Dressed for St Georges Day!

I confess after a busy week of Driveway concerts it’s good to get back in the office and catch up on a bit of paper work. Who would have though three weeks ago the idea of me performing off peoples driveways to lift morale would have taken off in such a big way. Since performing my first concert from my own front lawn I have been interviewed by 3 counties radio twice and featured on the Nana Akua and Andy Collins shows. Earlier this week I did an interview for the Ben Mosby show on Mix 96 and last week I appeared on BBC Look East with Helen Mulroy. My local paper The Leighton Buzzard Observer

Summer Lovin in Brooklands Ave!

has also been running my story. This week the paper focused on my Pearly Queen show which I performed in Camberton Road to celebrate St Georges Day.

It’s been an incredible week matched only by the weather and it’s good to have some rain and with it a little breathing space.  I have a list of people all wishing for me to perform for them and as soon as the good weather returns I will be out lifting peoples spirits with some more socially distant driveway concerts. We are living through an extraordinary time and I’m just thrilled I’ve been able to find away of helping people through live

Thank-you for the Music in Kessler Close!

performance. A lot of emphases has been put on peoples physical health but mental health is equally as important and in my small way my driveway concerts seem to be helping my community.

Last Wednesday I was invited to perform in Plover Road outside Poppy House. Coincidentally Michael the neighbour opposite was celebrating his 30th Birthday and he brought along his pet lizards Frank and Gizmo to the show as everyone sat out in their front gardens and enjoyed my music. I performed a selection of feel good songs from Oliver, Disney, Abba and more. I also sang “Leighton with a B U Zee” which is a song about Leighton Buzzard and was written for me back in 2006 by song writer Edgar Paul Spence. I featured the song on my 2006 “Craziest Dream” album and now I’m performing for Leighton Buzzard audiences the song seems to be striking the right note as we all try and stay positive living through the Covid lock down.

On Wednesday Roy Bird shot this footage of me performing the number

Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree in Clipstone Cresent!

All my shows are weather dependent and so far I’ve been able to visit Camberton Road, Ashburnham Cresent, Brooklands Ave, Kessler Close, Clipstone Cresent, Lywood Road plus I’ve performed a couple of shows off my own garden. As long as I’m there by invitation, there’s no contact and social distancing is observed at all times I’m not breaking any rules.

I’ve been astonished by peoples kindness and generosity and how my shows have been lifting peoples spirits especially afterwards when they all start talking to each other over their fences and garden walls. It’s been lovely to receive flowers and thank-you drawings and friendship

Consider Yourself at Home in Lywood Road!

bracelets from the children along with peoples good wishes and cards.

I’m only sorry I’ve not been able to film or stream any of my shows on line. My phone has given up the ghost but I’m hoping by this weekend I will have a new phone and before too long I will be able to film some of my concerts. My next show will be the “Magic of the Musicals” and I’ve been requested to perform in Lomond Drive on the next available sunny day. Looking at the weather reports I expect it will be this weekend once we get over all the rain.

I shall leave you with another blog entry from Photographer Angela Adams who also included me in her blog this week.

https://bit.ly/3bNODoK

Keep Following Stay Safe and Keep Well, Toodle Pip and Bye for Now

Singing the 40s from the Front Lawn !

It’s been another busy week as I improve my exercise reshime and adjust to finding new ways of performing for my neighbours on the font lawn. Sadly my mobile phone has completely given up the ghost and has left me locked out which is extremely frustrating. It’s really difficult just trying to write this blog as I use my phone all the time for spelling as it’s easier to say the words rather than struggling with spell check which doesn’t always understand what I’m trying to say due to me getting the letters  muddled. I’m worried the sim in the phone has become corrupted and I wont be able to swap it over loosing my telephone number resulting in me having to replace all my cards and stationary.

Thank-you Drawing from Flo and George!

I need to be able to go into a shop and get the phone unlocked but with every shop shut due to Covid -19 it’s left me in limbo unable to fix the problem. Two weeks ago I felt so positive trying to do something new. I started filming some short video blogs which I was able to post up on Facebook and then my phone said it had run out of storage which was when all the problems began. I so want to be able to do my own music videos and stream in real time but at the moment it’s out of my reach.

I don’t like to be defeated but sometimes it is best to stick to what you know and one thing I am good at

We’ll Meet Again!

is performing shows even though technology isn’t my bag. Last week I performed my first front lawn concert for Easter and the idea seems to have  taken off. To my astonishment I was contacted by Helen Mulroy from BBC Look East yesterday and I was featured in the 6.30 pm program followed by me doing a live interview for BBC Three Counties Radio on the Nana Akua show later that evening. This morning my local paper The Leighton Buzzzrad Observer carried the story and later this week I’m hoping to do a few more concerts to lift local morale.

My front lawn concerts are not about attracting lots of people but more about doing something for my community in a small way by lifting peoples spirits through music and live performance. As long as social distancing  is observed at all times and  people watch me from the safety of their own gardens no rules are broken. I’m hoping to do a couple of shows

Today’s Local Paper!

this week and I’m waiting for the wind to drop. I often decide in the morning when I’m out jogging which is often the best time of the day to make a decision about the  weather.

Last Thursday I performed my “We’ll Meet Again” ATS show and afterwards I was presented with a beautiful thank-you drawing from my neighbours children Flo and George. This week I’m hoping to do a Pearly Queen show to tie in with St Georges Day on the 23rd April. I’m watching the weather reports closely to know when it’s the best time to go. I also plan to do some mixed music shows and I would like to included the Leighton Buzzard song “Leighton with a B U Zee”. This song was written for me in 2006 and I featured it on my “Craziest Dream” Album in the same year. In time I would like to do a flicker video and I wondered if I could take the photos myself while I’m out exercising. In truth their is only so much a selfy can do and this will be a project for after the lock down.

In the mean time I’ve used another track from my album “Orange Coloured Sky” and had it made into a flicker video using the photos I had in stock from the shoot I did at The Control Tower at Egmere in Norfolk.

I’ve also been very fortunate to have a few videos sent to me by my neighbours who caught my “We’ll Meet Again” show. I’ve been amazed at the number of hits some of this footage has had on Facebook. To see the footage used by the BBC click the link where you can see me performing Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree and Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy  from my front garden. 16 Apr Apple Tree Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy

This is all my news for now. Stay Safe Keep Well, Toodle Pip and Bye for Now! 😉

Singing on the Drive! 

In My Easter Bonnet!

It’s been an extraordinary Easter, quite unlike any one I have ever known before. The weather has been glorious which is unusual for British Bank holidays at the best of times. But rather than being out and about we have all been in look down as we self isolate, stay indoors and  observe the social distancing regulations.

It’s a new way of living and I’ve been trying to master new skills involving my mobile phone. I’m not very technical and I struggle with modern  technology. I’m desperate to learn how to stream and I hope it wont be too long before I’m able to stream my shows live to Facebook.  If you follow my Facebook pages you will know last week I had a go at recording a few short video blogs. Sadly since then my mobile phone has gone into lock down and I’m waiting for Apple to get back to me with a cure. These things often take 24 hours and with a little help from my friends I hope it wont be too long before I’m up and running again.

In the meantime I have been finding new and creative ways of performing shows. This is usually a very busy time of year for me, but with the Covid 19 lock down everything has been put on hold. On Easter Saturday I woke up and decided

Ready to Sing on the Front Lawn!

to perform a 3pm Easter Bonnet show in front of my house on the lawn for my neighbours. Fortunately I live in a cul-de-sac so we don’t have a traffic problem and people were able to watch me from their front gardens. The show went really well and the next morning I received an e-mail from a neighbour asking if I would consider performing a show across the road for the residence in Ashburnham Crescent.

These are extremely worrying times and it’s important to observer social distancing at all times and not to have any contact with other house holds. As long as families grant me

Wearing my Easter Fashions!

permission to perform on their drive ways, tell me where their electric supply is, and leave their front door open so I can plug in, this arrangement doesn’t break any rules.

On Sunday we followed all these rules really carefully as I took extra special care to wet wipe everything down. It was lovely to see every-one in Ashburnham Crescent sitting in their gardens enjoying the music. On Thursday evening I will be returning to my own garden to perform a show at 7.30pm just before we break to applaud the NHS at 8pm, after which time I will be playing through to 8.30pm before we loose the light completely. On Thursday I’ve been requested to perform my “We’ll Meet Again” show songs from the 1940s in my ATS uniform and tomorrow  I shall be singing “The Magic of the Musicals” .

That’s all my news for now. Keep Following and Toodle Pip! 😉

In My Easter Bonnet!

Thank-you to every-one who has been watching my video chats on Facebook. As yet I still haven’t masted the art of steaming and I hope it wont be too long before I’m able to have a go. I so want to be able to share my love of music with you all and broadcast live performances from home. It’s something of a challenge as I’m not technical and I want to emerge from this lock down having learnt some new skills. I’m a bit worried about my phone as it has a habit of cutting out when I’m recording. I’ve now learn’t the trick of turning it off and then turning it back on again which seems to buy it a bit more life but I’m not too sure how long this will last and if I will be able to use it to stream.

Enjoying the Easter Daffodils!

This week I’ve been pushing my own personal boundaries as a runner, and I’m really proud of the improvement I’ve made . I’m now up to ten laps around the park although today didn’t go quite to plan. At breakfast I muddled my insulin up and I injected too much Nova Rapid by mistake. This resulted in me having to eat more  just to keep myself in balance. By this afternoon I was able to go for a  run. I can’t begin to tell you how important my daily run is as it keeps me sane and helps with my diabetic balance through these difficult times. I’ve also been using water bottles as dumbbells. I’m keen to keep my under arms toned. Usually I would be lifting speakers every day but with the change of life style it’s important to stay on top of things.

It’s hard to believe it’s Easter and normally this would be a very busy time of year for me so may I take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy Easter. As yet I haven’t been able to buy any Easter cards as so many of the shops are shut but it is one of my missions when I next head off to do the food shopping.

Talking of food shopping a trip to Tesco’s is now the highlight of my week. On Monday I experienced the new way of doing things as we snaked around the store in an orderly fashion keeping two meters apart. In many ways is a better way of shopping as it’s harder to forget things although saying that I did miss the Easter Cards and nearly forgot the jam due to thinking about getting hot cross buns for my mother.

It’s important to keep morale high and at tea time I always like to sit down with my mother to watch a film or serial. At the moment we have been enjoying Downton Abbey which is wonderful escapism. I love to hear Aunt Violet spar with the other characters. Maggie Smith gets all the best lines and the costumes are incredible. We are up to the 1920s now and Lady Mary and Lady Edith’s out-fits just get better and better.

That’s all my news for now other than to say I released a new flicker video this week of my photos taken at the East Anglian Railway museum. Sadly the museum’s  1940s event has been put on hold for 2020 but it will be taking place on the 3rd 4th July 2021 instead and I look forward to seeing you all then, if not before. In the meantime click the link below to see my video and we have used a recording of me singing Choo Choo Ch Boogie as the sound track.

I shall leave you with a few of my Easter photos from past times. Toodle Pip and Bye for now! 😉

Pausing for Thought in Leighton Buzzard!

Leighton Buzzard in Lock Down!

It’s been an extraordinary week this week adapting to a new way of life as we all knuckle down and get accustomed to social distancing and a world where we must all pull together if we want to beat Coronaviirus. At first I was in shock and it seemed very strange not to be out working, performing shows every-day. However now we know the score and understand what we must do, it has brought about some positive benefits to my life.

Prior to the lock down I had been extremely stressed which was effecting my diabetic balance. I never stop working and anxiety can often raise sugar levels. Lately my balance hadn’t been quite as good as it should have been with me experiencing highs and lows. My paper work takes me a long time to do due to my dyslexia which often means I  have to work into the early hours of the morning most nights. It’s not that I can’t do it it just takes me longer, which in it’s self can be very stressful when I’d rather be asleep in bed.

In a strange way the lock down has removed a lot of the pressure and now I’m at home

Deserted High Street!

I’m able to get into a better routine. I love to exercise and I’ve been enjoying my exercise hour even more than usual increasing my modest three laps around the park to six and today I managed eight. So often I have to cut my run short as mornings can be the best time to speak to clients when arranging shows. Now my professional life has been put on hold I’m able to go for a proper run every day which has been helping my balance enormously.

I’m keen not to waist this opportunity and it’s easy to fall into the trap of comfort eating when at home. I should like to loose a little weight and

Working on Paul’s Album Design!

already I’ve been able to lower my insulin which is a good start but it is not easy balancing everything. I inject 5 times a day and last week I was having trouble with my blood testing machine. Fortunately I was one of the last patience to be seen at  Milton Keynes hospital before the hospital cancelled all it’s face to face appointments. I had a 11am telephone appointment with the doctor on Tuesday this week but the Doctor never called. When I rang the hospital to find out why there was no reply from the department which probably means all the staff have been re located to deal with

First Back Cover Design Idea!

COVID- 19.

It’s important to stay busy and to have a positive out-look. Now I’m at home I’m able to tackle all sorts of jobs I’ve been putting off for years. In particular my bedroom and the tidy tip office come dressing room. Perhaps less said about those rooms the better but I do have many things to sort out which in the normal scheme of things usually get left.

The other day I set to work on my underwear and sock draw, which turned up eight odd socks, none of which matched with anything. How is that even possible? I also blitzed my dressing table which

Social Distancing As We Que 2m Apart Out-side Tesco!

resembles a war zone at the best of times but it is good to be taking on these sorts of jobs and I am making progress even though I hate to through anything away.

Before the world was hit with Coronavirus it had been my intention to make a new 1970s and beyond show-reel. We still don’t know how long the world will be locked down, although it wouldn’t surprise me if it’s for at least six months. With every day we seem to lose another months worth of bookings but I feel it’s important to stay creative. I have such admiration for my fellow artists who are able to broadcast themselves live on social media. This is something I too

One of the Photos for Choo Choo Ch’Boogie!

would like to do and this week I had a go at filming myself on my iphone for the first time and posting it up on Facebook. Some of you may have seen my post and it’s still early days. I seem to have a problem with space and when I tried again my phone kept cutting out. After  rebooting I posted another video today but it doesn’t look like I have enough space to film a complete song which is a shame. Something to work on!

I’ve also been working very closely with Karen Hardicker my web-designer and her husband Peter on producing some new flicker videos for You-Tube. If you caught my last blog you will know we’ve been working together on Paul’s cover design for his debut album “Paul Marsden Sings Sinatra”. Paul will be releasing his album on the 1st June which is all very exciting. We’ve also created a You-Tube channel for him and four promotional flicker videos, “Fly me to the Moon”, “Have you met Miss Jones”,

East Anglian Railway Museum!

“I Only Have Eyes for You” and “Summer Wind”.

This week we have been promoting the song Summer wind which you can see by clicking the link below.

https://youtu.be/aeU6A81-86A

I too have been working on a new flicker film with Karen, “Choo Choo Ch Boogie”. I’ve chosen to use the Angela Adams photos we shot at The East Anglian Railway Museum last September. Sadly the 1940s event this year has been rescheduled to the 3rd and 4th July 2021 so Paul and I look forward to entertaining our Colchester fans then.

That’s all my news for now and I shall leave you with a few of my photos. Stay Well, Keep Safe and thank-you for Following! 😉

Paul Marsden Sings Sinatra!

Walking at Potchester Castle!

I confess a week last Monday I was in shock when the news came through the UK would be going into lock down over coronavirus. Since then the reality of the situation has weighed heavily and it’s now a case of making the best of it. It’s true I’ve lost my livelihood for the next couple of months at least, or until things start to return to normal, but then so too have many people. It’s particularly hit hard those of us who are self employed as there is very little assistance and trying to claim for “Universal Credit” or “Employment Support Allowance” isn’t easy when computer systems crash under the sheer volume of people all trying to claim at once. Today the chancellor announced there would be something for self employed people starting around June.  “Don’t call us we’ll call you” which isn’t very helpful when financial assistance for many is needed now not three months down the line!

The world really is in a state of emergency as old war time posters seem to have relevance again, relating slogans such as, “Coughs and Sneezes Spread Diseases”, “Keep Calm and Carry On” and

Paul Out Walking With Poppy!

“Your Country Needs You”. I confess I was extremely stressed the beginning of this week what with one thing and another but now I’ve sorted a few problems, I’m in a better place and ready to face the duration even though my future financially looks very uncertain.

I’m pleased to say I’ve been able to reschedule 95% of my Spring season to the Autumn and nearly all my the larger shows have paid 50% retainers and rescheduled to 2021. It’s been hard work trying to coordinate everything but just like the rest of the world I’m looking forward to the day we can see the end of COVID-19 and getting back to normal. I think in reality the world is going to be in look down for at least 3 months and today I saw the first of my June shows reschedule to 2021.

It’s important to keep busy and on a brighter note I’m thrilled

Poppy Looking Up at Paul!

to announce Paul will be launching his debut album “Paul Marsden sings Sinatra” in the the late Spring. This week I’ve been working with Karen my web-designer on a couple of promotional flicker book music videos of two of Paul’s songs. “Have you Meet Miss Jones” and “Fly me to the Moon”. We released “Fly me to the Moon” today and created a new You Tube channel for Paul which is a step in the right direction. Check out his You Tube channel below by clicking the link.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC65GEqWyzd-_9MLup–0GOA

Paul at St Mary’s Church, Porchester!

I’m a creative person and it’s good to be busy. I’ve been thinking a lot about Paul’s album cover while working on his flicker videos which has been very inspirational. Branding is very important and I’m keen to get his album look just right while still maintaining a little of the original Sinatra design in his new album cover.

I too am keen to move forward and before the corona lock down I was trying to arrange time in the theater where I could film my songs from the 1970s and 80s. The time line of where vintage falls is moving forward all the time but at the moment it is difficult to make plans. This week

Inside April’s Best of British Magazine!

April’s Best of British magazine came out which lists all the 1940s events for the year. I usually like to include my public events in my half page advertisement  but sadly many aren’t taking place due to the lock down. However despite this 2021 is looking very healthy due to all the rescheduling and I hope it wont be too long before I can get back into the recording studio and start filming again.

Sadly I’m not very bright when it comes to computers and technological. I really wish I knew how to stream and how to take videos on my phone. I guess I just need to take one day at a time and start work on tiding up my office first which always gets put to one side.

That’s all my news for now and I shall leave you with a few shots of me down in Porchester with Paul and Poppy. Keep Following Toodle Pip and Bye for now! 😉

Danny House!

Setting Up in the Great Hall!

When it comes to writing my blog this week I hardly know where to begin. I’ve just returned from my south cost tour which began at Husrtpierpoint and finished in Chichester, although I confess with the Coronavirus threat it was a bit touch and go. Before leaving I received the terrible news that Paul’s mother had sadly passed away  which was devastating. Thank-you every-one for your condolences and kind wishes it’s been much appreciated. Paul and I had planned to be on holiday in Edinburgh this week, but instead we have a funeral to attend and so much to organize which is overwhelming.

A bereavement is never easy at the best of times especially when you are looking to have your spirits lifted. Instead the country is going into lock down along with the rest of the world over  Coronavirus which is really depressing. My shows for next week and much of April have been put on hold and none of us know what the future will bring which is all extremely worrying. However I refuses to be depressed and I’d like to tell you about my South Coast tour.

Last Monday evening I was on stage at Danny House performing “The Magic of the Musicals”.

WAAF Wrapped Up Warmly in Westergate!

It’s always a pleasure to sing at Danny. They mostly stage classical recitals so it’s a great honor to be invited. Last year I played there for the first time with my “My Fair Lady” show. It went down so well I was invited back this year to sing a selection of songs from the shows which included favorites from Chess, South Pacific, Grease and Mamma Mia.

The Following day I was in Brighton performing “The Great American song book”, two shows back to back which tied in with the Jewish festival of Purm before heading onto Emsworth. It wasn’t until the Thursday I got turned away from one of

Rehearsing with Danny Mills!

my venues as the organizers thought the Coronavirus payed too great a risk for the show to go ahead. On Friday I sang in Westergate just out-side of Chichester. I had been asked to perform “Those Magnificent Men” my 1940s WAAF show which was enjoyed by all and was rounded off by a sumptuous cream tea.

I love to travel, although sometimes when I’m away my internet signal can be intermittent and I’m not always up to date with the news. Now I’m back the situation concerning Coronavirus  is paramount and it’s frighting to see the Spring season slipping away.  Venues are closing and

Danny Mills at Piano!

today I’ve been working hard to selvage and reschedule as many as I can.

Due to the Scottish cancellation I received a call at short notice last week to sing for a Musical Tea on Monday as friends and relations remembered Dorothy Hunt. A lovely lady who use to sing and put on musical teas in the Brighton and Hove area back in the day. For this special celebration I had the pleasure of working with London pianist Danny Mills. We were both given a list of songs which Dorothy enjoyed singing. On the list were a number of Ivor Novello tunes I had not sung in a long while.

Dorothy’s Musical Tea!

Usually I like to make sure I’ve had a note bash through with a pianist first before I sing with dots. On this occasion I didn’t get back until the day before so I had very little time to prepare. However Danny and I pulled it off as we worked together and I sang “My Dearest Dear”, “Love is my Reason” and “We’ll Gather Lilacs” amongst other popular musical theater classics. It was good to go over my Novello repertoire again and refresh numbers I’d not sung in a while which I found inspiring.

Quite where the next few weeks are going to lead to I don’t know. I feel like I’m hanging on a

Shopping at Voluptuous Vintage, Alvestoke!

tenterhook and pray this Coronavirus will quickly come to it’s end although I have a nasty feeling it’s going to get a lot worst before it gets better.

While I was away Paul and I made a trip over to Alvestoke near Gosport  and visited “Voluptuous Vintage”. A wonderful shop which sells fabulous vintage inspired dresses. If ever you are in the area I would definitely recommend a visit as it’s a shop which delivers excellent service.

Keep Following Toodle Pip and Bye for Now!

Seated at the Piano, Shuttleworth House

I don’t mind admitting I’ve had something of a difficult week this week. Last Sunday the pipes burst under my mothers bath room which resulted in flooding part of the house, our telephoned dyed requiring a quick replacement and we have also had workmen laying new gas pipes contributing to all sorts of banging and disruption out-side on the estate. None of these inconveniences on there own are insurmountable but when you put them all together it’s made life extremely stressful having to be very British about the whole thing and carrying on as if nothing has happened trying to deal with business as usual.

Edwardian Elegance!

In between shows, office work, on and off heating and all the banging I managed to get my electrical equipment PATS tested on Monday in time for the start of the season, and in truth I can’t wait to get away. This Monday I head off down to Hurstpierpoint in West Sussex to begin my South cost tour. I’m opening with “The Magic of the Musicals” at Danny House which was once home to Lloyd George back in the day before I make my way along the coast line to Brighton, Chichester, Emsworth and Hayling Island.

Tuesday 10th March marks Shushan Purim a Jewish holiday that celebrates the saving of the

Dressed In the 1940s Style!

Jewish people from Haman, an Achaemenid Persian Empire official who was planning to kill all the Jews, as recounted in the Book of Esther, dated to around the 5th century.

Bringing things a little more up to date I’ve been engaged to perform in Brighton popular songs from “The Great American Song Book” to celebrate this holiday. I’ve been requested to sing Bei Mir Bist du Schon and other popular Jewish songs from the 1930s, 40s & 50s and perhaps not surprisingly this is a show I’m looking forward to performing very much. I love this period in music.

Enjoying the Gardens in Fashions of the 1890s

You can’t really go wrong with Gershwin, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Johnny Mercer, after all need I say any more!

I think the change of air will do me good as I’ve spent far too much time in the office working to the early hours most nights just trying to get everything done before going away. Even now I’m struggling with my e-mails. My screen has gone blank which is concerning me so I hope it’s just a BT thing and all will return to normal come tomorrow.

I get back late after my show on Friday and then

The British Raj!

Paul and I are straight off up to Edinburgh the week after, but more on that later. That’s all my news for now other than I’ve had a couple of my photos up dated on my shows page so do click across to my shows page and take a look. I’ve been so focused on other things this week I haven’t had time to take any out and about photos so I shall leave you with a few of my library costume shots taken at Shuttleworth House. I’m thrilled to announce I  shall be returning to perform at Shuttleworth in the Autumn for the Vintage Air Show on the 6th September.

Enjoy the photos, Toodle Pip and Thank-you for Following!

Once you hit March it’s important your season is in place and now I’m done.