Halloween/Samhein eve

There were plans, big plans to host a party of our own this year (you can find details of last years halloween party here), the universe it seems had other plans, arranging my next exam for Wednesday and a friends wedding this weekend. So Jam, the witchcat and I had our own small celebration of sorts (I'll be doing my own samhein ritual as usual tonight as well). There was of course a pumpkin, skillfully carved by Jam who expects me to believe he has never done this before (?!?), there was cake, bought in from the local shop and arranged artfully on my new cobwebby cake stand, a haunted house bought by a neighbour who knows exactly how much I love this time of year and dancing. I was also persuaded to don my fancy dress outfit of choice for some lovely new photos of me and my favourite/only familar. What a cutie pie. Happy Samhein!

Blowzabella & tune writing

 Jam and I attended a Blowzabella gig tonight, as usual there was much dancing and the music was great. As well as getting the chance to have a really good dance I also managed to pick up a copy of the tune book I haven't got and get it signed (be still my beating heart, this will take pride of place on my music stand!).


I've since found out there is to be a Blowzabella day next year in April, with dancing and playing workshops and also a competition for original compositions. The winner gets their tune recorded by the band!!! I think I may have to get scribbling (its really special to have my stuff played by Writings but by my favourite folk band that would really be something!). I have a feeling the standard of entries will be quite high, here is Andy Cutting (box player for the band) playing a composition by their hurdy gurdy player (and possibly man with the best name ever) Gregory Joliever.

Duotone at the North Wall arts centre

So this weekend Jam and I were lucky enough to go and see My friend Barney and his partner in musical crime James perform as their musical duo Duotone (blog here , myspace here). The gig was to promote the new album Ropes an was held at the North Wall Arts Centre in Oxford (great venue but I always forget how far away it is from the centre of Oxford, natually we ended up running to make it). Fantastically there were also a host of other very talented performers appearing with them, including Wod ,

aerial artist Nomi McLeod (blog here),

 Colin Fletcher and Jane Griffith

and the whole evening was compared by master poet Alan Buckley (who also found time to read some of his own poetry despite having a horrid cold).

Stupidly I forgot my camera which is actually less bad than you'd imagine as I couldn't have used the flash anyway and phptographer Kate Raworth was there taking much better photos than I ever could (all images used here are copyright Kate Raworth you can check out the rest of the set here). It was a truely magical evening and I now have a copy of  Ropes which as you can imagine is very very good and you can purchase here. Hurrah for local gigs and artists!

Grey October Day

Just a quick post a photo of me has recently been used as a cover for a single. The single is called Grey October Day and is by Judy Dyble. More info on Judy and her beautiful music can be found here and you can pre order all 4 versions of the single (released on the 31st October, all versions of which are very very good) here. I was thrilled when Judy asked if she could use the image (taken at Lisa's wedding by the very talented Mel Cunningham, I was having a quiet moment and just daydreaming out of the window as usual) for the cover and it's even more special to see the finished thing!