Venice : San Polo area (1)

Venice : San Pantalon

Venice : The Grand Canal from the Plaza Roma end

Venice : Day 1

"Cheap & cheerful" flight this morning from East Midlands. We took off in the mist and landed in the mist too. It has been raining in Venice most of the day. Funny enough I have been watching the local news in my room and there is actually floodings in the area and Venice might be next...
Anyway. It's the 4th time (3d as an adult) I'm coming here and once again my breath has been taken away as soon as we arrived by water bus near the City. My hotel is at the other end of the Grand Canal, opposite the railway station, in the neighborhood called "Santa Croce". I had picked up a restaurant in one of my guide, only a few minutes away from the hotel. I tried to get there thanks to the Iphone sat nav... I only ended up going round and round. Venice is a place where one has to get lost... At the end I entered into a "trattoria" at random. I had to ask for the menu I saw outside. And thanks to a few words in Italian the waiter even smiled to me. The food was fresh, simple and nice.
Right now I'm watching a soap style comedy on"la Cinque". Would you believe it ?
Buena sera.

Venice instead of Sicily

Last Saturday my friend T. and I we were supposed to go to Sicily for 10 days. Unfortunately the day before T's bosses asked him to stay in Nottingham as they had a family emergency abroad. So we canceled our trip. At the beginning of the week I was hoping that T. would be able to get away soon. It didn't happen. I then booked a last minute holiday for myself in Venice ! I'm there until Sunday.

Venice : San Marco (2)

Venice : San Marco (1)

Exceptional White Rabbit Book Club meeting at my place

Last Wednesday I held the book club at my flat because the White Rabbit has been under a slight refurbishment. A lady from the group had suggested « The Crown of the Blood » by Gav’ Thorpe and she knew the author. It’s a fantasy booked aimed at 18-25 years old boys but mainly read by teenagers and middle aged ladies. I tried the 1st pages and then I gave up : it seemed to be a world unreachable. We had invited Gav’ to share drinks and cake. He came along with his girl-friend K.

Please see below his review of the evening on his own blog :

http://mechanicalhamster.wordpress.com/2011/03/11/chasing-the-white-rabbit/

Meet up at Lion Pub, New Basford, Nottingham : Shipstone St Jazz Orchestra

Mental and singing

The most important thing to get ready to sing is to relax. Mentally and physically. So first of all, wherever I have to perform, I have to get there in plenty of time. Quite often the only place to get some privacy are the Gent’s. I go through a couple of breathing excercises and keep repeating over and over to myself « you’ll be fine, it’s not a competition but a challenge ! »

Last time I had a concert was at my birthday party. So I was acting as the host and as the singer. From the outside surely it seems a non-stressing situation : my public were my friends. I was going to perform in a nice and comfy setting.

Anyway after I had made sure everybody had a drink and nibbles. I went to the loo and got ready. I then went ‘ on stage ‘ and introduced briefly the pianist and the programme. Once I had signaled to the pianist I was ready I knew there was no turning back : I had to go all the way through no matter what ! While singing I thought about all the advice and tips I got from my singing teacher. And at the same time focusing on the words : every song is a story with renewed feelings every time. Making eye contact can be a bit unsettling especially with people you know very well. I couldn’t help but wondering if my friends liked what I did. I could see my godfather descretely yawning. I thought : is he getting bored or just tired ? An other friend was sort of looking judgemental. I thought : « she used to be a professional singer, she’s probably ticking in her head all the mistakes I’ve done so far… »

All the same it went very quickly and I was releaved that it was over but as well sorry that those happy moments were already over.