Hello again, it's nice to
welcome the warmer weather, with more sunshine most days, the lawns are
growing steadily, and the vegetable garden is looking good.
July began with me getting a
chill, and being forced to stay home from a much-anticipated trip to Nelson
for our twin granddaughters' 21st birthday, and a couple of singing
engagements, so Noelene had to make the trip herself. My apologies to all
concerned.
I was determined to get well
enough for the following weekend, and our trip to Wellington, and we had a
ball, at the 35th anniversary of The Kapimana Country Music Club, and we were
most fortunate to have the services of Ritchie Roberts on rhythm guitar, and
some other very capable band members, whose names I don't recall, sorry, but included Barry
Ansett.
Besides Noelene and myself,
there was a great line-up of artists, that included MERV AND GAIL WALTERS,
JENNY BLACKADDER, KIM BONNINGTON, MURRAY McPHERSON, RITCHIE AND BRIONY
ROBERTS, GAIL AND BARRY ANSETT, and RUSSELL LEPPER. PETER LAWSON did a
great job on the sound system, and that always goes a long way to ensuring an
excellent show.
It was nice to not only
catch-up with old friends like ANN BUSH, NEAL, LINDA AND FREDA
JEFFRIES,and GAIL ANNEAR, but it was a thrill to meet MIRIAM SCOTT, ex Takapau.
We knew her Mum, and brothers for many years, but did not have the honour of
meeting Miriam till our paths crossed in Wellington.
We spent an enjoyable afternoon
at CLIFF AND CINDY's do in Waverley, early September, where we helped present
some acoustic Country music .(after I had spent the morning playing in a
pool tournament at our local RSA)
We sang at a few rest homes,
and we had the pleasure of hosting some nice people at our home, friends by
the name of PHIL AND BARBARA STEANS from Nelson, and JANICE AND KEN THOMSETT
from Blenheim. We had a nice little informal concert, and we were joined also,
by those nice people, JANICE AND GRAEME FITZSIMON.
A stage show we attended at the
New Plymouth Opera House Showplace, was Whisper the Wind, featuring Dunedin's
BEVAN GARDINER playing the part of JOHN DENVER, alongside a fellow from
the USA by the surname Rich, but Bevan did the greater portion of the show,
and he was fantastic. He is partially-sighted, but that did not deter him one
little bit. His voice is so similar to that of the late John Denver, that it
was uncanny. He had some top-class musos doing the backing, including
GLEN BAIN, son of the TANZA recording artist of the 50s, GLORY THORBURN/ BAIN,
and anyone who did not see the show, missed a truly remarkable concert.
We will see and hear much more
from Bevan Gardiner in the coming years. He has just turned 21, and has
had a couple of good wins at the Gold Guitars in Gore.
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