It was 11th March 2002 when I first heard one of my songs (Heart of a Sailor Boy) sung by someone else. It was Johnny Collins, and I cried.

In July 2003 I walked into a workshop with Vin Garbutt, having arrived late, and he promptly launched into my "Flowers and the Guns". I cried.

Later that month I heard Roy Bailey sing my "Friends like these". I cried.

6th December 2003 I heard (over an Internet radio link) Andy Irvine sing my "Empty Handed". I cried.

In my 3 years of songwriting about a dozen songs are now sung by other artists, floorsingers etc. Every time I feel the need to say "thanks". But the most special of them all is when I heard recently that at a school in Essex, UK, my hymn-to-Nature "Countryside Like This" is being sung during school assemblies, as a non-denominational hymn.

Sure I'm proud; but humbled too. And always envious (in a nice way) of the dozens of songwriters I admire. Because I'd have given it all to have written Dave Webber's "Parting song" or "Hobby horse", or Stan Rogers' "Lies" or "Last watch", or Graham Miles' "Where ravens feed". Now, THEY are songs...