Island Days & Creative Preparations:

July 2025 on the Isle of Man

After last month’s frenetic movement and magical musical adventures, July has been, in comparison, much more serene. Bob and I moved into a studio flat in Douglas after our whirlwind UK tour and settled into our new, smaller-spaced, slower-paced lifestyle with relative ease. Life is good!

Sea Dips and Sentimental Spaces

I’ve dipped in at Douglas beach over by the Hilton (which, in my youth, was the Palace Lido — a place I adored as a teenager!). At high tide, I’ve even ventured in from the old Victorian steps near the Ellan Vannin hotel — which Mum and Dad owned and ran for 25 years.

Mum tending her award-winning blooms outside the Ellan Vannin

Then there’s Port Skellion beneath the lighthouse on Douglas Head, another cherished childhood haunt from the 1970s, when life felt sweeter and more innocent… or perhaps I was?!

September Tour Planning Underway

There isn’t a huge amount to report this month — but the practical groundwork for my September tour is all in place. I’ve:

• Booked the boat on and off the Isle of Man

• Sorted hotel accommodation

• Confirmed stays with kind friends

• Checked in with venues to make sure we’re all aligned

Now, it’s time to focus on the creative side of things!

New Tech, New Visuals

This week, I welcomed a shiny new MacBook Pro, which I eagerly tracked on its journey from Vietnam to Hong Kong, Germany, Preston, and finally here on the island. With it, I’ll be editing new video content for the two additional songs included in the upcoming "Children of the Sea and Beyond" tour.

I’m also creating fresh visual backdrops for the acoustic songs in each set. There’s a lot to do, but I’m excited to dive in this week. Wish me luck — and come to a show to see what I’ve managed to create! 😊

Walks, Weather & Video Adventures

The weather’s been a delightful mix of sunshine, patchy grey, and drizzle. The sea remains inviting, and my weekly saunas are essential. I even squeezed in an extra sauna in Laxey during a heatwave reminiscent of 1976!

One glorious Saturday morning, Bob and I climbed South Barrule so I could capture footage for the tour visuals. I used a lovely little video camera my brother Paul (in Perth, Australia) gifted me. Note to self: clean the lens before pressing record! A misty blob appears in one corner, but the descent footage — top to bottom — is fun. You can watch a wee video if you fancy.

From Bagels to Blessings

The next day brought more filming: after a delicious bagel at Roots by the Sea in Peel, we headed to Niarbyl for shots to accompany No One Knows His Name. The island truly was showing off her beauty. We are so lucky to live here.

Later in the month, an intended 30-minute evening stroll turned into a 4-mile adventure! We wandered from home to Summerhill Glen and back along Douglas beach. It was magical — childhood memories of fairy lights and summer evenings came flooding back. (We’ll have to return in August when the lights are actually on!) I shared a Reel of our wanderings on Instagram and Facebook — feel free to take a peek.

A Sunday Drive Through Island Life

Today, Sunday 27th July, I spent time luxuriating in the company of dear friends, taking me from Peel to Ballaugh, then Castletown and Ballasalla. A gorgeous walk through Sartfield Nature Reserve at Ballaugh Curraghs was followed by an afternoon at the Southern Agricultural Show, where my fabulous friends, Rosemary O'Donohue and Catriona Ellis were sharing their physical and spiritual gifts. I’ve tried to capture the day in the video below — apologies for the speedy visuals in both videos, but there was a lot to fit in!

Sunday was full of fabulous friends and fantastic festival vibes! So much to love.

Autumn is in the Air… Almost

This Friday, August 1st, marks the beginning of the end of summer and the quiet turn toward autumn. I’ve already noticed rusty tinges on the finger-like fronds of the horse-chestnut leaves (I won’t say another word about it — promise!).

Before I sign off I have to share that in order to upload the content of this month's Blog Post, I've had to seek out better WiFi than our delightful, teeny-weeny pied-a-terre is able to offer, and so, I've come down to Noa's Bakehouse on the Quay in Douglas. They have, sponsored by Santander, a wonderful, funky, fully-fledged wifi workspace for anyone who needs it! I am super-impressed and very grateful. It also allows me to feel like a modern, growd-up creative person! Ha!

Thank you, as always, for stopping by to catch up on island life and creative doings. I’m excited about the Children of the Sea and Beyond tour and eager to bring everything together for a truly memorable experience.

Until next month — stay well, stay curious, and keep rising above the turbulence.

Much love,

Christine x

June was bursting at the seams with music, family and friends!

Blog Post No 6 June 2025

Time is really flying! Halfway through 2025? Blimey!

Bob and I left the tiny isle at the end of May, just before the TT madness set in. Typically, the weather up to practice week was superb … and pants thereafter. C’est la vie!

We had delightful get-togethers with family and friends around the country, starting in Scarborough first to stay with Jean, and hang out with Pete, Ellie and baby Miller; we also met up with our dear friends Mike and Judy who live near Beverly, then onto Lincolnshire to our fab friend Diane who lives in a black windmill (honest!). From there we made our way to Sandhurst to stay with our gorgeous friends Martin and Pam, and hang out with Wendy, Pat and Phil. All of it a delight!

And then it was time for my very exciting one-off solo show in the Netherlands. Flying to Amsterdam the day before the gig turned out to be super smart, as, unbeknownst to us, there was a train strike on the day of the gig, which would have made getting to the venue very challenging. However, I got there with plenty of time to spare and was met by Koen Hottentot - the most kind and patient promoter there is! Koen has been attempting to get me to play solo at Roots Aan De zaan for over a decade! Bless him.

Koen met me, as promised, off my flight and came with me on the train through to Zaan Dam and dropped me at the Distrikt Hotel, a very comfortable modern hotel (breakfast included:) where I stayed for two nights. Koen pointed me in the direction of a gorgeous restaurant (Verrassing) that happened to be connected to an old Mennonite House of Worship dating back to 1687! After my delicious dinner, I asked if I could have a look at the church. My lovely waitress knew I was a singer (it was part of our easy banter as I was paying for my meal), and once inside the church, she asked if I’d sing something so I could appreciate the acoustics, which are dampened with the use of sand on the floor. I did (as is my want) a verse of Amazing Grace - she was in tears. I was about to leave when the rest of the staff came in, at her request, and she asked me to sing it again. This time, she used my phone to video. She gave me the biggest hug afterwards. It boded well for my gig the following night.

Sure enough, the following evening at another, not quite as old, church, I performed my Children Of The Sea show, featuring acoustic songs in the second half. I managed to bring a few books and a handful of Fled’gling Double CDs (Blue Aconite&TDGOT) in my hand luggage and, to my astonishment, they nearly all sold! I also met some truly gorgeous people who made everything beautiful. Thanks to Koen and his wonderful team of volunteers! There are some videos of the gig HERE!

The whole experience was excellent, apart from Bob and I feeling a bit weird not being together - given the circumstances of the last five years, it’s been a very long time since either of us has been away without the other, but it was delightful to reunite!

We had a week before all things Dave Kelly came into play. We spent a couple of days back with Martin and Pam, and then four days with Rob and Jo Selbourne near Avebury Stone Circle. Always a joy - the Circle and friends!

Dave and I had been in contact about songs, etc, well in advance of the shows, but playing together for the first time in six years was going to be a challenge - or so we thought. Turns out, we just slotted back into the groove, so to speak. Don’t get me wrong, we rehearsed, but not as much as I thought was necessary. Which meant Bob and I could go visit another new addition to the Miller family - we spent a fabulous afternoon with Anthony and Karen (Bob’s nephew and lovely wife) in Royal Tunbridge Wells, and their son Joey and his lovely wife Lanting brought their burgeoning family, Eleanor (aged two and a half) who loves unicorns as much as I do, and her little brother Henry who was exactly 40 DAYs old when we met. What a joy to be in the bosom of family life in the middle of our peripatetic Hobbit lifestyle. We are truly blessed!

And so, onto the shows with the award-winning Dave Kelly!  First gig of the tour was in Kinross, Scotland. The Back Stage is housed in the lovely Green Hotel, which caters to serious Golfers generally - and the occasional wandering music fan! Dave and I have played here on numerous occasions, and always enjoy the atmosphere and fabulous enthusiasm of the audience. David Mundell, who is the power behind this and other iconic venues in Perthshire, continues to support live music despite the general challenges, and we applaud him!! We can’t do what we do without people like him doing what they do - symbiotic and necessary. Thanks, David, and those who came out to see us on our first gig in six years! Here's a link to a few snippets from the first and second show: HERE!

We drove down to Liverpool the following day. We headed for friends of Dave’s, Bea and David, who kindly offered to let us stay in their gorgeous home for the night of our gig at the Music Room at the Liverpool Philharmonic—a first for me, and another delightful experience. I rarely stay up after a show these days, but when there’s cheese on offer … I couldn’t resist! So Rock’n’Roll! And after a delicious brunch at a local eatery the next day, we headed south to our third country in three days - Wales!

Another gorgeous, and new venue for me - The Acapela Studio on the outskirts of Cardiff, is housed in what was once a chapel, with the graveyard still in place right outside. It was a wonderful, very warm evening, and the crowd were also incredibly warm and inviting. They certainly knew how to make us feel appreciated. I hope we get the chance to play there again soon.

Dave drove us back to London after the show, and we enjoyed a day off the next day.

Our next gig was in a church that is still up and running with a healthy congregation. We were playing here due entirely to the enthusiasm and support of the Canon of Guildford Cathedral, Chris Hollingsworth. He’s been a huge fan of Dave’s for decades, and after watching me perform Love Me Like A Man for Dave during lockdown, he has become a fan of mine too. He and his duo partner, Danny, provided the PA and did a great job. I did, yet another version of Amazing Grace at the back of the church under a gorgeous stained glass window after sound check. The gig was fun, and we collected a few more fans. Thanks Chris! Video includes a snippet from The Acapela Studio, Cardiff :-) x

The Half Moon Putney is an iconic venue for sure. I played there in 1985! Dave first played there years before that! We also had the joy of reuniting with a gorgeous Travelling Gentleman, and musical pal Peter Filleul, who joined us on half a dozen songs. It’s always a joy to add harmony to the harmonies :-) x he plays a mean organ solo too, of course. Once more, great enthusiasm and support were showered upon us. Thanks, Half Moon, we’ll be back!

Our next and penultimate show was in Worcester at another long-time church-turned-venue, Huntingdon Hall. I remember playing there with Daphne’s Flight in 2017, but I can’t remember if I’ve played there since. Anyway, it was a fun show, though my lackadaisical nature was well in evidence! I forgot my set list in the first half and had to keep referring to Dave’s, and then in the second half, it turned out I had the wrong set list and made a fatal error in one song in particular (no capo where it needed one and the wrong song entirely in my mind!). I figured it out quickly enough once it became apparent. Dave, bless him, saw the funny side - luckily, the audience did too. They were great - just me that needed a kick up the proverbial …

Another great gig and a hope to return.

Our final show was in New Milton at the Forest Arts Centre. Such lovely staff, who made us feel welcome and in good hands. We couldn't have asked for a more rousing end to the tour. Thanks Milton! The final video is an amalgamation of Worcester Hall and The Forest Arts Centre - enjoy!

Dave and I loved singing and playing together again, and we're planning ahead to sometime next year (TBD) to not only tour, but have a new CD under our belts! We hope you'll join us then! I'd just like to add a huge thank you to Gilly and Dave for being so generous with their lovely home, allowing Bob and me to be relaxed and rested before, during, and after the gigs! Couldn't have done it without you!

Bob and I travel back to the Isle of Man today (June 29th) and are looking forward to summer on the tiny isle. We'll be staying in Douglas, which is a big deal after years in Kirk Michael. Bob's very excited by the prospect of being able to walk to the many excellent coffee shops in town. I will have to find new places to dip, but I'll keep with the Thursday and Friday saunas at Fenella - it's tradition!

I have a lot of preparation to do for the tour in September. I'm creating more videos and adding songs to the list of oldies, and this time, I'll spread the songs of Children Of The Sea over both halves of the show. I'm excited to reveal the new material and to share Children Of The Sea once more.

So, that's the end of another month in 2025, and another Blog Post completed. Thanks, as always, for dropping by to see how I'm doing. I trust you're all ticketyboo! I'll catch up with you all again next month.

Until then, stay well and keep rising above the turbulence!

Much love

Christine x

May put a spring in my step ...

Blogpost No 5 May 2025

Bob and I spent three gorgeous weeks in beautiful sunshine (sunshine!) in the Isle of Man, reconnecting with family and friends on the topside. I have to say the bright, blue-sky days were a joy, and the glens were so verdant and rich with beautiful spring flowers. In the first few days, I enjoyed several sauna sessions and cold dips with my mermaid pals, and I’m certain they helped me navigate the jet lag labyrinth. Honestly, it felt like jet lag was a fairytale myth, and I know from experience that it’s not!

We’re still basically homeless, but happy. We were gifted the same space to rest and revive in Peel as we had last year before our Antipodean adventures. We are very lucky, peripatetic Hobbits!

I spent time relearning songs that (the award-winning:) Dave Kelly and I will be performing later in June. I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how quickly the chords fell into place. Quite frankly it’s a miracle!

Now, let me bring you up to speed with the final three shows Collister & Fix enjoyed in Victoria, Australia:

On Friday, April 25th, we played a private show in the suburbs of Melbourne at a wonderful venue in someone’s beautiful home. We are forever amazed by people’s generosity and wide-open-hearted spirits. It has to be one of our favourite experiences to be up close and personal with such fabulous people. Our deepest love and respect, Jane! You’re one in a million!

Michael had written a special piece of music for Jane’s late husband Peter, who was definitely one-in-a-million - and they were an amazing couple. That Jane continues to support live music in the way they used to together, is a true inspiration. Here’s Michael’s gorgeous “Song For Peter”:

On Saturday the 26th, we played at The Arco Bar, which was a new venue for us, suggested by our friend and great supporter, Cliff Ellery. There was a wonderful, warm, welcoming crowd with a few old friends and some now newly converted Collister & Fix virgins. One such couple have a fabulous and unexpected connection. I received, via the website, a lovely message a month or so before the gig, from someone called Brian Nicholls. He explained that he’s originally from the Isle of Man but now lives in Melbourne, and that recently someone from the island had visited and brought with them a copy of Children Of The Sea as a gift. He wondered if I was the same Christine Collister whose parents bought the Ellan Vannin hotel from his parents in the seventies! Yes, I am! He thought he’d missed the opportunity to come to a show, but when I told him we had yet to play in Melbourne, he immediately bought tickets for the Arco Bar. It was an absolute delight to meet him and his lovely wife, Amiko, new friends from old connections.

And so finally, we travelled ninety minutes out of Melbourne to the funky and art-drenched town of Ballarat to play for our dear friends Pam and Alan, who welcome everyone with open arms and a warm smile. A house concert is a thing of rare beauty, and these guys are masters of the art. What a perfect way to end our run of shows. It was a wonderful experience reconnecting with Michael. It’s such a joy to perform together again. We’re already planning more for next year. I will definitely keep you posted.

May 18th was the first anniversary of Mum's passing. I spent it with a lovely friend whose own Mum passed in August last year. We chose a beautiful place, Mum and Dad loved to take us in the summer - Druidale. It's one of those gorgeous, fairytale-like places that makes me smile. We did a lovely ritual in honour of our Mothers, all Mothers, and though neither of us has had children, we honoured the Mother within. The video also takes us to other beautiful places we have walked since our return - the Isle of Man truly is a place of great beauty.

Bob and I are now travelling the highways and byways of the UK for the next few weeks, calling in on family and friends for a catch-up north and further south. And then the gigs begin.

Thank you, as always, for dropping by to see how I'm getting on. I trust you are all in fine fettle and that I'll see some of you at the shows coming up with (the award-winning!:) Dave Kelly.

Till next time, stay well and keep rising above the turbulence!

Much love

Christine xx