The A to Z of Mod: an awesome book

Written by two of the loveliest men I know, this is a great book. More of a reference than a page-turner, it's great.

Tonight was the official launch and Florence and I had a blast.

Torchbearers

Some people just are inspirational. Rik Bennett in Cornwall lost one of his legs at a young age. He's amazingly motivational and his work in the community and for wounded soldiers resulted in his nomination as an Olympic torchbearer.

Nice man, too.

People doing their thing and enjoying it.

Some people just live live to the full.

This is more like it

I really enjoyed writing this blog about Emeli Sande.

The woman is a legend. She will undoubtedly go far. To America next week, for a start (little joke there!).

The deciding factor

It didn't take long and I've made a decision which has been bubbling around in my head for several months. I'm not going to be part of a 'Style Council revival' band. I genuinely loved my time on stage, on tour and in the studio with Paul Weller. But that was then and this is now.

What made my mind up? Seeing Heaven 17 and others from the 80s live on stage at Hatfield Forum. It was fine. Everyone did what they needed to do and they'd obviously worked hard to get it right.

The trouble is, the 80s is 30 years ago. What we were doing then. we really shouldn't still be doing today. I don't want to repeat exactly what I did in 1983. I don't mind playing some of the same songs, but I want them to be different.

Truth is, I want to play in a band that plays original songs well. I know I won't make a fortune now (approaching 50), but that's still what I want to be doing. Anything else is just killing time.

'Don't do that, or people will stop following you'

Someone said that to me today.

To be honest, I don't understand. Most writers I know are eclectic, both in input and output. They read a variety of books, newspapers and magazines and write on different subjects and for different media.

I am a little confused. Apart from anything else, if someone chooses to unfollow me because something I've written doesn't interest them, that's fine. Someone else will follow me because it DOES interest them.

Life and writing is not about fulfilling anyone else's needs, except myself and (probably) the person who's paying the bill. I do need to appeal to the audience, but that doesn't necessarily mean telling them what they want to hear all the time. Trying to please all the people, all the time, just doesn't make sense.

Half a day playing and the other half writing

Three hours' rehearsal with Mike from The Iconics. Our next few gigs will be AWESOME! Then back to writing loads. This was published today - what internal communications is all about.

Writing, teaching, playing - my day

Truly a lovely day. A bit of writing, a bit of teaching and a bit of sax playing. The sun was shining outside and we had tea out in the garden.

I've also been on call as a Community First Responder all day - 11 hours of being prepared. I hope the silence on the phone means that no-one was in trouble.

If only my bathroom hadn't flooded into the dining room and kitchen, it would be pretty much a perfect day. I now have the prospect of finally attacking my bathroom with the inherent cost involved, but at least it will end up looking beautiful.

A new review - 'Iron Sky'

Enjoyed reviewing 'Iron Sky'. Really want to see it again.

Please don't tell everyone - this is a great place to chill

I spent Saturday afternoon here. Lovely, quiet place for a cuppa.

The weather forecast is great for next week

Let's hope it becomes real.

A new place for a quiet cup of tea

You can now get a quiet cup of good tea served by friendly staff in Bucklersbury at Hawkins of Hitchin.

Someone once described Hakins as 'Debenhams from 40 years ago' and they're not far off. But that is actually part of the appeal.

This is a shop that's been standing in Hitchin for more than 100 years and it serves ladies with clothes that they know will fit and suit them, with changing rooms unencumbered by teenagers. Men can buy good suits, altered to fit and classicall-cut. And it's the best place for good quality school uniforms.

The newly-opened tea shop is a delightfully tranquil haven from the bustle of the town. But don't tell anyone I told you where to find it.

Hitchin Tweetup

What a great bunch of people!

There must have been 20 or 25 people at last night's Hitchin Tweetup. A very interesting group of people who could not (surprisingly) stop talking. Plenty of mingling and plenty of imbibing at The Croft Bar. All in all, a pleasant evening, although I ducked out just before 11pm and the second round of shots was coming round.

Happy to be a lightweight.

Excellent performance of 'The 39 Steps'

Some truly outstanding performances in the latest production at Hitchin's Queen Mother Theatre.

All four members of the cast pulled out all the stops in what is undoubtedly an exceptionally well-written play. Directed here by Rory Reynolds, it really captured the hilarity.

Last night was a delight and I was so pleased to see old mucka Doug Brooker as one of the clowns.

Another shift as a First Responder done

Well, I was online from 9:30am to 6:30pm today. Nine hours of availability and I don't mind not being called, because I know that if I'd been needed, I was ready. As it is, I've got through a lot of work and achieved plenty. A good day.

One of my favourite stories

I wrote this just over a week ago.

A really nice opportunity to interview some friendly and very professional members of the forces. It'll be good to get a more detailed case study on how BFPO operates. It's a great organisation and their results are exceptional.

Rhythms looms and there's lots to do

A big Rhythms of the World communications team meeting this evening at the Sunrunner.

There's a lot to do, but some good people on the team and I'm sure it will all get done in time. A very friendly group.

Induction of a new Minister

I enjoy playing in the band at our local Church and we had a great experience this weekend that gave us the opportunity to dig out some good horn sections.

Saturday evening saw the induction of John Hardaker as our new Minister, and this morning was his first outing in a service. He didn't lead, but was introduced and gave a brief summing-up of his life. Seems like a pleasant man and I think he will bring exciting new times to Christchurch Hitchin.

Never forget how important your girlfriends are

I have an amazing group of girlfriends, who share emotional support. Over the course of the last five or six years, we've all had our downs, but we've all managed to pull each other through. At the moment, we all seem to be on a fairly even keel, which is nice. Last night was our first session for a couple of months and it was fabulous.

Make Hitchin Litter free!

I posted a new blog today on The Best of Hitchin. I'm proud to be a tiny cog in this wheel and hope that the new campaign will help us to get the town tidy for the Jubilee celebrations.

Stood up - first time for everything

Since it wasn't a date, I don't think it counts, but a potential interviewee forgot that we were due to meet this afternoon.

Thankfully, we'd agreed to meet at a very pleasant little coffee bar, so I spent an hour enjoying copious amounts of green tea in the sunshine. Not a wasted afternoon at all. Hopefully, we can meet up next week and try again.

Giving blood - an exhausting business

For some bizarre reason, my 112th session as a blood donor caused me more trouble today than ever before.

All was going well until I had a slight bleed while downing a cuppa. I felt fine and ignored it, just letting the nurse wrap it up again and tell me the usual advice. All fine, I thought.

But when I got home, I felt like I'd been hit by a train. Slept for a couple of hours and did very little. Amazingly shattered, but I know I'll be back on my feet in the morning.

Interesting day with interesting people

Interviewed some very interesting people today and have written a couple of articles. It seems to be never-ending at the moment, but it's all good and everything seems to be in hand. All good stuff and a pleasing variety of subject matter.

The house is clean (for now)

Most of today has been spent cleaning the house. I'd like to say it's spotless, but that would be a lie. It's close, though.

I've even managed to clean out the fish (Mr Fishy) and the gerbils (Skunky, Slim and Speedy).

Time for a bit of catch-up work and then in front of the fire until F&F return from a weekend with their Dad on the Isle of Wight.

Really enjoying 'The Mumper'

More than half-way through The Mumper and I've also bought The Looked After Kid in advance of itnerviewing Paolo Hewitt on Thursday about The A to Z of Mod.

A quiet day - just what I needed

Have achieved nothing today. Slept and read, watched a bit of TV. Just the rest I needed after a busy and stressful week.

A strange week

Not blogged much this week - it's been a really odd one.

Interestingly, I'm feeling more creative at the end of it than I would have thought possible.

Most of the things that happened to me can't be shared with others. Don't get excited, there's still no prospect of romance, but several other things have happened which are having a bizarrely positive effect on me.

I made a phone call I would rather forget, but at least it imparted useful information that will prevent me making a complete fool of myself. Better to know, although ignorance was bliss for a while.

So, the task now is to knock my novel into shape. It's a good weekend for it, balanced out with some household stuff and a bit of real work. But first, curry and a good book.

Full-on at AB

A productive day at AB and I achieved a lot.

Can't talk about it

The one thing which happened to me today that I really want to talk about, I can't. Suffice it to say, it was my first major job as a First Responder and I think I did all right. Not the most joyous experience of my life.

Nevertheless, I then went on to a rehearsal with Chris Smith's big band in Watford, which was very pleasant and good to see some old friends.

Rehearsing with The Iconics

My first rehearsal with The Iconics, a local ska band. The gig we did 10 days ago went well and the rehearsal had moments that really worked.

Clearly, I have some learning to do of the songs and they'll only get better.

Backing vocals, too. First time for that for several years, but it seemed to go all right. A new venture begins here.