This one goes out as a wishful greeting to Sarada Wong, a wonderful young lady who is, according to one happy hippy, living proof of God's existence. He says: "From the moment I met Sarada, I realised two things: there IS a God. Plus: Somebody up there must really like me!"

1. "In the land of the loving..."

This song was inspired by a photograph of a certain person who lives in Santa Monica, California. The title phrase, LOVE IS ETERNAL, was emblazoned on a big, red heart that she carried like a banner, close to her heart. I'm not exactly sure what it means but it sounds good. When I was writing the song, I sang it over the phone to two Wongs, Sarada and Pandita. They sealed it with their approval. "Now here's a thought, make a note of it in your personal journal. How can it ever be too late when you know love is eternal?"

2. "You get lots of exercise, climbing the stairs. You can cry out your eyes, nobody cares, you're far away at the top of the stairs."

There are already two truly great songs on this subject. In The Attics Of My Life by The Grateful Dead. American Beauty! Also: My Attic by the peerless Pink. Now I am not putting this simple ditty on a level with such genius, but it is a cute little memoir of an epic moment in my life.

Oh, and the cat's name, for the record, is Onyx. "He says: prrrrrrrr, Meaouw He says: prrrrrrrr be here now..."

3. "My best friends coming over to play. Mum says it's all right for them to stay always..."

Nimai is the youngest of Sarada's three boys. This song was written during the halcyon days of my rock sojourn when I could sing with total conviction: "Come on down to Cornwall. Bring the family. Have a big beach ball. Hang out by the sea. Take a walk on the sea side..."

4. "He was one of many, dancing in the dark. A low-heeled boy with a high-heeled spark. Good old Pete Townshend made him understand, when he chased him out of his house with a hammer in his hand..."

True story. There is an epic saga attached to this jaunty little number. Felicks Topolski. Chronicle Of The 20th Century. Eel Pie Island. 100 Hippies. Google that lot and see what you get! This was another lyrical outburst springing from the rock. "One of one hundred, looking to the past. Can't help but wonder what's going to last..."

5. "Friend from faraway, I want to see you smile in my window. Just a look - look my way and I'll know what I'm into..."

Confucius said: Is it not delightful when friends from faraway come to visit? And when it's Sarada, the answer is an unequivocal yes. As I have remarked many times: "Always happy to see you arrive, always sad when you go." You know what I love about this song? The lovely delicate guitar accompaniment provided by a friend from not so far away: Coventry. "And in the end, it comes down to friendship, a vow we can always renew..."

6. "There's a girl in Oxford, Oxfordshire. She's so pretty! Lay me down among the dreaming spires of her fair city..."

Courtesy of Sarada, I have made many visits to Oxford, rightly renowned as one of England's fairest cities and a centre of so much excellence. Recently, Shakti Kitchen has played a delicious role in the evolution of this cauldron of culture. "It's so yummy!!!"

7. "Seems like I'm always here, kicking around the same old problem. When I draw you near, the same old routine is soon forgotten..."

Times past, whenever I'd trek out to Joshua Tree in California, I'd write a song. This is one of them. Recorded in Satwiwa with good old hundred hands Holton. Nigelis! "No matter how the world may change, there will always be fantasy..."

8. "Time to think, time to feel, time to get serious about our daydreams and random acts of kindness..."

Written in rock. Recorded on my phone. This is a memo to myself about the years when I hung up the keys, gave up driving and became known as Carless Castaneda. (If you don't get the reference, google Carlos) I used to travel all over the Far West on buses and trains. This song is the result. "We've got a friend at the wheel, really looking out for us. Not a lot we can do so relax..."

9. "Hold up a candle to the gathering gloom. Fire up a little love in the living room..."

Well, I had to include this poem as a little bridge from the bus to the end of the line. "Struck by a thought as I lift the latch: that might be the last bus I ever catch!!!"

10. "Whenever I see your face, I feel happy inside. I don't want to go to any other place. Here I abide..."

Oyster Bend. Rock Road. What a wonderful sanctuary that was for Peter Ji and the family, where I wrote this and many other lyrical affirmations. "Make yourself at home. No one's on your case. All you need to know, this here is your place. Welcome to the human race. HOME"

11. "This time. THIS time. We're going to get it right this time..."

I found this sketch of a song in a folder called Memo City, along with literally hundreds of similar works in progress. It was titled Bathtub Demo, as it was recorded in a bath in Madron (More Halcyon Days!!). It could have been titled 4 Seasons In One Song. I've written, oh, about 24 versions of this particular lyric. I especially like the final verse and the oblique reference to my dear friend and constant companion, Alice. "As dozy as a dormouse..."

12. "Lately I've been looking out, looking out for you. Hoping you'd give me a shout..."

This poignant ballad was written in Rock, recorded in Lamorna during lockdown, sent to an attic in Coventry for augmentation and sprinkled liberally with Dempsey Dust (TM Pat. Pending). "It's about time: time for you. Would it be a crime? A little time for you. It could be so sublime..."

'Sublime adj. of the most exalted kind, so distinguished as to inspire awe and wonder; aloof from and raised above the ordinary.' Well, it could be!

13. "An indescribable emotion - that's what's keeping me from going crazy..."

One thing I can say, for sure: Sarada, you do bring joy to the table. Long may you continue to do so and may it occasionally be my table...

With Love