We last left you at Maltby heading for a few days rest at the delightful Ansell household. Rob went to Whitby to stay with friends and returned Monday afternoon just in time to give Bob a lift to Newark train station to start his long journey back to the Island – ah. We missed him! Well I certainly did!
I took the opportunity to go into Nottingham with Diane and Maria Ansell to do a spot of mid-tour shopping! I can share with you that it was a very successful trip … 2 jackets and a pair of funky shoes later (all in sales!) and before we knew it we were sat at a pizza place ready to eat a well deserved luncheon – phew! Maria did especially well, managing not only to purchase several birthday presents for her mum but having 4 new – mostly purple - outfits bought for her by her mum … all in all a dizzy and exciting experience!
Shopping for purple things! from Christine Collister on Vimeo.
Rob and I did an impromptu performance for the Ansell’s after yet another delicious tea … due to Maria having her tonsils removed the following day, Diane and Bryan were unable to make it to our next port of call so we thought it only right and proper we sang for our supper. All much appreciated on everyone’s part.
We left the Ansell’s on Tuesday morning and headed for Leigh-on-Sea Essex to the Hoy At Anchor Folk club,which takes place on Tuesday evenings at the Ship Inn, opposite the train station in Old Leigh. I’ve played here several times now and always relish the experience. We arrived, after a particularly sweaty drive – too much information? And continued the physical heat by lugging our Carlsbro PA up the narrow stairwell that leads to the performance space.
Now when I’ve been here before the stage has always been set up in the window near the station but this time there was a bigger stage already up and functioning at the opposite side of the room so we rigged the PA to go there … seemed the right thing to us but … apparently we were supposed to wait till the lovely organisers turned up and use the window as usual… oops! Sorry! But there was no going back once it was all up and running! And they were very philosophical about our obvious conclusion.
Several people I know and love were coming to the show this night and I was very excited to see them all: Gary and Fiona, Ky and Emma, Phil and especially our hosts for the next few days: Helen Watson and her delightful partner Clea. Yeh!
I was still feeling a little off kilter at this point and not as confident as I like to be in general banter terms but no one else seemed to notice – phew! Rob’s extra harmonies were starting to come together and all the loop station and stomp-box songs went by without a hitch- hurrah. Another great gig under our belts – thanks Leigh! You were marvellous!
Untitled from Christine Collister on Vimeo.
Rob had met many people on the tour so far who waxed lyrical every time the delightful Ms Watson was mentioned. So his expectations were very high and possibly, he was a bit fearful that she couldn’t live up to the abundant praise we all lavish on her when given the opportunity to express our utter confidence and love for her presence. Well … she did not disappoint! They hit it off straight away – of course! Which is a very good thing given we were to spend the next few days in her and Clea’s tiny but perfectly formed blissful home in Burnham-on-Crouch.
Helley-welleny-Botson-Swotson-Watson from Christine Collister on Vimeo.
A day at the sea side - Burnham on Crouch - a guided tour! from Christine Collister on Vimeo.
I don’t know what it is about Helen and I that makes us so childish when we get together but whatever it is I am very grateful for it … we are like a pair of very naughty little girls who egg each other on to more and more ridiculous heights!
Foxy Watson sings the ballad of The Slimy Slew-ably assisited ... from Christine Collister on Vimeo.
We laughed the entire time we were there. It’s always a joy to be in her company. Clea and Rob coped with us very well too – ah bless. It was hard to leave … we love you gorgeous girls! We’ll be back!
Next on our gig sheet was a run of 6 dates back to back – gulp! First on the list was The Musician in Leicester and the opportunity to stay with David and Jean Suff – Mr Fledg’ling Records himself. It’s been far too long since I saw them; in fact the last time we met was at the Musician last year when I played there with Dave Kelly and the Travelling gentlemen! We called in on the way to the gig and dropped off our speakers and sundry leads etc not wanting to leave them in the car during the show … time for a hug and cool drink – essential things both!
The Musician is a strange and wonderful venue … brilliantly equipped and presented and I always feel positive before the show. It sounds great and looks fab but somehow I always feel deflated by the end of the night. It’s difficult to get much response from the generally quiet audience … yet at the end of the show they go berserk! Weird … I suppose they just save it all up for the end? My lovely friends Ann and Brian James tried their best to whoop and cheer but even they couldn’t get their fellow audience members to give out … until the last song.
The Musician Leicester - legendary gig! from Christine Collister on Vimeo.
David and Jean made us feel very welcome back at their lovely home in Uppingham and a sound sleep went a long way to restoring my dented demeanour. Onward and upward … well actually downward as our next port of call was Brighton!
On the road again ... from Christine Collister on Vimeo.
When we left Uppingham it was grey and damp and more rain accompanied us on our drive down. By the time we entered the M25 the sun had returned and the traffic had built up … and I was not happy about the 2 hours it took to get from the A1 junction to the M23! Argh …
The Open House is home to Brighton Folk and Blues club and a very funky place it is. We both loved it on first sight. Vanessa and Alan are the delightful organisers of this very lively club, which has only been running about a year. It’s a fantastic venue and once we got the sound check done the room filled up really quickly. Whatever fugue had plagued me surrounding my general stage persona, it disappeared at Brighton!
Perhaps it was the fresh sea air or conversely the stupid drive down but I felt my old confidence return and enjoyed a very light-hearted and witty performance -as did the substantial audience. Hurrah! Rob did a splendid few songs before the second half and James Asher turned up … co-writer of All About Love … another lovely friend I haven’t seen for far too long. It was the first time he had heard our version of the song he and I started many years ago but which Rob and I finished … and is one of the high lights of this tour. I can report that he gave it and us his full approval - phew! Rob had never been to Brighton before and his first impressions were very favourable. He was heard to say as we left the gig … “I haven’t seen a single ugly person yet!” … He may move there!
We stayed with Ness and her lovely partner Chris at their gorgeous home in Hove just 10 minutes from the gig and discovered – over a lovely glass of red wine - that Ness and I had met years ago (I’m talking 22 years!) when she lived in Hong Kong and I was there performing with Clive Gregson at the Hong Kong Folk Festival! Bloody hell! I thought she looked familiar when we met! We reminisced.
Before moving onto Aldershot we enjoyed a coffee and a walk round Hove … but didn’t make it to the sea front due to inclement weather … not what we ordered! Goodbye Brighton … we’ll be back.
Brighton! from Christine Collister on Vimeo.
We somehow found ourselves in Horsham in West Sussex looking for food … lunch to be precise but what we found there left us very confused and for sometime … very hungry … but it was a very interesting place!
Horsham ... myth or legend? from Christine Collister on Vimeo.
We were invited to stay with my lovely friends Pam and Martin Dury in Sandhurst for the next 2 nights, covering Aldershot and Bournemouth nicely – thank you! I have to say that Rob has been brilliant, accepting every situation I’ve thrown his way – he’s delightfully sociable and quite house-trained and has made a positive and lasting impression on everyone he’s met – not least Pam and Martin!
We arrived late afternoon and made ourselves at home while Pam and Martin, together with our mutual and equally delightful friends, Phil and Pat Chappell, left for theWest End Arts Centre in Aldershot, where the festival we were booked to perform at was taking place.
We were due on stage at 10.30 for a 40-minute slot at the end of the night. I don’t think either of us has ever been to, let alone played at, an Indoor/Out-door Festival before … it’s one hell of an experience! Barney Jeavons is the very likeable organiser of this event and it’s due to his innovation and creative input that the centre’s floor surfaces are completely covered in turf! That’s right … grass … the real stuff too … it’s amazing and quite smelly! Last year apparently they had live sheep and goats! There’s also a small wooden bridge and stream running under it … all in doors. I dubbed the space by the river “Glastonbury” as by the time we arrived it was a proper muddy mess and I lost my shoe more than once to the suction it created. The other remarkable thing to mention was the amount of young people in the audience … brilliant!
Aldershot indoor/out door festival - say what? from Christine Collister on Vimeo.
There were a number of excited people who’d been to see me before who shouted out song titles with a fair amount of passion … I was quite taken aback … in a very humble way. These same people decided to come to East Grinstead too! Bless them – and thanks!
Rob and I got back to the Dury’s lovely home about 12.30am where Pam was in full entertaining mode and assembling a mountain of food for us to enjoy. It was a full-on party including champagne and red wine. Phil and Pat were also there and before we knew it, it was 4.30! Ouch. For some reason I still can’t fathom … Rob mentioned Amaretto and so it was produced from Pam’s magical never ending supply of lovely things to enjoy… which later … Rob regretted.
Aldershot aftermath! from Christine Collister on Vimeo.
Ah bless. We had a very long lie-in the following morning – what was left of it! I was surprisingly fine but poor Rob was not at his best. We drove to Bournemouth mid afternoon leaving enough time to meet up with Martin, Pam, Phil and Pat to enjoy a bite to eat before sound check. While waiting for food that never arrived ... we were a bit bored and Phil made good use of the time; thanks also to Pam for the group pic ... still no food!
BTW ... Kipper Collister and the Amaretto Kid are still on the loose!
The sun shone bright in Bournemouth and a new venue to experience awaited.The Centre Stage, home to the Bournemouth Folk Club , is a rather wonderful venue imbued with a great sense of atmosphere that lends itself generously to anyone who treads its lovely stage. Paul Burke organises 2 nights of music each week, made us feel vey welcome. His obvious love of music is so warm and giving that we felt immediately at our ease. Nick is the in house soundman and was equally accommodating and very good at his job!
I haven’t played Bournemouth for quite some time and had no idea what sort of attendance to expect … I was very pleasantly surprised. We had our first – and only – funky dancer when we played “The Ones That Love You” … a delightful 5/6 year old girl who commented that I had tiny curls at the end of my hair … that’s what a very hot and sticky night will do for a girl! We loved the entire experience. Bournemouth ROCKS!
Beautiful Bournemouth! from Christine Collister on Vimeo.
Rob was still feeling a little iffy – bless – so I drove back to Pam and Martin’s, while he snored! Pam, Martin, Phil and Pat all absolutely loved the show and were very impressed with some of our “tricks”! I’m not giving the game away here of course! Pam laid on another spread … how do we survive without these lovely social gatherings? Rob went to bed before the Amaretto could make a move!
We left Sandhurst feeling very loved and appreciated – we can’t thank the Dury’s nearly enough… though we try! We love you too.
Monday July 6th had us heading for the Chequer Mead Theatre in East Grinstead. I’ve played here several times before and loved it each time … Monday was no exception. Martin Snodin has promoted gigs in the area for a number of years now and always does a first rate job … he somehow managed to get me on the front cover of the theatre’s brochure even though the deadline had gone! Hurrah.
We were supported by a very young – 19 year old? – but very talented singer-songwriter:Alex Hall who was delightful … I’m sure he’ll have a very long and successful career – we wish him luck! Bob travelled from the Island that morning to be with us for the show – he was up at 5.30m! It was a joy to see him.
East Grin-stead! from Christine Collister on Vimeo.
It was another great gig full of daft moments and one big memory lapse that even I couldn’t bluff my way through but no one seemed to mind me starting again. Phew. Leaving East Grinstead proved harder than expected especially as I kept ignoring our Lady-of-the-Sat-Nav! Oops. We drove up to Hitchin to stay at the Sun Hotel. In fact we’re here until Monday now … a home away from home. Thanks to Paul Leitch … our friend and the hotel’s manager!
And so we come to gig 6 out of 6 … The Processed Peain Etton East Yorkshire. I’ve played here a number of times over the years and was amazed to find that they celebrate their 40th year this September … and in the same venue too! Brilliant. No mean feat.
The drive up from Hitchin was spectacular … amazing cloud formations and several torrential downpours in equal measure … both of which I loved! We also took the opportunity to stop off at Lincoln for a spot of cream-tea – mmm delicious.
the long and cloudy road ... to etton from Christine Collister on Vimeo.
Martin Peirson is the Processed Pea’s gallant organiser and took in his stride my change of mind about not using our own PA – only the day before – when we realised how long a drive back it would be. Martin’s PA is more than adequate and would save us a fair amount of time at the end of the night in not having to pack down and fill the car before leaving into the long dark night. Thanks Martin! You’re a sweetheart!
The gig itself was a very strange affair. For one thing the stage erected at the front of the room was relatively high off the ground … or perhaps it was just that that the ceiling was quite low to start with and meant the lovely (6 feet 2 inches tall!) Rob was unable to stand on it without fear of concussion! So we had to improvise and devise an arrangement that allowed us both to be on stage at the same time and after several tries with various pieces of furniture, eventually used a tall stool placed on the floor behind the stage (are you still with me?!) so Rob ended up wedged in a corner of the stage surrounded by his gadgets! It’s probably the only time I’ve been taller than him … and I had to keep flat shoes on so I didn’t bang my head!
For some reason this all added to our growing sense of hysteria and other-worldliness and made for a rather surreal experience. I have no idea what the audience thought about all this but their toes tapped through-out the night and their lovely smiley faces beamed up to our dizzying heights – though only a little laughter was drawn from them despite my silliness and general comic efforts – I was assured when their Flip moment came by their enthusiasm at the end of the night! Bless.
Anyone for a Processed Pea? from Christine Collister on Vimeo.
After big hugs and goodbyes, Rob took the first leg of the journey back while I surreptitiously flipped the full moon and Bob’s curious penchant for bursting into song! You gotta love him – OK maybe that’s just me then? And I do – very much!
It's a long way back to ... Hitchin. from Christine Collister on Vimeo.
We have a hefty 3 day run starting tomorrow – Crouch End, Carlisle! Then Hitchin! I have only myself to blame.
Thanks, as ever, for stopping by and do come back to find out what happens next!
Much love
CC ;-) XX
