Happy Christmas Bloggers

Guess what arrived via the postman today? Our tickets for Basement Jam!! They were posted on November 24 and have taken a month to reach us. Must have got lost 'In The Ether' . Have a great Christmas everyone! Enjoy yourselves, don't overdo it and spare a thought for those less fortunate. Have fun!!

Spooky Photo

I took these photos whilst at a friends wedding reception about eighteen months ago. Opposite where the reception was being held was a circus. I was taking some photos of the big top when I noticed the moon behind the clouds. I thought it would make an interesting photo. I aimed the camera and just as I did I saw what appears to be a face. It lasted a second and it was gone. Spooky!!

Stu

Just seen a post from Claire Eliza asking if I have a photo of Stuart from Rachels band. Yes I have, here it is.

The Vibrants @ The Pleasure Unit

Another excellent set from The Vibrants!! These guys are going places! The Pleasure Unit is not a patch on The Halfmoon in Putney as a venue, but it doesn't matter if you have The Vibrants to watch. Met the band members after and they are really nice guys. Here are a few photos of the guys in action. Their EP is available on www.thevibrants.com Buy it!!!

Basement Jam (Part Two)

I took 120 photos at BJ here are a few more of them. I haven't bothered to explain who they are of, as you all know them.

Basement Jam - An Incredible Experience

Rachel and Me
Mikey and Me
Rachel and Mikey
Pete
Rachel
Simon

Mikey

Left to right - Me, Koos, Jim, Debby C
Stephanie, Gary, Jillytee, Marietta.
I do not know how to describe the experience of Basement Jam. This post would be full of repeated adjectives if I tried. There we are, about one hundred and twenty of us, mostly Bloggers, sitting in Oceanic Studios waiting for an intimate show to begin. Other Bloggers have described the event elsewhere (Garys, Mariettas and Jillytees Blogs) so I will just describe the special 'to me ' bits and post some photos. I met Mikey and Rene again and they are a fantastic couple. Mikey is such fun and did an excellent set, he also signed my photo of him that I bought from photographer Cat Stevens. I prefer Mikey to Foy Vance. I don't know why, but I do. Mikeys great!! Simon stormed through his set. Rachel , as normal , was perfect. Pete, well, what can I say. Well that's the short version of BJ. It was all a million times better than my description, just fantastically incredible. So I met Mikey and Rene, Simon T and now for the very special bit, not that Mikey and Rene and Simon aren't special, 'cos they are, very. But this next bit was surreal. During a break I am walking past Rachel and she is talking to Marietta. Jill is behind me and I hear Rachel mentioning smoking, so I say something like ' you must give it up Rachel' and Rachel says that she is going to see Alan Carr on Tuesday. We speak a little more as we walk along the corridor. Rachel leads us into a production room. Matt Kent is sitting to my left. Others are sitting around. In front of me in the middle of the room is, well it's him isn't it, Pete, the man whose music has been my inspiration in life for the past forty years. Now I am in dreamland, I take a couple of paces and say' Hi Pete, I'm Mark'. 'Hi Mark' he replies. I introduce him to Jill. Ask for a photo with him and he suggests I take one later on. 'Come this way Bloggers' says Rachel. We go through a door up the stairs (they are very steep) and there we are In The Attic. By this time, I'm thinking F**k me!! This can't be real!! We chat with Rachel, who is adorable, and after a few minutes she says we best get back to our seats as the show is about to start again and she needs a wee!! Down the stairs, holding onto the handrail, past Pete and into the corridor. How I got along the corridor with the widest grin in the world on my face I don't know. After the show I chat with Rene and she tells me they are driving back to Southend that night. I buy Simons CD and shake his hand and have a quick chat. After a couple of false starts I get my photo taken with Rachel (WOW!!!). I give Mikey and Rene a hug goodbye. We say goodbye to everyone and drop two americans Debby (Debby C) and Jim to Heathrow and drive home. Finally, I'd like to say Hi to all the Bloggers I met, especially Gary and Stephanie, Marietta, Debby and Jim, Koos, Delbut and lots more whose names I forget. And lastly a BIG thank you to Rachel, Pete, Mikey, Rene, Simon, Foy, Rachels band and all the production crew for a truly wonderful evening. Thanks!!!!! PS I said at the beginning of the year that it was my ambition to shake Petes hand before the end of the year. Idid it!!! Next year my ambition will be to have my photo taken with him as I didn't get it this time.

Disco and Basement Jam

A late start to the day, we finally got up at 1100 as we did a Disco last night. By the time we packed the gear away it was 0130 and we chilled out 'til 0245. It was a strange gig as no one appeared to want to dance until we played a request for The Music Man by Black Lace and then the dancefloor was full and it was 'cheese' for an hour. It's hard work setting up and for a four and a half hour gig which last night we started at 1630 picking the van up and finished at 0130. Nine hours work. Seriously need to look at the finances of running this 'hobby' as it is costing us money, but that's a decision for the New Year. Basement Jam tonight and we're really looking forward to meeting all the Bloggers and seeing Mikey, Rachel, Pete, Simon and Foy again. Got to get ready now. Will post later after the BJ.