RICHARD W. SYMONDS (RWS) - INDEPENDENT ANALYST

It's been snowing in these parts - probably so in your neck of the woods too. Co-incidentally, I bought a music single last week - "Snow (Hey Oh!)" by Red Hot Chili Peppers.

So what, you may well ask.

Well, for those who know me well, this is highly unusual. I am losing one sense with great rapidity - my hearing - and with that loss has also come the loss of all melody in the music I love.

I can assure you this is not fun to live with - and neither am I.

Anyway, I can't listen to most music anymore...but just before Christmas we went out in the car as a family (Elaine - the better half - and Peter and David - our two teenage sons - with a mouth like their father). They had the radio on. Most of the music is an uncomfortable, painful, distorted noise for me, but then this track came on - "Snow (Hey Oh!)" by Red Hot Chilli Peppers...

The bass and drums were magical to listen to, and it had melodic power - rock at its best (like Led Zep and Deep Purple)....I'm showing my age now. But do I care ? No.

I can tell you, listening to this has warmed the cockles of my cold heart. I bought the single from Virgin at Bluewater - and this bloke was so helpful and patient - and he eventually dug it out from the back (it's quite an old single).

I'm now learning the words - much to the amusement of my family. Do I care ? No.

OK, so maybe the "Snow" relates to crack cocaine - but so what ? I love the track - and it has brought some melody back into my life.