There are 2 males in my life who I love and respect. One is my father and the other is my Partners father, who today passed away suddenly. This was a good man, and I miss him. I wont be writing for a while until I get my head around this.. Rest in Peace D.

Scott

There are some advantages playing behind the scenes of the show. One is that you can wear what you want, instead of blacks (This is not a bad thing, as the heating has been turned off for Half Term, and it is freezing cold) and also you can do other things between numbers.
For instance, a few of us are reading books. Another is texting most of the time. The best is the girl on drums who has brought her office with her (just about) and is typing away (in tempo) on a Laptop computer. Haven't spotted anyone knitting yet, but there is still time. I have got a big medical check, or MOT tomorrow, which involves being poked about and fluids removed etc, I am really looking forward to it.....not!!

Windmills of my mind.

It is said, that life goes round in circles. I have just started a show, that I first played in when I was a teenager (about 10 years ago ;-) ) It was also the first time that I fell in love (and you never forget your first love) with a girl that was on stage. She used to look down in the pit, and our eyes always met in one certain scene . I plucked up courage to ask her out, and she said yes??? We went out for quite a while, then she split up with me, which at the tender age of 15, broke my heart. Then we got back together, but just after this I joined the Army ,and broke it off with her!!! Life's full of different paths, and I often wonder if I had taken a certain road, where I would be today? It's unfortunate this time around that I can't watch the show (There is not much for Trombone, so loads of bars rest) as we are in a seperate room. It has brought back many happy memories though, and I suppose that is what life is all about. Wonder where she is today?

Doppelganger

I am often I have been told I have been seen in a location, that I have never even been to. This is explained by the fact, that quite a few people look like me!!! (poor souls) I do know that I have a double who plays keyboards, and I have affectionately introduced him as my brother at concerts ( he does some stunt doubling for me as well ,on dangerous Funerals.) However someone handed me a flyer for the forthcoming Nelson Riddle Concert. Sat on Trombone, was me!!!! only it isn't me. It could have been any other instrument like Sax or Trumpet, but no, there I am playing the old bone. Even I found this spooky. I am just wondering if I could wait outside the venue, kidnap this guy, and then slip in his seat???

Mr Men

I never did get to speak to a 'live' person to track down my parcel, which now means a day off work to try and rescue it from the depot. I am going to go as Mr Angry, so if this Blog is missing in the next few days, come and visit me in jail. Mind you I will have my own telly and toilet in the cell appaently, so might be a bit of a rest. Just hope I can take my Trombone. A local Funeral Director was on the radio today, talking about the disrespect from other motorists to Funeral Corteges. This company had even had a Milk Shake thrown at the Hearse!!!! Never had it that bad, but have come across many impatient motorists in my time. It is not as though we travel very slow these days either? Looking forward to an ice cold beer tonight and a good movie, ah the simple pleasures of life.

return to sender

Ah Valentines day. I asked my partner what she wanted me to buy her. She said 'Something with Diamonds' I got her a pack of cards, hope that is what she meant? Expecting a parcel today. It has to be signed for. I left an A4 size poster on my door asking them to deliver to a selection of neighbours each side of my house, who are always in. Of course got home, and there was the card saying 'Tried and you were out. Have taken the parcel back to the depot where you can collect it!!!!! It is 20 miles away. Guess who is going to educate a few people in the parcel service after I have telephoned and pressed numerous buttons to get hold of a 'live' person.

preassure cooker

Managed the lip busting 'Embraceable you' last night and managed to get the top 'D' in at the end. I usually know half way through if I am going to go for it or whimp out. I have been told that I go a lovely shade of red, and a vein sticks out on my forehead. Always nice to know. A sad note from last night is ,that the regular pianist is leaving the Band because of work commitments. He is a superb player and will be sadly missed.

Hat on.

Great to see and feel the sun today, it makes life seem so much better. However it seems to have had a weird effect on my cockateil, who has gone completely bonkers, and it is like 633 squadron in my living room. He seems to think that my head is some sort of landing pad. However he always skids off as there is not much traction up there. I am trying to teach him to sit on my slide when playing, but he keeps falling off!!! which keeps me amused while playing anyway.

Keep the customer satisfied

Great night at the Oak, and a challenging programme as well. On a particular note, I had to turn around at one point to see if Buddy Rich had slipped on to the percussionists seat, as Andy the drum was on fire in a solo number last night. Smokin.... We had a shorter break, and crammed a few more numbers in. Free entertainment, and more of it. Can't be bad.

Ulrika

I can't believe I forgot the blog yesterday. This was excusable, due to the fact of purchasing some furniture from a well known Swedish store. Of course it was self assembly and very big. In fact it was so big that I had totaly underestimated the size of my tiny car. I almost thought it was like the Tardis inside, but I was way out with my estimations. This resulted in my partner, hanging out of the boot of the car, to stop it falling into the path of oncoming vehicles (she was really impressed). It also came right over the top of the gear stick, and the table had to be lifted each time I had to change gear. It was an interesting trip home, but not as interesting as trying to assemble it!! I started at 8pm and at midnight I was still at it. I did get it finished in the end, but strangely I have a few pieces left over? I might build another unit with these!!!

Poets day

It's Friday hooray. It has felt like a very long week to me, and tonights journey home was horrendous, owing to a fatal accident on a local road. We do attend these incidents now and again, and it is never very pleasant. There are some things in life that are unavoidable, and some that you wonder just how they can happen. One thing about this job, is it makes you appreciate life, no matter what the problems, and time is an extremely precious thing. I need to put more practice in in the next few days, so will have to get to grips with that, plus a hundred other things I have to fit in. Soon be Monday.........

Ken Dodd

A member of the audience asked me if he could video the Band at the Dance last Sunday. He very kindly gave me a copy of the finished article. I have kept photo's and videos's from the OBB's birth 13 years ago, and have always been impressed by the Band's progress throughout these years. What fascinated me most though, was the happiness on the Dancers faces as they glided around the floor, to the sounds of the OBB. We, as well as many other amateur Bands, are trying to keep the Big Band Sound alive, and looking at this DVD, we are certainly succeeding.

Magpie

Heard last night, that a fellow Trombone player has had his 'bone' pinched from his car. The morons who do this, do not realise how precious an instrument is, never mind the replacement cost. It could have taken years to blow just right, and then some thieving git steals it!!!! It's not the first time a Trombonist that I know has had his instrument stolen. A friend of mine saw his instrument on well known internet auction site, just weeks after it had been lifted from the boot of his car. He did not place a bid, but rang the police instead!!!! Good blow last night and really enjoyed it, but getting up for work this morning was a struggle and a half.

Sandra Bullock

Took a day off in lieu of overtime, but amazed how much quicker the hours go by. Into the city and on a mission. It's called 'bloke' shopping and is done in a quarter of the time as 'Girlie' shopping. Only trouble is with my 'speed' shopping, I then have to make another trip back into the city because 1. It does not fit. 2. It doesn't work. 3. I already had one. 4. It wasn't what I wanted in the first place!!!!It was then on to our regular two monthly venue to submit the 2009 Dance dates. Talk about planning ahead, but then again we are taking bookings into 2010.

Flairs

A cracking night at the Dance last night. The whole mood of the evening was relaxed and happy, and we all had a great time. Derek the Bass has produced some superb advertising flyers for the Band ( not that we need the advertising as we are so busy lol) that we can distribute at each gig.
I went back in time to the 70s last night and had a pint of lager and blackcurrant, which drew some strange glances, as to what the heck I was drinking. Mind you, a pint lasted me an hour and a half last night as we were so busy! Back to reality this morning and 3 Funerals to work on, so a very busy day. Today we had a motorist, again on a mobile phone, drive straight through the middle of the cortege.... 1 in 10 motorists are muppets, and we meet at least 2 a week, so still 1 to go!

Ga Ga

Just my luck. I turned the car radio on to listen to a local Big Band programme today, and apparently I just missed the Band playing on the show. I had a couple of phone calls when I got home to let me know we had been on. More gig's coming in today. Had a drink in the OBB residency inn last night. It is a smashing place, and just how pubs should be, cosy. Also paid a visit to a pub that I played at many many years ago. I had a word with the new landlady about bringing 'Swing' back to the area, so watch this space for future announcements.

Murray

If you are looking for an excuse to have a party today,then why not celebrate the fact that it is Groundhog Day. One of my favourite films, but I thought it was fictitious. But every Feb 2nd in the little town of Punxsutawney (In pennsylvania 000) they bring the Groundhog out of it's box, to forecast how long the winter is going to last!!!! You can even join in the celebrations on line.....if you have the inclination. In the film, the same day is repeated over and over again. A bit like my 'Mondays' really. Have a great day woodchuckers.

Windmills of my Mind

We have all been humming Xmas carols at work today as the snow was falling. Still had to clean the limo's though in a wind chill factor of -45 (ok a slight exageration). I started to have a look at the show music that I am playing in shortly. It is always good to read and play in different ways, and a show is much more disciplined having to work under a baton, so as always, it will be good for me. I often wonder if I could still take part in a Marching Display as we did in the Army. They say blokes can't multi task, but we had to read, march, slow march, do circles and shapes, counter marches (all directed by the drop of the Trombone slide) and try and stop in the correct place for the finale piece? One Sergeant Major, forgot to halt the Band once, and although we knew we were heading straight for a wall, for a laugh, we kept going. I learned a very quick lesson, that Sergeant Major's do not have a sense of humour!