ENGLEFIELD GREEN – UKE HOTSPOT!
Dec 2010: Following on from the 2 items immediately below: it took less than a week for the 16 Jan workshop to sell out, with over a month still to go! Demand for uke action in Englefield Green is off the scale!

DATE SET FOR NEXT KIDS' WORKSHOP
Dec 2010: 16 January has been fixed as the date of the second workshop for the kids of Englefield Green, Surrey. A genuine case of "back by popular demand"! (See item below.)

KIDS' WORKSHOP "A BIG SUCCESS"
Dec 2010: Getting some excellent feedback from parents about the kids' workshop in Englefield Green on 28 November, for the Egham Youth Music charity. Here's a selection:
“Thanks for a great ukulele workshop. My daughter really enjoyed it.”
“We’d love to hear details of any other events you are organising.”
“The ukulele workshop was very successful. It was good to see so many musically inclined young persons enjoying themselves.”
“A big success ! Well done guys and thank you for this opportunity for the locality.”
“Both kids really enjoyed the ukulele workshop and we have had much ukulele music in the house since they got home.”

ALL-WEATHER TRAVELLING
Dec 2010: The gig at Club 31, Verwood, was on the brink of being cancelled right up to lunchtime of the day because of the biggest pre-Christmas freeze in ages. Emails zipped back and forth between the organiser and me, she left the final decision to me – and I decided to go (what a trouper!). I set off a good 2 hours earlier than I would have in normal conditions. Just as well as I experienced almost all weather possible: icy roads, blinding sun low on the horizon, then fog, then heavy freezing rain on the way home. 30mph speed restriction on the M27.
But I made the gig! Unfortunately most of the potential audience didn't.

SONGLET
Nov 2010: The following songlet, or something close to it, was performed at Dorking Folk Club on 10 November approximately 4 hours after being written and 24 hours after the incident that inspired it:

Yesterday while slicing bread
I sliced my fingertip instead
Now I find it hard to jam
What a clumsy sod I am
I've learned a lesson and now I know
Bread and jam don't always go
Together

THE HAWAIIAN WEDDING SONG
Sept 2010: I'd never done a solo wedding gig before so was delighted to be booked to play uke at a Hawaiian-themed wedding in London. Turned out to be a civil partnership, but I didn't know till I arrived! The happy couple, Kate and Lu, were two charming, gorgeous young ladies and the ceremony was touchingly beautiful. I played discreetly to top and tail the ceremony, then strummed away during a double-decker bus ride through London to a tiki bar on Lavender Hill where I serenaded them with the Hawaiian Wedding Song (learned specially for the occasion!). They were suitably impressed – especially as they didn't even know there was a Hawaiian Wedding Song! The weather was a bit iffy but it was a lovely day.

UKULELES ROCK SWANAGE!
Sept 2010: Swanage Folk Festival was a very successful gig for me. Parking in the town in summer is usually tough but at Festival time it's a nightmare. However I pushed my charm throttle to max and managed to blag perfect parking spots outside both venues. The workshop was well attended and most of the workshoppers joined me later in the main marquee at the climax of my concert spot. It all went very well: I got paid in cash, I sold a few ukes and CDs, the sun came out and I got invited back next year. I call that a result!

CH 2010