It's grand at The Grand

Friday 10 February 2012
The Grand was a sell out tonight. The Buddy Holly Winter Dance Party came up trumps and were very entertaining. The music is predictable and 50's but the very slick band were superbly authentic. Four alternating lead vocalists with Americanised accents did the trick even though the eight performers in the band are from various parts of this country. The audience loved it. They were there for a fix and that's just what they got: the opportunity to relive their youth.

My reason for being there tonight was the same as usual and it wasn't to see the act! I love the volunteering. Someone, somewhere must have analysed the need to volunteer. Mum used to say it's better to give than take and I think that sums it up. I enjoy the company and the craic. I like being the one that knows how to sort out things. Oh dear, I'm becoming a bit of an old retainer. The Grand has its 4th birthday at the end of March by which time I'll have been there two and a half years. Maybe in this day and age that does make me the old retainer! It's good to be needed. It's even better to get the exercise. Cycling the 14 miles round trip keeps me well and any time spent out on the bike makes me feel alive. It's a win win state of affairs being a volunteer!

Saturday 11 February 2012
At The Grand again. Tonight is the Clitheroe Royal Grammar School Swing Band concert in association with the Ribble Valley Jazz and Blues Club. Excellent youth band doing their thang! It's so satisfying seeing young talent in the making. The band leader Nigel Spooner has a line in bad jokes between pieces adding a certain something to proceedings. They are groan/ cracker jokes but in their own way that's good! We got a bonus tonight in the form of the talented ex-pupils making up the John Wickham Trio: John; Tom and Adam. They were regulars at the Friday lunchtime jazz until university called so we're familiar with their excellent performances and were given a real treat.

It's been below freezing quite a lot over the last couple of weeks. Cycling in those temperatures is no problem provided adequate layers are employed. Actually, the dry cold adds a certain something to the ride, a freshness, a zing. It's one of the characteristics we need to make each season its own.