The Italian Job!

I’d like to begin my blog tonight by wishing all our Italian friends living in the Lombardy area well as they continue to self isolate in an attempt to stop the Corona Virus from spreading. It’s hard to believe that only a few months ago last year Paul and I had the pleasure of visiting  Milan while we were engaged to perform for Graffignana’s vintage festival. Much of the surrounding area has completely shut down along with the center of Milan. All our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this very difficult time and hope it wont be too long before life return to normal.

Paul Sight Seeing in Beautiful Lodi!

In fact the world does seem to be going through a very unsettled patch at the moment. Only a couple of months ago Australia was burning with all those terrible bush fires and now the UK is being battered with endless floods and high winds. I don’t think there are many fences still standing in Leighton Buzzard and we still haven’t been able to get ours fixed!

Paul too has suffered fence damage and the water line has been creeping up in Portchester. Fortunately no flooding yet but not every-one has been quite so fortunate when you see the news. I can’t think of anything worst than loosing your home and I have so much empathy for all those people who are struggling through at this very difficult time.

Despite all this terrible doom and gloom I’ve been bracing the high winds and I’ve been out running every day while working

Beautiful Milan!

hard in the office, between shows. I’m a little late with my blog only because I’ve been making the most of my last proper office week, tying up all those loose ends before I hit the road and begin my season properly. I’ve had a number of meetings this week and I’m looking forward to having a run of shows with an action packed March planned. This will also include a South Coast tour and a trip to Scotland.

I’ve been thinking a lot about design and earlier this week I had a meeting with Karen my web-designer as we disused Paul’s cover design for his

Paul In Graffignana With All Our Italian Friends!

new album. I’m also going to be up dating this web-site with a few new photos in places just to keep things fresh and as ever songs keep spinning around my head as I think about my new musical arrangements for the year.

With all this high wind I felt I was about to take off the other day just like “Mary Poppins”. It was very inspirational and inspiring especially as “The Wizard of Oz” has been very much on my mind of late too.

That’s all my news for the moment and I shall leave you with a few of our happy photos from Italy

last year.

Keep Following and Toodle Pip! 😉

Meet the Gang, Rachel, Ray, Diddy, Big Dave & Me!

I can’t believe it’s already Thursday and I haven’t published my blog yet. I wouldn’t have said I’ve been that busy this week but then when I look again I actually have,  performing shows everyday. I’ve been up to Leeds and back, down in the recording studio getting Paul started on his album not to mention thinking about my own musical arrangements, plus phoning clients and catching up with the endless stream of paperwork.

It’s been a busy and interesting week. Saturday was a quick dash up to Leeds after performing the last of my Valentine shows of the week to attend Diddy Dave’s 50th Birthday Party. I was so keen to get to the party I didn’t even have time to change. Diddy and I

Diddy Cutting His Red Coat Cake!

were Red Coats together at The Metropole Hotel in Blackpool back in 1991 and it was great to get the old gang back together as I met up with friends and Red coats I’d not seen in years.

Diddy was part of a comedy double act called Kirkham and Knill and I was so thrilled to meet up with Big Dave who made up the other half of the act, my flat mate Rachel and organist Ray Willets who taught all us reds so much about music when we worked together on the late night sing-alongs! I learnt so much as a red coat which really gave me a good grounding and the spring board I needed to move from amateur into the professional world. This was where I learnt about show patter, how to use a sound system and also about lighting. All very valuable tools.

Meet Big Dave – It Was a Very Good Party!

Although it had been years it was like we’d never left the Metropole as we all descended on Shaw cross Rugby Club in Dewsbury and boogied the night away.  The two Dave’s were always the life and soles of the party and it was great to see every-one enjoying themselves. Both Diddy and Big Dave had worked as Red coats at Skegness before and I enjoyed meeting up with the other Red coat team and swapping stories.

It’s hardly surprising that Diddy’s cake was made to look like his Red Coat and all around the room

Kirkham & Knill!

there were photos of the Dave’s career although I never quite got to the bottom of Speedo  Dave and the story behind the flowery swimming cap! Rachel and I had checked into the same hotel and next morning we had so much to catch up on before we all met up for Sunday lunch at Dolce Vita. Sadly Big Dave didn’t make it as it had been a very good party indeed and he needed to recover from the nights festivities. Such a shame as I would have loved to have seen him again and spoken some more.

It was necessary for me to get back to Bedfordshire as Paul was booked to record his first album on Monday. I met Paul at the studio and he managed to record the bulk of his album in three hours which is an incredible achievement. There is still a little bit of mastering to do but I know it’s going to sound fantastic when it’s finished. Richard is such a wiz and so easy to work with so I knew Paul would get on with him well.

Sunday Lunch at Dolce Vita!

After Paul’s session I too had some time with Richard as I set out my songs and discussed the numbers I’m putting into production for this year. With the 75th VE and VJ Commemorations it’s important to step out with something new. I’ve lots of fresh wonderful musical arrangements and ideas I can’t wait to sing which will include numbers from “The Wizard of Oz”  and “Mr Henderson Presents”. Part of my job is finding those forgotten gems and having music arranged so it sounds fresh and new.

I had a very interesting conversation with an events organizer the other day who was like a

Paul Recording with Richard!

breath of fresh air.  She too has realized there are far too many girly groups and singers all performing the same ten songs and needless to say it’s time for a change.

Keep Following and Toodle Pip! 😉

Love is in the Air for Valentines Week!

It’s been good to get out the office and back on the road this week performing romantic Valentines Shows. This season I’ve been going through my back catalogue and I’ve enjoyed singing songs I’ve not sung in a while in particular “The Closest thing to Crazy” which I featured in my “Craziest Dream” album back in 2006. I’ve also been singing from Oklahoma “People will say we’re in Love” which is perfect for a Valentine Serenade show and other favorites such as “It’s Delovely” and “La Vie en Rose”.

With the changing seasons come a change in my repertoire and I’m always thinking ahead. On Monday Paul and I will be in the recording studio as Paul records his first album. It’s a very exciting moment laying down your first album and I hope Paul enjoys the experience as he is constantly being asked for an album.

I too have a lot of music whirling around in my head as I think about the sort of arrangements I want to put into production. On Friday I’ve arranged to meet up with a pianist friend of mine to

Dressed for a Valentine Serenade!

note bash through some new songs before seeing Richard in the studio. Due to all the V.E. Day and 40s events taking place this year I thought it would be nice to have something new to add to my 40s repertoire.

Other shows I’ve been working on include “Enchantment” which will also double up well for Hanukkah and the Festival of Light. Last week I was booked to play for the Jewish festival of Purum with my “Great American Song Book show”. This falls on the 10th March and will make up part of my South Coast tour. I will be traveling through from Hurstpierpoint, Brighton  to Chichester. Both my tours are full now and I’m looking forward to them very much.

This Saturday I shall be heading up to Leeds after my show in Abingdon to see my old red coating friend Diddy Dave. Diddy is celebrating his 50th Birthday and I can’t wait to see him again after all these years. It will be a wonderful opportunity to catch up with all my old Red Coating pals as we swap stories about our days working at the Metropole Hotel in Blackpool.

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

Paul & I at The British Motor Museum!

Early Motoring in the 20s!

Every so often it’s good to get away from work and to enjoy some valuable time out. I have been working extremely hard, and I’m thrilled to have booked and contracted 190 shows for this year so far. It’s been hard graft but very fulfilling to see all my hard work taking shape and perhaps not surprisingly Paul and I are looking forward to a wonderful 2020 season.

Last weekend we decided to go away and stay in Warwick as I was keen to visit the Militaria Show which is held every year at Stoneleigh Park. Paul and I traveled up on the Friday after my show so on the Saturday we decided to visit the British Motor Museum at Gaydon. I’ve often seen the signs on the motor way and for years wondered what it would be like to visit. The museum certainly didn’t disappoint as it has a wonderful collection of motor vehicles spanning the years and one or two looked very familiar. I found out later that some of the cars go out to events and a couple had taken part in the Wings and Wheels event at Bicester Heritage. I believe while I was performing there I may well have had my picture taken by one or two of the earlier examples.

Paul’s Old Sports Car!

It’s incredible to see all the different designs and to come across cars I remembered my parents driving back in the day. The early cars are design marvels as they chart the history of motoring. Paul even found examples of cars he drove as a young man including a yellow one up high on a gantry. The name of which I can’t remember now but was a design classic when it was new.

The museum even had novelty cars such as Del Boys three wheeler van from the TV series “Only Fools and Horses” and Lady Penelope’s car from the film Thunderbirds. Although a complete fantasy I’ve never seen such an enormous car

Lady Penelope’s Car!

and certainly wouldn’t do for today’s urban life style. I’d love to see how Parker would get on trying to park this incredible pink sci-fi creation in a tight London street!

The next day I made my way over to Stoneleigh. Paul had to return home early sadly, so he wasn’t able to make the fair. Which was a shame as It’s a great place to meet up with friends and to feel the buzz on the street. 2020 is going to be an exciting year with the 75th VE Day and 80th Battle of Britain anniversaries. I went with a shopping list as I have a number of events this year where I will

Trying Out the 1938 Rover Speed 14!

be needing new out-fits.

On this occasion I was seeking hats in particular 1940s Halo hats which are perfect for wearing on stage. The beauty of a halo hat is it sits on the back of the head and frames the face which is perfect for singing. I was only able to find one at the show thanks to my friends Yvonne and Theresa. However I did purchased a beautiful 40s Lilli Ann original suit which was on Therese’s stall and one or two other things from some of the other dealers. These included a pretty vintage scarf and a brown every day hat which I shall wear when I’m off duty dashing around Leighton

Trying on the Jacket to a Lilli Ann 40’s Original!

Buzzard.

Theresa and Yvonne have beautiful clothes and it’s always a delight to see them at events especially when they choose to have a stall. I too should really have a sale but my clothes are like old friends and I hate to part with any of them. Tomorrow I shall be picking up my hat from Yvonne and this weekend I need to set some time aside to have a good tidy up at home. I still haven’t properly unpacked from Christmas as I was straight into the office.

New scarf!

On Sunday I start on my Valentine show season which will be carrying me through all week and then on Saturday I’m heading up to Leeds straight after my show in Abingdon. I’ve been invited to a friends 50th Birthday Party, Diddy Dave. Diddy and I were Red Coats together back in the early 90’s and I’m looking forward to catching up with friends I’ve not seen since my Red Coating days.

That’s all my news for now, Toodle Pip and thank-you for following! 😉

Shopping for Vintage at Stoneleigh!

Tea with Brian between stalls!

Off to Colchester!

Hello every-one and as you can see I’m back at my desk cracking on with 2020. In fact I’ve been working extremely hard selling shows for 2020 and it’s exciting to see the year taking shape.  I confess I feel a little overwrought with it all and I desperately need a change of air. I can’t wait to get away  from the office and this weekend Paul and I are heading up to the Stoneleigh Militaria Fair which will be just the ticket.

I have a shopping list and I could do with a few new hats for this season, although trying to find the right 40s shape is getting harder and harder. With the 75th V.E. and V.J. anniversaries there’s

Setting the 1940s Style for 2020!

quite a buzz in the air. Needless to say I’m completely sold out for V.E. Week and it seems like every day I receive another e-mail for someone desperately looking for a singer for the 8th May. I sold my V.E. and V.J. weekends back in July and so much of my year has already been booked and contracted which is very encouraging.

With a new year come new opportunities. This year Paul and I will be singing at The Liberation Ball at Bretteville l’ Orgueilleuse  which was

Show-time!

liberated by the Canadians during the D-Day campaign. It falls within the Normandy Juno Beach sector  and a new area for us. So far I’ve had the privilege of singing at Utah, Gold and Sword so I’m looking forward to this opportunity very much. We shall also be in Yorkshire singing at Pickering’s War Weekend in October and in July I shall be performing at Bletchley Park as part of their concert season.

Apart from dealing with contracts I have a lot of musical ideas buzzing around in my head and I can’t wait to get back in the recording studio

Stepping Out!

with Richard and to start work on some new musical arrangements. Is there anything more exciting than a new musical arrangement! Music just gets better and better and with the latest sound samples anything is possible. It’s wonderful being able to commission music and having my own orchestral sound. I love going through old sheet music and finding those forgotten little gems I can put into production!

That’s about all my news for now. Usually I like to illustrate my blogs with current photos but as I’ve been in the office all week with the occasional

See You Soon!

visit to the gym I’m afraid I haven’t taken any photos this week. Instead I shall leave you with a few photos from the East Anglian Railway Museum. These shots were taken by photographer Angela Adams who is fantastic to work with. Paul and I will be returning to Colchester to sing for the Museum’s 1940s weekend this July with more news to follow on my events very soon.

Keep Following and Toodle Pip! 😉

Meeting up with the Bombe!

Hello every-one and sorry for my delayed blog this week. You could say I’ve been somewhat off grid these last few days when it comes to social media. In fact I’ve been working incredibly hard catching up with my accounts and concentrating on admin, and believe me I’ve had a lot to get through! I’ve just come back from my accounts weekend where I check into a hotel and worked solely on my accounts getting them ship shape and ready to present to my accountant for the Inland Revenue. I’m very organised and I’m always twelve months ahead with my paper work which is how I like it.

The Enigma Machine!

This year I choose to check into the Premier Inn at Furzton Lake. It’s a great place to go running which I like to do first thing in the mornings and then it’s down to the job in hand as I crack on with my paper-work. Doing accounts is the most boring job in the world and I find checking into a hotel is the best way of getting this tedious task done. I also find taking some time out is good for my sole, away from the internet and the distractions of home.

On this occasion I allowed myself an afternoon off as I visited “The National Museum of Computing” which is in Block H at Bletchley Park. It’s important to state the Museum of Computing is a completely separate entity to the famous Bletchley Park museum next door, and dare I say, a better visitor experience too!

Me with Colossus!

It’s much cheaper at only £7.50 for adults plus you get the full WW2  code breaking story. The museum houses the largest collection of working historic computers from the 1940s to the present day, plus it has working rebuilds of The Bombe and Colossus. It took me four visits to see everything at Bletchley park as the information is displayed on boards which you have to take time to read . I found the Museum of Computing much more interesting as it’s visual and for someone who is dyslexic easier to understand, especially as there

Computing the Old Fashioned Way!

are lots of knowledgeable people you can talk to. I particularly enjoyed the talks which I found very informative.

Interestingly I hadn’t realized just how many important women had been involved in computing from the dawn of the idea right through to the present day. Of course we all know about the WRNS who work with the computers at Bletchley during the war and it’s easy to think the ideas people behind computing is owed entirely to men but not so. Amongst the hall of fame I found Ada Lovelace who interestingly was represented in the TV drama Dr Who the other week. Many of you might have caught that episode, so it was fascinating to find out a little more about her this weekend.

Thermionic Valves!

Ada Lovelace was a Computing visionary born in 18.15. In 1843 she imagined a machine capable of extraordinary things limited only by the creativity of it’s programmer, nearly a century before the first computers were built.  Ada was the daughter of poet Lord Byron and mathematician Anne Isabelle Milbanke. Sadly Ada tragically died at the age of 36 which makes me wonder what she would think of the modern word today and how her idea was so ahead of it’s time.

As for me I’ve been working this week in the office planning 2020. Its great to see the year

Back to the 1980s

taking shape and all my hard work paying off.

In the mean time I shall leave you with some photos from my visit to The National Museum of Computing.

Keep Following and Toodle Pip! 😉

The Colossus C Watch WRNS 1945 – 2014

Back in the Office!

I’m sorry to say it’s just a very short blog tonight only because 2020 so far has just been an endless stream of phone calls and paperwork. Not the most interesting subject to write about but necessary never the less. After a busy Christmas and new year it’s easy to sit back and say I’m taking a break now. In my line of work that’s fatal as the first three months of the year are important selling months and this is when the bulk of my shows get booked.

I’ve been working extremely hard and I have this year pretty much mapped out. I only have a couple of dates left for my South coast tours in March and September. Valentines and V.E. week have sold out along with much of Easter and Remembrance week too. I’ve made a good start on Christmas 2020 in between performing “Rocking New Year” shows

I’ve had a lot of early mornings and late nights at the computer and I confess I’m looking forward very much to going away this

Catching up with Paper Work!

weekend. It’s my accounts weekend where I check into a hotel for peace and quiet and I work solely on my accounts with-out the distractions of home. Not the most wonderful of reasons to be going away but it’s a great way of seeing the most boring job in the world through.

I enjoy the quiet and every morning I like to go out for a long run which allows me to relax and settle down to the accounts. This time away also allows me to clear my head and think about musical arrangements  and costume designs often resulting in endless doodles and lists. January is also the time of year where I get my van serviced and checked over in preparation for the new season not to mention getting fit myself.

That’s all my news for now. Toodle Pip and thank-you for Following! 😉

Dressed for New Year at Warwick Castle!

Ave Maria Rehearsal at St Mary’s Church!

Hello every-one and may I start 2020 by wishing you all a very Happy New Year. I hope you all enjoyed Christmas as much as I did and I confess I have so much to tell you all about my festive travels. It’s been a busy season having completed 35 shows last month. Once again I’m sorry this post has been delayed. Since returning home I’ve been swamped with paper-work and now it’s full steam ahead with 2020.

I confess it was something of a relief to take all my Christmas dresses down to the dry cleaners on Friday and to swapped my reds and green for dusky pink. I’m currently performing “Rocking New Year” shows and I’ve been enjoying the change of repertoire. However that’s not to say the Fairy Tale theme this Christmas hasn’t gone down well. In fact its gone down extremely well and I shall be developing the  Fairy Tale theme further later this year as I launch my  new “Enchantment” show in October . I’ve lots of ideas about which songs I want  to put into production as I plan ahead with future shows and think about musical arrangements.

For now I’d like to tell you more about my Christmas. Everything went pretty much to plan

Inside St Mary’s Church Porchester Castle!

although I had one heart stopping moment on the 23rd when my van wouldn’t start and I had to get the AA out to change my battery. I had an 11 am show in Slough which I had to miss as I couldn’t get the battery changed in time. However all was well and I made it to my 2nd show in St Albans before heading off down to Harrow.

Christmas eve involved a lot of travelling as I started the day in Harrow then I was back up to Amersham before heading down to Portchester Castle and St Mary’s Church. I had been engaged to sing for midnight Mass. While I’m out and about on my travels it’s interesting to see the

Dressed for Mass with Christmas Sweaters!

seasonal trends. In past years it’s been who’s garden has the most fairy lights but this Christmas it’s been Christmas sweaters with slogans.

I’ve seen the usual elf puns, “Express your Elf” and “Elf and Safety”  not to mention “Rudolf Rules OK” although my favorite was “Santa Paws” which was warn by one of the ushers at St Mary’s Church. Christmas eve is a magical time of year and just before mass I had a quick run through of Schubert’s Ave Maria with church organist David Cain. A highly proficient and accomplished organist.

On Stage at Bournville Gardens Village!

I had been engaged to sing during the taking of the sacrament and as David and I are both well practiced in this piece of music it was an easy assignment to deliver. I love singing in church and Ave Maria is the perfect fit with organ accompaniment using the churches natural reverberation. The service was taken by the Rev Ian Meredith and the church was full of visitors all enjoying the festive service.

After such an exhausting day I was pleased to get to bed and enjoy two days holidays with Paul and Poppy. On Christmas morning we all sat together and watched White Christmas with Bing Crosby,

Shopping in Stratford Upon Avon!

Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kaye and Vera Ellen. It’s a lovely film to watch on Christmas morning and we spent much of our holiday time enjoying old musicals. Carmen Jones and There’s No Business Like Show Business with Marilyn Monroe to name a few.

I was straight back to work by the 27th As I performed a few more “Fairy Tale Christmas Spectacular” shows on the south coast before heading up to Bushy United Synagogue for Chanukah. My brief was to perform songs from the Great American Song Book

Lunch at the Fourteas Tea Room!

and Songs from the 1920s and 30s in period costume after the Rabbi sang and lit the candles.

Next day I was in Birmingham performing the last of my Fairy Tale shows at Bournville Garden Village before meeting up with Paul in Warwick for New Years Eve. Even now I can’t quite believe I’ve performed 35 shows last month and had my van not broken down and needed a new battery it would have been 36.

On new years eve Paul and I popped into Stratford Upon Avon to do a little shopping and we met up with Martin and Liz in the Fourteas

Dinning in the Great Hall Warwick Castle!

tea room for lunch. Liz and Martin very kindly allowed us to share their table as the tea room gets very busy.

Later that evening Paul and I got ready to see the new year in at Warwick Castle. I’m constantly performing so to have a night off is a real treat especially when we can sit back and be entertained by others. On this occasion we had the pleasure of dinning in the Great Hall and as we walked through for dinner I enjoyed looking at all the beautiful portraits of which there are many. Warwick castle isn’t short of a painting or

New Years Eve at Warwick Castle!

two and I love to see the ladies in there beautiful dresses wearing the fashions of  the time. New years eve is always a special occasion so I decided to wear one of my 1950s evening gowns. At midnight we all went outside to toast in the new year and to watch the fire works which was very beautiful.

Now I’m home I’m busy planning 2020 and a lot of my prime dates have already sold for this year with the 75th VE and VJ Day anniversaries. Keep Following my adventures and I shall keep you posted

Toodle Pip and bye for Now! 😉

Happy New Year!