Ralph McTell: Christmas Message Hello Friends, It has been a strange and difficult year, some wonderful moments and some very sad ones. This year has seen the passing of some wonderful people connected to my life and work. I feel compelled to mention old and valued friends on my web site some of whom you may never have heard. If I do write it is because the influence they had on my life has in some way shaped the man. It is a huge privilege to know and feel affection for so many people and some would say that it is the principal reason why performers exist at all. To sort of bathe in the warmth generated by audiences etc. Of course one runs the risk of being rejected too but performance is only one part of the creative process and I prefer to call it sharing when I get on stage. The corollary of all this is that the more people you know and love, the more people you are bound to lose. This was something you hadn't written into the equation. Roy Harper rang me up on hearing of the death of our dear friend Bert Jansch and he was clearly shaken. I found myself using the metaphor of a grown man and a tree that has had roots severed by loss. All your emotions are heightened and you find yourself swayed by the merest of breezes when before you would not have paid any heed. It takes time to get strong again to withstand these battering. Writing my feelings down aids this process, but it still takes time. MEDIA I would like to thank Leah Connor and Will McCarthy especially this year for all their marvelous help with the media who have been more active on my behalf this year than for a very long time. As many of you will know I have been on BBC radio 2 a lot this year. Along side old mate Mike Harding I have been on with Steve Wright, Ken Bruce Simon Mayo and I have made a few recordings for up coming shows including Claudia Winkleman, Zoe Ball and Sally (Traffic) Boazman. OUR AUTUMN TOUR was great and thanks to Donard's thoughtful routing. He and I, Dave and Luke finished up fairly O.K. and not too exhausted by our 5000 mile trip around the country. It was so nice to be in Scotland again after such a long break and the whole trip was a great success and very enjoyable. SONGS FOR SIX STRINGS Seems to have been very well received and i am so glad, as it was an idea i have been nurturing for some years. It will be a limited run and it will not be available in shops until the collection is complete and even then it will not be in this format. Primarily this is a little collectors set of items for all of you who attend concerts or keep in touch via the web site. The selection for the next release will commence soon and we will keep you posted via the site. Don't forget that if you supply your email you will receive personal messages from time to time alerting you to special offers or information about radio broadcasts etc. Somewhere Down the road is still gathering momentum and i am looking forward to writing new songs next year. OZ Although i am planning to do less touring from now on I could not bear the thought of not touring down under again. I announced my farewell tour on my last visit so this trip will be called the second farewell Tour of Australia. I am hopeful that one of my sons Tom will be with me on this trip and i am looking forward very much to seeing Richard James and Rob hall my promoters and all my Aussie mates in April and May this coming year. DONARD will be working with my old friend Billy Connolly on his mammoth tour so look out for him if any of you are planning to see the Big Yin! I hope to attend at least one show. Hopefully more because Billy seldom repeats himself and anyway each show is different in some way. I played THE THINGS YOU WISH YOURSELF on the Simon Mayo show this week and it got a warm response from listeners. Click on the title to hear a version of the song from Cadogan Hall in 2009. The BEST NEWS I have saved for last. I wish to announce the safe arrival of Betsy May a daughter to my eldest son Sam and his lovely partner Catherine. Elizabeth Audrey May was born on the 5th of December to her elated Dad and Mum in Nottingham. Our whole family are thrilled and another root helps to stablise the tree. May the season bring you joy and find you in good health But most of all i wish you all the things you wish yourself. I look forward to the new year and seeing you... somewhere down the road. Ralph McTell Cornwall 23/12/11