Hi Everyone,

 

Just time to catch up again with you all after a good while.

 

You’ll maybe have seen from my socials postings from India that I had a fantastic holiday. I love India and have become somewhat hooked on it, especially the South. I made a lovely friend some time ago while filming in Pondicherry for TV and she is someone I’ve always wanted to see again, although we’re so far away. We started our holiday there with Kakoli and spent some quality time in that lovely town, which is very French colonial and British Raj too in feel. My husband Oliver got a chance to acclimatise to the hectic world that is India for a few days at the start of our journey.

 

In all, we covered a lot of ground and cemented a relationship with the country which will continue next year hopefully. I’d love to travel to Karnataka but also to visit Pondicherry once again.

 

I’ve been doing a few shows this year and you’ll remember that I stated my desire not to play too far away from home. I really don’t want to spend days in hotels waiting to do concerts any more. However, I have agreed to travel to Bristol and London next year, all being well.

 

I’ve just travelled on a Pilgrimage to Italy and of course, have returned with great love and affection for the places we visited. I have never been to Padua, Ravenna or Mantua in the past, but I was very interested to see the Roman Arena in Verona where I played for Italian TV at the time of 'Answer Me'. It has a huge stage and it's the venue where 'Aida' is usually running in the summer months. I also returned to Venice which I last visited about seventeen years ago now… beautiful Venice. I even took a gondola ride this time, which is a good idea if you’re short of time. The crypt of San Marco is also incredible with all the history attached to that  beautiful place.

 

I’m gearing up now for some recording with Nick which we hope to make into a new album but it’s early days yet so I’m saying nothing concrete. We’ve also got some shows coming up in May and I have to play at the inauguration of the Crannog Centre in Perthshire, and a function in addition in Edinburgh.

 

I have a ‘In Conversation’ too in Inverness and all in all, things are good. I’m hoping to travel to Orkney for a few days’ break in July and all being well, I'll be visiting France in September.

 

 I hope to see you somewhere down the line soon. My plan to retire and get a pug is still in abeyance!!!! 😊

 

Love, 

 

BARBARA x