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FOUR generations of females........how wonderful!

Wow what a whirl life has been recently - my odometer tells me that I've driven well over 1,500 miles in the last 4 weeks! My drumming, my lovelife and now my new grand-daughter is making my carbon footprint very bad - I'll never be able to accuse anyone else of not being green again without being a total hypocrite!

I've just driven down with my mum to visit my daughter and new baby so she can see her while she's still tiny - she's so beautiful and my daughter and husband are doing very well - of course she's tired out as she's recovering from the Caesarian.

My gig last night went well and I really enjoyed playing - I felt confident despite not having the bass player and Paddy played really well and for the first time he did three of his songs within the set and I played flute. We finished off with one of mine. We had visuals with our set too as Ruth who did the visuals for the album launch came and did them again plus she's done a new set for Shadow Puppets which was brilliant! P came down for the gig and stayed and this coming weekend we'll be away for a long weekend in Suffolk drumming with Modou by the seaside (another very long drive!). The following weekend I'm flying to Scotland to an old friend's 50th birthday party.

Somehow in between I manage to get my various essential work and home commitments done!

Anyway - we had loads of photos taken at the gig last night so I'll try and get some decent ones posted soon.

Bye for now!

[URL="http://bitzky.blogspot.com/2008/11/possible-turning-point-in-my-life.html"]http://bitzky.blogspot.com/2008/11/possible-turning-point-in-my-life.html[/URL]

I've been fretting a bit about a gig I have on Monday. I've had a bass player and a keyboard player in my little band for some time and the bassist has let me down a couple of times recently. At the last proper gig we had he actually went off before we played and left us in the lurch - this was because we weren't exactly sure of the time we'd be on and he had to listen to some of the other music first. It was a benefit gig and the other music was mainly African stylie and a really good atmosphere. We had to play only ten minutes after he'd hoofed it and I had to re-jig the set on the spot and it was very disconcerting.

And he's missed a couple of pratices including this Wednesday evening even though we have a gig on Monday with no explanation - I've sacked him leaving just me and the keyboard man who's really good.

I feel bad about it as he's a bloody good bass player and seems a nice guy - but even if he was the best in the world he's no use to me if I can't rely on him!

Grrrrrr - life is never simple. I'll have to try and find a new bass player in the New Year but it takes ages for someone to learn all the tracks........

I'm back in Bristol for a few days after visiting my daughter and her hubbie and the lovely new grandchild Lucia - she is absolutely beautiful. Here's a link to some photos..

Lucia[URL="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=70318&l=232e5&id=637503707"]http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=70318&l=232e5&id=637503707[/URL]

They went home today after a few days in a lovely unit where her husband was allowed to stay while they learnt all about breast feeding etc - we're so lucky in the UK - the NHS were absolutely brilliant - she had to have a Caesarian in the end and the treatment was excellent and the aftercare good too. They get so much of a knocking but compared to other countries we are still very fortunate.

And here's one for those who haven't clicked the link above

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After a protracted labour my daughter finally had her baby by Caesarian section in the early hours of this morning.

Thankfully she's fine and the baby is absolutely gorgeous (7lbs 2oz) and is called Lucia.

I'm on someone else's computer and will be home on weds.

Photos to follow later in the week. Thank goodnes they're alright now! How exciting to be a grandparent for the first time - it's an amazing feeling!

[URL="http://bitzky.blogspot.com/2008/11/independent-against-lich-king.html"]http://bitzky.blogspot.com/2008/11/independent-against-lich-king.html[/URL]

Just had a lovely couple of days with my son in London at his new warehouse live/work space.

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We visited friends, went to cafes, walked in the park, went to see a hilarious new film callec Burn After Reading (new Cohen brothers production), went to a yoga class, chatted and played music.

Now I'm just in a state of limbo waiting for my grandchild to make an appearance in the world - it's due on Wednesday but could come any time!

P's been working in Belgium for over a week and I miss him.........he's back today but not sure when we'll be able to meet up depending on his work, babies etc ha ha!

I'm practicing for a gig on Nov 24th in Bristol and have to sort out the set list, visuals and publicity etc.

So the over-riding feeling right now is waiting, tapping fingers and toes, waiting, waiting..................

PS - here's another pic for Slayerbarbie - the studio is used for dance and yoga workshops - you can just see the edge of the mirror!

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[URL="http://bitzky.blogspot.com/2008/11/one-joy-one-sorrow.html"]http://bitzky.blogspot.com/2008/11/one-joy-one-sorrow.html[/URL]

Congratulations to America for voting for change - for hope for the future - for equality and aspiration for ordinary people!

Exciting times.

I'm back home after 10 days away with P first at Cropredy then a weekend in Nottingham with his daughter.

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[B]Chris McDonald Band[/B]

We went to a great gig on Halloween evening then on Saturday night a Samba and capoeira evening in Nottingham. P's gone off working in Belgium for a week fixing a crane onto a barge and this week I'm going to catch up with all the things I've neglected here (naughty me).

I've got to practice for an upcoming gig, sort out the set list, send out invites and fliers plus we're organising a load of drumming workshops round the country for Modou Diouf who's coming from the Gambia for a month in the UK.

I've got to organise getting my rental properties decorated and sorted and a load of other stuff called normal life ha ha!

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I'm in Nottingham for a couple of nights at P's daughter's place. Tonight we're going to a Halloween gig at a local pub which should be a laugh.

My daughter's baby is due on Nov 12th but the head's engaged and it could be any time so I'll be a granny soon! Exciting......

Have a good weekend everyone!

[URL="http://bitzky.blogspot.com/2008/10/gay-is-better-than-serial-killer.html"]http://bitzky.blogspot.com/2008/10/gay-is-better-than-serial-killer.html[/URL]

I've been away with P since my gig on Thursday night when he turned up unexpectedly in Bristol to support me.

The gig itself was pretty ropey - the venue was one of those pubs where people aren't really there to listen to the music but to get really drunk! I didn't feel I played particularly well but they've offered me more gigs there and at other pubs organised by the same bloke so I'll think about it I guess!

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P stayed Thursday night then we came to Cropredy on Friday for one night before going off to Nottingham for a night at his daughter's.

Yesterday we went to a brilliant party at friend's place - the sort of party that starts in the afternoon with a Sunday roast then carries on till the last person's standing! It was really pleasant and I was able to join in a couple of good music jams with my flute and also some people jammed along to my tunes as well.

Today we went for a lovely walk while the sun was out and jumped on a friend's narrowboat for a short boat trip to Cropredy for a bit of shopping.

That's it for now.......