A most excellent Saturday...

Saturday last, has been named a most excellent day, by me!  And I should know, since I was awake for all twenty-four hours of it!

It started rather early in the morning, when Tullys from the inhabitance of Hillview set out on a long drive to country NSW.  Which for the day, was expected to be something else entirely!

Namely, a hidden town of Scotland...

Yes.  I know.  When we heard of this, we too were desperate to find out why/how a country New South Wales town holding a Scottish themed festival whereby they actually changed the town's official name from Bundanoon to Brigadoon, for a day was going to go!?!

So by mid morning we were there and in full Scottish swing!  Awesome!  I just spent the whole day admiring the differing tartans and kilts and knee high socks, and the sporrans!  How I need a kilt {even though they're not traditionally for the women to wear} and how I need a little leather pouch to hang around it!

And a themed festival is indeed not a themed festival unless one dresses up in the theme, of the festival!  

So behold - my wee Scottish legs!

There was also the "Highland Games" to attend, with such events as Haggis Throwing, and the Caber Toss.  Below is Jamie not tossing the caber sufficiently well enough as the idea is to make it stand at 12 O'Clock - I think he would have done better, had he been wearing a kilt!

Soon after that we headed for home.  But that's not the end of the story...  And little did I know, at this time on said most excellent Saturday, my day was more or less just at it's beginning!

It was home for a quick unloading of children, reloading of equipment and exporting of ourselves to the gig - where antics included a girl jumping onto the stage at us in excitement that we had sung her happy birthday {as in The Beatles version!}  And a fellow who asked to jam with us on the piano at some point during the second set, who ended up playing with us for the rest of the night!  Encore lasted a whole hour!  And by the time we finished at 1am my feet and throat were as tired as could be.

So, did you think that was all? 

You'd be wrong!  My next adventure of the day/night/morning, was a date at the National Gallery of Australia - MasterPieces From Paris - Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cézanne & beyond!  

The boys dropped me off at the gallery, after the gig at approximately 2am - where the party was just getting started. (Note:  You can always tell if there's a happening in Canberra if ABC radio is there doing a live broadcast!)

And they were!  And so it was, as I say a happening.  

The National Gallery was staying open for the remaining 32 hours of the famously popular French Impressionists exhibition.  So I met my dearest Tully women there and we spent the early early hours of the morn with some of the best post-impressionism paintings from the Mussée Dórsay...

I arrived home at 4am.  And when I placed my head upon pillow soon afterwards, realised I had been awake the entire day!  Which made me wish I never needed to sleep - for if days were all as excellent as this, I would not ever again, want to close my eyes!

Shell xx

{ps: I got up three hours later, farewelled my Jamie on his latest work trip, and cleaned the house, hung washing, and drank hot chocolate with my loved ones!  What a life to love!}

Berry Good.

{I wonder, that it's strange I keep showing you all my crockery!?*}

My favourite little chipped green plate.

My {only for delicious hot beverages} Japanese lemon mug.

And today a berry wonderful afternoon tea to fuel the pre-gig munchy singer all the way to diva distinction!

Have a blessed weekend friends, and may your plates and cups overflow with fresh goodies to eat and drink!

Shell xx

My Song is Love...

...for Australia Day 2010.

Shell xx

a Merry Little Christmas...

The season of Christ's birth is on my heart, in my mind, under foot and over head...

Consider this my gift, my song, a Christmas wish from my good self, to you for all your support and friendship over the past year!

Shell xx

Health, and voice...

I didn't like to mention it darling, but I have a cold. And the only interesting thing about this fact is that I'm a singer. Booked for a BIG do on Saturday night..!

So tonight after a scratchy band practice, I am sitting (up too late) with homemade hot lemon & honey drink and trying to love it.

Praying for health, and voice. And SOON!

Shell xx

Party Feet...

Red dress.

Smiles and chatter and clinking cutlery.

A bagpiper - for good measure and cheer!

Unbelievable food {with my name on it!}

Beautiful people. And a chance to thank them for all they have done.

Rather spiffing good Bassist! And tinsel wound mic stand...

= Christmas party gigs are here - the most special of them all was our Saturday night.

Praise the Lord for another great year!

Shell xx

Laugh with me...

After such a week as I have had, I thought it better to sit down and laugh, rather than cry...

So I invite you to laugh with me! Watch this short blooper reel from the My Brother Charlie film clip, have a giggle at and with me over your cup of tea!

If there is one thing I've learned this week, it's that "life is far too important, to be taken seriously!" Oscar Wilde.

...in love,

Shell xx

Happiest of Halloweens!

I want to start by saying thank you to all who watched the new 'My Brother Charlie' video and extra love and kisses to you who left commentary - it means so much to hear your thoughts!

I want to mill around in the middle by saying I have had a fabulous weekend of insane fun resulting in even less sleep than normal! {Never been a big fan of sleeping - I prefer staying up late and writing songs or baking cakes!}

Or singing & dancing all night for a happy crowd of people - then dashing home to bake cakes and quiche and Halloween Pumpkin Soup for another cat show catering bonanza!

I will climax with some hot-off-the-press pictures of our family Halloween dress-up supper and dance off!

There was Emma, dressed as the Russian Princess Anastasia...

My Campbell, a dashing Robin Hood!

Sean was determined to go as Batman (also my favourite super-hero) so I made him a costume from cardboard for the mask, and hand drawn applique motif top.

I made for Tara an interpretation of a character she made up herself, called a Chicken-Monkey!

I hope it translates..!

The Newlyweds arrived looking simply dandy as Scarlet O'Hara and Rhett Buttler...

My wonderful friend and Sister-in-Law kate, as Napoleon!

The eccentric and graceful Anna Eliza as the Grecian muse of Dance...

And who? I hear you ask did I and my Jamie friend handsome husband wear to the ball?

Voila'! (and they are not real sideburns!!!)

: )

Blessings to all - and singing "Happiest Halloween" to the masses!

Shell xx

From where I sit...

Once I heard Michael Jackson say - (when asked what he thought about on stage) answered;

'Oh no! You don't think - if you think about it you'll only lose your nerve..!'

And so I have found a job where I am allowed just to feel,

Required to be emotional!

& paid to be outrageous!

Bliss!

Songsmith xx

Scenes from Saturday night...

Forward:

{Is is not possible for me to explain the amount of hours the collage that lies here beneath has taken to create!}

Saturday was a hard days night, for The Tullys. We performed at the wedding ceremony and reception of a bride who happened to be one of my close friends from school, in Canberra about twelve years ago.

It's funny when you see someone again - even funnier when for me I have, since walking the school corridors with her, become a Christian, been married myself, given birth {four times, mind you!} and, generally - non-specifically speaking - grown up.

Singing for her, and her about-to-be-husband as she walked down the aisle was a wonderful mixture of happiness, graciousness, and terror that I simply HAD to get the song right! Well I did get it right, and her smiles to me across the crowded terrace were an instant confirmation of that.

I shed a little tear during the pivotal moment of the reception, when the bride and groom grace the dance floor together for the first, momentous dance. Again, it was when she looked at me, her arms and graceful figure against her new husband in waltz hold, with such a smile and a gratitude as we played and I sang, their special song.

Lots of bands look down their noses at the good ole' wedding gig. But we have always seen it as a chance to serve through our music. Remembering that they will remember this day forever. And through this act of service we too have been so blessed by the people we have met, the places we have been, and the music/magic we made there.

I raise my glass to my dear friend, and her new husband! Hoorah!

Songsmith xx

PUMPED!

It had been several months since The Tullys had last done a fully wired, all singing-all-dancing big-wig-gig - and we, were, PUMPED!

The winter season in Australia offers a fair share of solo and duo work; {and I like to take time to edit, polish, record original work in my studio etc} but this was the first big gig of our Spring/Summer performance schedule with the four of us together to take on our beautiful audiences once more!

So even the afternoon before set up and sound check was feeling like fun!

The sight of sound guys setting up disco balls above the dance floor made me smile, and imagine what they were about to witness from up there in all their sparkly-ness...

Wine flowed - {though I don't drink it myself} - entree's were served, MC did his thing, and suddenly we were on. It is that moment I walk up there with the boys and become a different me. I decide I want everyone in that room to know I'm the best! They won't be able to ignore my voice, they won't want us to ever stop playing, and they will, for the few hours they're in our capable hands, forget everything else going on in their lives and just surrender - to music.

Which they did!

If you're in a band, you know there is nothing as cool as making people so happy. Live music brings everything to life! You take your own energy and talent, and plug in to their every musical need and wish. There is a spirit in the air when a band plays with their heart and soul and the audience has ears to hear and feel it. The exchange between you and them, the letting go in order to enjoy so completely, is magical, and addictive.

We remained PUMPED all night, and so did our crowd.

And to do what we do best, for a worthy corporate cause, to be back together gigging again, and to do all this with my dear friend slapping that Bass beside me, is nearly too much good living to bare.

Songsmith xx