First allow me to sincerely wish you the very best for a happy and blessed 2002. I trust for more peace and happiness in this crazy world of ours.

Flicking back through my diary it is not too surprising that time seems to have vanished when an appointment of some sort appears almost daily.

My job at Northern Sinfonia (Orchestra Animateur) involves creating and taking part in new projects as well as writing monthly lectures based on different composers. The projects, accompanied by numerous meetings have naturally eaten up a fair chunk of time.

Early on in the year I was given a project that I would happily repeat every week of this year. This involved contacting local schools offering them the opportunity to attend a workshop with American trumpeter Wynton Marsalis during his visit to Newcastle. This led to the press wanting a photo of Wynton and myself both chatting about music and life, followed by a day of workshops where I had to follow Wynton and the New York Lincoln centre jazz orchestra around all day, ending up with a fantastic evening concert concluded by a lock in with a few friends and Wynton for a meal in one of my favourite restaurants.

2001 gave me several trips to London. These included some Trust concerts which were as always enjoyable, humbling and motivating.

The Trust is still receiving donations from all over the world, however there is a natural decline in fund raising events which is expected, making the balancing of the books for the future a matter of trust for the Trust.

A Swedish magazine editor met me on a London trip last year and produced a couple of pages for a Swedish National paper, which has led to a trust concert being held this year in Sweden.

Arts council meetings have made up the majority of trips to London, with an interesting afternoon in particular spent at the House of Lords, Westminster.

Another highlight of the year was a trip to New York, during thankfully the first week of September. A small part of the trip was business but I got a taste of the buzz over there and I eagerly look forward to the next excuse to get back.

Moving on to the subject of health, with the North having its problems with foot and mouth, my computer recently getting the most serious virus ever in its life ( resulting in the last 18 months worth of emails disappearing), all's well with myself. I have to date avoided all the other bugs and diseases that have been common to man.

My chest and back, roughly a quarter down (or in Euro 25%) seem to be getting more and more feeling and movement returning. The left arm is also noticeably stronger than last year, lifting higher and starting to move backwards and forwards. My fingers are still twitching but not necessarily under my commands.

Amongst some of the other exciting things I have to look forward to this current year, is a return (third) trip to the Miami clinic for further treatment. Watch this space.

I thank God for looking after me and giving me another good year, and my older brother Harry also for cooking my Christmas dinner (Maybe they should be in two different sentences).

Happy New Year. Love Clarence