairs and 'green days' on the greens around us - fantastic fun! Jakey and I have been doing a lot of cycling this past few days and as a by-product of this I have realised that cycling is actually by far the fastest form of transport for local journeys.

Saturday 17th May 2008

Been a funny old couple of weeks. I've been working on a couple of TV jobs and not really getting anywhere with them, the main problem being that the Agency budgets won't allow for what the client wants. Unrealistic assumptions have been flying around all week, the best being "can we have it played by a full swing band and vocalists for £5,000?", which of course is ludicrous. Seems to be the state of the industry at the moment though. Ho hum.

Got a very busy week next week though as I am back onto Library stuff and I have an album to complete by the end of the month with two others waiting in the wings. The Studio is working fantastically well now though so I'm quite looking forward to it!

Wednesday 30th April 2008

Been working on a few jobs this week but nothing positive so far. Still, all good stuff for turning into Library tracks I guess. It seems to be a funny time of year at the moment and I can't think of a reason for it, but everything is very slow and very difficult. Mind you it's raining and cold and things work better and get done when the sun is shining. I have a chap coming over this afternoon to re install my GigaSampler so I should be firing on all cylinders once more. Think I'll have some toast now ...

Wednesday 23rd April 2008

Lots of Library Music on at the moment so I am being kept very busy in the Studio. I've encountered a few problems with the GigaStudio after deciding that I did need it after all but it is with a man for the next few days and will hopefully return working as it should. My Access Virus Desktop Ti also packed up for a few days but a new PSU fixed that. All in all an interesting time gear wise!

Ollie is growing really fast now and after being convinced that he was going to have dark hair I now think he might be another blonde. Jakey is back at school after 4 weeks off over Easter (hence my not having the time to update my newspage recently) and today being a very nice, warm, sunny day we spent most of the afternoon in the garden.

Wednesday 26th March 2008

Been a bit slow workwise so I have been using the downtime to bung GigaStudio back into my studio. After deciding that I didn't want a PC in my system it transpired that I couldn't replicate the sound of the Giga PC using a Mac. Must be the converters I guess. Anyway, apart from one or two minor niggles it's all up and running now. Nice to have access to all those sounds again and I'd quite forgotten how much I actually used the thing.

We had snow here in London over Easter which meant the Easter Bunny had to leave Jake's eggs indoors and not under bushes in the garden as usual. He got ten eggs, ate three of them immediately and then threw up. He's refusing chocolate now so I think he learned his lesson.

Monday 3rd March 2008

Blimey - StormDrum2 and BFD2 are fantastic!

Friday 29th February 2008

Oops, been a while since I last updated my news page! Been very busy with this and that, mostly that, although this kept me busy too. The BBC job was accepted, as was the Guinness 6 Nations Rugby sponsorship idents, so I'm back on the Library stuff again. I've also installed a whole bunch of new software including BFD2, StormDrum2 and Kontakt3, all of which are quite phenomenally wonderful.

Family wise Ollie is starting to sleep longer at night which means I am getting to bed a bit earlier (I do the night feed). He's growing at an alarming rate too and needs all new clothes. I really don't know where the time goes these days I really don't.

Wednesday 13th February 2008

This week I have been mostly knocking about in the Studio trying to build some proper speaker mounts for the Klein + Hummels. The prototype worked a treat but so far my attempts to come up with the finished article have failed miserably. Bugger. Anyway, I have another couple of jobs to do now, one in particular for the BBC that needs to be completed for Friday afternoon/Monday morning. Which is nice.

We've had the most beautiful weather here in London for the past week so Jakey and I have been doing a lot of cycling. We even went swimming on Sunday at the gym, the first time in ages. We took Ollie to Kew Gardens on Saturday too where the spring flowers are nearly in bloom, our first proper family outing since he arrived 6 weeks ago.

Wednesday 6th February 2008

Great stuff - I got the Guiness 6 Nations Rugby idents and it was all dubbed last Thursday. Should be on air now actually (it's for Ireland so I won't get to see it unless I pop over). Phew, it's really hard to get anything through these days so I'm quite pleased about this one. I'm working on a Hollywood Film Trailer Library album now and that will keep my busy until March I should think. Then I have a couple more albums to do and these should see me through to the Summer, so along with any other work I pick up along the way I should be quite busy.

Ollie was registered yesterday so he is now a real person. I warned him that he was 'in the system' but he didn't seem to be that bothered.

Tuesday 29th January 2008

The 6 Nations Rugby music is going very well and they are sending over a new edit of the film later on today. Should hopefully nail it by this evening and then it's back on to Library music. Still learning the foibles of my new room and I need to get a man in pretty soon to sort a few things out for me. Seems to be some sort of problem at the mix stage somewhere resulting in my having to work a lot harder to get mixes to open up. Bound to be operator error!.

Sunday 27th January 2008

I've been working on a couple of TV jobs this past week but failed to get one of them as the client went for a Library track instead. The other piece is a commissioned piece, although they seem to be hooked on one of my Library Tracks so it could be a win - win situation really with me competing against myself. Which is nice.

Ollie was four weeks old on Friday and is starting to settle into more of a routine now. The nights are still a problem though with neither Nic or myself getting much in the way of decent sleep. Nicola is looking amazing and the baby weight has all but gone, even after just 4 weeks! She can't do any exercise due to the cesarian but we are hoping to get into the gym at the end of February, something she is really looking forward to.

We had Ollie's hand and foot clay impression made yesterday. We had Jake's done at 1 month too so both boys have the same. Once these are fired and framed they look fab on the nursery wall!

Sunday 20th January 2008

I have been working on a TV job this week but have been fitting it in after all the baby stuff is out of the way which means I'm not starting work until Ollie's night feed at 11pm. Been getting to bed around 4.30am which isn't good as I need to be up at 8am to take Jake to school. Not a good situation at the moment and I need to change things drastically or I'll explode.

It was my Birthday today but really it was just like any other day ... had two and half hours sleep last night and took Jake and Tilly to the park on the bike with the trailer where we had a picnic and got all muddy and Tilly rolled in something unsavoury so we had to dash home and bathe her before jumping in the car and heading off for the gym to do some swimming (Jakey and I, not Tilly!) and then dash home to clear up the kitchen and tidy away from this morning before preparing supper and Dalek Birthday Cake, Jakey bath and bed. I'll be working on the TV job again later tonight. Probably start at midnight as it has to be in first thing in the morning. Anyway, I'm fried and I'm rambling so I'll shut up ...

Wednesday 9th January 2008

New photos of Ollie posted today!

Sunday 6th January 2008

I am bloody exhausted ... Nic is in bed nursing Ollie (who won't sleep ) and so I've been on household duties for the weekend. Our cleaner doesn't come in until Wednesday and the nanny doesn't work on the weekend and entertaining Jakey and doing all the shopping and cleaning and cooking and ironing and Tilly walking and clearing up and all that stuff is quite wearing. Can't wait until the 14th when I can get back into the Studio for a nice long rest!

Friday January 4th 2008

Happy New Year!

I saw in the New Year with Jakey. He was very excited to be up at midnight and watching the fireworks on TV. Nic and Ollie were still in Hospital (they came home New Year's Day) so Jake and I entertained ourselves with ice cream and pizza. This week has been very good actually given that there is a new baby in the house. He's not that bad at sleeping and I have to say it is easier the second time round. We sort of know what we are doing. I took Jake to the cinema for the first time today to see Bee Movie (not a very good film actually) and we've been having lots of fun Daddy/Son days. I'm not going back into the Studio until the 14th January and I have to admit that I'm having a really good time not working!

Here's a funny thing ... when Jake was born Nicola was sent so many bunches of flowers that we could have opened a florist. This time - 2 bunches.

Thursday January 3rd 2008

We've decided on a name. Oliver Christian Blackwell. Hi Ollie!

Friday 28th December 2007

Very pleased to announce the birth of our new baby boy this afternoon! He was born at 2.25pm and weighed in at 8lbs exactly, or 3.36 kilos if you are that way inclined. Mother and baby are doing extremely well and it was a fabulous cesarean birth, in fact Nicola was talking and smiling throughout. I'm taking Jake in to the Hospital tomorrow to meet his new baby brother for the first time so it should be an amazing day!

Now of course I have to actually get on and decorate his nursery ...