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It’s the last day of the year. Just a few hours left. It’s a time for new beginnings and for stocktaking reminiscences – and for us, it’s a time to celebrate an ending, and say goodbye!

Just over four hours of recorded music later. 253 minutes. Roughly something like seven or eight hundred hours of recording, at a conservative estimate. And yep: while working full time. What a year!

For 52 Songs is now complete. Did it. This week’s song – the oldest in my knapsack of “songs that have yet to be made real” – is the closer. I couldn’t resist placing it last, given my long-time affection for it and its lyrical content.

So much gratitude
First though, some thanks are desperately required.

To my remarkable partner, Ani, who is remarkable for many reasons but for this project: supported me when I floated this mad hijinx and made it seem possible; has dealt with loud (very loud) torrents of singing, shouting, crooning, swearing, and guitars bellowing – at all hours of day and night – every single week for a whole year (and be under no illusions that I sing quietly); and was also the world’s most supportive but insightful listener for every single song, and the first to hear them all. She also dug me in the ribs when I needed a push, more than once.

Ani lost her partner for great swathes of days and nights, often seated behind a closed door working away twiddling settings, playing keys, with headphones blasting until the wee hours.

Such patience and unbreakable, indefatigable care and encouragement are the most precious gifts I have ever received. Thank you Ani.

Now, a person (the rogue!) partly responsible for this is my Dad. My father has been the generator of my love for music and, over many years, my great support and, in fact, provider of every single instrument, otherwise unaffordable to me, that I own. Every guitar. Including giving his own, when I was starting out. Not to mention copious musical discussions and listening sessions.

He’s also the bugger who listened to me complain about my efforts in music last Xmas Eve, then with wit and passion challenged me to greater heights and a bigger heart and mind – and here we are today!

So thank you Dad, for this year and all the ones before it.

Also to my band Stray Birds, Nick and Adam, for not only putting up with their singer having an affair with his other side, but also listening and supporting it. Thanks boys.

To you, reading this out there in the interwebs and on the little weekly mailing list, thank you so much for putting up with me this entire year.

You may have said nothing outright, or a few words here and there, or even commented on many weeks, but in all manners, having you there was the ONLY way I was able to do this. You have no idea how powerful you have been to this happening each week. Thank you so much for checking out the music or accepting the weekly emails and letting me reach you, out there in the ether.

Especially those family and friends who have always given me encouragement (or, for instance, immediately set up my website last Xmas Day so I couldn’t get out of this madness! Katja…) – lots of you for so many years – you make the music live.

Thank you, from my soul of souls.

The final song
This week’s song I wrote at the age of 17 or 18, and it has remained with me all these years.

Perhaps its sheer simplicity works for me; it feels pretty unadorned and raw, but also the connection between the lyrics and the emotions that I suck in from the music are so at one, I think it is just one of those songs that “got it right”.

It’s a song of looking back, with feeling and wisdom, and releasing yourself from the past that was, and being OK about it. And even exulting in it.

It’s over/Come dreaming with me
Still louder/Come over this sea

So, my dear musical friends and family, come with me for this one, final time.

THANK YOU.