Cliche I know, but where does the time go? Helen has been moonlighting down in Bath spinning in the stratosphere of “Madam Herz” in Mozart’s “The Impressario” and jolly fine she was too! Friday, though, it is back to rehearsals for Pizza on the Park. A few tweaks planned to the programme we did there in December. News of the imminent closure of this iconic venue has reached “the Guardian”. Apparently the planning for a bijou hotel on the site was granted in ignorance of the fact that wonderful music has been happening in the basement music room of the Pizza Express restaurant for DECADES!!! Can it be rescued at the 11th hour? We, for three, certainly hope so. It is a fab place to perform with an ambience unequaled in terms of the right balance between grunge and elegance, not to mention the best sound balance or is it the best sound balancER in London? Come and see us on May 16th and pray for a reprieve!

The dames are well into their Spring season working for Creative Arts East and Live & Local.  Now we have enough distance on an incident during the Autumn for me to write about it.  Just as we are about to go on stage – Barry our deputy pianist has already gone on – I notice my dress zipper, on my left side, has broken. HELP!!!!  What do do? Nothing for it.  I HAVE to go on.  So, brain whizzing round like crazy I put a brave face on it, set a fixed smile on my face and go on as if nothing is wrong, all the while thinking desperately forward to when I can get off to repair the situation.  Good!  After the first two numbers, Hel has a solo. Fantastic!  I duly sidle off to the dressing room and search for a safety pin.  Find one.  Hurray!  But it is too small to do any good. Panic!  I slip my right arm out of the shoulder strap and have another go.  No luck.  And it is my turn for a solo.  So with even more bravery on I go.  During my heartfelt number I notice with my periferal vision that my dress was sliding down!  O no!  I had forgotten to put my right arm in the strap so not only is the zip bust but the only other thing holding the dress up isn’t in place.   Result?  The entire dress is moving inexorably South. Total disaster!  I soldier on. Next up our West Side Story duet in which I usually move a fair bit.  Not this time.  I clamp both arms to my side, stay rooted to the spot and WILL  Hel to move towards me.  I don’t know how I get through that number but I can tell you it is with ENORMOUS relief that I wilt behind the screen at the back of the stage to change for my next entrance.  Of course the audience noticed but one or two asked us afterwards if it was meant.  MEANT???!!!  I am still recovering!

Well, I did my bike ride and completed 333 sweaty miles in all! An amazing experience and wonderful to see the excellent work Lepra do to help the poor help themselves out of disease and poverty – recruiting volunteers to spot people who might be suffering from leprosy, TB or HIV and getting them diagnosed early, inviting villages to cooperate with grain banks so the people don’t end up in debt to loansharks and educating women in sexual health. Inspiring. We’ve already done one show since my return – in Bulkington, Warwicks. A lovely, responsive audience in a great venue.

“Yes, we can update our blog every couple of weeks”. Fine words, said in response to our webmaster! What happened? LIFE!! Lots of gigs in the Autumn – some together as Flamin’ Dames and some others. I think we were both like hamsters on a wheel. Talking of which, I am also training hard for the cycle ride I am about to do in India for Lepra www.lepra.org. Not easy in this weather, so I have reluctantly joined a gym and pedal away at least in the dry and warm! As soon as I get back, it is more gigs so no time for jet lag. Plans are also afoot for a new show. We so enjoyed our Pizza on the Park gig before Christmas that we want to include some of that material. I wanted to call that gig “Flamin’ Dames PLUGGED”. Mostly we work acoustically but there we were miked and I have to admit I loved it and can’t wait to do more. Watch this space!

Madwoman that I am I have signed up to do a 350 mile sponsored cycle ride in India for the charity Lepra who do lots of valuable work helping people who suffer diseases of poverty. And yes, Leprosy DOES still exist! The cycle ride happens next January and I am organising a concert at York House, Richmond Road, Twickenham on 10th October 2009 starting at 8pm. This is to raise sponsorship funds and guess who are appearing as part of the programme? Right first time. Helen and Nikhil have kindly agreed to take part and we will be joined by talented friends and colleagues in what we hope will be a fun-packed evening. Do come along! There will also be an auction. Such things as Royal Albert Hall tickets, an hour of storytelling and a facilitated FIREWALK are among the items you can bid for! Please email for more details.