Waterstones Appearance

I know I've been a bit scarce here recently. I'm sorry folks, things have been a bit hectic!

Work has been busy, but for a change, not because of travelling. Well, I did zoom down to London for the day yesterday but there's not been as much zooming about as I've gotten used to!

Then we had carpet fitters round, so evenings have been spent moving furniture from one room to another, followed by ... where are those fitters... followed by "What do you mean you haven't got us booked for today - we're sitting on top of the display cabinet in the kitchen!!!"

Well it all got done in the end and looks wonderful. Now I need to get those 27 episodes of "Pointless" watched...

Then the local paper phoned me to do an interview about the Blackpool book.

The interview can be read online on the Gazette's website but the online version doesn't have all the photos I'm afraid. You'll have to buy the book for that!

Note for work colleagues - I'm still employed by the University of Northumbria and haven't defected to Cumbria!

And lastly, there's a chance to get a signed version of the book, as I'll be spending three hours in Blackpool Waterstones on Bank Hey Street tomorrow afternoon, Saturday 2 February. Hope to see you there between 12:00 noon and 3:00pm!

Dailey and Wayne Revisited

There's a couple of entries about the comedy act Dailey and Wayne on the blog and occasionally they strike a chord with someone.

Recently it was Karen who wrote all the way from Melbourne in Australia to say:

"Dear John

I stumbled upon your page today, after trying to find something about Dailey & Wayne.

I inherited a pile of old programmes and amongst them was one from 1971's Royal Variety Performance. Inside were several signatures by the appearing acts (including Tommy Cooper!) There was an autographed page, which I have included with this email, of the aforementioned comedians.

I know nothing about them, but thought you may be interested in seeing it.

Regards,
Karen"

Well thanks very much Karen for taking the trouble to write and send the photo. Any more links and memories out there, folks?

Witton Country Park Gig

Ooh, ahh, agh my back! Sigh, it was a long afternoon and now I've carted all the equipment back into the house from the car I'm ready to flop!

True there was a bit of rain, but actually it didn't put the audience off at all and they sat through it without any complaint.

The sun came out at intervals, the space in front of us stayed full all day and David was sporting a Billy Fury T-shirt.

It's been a bit of an autograph day as well for us. We don't get too many of those but sometimes when one person asks it can start a chain reaction going. So there's a few people in around 5 years time will be wondering who on earth it was that signed that bit of paper they found in a book or on a shelf or in a drawer!

News for those who normally travel to see us at Garstang Music and Arts Festival in August. This year we are unable to make the usual Thursday spot but the festival has been extended to the Bank Holiday Monday and we will be appearing, probably in our usual spot on Bank Holiday Monday 31 August 2009. Confirmation of the exact place and times later!