Evening all!
Well, I hope you have been enjoying the glorious weather today.  Yesterday I had to put the heating on but am presently sat in bed with the back door open!  Ah, the weather here in the UK... 
Although like most Brits I can't help but talk about it, right now I'm more interested in what the weather is doing in Italy - and Croatia for that matter.  You see, I have spent the last two days planning trips to both countries.  I fly to Trieste in Italy next Friday, and yesterday suddenly realised I needed to get organised.  So the last 24 hours have been a mad scramble to order insurance, book taxis and pick up my Euros.  So now, other than sorting out what to take, I'm ready to roll.  Hurrah!
But it doesn't stop there.  After collecting my currency and choosing a guidebook (I am incapable of going ANYWHERE without one!) I met Laura and Leila on the sunny Southbank to plan our trip to Croatia in June.  After some last minute soul searching we settled on Spilt and within the hour had our flights sorted and a beautiful apartment in the historical centre booked!  Woo hoo!
I'm pleased to say that the holiday came in at under £300 each - which is a good job as, on Friday, I spoke to my solicitor who told me that the local authority search for the flat I want to buy has come through, and advised that we would be exchanging contracts soon - which meant that it was time to transfer the funds for my deposit and think about giving notice on my current abode! Well, you can imagine the flurry of activity this provoked - and the anxiety caused as I saw 70% of my life savings sashay out of my ISA.  So far though I have 5 friends confirmed that they will help out with the move (thanks guys!) so, assuming all the i's are dotted etc, I should be in my new flat in, well, less than a month's time.  Gulp...
So yes, I've been making a few plans the last couple of days.  And whilst I agree with the current mantra that we should like in "the now", I'm also really looking forward to the future - and am relishing getting ready for what lies ahead. 
And on that note, I wish you all a buona notte!  

It's the weekend - woo hoo!  And what a week it has been.  It all kicked off on Monday at the Royal Albert Hall, where I had the privilege of singing a "pocket" version of opera Orpheus and Eurydice, Ode to Joy, Walking on Sunshine, Daft Punk's Digital Love and the world premiere of Shake off your Sleep!  I'd like to say I did this all on my own but I'd be lying.  I was, erm, accompanied by about 2,000 children - and some of my esteemed colleagues too.  It's the second time I've been involved in the bi-annual festival, and I absolutely loved it, especially the comparing of Jon Snow and a guest appearance by David Walliams!  Mmm, I could get used to show business... 

And my vocal chords aren't the only thing I've been flexing.  My credit card and I have been reunited after finalising the sales of FOUR pieces of art from my Out of Hours exhibition!  Okay, so I'm not exactly rolling in it (I can't quite justify Damien Hirst prices for my work yet)  but it does mean I made a profit, which, whilst small, has been a bit of an ego boost.  So a massive thanks to Ann, Wayne, Claudio and Julian for parting with some of their hard earned cash for one of my pieces - you made what was a good experience great.

Of course these sales do mean that I've got a bit of a hole in my back catalogue now, so I have the perfect excuse to get my paints out again.  Tonight I'm going to a talk about Matisse at Putney Art College (courtesy of fabulous fellow artist Laura), so hopefully I will find some inspiration, and some insight into the Tate exhibition opening soon.
Oh yes - I almost forgot!  On Wednesday I went back to Keele University where I gained my degree in Visual Arts and Sociology, met the aforementioned Laura (among many others - you know who you are) and cemented my desire to live a creative life.  I was recently asked to attend a networking  

event for current students and, although they made me feel ancient, I was really impressed by their forward thinking - some of them were only first years and were thinking about post-graduate employment, and one lass had already saved ten grand to pay for her masters - amazing!  Naturally I didn't leave before taking a walk around the campus and having a pint or who in the Student Union - so changed since my day, yet so comfortably familiar.
Well, having written all that, I think I've just realised why I slept in until midday today - it has certainly been a busy one!  So, now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to chill out for an hour before heading over to South West London.  
Have a great evening everyone!
P.S.  New Overground Underground blog also online this week - check it out here!

Happy Friday everyone!
Apologies for the lack of blogging last weekend but I was rather busy indulging in a bit of R&R.  It was a welcome break from the mania that has been my life of late (that pesky day job!) but I had a lovely time pottering around Nottinghamshire with ma and the Derbyshire/Cheshire border with pa.  In fact, it was so lovely, I thought I'd dedicate this blog to some photos of my rambles...

Look out for my Anglo Info blog in the next few days - and have a great weekend!

Well, hello there...
I hope you're all feeling a bit better than me.  A busy week at Out of Hours, a nasty cold and one too many Jaegerbombs last night (yes, really!) has left my energy levels rather depleted... but not so much that I can't tell you all about it.  Well, my little exhibition has been and gone and, although I'm all a bit knackered, it was worth it - two pictures sold and interest shown in two others has left me chuffed to bits!  A few people 

have asked me if I'd do it again - or, indeed when I'll next be showing my work.  Well, I may well do it again, but not for a while (I need to recuperate!) and will try to find a venue which is more used to exhibiting art - and share the load when it comes to promoting.  A PR I aint...  I'm pleased to say that it hasn't all be work and no play. I had Friday off and met a friend and her gorgeous 8 month old daughter at Ritzy cinema in  Brixton for The Big Scream - screenings especially for mums with babies - and thoroughly enjoyed The Book Thief and a good natter over lunch afterwards.

My culturefest didn't end there.  Yesterday Mama Berry came down to London and I took her to see Marti Webb in Tell Me On a Sunday - the soundtrack of which I was all but brought up on.  Marti certainly hasn't lost it - and the lyrics definately struck a chord with my thirty-something year old self.  It's only on until the 8th so I suggest you get your skates on and book a ticket pronto!  

Sadly for my poor little head, my weekend of fun didn't end there.  After putting my mum on a train full of Leeds supporters (sorry mum!) I met some chums for a few drinks... then a few more... and some random dancing in a basement bar somewhere in Shoreditch.  The evening was rounded off with a trip to the Bavarian Beerhouse on City Road, somewhere I've been fascinated with for ages.  Let's just say my curiosity has been satisfied and I don't feel the need to rush back...

So yes, you'd probably be right in saying I have no-one else to blame but myself for my sudden craving for full-fat Coke and crisps.  But sometimes you just need to let your hair down and have a good giggle with the girlies.  Which I certainly did this weekend.  Now it's time so sit back, put on my Friends box set and relax... just as soon as I've had a little siesta.  Zzzz....
See you next week!