A lost week & a box of Books/CDs arrives!

Blogpost No2 February 2024

When we last spoke, dear reader, Bob and I had arranged a few days with dear friends Ina and Michael Fine at Woy Woy on the Central Coast (NSW), followed by a couple of days further south near Lake Conjola, with Fiona and Ian Stewart at Yatte Yattah. It feels like a lifetime ago now!

We enjoyed dips in the warm Pacific Ocean, walks through rainforests and high mountain ridges (Mount Bushwalker!), delicious meals punctuated with laughter and life stories, some funny, some sad, always followed by more laughter then topped off with a visit to the beautiful Bundanon Art Gallery for lunch and high culture. A tonic for anyone’s soul.

We arrived back in Sydney to find that our gorgeous girls would be with us for the whole weekend - an unexpected joy! We made the most of our extra time. There were many games of UNO! Some of which I won.

It was a wrench saying goodbye. Really hard. But we’ll be back! As soon as humanly possible. We’ll be back.

Bob and I headed to the West Coast to see my brother Paul, who’s lived in Perth for 18 years. It was like no time had passed since we last saw him in 2019. The walk from the luggage hall to his car in the blistering 34C heat was … interesting! Luckily we have a sense of humour … and wheels on our bags ;-) x

We settled in for a week of swimming in the Indian Ocean, Golf, and Symphonic Concerts in the park. More good food, family and friends. Our cup runneth over.

And all too soon we were boarding the non-stop Qantas flight to London. It was our 14th wedding anniversary. Hurrah! We landed back in Blighty on Valentine’s Day. Made no difference to our tiredness. There was a 12-hour wait between landing and boarding our flight to the Island so we opted for a Day Room at a decent hotel near Gatwick. Clean sheets, a hot shower and a few hours of horizontal kip can do wonders. Our dear friend Jill Cavellec picked us up and whisked us back to Kirk Michael once back on the tiny isle. And so began the warped wormhole that is jet lag.

We must have been running on adrenaline on Thursday because we woke at a decent hour of the morning feeling relatively rested. We drove to town, had a hearty brunch (big mistake!), whizzed around Tesco and M&S and back in time for a nap. All good.

That night I woke at 2.30 am and found no sleep after that. But I felt decidedly tired; exhausted. Go figure. Friday morning I arose to meet my mermaid pals at Fenella Beach for an extraordinary experience (especially after the warm Oceans of the Antipodes!). We were booked for a sauna and a dip! I was horrified by the depth of cold that greeted me. The Irish Sea makes no pleasant adjustments for ill-prepared bathers. OMG! Breath-taking is a poetic way of expressing my first baptismal dip … followed, it has to be said, by an absolutely glorious hot sauna overlooking frothy Fenella waves. A second dip was necessary as my sweat glands were on fire! Did I really need to enter a third time? Yes I did!

I felt incredible afterwards. Fully alive and tingling and ready for the world. I had a haircut followed by a visit with Mum. She was very sleepy though I was informed she’d had a great week. A shower (not possible for two weeks), two nights in her bed (usually upright in a chair in the lounge) and she’d been chatty all week. Hurrah. I managed to get a smile and a squeeze of my hand. I was glad of that.

The rest of the week has been a blur of physical adjustment, comprising mostly of sneezing, sleeping, sneezing, sleeping etc we’ve lost a whole week but it was necessary for our poor bodies who take longer than our busy minds, to feel at home again.

One of the big decisions we faced when we got back was how to reintroduce Sweep back into the mix. We asked our lovely neighbour Jill if she would hold onto him for the weekend while we got back into the swing of things. When we spoke, after saying hi and welcome home and all that good stuff she blurted out: “I’d really like to keep him. He gets on so well with Connie and he loves being part of the farm work he’s just so settled…” it was music to my ears. Bob and I had discussed whether Jill might adopt Sweep at some point in the future. That she suggested it and was so upbeat about him was perfect. I saw him today from our bedroom window. He was out in Jill’s field, barking, his tail wagging happily. Then Connie appeared and they just chased one another round and around …tails wagging, ears up. I miss him. But this is right. Bless him!

I'm writing this on Thursday, Feb 22nd. At lunchtime, a box of Children Of The Sea books/CDs arrived. I am beside myself with amazement. It’s taken a very long time from concept to application for funding, to the creation of the music and then, onto a book with beautiful artwork from local artists. I’m so grateful! And a bit overwhelmed. There's a very silly video of me opening the box on FB ... if you haven't had a giggle already.

There are a few details to organise before they’re available to order which you will be able to do from Fled’gling Records website once everything’s in place. I’ll be organising a launch concert here on the island in the spring, date and the venue is yet to be arranged. So there are still some official things to put in place but once we’re all up and running you’ll be the first to know! Thank you for your patience. Thank you for being interested. Thank you! Thank you!

It’s now Friday February 23rd and … Mum was taken to hospital late last night after a fall. More than that her oxygen levels were really low and it looks like she has a further development with Heart Failure. Such a drastic term! Anyway the upshot is that she’s improved enough to hopefully return to the Home sometime tomorrow afternoon. My sister and I helped her move from A&E where she’d been overnight, and witnessed her revival as she joked with the lovely staff on her Ward. She has no idea where she is or why she’s there but there’s so much going on she’s vaguely entertained … this is a good thing. My brother and sister-in-law are with her this afternoon and I’ll be back tomorrow to bring her back to Ramsey … fingers crossed! Never a dull moment n’est pas?! Just needed to share that. Thanks for listening!

Hello again ... it's now Saturday and a further night of observations is required because Mum's kidney function isn't as good as it could be. Hey-ho. She was very funny when my sister and I called in to see her this afternoon. Some kind soul had brought a shapes toy for her to play with. It's amazing how absorbed she becomes when there's a fun and colourful puzzle to solve. My fingers are back on duty ... crossed as firmly as they're able. Tomorrow is another day. I have high hopes I can bring her back to the Home.

I've edited a daft video of our happy antics in the Antipodes ... a sort of "What we did on our holidays". Enjoy!

OK dear Reader ... it's time to leave you and see what joys March will bring. There are already so many signs of Spring .... it's a very exciting time of year!

Till next time stay well and keep rising above the turbulence.

Endless blessings!

Much love

Christine x

2024 is already full of promise.

Blogpost No1 January 2024

Coming up to the end of January 2024 and already this year is so full of promise I can hardly contain myself! Firstly I’m writing this Blogpost (No1 of 12) for 2024, from my gorgeous step-daughter’s apartment in Sydney Australia. I mean, Bob and I haven’t travelled off the tiny isle for over 4 years and now we’re in Australia! When we made our plans to leave we were tentative and unsure but once the flights were booked (early December) we were flooded with excitement.

The logistics of making sure the house would be looked after in our absence and Sweep of course, took a bit more organising than buying the tickets but it all got done with relative ease. We are so grateful for the love and support we receive as a matter of course but especially for this trip. We know mum is OK and have photographic evidence from both my sister and brother who are, as usual, keeping in regular contact with her. And I’ve even had reports of how well Sweep is doing too. So we’re free to enjoy our time away.

The journey itself happened in several phases. Getting off the island these days has become a bit of a lottery with regards to weather conditions and random cancellations so we opted to give ourselves a buffer and left two and a half days earlier than needed. Our friends Pam and Martin Dury invited us to stay at their lovely home not too far from Heathrow. Those few days alone were a total joy. To be in the physical presence of dear friends for the first time since 2019 was pure bliss. I thought we might be a bit nervous about being in the UK where, let’s face it, there are many more humans than on our quiet little rock in the middle of the Irish Sea, but we were anxiety-free and super excited the whole time.

We had the added joy of meeting up with Ellie, one of Bob’s lovely great-nieces whose gorgeous mum, Vicki, sadly died in December. We were unable to attend the funeral due to weather-related cancellations, though we tried our best to make it happen. Spending time with Ellie and her partner Jacob was so good. A real heart-warming delight. They are such sweet and lovely people.

(no photo of our delightful meeting but found this lovely reminder of happy times with Ellie, Vicki and her mum Jean in York)

And that afternoon Pam and Martin had invited a whole gang of friends (collectively known as The Cupcakes:) to join us for dinner and a much needed catch-up. Again … our hearts were full with gratitude for the love and kindness showered upon us. We certainly made up for lost time.

Then came the first of two long-haul flights that would eventually bring us to our long awaited reunion with those we love so dearly in Sydney. After 26 hours travelling, we were understandably weary but as soon as we saw our gorgeous granddaughters and Jo waving, then running full pelt to greet us … all weariness melted away as we hugged and hugged … and hugged.

We have now spent 11 days here in the glorious sunshine of New South Wales. Mostly giggling uncontrollably with Bella, Chiara and Jo. We have been to many beaches and dipped in the warm water over and over. My daily dips in the Irish Sea are a far cry from these balmy experiences but I will get back to those bracing dips when we’re topside once again … but not for a few weeks yet. All in good time.

The girls are now back with their dad for the next little while so we’ll drive to see friends along the NSW coastline this coming week. More catching up and reconnections with good friends. Life is beautiful.

We chatted with Michael Fix this morning and looked at the possibility of maybe touring together in Australia again sometime next year … maybe. We’d like to. We’ll work on keeping our vibrations high in order to bring that wish to life.

Another wonderful development is that Children Of The Sea will finally be a book/CD by the first week of February! Now that didn’t take long. But I’m so happy with how it’s all turned out. I’ll be delirious when I have a copy in my hands. Wow! The release date has yet to be set and once we know that, there will be a launch gig on the Isle of Man with a UK tour already booked for the end of November. Details so far are now available on the Live page - I’ve got an actual tour. At last! See how the promises are piling up? I’m so grateful that I can resume my lifetime passion of performing for precious music loving people again. I hope to see you at a show this year. I mean it. I need to see you all again.

A very dear friend, Bryan Ansell, who had been ill for some time, died on New Year’s Eve. Bob and I met Bryan and Diane in 2000, not too long after they’d returned to the UK after their 10 ‘post-Games Workshop’ years globe-trotting with their young family. They came to a gig I was playing at the Grantham Arts Centre and as we chatted at the end of the show they invited us for lunch at Stoke Hall the next day. We happily accepted, and despite neither Bob nor I having any real knowledge of the toy-soldier or war-games world — or Bryan and Diane’s lofty place in it — we found much common ground, especially in our mutual and eclectic love of music and literature, and a shared sense of fun and independence. Such an innocent spontaneous meeting led to a wonderful friendship.

The Ansell’s gave us an open invitation to use their beautiful home as a base for any future touring, welcoming us as part of their family, and for a wonderful brief 18 month period we even lived in the old courtyard at Stoke Hall. We have fond memories of ghosts, ancient plumbing, brandy, Greek tragedies, gardening, fabulous feasts,Texas and general knowledge crosswords in the Telegraph that Bryan — who Bob always referred to as a rare font of actually useful knowledge — excelled at! They were beautiful, rich delightful times that we will cherish always.

Bob and I are so grateful to have known Bryan, to have called him our friend, and to have loved all his amazing passions and eccentricities. We will continue to love him through the many memories we shared. Our deepest love goes out to Diane, Marcus, Emma, Maria and Alicia.

In keeping with last year’s promise of sharing some music each month I thought I’d share this strange little demo I created when we were still living at the Courtyard at Stoke Hall. Bryan encouraged me to look at the Classics for inspiration and leant me many of his wonderful books exploring Greek Mythology to find inspiration. Obsession  was the first song I attempted and is based on the story of Narcissus. It was pre-Logic days and I really had no idea what I was doing but … there’s the basis of a song that might one day find the light of day.

I’ll leave it here for this month and will see you on the other side of February with more news of Children Of The Sea and maybe a new musical piece to ponder. You just never know.

Until then dear reader stay well and keep rising above the turbulence.

Much love

Christine x

Looking back and forward too …

Blogpost 12 December 2023

Well we’ve made it dear reader! Another whizz round our glorious Sun. Are you ready to strap yourself in for another adventure on our beautiful blue planet? I am!

So much has happened this year. So many challenges and changes with mum’s developing Dementia. A bad fall in February where her right shoulder was broken, marked the beginning of a sharp downward turn in her overall health. In June her mental well-being was measured by a regular “memory test”. Last year she managed 15 points out of 30. This year? 4. Not our finest moment. Soon after this revelation, she lost her place at the Day Care Centre she’d been attending since early 2018.

Mum’s been in full time care since the beginning of October. She was quite ill the first three weeks of her stay but once a chest infection, UTI and lymphedema had effectively been addressed she’s been relatively good. In fact her mobility has really improved. Apart from the fact she refuses point blank to go to bed and instead insists on snoozing on a chair in the lounge - she’s doing well. Bless those amazing carers who happily let her be who she is.

I wish I could say wholeheartedly that she’s great and has found a new lease of life.There are days however when she’s upbeat, witty, full of mischief and trying to help others in a less capable state. But these occasions are becoming rarer. When they do happen, we appreciate the small moments of connection and delight. Our glass is half full even when it’s not.

Bob and I, on the other hand, have bounced back remarkably well. It took me a few weeks longer to find my bounce but we’re well and truly on our way to being on an even keel.

In March this year Vicki, one of Bob’s lovely nieces, was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive brain cancer. A terrible blow to the whole family but especially her partner of 20 plus years, Pete and two gorgeous daughters Ellie and Billie and of course her her lovely mum Jean. Vicki and Pete married soon after this life altering news. Vicki played her cards with such courage, strength and honesty and her characteristically wonderful sense of humour. She had a wide circle of family and friends that all adore her. She was and will remain an inspiration to those of us privileged enough to have known her. Vicki died Dec 4th surrounded by her close family. There is such heartbreak.

Bob and I arranged to leave the island (first time in nearly 4 years) to attend Vicki’s funeral Dec 19th. But the weather gods were against us and we were unable to leave due to storms. We watched the beautiful and often laugh out loud service via a live stream. One of Vicki’s many strengths were her amazing organisational skills. She wrote her own eulogy and arranged everything from music to Celebrant and Wake. It was one of the most moving, poignant and eloquent celebrations of life I’ve ever experienced. There were passages presented by or on behalf of family which were every bit as moving. We were deeply saddened and deeply disappointed not to be there in person. Rest easy now Vicki, know you are loved beyond measure.

Children Of The Sea is nearing the end of its creation. All moving parts involved in the making of the physical CD and book are now with the manufacturers. We don’t have a date yet for receiving the final product but … fingers crossed it might be the end of January/beginning of February. It’s been a very long and drawn out process but I hope you all feel it worth the wait, once we’re ready to release/unleash it out into the world. Your continued patience and excited anticipation are required just a little longer … but soon, very soon.

I had a quick look through the other Blogposts of 2023 (only mine you understand I mean there are a lot of other Blogposts in the world!!:) just to remind myself of what’s gone on over the last 12 months and the overwhelming evidence is, that I obviously love the garden and all things to do with growing fruit and veg. Even at my rudimentary level it’s such an exciting and heart warming inspiration to play with and in Nature. Gratitude abounds!

There has been very little in the way of musical activity this year but I sincerely hope to make up for that in 2024. With the release of Children Of The Sea I’ll be able to tour a solo show - complete with projected imagery and also using the tracks I created for the CD as accompaniment which I think will work really well. Then as a second half I’m thinking a solo set of acoustic versions of songs from past releases - a mixed bag consisting of what I can reliably remember and perhaps what people request? Have a think and let me know what you’d appreciate hearing. Thanks.

The biggest news going forward is that Bob and I have finally been able to arrange a trip to see Bob’s gorgeous daughter and our twin granddaughters in Sydney. To say we’re excited is the understatement of the year! We’ll be there a few weeks before the girls go back to school which is wonderful. We’ll also be able to see my brother Paul in Perth on our way back. All in all our hearts are super grateful and excited and full to the brim with love to share with those beautiful beings of light that mean so much to us and who we haven’t seen for 4 years now. Bella and Chiara were 8 and half when we saw them last. They’re 12 and a half now. That’s a massive amount of growing up we’ve missed out on. We love Jo and her gorgeous girls so!

Once we’re back on the topside, the real work begins on preparing Children Of The Sea for release. Date as yet to be decided. But I’ll definitely be having a launch gig on the Island to celebrate that long-awaited event! Watch this space …

If you’re interested in the details of the past months of 2023 feel free to revisit or read for the first time those previous Blogposts found below this most recent one.

I try to bring you an interesting musical something-or-other each month and here in the final throes of 2023 I'm sharing a wonderful song taken from The Soldier of Orange. My good friends Tom Harriman and Pamela Phillips Oland are the composer and lyricist. The show has been a fantastic success in Holland since 2010. When plans began to bring the show to London in 2016 Tom asked me to sing the vocal demos in English (written in English originally they were translated into Dutch for the original show) . I was excited and honoured to be asked. Tom is an amazing composer/musician and directed me in the performance. Something I'm not used to at all. But I loved the experience and I particularly love this song. For some reason Soundcloud and YouTube no longer let me add their icons here so all I can do is share this link if you don't mind travelling all the way to Souncloud, here it is: https://on.soundcloud.com/p7Gey

Having just celebrated my birthday I am full of love and appreciation for family and friends who mean the world to me. My gorgeous husband, Bob, is a truly remarkable man. He has been a huge support through the whole of our beautiful connection - 13 almost 14  years married, 23 almost 24 together. But particularly over the past 4 years … he’s been truly amazing. I could not have done any of the caring I was able to for mum, without his unwavering love and support. I just felt the need to acknowledge that fact. Thank you.

This is where I wish you all the best of all possible outcomes for the coming year. May we each find strength when needed, love and kindness often and peace beyond understanding. Know you are loved beyond measure … I really do appreciate you!

Till next year dearest reader ❤️ Stay well and keep rising above the turbulence!

Much love

Christine xx