Sunday 21 September 2025 - Hootin' Annies Big Band at Sale Conservative Club

My musician son, Mike, has secured a position as guitarist in The Hootin' Annies Big Band. It's a group of 17 musicians with a singer who enjoy getting together for a roughly monthly performance. It won't earn Mike much money (he earns a living by teaching) but it will earn him some good experience and challenging playing. His first gig with the band went well despite a small audience that included some of the Eagley Jazz Club regulars. Mike's old manager, Paul, was also there to enjoy the performance, which was great, though I can't say I'm a great fan of the bass trombone!

Coincidentally the band practices at St Margaret's church in Dunham Massey, sometimes at the same time as Sue practices bellringing there. I suspect the bellringers may be distracted when both practices happen at the same time!

The band's next gigs are all at 2:30 at Sale Conservative Club on Sunday 26 October (Sue and I have another commitment), Sunday 23 November (the website shows the wrong date!) and Sunday 7 December. It's just £7 to get in, and we look forward to seeing some of you there.

Light in the Darkness

I was pleased recently when artist Russell Bedson contacted me to ask permission to base a painting on one of my very early blog photos from October 2007. (I started the blog in September 2007.)

The resultant print that he sent me in thanks has now been framed and placed in our living room. It looks better than it shows in the above photo.

Russell's work can be found here.

The original photo, shown below and included in this posting, has already been used for a naming ceremony. It's interesting that the only picture I've taken that has been used (to the best of my knowledge) by others has now been used twice, though some of my photos, and Sue's, have gained awards in Austrian Alpine Club photo contests.

Thank you, Russ.