Back in the Recording Studio!

Out and About in Covent Garden!

The Actors Church St Paul’s, Covent Garden!

Stephen, Tim and I with VIPs at the RAF Club, Piccadilly!

Tim’s Painting “Old Favourites” and mine!

Firstly let me start by saying how sorry I am to be a day behind with my blog this week. The last few days have been non stop and I’ve had a very busy weekend what with one thing and another. On Saturday I was performing in the charming village of Chalfont St Giles for a private party. I was engaged to perform my WAAF show for a 90th birthday party which took place at The Reading Rooms. I didn’t realise until I arrived in the village that Chalfont St Giles’s was used in the filming of “Dads Army”. For some reason I always thought it was Thetford, but when you look you can see so many locations which look familiar. Captain Mannering’s bank is now Costa Coffee and opersit the Reading Rooms is a beautiful butchers shop which must have been Jones’s. Apparently even the out side of the Reading Rooms was used as the church hall. I find it really interesting when I’m booked to sing somewhere to learn about a places past which makes me view things with a fresh eye. While I was there I met a gentleman called Robert who had caught me on camera while I was doing a photo shoot at Shuttleworth a year ago with Retro Air Photographer Dave Jackson. Until Saturday night he had always wondered who I was so it was lovely to tell Robert the story behind the shoot and to autograph his photos.

On Sunday I was back in the recording studio with Richard picking up my latest backing track. The Rodgers and Hart number “There’s a Small Hotel”. I’m including this song in my Easter Bonnet Show and I start my first one tomorrow. I’m also including in “A Ticket a Tasket” which is new for this year not to mention the popular firm favourites Easter Parade, April Showers, and Over the Rainbow. I also have in production with Richard “Under the Bridges of Paris” which I will be taking out to Normandy for my Ste Marie du Mont show on the 6th June and “If I had a Talking Picture” a lovely 1920s number for Bexhill when I play there for the Roaring 1920s event in July. So lots to do and plenty in the pipe line!

Yesterday I was invited to London to meet the skipper and the PR people for a floating event which is due to take place in a couple of months time on the Themes. At the moment I’m not sure how much equipment I will need to bring but I will need Connie. I’m going to have to take the bull by the horns and drive Connie into London which is a bit scary when you have the worry of traffic and car parking. But as with all things sometimes you have to face your demons head on and just go for it!

It was lovely to be in London yesterday particulary as my meeting was in Covent Garden and as I was early I was able to take some time out to do a bit of sight-seeing and visit the Actors Church of St Paul’s. Afterwards I was invited by Stephen Slater to join him in Piccadilly at the Royal Air Force Club for Tim O’Brien’s Art Exhibition. Tim is an Aviation Artist and I know Stephen having been introduced by Dave Jackson when he photographed me with Stephen’s 1914 BE-2c Biggles -biplane back in 2011. In fact you can see Dave’s photos and Stephen’s plane by clicking through to my Music Hall -WW1 page. It was lovely to be invited and Tim’s exhibition runs from the 23rd March to the 28th June. Many of his painting sold that night although my favourite was “Old Favourites” – Hawker Hinds over Highclere Castle. Maybe because it brings back memories from when I sang there. The RAF club has a wonderful collection of aviation art and even has a beautiful stain glass window behind the stair case. There are some wonderful examples in the officers bar and one painting which really stood out for me was a portrait of a WW1 pilot from the Royal Flying Corp.

That’s all my news for now although I have a very busy week ahead with Easter Bonnet Shows  and I’m booked to sing for a Fashion show on Friday . I’m also performing for Shabbytique Fairs on Sunday in Waltham St Lawrence which I belive is being covered by Homes and Antiques so busy busy!

Keep Watching and Toodle Pip!