Hi.

In 2003, Steve Bennett and I worked on s series of short stories based on the songs of Chris de Burgh. It was a long, painstaking project, which raised money for Henshaws Society for The Blind & Partially Sighted.

The discs – there were 2 … a CD-Rom (remember those) and a CD Talking book – were quietly successful, not least because Chris himself supported the project, and Steve did what Steve does so well … produced a brilliant product.

Time went by. An original website came and went, replaced – again designed by Steve – with the one you are currently perusing. Sadly, as my career changed (I teach English now), so did my WLB and time to review – or even ‘see’, ‘listen’ or ‘read’ as much – became a thing of dreams alone.

A few weeks ago, Steve messaged and asked if he would mind if he set up a You Tube channel, on which he would include the stories we recorded on Untrained Melodies. What you have here is the first of those uploads: Here, which is based on CDB’s I’m Not Scared Anymore.

I still write. I still read. I still love movies, theatre and music. Those things have not changed.

What has, I think, is my style of writing. That said, it is still fun to glance backwards and recognise that which went before can only ever lead to where we are now.

Cheers Steve (and Claire, who’s dulcet tones introduce the stories), without whom etc. etc. etc.

Finally, thanks to you for listening to Here. I hope you enjoy it.

Here – Inspired by Chris de Burgh’s “I’m Not Scared Anymore” | Short Story