And when they were up, they were up.. and when they were down they were looking up at the stars..

So I just booked my flight to Italy to see The New Music — Feature Film premier in #turin and see my old friends Chiara Viale, Cilléin McEvoy and Massi Namaste Iachini from Radio Parkies Webradio Italia!! 06.10.23

with these hands

Some things in life happen by chance and some are not, musically and creatively, I have lived a charmed life — particularly when my life should have been receding — in decline.. BUT actually its something I have done more with because I have Parkinson’s Disease and it has been a spur (to say the very least) — time waits for no one!

be the one to set me free, be the one you said you’d be, be the promises you made to me, be the story that you believe in — you’re mangnificent!

I am so grateful for people like Chiara Viale — Writer and Director and Rockers like Roy (Tin Man) Fletcher (The Shed Project) who see through the visual side of Parkinson’s and see ME and my creative ability and gave me the opportunity to be a part of their own creative journeys in making music videos and writing film scores (YES I DID!!).

Shot using an iphone and a trolley! — YES thats MC TUNES!

The past few years since I had brain surgery (a godsend but sadly not a cure) I have said goodbye to a 15 year career in education and began new career in film production at Parkinsons UK because James Labous and Julie Dodd saw through my illness — yes I wrote the original music score for the DBS and ME series which was about Jo Tosh and her journey.

Writing a piano score for Jo’s journey was both ironic and unreal.

Going to Italy is a privilege because of three things; shit loads of LOVE and support from Jane Sangster and my family, a good job and HEALTH (what’s left) even after living with Parkinson’s for 12 years — that deserves a shaky pat on the back.

Dublin: December 2018 (my hands were bruised, boney and almost transparent) I was exhausted and had deep brain stimulation surgery some 4 months later.

I am not going to apologise for sounding self congratulatory because I am genuinely chuffed to still be ‘going’ well after the time my neurologist was predicting all them years ago.

This won’t last, what doe’s? SO what’s my point — simple really.

Never stop . never ever STOP! When they were up they were up they were up and when they were down they were down (looking up) — that’s the key.

Thank you Parkinsons comrade Massi Namaste Iachini for your kindness and love. Can’t wait to see you in Italy x.

Best wises,

DS