Back in 2020, like billions around the world I had plenty of time to pass with my ‘business’ hands tied firmly behind my back. And yet I felt fortunate that we didn’t live in suburbia, or urbia. Not sure if anybody refers to it that way, do they? I mean, suburban / urban, suburbia / urbia … Anyway, I digress. Lots of time and plenty to do around the place rather than trying to cram into a normal weekend. An RN, Kathy was on extended leave due to hospital closure and so we busied ourselves with projects in and around our modest property. If one feels inclined, one might check them out on Kathy’s blogsite at cannonhillchronicles.com

We focused on keeping ourselves active and healthy, to best combat some ornery airborne coronavirus, while researching all that was going on around the world. Being from a science family, Kathy had a head start but for me, someone who ‘draws pictures for a living’, it was best to engage with experts from all angles and opinions who understood the processes. I believed (and still do) that hearing absolutely everything is better than not.

In my spare lockdown time, that is in between renovation projects and chores, I immersed myself into creative writing, eventually publishing two novels (in late 2022), ‘Old Ned’s Secret and Other Tall Tales’, and ‘Floor Thirteen’. I also responded to a few queries from readers of ‘The Tramp’ (published in 2017) and began to formulate the bones of a sequel. To date (mid / late July 2024) I’m nudging 40,000 words into that process so far, and enjoying the re-acquaintance with Robert Aitken once more.

I have an aversion to being idle. Well, to be honest, laziness seems to be in my blood but if I don’t keep myself busy I can get down. And so, cramming my life with projects, chores and a multitude of activities is a must. I love it and the alternative is a bummer. So, finding time to write songs was a must. I mean, surely there was myriad topics to inspire the creative juices, wasn’t there?

A dear friend, a wonderful pianist who had accompanied me on four of the songs from ‘The Tramp: The Music of Robert Aitken’ music CD, Julie shared a piece of her work with me. It was moving and, as such, I felt driven to write some lyrics and focused on an elderly lady (it could have been a man but for some reason the name Alice seemed to fit, so an elderly lady it is). Alice was at the latter stages of her life, but with the love and support of her children and grandchildren, that life held real meaning. Only for Alice, lockdown was physical and mental torture. Alice felt alienated. Alice felt isolated. Alice felt alone and banished without the forbidden touch of those she loved.

I’ll get back to Alice another time. This is about a different work. This is about a farm. This is about trusting creatures who rely on their kin, rely on the protection of numbers, and how easy it is to sit back and lose even the opportunity to instinctively flee from danger.

This is ‘Asleep’.