Portugal – with the Wilson’s

This July, Clare and I set off for Portugal with my parents to spend five nights out there with Jill and Dave – followed by another week out there with the Weavings and Hannah! It was my parents first visit to the villa, so we were all excited to show them around. We arrived just after sun down, with lights of Portimao and Lagos twinkling in the distance and the warm smell of eucalyptus in the air.

The first couple of days were spent around the pool – a perfect opportunity for us to test out Dave’s new Spa Bar… … Continue readingPortugal – with the Wilson’s

Battle Proms

Every summer, in the grounds of Highclere Castle (where the famous drama series Downton Abbey is filmed) a picnic concert called Battle Proms is hosted. You turn up with your own picnic – sit in a field and listen to a concert choreographed to an aerial display from a Spitfire, cannon fire, cavalry displays and fireworks! … Continue readingBattle Proms

Christmas in New York

Clare’s been asking me to post this one for a while… on Boxing Day 2012, Clare and I set off for New York for a much needed break. We arrived in New York City, at our hotel The Library (next to the public Library) in time for dinner. I remember the weather being rough – howling winds and heavy rain lashing at the empty sidewalks. It was quite surreal to think it was Boxing Day and we were sat in New York having dinner. I remember the city being very quiet – people still out of town spending the holiday with friends and family…. … Continue readingChristmas in New York

Grease is the word!

This week Oxford Operatic Society are presenting Grease at the New Theatre. The show is being directed by a good friend of ours, Dave Crewe and he’s done a fantastic job! The choreography, created by Sally Chase and Jo Wilkinson is superb – there’s so much happening on stage, I was struggling to take photos of it all! The music, as always, it’s what makes these shows for me – led my Musical Director Chris Payne, features all of the classics we’ve come to love over the years… … Continue readingGrease is the word!

Floods – Winter 2014

This winter, we’ve seen the highest rainfall in two hundred and fifty years, causing significant flooding in parts of Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Somerset. Living near to the River Thames, we’ve seen many roads in our area close because of flooding – including most of the bridges crossing the Thames. Due to the high level of ground water, the majority of fields in our area are also under water.

The police are fining motorists who ignore the road closed signs, issuing £70 on the spot fines. For those who don’t get caught and attempt to drive through the flood water (over a meter deep in places), our local farmer has been offering his services (at a cost) to then tow the cars to safety… … Continue readingFloods – Winter 2014

Around the Christmas Tree

This weekend Clare and I popped along to a fundraising concert organised by Oxford Operatic Society, for an evening of Christmas songs ‘Around the Christmas Tree’. Some really great singing and performances by our friends in the society – we came away feeling very Christmassy!

Here are some photos I took from the evening. Well done to all – and Merry Christmas! … Continue readingAround the Christmas Tree

Sweeney Todd

For the past five months, I feel like I’ve been married to Mrs Lovett (Clare), who was cast in the role of Stephen Sondheim’s “Sweeney Todd”, performed by Oxford Operatic Society at the Oxford Playhouse all this week. Directed by our good friend, Edward Blagrove, the show tells a tale of a Demon Barber “Sweeney Todd” and his partner in crime, “Mrs Lovett” who runs the pie shop below the barbers. Todd slits his customers throats with a straight razor, before sending them to Mrs Lovett’s shop, where the bodies are chopped up and baked into her meat pies… … Continue readingSweeney Todd