Timber!

So I was rudely awakened today at about 5.20am by something that either sounded like a demented motorbike owner revving his engine, or somebody doing DIY in a nearby house, obscenely early. Turned out it was closer to the latter - a chestnut tree right outside our flat was being toppled and sawn up by tree "surgeons"... I always find that job title a little euphemistic. Anyway, I'm glad we hadn't parked there as it was right above the spot where we'd normally park if the spot is free, but lucky we didn't, as the surrounding cars were getting a right bashing from falling branches and paraphernalia. Now the tree is all sawn down and all that's left are a huge pile of branches, chunks of trunk and one massive stump. It seems rather empty now. I guess yesterday must have been very windy - I hope it's that, as I hate to see these beautiful trees massacred for the sake of making room for a view or something.

So tonight I'm playing at the Femmes on the Thames night on the Battersea Barge. It's my first "originals" gig since the benefit gig I did at St Luke's about a month ago. It'll be good to play these songs again to an audience. Even though the feedback so far has been really great, unless you're getting out there doing it, it's easy to lose momentum. However, once I get this demo finally ready (which should be next week), I'll be able to remedy that. What's interesting about tonight is that it's actually the same venue where I did my very first full gig as a solo singer, years ago in London. I'd booked the venue while I was doing a jazz course at the City Lit and brought most of my class from that, and it went really well. Issy Postill was on keyboards, her partner Dave Wickens on drums and Amy Baldwin on bass. We did mostly jazz standards and some poppy stuff too. Seems a long time ago now... Let's hope tonight is as much a success as that one.