Me at L & D Radio!

Alan Pagram’s Radio Show!

Hello every-one I’m back in the office tonight catching up on my blog after a weekend of contracts and paperwork. However on Friday night I was on air  at L and D radio as special guest on the Alan Pagram radio show. I first met Alan back in 2011 when I was performing at the Isle of Wight’s Steam Railway’s Victorian Event. L and D radio is broadcast from Luton so it’s not far from me in Leighton Buzzard and I’ve now become something of a regular feature. I think this might be my 3rd or 4th time on Alan’s show and I’m looking forward very much to a great 2015 season. It was lovely to see you again Alan and here’s to when we do our live interview on location at Shuttleworth in July! This year I will be singing at Shuttleworth’s Military Pageant on 5th July songs from WW1 – WW2 so I’m looking forward to that very much.

2015 is starting to get busy with all sorts of events in the planning. This year sees three major battlefield anniversaries. the centenary of the second battle of Ypres, the bicentenary of Waterloo and the 600th anniversary of  Agincourt. Not to mention the 75th anniversary of the Dunkirk evacuation. The mood is changing and so much of the excitement has gone from 1940s events. By 2016 many wont be running and this year will be make or break. I enjoy singing from lots of different periods rather than just the 1940s and my tip for the future is the 1920s. I’ve seen interests grow in TV shows such as Downton Abbey, Peaky Blinders and now Mr Selfridge fueling the trend. Gatsby parties are becoming very popular. My diary is filling up nicely and in July I’m going to be in Bexhill for the Roaring 20s event and in Llandrindod Wells in August for their festival covering both Victorian and 1940s. I’m also going back to the 1950s and 60s in Gloster in May so I guess if you want to survive in business it’s important to be versatile!

Despite working on contracts this weekend I’ve been catching up with my Pintest boards. For those of you who don’t know Pintrest is a social media site for people who like images. It’s a social media pin board where you can post up and share your favourite photos. Unlike facebook the photos people use are professional ones and it’s used greatly by artists and designers  It’s a wonderful place to find old photographs and vintage fashion and I use it all the time for reference. I’ve just added two new boards Beautiful Boots and Shoes and Stockings and Corsets not to mention My Favourite things which is a real collectic mix of things I love from Country Cottages to Kittens to Fashion. If you haven’t seen Pintrest before click onto my Follow Fiona tab on the right hand side of this screen and click onto the P which should take you through to my boards.

Well Must dash, thank-you for following and Toodle Pip

Between Songs as I Open the Oxjam Festival at All Saints Church

Paul Doing His Bit for Oxjam!

Firstly I would just like to start by thanking every-one who came along to All Saints Church on Tuesday and donated to Oxfam. I opened the Oxjam festival this year and Paul and I sang from 11am to 3pm everything from Opera, Big Band and Swing to Rock and Roll. We made £172.92 for the cause so thank-you every-one for your support and donations it made a great start to the festival.

It’s been a busy week one way and another as I’ve had a lot of paper work to catch up on which I had to finnish for Friday. So for those of you waiting on contracts don’t worry I’m on the case and I will make sure all will be done and sent out this weekend. Tomorrow I’m booked to go on the Alan Pagram radio show at L and D Radio so I’m busy making sure I have everything I need for the interview. I’m now starting to become a regular feature on Alan’s show and since I saw him last year I’ve recorded two new albums so I expect we will have a lot to talk about this year. My diary is filling up nicely and I’m looking forward to playing lots of new events.

Well must dash lots to do. Keep Watching and Toodle Pip!

On Stage at Shabbytique!

It’s just a very quick post as I’m in a real dash to get everything done for tomorrow. I’m booked to open the Oxjam Festival so I hope you can all make it along to see my show. I’m singing from 11am – 3pm 20 mins on 20 mins off all through the day at All Saints Church coffee shop for donations. Last year I made £217.33. All the donations go to Oxfam and I’m keen to beat my target. This year I will be joined on stage by Paul Marsden who sings in the Frank Sinatra style so I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a good turn out. Last year it was packed and people were even asking to book tables so I’m hoping we will do just as well this year or maybe even a little better – I hope so! To find out more about my show and the Oxjam festival click onto the Oxjam web-site at www.oxjamleightonbuzzard.org.uk

On Sunday I was singing for Shabbytique Fairs at Waltham St Lawrence and I will be returning to Waltham St Lawrence on the 29th March. I have some wonderful shows booked in for March including a WW1 event for Mothers day at Stow Maries Aerodrome on the 15th, so I’m looking forward to that very much.

Must Dash Keep Watching and Toodle Pip!

Shopping for Vintage Clothes in Chichester!

Taking Earl Grey Tea at the 19 Fourteas Tearoom!

A Birthday Dinner with Louise, Paul and Dean!

Hello ever-one I’ve just got back from a very successful few days away on the South Coast. I was able to tie up a few shows and I’m looking forward to returning to the Portsmouth area later on in the year. While I was away I was also able to sell a few other dates and it’s wonderful to see the year take shape. The VE period is now starting to look very busy along with August and December. Easter is always a busy time for me along with St Georges and Halloween – so here’s to a great 2015!

While I was away I had the pleasure of meeting up with Paul’s daughter and son-in-law for dinner to celebrate a family birthday. Golly what a load of chatter boxes we all are and what a lovely evening we all had too. So here’s to the next time which I think might well be May! 😉 Of course no trip would be complete with-out a couple of visits to the local tea rooms and the vintage fashion shops. While I was in Chichester I came across the Exclusive Cake Shop and Vintage Tearooms which is well worth a visit. They do wonderful home-made soup and have a gorgeous selection of cakes so check out their web-site www.exclusive-cupcakes.co.uk Chichester also has another branch of the One Legged Jockey. A vintage fashion shop which I know from South sea but then I could never resist a bazar and rummage! While I was out and about in Havant it was recommended that I visited the 19 Fourteas Tearoom so Paul and I stopped for lunch and we met the owner Jacqui who has decorated the shop in the 1940s style complete with a cosy snug up stairs. It’s located at 68 West Street in Havant so if you are in town do visit.

This weekend I will be singing for Shabbytique Fairs on Sunday 22nd at the New Hall, Broadmoor Road, Waltham St Lawrence from 10am -4pm. I hope you can all make it along but don’t forget you can find me at All Saints Church on Tuesday 24th February opening the Oxjam festival. More details can be found on the Oxjam web-site at www.oxjamleighton Buzzard.org.uk

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

All Dressed Up in My Valentine Red!

Hello every-one if you have been following me on Facebook you will know I was out all last week singing love songs with the run up to Valentines day. The wonderful thing about singing love songs is there are so many beautiful tunes to choose from and it does gave me the opportunity to include some opera, which I just Love! On Friday night I was singing in the beautiful Buckingham village of Whaddon for a Romantic Candlelight Supper. I confess I included many of my favourite songs and something of a mixed bag but by doing so it seemed every-body  had a different favourite. One gentleman said his was “Nessun Dorma“, one lady said “The Closest thing to Crazy” and the Flower Duet from Lakme “Sous Le Dome Epais“, another “Mr Sandman” and “My Heart Will Go On” from Titanic. As for me I love to sing “So in Love” from Kiss Me Kate. I also sung in French and Italian little knowing that there was one gentleman in the audience who was fluent in both languages only to be complimented on my pronunciation afterwards – Phew! I’d like to say I am fluent in the langues I sing in but I’m afraid I learn them phonetically so it’s lovely to hear I’ve learnt them correctly which is all down to my excellent singing teacher! Of-course when it comes to Valentines Day I could not not include La Vie en Rose because Valentines wouldn’t be Valentines with out roses!

Tomorrow I’m off down to Portsmouth for a short break and I’m looking forward to doing a little shopping in Chichester. So many wonderful shops! I will be back for the weekend when I shall be performing at The New Hall in Waltham St Lawrence on Sunday for Shabbytique Vintage Fairs. Don’t forget you can see me in my home town of Leighton Buzzard on Tuesday 24th when I open the Oxjam Festival at All Saints Church. More details can be found on the Oxjam web site at www.oxjamleightonbuzzard.org.uk

That’s all my news for now other than I will be posting up Out-fit of the week later tonight on Face-book as I’m away Tuesday. I belive it’s Chinese New Year on the 18th this week so we shall be going a little oriental

Keep Watching and Toodle Pip!

It’s been a busy week one way and another with Valentines Day on Saturday so I’ve been out and about all week singing love songs. I’ve two shows back to back tomorrow and a lovely show planned for the day it self so it’s all go and busy busy! Between shows I’ve been working hard to catch up in the office and 2015 is starting to take shape nicely. I’ve also been trying to do some work on pintrest which I feel I have neglected somewhat of late.

For those of you who don’t know Pintrest is a social media sight for photos and it’s like a pin board or scrap-book where you can collect your favourite images. If you click onto my follow Fiona tab on the right hand side of this screen you can see all the different icons and if you click onto the P it will take you through to my Pintrest page where you can see my different boards. It’s fabulous for fashion and I use it for reference alot. It’s greatly used by designers and artists alike.

Next week I shall be back on the road again as I head down to Portsmouth and then when I get back I will be performing for Shabbytique Vintage Fairs at The New Hall in Waltham St Lawrence on the 22nd February. I will be on stage from 10am -4pm singing all through the day 20 mins on, 20 mins off – and oh yes that’s just  reminded me! This year I’m booked to open the Oxjam festival in Leighton Buzzard on the 24th February.  I shall be performing at All Saints Church with special guest and Sinatra style singer Paul Marsden. It’s free to come along although we are asking for donations –  all proceeds will be going to Oxfam. I raised over £200 last time and it’s very free and easy as people come and go all through the day. I will be on stage from 11am – 3pm so I hope you can all make it along. I’m performing in the coffee shop so do pop along as it’s a place where you can enjoy fresh;y cut sandwiches and lovely homemade cakes!

That’s all my news for now and I’m so pleased you have all been enjoying my “Out-fit of the Week” posts on Facebook. Lots more lovely out-fits to see so do keep watching!

Toodle Pip and Bye for Now!

All Set for Valentines!

It’s just a quick blog tonight as I need to prepare myself for a busy week of Valentine shows. Love is in the air and I have all my best romantic songs to hand and some wonderful shows planned for a week of romance. This last weekend I have been working at my desk non stop so I’m looking forward to putting my best foot forward and taking to the stage. On Friday I was out to lunch with my dear friend Kim and today I have just got back from having lunch with another dear friend of mine Maud.

I met Maud today in Welwyn Garden City at the Ask Italian restaurant and we both enjoyed a good old girly natter over lunch. I was ravenous as I had just come from the gym. Since the end of December I’ve been working out every day and I’m really starting to see the fruits of my labour. My body is toning up nicely although I still have lots of work I need to do on my tummy muscles to get them as flat as I would like, but never-the-less I’m getting there! Afterward Maud and I went shopping as Welwyn Garden City has some lovely shops including John Lewis which I just love. While I was out and about today I’ve noticed that nude seems to be the colour for shoes this Spring. In fact since the Duchess of Cambridge started wearing her L K Bennet shoes they seem to be the must have. I’m rather temped to go nude myself this season. Nude shoes would go with everything and I do have one or two difficult coloured dresses I haven’t been able to match up this Spring – so they could be a good investment. I saw a beautiful pair of nude patient T-straps today which would have gone wonderfully well with my Gatsby gown but unfortunately they didn’t have my size which was probably just as well.

Must dash as I have so much to do. Keep Watching and Toodle Pip!

Kim and I Out for Lunch at The Oak!

Dressed for the Weather and Off Up to Linconshire!

Its been a very busy and productive week what with one thing and another. On Tuesday Paul and I were up in Linconshire for a presentation despite the cold snowy weather and then yesterday I was performing at the Town Hall in Brackley. I was booked to perform in Cabaret so I sang a real mixture of music from opera, Big Band and Swing to songs from the shows and musicals. I’ve also been tieing up lots of loose ends and I’m pleased to announce I will be returning to Normandy and Ste Marie du Mont for D-Day and the 6th June. I already have some new songs in production so it’s time to get practicing my French. I’ve also arranged to do another photo shoot with talented photographer Angela Adams in August. I’ve booked to stay at The Control Tower B and B at Egmere in Norfolk which has been lovingly refurbished in the Art Deco style and will make for a wonderful location. I’ve lots of ideas and outfits I wish to record as many of these photos will be used to accompany one of my future articles so it’s important I plan ahead.

Today has also been fruitful as I’ve been booked to return to Northcot Court for Norfest in May – something I’m really looking forward to. I’ve also been out and about enjoying lunch with my dear friend Kim at the Oak in Aston Clinton. A wonderful pub restaurant and as I made sure I went for a good run before hand I really enjoyed my lunch. When Kim and I get together we are rather like Hinge and Bracket and today we really did have a good old girly nater over lunch. It was so lovely to see you Hinge! 😉 After lunch I met up with my web-designer Rachel and we were able to put the finishing touches to an advert I will be placing in a special VE Day Bookerzine for WH Smiths. So as you can see things have been really busy!

As for fashion tips this time it’s all about luscious lips and how to keep your lip-stick in place. The best lip-sticks to buy are mat ones rather than gloss as they are easier to keep in place once you blot and powder. I sometimes use a max factor lip infinity as a base coat and then I add my 1940s red mat lip stick over the top followed by blotting, powder and lipcote. Once you have done this your lipstick will stay in place and will only need to be touched up after eating .

That’s all my news for now and I really must get to bed.

Thank-you for following and Toodle Pip!