I was inspired by the many photos I took exploring new walking routes during the first 2020 lockdown, to create a several happy videos of children’s songs I’d previously written while working in various schools, to help others sing along with them. After my first walk to the sea from here (3 and a half hours!) in May 2020 I used a very cheery song I composed in Brisbane for Mrs. Pledger’s Year 1 class – very popular it was then and at many places since. It’s all about self-esteem and feeling good about the way you are! The Song The Singing Tortoise Sang.

On another occasion I went half way to the sea then came back via a different path. It was a very foggy morning, and all the spiders’ webs that must always be there were very apparent with all the droplets be-jewelling them. I again got carried away with the camera and used the pictures to illustrate another song from my Brisbane days, this one, an arrangement I made for Mr. Beiers’ Year 5 class for their “Convicts” topic.  John Hudson’s Bound For Botany Bay.

You will have noticed in the tortoise video that there is a water tower in a distant field on the route to Warkworth. I resolved one day to get as close to it as possible. You can almost touch it, it turns out! This time I’ve combined my pictures with a song I composed for a Year 4 class in Alnwick. The songs is a sacred processional, and I feel that I was indeed on a bit of a mission to find the water tower and pay homage to it in some way! Hymn Of The Ancient Greeks