My dear friend sav has given me an award. She should know better.
It comes with a set of questions and a stipulation that I pass it on to other bloggers.
First the questions.
1. If you could change anything in your life, what would it be? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
2. If you could repeat any age, which would it be? Has to be my early twenties, this was when I became a band member. I was IN A BAND! And we played to REALPEOPLE! We were going to be huge! (I was old enough to know better, but young enough to dream!) I also had hair. Lots of hair. And the colour changed weekly!)
3.What really scares you? The thought of something bad happening to any of my babies.
4.If you could be someone else for a day, who would you be? That's easy, my best friend Séamus. I'd lift 'me' up and give 'me' a grand hug.
And the award goes to:
All of you who take the time to come here, thank you.
And so another successful weekend of singing and entertaining comes to a happy end. I do love it when I'm busy doing what I love doing for a living.
I'm just in from entertaining a wonderful multicultural crowd at Dromoland Castle in the county of Clare. (A pal of mine is a landowner nearby!)
At functions such as the one tonight I usually sing for about three hours, maybe more. If the crowd is with me I don't want to stop. The spirit is high on such nights.
And now, here in the quiet of home, late at night, or should I say early in the morning, I have a nightcap before retiring. And on rising I will take meself & herself away off to Galway for a couple of days of R&R.
I was asked to be a judge at a talent competition for some of our older citizens last week. It was a privilege and an honour. It was also great fun! Most of these ladies (and the few gents) are good pals of mine at this stage so the bribes were many! The winner was a sprightly 94yr old! (5th pic down, sitting on stage.)
Now THAT was a busy weekend! Three gigs in a row. I really could do with this being the norm, financially and mentally! Work in this business we call show is getting scarcer and scarcer (if I may steal from Alice In Wonderland!), anyone who can play three chords seems to be setting up a wedding band these days! That's my bread & butter mister, shag off! These 'fly by nights' never last long but while they do we lose work.
The weekend kick-started with a wedding on Friday (with Madhatters Band), in a little village in County Cork with the curious name of Newtwopothouse! The wedding was held in Springfort Hall, a lovely old house which has been converted into a hotel and wedding venue. Great night with a fine lively crowd.
Saturday night was with TAT2 (2-piece) in a G.A.A. clubhouse sports bar. A regular spot for us so we know the clientele and always have a good night there.
Sunday night was again with TAT2 in a pub in the Cork village of Charleville. Our first time playing a Sunday in this venue, and it was quiet! Well the first half of the gig was quiet. Our total audience for the first hour was a couple of farmers sitting at the bar having a chat. They were very appreciative though, and stayed 'til the end, when the place had filled up a bit. The nice thing about quiet gigs is that we get to play stuff we might not do when the venue is busier and the audience 'demand' certain songs or styles. I sang 'Caledonia' and watched as a Polish lad sang along with eyes closed, every line word for word with me! Is maith sin!
So that's my excuse for being up 'til now, three late nights in a row. Bed soon, happy dreams (hopefully!) and a lie-in of the morn'. Take care my friends, have a happy Monday and remember to keep singing, it does wonders for the head and swells the heart.
My dear friend sav has given me an award. She should know better.
