Guernsey, Beau Sejour Leisure Centre, Friday 10th June 2011

Ok this may be a long entry so will publish it in stages!!

Our first trip over seas! We started off Thursday 9th at 5.15 am. Holy Mackrel I don't like early mornings. I was in Pauls car with Paul, Fredi, Jeff and we picked up Pete in Exeter. Got to Weymouth Ferry port at 8 ish. Met up with our other van containing Mr & Mrs Loar. So where is Chris T I hear you ask? He was flying over later in day, as he was very ill on the last ferry trip he took. (I have to point out that I feel travel sick more often than him normally)

I got a bit blase and ate my egg sandwich. As the ferry was pulling out me Fredi got seducd by the sweets - 3 bags for 2 of natural confectionary products! So I ate a few of those, an hour or so in I started feeling a bit rough so went outside to sit on the back deck. It was windy and fairly chilly but better than the stuffy heat of inside. I sat staring at the horizon and eventually after my 3rd travel tablet I stated to feel better. Different people came out to see me during the next 2 hours to check on me, Paul was great, he got me sick bags in case and an extra coat. my fingers went completely numb but I wasn't risking going back inside as I had heard reports of people being sick on the floors ! Yukky pukky.

Ferry was 1 engine down so crossing was longer 3 and a quarter hours.

Also on the ferry we met up with Adam and Max our lighting crew from Cornwall who were with us at recent Truro gig and Falmouth. Also met Vasken, who was driving the sound van doing a live recording of the show.

On the other side, the trip really began. We got picked by by Karen the promoter and her brother Colin, they had big hire vehicles for us all to fit in. Some of them drove to the Venue and left their vans there. We went on to the Hotel called La Colinette. It was very nice. Karen (who was a total star the whole way through) had organised a buffet lunch for us at 1.15 so we had a chill in our room them went downstairs. I read all the bumpf in the room and found there was a old German bunker on the grounds of hotel. I didn't know anything much about the history of Guernsey in the 2nd world war until now.

The flying people arrived. Glenn (manager) and Jane (his wife) John (monitor engineer) and Ross (Sax) who all flew in from Gatwick. Chris arrived after them from Exeter.

He took this picture of our home town of Brixham from the air. The southern point is Berry Head and you can see our pier and Marina very clearly jutting out.

(He missed the buffet) he did get here just in time to get changed and meet the other downstairs for our meal on the nearby Island of Herm.

It was a 20 minute crossing, no cars are on Herm which is a lovely island with sand dunes. There are a few restaurants, and some house but not a lot else. you can go camping on Herm. What a tranquil holiday that would be! Lovely flowers and an almost mediterranean feel I felt.

Heres some pics from the trip to Herm

Pete, very smily! and Ross a bit smily.

Max in background, Jeff looking happy! Fredi and Mrs Loar taking pics of themselves and us respectively!!!

Oh my Mrs Loar in a picture my goodness!

Falmouth, Princess Pavilion, 4th June 2011

It was quite a nice day for driving, we had to hire a van as our remaining van could not be fixed in time! I drove my car as we couldn't all fit into Pauls car. I took Chris and Ross and we stopped off in Cornwall for a Mcdonalds, (was this a mistake on Chris' part? - see later in blog!)

The first road to Falmouth was blocked by a police sign so we had to go a different route but we still got there in plenty of time.

It was a smaller venue than our equipment is used to, so the screen had to remain backstage and we projected on a white back screen they had instead.

My camera has a problem! -

it's taking pictures off centre and is making a funny noise. Oh dear!!!

Lots of posters backstage of previous acts.

Here's a pic of a few of them. Cara Dillon has an amazing voice.

Lots of illness going round!

Fredi had tonsillitis and couldn't make this gig. Chris complained of not feeling good before the show. Pete also had a bad cold but the show must go on.

A view from backstage load in, lovely sailing boats!!!

The crew were very helpful, and the guy had a nifty portable 'monitor desk on a screen to walk about with, which meant he could adjust them while standing next to you. Not come across one of those before!

Show went well, people seemed to enjoy it. We couldn't unfortunately meet anyone after as they had shut up the marquee / bar.

I had to do the driving home as Chris wasn't feeling well. Nearer to home he took a turn for the worse and then as we arrived in Torquay to help unload the hire van (at 3.30am!!!!) he was shivering uncontrollably. He ended being really sick, and needed looking after the next day! (Not sure if it was Mcdonalds?)

Norwich UEA, Friday 15th April 2011

A bit of an uncomfortable journey up and I was lucky as I was in front seat. Poor Fredi was very squashed between the boys in the back. After day 1 and current total on blog is .....

8200

That's 97 views - Quite good in one day!

Have found wifi so i'm blogging from the dressing rooms above the UEA union. There's a noise curfew until 5pm so once things are set up everyone must just hang around as we can't fire up the sound system or anything.

Heres some pictures I have just taken from the venue and outside.

Local stage crew helping with the get in.

An array of mic stands, waiting to be set up.

Not a great shot - but here's the stage during set up.

The floor where people will be standing tonight.

A view from inside venue of the student union shops

Outside the front doors of venue, last year we went and sat by the lake that is off to the right...

Pete reading in the dressing room.

If you are coming this evening, see you soon! Come and say hello after the show.

Wimbledon, New Theatre, Thursday 14th April 2011

It's 11.27am and we're well on the way to Wimbledon. This is a new venue for us, so who knows what's in store? We're travelling up in chris' car today as betsy 3 died on our last journey and she has not yet been replaced! Does anyone fancy giving us a free coach? Fredi is currently sat in the back between jeff and Pete- A Rose between 2 thorns as steve quoted at the services stop off.

What is it about travelling that makes me super hungry at 10am!

Out of interest gonna see how many views the blog gets over next 2 gigs. We're on 8103 at the moment!

Drove through Barnes, it had very posh looking houses! Went over the Hammersmith bridge..

Arrived at theatre about 1ish, there's Wifi - hence why i'm typing in my dressing room.

Lovely looking theatre, will go take a picture shortly..

The mirror ball before being hoisted into place.

The full height of the stage

A painting in the backstage corridor

It's now 16.11 and things are going in full swing. I've just heard i'll be trying in ear monitors tonights, so that be very different! Hope they don't fall out!

...Just tried them in sound check and it was ace......Pictures from sound check

A womble as we're in Wimbledon! See if you can spot him if you're coming to watch this evening.

The drums looking smashing! Quite Spacey!

The new addition to the clan on the Hammond Organ. Pig number 2!, Chris is now looking for another different pig, a sheep and dog but he is quite fussy about what it looks like.

Here they are with the flash on!

After the show, we had a few friendly punters chat to us. Here is a few chatting in front of a fetching thomas the tank engine poster! I didn't know he was touring?

Phil and Tim here...

Now Tim (on the right) is from Norwich which is where we are playing tomorrow, so he said he would come and see us there also. If he does, then that will be impressive - 2 shows on 2 consecutive nights, i'm sure that hasn't been done before!

TIM, you'd better come!!

Not too far to go before bed, stayed in heathrow Travelodge.

Wilde theatre, Bracknell, 27th March 2011

Well hello blog readers, it is 3.30 in the morning and I'm writing this from the cab of an AA van while the man loads up betsy 3. The clutch / gearbox finally gave way at the services when we stopped to change over drivers! She was due to see the mechanic tomorrow morning to get her through the MOT but now not sure if she ever drive us again! At least she got us an hour and a half from home. Still it's gonna be a lot later to bed than planned! Last week the other van had to relayed home as the breaks were dodgy. Typical that it would happen to us the very next week I suppose it was good that it happened after the 2 shows and not this morning!

The time of Betsy 3's demise.

The gearstick in question with Chris phoning AA!

Jeffs final sleep in the Betsy.

Eyore, gently weeping at the loss of Betsy 3.

Paul looking altogether too happy in back of AA van.

Back to the show : It was great, a nice full crowd.

Spoke to Tim Bastock, here's a pic of him. - well there will be soon.. oops!

Random fact, a shot of lime at the theatre bar was 61p?? Why was it that expensive and why the extra 1p?

Can't believe it was June 2009 that we last played here! The time goes so fast.
Lovely day and the venue has an arts centre in a nice building next to it, in the middle of a park. Chris and I took a stroll and I took some pics!

Finally the following morning heres Betsy 3 being stripped of al her wares before going to the scrap yard! It's genuinely sad, after all the hard work she's put in.

What will Betsy 4 be like?

The Artrix, Bromsgrove, Sat 26th March 2011

Well here I am sat in the dressing room at Bromsgrove, blogging as we speak! I can hear the drums booming out from downstairs which might mean sound check has started.

When we arrived their youth theatre were on stage, doing oom pah pah from oliver, I instantly felt my teacher mode coming on and wanted to go and shake the young things into giving it a bit of oomph!

The dressing room all to myself where I have been blogging!

The view of a football field out of the window!

Steve on his guitar.

The Artrix Venue

Andy setting up the sound gear!

This chap is one of the in house crew, he's called Tom...I made him smile for the pic!

Chris and Pete going over Fat old sun, which I think is back in the set tonight.

Here's Jeffs buff bins again, Bromsgrove 2010 was my first ever blog

and I mentioned his brand new kit!

Here's the new pig I bought for Chris yesterday, his first show tonight, think he might be a bit nervous! His name shall be Sergeant Pigster. The last 'pink' pig got stolen or misplaced we're not sure, he hasn't turned up since!

The Foyer of Artrix

Me and my mac are now sat on stage after having sound checked my vocals, modern technology hey!!

Hope there's a good crowd tonight, I shall update later.

*****

The show is finished I'm back in the dressing room and as promised an update. Good show, an appreciative crowd. I recognised a young chap in the foyer before the show started and he and his dad came to stoke on trent only 6 weeks ago.

So here's their picture!

Paul (dad), Will and Sophie

We also had two very enthusiastic boys who came out and said can I have your picture to Steve, so I said can I have your picture, so here they are also, the Hake Family, with two boys John and Chris!

Gary and Anna were at show again too, and as Pete on bass said, they must have been to more gigs than him!! I am super dooper tired now, can't wait to get to Hotel!

Ciao!

The Grove, Dunstable, Saturday 19th March

Delayed Blog.....again with the excuses I know....but I have been mega busy this week! Just about fitted in the gig! I even worked teaching kids the following day for 12 hours after having 3 hours sleep! I am officially exhausted!

Here's whats went on at Dunstable my fine blog followers.

On the drive up I noticed that the wicker man is not standing alone any more... for all of you from up North or East I guess you won't know the wicker man in somerset (next to the M5)! Here he be!

Well they seem to be building lots of huge factories/offices / big buildings and now he kinda stuck amongst loads of work things - tractors, diggers etc.... poor wicker man!

M25 pics

Some sort of accident in the distance! check out the smoke cloud!

The give Peas a chance sign! - google it!

Backstage at Dunstable, they obviously must have used this sign in a show....hmmm what was the name of that show with the dance school....hmm oh dear..... only kidding...

Chris sliding on a rolling thing - this was the moment he realised that it would be bad if he broke his legs and quickly got off!

Dressing room, Mrs Loar will hate me for this 'mid eating' snap. That picture on the wall is new i'm sure! I will have to go back to 2010 Dunstable blog and see.

The kitcheny part of the green room, with Harriet and Fredi, think Chris is checking microwavable instructions for his chicken ding as he calls them (things that go ding in microwave)

Sound Check (hence the smokey pic - lots of haze on stage!)

Fredi looks dead in this. It's a strange pic I just had to put it up on here.

Show was good, Fredi was on Great gig this evening, and even did it with a cough. There's something about the adrenalin that seems to get you through it, I've sung it with all sorts of throat ailments.

After the show, we met up with Glenn our manager and Ross our regular sax player who was watching Harriet tonight as they live near by. He originally couldn't make the show, hence Harriet was dep'ping but then a change of plans and he came to watch. There were some drunk or just very noisy people who were talking a lot through the show. I have to say I feel quite sorry for those who want to be able to focus and listen to the music. Why people would want to pay good money to talk their way through a show is beyond me, and well in a theatre situation - a bit disrepectful don't you think? Go watch a pub floyd band! Rant over......

Here's Gary from Gary and Anna fame, and their daughter who doesn't seem that impressed! They are talking to Pete our bass player.

It was paparazzi time for Harriet!

Me and the lovely Harriet, gosh i'm tinsy winsy!

Oooh it's a bit of a close up but hey ho! This chap was called Danny England and he made me take this pic!