At the age of 19 I got a job as a labourer to save up enough money to buy a guitar. It took six months to earn enough to have a left-handed Maton Acoustic guitar (CW-80) custom made. Forty years on that guitar is still sounding great and the only possession I truly care about. Back in the 70s my mates and I spent hours strumming along to The Beatles, The Eagles, Crosby, Stills and Nash, James Taylor, and Neil Young. The challenges of raising three boys and a career in engineering meant the Maton spent 25 years sitting in its case. I started playing again in my 50s and rediscovered music as an old friend. For my whole life I have dreamed of recording my songs and at 57 years of age with a lifetime of experiences to draw from, I started seriously writing songs. With the support of Tracey-Ann Palmer* my life (and singing) partner and Michael McGlynn my wonderfully talented record producer, the first song recorded was Binalong Road. This song is about mateship and named for the street my friend lived on near me in Old Toongabbie. My first album JamieJimJames was completed in time for my 60th birthday and since then we have produced two more albums, Beauty in the Heart, and To be Alive and Tracey-Ann has recorded an album of my songs called Our New Days. I feel I have entered the most creative phase of my life through the medium of music.