It’s been good to get back to work this week despite having a twisted ankle but like the saying says “The Show Must Go On” and thanks to my friend Bill that has been made possible. Bill has very kindly been driving me this week as I’m still finding it hard to slip the clutch but I am feeling alot better and today I was able to do my show standing up. My ankle is getting stronger even if it is very fragile and I’m still standing up with a stick!
Today I was performing in my home town of Leighton Buzzard for the Friday Club at the Foster Institute, a hall I know very well as I use to dance there as a child. It was lovely to perform for my home crowd as I recognised so many of the faces as most of the audience knew me from a child and have watched my career with great interest over the years. I was booked to do my Swinging 50s and 60s show although I’m having to wear a trouser suite and flat shoes as a badged ankle isn’t a very good look with a skirt! So no dresses and heels for me at the mo but I hope it wont be too long before I get back to my usual dressy self!
I’ve also been catching up with my paper work and phone calls and I’ve almost caught up now so really pleased. I only have another 3 contracts to do and then everything will be ship shape and up to date. Tomorrow I have a show in Marlow and I had hoped to go down to Hammersmith for the Vintage Fashion fair on Sunday but after twisting my ankle I think I will rest it instead as I have a busy week next week!
Time for Bed I think – Thanks for following and Toodle Pip!

It’s been good to get back to work this week despite having a twisted ankle but like the saying says “The Show Must Go On” and thanks to my friend Bill that has been made possible. Bill has very kindly been driving me this week as I’m still finding it hard to slip the clutch but I am feeling alot better and today I was able to do my show standing up. My ankle is getting stronger even if it is very fragile and I’m still standing up with a stick!
Today I was performing in my home town of Leighton Buzzard for the Friday Club at the Foster Institute, a hall I know very well as I use to dance there as a child. It was lovely to perform for my home crowd as I recognised so many of the faces as most of the audience knew me from a child and have watched my career with great interest over the years. I was booked to do my Swinging 50s and 60s show although I’m having to wear a trouser suite and flat shoes as a badged ankle isn’t a very good look with a skirt! So no dresses and heels for me at the mo but I hope it wont be too long before I get back to my usual dressy self!
I’ve also been catching up with my paper work and phone calls and I’ve almost caught up now so really pleased. I only have another 3 contracts to do and then everything will be ship shape and up to date. Tomorrow I have a show in Marlow and I had hoped to go down to Hammersmith for the Vintage Fashion fair on Sunday but after twisting my ankle I think I will rest it instead as I have a busy week next week!
Time for Bed I think – Thanks for following and Toodle Pip!

It’s just a very quick blog tonight as I need to get to bed and rest my ankle. For those of you who follow me on face book will know I twisted my ankle on Tuesday so I’ve been resting it as best I can. I start back to work tomorrow and I’m booked to sing in Biggleswade. My friend Bill has very kindly offered to drive me as I’m finding it difficult slipping the clutch and I could do with an extra pair of hands. I may find walking difficult but there is nothing wrong with my voice and “The Show Must Go On”. So I shall be performing sitting down – I only wish I had a high stool, but I know I will manage some how!
Today I’ve been sewing patches for my friend Joe and darning his Army jacket. I’ve always been good with a needle so please forgive the photo. I know I look a bit of a fright but then this is me at home complete with Higgins cardi and the less said about my hair the better. It is rather as nature left it!
Well I must get to bed now Thank-you for following and Toodle Pip!

It’s just a very quick blog tonight as I need to get to bed and rest my ankle. For those of you who follow me on face book will know I twisted my ankle on Tuesday so I’ve been resting it as best I can. I start back to work tomorrow and I’m booked to sing in Biggleswade. My friend Bill has very kindly offered to drive me as I’m finding it difficult slipping the clutch and I could do with an extra pair of hands. I may find walking difficult but there is nothing wrong with my voice and “The Show Must Go On”. So I shall be performing sitting down – I only wish I had a high stool, but I know I will manage some how!
Today I’ve been sewing patches for my friend Joe and darning his Army jacket. I’ve always been good with a needle so please forgive the photo. I know I look a bit of a fright but then this is me at home complete with Higgins cardi and the less said about my hair the better. It is rather as nature left it!
Well I must get to bed now Thank-you for following and Toodle Pip!

These last few days I have been working really hard catching up on paperwork trying to get everything ship shape for a new year. I confess my office looks like a bomb has hit it and the less said about my bedroom and dressing room the better! I took a whole load of dresses down to the dry cleaners and I’ve run out of envelopes – but I am getting there! Mind you trying to find a home for my new boots is proving to be a bit of a challenge – I do have rather a lot of clothes!
Dates are selling well and I know 2014 is going to be a fantastic year with the 70th D-Day and WW1 Commemorations so I have much to do and some great shows planed!
Looking back over 2013 I was very lucky to have met and worked with so many wonderful people and do so many great things. Some of the highlights included meeting veterans of the Dam Busters raid at Aces High Art Gallery, Singing for Peter Pickering’s dinner party for “Come Dine with Me”, Playing the Utah Beach Museum in France, performing for the Flying Proms at Shuttleworth, holidaying in Bath and singing at The Chesterfield for New Years eve. I also had the pleasure of working with photographers Angela Adams at Earsham Hall in Suffolk and Dave Jackson on a shot at the Shuttleworth Collection – so who knows what 2014 will bring!
In 2013 I invested quite a bit into my videos and show reels and I hope to do some more this year too. I shall be releasing my Chatham Show reel very shortly which was taken by David Boyle when I performed for “Salute to the 40s” in September. Keep Watching and I shall keep you posted as it shows off  my costumes beautifully!
In the meantime I was back down the gym today working out as it’s time to get trim for 2014!
Well must dash as I have to be out bright and early tomorrow!
Keep Watching and thanks for following and here’s to 2014!

These last few days I have been working really hard catching up on paperwork trying to get everything ship shape for a new year. I confess my office looks like a bomb has hit it and the less said about my bedroom and dressing room the better! I took a whole load of dresses down to the dry cleaners and I’ve run out of envelopes – but I am getting there! Mind you trying to find a home for my new boots is proving to be a bit of a challenge – I do have rather a lot of clothes!
Dates are selling well and I know 2014 is going to be a fantastic year with the 70th D-Day and WW1 Commemorations so I have much to do and some great shows planed!
Looking back over 2013 I was very lucky to have met and worked with so many wonderful people and do so many great things. Some of the highlights included meeting veterans of the Dam Busters raid at Aces High Art Gallery, Singing for Peter Pickering’s dinner party for “Come Dine with Me”, Playing the Utah Beach Museum in France, performing for the Flying Proms at Shuttleworth, holidaying in Bath and singing at The Chesterfield for New Years eve. I also had the pleasure of working with photographers Angela Adams at Earsham Hall in Suffolk and Dave Jackson on a shot at the Shuttleworth Collection – so who knows what 2014 will bring!
In 2013 I invested quite a bit into my videos and show reels and I hope to do some more this year too. I shall be releasing my Chatham Show reel very shortly which was taken by David Boyle when I performed for “Salute to the 40s” in September. Keep Watching and I shall keep you posted as it shows off  my costumes beautifully!
In the meantime I was back down the gym today working out as it’s time to get trim for 2014!
Well must dash as I have to be out bright and early tomorrow!
Keep Watching and thanks for following and here’s to 2014!

Me with the Earl of Chesterfield!

Hello every-one and welcome back to part two of my blog. It’s been all go this month but my final show of the season was performing New Years Eve at The Chesterfield Hotel in Mayfair. It was my first time at The Chesterfied but I truly hope it wont be my last as I was extremely well looked after by the hotel staff and Julia of Cultural Breaks.
I have very few fears but driving and parking in London is one of them – not that I had anything to worry about here. The hotel took care of everything and Connie was parked for me by the  door man and when it came to unloading I wasn’t short of help either! Sometimes these things can be such a scramble!

The Library – A lovely place to have tea at The Chesterfield!

The Chesterfield is what I would describe as an old English hotel in style with lots of hunting and shooting portraits and looks a little like a gentleman’s club. It’s located in the heart of Mayfair and has a rich and varied history. Just off Berkeley Square, Charles Street was part of the land holding owned by Lord Berkeley. The street was named after King Charles 1 and was constructed between 1745 -1750. This area of London has always been known as “the abode of rank and fashion” so I felt very honoured to have been chosen to perform for New Years Eve.

Me in the foyer!

I’m very interested in old buildings and the Chesterfied wasn’t always a hotel – it started life as three private residences 34-36.
Over the years it has had many interesting and distinguished occupants including the Christian Socialist Edward Vansittart Neale, the agriculturist Colonel Sir Robert Fitzhardinge Kingscote and in the 1830s Francis Jeffrey, Lord Advocate of Scotland.  A friend to “men of letters”. In 1943 all three houses were joined together and formed annexes for the English Speaking Union with the Chesterfield opening it’s doors as a hotel in 1973.
I wasn’t quite sure how large a space I would be entertaining in as London hotels can vary so much in size. As it transpired the room was much smaller than I expected so I only required my small rig and it had a lovely feel to it – beautifully dressed and very cosy.

My Bedroom

All the guests had been to the theatre before hand some to the Ballet at Covent Garden and some to see The Woman in Black so I was a little worried that I might lose my audience due to tiredness. However all was well and I performed a mix program of Opera Musical theatre, Big Band and Swing to a little Rock and Roll at the end after the fireworks. I also enjoyed dinner with the guests and stayed the night. How wonderful!
I’m back home now and on with 2014. My diary is filling up nicely and dates are selling well for

Relaxing after my show!

2014. I don’t start singing again until the 9th January so I have a few days to sort out my paperwork. I always like to take a break in January and work on my accounts as this last year has been non stop. I can’t quite belive it but I successfully clocked up 265 shows last year and 89 dates have already sold for this year so much to do.

Sound Checking at The Chesterfield!

Thank-you every-one for your support and it’s lovey to hear when I’m out and about  that so many of you enjoy reading my blogs. So many of my shows these days are private functions but you will be able to see me in April at The 1940s Family Experience at the Lincolnsfield Centre, Bushy on the 5th 6th. I will be returning to Normandy for D-Day from the 3rd – 10th June and singing at the American end in Ste Marie du Mont. Times and venues to follow soon. In August you will be able to catch me on the 2nd 3rd at the Isle of Wight Steam railway performing for their Victorian weekend and on 9th Aug I shall be going WW1 in Houghton Regis and at The Shuttleworth Museum on the 10th for two WW1 days. In September I shall be back at the Historic Dock yard in Chatham on the 20th 21st for “Salute to the 40s” so do keep watching and I shall keep you posted as events appear.
Happy New Year every-one thank-you for following and Toodle Pip!

Me with the Earl of Chesterfield!

Hello every-one and welcome back to part two of my blog. It’s been all go this month but my final show of the season was performing New Years Eve at The Chesterfield Hotel in Mayfair. It was my first time at The Chesterfied but I truly hope it wont be my last as I was extremely well looked after by the hotel staff and Julia of Cultural Breaks.
I have very few fears but driving and parking in London is one of them – not that I had anything to worry about here. The hotel took care of everything and Connie was parked for me by the  door man and when it came to unloading I wasn’t short of help either! Sometimes these things can be such a scramble!

The Library – A lovely place to have tea at The Chesterfield!

The Chesterfield is what I would describe as an old English hotel in style with lots of hunting and shooting portraits and looks a little like a gentleman’s club. It’s located in the heart of Mayfair and has a rich and varied history. Just off Berkeley Square, Charles Street was part of the land holding owned by Lord Berkeley. The street was named after King Charles 1 and was constructed between 1745 -1750. This area of London has always been known as “the abode of rank and fashion” so I felt very honoured to have been chosen to perform for New Years Eve.

Me in the foyer!

I’m very interested in old buildings and the Chesterfied wasn’t always a hotel – it started life as three private residences 34-36.
Over the years it has had many interesting and distinguished occupants including the Christian Socialist Edward Vansittart Neale, the agriculturist Colonel Sir Robert Fitzhardinge Kingscote and in the 1830s Francis Jeffrey, Lord Advocate of Scotland.  A friend to “men of letters”. In 1943 all three houses were joined together and formed annexes for the English Speaking Union with the Chesterfield opening it’s doors as a hotel in 1973.
I wasn’t quite sure how large a space I would be entertaining in as London hotels can vary so much in size. As it transpired the room was much smaller than I expected so I only required my small rig and it had a lovely feel to it – beautifully dressed and very cosy.

My Bedroom

All the guests had been to the theatre before hand some to the Ballet at Covent Garden and some to see The Woman in Black so I was a little worried that I might lose my audience due to tiredness. However all was well and I performed a mix program of Opera Musical theatre, Big Band and Swing to a little Rock and Roll at the end after the fireworks. I also enjoyed dinner with the guests and stayed the night. How wonderful!
I’m back home now and on with 2014. My diary is filling up nicely and dates are selling well for

Relaxing after my show!

2014. I don’t start singing again until the 9th January so I have a few days to sort out my paperwork. I always like to take a break in January and work on my accounts as this last year has been non stop. I can’t quite belive it but I successfully clocked up 265 shows last year and 89 dates have already sold for this year so much to do.

Sound Checking at The Chesterfield!

Thank-you every-one for your support and it’s lovey to hear when I’m out and about  that so many of you enjoy reading my blogs. So many of my shows these days are private functions but you will be able to see me in April at The 1940s Family Experience at the Lincolnsfield Centre, Bushy on the 5th 6th. I will be returning to Normandy for D-Day from the 3rd – 10th June and singing at the American end in Ste Marie du Mont. Times and venues to follow soon. In August you will be able to catch me on the 2nd 3rd at the Isle of Wight Steam railway performing for their Victorian weekend and on 9th Aug I shall be going WW1 in Houghton Regis and at The Shuttleworth Museum on the 10th for two WW1 days. In September I shall be back at the Historic Dock yard in Chatham on the 20th 21st for “Salute to the 40s” so do keep watching and I shall keep you posted as events appear.
Happy New Year every-one thank-you for following and Toodle Pip!