On my way to work, I walk through a small park. Nothing special, but enough greenery and life to put a little smile on my face before I resign myself to another day in a box. I noticed a woman the other day – actually, I noticed her dog. A floppy-eared hound with a smiley face, running around on a mission. The woman was walking a bit behind him, reading a book as she went.

What stuck in my head is the thought that someone, at 9:30 a.m. on a schoolday, has the time to wander round the park, with her dog, while reading a book. Whereas I’m sitting in a slightly too warm office, reconfiguring software control software and wishing I was still on the dole.

I wish I’d been rubbish at learning stuff and passing exams and just stuck to playing guitar.