How I learnt to tell a crumhorn from a shawm

You might recall that I held the book launch for A Sparge Bag on the Washing Line at Kettering Arts Centre. There were lots of reasons for this, chief amongst them being that the place plays a large part in the story. I'm also a keen advocate of the venue because of the quality and variety of acts in brings into the town: music, drama, comedy and art. There were people there on the night who hadn't been in the Arts Centre before, even though for some of them it was right on their doorstep, so in my thank-you speech I encouraged them to come along to an event there and especially to come and see someone they'd never heard of.

On Saturday evening, I followed my own advice. It had already been a long day - taking our turn on an Etsy fair, a bit of promotion for Extinction Rebellion, shopping, trying to ignore the cold weather - so by 7pm all Mr T and I wanted to do was curl up in front of Strictly with a glass of something. However, there was a 'turn' on at the Arts Centre and so off we went. Good decision.

We went to hear A Brief History of Christmas performed by GreenMatthews, who are musicians Chris Green and Sophie Matthews, joined on this occasion by Jude Rees. You can read more about them here. Suffice to say their knowledge of the history of Christmas music and the instruments on which it is played is extraordinary and relayed with humour and energy: and that's before I say anything about their musicianship. They are on tour and if they're coming anywhere near you I recommend you go along.

The point, though, is that if you only listen to music you know, buy tickets for comedians you've seen on TV or read books by authors you've read before - hell, if you never speak to a stranger! - you could miss out on something fabulous. We're really glad we took the plunge on Saturday.

Celebrate the small things, 10 March

Today I'd like to celebrate the arts in all their glory.

First, I'd like to reiterate my celebration of Vicky Bultitude's contribution to ebook Strength Becomes Her - more here.

Second, I ran across an old acquaintance when out browsing in Uppingham a few days ago. I wandered into the North Street East Gallery and realised that I knew its owners, Hilary Salomon (whom I originally met at Zumba class) and her husband Michael Moralee. If you're ever at a loose end in Rutland, the gallery is definitely worth a look.

Third, I'm off to an intriguing event on at Kettering Arts Centre this evening: The Harry & Chris Show, which is described thus:

Having played together in various forms for over 10 years, World Poetry Slam Champion Harry Baker teams up with BFF/Jazz Musician Chris Read as the imaginatively titled ‘Harry and Chris’. After a debut sell-out run of ‘The Harry and Chris Show’ at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2016, they are bringing their brand of poetry, music, love and laughter all around the country.

They will be apparently be supported by Gecko, but there is no mention of what his/her/their/its talents might be, so your guess is as good as mine But honestly, poetry slam meets jazz - what's not to like!

Have a good weekend, folks.

Want to join in and celebrate with us? Hop over to Lexa's blog here and sign up.

Celebrate the small things, 3 February

Welcome to my contribution to today's CTST. Want to join in and celebrate with us? Hop over to Lexa's blog here and sign up.
Today I'm celebrating the achievements of others, following my attendance at the HE Bates Short Story Writing Competition prize-giving ceremony yesterday evening. The top three stories were amazing and all worth winners; stories will appear on the competition website shortly. It was a lovely evening and I met some very interesting people. (If you want to be a writer, hang out with writers.)

I've only managed one submission this week, but I did hear that I've won a poetry competition. If I remember, I'll let you know more when it is announced. It's nothing fancy, but a real first for me.

I'd also like to celebrate the work of the team at Kettering Arts Centre. After hosting Tiff Stevenson last weekend, we have Josie Long to look forward to this evening.

What are you all celebrating?

Celebrate the Small Things

Just a quick one today: I'm celebrating shopping local. I went into Not Just Words bookshop+ to drop in a donation for the local food bank. Rachel who runs the shop is holding a music night there tomorrow to raise funds and I can't go because I'm off to Skipton for the weekend (because that's how I roll). Of course, I came home with a bag of books. Well, it would be rude not too!

 



Then I went into Waterstones and bought tickets for the next two comedy events at the Arts Centre, had a little browse around the market, bought something for tea and then came home. 

Simple pleasures.

Celebrate the Small Things  is a blog hop hosted by  Lexa's Blog. Join us

Causes for celebration

We might moan about the National Health Service here in Britain, but I'd like to celebrate it today. Several people in my life have had reason to be grateful for its existence recently and while there's no denying that it could do with a massive injection of cash and, perhaps, an overhaul, the fact remains that if you call an ambulance it will come; you will be taken to hospital and treated. No charge, no questions asked.

I'm also celebrating yet again the freedom that self-employment affords me. What a joy it was to be able to say this morning: 'I'm off for a walk in the autumn sunshine.'

Also on the work front, I'm celebrating that I've finally got my paperwork sorted for Smashwords, where I have a couple of short stories available for download. One of them, 'Briefs Encounter', is free at the moment; the other, 'Robbing Hoodies', is available for 99cents (which is about 77p).

Finally, the comedy club at the Arts Centre resumes tomorrow, which is always a good night out.

Have a splendid weekend, folks.

Celebrate the Small Things  is a blog hop. Visit Lexa's Blog for the rules, and then post every Friday about something you're grateful  for that week. Originated by VikLit) and co-hosted by L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The Edge and Tonja Drecker @ Kidbits Blog.  

Last Friday celebrations of February

I like the last Friday of the month, because it's the day I send out my invoices. Here's what else I'm celebrating today.

There were a couple of no-shows at Monday's meditation evening, but it was, I think, broadly successful. One lady got in touch afterwards to say she thought she had detected a 'presence', which was an unexpected outcome!

I've finally received the copies of Smallholder magazine that feature my articles on llamas and alpacas, and I'm very pleased with the results.

Pic: www.homefieldgrangeretreat.co.uk

Elsewhere on the writing front, there was a bit of a hiccup when I realised I'd gone off in the wrong direction on some website copy for a new client, but a quick visit to his showroom got things sorted and I've  just sent off the revised version. Fingers crossed. I've also had an enquiry via the same contact about writing some copy for a recruitment website, and (lessons learned) I'm going over to see them next week. Oh, and I'm proofreading a dissertation about hip-hop, which is really interesting (and no, I'm not helping its author to cheat).

I'm planning a lazy day tomorrow, topped off with comedy night at Kettering Arts Centre featuring Rob Rouse. No, me neither, but I'm sure he'll be splendid.

Peace out.

Celebrate the Small Things  is a blog hop. Visit Lexa's Blog for the rules, and then post every Friday about something you're grateful  for that week. Originated by VikLit) and co-hosted by L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The Edge and Tonja Drecker @ Kidbits Blog.   

Hooters and tooters!

Every social group or society has its own rules of engagement, which can make it seem rather odd to the outsider. At a jazz concert, for instance, the audience is expected to clap after each solo, mid-song, and the performer will give a modest nod in acknowledgement.

I mention this because we had another extraordinary evening at Kettering Arts Centre yesterday at which we were introduced to brass band etiquette. We went to see Boobs & Brass, an all-female ensemble that was founded here in Kettering 10 years ago. It is a scratch band: that is to say, its members rehearse separately and only come together for performances. They have raised in the region of £175,000 for charity, predominantly for research into breast cancer.

Now, brass bands aren't really our thing. Apart from having watched the fabulous film Brassed Off many times, our only other brushes with the genre have been seeing The Unthanks with the Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band, and catching the tail end of the Raunds Temperance Band's set at a local music festival. We only went last night because we wanted to support the Arts Centre (tickets hadn't been selling well) and because it was for a good cause. Actually, there was a decent-sized audience, but how many of these were related to the band members I wouldn't like to say.

Anyway, back to the etiquette. We began with the national anthem, which took us by surprise. Then through the evening we discovered it is apparently quite normal to have an exposition on each piece that is played. This meant that we saw quite a lot of the redoubtable compere, and interesting though it was, I'd rather have had a couple more tunes and read about the music in the programme.

There is, of course, much fun to be had with the name of the band. Its website says that some magazines have been unable to promote them because of the word 'Boobs'. We managed to come with some alternatives - and I'm sure you can think of more: Tits and Trombones is almost too easy; Menopause and Mouthpieces; Vaginas and Valves; Fannies and Flugelhorns;  Dames and Drums; Uteruses and Euphoniums; and one very rude one involving cornets.

It was a surprisingly entertaining evening. I can't help but wonder what Victoria Wood would have made of it.

Definitely not another fine mess

If you live in or near Musselburgh, Croydon, Stroud, Maidenhead, Porlock, Guildford, Banbury, Thame, London, Leeds or Richmond, may I suggest you check out the touring one-man show by Jeffrey Holland that is coming your way? He was at Kettering Arts Centre on Saturday night with: '...And this is my friend Mr Laurel', a one-act play by him and Gail Louw. The publicity leaflet tells you what you need to know:

'Set in the bedroom of a sick Oliver Hardy, the show takes place during Laurel's visit to the dying man. Recounting their past success as the comedy double act Laurel and Hardy, this is a humorous and touching look at one of the great cinematic partnerships of the last century.'

You don't need to know much about the lives of Laurel and Hardy or to be a fan of their work to enjoy this play. In the second half of the show on Saturday, Jeffrey Holland (as himself) told us anecdotes and answered questions from the audience. He was generous in his praise of his co-writer and said that her excellent ear for dialogue is one of the reasons for the success of the play. (He took it to Edinburgh in 2012 and again this year.) For aspiring writers like me, it was a real lesson in how it should be done. Pop along if you get the chance. details are here.

On other matters, my post on Friday has raised several enquiries as to what a gong bath is. All is explained on my other blog: Yoga? Here's what I'm thinking.

How to lose readers

I know, I know. If you're going to host a blog it's very important to keep posting regularly or your followers will lose interest and wander off to read the offerings of someone more consistent. Epic fail, then, on my part: nothing posted since 12 June and I missed last week's Celebrate the Small Things. Sorry. May I offer the following in mitigation?

I've done a lot of work, including covering some yoga classes at a local gym. More pleasing, on the entertainment front, I've been to see Ivory Yardsale in a Northampton pub; Jez Hellard and Scott Cook, Fabian Holland and Chris Wood (yes, the Chris Wood, folk legend) in the homes of friends; my friend Will in The Hook, the Arthur Miller play that has lain dormant for decades and has been revived for a world premiere run in Northampton; Robin Ince supported by Grace Petrie at the Kettering Arts Centre; and taken part in International Yoga Day celebrations.

Girl power

I went into town on Friday to watch the Women's Tour arrive at the end of stage 3, the longest and hilliest of the event. I know nothing about cycling, but thought I should go and see what it was all about, since it's quite a Big Thing for it to have come to Kettering. As usual, I was torn between taking decent photos and looking at the event IRL: I chose the latter, as a result of which I have lots of pics of half-wheels and blurry heads.

The other thing that has been taking up my time is helping my friend Rachel. She is opening a shop called 'Not Just Words', which will be a bookshop - but so much more. This is worth a whole blog post in its own right, and one will surely follow in due course. Suffice to say for now that a bunch of us have been running up and down stairs with boxes of glorious second books and, would you believe, shifting a piano on to the first floor of her building. There has been a great sense of community and we have enjoyed getting tired and dusty together. Watch this space.

There has, however, been some sadness, since local musician Stevie Poole has died. I didn't know him very well, but I'd seen him perform many times. He will be much missed in our circle.

Happier Monday

Well, that's better. After a fairly unpleasant week, the weekend was a vast improvement.
 
By Friday, I had met all my work deadlines and then in the evening had an unexpected trip to the pub where son Joe was playing drums with Ivory Yardsale. Splendid stuff.

Saturday saw me being a domestic goddess and head gardener. While I was turning over the earth, I had the company of a little robin who was looking for tasty morsels (see pic). In the evening, I headed off to the arts centre to see comedian Jo Caulfield, who was hilarious.

Sunday was filled with a mixture of gentle pottering/potting while the sun was out and crosswords and sitting about when the sun was in. Brenda Blethyn in Vera was my evening's entertainment. It's a bit 'Look-out-here-comes-a-clue', but it's comfy stuff and I love the Northumbria scenery.

Now that the mood has lifted, I have great hopes for the week ahead. (Cue Fate rubbing her hands together...)

Lord knows, we love to laugh

I've posted before about the awesome folk at St Andrew's Church here in Kettering who have established a thriving arts centre in the church building. As well as the amazing headline comedians we have seen there (Bridget Christie, Shappi Korshandi, Sean Lock, James Acaster, Mark Thomas, Mark Steel, Jeremy Hardy, Marcus Brigstock, Jack Dee etc etc etc), we have also seen some fabulous musicians (Fairport Convention will be there in a  few weeks' time) and some excellent drama.

Last night we were there for the second Rolling in the Aisles (geddit?) Comedy Club. Three comics for a tenner? Yes please. Local real ale? Don't mind if I do. Add in the glorious Rev Nick Wills as compere and, hey, we got us a show!

Last night's top comic, Nick Doody

Last night was bizarre even by Kettering standards: we had an attempt to set the Kettering record for eating baked beans with a cocktail stick, adjudicated by the ghost of Norris McQuirter; a video of Nick the Vic bidding on curiosities on eBay late at night under the influence of alcohol; and the ritual of the three acts choosing how they wanted to be gunned down by a member of the audience at the end of their performance (you had to be there: trust me, it was hilarious).

I'm hoping the the reputation of our arts centre is growing in the comedy family, and certainly if the quality of the performers is anything to go by I'd say it is. It must be odd, though, to be booked to play in a church. You might reasonably expect to find a disused church that has been turned into a venue, or to be performing to an audience of church-goers. Neither is the case. We are comedy lovers whose club just happens to be a building that on other occasions is used for worship. It's brilliant.

Let's paint the town red

Lots happening this weekend. Last night I went to Leicester to see the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, which was great fun. I went with a fellow uke player and we decided that we've either got to set fire to our instruments or practise MUCH harder.

Tonight I'm off to the theatre in Northampton to see A Tale of Two Cities. My friend Will is in it, which is very exciting.

Tomorrow, we have tickets for Kettering Arts Centre, which is hosting the Reduced Shakespeare Company's The Bible, which you might have seen mentioned in the press as being a bit controversial. There have been accusations of blasphemy. Since our arts centre is run by the vicar and his wife, I'm not expecting to be offended.

On to the celebrations. This week, we have been celebrating my son's birthday, which we managed to stretch out over several days.

Also, a BIG celebration that the £600 I was owed by a client for work done in December has been paid today.

Celebrate the Small Things is a bloghop. Join in the celebrations via VikLit's blog 'Scribblings of an Aspiring Author' here.

Have a lovely weekend, folks.

That was the week that was

I've just about managed to get my backside in gear to join in and Celebrate The Small Things, so here goes:

I had a lovely time at the Kettering Arts Centre last Saturday. We went to see the comedian Tony Law, and he was fantastic. 'We' is hubby,  my two brothers and me. The older of my two brothers had a significant birthday in the summer (remember the cake?) and the other bought him a night out in Kettering as a present. Much fun was had by all.

Yesterday I had lunch out with a friend ahead of my own birthday.

I've taught some lovely yoga classes this week, including one at a care home, where one of the elderly residents told me he'd enjoyed the session because 'It was nice to have a bit of peace and quiet, for a change.' Lots of talk on Radio 2 this week about loneliness, so it was good to be with some seniors who had company (and care) in their later years.

If you want to join in the celebrations, share yours here.

Welcome to September

Celebrate the small things with me and the rest of the blog-hoppers via VikLit's Scribblings of an Aspiring Author blog, here. Short and sweet today, but I'm celebrating:

• My e-colleague Linda, whom I haven't met yet, but who has kept me on the straight and narrow with some tricky projects recently
• My yoga friend Jacqui who helped me out with something today
• My plumber Justin who has been engaged to remove and replace a radiator for me
• Becky and the team at the Kettering Arts Centre for organising the Potbelly Folk Festival.

Headliners: The Willows www.thewillowsband.co.uk

Bookish matters

I went to hear Miles Jupp last night at our local arts centre. He has a book out at the moment: 'Fibber in the Heat', which is about how he blagged himself a job as a journalist following the England cricket team on tour in India.

I wasn't sure what to expect - perhaps a reading of a few extracts from the book with an anecdote or two and a bit of a comedy turn. What he actually did was brilliant. It was a one-man-show-style rendition of the book, just him and a microphone and a couple of hours of wonderful actorly performance. Witty, clever, thought-provoking.

It was also a bit of a masterclass in how to promote a book. The Waterstones team were on hand to ensure that there were plenty of copies and we were ushered through efficiently but with no sense of hurry. Miles J was charming - and he signed my ticket, as well as my book! The lovely thing was, though, that it didn't feel like it was just another stop on an author tour; it was like a proper night out - oh and by the way, do buy the book, if you'd be so kind.  If he's coming your way, go and see him.

On my own writing front, two near misses in short story competitions: an 'honourable mention' and a spot on a short list. Oh well, reread, rework and resubmit...