Happy belated New Year? I'm not sure what happened to the previous year but here's another annual update letter in place of a Christmas card.

2007 finished with some interesting freelance music workshops in Manchester. My clients were a concoction of able-bodied and disabled teenagers, school pupils and music students from the Royal Northern College of music.

The day resulted in several creative pieces that included voice, percussion and electronically triggered midi instruments together with rap, beat box musicians alongside orchestral instruments. This ensemble was a huge challenge that led to a good fun, creative, educational steep learning curve day for us all.

This past year has not really led to great physical improvements externally although directing ensembles, brass bands and orchestras from my chair using my head has given me greater trunk movement.

Internally I am aware of more sensations especially down my left side.

The sessions in the hydro pool working with my physios, restricted to seven sessions a year (due to limited funding) has helped to keep my limbs supple.

A summer highlight for me was visiting the summer course for the National youth brass band of Great Britain and having the opportunity to get involved with the talented young people there.

Another special treat came through a charity that I am connected with, and that was an invite to enjoy a week's respite in a property in her Majesty's grounds at Sandringham, Norfolk.

Visiting Porto, Portugal the other summer was a great experience performing on stage again at a music festival with the newly formed quartet www.headspaceensemble.co.uk of which I am a member,

I am always humbled to visit and take part in some of the fund raising events for the Clarence Adoo trust around the country. God is still being good to me.

I am now the proud owner of a new metallic purple wheelchair that looks very slick. This is a result of the front right-hand wheel on my previous chair shearing off completely whilst crossing the road. (Who used my hacksaw last?)

During the year also, after two years of research I got an electronic bed that I can operate, manufactured in France which looks alas like a normal bed. I can raise my head and feet without calling for the carer at four o'clock in the morning to change the pressure and make me more comfortable.

My only concerns are now towards my 10 year old van and my through floor lift, I'm hoping that they will still be happy to drive me around the bend and up the wall for a little longer.

My regular work is still predominantly at the Sage Gateshead where I am involved with classical music projects. This has to be shuffled often with disability work and lectures at local universities and spinal hospitals, of late, meetings with councils looking at disabled facilities for the Olympics

I look forward to seeing some of you through the year if you're in the vicinity, or at a Trust concert that my website shows that I am hoping to attend. www.Clarence.org.uk

Love Clarence