Practice or Pret-a-manger...?

I always get that question wrong. Still, at least I managed to avoid the muffins. I'm on a no chocolate and no muffins thing for Lent. That must be nearly two weeks now and in that time I've confronted a lot of muffins...

I'm having a bad spell of walking into things at the moment. Not surprising really when you have one eye closed, but the right side of my body is beginning to look like it has been seriously pummeled by Mike Tyson. I'm hoping that the various grazes, bruises and abrasions will blend in with the new frock. That's the new frock for the semis of the London International Jazz Competition for vocalists being held at The Vortex Jazz Club from 2-6.30pm on Saturday 18th March. Oh, you mean I've mentioned it before...?

Saturday was a big day. I finally wore the new black, knee high, sexy boots that I bought before Christmas. Why such a long wait? Well, it's a lot to do with having calves the size of small tree trunks. Still, I've shed a few pounds and I finally managed to zip them up. Hooray! I think it might be thanks to a significant increase in bouncing on my trampoline thing and a significant decrease in muffin intake. Let's face it, chocolate doesn't really come in to it.

I'm back at the Bull's Head in Barnes on Sunday April 16th. That's Easter Sunday so it should be easy to remember. I hope there will be a few people left in town to come along. In fact, anyone who is still in town over Easter, please come along and bring your mates! It's a great venue and I'm hoping to have a few guests along to sit in which will be nice.

I've got a new gig at The Clapham Picture House, Venn Street, Clapham on Thursday April 20th. It's a new venue (for jazz, not films of course...) and it's doing cosy jazz nights in the bar on Thursdays so check it out. It's going to be a duo gig, hopefully with guitarist Kristian Borring, and it's such a cool venue. A fab bar, big comfy sofas, and they do great hot chocolate which I can vouch for - that was before Lent by the way.

Thanks so much to everyone for their good luck messages for Saturday. It really means a lot and they are much appreciated. And to the person who said they are bringing a football rattle, I won't say anything if you don't. If you do come along you'll feel quite at home - most of the audience will look vaguely like me being family...

Rx