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I am jetlagged to within an inch of conciousness and grubby from travelling, but I have rarely been happier following the last 6 day adventure in New Jersey at Montclair University and subsequent R&R in New York. The conference was the second international Health Humanities conference, three days of fantastic keynotes speakers, presentations from music therapists, an extraordinary graphic artist, health professionals, academics and more and more..... The whole event was a smorgasbord of marvels, the only grumble being that over the three day event most of the presentations were timetabled two at a time meaning that there were always really interesting topics that couldn't be attended! As a want it all kind of a girl, I really wished I had one of those fabulous time bender necklaces that Hermione used in one of the Harry Potter novels!

What was I doing in such star studded company? I was presenting with a collaborator Dr Rod Paton  http://www.chi.ac.uk/staff/dr-rod-paton about the Lifemusic project we set up in 2010 for patients from a low-secure unit with severe and enduring mental health problems. The presentation went well and I think we added to the overall quality of the event, which was truely inspirational! If you'd like to hear more about the Lifemusic approach here is a great short film about it  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oH-x5KC9BtY

My head is fair buzzing with the ideas and fall out from the few days which includes the two days in NYC spent with 'the Profs' and key members of the conference group (photos may follow once permission sought) and I was even inspired to write a poem about the fly I found buzzing around my 42nd floor executive hotel room. I can't publish it here as have sent it to 'New Yorker' magazine to see if they might use it. Watch this space. 

The conference kicked off with a talk and two songs from Kate Pierson, lead singer of the B52s of 'Love Shack', 'Rock Lobster' and 'Roam' http://theb52s.com/   fame amongst others, it was terrific and set the tone for the fantastic days that followed. I'm going to stop enthusing now and go and lie down in a darkened room till I calm down!