Friday 28 May 2010

TO TWEET OR NOT TO TWEET?

To Tweet or Not to Tweet?

Why tweet when you can blog?

Anyone who recently took a look at my tweet account will have noticed that my last tweet was well.. I don’t know when but let’s just say I’m not exactly the world’s greatest tweeter. The truth is I have too much to say and quite honestly I only really enjoy putting finger to pad when I have something I feel worthy of proof reading. Do you think tweeting falls into this bracket?

So this makes me an Anti Tweeter.. in fact I’m going to tweet about being an Anti Tweeter.. perhaps I should start a movement. Perhaps it’ll catch on..

But lets put it to you those of you that are my blog fans. Here are some of my tweet thoughts that I didn’t quite get around to tweeting… ok…

Monday 18th May – Just did a rehearsal with the LBO – I’m so hyped about my next gig at Ronnies. It’s sold out how exciting!

Monday 18th May – I just came back from radio 4’s womens hour. The green room however was filled with so many highbrows in deep conversation around the table that I was scared to go into the breakfast area and take a plum!


Sunday !6th may – Just came back from a gig at Ronnie Scotss – performed keep on Looking with Roachford. Was great fun!

Sunday 16th May – I just aget the most delicious parma ham and cheese and drank beatufiul red wine!

Sunday 16th May – I just played the harp at David Walliams wedding. Lara his new wife looked beautiful and there was an array of stars there..

General Election day - For the first time in ages I feel optimistic about the politics of this country. The ideology of the Lib dems mixed with the pragmatism of the Blues could be a good combination. Nothing like a healthy bit of tension to get things going!


Ok on second thoughts my potential tweets aren’t that bad at all and profoundly more interesting than other mundane daily habituals,, however lets face I’m trying hard here to impress, after all this my blog and not my tweet, Plus I’ve had a busy couple of days. But lets take a glimpse at how my tweet could look on a non busy day…


A day, any day, does it even matter? - I just had a cup of tea?

A time, any time on any day – I just got a bloody parking ticket!

A moment, any moment and… - I just read music week and saw that the LBO are charing the preorders at number 7 on amazon. This made me smile!

A late night tweet – God, I’m tired I’ve been working hard today

An essential groundbreaking tweet – I’m in a lift coming out of notting hill tube station

Another life changing tweet – I just ate chocolate!

A tweet you can’t live without that will reveal all about who I am and what I’m up to – today I bought a goldfish



Ok,, so there it is – life changing, groundbreaking, shattering, time altering tweets and insights into me – did the earth move for you?

So it turns out that my stance on this Anti – Tweet unfashionable move is because I thought I didn’t consider my every day daily mundane activities and passing 27 lettered comments that interesting. Perhaps this could be put down to my modesty or sense of self deprecating ego… but the truth is that as I’m writing this blog my sense of self worth and ego are inflating and in fact I’m now developing a huge new interest in ,, yes you guessed it, myself!

Could I actually through my Anti – Tweet campaign have turned myself into a fan of tweeting? Erm…..let me take a moment to think about that

Tweet: I’m thinking about tweeting more to validate my self importance.


Answer: I’m not sure if I’m an actual convertee,, I like the idea of my life, after all I live it, I’m interested in what I’ve tweeted about, after all it’s my life. I like tea, goldfish, hate parking wardens, enjoy studio time and enjoy making music BUT can I express myself so freely on TWITTER – NO! I can’t rant or rage or contemplate or pontificate about important subjects matters such as SHOULD WE OR SHOULD WE NOT TWEET? Because I don’t get to finish my sentences and I’m left hanging mid word and have to become my own editor, as well as writer…

But there is an upside to tweeting – at least it allows me to get away with appalling, unforgivable grammar that is so evident in my blogs!

Monday 23 March 2009

WRITING THE ALBUM

So..throughout 2008 I wrote and recorded my forthcoming album. My journey took me to Nashville, LA, London, Surrey, Sweden, Paris and Nantes. It was an amazing experience one that I documented and now for the first time I'm posting up my experiences to share with you. So tune in to catch the installments. Here is Diary of a Diva..

Saturday March 1st 2008 – 9 am bedroom 836 Vanderbilt plaze, Nashville
I'm in bed, in Nashville. Why am I here, well I’m here on a two week writing session with every top nashvillian writer and I’ve moved into my hotel and got my groove on immediately. This is now my home from home. And with it being my first time round. I can tell you that it’s all new and exciting. I know there will be times when I’m bored and lonely but hopefully the breakfasts in bed will make up for that feeling.

I’m aiming on selling at least million records first album and although I sit in my hotel room trying to imagine what that might take in terms of the pace of my life I’m still finding it hard to consume.

My life in the last 3 months has turned around completely and I’d like to thank god for that. I’m still at that stage whereby similarly when you move into a new house and you have that feeling that you are living in someone else’s home which can last for up to at least 6 months, I feel as if I’m living someone else’s life and keep wondering when it is I’ll have to go back to becoming a gigging harpist and singing teacher again! I hope never I’m going to work hard every step of the way!

I’ve decided to blow off the gym to day and got to a gospel church service instead.

Sunday, March 2nd – 2008 10.30pm – The Kindness of Strangers



Today I experienced the kindness of strangers. Several years ago I found myself sitting in a choir, the Christ church choir here in Nashville singing as one of them in their rehearsal. It was an experience I never forgot and I have lived with their cd for many years since. And so this morning I took myself off to the Christ church filled with excitement, and a little nerves. I was awe struck at the size if this gigantic building that looks more like the barbican centre rather than a church. They really have this church thing down here in the Bible belt.

I entered the main sanctuary, as they like to call and gave freely my mind with an open heart the words of the pastor, and the songs of the choir. A lovely lady called Debbie next to me welcomed me and told me to sit a little nearer to her. Strangely we were matching both wearing a khaki green and brown with bronze makeup. must be a sign I though!

Half way through the service the pastor invited two members of the congregation are invited on to the stage to sing a song which he declares had ‘touched him’ . At which point this elderly couple got up on stage (the size of Wembley arena almost!) The man played piano and sang and the wife sang with him. They started to sing ‘Come…… heavenly father , come… ‘ .. it was like going back in time.. back to the days when gospel music stood for freedom from slavery, the anguish in one’s soul reflected in their voice.. it was the most beautiful and professional one off performance I’ve ever experienced. .. I was in awe and shock! I later told Debbie how lucky they were to have that… I kept imagining,, that situation in London. Imagine - a Charles and Debbie from Chiswick getting up and singing some awful take of Panis Angelicus or the Ave Verum.. with the English congregation sitting silently throughout and after. Just made me laugh the thought of it!

I later went on to make friends with Debbie and Howard who were two of the nicest people I ‘ve ever met. They invited me out to lunch with their 16 year old daughter her cousin and several other teenagers. They paid for me and made me feel so at home. Later I went to their local village of Franklin and hung out with their beautiful daughter heather and her equally as gorgeous cousin Mariah. We spent our time browsing the shops and looking at the houses. Franklin looks like a toy town. Very quaint!

Later on we met up with Debbi and she took me back to my hotel. At least a 30 minute drive out of her way. The kindness of strangers never ceases to amaze me.. I’m overwhelmed by it that all I want to do is return it. Perhaps I may never have the chance with them but it’s reminder to us all to be kind to foreigners in our city rather than just ignore them and treat them with disdain. Pay it forward!