Windmills, Warm Hearts & Wonderful Company.

Blog Post No. 6 – June 2026

Greetings from a very windy, but warm, tiny isle. Bob and I returned home on Monday evening (June 22nd) and have been enjoying the delights of gorgeous summer days. Obviously, temperatures have been rather on the high side, especially in the UK—we had five sweltering days in Hampton Wick last week, so we know what that feels like. However, surrounded by the cool Irish Sea here on the Isle of Man, it stays well below those heady (sweaty!) temperatures.

This morning (Saturday, June 27th) I had my first sauna/dip since coming home. OMGoddess—what an absolutely magical experience it was, despite the 23mph winds gusting to 39mph! I simply LOVE it!

Anyway, I’m getting ahead of myself, as usual. Here’s how June played out in my travelling wee life.

Let’s go back to May 25th, when everywhere was super hot—34°C when we landed in Liverpool—only to realise that the AC in our new-to-us car was kaput! We had a two-and-a-half-hour drive with the windows down, much of it on the motorway, which only just kept us from frying—but our poor little ears! Not recommended!

Once we arrived at our dear friend Diane’s beautiful black windmill home in Lincolnshire, we totally relaxed. There’s nothing quite like the bosom of an unconditionally welcoming home to put one at one’s deepest ease. We are so grateful.

We had a trip or two into the outskirts of Nottingham and, although Bob tried very hard to find someone to fix our dilapidated AC, we remained without its cooling influence. Apparently, the UK doesn’t recognise Manx-registered cars, so we were unable to use its diagnostic system to clarify what was wrong. Without that… nothing could be done, so we got used to the steamy conditions. C’est la vie.

Our next port of call was to visit part of the Miller clan in Royal Tunbridge Wells. Anthony and Karen moved there a few years ago and love it—and now, so do we! We had a wonderful Sunday gathering with one of their sons, Joey, his wife, Lanting, and their two absolutely gorgeous children, Eleanor and Henry. There were giggles galore. Bob bought a copy of Corinne Bailey Rae’s gorgeous children’s book Put Your Records On for Eleanor, which everyone admired. We gave little Henry a small cuddly toy animal, but as soon as he’s interested in books (he’s only fourteen months old), I’m sure he’ll enjoy it too.

The following day, Anthony and Karen walked us all over the place, enjoying everything Tunbridge Wells has to offer—which is a lot! Here’s a REEL to prove it.

Our next stop was near Avebury Stone Circle in Wiltshire, where our lovely friends Rob and Jo Selbourne now reside. We love them so much (the stones and our friends!). Another wonderful time, with delicious food, wonderful company and raucous laughter all the way.

`

We then headed over to Sandhurst, where our long-time fabulous friends Martin and Pam live. They are among the most generous, kind and supportive people we know. We went with Martin and Pam to see our mutual friend Wendy, who lives in Whitchurch. What a beautiful place it is! I’d not been there before. Wendy lives in an idyllic spot close to the River Test. At this time of year, the place looks absolutely resplendent with fresh green everywhere, beautiful flowers and baby ducks! We had a ball.

While Pam and Martin attended a funeral the next day, we visited Bob’s eldest surviving sister, Sue, in Southampton, calling in to see her lovely daughter Lora and her family, who live just ten minutes from the lovely home Sue now lives in. It’s always an emotional visit, but one filled with laughter and lots of hugs.

The following day, along with Pam and Martin, we hooked up with Pat and Phill (aka the Squidneys—don’t ask!) and had a fun day wandering along the Thames and through the ancient streets of Henley (yes, of Regatta fame!). Altogether, it was a wonderful time, and it makes us ever more grateful for the connections we nurture and cherish.

Bob and I then had a couple of days to ourselves and ended up at a delightful B&B in Selsey. En route, we stopped to say hi to Bob’s sister-in-law, Jean, who’s in the middle of moving from Scarborough, "down" south to be closer to her granddaughters. It was great to catch up.

Once in the Selsey area, we enjoyed the wonderful sights of Chichester and even managed to squeeze in an afternoon cuppa with Dean and Delilah Dyson. We certainly know how to pack it all in!

A couple of days later, we headed over to Sompting, near Worthing, where Bob’s Mum and Dad spent their last few years. It’s an area Bob knows really well. We were invited to stay with the inimitable Barb Jungr, whom I’ve known and loved for over thirty years. When we did our calculations, it turned out we’d not been in the same space together for over eleven years! When you live on an island and travel far and wide, and then have five years where nowhere but the tiny isle was possible, the years stack up.

We both cared for our Mums, who developed dementia around the same time. Barb and I have a shared experience that gives us an even deeper understanding of one another now. We were over the moon to be reunited. It’s not that we haven’t been in touch, but that simple tactile proximity is such a joy.

Barb had another long-time friend, Shusha, staying with her, who has worked with Barb for many years. It was a delight to meet her and spend a couple of days being shown around Barb’s new “hood”. She drove us to Steyning, where we wandered through lovely old streets, meandered through delightful shops and ate a scrumptious lunch.

And we laughed! And laughed. It’s medicine, you know.

Eventually, the time rolled around for “the award-winning” Dave Kelly and me to spend a few days rehearsing at his lovely home on the outskirts of Kingston. The plan was to maybe record some of the new songs we’d been working diligently on, as well as some of the older ones, but it turns out we need a little more time to feel really confident. So, we each have summertime homework!

The revised plan, such as it is, is to get together a week before the tour and, after a day or two of showing off our fabulous homework to one another, record live at a friend’s studio around the corner. We’ll then offer the recordings as digital downloads on a thumb drive at the shows. We can but dream (and do our homework!). Wish us luck.

The idea is to have the new recordings alongside the older “live” CD from all those years ago as an added bonus.

We left a day earlier than anticipated and headed, in the sweltering heat, back to Diane and her Black Windmill—and to meet her newest granddaughter, just two days old when we arrived! I have to say, being in the presence of a freshly arrived human is the BEST. It’s a privilege.

Before we left for home, we had the opportunity to see our dear friends Mike and Judy, who now live in Beverly, Yorkshire. It was so good to see them. We are so grateful to be able to have such longterm friendships - they matter a great deal.

We took the boat back to the island from Liverpool on Monday and have been steadily acclimatising to the drop in temperature. 😉 I’ve had four dips without a sauna—amazing—and one with, equally fab. I’ll be sauna-dipping again in the morning.

I’ll start to collate ideas for new material in the not-too-distant future. I know you wish me well in my endeavours. It’s going to rain quite a lot this coming week, apparently. It’ll make the island look even more lush!

Our video/song this month attempts to show all the places we visited over these past four weeks, set to “Skin And Bones”, which I co-wrote with Mike Slamer many years ago. How we miss seeing him and his wonderful wife, Sue. One day…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKq-73AZ4Xo

Until next time, sweet reader, stay well, be curious and keep rising above the turbulence. Know that you are very much appreciated and loved.

Christine x

PS: Hi Nic! You know who you are - I think?! What's another word for swivel? :-) x

Bluebells, Bonfires & Breathing Again

Blog Post No.5, May 2026

Olá, sweet reader! I trust this blog post finds you cool, calm and collected in this late-spring heat (it’s properly hot here in Lincolnshire during this last week of May!).

Bob and I are in the UK for the next few weeks, catching up with family and friends and preparing with Dave Kelly for our tour in October. Our hope is not only to be fired up and ready to perform for you then, but also to offer a simply recorded sample of our new — and well-loved older — song selection when the time comes. Fingers crossed.

TOUR DATES HERE.

Apart from that, we’ve mostly been resting, recuperating and recharging our well-travelled body batteries. As mentioned in the last post, the trip back from Australia was relatively easy.

However, once back on our glorious tiny isle — resplendent as ever in fresh unfolding verdant foliage and delightful spring flowers, especially bluebells — our poor bodies decided enough was enough and promptly went into full detox mode after six months of constant movement around the planet.

Mostly, we endured sinusitis, which made breathing at night a wee bit tedious, but overall it’s not a bad price to pay for all the wonderful sights, sensations and fabulous memories collected along the way.

We definitely felt the cold, though. A hot water bottle has been our nightly companion :-) and while staying at my sister and brother-in-law’s house during their Australian adventure, we thoroughly enjoyed lighting their wood-fuelled fire most evenings. Cosy!

I’ve also loved reacquainting myself with sauna and sea dips at Green Creek Sauna, both at Fenella Beach and Laxey Beach. In fact, I haven’t yet dipped without the pleasure of searing dry heat beforehand. I will!

That first plunge into cold water was quite a shock — it literally took my breath away. I had to acclimatise little by little. During my first session back, I could only manage knee-deep immersion on the first dip (there are three dipping opportunities with each sauna session). Gradually, though, I managed full submersion — albeit briefly. Now, I’m embracing the cold once again with alacrity.

I’ve spent precious time with wonderful friends I missed during the last six months: walking through glens and along coastlines, drinking cups of tea, attending ecstatic dancing sessions (it’s a thing!) complete with cocoa ceremonies, and rediscovering the joy of cooking again — especially hearty dhal to help dry up our sinuses!

Once the sinus situation finally settled, I was able to turn my attention to a recording project I’d been invited to sing on several months ago.

The project is This Is The Fire by Pete Lawrence, whom I first met back in the eighties when he and Martin Goldschmidt founded Cooking Vinyl. Our paths have rarely crossed since, but the connection remains. I’m always delighted to be invited into a musical enterprise, and this felt like a particularly lovely opportunity.

Pete’s idea is that the world needs uplifting — and he’s not wrong. His way of doing that is through songs people can sing together around a campfire: beautiful communal singing that’s been lost over the years. He’s bringing it back with a vengeance!

I can’t share the music yet, but once everything is mixed and ready to meet the world, I’ll let you know.

Bob and I are looking forward to more time back on the island over the summer, though perhaps we’ll venture a little further afield and spend some time in Europe. We have strategically placed friends in Spain and Portugal, so, you know… it might be rude not to.

All of that will be decided over the next few weeks. For now, it’s simply lovely to spend time with our UK mainland friends, meet some of their new family members, and also get to know new additions to the Miller clan this trip too — how delightful!

The tour with Dave Kelly remains a priority, and we’ve just added a couple of extra dates: one in Dartford and another in the Peak District, which is all very exciting. We're still waiting for final details on the concert in Dartford but it's looking fab.

At some point over the next few months, I’ll also be knuckling down and beginning work on a new creative project. The theme remains undecided for now, but there are lots of ideas floating around and signs of inspiration everywhere.

Wish me luck!

And here for your delight is this month's song/video - celebrating spring on the tiny isle. You're welcome!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clgPjpfT22w

OK then, that’s it for this month. Thanks, as always, for taking the time to see how life unfolds for this tiny isle woman. I hope you’re able to find light amongst the clouds that hamper us all. I try to focus on the joys and beauty that continue to reveal themselves everywhere — and some of that joy comes from you.

Till next time: stay well, be curious, and keep rising above the turbulence.

Much love,

Christine x

Family, Farewells & Finding Our Way Home

Blog Post No. 4, April 2026

It was fast approaching Easter when last we met, dear reader. I mentioned then that Bob and I had booked into a campsite about fifteen minutes from Jo and the girls, at Narrabeen Lake. It gave us the opportunity to invite family to gather with us, enjoy a bit of egg-hunting fun, and share a delicious picnic.  We were joined by long time family friends Bec, Mark and their three gorgeous children: what a joy! Jo and the girls had moved to a smaller apartment in the same block in Dee Why the week before, so life had been a little upside down for them—especially Jo. She dealt with it all brilliantly. We couldn’t be prouder.

We then had ten days before our final three shows in Victoria. We stayed with Fiona and Ian in Yatte Yattah for a few nights en route down the coast road and, with their guidance, chose Merimbula as our next port of call. What a beautiful spot it is. We found a gorgeous chalet-type place, only a few minutes’ walk from the beach, and enjoyed

walks, dips, cards, and fish and chips.

We then stayed inland, a bit closer to Melbourne, in a funky little town called Sale. The weather turned, the temperature dropped, and the rain came down. We found ourselves at the local cinema and watched Project Hail Mary—which I loved! I’m a fan of Ryan Gosling, but Rocky is quite the character. I haven’t read the book, but I thoroughly enjoyed the film.

Our final two nights were spent in Frankston so that we could visit our good friend Terry and see my sister’s brother- and sisters-in-law near Sandringham. All delightful and great fun.

While all of this was going on, Michael, up in Brisbane, was going through a very stressful time—one that Bob and I could relate to all too easily. Michael’s mum and dad had moved to a 24/7 care facility at the beginning of the tour in March, and while his mum was very happy in this new place, his lovely dad’s health began a steep decline.

We always knew this could be a possibility, and we had a Plan B in case Michael was unable to leave either of his parents in their time of need. Very soon, Hans was in hospice and receiving end-of-life care. For all that we would have loved to finish the tour together, it became painfully clear that this just wasn’t possible. We began the process of letting venues and promoters know what was happening and that, if they were happy with it, I would perform my solo show as an alternative. The first venue in Queenscliff opted to reschedule, but the two house concerts—one in Sandringham and the final one in Ballarat—were happy for me to perform on my own. I know Michael was deeply upset for many reasons, but it was the right thing to do.

As it turned out, after ten days in hospice, Hans left this world on Saturday morning, April 18th. Bless his sweet, kind, intelligent soul.

Michael and I had such wonderful gigs this year and enjoyed performing together more than ever. There’s a joy and ease between us that translates to the audience, and we just loved it. We hope to continue—perhaps next year. We’ll see..

On the night of what would have been our first Victoria show, we were unable to get a refund for the place we'd booked for me, Bob and Michael, so, despite the 130 KM round trip, Bob and I decided to visit Queenscliff, because we had accommodation for the night. Our place was pretty special - an old Victoria built house with fabulous living quarters and (my favourite bit!) a wonderful spa bath. While walking the streets of Queenscliff that afternoon, we bumped into two friends with Isle of Man connections: Gaynore and Steve! It was a delightful surprise until we all realised they hadn't had word the gig was cancelled and they'd come to see Collister&Fix! Oops! Turns out their

message had gone into a spam box. They recieved their refund - phew! And they were en route to Tasmania so they just enjoyed their own accommodationwith spa bath too! Nothing ventured nothing gained. We enjoyed the excited hugs we shared, none-the-less.

The first house concert (new to us) was in Sandringham, and our hosts, Anthony and Bernadette, were absolutely brilliant. Wonderful musicians themselves, with a wealth of creativity in the family, they open their home with great generosity and create a beautiful sense of community in everything they do. They were kind, open, and sympathetic to the situation, and made Bob and me feel like part of the family. I'd "borrowed" a projector from one of or granddaughters who'd gotten one each for Christmas, to watch movies in their rooms. I was very grateful to Father Christmas! The show went exceptionally well—everyone loved the videos, music, and storytelling. I especially loved their rousing renditions of “One Day Like This” into “Hey Jude”—fab-u-lous! Our accommodation was with a lovely woman called Jo, who looked after us with such kindness and genuine warmth. Thank you, Sandringham! We’ll be back with Michael as soon as possible.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4HuzTJ2Oig

And so, on to our final show, with our dear friends Pam and Alan in Ballarat—a Sunday afternoon performance in their beautiful home. Pam had already requested that I do half the show with Children of the Sea, so extending it into the full experience wasn’t a hard ask. Alan did a wonderful job pulling the technical requirements together. We used their widescreen TV for the videos, which worked perfectly, and he did a sterling job on sound too. While everyone missed Michael’s exceptional playing (me especially!), they completely understood the circumstances and showed nothing but love and sympathy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lPZ0aMSKCI

And then it was all over. Bob and I headed north straight after the performance. We stayed in Wangaratta at the same place we used in March, then hit the road early the following morning, arriving in Sydney by early evening. We were able to spend our last evening with Jo before boarding our first long-haul flight—which was so lovely (the evening with Jo, not the flight!). We all hate saying goodbye… but we’ll be back. By hook or by crook, we’ll have hugs galore again.

Our journey back was relatively pain-free. We stopped over for two nights at the Sama-Sama Hotel at Kuala Lumpur airport. It’s the best way to deal with an eight-hour flight followed by one of fourteen! A day by the pool? Yes please.

We arrived back on the island on Saturday afternoon and were met by one of my nephews, Ben, who drove us to Onchan, where we’re staying for the next little while at my sister and brother-in-law 's(Ben’s mum and dad) while they're in Australia visiting family.

Bob and I have had jet-lag colds for the past few days, but we’re starting to feel the right way up again. I’m typing this in the car, over-looking Fenella Beach, before meeting friends for a sauna and dip —I’m so ready for this! The cold might be a shock, but the heat will make everything right again. Swings and roundabouts! I have several sessions booked this week and into the weekend with Green Creek Hut Sauna - they're the best!!

Next month we’ll be in the UK for a few weeks, partly to see family and friends and partly to prepare with Dave Kelly for our tour in October—dates now up and running HERE.

I trust you’re all doing OK, despite the craziness. As I mentioned last month, we have to focus on the good as best we can—peace is an inside job.

As always, thanks for dropping by and keeping an eye on me—I deeply appreciate it. Till next time, stay well, be curious, and keep rising above the turbulence.

With love and gratitude,Christine x