Me in my Witchy Poo costume!

Hello every-one I’ve just got back from performing my Halloween show “Fly Me to the Moon” in Dunstable today and I’m looking forward to performing this show tomorrow too. I always loved Halloween as a child. My favourite children’s book was Jill Murphy’s The Worst Witch, writain long before the days of Harry Potter, I just loved the illustrations and the thought of flying about on a broom stick!  Oddly enough my nick name always use to be Mary Poppins. Although a nanny she had something of a magical presence about her and I guess made witches respectable not that Mary Poppins would ever admit to being one you understand and maybe if I had to choose flying by umbrella might suit me better! I know I have the feet for it!  But then that’s 18 years of Ballet for you!

Tomorrows going to be a very full day I have a Halloween show to do in the afternoon and then I’m booked on the over night ferry to Caen. I’m looking forward to returning to Normandy very much and I’ve been booked to sing in Sainte Marie du Mont for the towns dance. I’ve been going over my French and I hope to have a few more French songs  in my repertoire by next year. In the mean time I’ve been practicing the ones I know along with my Halloween repertoire so you could say I have been mixing my La Vie en Roses with Witchcraft.

It’s late and I need to get to bed so I shall leave my blog here tonight. Thank-you for following and when I return from France I will share with you all my news.

Keep Watching and Toodle Pip!

Me at The Assembly Hall in Walphamstowe!

My Lovely Room at the Prince Regent Hotel in Chigwell!

Out and About at Windsor Castle!

Paul and I at the RBL Ball!

It’s late and as ever I’m burning the midnight oil trying to get everything up to date and ship-shape before I sail over to Normandy for the weekend. If you have been following my blog and facebook pages you will know just how eventful these last few days have been. On Thursday my mother and I confronted 4 masked men in our home who we were able to stop from burgaling our property. Then Friday I was in Walphamstowe at the Assembly Hall for the Royal British Legion Ball. Paul and I were booked to stay over at the Prince Regent Hotel in Chigwell, a hotel I know well having stayed there before when I played at Leytonstone Ex servicemen’s Club last year. Then on Sunday we took some time out to do a bit of sight-seeing in Windsor and today my mother and I have been with the Police and CID giving statements after the attempted burglary. It seems the burglars left finger prints so I hope the police will be able to catch them! It was very lucky I happened to be home at the time. If my mother had been on her own I think the burglary would have had a very different outcome. I guess the

burglars hadn’t reckoned on me. I’m the sort of person who believes in standing up for what is right and I wasn’t going to let them get away with it!

Now we’ve made the statements it’s time to concentrate  on what needs to be done and

get on with the jobs in hand. I’ve two Halloween shows to do this week and then after Fridays show I’m driving down to Portsmouth and hopping onto the overnight ferry to Caen. I’ve been engaged to perform for a 1940s dance in Ste Marie du Mont so tomorrow I’m working on my show plans. I’m not long back after my show this evening and feeling a little tired so I think I will leave my blog here tonight. When I return from France I’m booked into the photographic studio as I want to record some of my new dresses but more news on that later!

Keep Watching and Thankyou for following

Toodle Pip!

Today has been an extraordinary day of all sorts and the unexpected. It started off ordinarily enough with me seeing my pianist friend Ross. I needed to go through some French songs and fortunately I was able to make a few dessions upon which ones I’m putting into production and having backing tracks made. Then I had to pick up my accounts from the accountant, the hair dressers and an appointment with Judi my dress-maker. So you could say it’s been a busy day. However nothing prepared me for what happen in between times at 2.30pm.

I’d just popped home quickly for a bite to eat and my mother and I were sitting in the sitting room discussing India and the Raj when we heard a noise. At first we thought it was my brother walking through into the kitchen only to find it was a burglar in a balaclava! When challenged he tried to make out he was a police officer investigating a burglary (I don’t think so!) and while my mother and I blocked his exit he was then joined by another three men in ski masks who had forced open our dinning room window and climbed in. By this point he was telling my mother and I to “shut up and sit down and no one will get hurt”. Which we refused to do and we told the men to leave. While this was going on I noticed one had slipped up stairs and I followed him into by bedroom but fortunately I was able to stop him before he had had the chance to go through my draws. What a cheek! I then told him to go down stairs and once again asked the gang to leave only this time I said they could leave the same way they came in through the window as I felt them too cowardly to use the door, which they did!

The police helicopter was on it right away even before I had put the phone down so it just goes to show you can’t be too careful. To be honest I’m really annoyed that these men dared to enter our home and it was just as well I was with my mother and able to stop them!

An English Womans Home is her Castle!

Out and About at Rushden’s Transport Musuem!

It’s just a very quick post tonight as I’ve been trying to catch up with my paper work only to find I’ve not been able to send or receive any e-mails today due to BT ahrrrrrrr! I can see why people are leaving BT I’ve had no end of trouble and even now I can’t get incredimail! I have to go through BT Yahoo which is really inconvenient as all my addresses are with incredimail! Another one of lifes irritations –  but still onward I sail and I’m looking forward to getting ship-shape and enjoying this week despite the computer problems!

Tomorrow and Wednesday I shall be in Edgeware and then I’m looking forward to attending a Dinner Dance in Walphamstowe on Friday at the Assembly Hall before heading off to Windsor for Saturday. Some of you may have picked up on my facebook page I’ve been booked to return to Normandy the beginning of November to sing for a 1940s Dance so I’m brushing up on my French and sorting out show plans.

In the meantime let me leave you with a photo from this weekend when I had the pleasure of attending Rushden’s 1940s event. Must dash as I want an early night. I was in the gym this morning and I’ve quite worn myself out! Although saying that I’m looking forward to going dancing on Friday which reminds me I must sort out an evening gown to wear.

Thankyou for following and Toodle Pip

Me on stage with the children from OLMC Primary School!

The Regent Hotel, Doncaster

Down at the Old Bull & Bush at The Orton Hotel!

Once again it’s been a full week, with Music Hall shows all the way. On Tuesday I was engaged to sing for a corporate event at the Orton Hall Hotel in Peterborough which was something of a dash as I had a show before hand in Newport Pagnell. Forchantly everything went to plan as I tend to worry a little about traffic but as it turned out all was well and when I arrived at the hotel they had even built a Victorian stage for me complete with velvet curtains! How wonderful was that! This year has been an amazing year for me and it’s true the music of Music Hall is enjoying something of a renaissance,  my diary has never been so busy! The songs from this period are so full of life and I partially enjoy wearing the clothes and encouraging my audience to sing along with them which was probably just as well as they had named the room where I was performing The Old Bull and Bush!  If you click onto my Facebook page I have posted up a few photos including some of the old posters the hotel had on display. When it comes to advertising posters from this period I’m a real fan. The art work is always exquisite and I Love to look at the ladies fashions.

On Wednesday I was back on the road only this time I had been booked into the Regent Hotel in Doncaster. Thursday I was due to perform for Our Lady of Mount Carmel Primary School for their WW1 afternoon and as you might imagine I had put together a very special program for the children. To begin with I performed my “Pack Up Your Troubles” WW1 show for the whole school and then for the second half I took class 6 and broke down the songs telling the children a little more about the history of Music Hall. It’s easy to forget just how important these songs were during WW1. Many were used as a tool to aid recruitment and nearly all raise spirits and helped with moral. I also brought along some of my costumes and books which the children enjoyed looking at very much. I really enjoyed my day at OLMC Primary School and I hope very much to do more work in schools. It’s very rewarding and up to now I have only ever done WW2 in schools so perhaps this is something I will have to look a little more into.

I’m now all set for the weekend which will give me some time to catch up on my paper work. I should have been at Stow Maries Aerodrome for a WW1 event but this has now been rescheduled to the spring!

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

Doing the 1940s in Mitcheldean!

I’m sorry my last blog was such a dash but in truth I’ve never been as busy as I am now! Thank-you every-one for your kind Birthday wishes. I get so little time off away from work, not to mention the time I spend prepping for work, so going out for a special meal was quite the treat. Even now I have a 101 e-mails to do which all need replies and after a busy weekend away I’ve much to prep for as I’m booked to sing in Doncaster on Thursday!

First things first I would like to thank every-one at the Waterboard Social Club in Cinderford who booked me to sing for their 1940s -1960s evening on Saturday. I was booked to do 3 x 45 minute sets. One 1940s ATS “We’ll Meet Again”, one 1940s -50s Swing and one 1950s and 60s sing along, rock and roll so a good selection. On Sunday I was engaged to sing for the Old Rectory in Longhope who had hired the Xerox Sports and Social Club in Mitchelden and once again I was booked to sing the 1940s only this time I went all glamorous with my “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree show”. We had a really good turn out and someone had put together a wonderful display of 1940s memorabilia. I love looking at old things and anything 1940s. Now I’m back home I’m thinking a head and planning for this week. On Tuesday I’m singing the 1950s and 60s again with a show in Newport Pagnell before dashing off to do a Music Hall show for a corporate event in Peterborough. In fact it’s Music Hall all the way this week as I’m travelling up to Yorkshire on Wednesday and performing for a school in Doncaster for their WW1 day on Thursday. I’m really looking forward to it as I’ve never done a WW1 day in a school before. Lots of WW2s so this is a first for me.

Speaking of which I’d better get cracking on with my lesson plan before I see my dress-maker tonight, so much to do!. Keep Watching and thankyou for following!

Toodle Pip for Now!

Off Out to Dinner!

I’m in such a dash to get everything done before the weekend that today has been something of a whirl. It’s hard to belive it’s my birthday today and I’m working against the clock to get everything done so I can enjoy  an evening off and a meal out.  I’m sorry to say tonight’s blog is going to be rather a short one but just to keep you all up to date I’m all packed to head off to Gloucester for the weekend and then as soon as I get back I will be in Newport Pagnell, Peterborough and then up to Yorkshire on Wednesday.

I really must dash now as I want to look my best for tonight and I will catch up with you all when I get back from Gloucestershire. Oh before I forget Rachel has just up loaded my Best of British October article to my web-site. It’s all about the Music Hall stage so if you didn’t see it in the magazine just click onto my articles page and you can read it here.

Must dash thank-you for following and Toodle Pip! 😉

Me performing at Leighton’s WW1 Centenary!

Me Between Shows with the Calvary!

Me in my Burlington Bertie togs at Wythenshawe Hall!

Can there Ghosts at Wythenshawe Hall!

It’s been all go this weekend with WW1 events which started in my home town of Leighton Buzzard on Saturday and then I had to dash quickly  up the motor way to Manchester for Sunday due to the fact I was booked to sing at Wythenshawe Hall for their WW1 event. It really has been a very busy weekend and I was keeping everything crossed for Saturday’s weather. After a lovely Friday Saturday did turn rather wet but not quite as bad as today thank goodness and I was at least under cover in a marquee.

Leighton Buzzard council had engaged me to perform 3 x 45 min shows daily for which I had a different costume for each set. I also had the pleasure of working with Brian and Alison Davey of the Puppet Tree Company  www.puppettree.co.uk who came and performed Punch and Judy while other entertainment included talks and displays not to mention the Royal Norfolk Regiment and two Calvary Horses. After my show I had to pack up quickly and then I headed up to Manchester. I was engaged to sing at Wythenshawe Hall on the Sunday which was my third visit this year so you might say I’m starting to become like one of the family. I like Wythenshawe Hall very much and my shows have always been very well received  there. I partially enjoy singing Opera at the Hall and although I was booked to do WW1 Music Hall I made sure I included a few arias too. However sometimes I get the feeling I’m being watched by the odd ghost or two and on Sunday the strangest thing happened.

On this occasion Paul had come up with me and was working as my sound engineer. At the very last-minute I put in “Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines” for a contrast and for some reason the song stated to play and then deleted it’s self from my play list in mid track which is all very strange. So who knows maybe I woke up the Ghosts of Wythenshawe who don’t like “Those Magnificent Men” but are ok with “Don’t Dilly Dally on the Way” and “Nessum Dorma”. Spooky – and it’s not even Halloween yet!

Now I’m back home I have shows all this week and then next weekend I will be in Gloucestershire with shows in Cinderford and Longhope. In the mean time I must get to bed. Thank-you for following and Toodle Pip! 😉