November 2010
So, there I was at the beginning of November, ready to retox! And retox I did...Marco and I were on the way – new Mazda under foot and we were off to Strathpeffer to play a special wee show in the coffee shop up there.
I had done a workshop in September in Glasgow and a wee girl (who had just sung the song her group wrote) asked me, not, how do you get your inspiration? Or not, what comes first, the music or the melody? No, she wanted to know when I was next gigging up her way! Well, Strathpeffer! I invited her to come along and play a couple of tunes in the middle of my set.
Josephine Sillars, watch this space! She is an amazing, talented and confident person who just blew Marco and I away.
I would love to have had that confidence when I was 15! Wow!
Anyway, then it was off to Fiona & Trev's for lovely cauliflower cake (amazing, thanks Trev) and a little glass of retox!
Not too much though, cos we were off to Ullapool for another show the next night.
Now, you see, I was on the road with Marco – lovely, sweet, chatty, handsome Marco – and his new bloody iPhone! So what do you think I saw for the whole journey up north? The top of his bloody head!!!
Can't wait to get mine Marco – I promise to get it just in time for our CL/Wellgreen shows up north next April!!! I'll get you back!
Anyway, it was back home to Glasgow to spend a lovely weekend with GD1 and a surprise guest for auntie Amanda of GD2 overnight too – just perfect!
Marco did manage to lift his head enough to come along to the Cabaret Bar in Edinburgh for the CL gig in November. Still, it was short lived, since he and Stuart went away for tea after soundcheck, got lost and then couldn't manage to suss out the iPhone enough to find their way back! Ha! Fancy-Nancy gadget now, is it???
He and Stuart made it back, just in time to walk on stage!
It's a common theme with Marco though – I'm going to change his name to Mr 'Stuck-in-traffic'!!! You know that one Marco, but I'm ever grateful that you always manage to be amazing on stage! (come along, you'll see on 4th December at the Recital Rooms – Carol Laula Featuring the Wellgreen – Stuart and Marco will do a wee opening set and then they'll join me onstage for my set – sounds pretty amazing, if I do say so myself!!!)
Anyway, advert over...for now...!!!!
So, now I'm not advertising, I'm just 'reminding' – kind of like I did with the lovely people down at Glasgow Life –
'eh, hello, erm, I've got this song – Christmas is Coming Home to Glasgow – would be great at the lights switch on at George Square'
Ah well, god loves a trier, right!
And try I did, I was in touch with everyone, all round the houses – I was about to turn up and just abseil off the Christmas Tree, when someone from GL contacted me and said, 'eh, hello, it's about Christmas is Coming Home to Glasgow, we thought you'd like to play it at George Square for the Glasgow Lights Switch On...!!!!'
Now that was a buzz. I haven't played a gig that big in a long time. There were 17,500 folk there and it was brill – so fantastic. No one throws a party like we do here in Glasgow. There were elves and Hamley's bears and Santa on stage and then, pièce de résistance, they had the lyrics up on the big screens for people to sing along to – and they were going for it! Like I say, no-one throws a party like we do in Glasgow!
The guys were loving it too – they were thinking I was pure brill, getting them a big fancy gig – well, that was until the Krankies were standing next to us back stage!
Well, Stuart, lovely, sweet, chatty, handsome and oh, so, cool Stuart, turned into a babbling 8-year-old! His mouth just fell open and he was pointing and mouthing,
'that's Jimmy Krankie...'
It actually was the sweetest thing!
Almost as sweet as the Wellgreen album launch the night before! Gambretta, Charing Cross the new album 'Wellgreens' was launched. The guys did an amazing set, which I have requested they do to get us all warmed up for my set that night. I know I'm supposed to be all cool and warming up and getting ready in my dressing room before I go on, but I'm not missing their set for toffee!!! Their album will be on sale as well as the Christmas EP.
'What night?' I hear you ask? Well, Saturday – 4th December at the Recital Rooms in the City Halls...yes, another well placed ad – a bit like product placement in Friends!
And, another ad – I keep forgetting to mention it...
The Carol & Caitlin Show
Sunny G – 103.5fm
Thursdays 6-7pm
Okay, now, almost done with November...
The snow started – you've seen how crazy it is here in Scotland – for those of you who are elsewhere, it's pretty bad – honest! Anyway, I should've known something was happening when Judy insisted in trying a wee turn up at the driving range on Sunday morning – snow was inches deep and this lassie hates getting wet, but then, I figured, she loves golf more!
So, off we went, and, of course, no joy...I'm sure we could've got a few shots in, but I could barely get into the car park and, with the snow continuing to fall, I didn't want to be stuck – especially with Amanda INSISTING that we go our for a wee lunch! Whit? IT'S SNOWING LIKE MAD!
Still, I'm a great believer in us here in Scotland being used to it and managing, just getting on with it, not crying over the slightest bit of bad weather – we should, after all, be used to it. But then, if only I'd thought, I would have realised that Amanda would much prefer to sit in front of a big fire and watch a movie – duh!!!!
So, out we went, taking it slowly, the main roads were okay, not too bad and we went for a lovely anniversary lunch – it is, after-all, our 25th year together – amazing!
The plan was to come back and get that fire started – hmmm, lovely!
But then, when we finally got home, my house was full on fifty folk (quiet for one of our parties!!!) all shouting surprise...!
Wow! Amanda had gone and arranged the party of all parties and we had a fantastic wee day, with the open fire and lots of champagne...it's lovely to have good family & friends who manage to wade through all manner of weather predicaments and share special times.
May we all be so blessed for the year(s) to come.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to one and all...
xxxxxx
Carol
