Okay, so a couple of wee updates on last month. My broadband thing still isn't working; it keeps making my MAC - and me - cry! But again, I refuse to be beaten. Only problem is that this time, I think my stubbornness will kill me - or someone else at least!

Caitlin is getting better and better at the old guitar.she started writing her own song too. Very exciting.

And, Indigo Girls, Wiedlin & Caffey (the Go-gos) or Carol Laula & Jane Wiedlin, brilliant as they all are, don't exactly fit the same bill as Lennon/McCartney, now do they?


1st - 16th

So, on the first of April, I was off to a party in Norwich.

We flew down on the Saturday, had the party on the Saturday night and then flew up on the Sunday - beginning to make a habit of this eh?

In between times though, we had a great party. Lots of great company, food and booze. And, of course, lots of love and laughter. We tried for a singsong, but this was a very sophisticated night. All the guests were DJ-ing and dancing so there wasn't much room for Joni Mitchell! But hey, we managed to have an absolute blast - and a cracking hangover for the flight home!

When we arrived home, the plan was to go shopping for all the stuff for our detox week. But, as the hangovers progressed, the need for real food grew. Sorry liver and kidneys, just when you need it most, you will have to wait till next month. (yeeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaar - detox was off this month!) Which was quite fortunate really since we had guests arriving from Jersey.

I had an interview this week for Caledonian University students who were making a film on the saving of Kelvingrove Bandstand. This, as you can imagine, is a subject close to my heart. I love this building and have many great memories of it.

Not least of all, one evening when I got to fulfil my dream of playing on that stage. Not officially however.!

I was walking home with the wonderful Lorna Brooks and Deirdre Davis (now in River City I think), it was late on a Saturday night, pitch black and we were walking past the bandstand and decided to take to the stage. We sang our wee hearts out - Do you Dream in Black Money by Culture Club - at the top of our voices for ages and to an audience of none. It must've been a great gig, because I still remember it.

Anyway, needless to say, the council have allowed the building to go to rack and ruin, a beautiful building in a prime location in a beautiful city. You'd think they would take pride in it.

I remember going to a concert in New York at the summer stage in Central Park, I didn't have a ticket, but sat with the, quite literally, thousands of people outside the perimeter fence, all having barbeques and enjoying the music of Tracy Chapman. Why can't we do something like that with that amazing stage?

Ah, who knows.?

As it was Amanda's birthday, I had arranged a surprise trip to.somewhere. Caitlin and Judy were coming with us, so, no matter what, it would be fun.

Except that Amanda had a much grander idea of where we were going.

'will I need a bikini and sun cream?' eh.naw

'will I need a passport?' eh.naw

'will I need some skis?' eh.naw

Yes, very grand ideas indeed. And, we kept her guessing till the very last minute. That was, until we pulled into the carpark for the ferry to Rothsey on the Isle of Bute. Well, Stella McCartney got married there!

'oh' said Amanda! It was a shame really, especially when you consider that we couldn't actually see the island for the rain. Yeah, no sun cream required!

Still, when we got there, it was just brilliant. We had a great wee B&B with great hosts and joining rooms. It was perfect and Amanda had a blast.

Mind you, all we did was eat.it was a little too decadent.

17th - 30th

And, once we waddled back to the mainland, all my family were in town for Easter. Nieces and great nieces from Hartlepool and Paisley and the beautiful nieces from Jersey. (Oh boy, if ever I needed detox!)

I had a blast with the family and the Jersey girls, we hardly ever see, are just the most beautiful wee things.

They are also particularly funny. Especially the youngest.

It probably wont translate well, but let me just tell you a couple of wee things she came out with - and bear in mind she's only 7.

When wanting some sweeties and juice she said to Caitlin, 'okay Caitlin, you do the asking and I'll do the begging'! Hmmm a child who knows to get what she wants.

Then another time, during a bout of auntie tickling she begged me to stop, 'my spleen,' she said, 'you're hurting my spleen'. Well, I didn't even know what/where the spleen was.

Anyway, this is all too self indulgent, but these gals really know how to laugh.

So, mostly family fun this month and very little work. And who said I had the life of Reilly? (who is Reilly anyway?)

There was a low-key gig this month too. It was at the Panoptican theatre on Argyle Street in Glasgow. It was amazing. It was a really busy theatre at the start of the 20th Century, built in the late 1800s and, after having being closed for years, was now falling into disrepair. (what is it with me and old buildings?) There were many stories about it. For example, when people went to the toilet, which was above and behind the stage, if they didn't like what they were hearing, the just did the toilet over the balcony onto the stage to let the performers know EXACTLY what they thought. It was funny. And, I look forward to seeing that theatre returned to its former glory.

Another wee quickie about this month was that I was sent on some sort of training course for some vocal workshops. It was called 'Singbook'.

Well, there I was thinking, I know all this stuff, what will I learn that will be exciting and new and I love me and I really do love me and blah, blah, blah.

I went to the course in the borders and it was absolutely wonderful. I felt so uplifted and excited. I know when I do teach workshops, I get money for old rope because I love what I do so much. However, working with other people, learning new tricks and fun things to do was just brilliant fun.

I also got to see my wee cousin play Lola in the Copacobana. It was great fun too. Of course, I am the biased cousin, but Barbara was just fantastic and left all the others standing. She is a big hunk of sex who can sing and dance like nothing on earth. (Un)fortunately, she is 5'11 and was playing Lola to a wee five foot leading man, it was really funny. Thank god he could sing though!

And that was kind of it for April. Of course, I have one eye on the news and am just waiting, any day now, for the news that Iran has been invaded. It looks like the UN are going to back some military action too.

Of course I don't know the answer, but surely war isn't it. Just look at Iraq if there has to be a yardstick.

Anyway, I'm not going to finish this month's diary spending my energies on moaning.

I did see a brilliant movie called The Proposition. Check it out if you want to watch something about violence and forgiveness, its quite something.

Anyway, like I said, May the 4th be with you and I'll see you at the end of May.

Cheers

Carol