Beautiful Butterflies and Derbyshire Oatcakes

Last weekend I visited the "Sensational Butterflies" exhibition at the National History Museum.  Like many people I'm fascinated by butterflies.  I love the idea of the growth cycle from hungry caterpillar to hibernating chrysalis to beautiful butterfly - a spectacular metamorphosis!  The artistic process for me is similar.  I spend a lot of time at the beginning of a new project devouring all sorts of things including books, films, travel experiences, people watching etc - then comes the hibernation phase with a lot of work taking place behind the scenes - leading to the final reveal in a performance of my new creation.  For "Spellbound Stories" the chrysalis/hibernation phase took much longer than I would have liked.  But everything happens in its own time...

The amazing transformation in action!

 

This one was a poser and waited patiently while we too pics

 

Loving the zebra stripes - animal print never goes out of style!

The weekend before last was all about rural touring.  A full house greeted David and me at Calver Village Hall - over 100 people (which is more than fits into most village halls) welcomed us warmly and sent us on our way with two encores!   

Calver Village Hall

Unfortunately, some annoying rain the next day put a stop to my shopping plans in the market town of Chesterfield.  However, I made a new discovery - Derbyshire Oatcakes!  Sort of a Derbyshire version of the French crepe but even more fattening.  The topping of sausage and cheese that smothered the dish was so abundant I could almost feel my arteries hardening just from looking at it.  I have to admit that it was was very delicious although I wasn't able to eat very much of it. 

Derbyshire oatcake with sausage and cheese

We were treated to more delicious food before our show in Stanton.  It was a smaller hall and a much smaller audience but what they lacked in quantity they more than made up for in quality.  A lovely response for what was their last Live & Local event as the promoter was moving to another part of the county.  And what was more - we were even allowed to take a doggy bag containing the delicious apple cake baked by the promoter Tim with us when we left - fortification for the long drive home.

Gilbert Sheldon Hall, Stanton

Delicious apple cake baked by Stanton promoter Tim

Springtime Rural Rambles

Spring is in the air.  The clocks go forward on Sunday and last week we saw our first sunny days of the year.  I was actually able to wear my sunglasses for the first time this year!

And as has been the case for the last 3 years, spring for me means rural rambles.  I have 4 performances coming up in April and May with the excellent David Frankel on piano.

Celebrating the Divas of Jazz

04 Apr - Calver Village Hall, Main Street, Calver, Derbyshire, S32 3XR
05 Apr - Gilbert Sheldon Hall, Stanton, Derbyshire, DE6 2DA
16 May - Winforton Community Hall, St Michael's Church, Winforton, Herefordshire, HR3 6EA
17 May - Garway Village Hall, Garway, Herefordshire, HR2 8RQ
18 May - Snailbeach Village Hall,Shropshire, SY5 0NX

Rural Touring, Mediterranean Chicken Stew and Fantastic Fudge

I've just returned from the latest rural adventure and am thinking how fortunate I am to be able to visit such beautiful parts of the country - doing the thing I love!

All of the gigs were well attended and we had a great time. Should be back on the rural road again in the spring - can't wait!

Kirk Langley Village Hall

We had a sold out audience on our first night with a waiting list for returns!  A great audience too with two encores.  And before the show we were invited to a lovely dinner at promoter's home.  Beautiful scenery, interesting venues and a warm welcome from both the promoter and the audiences are just some of the things that make rural touring so special.

Bramshall church

The promoter of the gig in Bramshall was also the vicar of the beautiful church above.  Again a good audience and we were told that he had the best turnout ever over the five years they have been running.  A very appreciative audience once again.  And to top it all, the vicar's wife made us a Mediterranean chicken stew as they'd seen on my website how much I love Italy.  It was delicious!

The Fold in Bransford

The Fold in Bransford, Worcestershire is a very special and inspirational place.  It was set up to encourage sustainable living and is home to designers, artists, complementary therapists and several little shops that sell everything from organic wine to leather goods.  I bought some lovely pear and ginger jam here.  Also some of the most amazing fudge I've ever tasted.  Can you tell I love food? :-)  The venue itself was also wonderful with great acoustics and it was a lovely gig.
 

Padded applique wall hanging in Yoxall Parish Hall

We spent out final day in Yoxall which was very beautiful and winner of Best Kept Village 2013.  Sadly as it was a Sunday and raining there wasn't much to see/do.  Another great gig though.  Extremely well organised by a promoter who was a retired salesman and who did a great job with promoting my CDs!  We drove straight home to avoid the storms.  Just made it. 

Summer, Medieval Tuscany and Rural Midlands

Summer was a string of lazy afternoons.  Some of it spent relaxing in beautiful Buggiano Castello in Tuscany, Italy.  I love Italy and it was good to go back there after what seemed like way too long.  The sun was hot in London but was even hotter in Italy but there's nothing like a siesta under a cool ceiling fan on a scorching hot afternoon.  I had plenty of those!

View from the medieval village walls of Buggiano Castello

Next month I'm back on the rural touring road in the Midlands.

23 Oct - The Leeke Memorial Hall, Kirk Langley, Derbyshire DE6 4NJ
24 Oct - The Fold Café, Bransford, Worcester, WR6 5JB
26 Oct - Bramshall Parish Hall, Uttoxeter ST14 5BQ
27 Oct - Yoxall Parish Hall, East Staffs DE13 8NE

Yoxall Parish Hall today...

... and being opened by opened by Lady Burton in 1905

I find it interesting that, in over one hundred years, mens' suits haven't really changed all that much compared to ladies' fashions . 

The weather has suddenly turned awful this week.  We went straight from summer to winter.  What happened to the balmy autumn days?  I hope the sun makes a reappearance in time for my village ventures in October.