As usual my life away from Integra revolves around music, football and family.
2024 has seen me step up my live performances and I have played over twenty open mics and solo gigs this year already. I am certainly out there playing live every week.
I play regularly at open mic nights at The Ivy House in Chalfont St Giles, The Thatched Cottage in Maidenhead, The Ivy Leaf Club in Maidenhead and The Griffin Chesham.
I have also supported the Keith Thompson Band at the Tropic at Ruislip with a half hour set of my own material and played at the Chalfont St Peter Feast Day event in June.
The support slot at the Tropic was a great success with a very supportive audience providing great encouragement and Keith Thompson, Patsy Gamble, Derek White and Roy Martin being very kind about my efforts.
I also regularly attend gigs and, in recent weeks have seen Papa George, Keith Thompson, Bad Rival, Alice Armstrong, Sari Schorr, Dave Kelly, Verity Bromham, The Good Old Boys and Connolly Hayes.
I also attended the recent fundraiser gig at The Stables in Milton Keynes for Matt Long who is undergoing cancer treatment and enjoyed Chantel McGregor, When Rivers Met, Ben Poole, Will Wilde, The Cinelli Brothers and Brave Rival. A superb night with Matt Long joining in the jam at the end. Over £20,000 was raised on the evening – I missed out on a signed Jackson guitar by one ticket number in the raffle – if only I’d bought another strip!
Gigs lined up over the coming weeks include the Pat McManus Band, Blue Nation, Toby Walker, Hitman Blues and Stray.
The last few weeks have seen the frustrations and joys of England competing in the T20 World Cup and the Euro football. We sadly, fell short in both but hope lives eternal if it doesn’t kill us first!
Gigs lined up over the coming weeks include the Pat McManus Band, Blue Nation, Toby Walker, Hitman Blues and Stray.
The last few weeks have seen the frustrations and joys of England competing in the T20 World Cup and the Euro football. We sadly, fell short in both but hope lives eternal if it doesn’t kill us first!
The football season starts in August and I will be seeing three Watford FC friendlies at Gillingham, Wycombe and at home to Brentford before the season proper starts.
My son Tom and grandson Jack are even travelling to Edinburgh to see the Hornets play Hibs!
I am pleased so far with our transfer activity and I am quietly confidence as to how we will perform next season under Tom Cleverley’s leadership. We shall see!
In May the FD and I enjoyed a couple of weeks travelling around Ireland, covering 1800 miles with two night stays in Wicklow, Wickford, Cork, Killarney and Limerick and overnights on the way there at Y Felinheli and on the way back at Dolgellau in North Wales.
A tiring trip but some wonderful hotels, great food and drink, brilliant hospitality and wonderful scenery and history to enjoy.
We visited Northern Ireland and parts of Ireland in 2023 and this year’s trip meant we have visited 31 of the 32 counties – If I’d have realised this at the time I would have taken a detour last year to ensure we completed the set!
In September we are visiting Portugal with a few nights in Lisbon followed by a river cruise along the Douro.
The family are all well and enjoying life – our grandchildren are involved in so many activities and seemingly all “competing” for trophies – football, cricket, dance and gymnastics – it is difficult to keep up but brilliant to share time with them all.
My brother and his wife Lori recently visited Sicily and we enjoyed a few days together when they stayed following their return.
On a personal note I am, once again, taking part in the Diabetes UK one million step challenge during July, August and September . I successfully completed this in 2023, raising around £3500 in the process.
I was honoured to be nominated for a fundraising award by Agents Giving for my efforts and, whilst I didn’t win, it was great to be recognised alongside many excellent individuals and companies doing incredible charitable work.
If you are ready, willing and able to support me this year you can do so here:
