the cat hat

I managed to stall the camper van in the middle of a busy roundabout and the very next car to pass was the police .... arghhhhh! I was stressed and they very kindly asked if I was okay. I said yes and willed the camper (called ginge) into action. It stumbled across and promptly stalled again but this time I made it look like I had parked it and the police drove off. Then I realised I had my birthday hat on. Dave actually said 'if I knew you were going to wear it I would never have bought it' ... hmmmmmm. It is made out of leopard skin fake fur and has large cat ears on top lined with pink.

We have had a change round so I am sat at a newly-donated computer (thanks Dave). I have promised not to ever place magnets anywhere near it so this means I can catch up.

I have finally managed to clear out some of the kids stuff which was hoarded all the way round the house. I cried as I went through school books and toys and the memories flooded back! All in all though it HAD to be done.

I have some very exciting news about the new harp but it can wait until the next ...
HAPPY NEW YEAR.

its not just me who has bad days

We were supposed to be on the radio before Christmas - to promote Dave's new book and all the music to go with it. I rang the presenter on the Sunday evening to confirm and, yes, she said we had an hour on air the following Wednesday.

It was Dave's first ever radio interview and he spent hours getting his text ready and sorting out quotes. Imagine our dismay when we arrived at the Radio Station to find another couple waiting, with the same time slot ...

They told us the presenter had rung them up in desperation the day before to fill that hour and they had only travelled from around the corner so we could take the hour with pleasure. Lovely people.

The interview started. The Presenter couldn't remember my name, or Daves, or the books!!! Dave ignored all this and he started well. I played the first tune on the harp (too long, Dave said, but I got stuck in a loop - NERVES!!!!). Then there was a knock on the door and it was over! Dave and I looked at each other in disbelief whilst the Presenter welcomed the next guest ...

To add salt to the wound the answerphone was flashing when we got home. Guess who?
The Presenter ... just confirming that a lady called Rachel was coming to be interviewed that day at 2 pm. She had to listen to the message first saying who she had rung up ...

Very sad really that no-one got to listen to the amazing quotes from Dave's book - which means you'll just have to come to The Square Chapel, Halifax on the 20th ...!
(see you there?) (8 pm)

soggy moggy

We have a very 'festive' stable here - really! Donkeys, dogs and puppies, guinea pigs, rabbits and hampsters! We have so many because my daughter has brought her pets with her for Christmas and the dog had pups last night! Our kitten, Stix, is very curious about it all and has to check each food bowl and bucket. He got in the way yesterday and was shooed away. He decided to jump onto a down pipe to get a better view. It fell off straight into the water butt. As the down pipe disappeared into the water Stix was frantically trying to climb up the pipe. Even his tail was spinning to try and gain bouancy. Luckily I was watching from not-too-far-away and ran ... I caught him just before he disappeared under the water!

This is a very special Christmas for Dave and Jack. The first thing Jack did when he came into the house was to check out all the fireplaces to see which one Santa would come down! He had his 7th birthday last week so the excitement is high. We have a house full but luckily one of my Christmas presents was a huge ham from Mum. It has already nearly gone! Stix is continually trying to sneak a taste but has been foiled on every attempt so far ...

We called in at The Barearts in Todmorden on Thursday and I am thrilled to say that Cathy has agreed to paint one of my harps. It was made for me using old oak and mahogany but don't worry! - the soundbox is made out of less-exotic wood and this is what will be painted - more on this soon!

Well all to say is to wish you all a very Peaceful Christmas and Happy New Year.
I am at The Square Chapel on Friday 20th January - 8 pm.

I love teaching!

Had a lovely reception last night from Clitheroe Ladies - thank you. They were 'guinea pigs' for the new repertoire and it went down a storm - even asked for CDs - its the next job!!!

Dave came with me as the weather was very snowy here. However they had hardly any snow but it was very icy. All week the Sat Nav has been sending us down tracks and driving us mad! Last night it directed us up a track opposite the pub marked 'no through road'. We needed to turn round so headed up to find a gatehole. Much to our amazement this track took us to the main A59 and proved a brilliant short-cut.

It is very 'wuthering' here today with snow on the ground and a bitter wind. There is a local story that this was the very farm that the Earnshaws lived in when the Brontes were alive. It is difficult to prove as it was tenanted and split into 2 houses, then fell down and was re-built 10 yards in front.

Suddenly I am in big demand as a teacher! I am juggling harps around and having 32 harps is just about enough!