Feeling Good

The Key Largo ladies have been having fun with various solo projects over the past few weeks. And if you were thinking we were only an instrumental group, surprise! We can provide singing too. Not from me I hasten to add. That would not be good for anyone, other than perhaps the hearing impaired! In fact, flashback to the fourteen year old me when my best friend and I used to entertain at old peoples homes. Some loved us. (Honest) Others used to sigh, shout abuse and/or leave the room promptly. Ahem!

However, Catherine has a fabulous voice and somehow in her busy schedule finds time to be a member of the York Gospel Choir too. Anyways, so Catherine had a particularly exciting gig this weekend. She played and sang for a party hosted by Christa Ackroyd - yes - that's right, the lady of Look North fame. I think particular fun was had finding Christa's home which is in the moors and pretty much in the middle of nowhere. And of course the weather was foggy, rainy and dark. Fun!

But there was a lovely surprise in store for Catherine, despite having taken her stage piano, there was a beautiful grand piano for her to play. This did raise some transposing issues and perhaps Catherine was a little more soprano than she would have liked , but on the whole it was a delight. Drinks and canopes were plentiful and there was high energy singing from the guests and Christa herself who by all accounts is a great singer.

The requested repertoire, most of which is not on Catherine's play list and had to be learnt or arranged within a couple of days included 'Still' by the Commodores (Christa and her husband's wedding song!) Wonderful Tonight, Love Me Tender and other such romantic tunes.

The evening was rounded off with a selection of songs from the musicals with the party goers providing a rousing chorus.

So we've entered our first foray into the celebrity world. Today Christa Ackroyd, tomorrow...Beyonce!

Rachel meanwhile has been busy gigging with her husband and fellow musician and song writer Dan Webster, not to mention her involvement in orchestral work. She's also about to arrange one of Dan's songs for the Trio for an upcoming concert.

As for me, I've written and recorded a flute part for an original song 'Differently' and am looking forward to hearing a mix of it. I've also managed a long overdue catch up with the lovely Holly Taymar who has very kindly agreed to play some guitar on a song I've written. It's all go. It's all good.

Talking of which, Catherine also managed to record a version of 'Feeling Good' which sounds fabulous and effectively sums up the mood of the moment x

Parking, plumes and polo necks!

I felt I needed to write a little about a beautiful wedding we played at in December.  It was the perfect way to round off the year.  It started a little hairily as the venue was in the centre of historic York and therefore I needed to find my own parking.  Now considering this was the Saturday before Christmas you can imagine the fun I had trying to park!  I was on the verge of abandoning the car in a rather illegal place when I had a flash of inspiration.  (Rare - these days)  I remembered I have friends in the right places.  (Not usually, but in this instance I did!) Luckily my lovely friends let me park on their residents-only-parking street and sacrificed one of their permits to my cause.  Hoorah!

When I arrived, slightly hassled and sweaty (we'll come to that later) I was blown away by the venue's decor. Fake snow had been placed all over the floor and white candles and pine cones were placed in large hurricane lamps.  Blood red roses adorned the tables.  Gorgeous.

Now as predicted the only draw back about this medieval building in the middle of winter is that it was ever so slightly freezing.  But I'd come prepared.  As had the other Key Largo Ladies.  They had on their lovely dresses and evening style cardigans.  I on the other hand was wearing a woolly skirt and a polo neck.  Hey - I feel the cold, OK? Now, whilst this probably conjures up the image of an old lady  (actually I am 40 now, so am getting there - ahem!)  I am hoping that I pulled it off with glamorous accessories; an extremely sparkly scarf, diamante jewellery and fingerless gloves!  O.K maybe not the gloves, but they were gold and metallic.  That counts for something, right?

Anyway, we played lots of lovely specially requested songs for the young couple, including 'Can You Feel The Love Tonight'  'Chasing Cars' and 'Greatest Day',  but the ultimate in wedding gloriousness came after the ceremony as the guests helped themselves to mulled wine and the new Mr and Mrs took a 'turn around the park' in a horse and carriage.  The horses were majestically beautiful.  Black glossy coats, white majestic plumes and 3 coachmen no less.  Amazing.


This has once again provoked an urgent need in me to have a wedding. So I'm thinking that maybe Hubby and I could renew our vows.  It's only 7 more years till our 25th wedding anniversary. Yesss.  How else can I have a horse and carriage? And I want a white velvet gown, vaguely Maid Marian in style. But don't worry, my poor fellow won't be wearing red tights.  Gulp.