I will be singing at The Officer’s Mess, The Fourteas, Sheep Street from 8.30pm on 24th June!
Join me for a night of vintage music, cocktails and fun! It will be the day after my Birthday, so I may make you all sing to me instead…
Book your table by emailing bookings@thefourteas.co.uk or phone 01789 293 908.
Last night marked the very first cocktail evening at The Fourteas in Stratford upon Avon!
I was incredibly nervous and excited as I had been asked to alter my repertoire to focus on less wartime patriotic and more blues and swing. That meant learning some more songs and performing them confidently on the night!
As some of you know, I have an issue with my memory and in times of stress and fluster it is even worse! My head is constantly full of whizzing and bouncing ideas, thoughts, worries, reminders, ideas, daydreams and all manner of ridiculousness. Then I have to somehow squeeze lyrics to songs in between, like packing peanuts. In times of trauma or extreme upset my brain says “No thank you” and pretty much shuts down to defend itself. So I have to try and keep calm and collected as much as possible (at least outwardly!). Memorising the lyrics and timing to 24 songs can be either a walk in the park or swimming through treacle. Luckily last night I swallowed my pride and brought some lyric sheets with me for the new songs. With a quick glance at the start of odd verses I was able to jog my memory and move smoothly through the latest editions! Phew!
The evening was fantastic. The Fourteas’ new owner Zenios was a wonderful host and greeted each guest, chatted and made sure everything went like clockwork. The staff were attentive and brought around fabulous cocktails and mocktails to each table, never leaving people waiting for too long. I enjoyed a virgin pina colada and strawberry daiquiri!
At 7.30pm I started singing and was greeted to wonderful applause, smiles and toe tapping throughout. Us singers feed off of audience reactions, so I was on cloud nine for the entire evening!
Seeing a couple of familiar faces really helped me feel at ease and it was great to get back to a sense of normality again.
The Fourteas is a 1940’s tearoom situated in Sheep Street, Stratford upon Avon. It features indoor and outdoor seating and a wonderful vintage atmosphere. These new cocktail evenings will certainly add a classy and decadent evening venue to the town! If last night was anything to go by, this is going to be an incredibly successful venture for them! I hope to be a regular face (and voice) on Friday evenings!
You may have started to see The Severn Valley Railway’s new promo videos popping up on TikTok and Instagram recently.
I had super fun being part of these hammy shorts and it was wonderful being at the beautiful Kidderminster Station once more!
I cannot wait to sing to you all at The Engine Shed at Highley for Step Back to the 1940’s this summer, so keep your eyes peeled for more little videos popping up throughout May and June!
You can see the first two promotional videos for SVR’s WW2 event HERE and HERE!
The underpinnings! 1950’s open bottom girdle and vintage fully fashion stockings.
Who would’ve thought that in these uncertain days of isolation that we could get so many people together (safely distanced) in joyful celebration and remembrance.
Flags were flying, bunting hung and the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement as the whole street prepared for the 75th anniversary of VE Day. This special day celebrates Winston Churchill’s famous speech that WW2 was finally over.
This anniversary has come at a time where community spirit is again so important in keeping spirits lifted in a difficult time.
On thursday evening Richard and I did a Zoom video interview for Studio 10, an Australian news programme on Channel 10. It aired at 11.40am Sydney time, although due to the time difference, we had to do the video call at 10.15pm!
On Friday morning at 9am I had a visit from the BBC Coventry and Warwickshire van and was interviewed live about the day’s upcoming events.
At 11.30am I started my live singing set, which was also featured on Facebook for those in carehomes, hospitals, workplaces and homes worldwide. Viewers in America, France, Germany, Australia and Britain all joined me as I sang a selection of 1940’s classics to my neighbours and the photographer from Stratford Herld. I had a slight hiccup in Watch the Birdie, when my ‘mummy head’ clicked in as betsy hurt her finger. All words went out of my head as I watched and mentally checked that she was ok, whilst mumbling incoherent nonsense through the microphone. Ok, good Richard is getting her a plaster. BHAM! Back to singing head. Where am I in the song? Shoot this is going out live! Ok, just smile and look like you know what you’re doing… “Watch the Birdie, let’s take a candied camera shot, Watch the Birdie come on let’s give it all you’ve got, Watch the Birdie just pick a flop-n-derp-n-bop and hold it!” ha ha ha!
I decided to raise funds for Combat Stress, my favourite charity, who help veterans young and old (as well as their families) dealing with depression, PTSD and anxiety. There are already too many vets dealing with homelessness, addiction and psychological problems associated with their time fighting for their country. Combat Stress is here to assist those struggling. For those who would like to donate, you can do so HERE and 100% of the donations will go to the charity. The link will be active for 2 weeks after VE Day, do if it is no longer working, you can contact me directly!
It was so wonderful seeing everyone enjoying themselves and coming together as a proud nation. It just shows that even in these depressing and worrying times, we can create strength and joy to see us through.
There was music playing, people having picnics and BBQ’s and even an ice cream wagon giving out free ice creams and waffles! Thank you to all who made the day so incredible special and memorable, and remember…just pick a flop-n-derp-n-bop and hold it!
Today I did a 1940’s singing set at the Milestones Museum in Basingstoke. You can be forgiven for not knowing anything about it… but not forgiven if you don’t now go and spend the day there!
What a hidden gem. The building itself resembles something between an old aircraft hangar and a leisure club, but it’s what’s inside that impressed me.
A little town, with shop windows to gawp at, industrial area, vintage vehicles, wartime items, cafe and shop, plus a wonderful antique penny arcade to play in!
From a cycle shop to a radiogram store, a general hardware shop to toys through history, you really do forget where you are once you step on the cobbled streets.
I have to admit that my favourite area was the penny arcade!
You can either change hard cash or bank card money into old pennies to play to your heart’s content.
Pelham Puppets dance, claw grabbers tease you, mystic wizards and gypsies offer the secrets of your future and peep show machines offer a tantalising glimpse at 1920’s ladies, Charlie Chaplain and more.
Unfortunately I didn’t have enough time to look around everything after my singing set, but I’m very much looking forward to a return trip. If you want to find out more info on the Milestones Museum, just click HERE!
IMPORTANT UPDATE!!!!!! Due to technical difficulties at the site thismorning and problems with equipment this afternoon, I will now be performing at 4.30pm and 7 pm in the beer tent! Sorry for any inconvenience.
Just sheltering under one of the tents in the military section of Bloxham Steam Rally near Banbury!
I will be performing today at 2pm and 7pm (in the beer tent).
Tomorrow I just have an 11am performance as I have my parent’s Birthday to celebrate!
Bring lots of sun cream, water and smiles x
Well, you may’ve seen a familiar face on all the GWSR advertising for this weekend!
I am back at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway on Saturday only, entertaining you as you embark the train at Cheltenham Racecourse Station. The GWSR Wartime Weekend is a wonderful 1940’s themed event spread across various stations. Entertainers, military and civilian reenactors all help to bring the era to life.
You can see me sing some 1940’s classics at 9.30, 10.30, 11.30 and 12.30 as you board the train for your exciting day to the past.
This wonderful event is back for another year! Entertainment, vintage stalls, reenactors, vehicles and more throughout the weekend (29th and 30th September).
I will be singing in the town hall at 11.30am and 2.30pm on Saturday only. I will also be hosting a vintage stall, selling off some of my own personal collection of 1940’s clothing in the hall too!
Looking forward to seeing everyone again!
How lucky were we with the weather?! Even when we arrived, my weather app said it was 65% chance of thunderstorms and showers from 2pm. Bletchley Park Vintage Weekend stayed hot and humid until we left!
Today we were all wearing vintage. Richard was in is WWII American Navy gear, I was in an original 40’s crepe dress with studded detailing and betsy was in an adorable vintage dress with chickens embroidered around the bottom!
We headed once more to the vintage tent to have a look at the stalls (sunglasses were a must-have purchase as I was not prepared for the sunshine at all!) and then on to the mansion restaurant to order lunch and sit in the sunshine, whilst Betsy made the most of the play equipment. Got to say that the ribs were scrumptious, but at events like this, it does get VERY busy with a long queue at lunchtime.
We need to do the whole weekend next year so that we have time for a tour around the huts too. It’s a bit tricky with a 2.5 year old that just wants to run around, ride on the back of swans and talk to everyone who will listen (how she went to the toilet, what colour her toenails are, various songs from her extensive repertoire…”and on that farm he had some shoes ee-i–ee-i-oh, with clip clop here and a clip clop there…”).
We did manage to watch the lindy hoppers in the main marquee, who were lovely.
There was then a short dance tutorial, where Betsy went around offering the dancers gummy bears as sustenance.
My singing set went really well, albeit performing in a sauna! Lovely audience yet again and even some dancers braved the heat. It was amazing to glance over at the swans and lake, people dressed beautifully in their vintage fashions and bask in the incredible history of Bletchley.
Kitten Von Mew Singing < click the link for a video!
Thank you to all those who came and showed support, it really does mean the world to me.
Wow. I’ve just performed at Bletchley Park!!!
Well we arrived at midday and although we had driven through fog and rain, the day stayed beautifully clear and warm. I even had to take my thermal vest off!
As I had a while until my performance, we went to check out the entertainment marquee (situated by the beautiful lake and a very handy traditional sweets stall) and then went to peruse the vintage stalls. Well, the choice was so much better than previous years! Bletchley upped their game and are thinking of having even more next year.
Some great custom and vintage hats, some really super menswear (tons of waistcoats!) and rails of clothing, tables jewellery and sunglasses.
I had to stop at Debbie’s Vintage World as she always has some really wonder pieces from America. It’s been a while since I treated myself, but came away with a gorgeous mustard coloured, wide brimmed hat (40’s/50’s) and this jolly little fellow! Seems to be lucite and celluloid from the 50’s.
Considering yesterday was the first day I have felt vaguely human since my tonsillitis, sinus and chest infections, today was a big test for the old vocal chords! I was due to sing 2 x 30 minute sets, but ended up doing a full hour. I really enjoyed myself and put up a live feed on Facebook for people to watch. Unfortunately, 10 minutes towards the end someone sat on the chair containing my phone…even though they saw it there and still sat down…so you can hear but not see me!
Betsy very much enjoyed all the attention she received in her vintage seersucker dress and droptoe pram. Richard wore an original American WWII Civil Air Patrol uniform and I went with some lavender Heyday trousers and a cotton blouse. I did have a 40’s oriental jacket over the top, but it got way too hot.
Tomorrow is meant to be warm with a threat of thunder, but I can’t wait to go back!
1940's Pin-Up Entertainer Kitten von Mew 