Me with the Quainton Girl Guides!

 Today I have been out and about singing “A Song for Summer” before I headed over to Quainton and ran a singing work-shop for the Quainton Girl Guides – who were just fantastic! If you have been following my blogs you will know I’m now starting to ran singing work-shops which is great fun. A few weeks ago I did my first one for the Leighton Linslade Women’s Group who I belong to and I’m hoping to do alot more in the future. It’s great having another string to my bow and being able to give something back to the community.
Today I taught them a round and then I asked the girls to put a few dance steps together for the last phrase of the song which they seemed to enjoyed doing very much.

Working at their G-Files!

It’s very rewarding seeing their performances afterwards. They also taught me about the girl guides as each girl has her own G-File which they fill in. So thank-you Kim for inviting me and it was wonderful to meet all your girls! Oh gosh I’m now starting to sound just like Joyce Grenfell! xxx
It’s going to be all go this weekend and then I’m on the road again but I do have a trip to the Theatre planned for Monday night. I’m going to the Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury to see Don Quixote with the Sofia National Ballet with my Ex Royal Ballet friend Linda and actress mother Betty. I first met Betty back in 1989 when we were cast in the musical Annie. Betty played Miss Hanagan and I played Grace Farrell – Warbucks secretary. That was a great show and I have some wonderful memories of that summer. So many of us went on to have professional carers in the Theatre. I often meet up with Linda and Betty for lunch so I’m really looking forward to seeing them and enjoying the the Ballet.
Tuesday I’m heading off to Bournemouth with Kim who will be my sound engineer as I’m booked to sing for a 1940s weekend for Saga holidays and then I head off to the Midland Railway for a 1960s weekend. So lots to do. My word I’ve just noticed the time Toodle Pip and Bye for now!

Me with the Quainton Girl Guides!

 Today I have been out and about singing “A Song for Summer” before I headed over to Quainton and ran a singing work-shop for the Quainton Girl Guides – who were just fantastic! If you have been following my blogs you will know I’m now starting to ran singing work-shops which is great fun. A few weeks ago I did my first one for the Leighton Linslade Women’s Group who I belong to and I’m hoping to do alot more in the future. It’s great having another string to my bow and being able to give something back to the community.
Today I taught them a round and then I asked the girls to put a few dance steps together for the last phrase of the song which they seemed to enjoyed doing very much.

Working at their G-Files!

It’s very rewarding seeing their performances afterwards. They also taught me about the girl guides as each girl has her own G-File which they fill in. So thank-you Kim for inviting me and it was wonderful to meet all your girls! Oh gosh I’m now starting to sound just like Joyce Grenfell! xxx
It’s going to be all go this weekend and then I’m on the road again but I do have a trip to the Theatre planned for Monday night. I’m going to the Waterside Theatre in Aylesbury to see Don Quixote with the Sofia National Ballet with my Ex Royal Ballet friend Linda and actress mother Betty. I first met Betty back in 1989 when we were cast in the musical Annie. Betty played Miss Hanagan and I played Grace Farrell – Warbucks secretary. That was a great show and I have some wonderful memories of that summer. So many of us went on to have professional carers in the Theatre. I often meet up with Linda and Betty for lunch so I’m really looking forward to seeing them and enjoying the the Ballet.
Tuesday I’m heading off to Bournemouth with Kim who will be my sound engineer as I’m booked to sing for a 1940s weekend for Saga holidays and then I head off to the Midland Railway for a 1960s weekend. So lots to do. My word I’ve just noticed the time Toodle Pip and Bye for now!

I’ve been out and about all this week doing 4th July “Stars and Stripe” and 50s and 60s shows and then to-day as the weather changed I decided no more stockings! Yes is summer really here? I ask myself! How daring am I to remove them. I know many women don’t wear stockings at all but then I’ve never followed the pack and always done what’s right for me. Fingers crossed the lovely weather continues as I have two garden parties to do on Saturday!
It’s just a quick blog tonight as I need to get to bed as I have another full day tomorrow. A Summer show in the afternoon and then I shall be running a singing work-shop in the evening for the Quainton Girl Guides. I’m looking forward to doing that very much as it is another string to my bow and I’m always looking for new challenges. I’ve also been working hard on my new web-site pages and I hope it wont be long now before you see my new Home page and new videos. The next one to look out for will be my 1920s Bye Bye Black Bird video so I shall keep you posted.
Right Bed now I think – Oh before I forget I must tell you this. I was driving through Amersham the other day and saw in the auction house window a Victorian out fit. Well naturally I had to stop. So I went in, tried it on and to my surprise it fitted. The auction is not for another couple of weeks but I am very tempted. I might put in a bid, I have a show that day as I would have loved to have gone along – auctions can be so exciting so I’m thinking about it Wants and Needs!
Bed now Toodle Pip!

I’ve been out and about all this week doing 4th July “Stars and Stripe” and 50s and 60s shows and then to-day as the weather changed I decided no more stockings! Yes is summer really here? I ask myself! How daring am I to remove them. I know many women don’t wear stockings at all but then I’ve never followed the pack and always done what’s right for me. Fingers crossed the lovely weather continues as I have two garden parties to do on Saturday!
It’s just a quick blog tonight as I need to get to bed as I have another full day tomorrow. A Summer show in the afternoon and then I shall be running a singing work-shop in the evening for the Quainton Girl Guides. I’m looking forward to doing that very much as it is another string to my bow and I’m always looking for new challenges. I’ve also been working hard on my new web-site pages and I hope it wont be long now before you see my new Home page and new videos. The next one to look out for will be my 1920s Bye Bye Black Bird video so I shall keep you posted.
Right Bed now I think – Oh before I forget I must tell you this. I was driving through Amersham the other day and saw in the auction house window a Victorian out fit. Well naturally I had to stop. So I went in, tried it on and to my surprise it fitted. The auction is not for another couple of weeks but I am very tempted. I might put in a bid, I have a show that day as I would have loved to have gone along – auctions can be so exciting so I’m thinking about it Wants and Needs!
Bed now Toodle Pip!

You will never guess who turned up in my home town of Leighton Buzzard this week but none other than Hollywood movie star John Travolta. Travolta and his family were staying at a local hotel and wanted somewhere interesting to take their son, Ben. The hotel duly produced a Leighton Buzzard Railway leaflet and sure enough he turned up with his son for a “Grease Lighting” visit (sorry couldn’t resist) on our Narrow Gauge Railway. You can just imagine how thrilling it was for the volunteers and what a difference it has made to the little railway. Like all these things they are run by volunteers and it’s really boosted their season having a Hollywood movie star as a passenger. As soon as the word got out John Travolta had visited – their face book page and web-site received something like 50.000 hits. So well done that person who dropped the Leighton Buzzard Railway leaflet into the hotel. It just goes to show you never know who might pick one up! Lets hope John tells all his Hollywood friends!
Today I was in Baldock and I performed my American “Stars and Stripes” show with the run up to the 4th July. It’s been a busy day as I started the day with a 10am radio interview at Secklow Sounds studio in Milton Keynes. I was there to promote The Hare Music Festival taking place in Linslade, Leighton Buzzard on the 19th, 20th, 21st July with Sandra Dudley who is organising the event. Sandra and I go back years. I met Sandra when I was still at school during my Am Dram days and she has followed my carer with great interested having worked with me when I took part in Bed Fringe back in 2008, 9 and 10. So I’m looking forward to singing for her in the next few weeks. I shall be opening up the Saturday at 12 noon -1pm with music from the 1940s 50s and 60s before heading off to another job in the evening for The Bugatti Club. The best thing about the Hare Fest is it is free to come along and it will be taking place in the garden of the Hare Inn. So I hope you can all make it along!
This morning Sandra and I were on the Charles Haigh show and it was good to be back in the studio again!
Tomorrow I have a 50s and 60s show then more “Stars and Stripes” with two garden parties booked for the weekend. I shall also be running a singing workshop this Friday for the Quainton Girl Guides so I’m looking forward to that very much. I certainly hope to do more singing work-shops in the future.
Oh before I forget I hope to have a new home page for my web-site by the end of this week. Something a little more with it and modern where you will be able to see my Blog titles coming through. I will also have my induction video embedded into my home page so it’s all very exciting and there will be lots of up-dates so keep watching. Must Dash Toodle Pip!

You will never guess who turned up in my home town of Leighton Buzzard this week but none other than Hollywood movie star John Travolta. Travolta and his family were staying at a local hotel and wanted somewhere interesting to take their son, Ben. The hotel duly produced a Leighton Buzzard Railway leaflet and sure enough he turned up with his son for a “Grease Lighting” visit (sorry couldn’t resist) on our Narrow Gauge Railway. You can just imagine how thrilling it was for the volunteers and what a difference it has made to the little railway. Like all these things they are run by volunteers and it’s really boosted their season having a Hollywood movie star as a passenger. As soon as the word got out John Travolta had visited – their face book page and web-site received something like 50.000 hits. So well done that person who dropped the Leighton Buzzard Railway leaflet into the hotel. It just goes to show you never know who might pick one up! Lets hope John tells all his Hollywood friends!
Today I was in Baldock and I performed my American “Stars and Stripes” show with the run up to the 4th July. It’s been a busy day as I started the day with a 10am radio interview at Secklow Sounds studio in Milton Keynes. I was there to promote The Hare Music Festival taking place in Linslade, Leighton Buzzard on the 19th, 20th, 21st July with Sandra Dudley who is organising the event. Sandra and I go back years. I met Sandra when I was still at school during my Am Dram days and she has followed my carer with great interested having worked with me when I took part in Bed Fringe back in 2008, 9 and 10. So I’m looking forward to singing for her in the next few weeks. I shall be opening up the Saturday at 12 noon -1pm with music from the 1940s 50s and 60s before heading off to another job in the evening for The Bugatti Club. The best thing about the Hare Fest is it is free to come along and it will be taking place in the garden of the Hare Inn. So I hope you can all make it along!
This morning Sandra and I were on the Charles Haigh show and it was good to be back in the studio again!
Tomorrow I have a 50s and 60s show then more “Stars and Stripes” with two garden parties booked for the weekend. I shall also be running a singing workshop this Friday for the Quainton Girl Guides so I’m looking forward to that very much. I certainly hope to do more singing work-shops in the future.
Oh before I forget I hope to have a new home page for my web-site by the end of this week. Something a little more with it and modern where you will be able to see my Blog titles coming through. I will also have my induction video embedded into my home page so it’s all very exciting and there will be lots of up-dates so keep watching. Must Dash Toodle Pip!

The Prince Regent Hotel – Chigwell

 Hello every-one sorry I’ve not blogged much this week but I’ve not stopped with it being Armed Forces weekend and all and I have so much to tell you. As usual I’ve had shows all this week and this weekend started off with me singing down in Leytonstone for The Ex Serviceman’s Club. I went down a day early and the club very kindly put me up at The Prince Regent Hotel in Chigwell which was just lovely. Sometimes it’s great to get away and by arriving a day early I was able to be on hand for the club for Friday. The club had really gone to town and had non stop entertainment through the day with Steve Lucas and local chap Billy who payed music through out. 

Armed Forces Day Cake

I wasn’t on stage until 9.15pm and in fact I was booked at short notice as the artist who was booked originally had to pull out due to a death in the family. I was billed as a Wartime Extravaganza – so I opened with my “We’ll Meet Again” ATS set and finished with my 40s glamour set. I didn’t finish until 12.30am and by the time I had packed up it was 1.30am before I was able to hit the road. A very full day but a great day and a wonderful event to have been part of. So thank-you Ray Gross for inviting me I’ve never seen anyone work so hard as you. Your club should be very proud of you and clearly the members are if this cake is anything to go by donated by one of your ladies.

e with Chelsea Pensioners Dave Thomson, John Back & the Mayor

Main Stage – Armed Forces Day

The wonderful thing about being a singer is  I get to go to so many different places and meet so many interesting people. While I was at Leytonstone I met Chelsea pensioners Dave Thomson and John Back + the mayor. Before sitting on an ice cube. I then tried to dry my bottom off on a stage light before sticking it under the hand dryer before the march. Chelsea pensioner Dave said he would show me what to do as I’ve never done square bashing. Although he did say I should lead with the heel and not the toe as I march a bit like a gay chorus boy. To which I said with a wink and a smile “Where do you think they get it from darling”. Gay men love me and want to be me – that’s 25 years of Ballet for you ha ha!
So a big thank-you to every-one at Leytonstone Ex- Serviceman’s Club for making me feel so welcome and congratulations on staging such a wonderful event!
By the time I got back to Leighton Buzzard it was gone 3am. I didn’t get to bed until 4am but I was back on the road for 10am as I was booked to sing for Buckinghamshire’s Armed Forces Day. They were expecting 10.000 people and as the afternoon wore on I think they must have exceeded that. I opened the event on the main stage and I also did the 3pm slot in the tea tent. Much as I would have liked to have stayed I had to make tracks as I had another show that evening over in Oxfordshire for the Adderbury Bowls Club. I was forchat in that they gave me the early slots which meant I could do both jobs. While I was there I met some great people. The ladies choir from High Wycome who sounded fantastic and lovely singer Gemma Aguilar. We were all sharing the same dressing room and it was lovely to meet you all.

Marching with the Military!

It was a shame I couldn’t stay as the event was really starting to swing and take shape as they had marching bands and all sorts. Just as I left they had a spitfire fly over + other air displays as the band played the Dam Busters theme tune. But then when you are a professional singer you have to get to places on time and can’t always stay.
Adderbury Bowls club was a lovely event and once again I was booked to do 2 x 45 minute 1940s shows. I had a good journey over from Aylesbury’s Armed Forces day and I was even able to stop off and have Dinner on the way. I do confess that by the end I was really tied as I have really pushed myself this weekend. I do feel a great sense of achievement because I did it on my own – all by myself and that does make me feel very proud.
I have shows all this week from Tuesday with 2 garden parties booked back to back for Saturday so once again its going to be all go. Speaking of which I must get to bed.
Thank-you for following and I hope you like the photos. I shall post up a few more of my weekend on my face book pages. So thank-you for following and Toodle Pip!

The Prince Regent Hotel – Chigwell

 Hello every-one sorry I’ve not blogged much this week but I’ve not stopped with it being Armed Forces weekend and all and I have so much to tell you. As usual I’ve had shows all this week and this weekend started off with me singing down in Leytonstone for The Ex Serviceman’s Club. I went down a day early and the club very kindly put me up at The Prince Regent Hotel in Chigwell which was just lovely. Sometimes it’s great to get away and by arriving a day early I was able to be on hand for the club for Friday. The club had really gone to town and had non stop entertainment through the day with Steve Lucas and local chap Billy who payed music through out. 

Armed Forces Day Cake

I wasn’t on stage until 9.15pm and in fact I was booked at short notice as the artist who was booked originally had to pull out due to a death in the family. I was billed as a Wartime Extravaganza – so I opened with my “We’ll Meet Again” ATS set and finished with my 40s glamour set. I didn’t finish until 12.30am and by the time I had packed up it was 1.30am before I was able to hit the road. A very full day but a great day and a wonderful event to have been part of. So thank-you Ray Gross for inviting me I’ve never seen anyone work so hard as you. Your club should be very proud of you and clearly the members are if this cake is anything to go by donated by one of your ladies.

e with Chelsea Pensioners Dave Thomson, John Back & the Mayor

Main Stage – Armed Forces Day

The wonderful thing about being a singer is  I get to go to so many different places and meet so many interesting people. While I was at Leytonstone I met Chelsea pensioners Dave Thomson and John Back + the mayor. Before sitting on an ice cube. I then tried to dry my bottom off on a stage light before sticking it under the hand dryer before the march. Chelsea pensioner Dave said he would show me what to do as I’ve never done square bashing. Although he did say I should lead with the heel and not the toe as I march a bit like a gay chorus boy. To which I said with a wink and a smile “Where do you think they get it from darling”. Gay men love me and want to be me – that’s 25 years of Ballet for you ha ha!
So a big thank-you to every-one at Leytonstone Ex- Serviceman’s Club for making me feel so welcome and congratulations on staging such a wonderful event!
By the time I got back to Leighton Buzzard it was gone 3am. I didn’t get to bed until 4am but I was back on the road for 10am as I was booked to sing for Buckinghamshire’s Armed Forces Day. They were expecting 10.000 people and as the afternoon wore on I think they must have exceeded that. I opened the event on the main stage and I also did the 3pm slot in the tea tent. Much as I would have liked to have stayed I had to make tracks as I had another show that evening over in Oxfordshire for the Adderbury Bowls Club. I was forchat in that they gave me the early slots which meant I could do both jobs. While I was there I met some great people. The ladies choir from High Wycome who sounded fantastic and lovely singer Gemma Aguilar. We were all sharing the same dressing room and it was lovely to meet you all.

Marching with the Military!

It was a shame I couldn’t stay as the event was really starting to swing and take shape as they had marching bands and all sorts. Just as I left they had a spitfire fly over + other air displays as the band played the Dam Busters theme tune. But then when you are a professional singer you have to get to places on time and can’t always stay.
Adderbury Bowls club was a lovely event and once again I was booked to do 2 x 45 minute 1940s shows. I had a good journey over from Aylesbury’s Armed Forces day and I was even able to stop off and have Dinner on the way. I do confess that by the end I was really tied as I have really pushed myself this weekend. I do feel a great sense of achievement because I did it on my own – all by myself and that does make me feel very proud.
I have shows all this week from Tuesday with 2 garden parties booked back to back for Saturday so once again its going to be all go. Speaking of which I must get to bed.
Thank-you for following and I hope you like the photos. I shall post up a few more of my weekend on my face book pages. So thank-you for following and Toodle Pip!