As I laid in bed with a pulled muscle, kicking myself because I should have known better, I felt propelled to write down my thoughts about a subject I have been on my soapbox about for over a decade: Recognising in myself that even knowing all this stuff around self-care, I choose at times to press the override button and ignore my very own advice!

“There is a question we are entitled to ask in front of any aesthetic production: Does this work permit me to enter dialogue? Could I exist, and how, in the space it defines?”

During my 17 years of working in Ambient Jam, I have grown, often imperceptibly, in lots of important life principles. In my current role as lead artist for the Friday Ambient Jam 1 improvisation events, I oversee the health and safety and practical hosting of each session, as well being part of an improvisation team of dancers and musicians…

I’m a musician, artist and contributor to the Ambient Jam team. For the last few years, I’ve been working in a care home in Ladywell, south-east London. Simon and Doreen who work at the care home write poetry and shake maracas with us on a regular basis. Other members of staff, family and friends haphazardly join us to dance, share stories and sing with the residents…