About
Hello and welcome to the Planet Harris. I am Steven H, writer, poet, essayist, journalist, academic, musician, songwriter, photographer, human man. Unlike most of my other writing this blog is a collection of off-the-top-of-the-head responses to events in my life and certain topical issues.
I am a former professional musician who went on to spend almost a decade working towards various degrees in English before some health issues obstructed further progress.
I have just published a new collection of short fiction entitled Fiction Burns.
Further information about my activities can be found at my homeworld or my agency bio page.
A sample of photographic work here.
Follow my Twitter feed @theplanetharris
Comments
Thank you for your little commet. You have the honour of being the first to make such a comment who is not related to me, so…..from the bottom of my heart….thank you!!!
like your layout, by the way. Spread the word!!!
Enjoy your site, and you sure have some active readers here. I wish I knew your secret.
Hi Bud, thanks. I don;t know if there is a secret. I just write about the things that go through my head really. Nice that it strikes a chord with one or two people.
Hello Steve, I started this blog dedicated to some old flicks. I’m no good reviewer (just a good viewer!) but I thought about creating a category with that objective. Thing is, sounds good to me having different people collaborating. Different perspectives and all that.
If you’d like to have a shot at it (even if just once in a while), please let me know.
See if you’re into the whole thing at http://cafe1935.wordpress.com/
And of course, feel free to delete this after reading.
Cheers from Lisbon.
Pedro (just a bloke on WordPress, hassling you)
Hi Pedro. I have one or two things on at present so don’t know how much time I’d have to put into the collaboration. But if and when I’m watching movies I’ll have half a mind on reviewing and see what I can do. and I’ll leave this post up anyway as there may be others who’d like to contribute. Thanks for dropping by. Bet your weather is much warmer than cold little Britain right now.
Hello, i just finished reading your peice about John lennon. It really moved me, because like you my biological father is not my “dad” and my dad is a massive Lennon fan. Your an amazing writer and i was wondering if i could put a link to your blog on my website.
Have a great day,
John
Hi John. feel free to put up a link on your site. Thank you for your kind words.
Steven.
Hey Steve,
I’m sure that, like me, you’ve just finished watching the latest installment of show featuring a certain Doctor. I’d just like to put my oar in and say I’d eagerly anticipate any comments, rants, raves and/or critical dissections of the latest offering. Personally I thought there was plenty there.
I hope all is well,
MDS
As an American I can tell you there is nothing remotely romantic about boarding a Greyhound in Pittsburgh…have you BEEN to Pittsburgh!!!??
I’m listening to Over and Over on your Myspace page. I can hear your accent. It’s nice.
signed,
An American with a different type of accent
http://www.wanderer6.wordpress.com
Hi,
It’s Christopher Eccleston, not Ecclestone, and I’m totally with you re Colin Baker.
Regards,
Wenna
Hi Wenna. Many thanks for the grammatical correction. Can I be equally pedantic and wonder why you didn’t post this comment to the post that it actually relates to?
Regards, Steven.
Hello Steven,
I’ve been reading your blog for a week or so, and have nodded in agreement with many of your viewpoints.
I also understand your plight of being a musician. My husband and I are both former professionals, and had to move on to formal careers after giving up performance.
Luckily my husband had a “trade” so he neatly settled himself in a career rather quickly. On the other hand, the only feasible trade I had – was music.
I ended up teaching private lessons. And, I ended up realizing that giving others the gift of music, was closely akin to sharing my own – through performance.
Have you considered teaching privately? It can be a wonderful experience, if looking at it as a “part two” to a performing career.
I don’t know if this would suit you, but just thought I’d share this thought with you.
Hi Teresa. Thanks for stopping by. I’ve never really considered myself much of a music teacher for two principle reasons. Firstly I know nothing of the actual theories or structures of music and would be limited in what I could pass on in that sense. Secondly, what music has always been to me is a means of utter self-expression. I can talk about what it means to me but am unsure I can teach anyone else what it could mean to them or how and why. I have toyed with the idea of running songwriting classes, however, as that’s defiitely something I would be able to teach some techniques and basic approaches of.
I’m glad you find satisfaction from teaching as you did from performance. I ended up going to university and ‘getting an education’ which was meant to be Part Two of my life. Sadly ill health got in the way of that too so I am currently re-evaluating what I am capable of and how to approach it all. The times they are a-changing, but it was ever thus.
Every teacher offers their own perspective, their own specialty.
Their own style.
Whatever your particular style is, would be what you would teach.
I know a guitar teacher, who has much less credentials than yourself, who teaches 60 students a week, 1/2 hour each.
He charges 100 a month, to each student.
That’s 6k a month. (us dollars)
That’s a lot of money. I’d probably need to do an awful lot of work on my self-esteem before I could consdier being that kind of teacher.
Within every problem, lies the solution.
You’d get your self-esteem back, by teaching.
There’s a School of Rock here. The man running it, also has far less of a background than yourself.
His clientèle are young teens, wanting to start bands. He has a small recording studio in his location.
He also has a few teachers working for him.
Probably brings in over 10k a month.
I have 30 years experience in teaching. I taught while I performed.
If you want to do this, you have my email attached to this comment.
Go off-site, contact me. I’ll help you, by giving you a plan-of-action.
I’m in USA. I’m certain that there’s a way you could do this.
I appreciate your input but I really don’t picture myself as a teacher of music in this way. Music is my hobby at last and I am more than happy keeping it that way as I have other fish to fry, as it were. Many thanks for your time and energy though
Ok.
The offer’s open. If you change your mind, or want some ideas on how to get started – let me know.
Take care.
Dear Mr Harris,
It’s been lovely to see your blog, and your recent posting about your love for the University of Exeter. I’m so pleased to hear that you had such a good time at Exeter, and that you remain connected to us.
Having checked our records, I’m not sure we (the alumni office) are still in touch with you. If you’re not hearing from us by email, please do drop me a line and we’ll be happy to be back in touch.
With all best wishes,
Holly Peterson
Head of Alumni Relations
Hi Holly. I don’t believe I am on any alumni listings, probably because my departure from Exeter was mid-PhD because of illness, rather than after graduation third time around. Thanks for dropping by.
Hi! Accidentally stumbled on your blog. Looks really interesting; covers a lot stuff I’m interested in especially the writing. Will return…
Hi Jon and thanks for dropping by. I don’t know if I have a theme going on here – like your intro blurb says, it can seem all me, me, me too – but I just spout whatever’s making my brain cells rub together on any particular day. Looking forward to reading your stuff.
Dear Mr Harris
I understand that you live with an imaginary cat. Was it a stray?
Regards
Candide Peel
It was certainly a stray thought.
Umm …I hope my previous comment didn’t come across as rude or snidey. ’twasn’t meant to be. On the subject under discussion: it was one you re-homed then?
I didn’t take your comment as snidey. I thought it was as frivolous as my initial statement about living with an imaginary cat and answered in kind. The cat really is imaginary. No basis in reality whatsoever. I’d own one if I could but am in rented accomodation and therefore cannot. So I console myself by owning an imaginary one. It’s called Flim Flam. Or not.
Good. Frivolous, yes.
It’s my stock in trade. Along with Going Off On A Tangent. I’d point out that one never actually owns a cat, imaginary or otherwise (I speak – or type – as a devoted cat servant). I have to ask though, why not a gazelle or a porcupine? I like your style, Mr Harris. I think maybe I might flatter you with imitation and live with an imaginary firework maker. Or maybe a glockenspiel tuner.
I will now stop spamming your blog with nonsense and get on with what I’m supposed to be doing, which is sommat poetic.
Well, I haven’t enough room to swing a gazelle. The glockenspiel tuner sounds a good bet. Imaginary firework makers are forever starting imaginary fires in their own hair.
Dear Mr Harris
I’ve been reading some of the ‘back issues’ from your bloggingness – being nosey, really, to see where it all started. Then I went off to Google sommat for a chum … and your blog popped up near the top of the results. Spooky, or what?! Or what, probably. I was looking up the date the V&A’s ‘David Bowie is …’ exhibition finishes and had read earlier an entry in which you mentioned Bowie.
Anyway, on the subject of the exhibition, if you haven’t been and can possilby make it (although I appreciate that the ouchness might preclude that), it’d be worth it. No argument: the best exhibition I’ve been to. Full stop.
Regards
Ms Peel
PS. The glockenspiel tuner said “Hi”.
Hello Ms Peel (are you an Avenger? A 60s UK TV one, not a modern, Lycra costumed one).
I have no doubt that I’d love the Bowie exhibition but have no idea if I’ll be able to get up to see it. It’s been almost a year since I managed to spend a little time in London at a time when the ouchness was less prevalent. Perhaps David could come and visit me with some Polaroids instead?
Good to hear that you and the glockenspiel tuner are getting on well. Can you ask him the meaning of B minor seventh suspended ninth when he has time to think about it?
Regards,
Mr H (not an Avenger, unless hunting down and killing Billy Ray Cyrus counts).
An Avenger? Nah, International woman of mystery, innit! Although I did once begin to think I was turning into Modesty Blaise after being constantly address as “Princess” by a cabbie during a (what felt like a very long) cab ride home.
It sounds like today is Not A Nice Day. Go here: http://candidepeel.blogspot.co.uk/ for some cheery-uppy pictures of chickens.
Oh, and the Billy Ray Cyrus thing … it’s a public service, surely?! Avenge away …