I love Dodgy and adore their album Free Peace Sweet from 1996.  I had just left school when this was released and bought the CD whilst a Fresher at University.  I would listen to this album over and over again.

When I met David, he and I would often listen to this in the car over and over again.  Singing at the top of our voices, driving fast, windows down, sun on our faces, wind in our hair!

One of the songs from this album, One of Those Rivers, is one of ‘our songs’ and will feature in our wedding in September.  It contains the lyric

Let’s not worry about, what we haven’t got
And let’s not choose the life, that will have the cost
As long as you and I can live happily
then surely all I want is staring back at me

That is how I feel about David, it matters not about anything else, as long as we have each other that is all I need.

Another song, Homegrown, will be played at Esther and William’s christening next year.  Homegrown is the way that it should be – those words fit so perfectly over photos of our gorgeous homegrown babies.

These songs just fit us.  They mean so much.

David and I were supppsed to get married in August 2010 and I wrote to Dodgy who said that they would record Homegrown for us specially for the service.  I didn’t remind them and they have never been in touch again but I might send a link to my blog, explain that the wedding postponed and see if they will do something for us this time.  It would mean the world to David and I, and be a treasure for the babies to keep.

Back to the album …

If You’re Thinking of Me is a beautiful, sad song that has gotten me through some sad and lonely times over the years, but now Dodgy reminds me only of my first summer with David and a video he made for me on my birthday that year.

Dodgy are easy to listen to, they have simple and meaningful lyrics which tell a story.  The melodies are catchy with some of their faster songs being true Brit Pop anthems.

This band have grown with me from school through Uni to parenthood.  They are a shared favourite with the man I love, we listen to them in the car and In a Room; and I can picture us, in the future, as a family Staying Out for the Summer with Dodgy!