My son had been wanting a guitar for several years and my being a musician meant I have been keen to encourage him in this. I always had the dream that out of my kids one of them would be a concert pianist, or a principal violinist with the Berlin Philharmonic someday…but of course only dreams as kids always have ideas of their own and I don’t believe in pushing them in directions they don’t wish to take.

So I bought him a guitar and have been searching for somewhere for him to take a course in acoustic guitar lessons so he can get a good grounding in the basics – theory is important. The cost of these lessons can be prohibitive but the benefits are many, I am a great believer in children having music lessons. So now I dream about having spawned the next John Williams, or Segovia…but he’s a long way from that right now!

It was just a week ago that we were reading about yet another performance fiasco where Amy Winehouse slurred and pitched around the stage in a drunken, confused state. After all those pictures of her in the Caribbean last year looking so relaxed and well seemed to give hope to her fans that maybe, just maybe, this wonderfully talented young woman was finally on the straight and narrow – that she had beaten her chemical demons and was ready to start living again. Did any of us though really have the feeling she had done it…? I think we wanted to believe it – but it was not to last.

Sadly Amy Winehouse is dead at the young age of 27 – found beyond help this afternoon in her home from what appears to be a drug overdose. The devastating journey of self-destruction finally completed and what a loss she is the world of popular music. What a loss it is for her parents to lose their daughter in such a tragic, though not unpredictable way. Maybe now it is time to identify and go after those cretins who corrupted this young woman at a time when she had the world at her feet – those who sold her the drugs which reduced her little body to that of a wasted skeleton and ate away at her talent turning her into almost a caricature of her former self. They are out there, somewhere, and they must be known. I hope they pay for their part in this young woman’s tragic departure from this world.

Alex Stobbs truly inspires me and I know he has countless admirers around the world who are keen to keep up to date with what he is doing. Despite his desperate state of health – Alex has Cystic Fibrosis – he is defying the odds, and just about everything else that stands in his way. Alex took part in the annual Christmas carol concerts last December held by the historic Kings College Choir.

Supported, encouraged – and constantly worried about – by his wonderful mother Suzanne and the rest of his family, Alex was determined to complete the full cycle of performances as a member of the choir for 2010 was the final year in which he was eligible to participate as a student. The struggle against time and the disease that is destroying his lungs is ever present however the inner strength and sheer determination of this young man is simply remarkable. I would like to see him recognised not only for his amazing musical talent, but for his courage as well. He is an inspiration to everyone; in this age of pointless celebrity worship, questionable ‘role models’ and the untalented getting more than their fifteen minutes, Alex Stobbs is a true hero in my eyes and shows just how important it is to make each and every day count.

The last couple of years have not really produced much for discerning adults in the area of good films to go and see at the cinema, however this year has given us a gem in ‘The King’s Speech’ which, for me personally, was a sheer joy. I am, in fact, going to see it for a second time very soon and I only do that if a film is particularly special.

There are many great moments in this film but one of the highlights is, of course, the musical score. I always notice the soundtrack when watching a film because the music can, for me, make or break the experience. Who could fail to be moved during the scene where the King delivers his speech to the nation on the outbreak of war? a defining moment in the reign of King George VI was the address he made to the British nation when war was declared against Germany and how inspired was the choice to choose the music of Beethoven to accompany this particular scene. The second movement of Beethoven’s Symphony No.7 – in the wonderful key of A minor (I am a violist, I love the minors…) – with it’s atmosphere of both intense foreboding (the struggle ahead) and the absolute determination to overcome all obstacles (victory at all costs). Just an incredible combination of sight and sound. And after the film ended, while the credits rolled hardly anyone moved from their seats while the closing music played – I have only ever seen that happen once and that was during the closing credits of ‘Amadeus’ when people sat transfixed by the beautiful piano concerto no.20 in D minor.

I hope as many people as possible turn out and see this film; in many ways the British people need to be reminded of what great leadership this country had at such a time and how important, especially at this time in history, it is to remember what can be achieved by the people in this nation when they believe in themselves and each other. Looking out the window at the rest of the world right now, I believe the time is coming once more for such a thing.

It is not often that I criticise anything Australian but I feel I have to on this occasion. I was one of the masses who enjoyed the original UK-version of Masterchef on TV – that is until the BBC decided to faff around with the format and in doing so ruined it. I never liked the Australian format of the show; it is more soap opera stuff than kitchen stuff.  It is too focused on the contestants who, in turn, become headlines each day in the newspapers – faux celebrities – when the show should be about the food rather than so much the people cooking it. To host George Calombaris - tone it down mate, tone it down.

Aussie Masterchef

And then we have Matt Preston – who the heck was Matt Preston before he strode onto this show like Ole King Cole…? this guy gets a bloody fanfare for an introduction – who IS he? too pompous, too serious – lighten up, it’s only food guys! the British format was relaxed, laid back and enjoyable in comparison. If you could tolerate unusually creepy Greg Wallace and John Torode shoving forkfuls of food into their mouths in glorious close-up each  time that is. I have seen enough of their molars for a lifetime. The format now is changed for the worst; and why does any TV contest involving more than one judge these days have to feature the X-Factor-style  ‘judges sitting in a row at a table in front of contestant waiting 30 seconds for dramatic effect before announcing decision’…? these people are cooking not juggling squirrels or singing a song. Drop the pomposity that features in the Australian version – we want to see food being cooked and people learning to cook it better, not hear boring sob stories from desperate relatives hoping for a dash of the spotlight when they can get it.

My opinion of Australian Masterchef has been zero since I watched Julie Goodwin in 2009 being awarded the winners trophy after she failed successive trials and on two occasion in the finals did not even manage to compete her courses. What a joke. How does a person be called a Masterchef when they burn, drop and fail to even cook something in the allotted time…? but it made good headlines for the show. Note to the BBC: we want our old Masterchef back, change is not always for the better.