On Stage with the Queen!

I can’t begin, with-out saying how lovely it was for Paul, Poppy and I to get away and enjoy a few days holiday last week in the Cotswolds. I’ve been working extremely hard of late and now that I’m back it’s full steam ahead with the Jubilee and “Happy and Glorious” shows. I had hoped I would have lots of lovely photographs to share with you all of our time away but sadly when I got back I realized my sim card had developed a fault and I’m hoping my computer man will be able to rescue my snaps before too long.

Meeting up at Militaria with Yvonne!

Paul and I spent our holiday time just pottering about which suited Poppy perfectly as we stayed close to our hotel in  Motrton-in-the-Mash. We got back on Friday evening and I performed my first Jubilee shows of the season on Saturday returning to Stonleigh Park in Warwickshire for Sunday’s Militaria show. I have a lot of plans for this year and I’m investing in my costumes and photography. I have a number of projects I’m keen to finish but I can’t do that until I get the right publicity shots.

Paul and I are booked to perform at Stonehurst Farm’s 1940s event this August and I’ve arranged to do a 1940s photo shoot the day after the event. It seemed too good an opportunity to miss and I’m going to be using the photos in a couple of promotional videos, later this year. I decided to invest in a Land Army uniform on Sunday which I picked up at the

Shopping with James!

Militaria Show. I don’t like buying clothes off the internet as they need to fit and it’s always best to try everything on first.

The hardest thing is getting vintage style shirts with the right collar shapes. However tonight I think I may have found just the right person who will be able to supply me with exactly what I need.

While I was away I was thrilled that Peter was able to finish my new “In Cabaret” page for my web-site, which I hope in turn will attract a lot of new business. Up to now I’ve been pitching predominantly to the vintage, re-enactment market but it’s always good to have lots of options and to have pages designed with particular clients in mind.

To check out my new page please click the link below :-

https://www.fionaharrison.biz/cabaret/

I shall leave my blog here tonight as I need to get to bed.

Keep Following Toodle Pip and Bye for now! 😉

Getting Set Up for My Show at Newark Show Ground!

We’ll Meet Again!

This week I have been on the road predominantly performing 1940s “We’ll Meet Again” ATS shows. Last Friday I was in Newark singing for the Auto Sleepers Rally at The Newark Show Ground. I know the venue well having first performed there in 2011. On this occasion I had been engaged to perform music from the 1940s, 50s, 60s & 70s. Initially this booking should have taken place in 2020 to tie in with the 75 VE Day anniversary but due to the pandemic it was deferred. Perhaps not surprisingly, and after such a long wait I was thrilled to finally be performing my show.

When it comes to an audience who love to dance you can’t really go wrong with Abba, Grease and all those favorites from the 1950s & 60s. It was great to see every-one up on the dance floor as I opened my first set with sing-along gems from the 1940s and came back with Rock and Roll classics from the 1950s, 60s & 70s. I stayed the night at The Lord Nelson Inn in Besthorpe which is just out-side of Newark due to the fact I had another show in town the following day.

The Lord Nelson is a lovely Inn and I always get given a beautiful room when I stay there. It’s a shame I couldn’t have stayed longer but I’m now

The Lord Nelson Inn!

fully booked for May with shows every day. The show ground is next door to the Newark Air Museum which I have performed at a number of times, and this is how I know the Lord Nelson Inn so well. As I had a couple of hours to kill I popped into the museum to see friends and to have a spot of lunch before heading off to my show.

I love to travel and it’s important to be organised especially being a diabetic. Last week I was fitted with a Libra device which is motoring my blood sugars. It’s horrifying to see my blood sugars see saw as they do as I’m constantly fighting nervous energy

Inside The Newark Air Museum!

which pushes my sugar levels down against adrenaline and stress which pushes them up. I’ve always had a good balance but of late things have not been as they should be. I’m working harder than ever, driving , lifting equipment, performing and some clients are even still insisting I wear a mark to sing in which is very restricting and has been effecting my breathing. Tomorrow I’m at the hospital and it will be interesting to go over my results which I confess I’m not looking forward too.  I need to do better but I don’t know how to when I have so much to do and only myself to rely on.

Hits from the Blitz!

This week I’ve had a steady flow of ATS “We’ll Meet Again” shows. It’s VE Day on Sunday and I’m busy right through to the end of the month when it’s all change and Jubilee. I’m off on holiday on the 16th for five days which I’m really looking forward to and in great need of as Paul and I head off to the Cotswolds with Poppy. Before I go I have a “My Fair Lady” show to perform and I’ve been practicing my lines so every-thing will be well rehearsed and slick in my head come the day.

I shall leave my blog here tonight as I need to get to bed.

Toodle Pip and Bye for Now!

Out-side All Saint’s Church!

Once again I’m rushing against the clock to get everything done in time for the weekend. As yet I still have my show plans to finish before I head off on Friday to sing for the Auto Sleepers Owners Club Rally which this year is taking place at the Newark Show Ground. I’ve been engaged to perform a “Vintage Spectacular” 2 x 45 minute sets featuring songs from the 1940s, 50s, 60s and 70s. I performed for them once before and it’s great to be going back to sing for them after my 2020 booking was postponed due to the pandemic. This evening I’ve been  polishing my shoes and brasses in preparation. I’ve been asked to wear my 1940s ATS uniform for the first half and then it’s all change and full skirts for my Rock and Roll finale.

Speaking of full skirts I had a fitting this week for my Jubilee dress. It’s coming along splendidly and perhaps not surprisingly I have a very busy June diary ahead of me. My Jubilee season starts on the 23rd May and then for the next

Rehearsing with Philip!

four weeks I have 32 “Happy and Glorious” shows to perform which will be taking me through to the 16th June and Ascot week. I know from experience a run like this it can be extremely hard on dresses which is why I need a couple of different out-fits to sustain me through all types of weather and varied venues. I’m looking forward to the Jubilee season very much  and I have a wonderful show planed which will be featuring all the patriotic sing-along favorites.

Last Monday I had the pleasure of working with organist Philip Stopford. I’d been asked to sing for

The Old Rugged Cross!

a funeral at All Saints Church in Leighton Buzzard as family and friends came together to remember Albert Edward Henry Inwards. It was a lovely service which was led by Rev. Canon Grant Fellows. The family had asked me to sing “The Old Rugged Cross” and “We’ll Meet Again”. I’d managed to have a rehearsal with Philip the previous Friday and sometimes it’s best to do these things instinctively.

The family wanted me to sing “We’ll Meet Again” as the coffin was carried out of the church but I felt the music wouldn’t be long enough so I used my backing track which combined “The White

All Set for The Queen’s Jubilee!

Cliffs of Dover” and “We’ll Meet Again” and then Philip continued to play “We’ll Meet Again” on the church organ as I came back in half way through and we repeated the chorus for a second time. This worked perfectly as the church was full and it took at least six minutes for every-one to file out after the service.

Albert had requested years before that he wanted “The Old Rugged Cross” sung at his funeral and I was delighted to oblige. Fortunately I still had my sheet music from when I had sung it once before along with my original notes which included singing the first verse and chorus unaccompanied and then have the organ join me there after. These days I don’t get to do so much ceremonial work  but I always enjoy it when I do especially when I have an organist of Philips calibre to accompany me.

Tomorrow I perform the first of my “We’ll Meet Again” ATS shows with the run up to VE Day on the 8th which will be keeping me busy for the next two weeks.

Keep Following Toodle Pip and Bye for now!

In My Easter Bonnet!

I confess the last couple of weeks I’ve had a lot on my plate having performed twenty shows in sixteen days. It’s been mostly Easter Bonnet shows and for once it’s been lovely to see the sunshine. This April I had a new 1940s style floral dress made which has been my costume for the Easter season. I even made myself a couple of purple hats to match, although the little jaunty topper style has been my favorite receiving a few more outing than  my wider brim bonnet.

This season I’ve covered a lot of miles predominantly working in the Northampton area but also squeezing in a “We’ll Meet Again” show at Pontins Sand Bay holiday village in Weston Super Mare on Easter Sunday. Nothing is ever guaranteed and I’ve had a few last minute changes due to Covid out-breaks but in every case I’ve been lucky enough to sell the dates to other clients and reschedule.

All Set to Perform for St Georges Day!

Although keeping up to date with all the different contract and poster changes has given me no shortage of late nights.

It’s all change tomorrow  as I hang up my bonnets and start on Pearly Queen Shows with the run up to St Georges Day on Saturday.  On Sunday I’m in Woking and on Monday I’ve been engaged to sing “The Old Rugged Cross” for a funeral at All Saints Church in Leighton Buzzard. I have a run through with the organist tomorrow morning and then I begin a series of “We’ll Meet Again” shows as we get closer to May bank Holiday and VE Day  on the 8th. I’m also in Newark on the 29th performing songs from the 1940s, 50s, 60s & 70s  so as you can see I’ve much to prepare for.

It was lovely to be in Weston Super Mare on Sunday. Time was tight as I had a 2.30pm show in Northampton first before I embarked on the three hour drive down to North Somerset. It was good to play a holiday center again as I had not done so since I last appeared at Mill Rythe Holiday Village on Hayling Island ten years

Out-side my Chalet at Pontins!

ago. It was just like old times.  As soon as I arrived, I just had time to find my chalet, get into costume, talk through my music and I was then straight on stage.

On this occasion Pontins were staging a 1940s themed weekend and prior to my appearance I believe Sand Bay had booked a big band on the Friday night a “We’ll Meet Again” theater show on the Saturday evening and myself on the Sunday.  Initially I had been booked just to perform a straight through 60 minute ATS sing-along set but as they were struggling to find a band for the

Getting Ready for Jubilee!

late night dancing I said I would cover it for them.

For my finally I finished with my British Themes medley which earned me a standing ovation from the audience and next day a breakfast it was lovely to receive so many compliments from the guests saying how much they enjoyed my show. As I had another Easter Bonnet show to perform in Kettering that afternoon I couldn’t stay and I had to get away promptly.

I’m going to leave my blog here tonight. I have a

Land of Hope and Glory!

full inbox of e-mails I must answer and music to sort out for tomorrows rehearsal. I also need to make a final selection of which shots I’m going to use  to advertise my Jubilee shows as May and June are promising to be even busier.

Thank-you Following Toodle Pip and Bye for Now!