Dearest Beautifuls,

Hope to find you well. All is good here.

Just wanted to let you know that my wonderful brother and his wife has organised for Gary, myself, the girls and bub to go away for a few days starting tomorrow (Sunday). It is an early Christmas present for us.

I couldn`t believe it when I found it!!! 

Since Jez dying it has been a little sad for me (as you know) but like life and living, one must feel all the wonderful memories, stay focussed and get happy… Ifeel I have been doing that extremely well considering but also have been feeling a tad restless to just get away for a little while and recharge batteries.

That dream has come true!

This is another time in my life where it makes me know that “dreams do come true…” and my brother and my sister (sister-in-law) have made that very possible for us.

We love you both. XXXX Thank-you. We just don`t what to say…

We will be back Friday (for rehearsal with Fabio and Greco), and all of your emails and messages I will answer then in the following days. I have been banned from the computer/internet! Eeeeek!

Our rehearsal went well lastnight and the songs are coming together brilliantly. Thanks to Fabio and Greco for sharing the faith and the dream. I can`t wait to get out there and start rockin` guys!

Love to you all. Have a beautiful weekend. XXXX

PS NEWSFLASH!!!! Zeth has found his thumb to suck the last few days. He is a left thumb boy and his sisters are crazy for their right thumbs.

PSS Oh, if any of you are interested in where we are going its to a place 6 hours away called Kalbarri.

written by Mandyleigh \\ tags: brother, fabio, greco, jez, kalbarri, rehearsal, sister-in-law, thumbs, zeth

Hiya Beautifuls,

Just when you think it becomes very quiet, hearing that tiny pin drop, I bounce back again with a little something to say. Aren`t you lucky?

I am waiting for my two guitarists, Fabio and Greco to come up with a picture each to introduce them, to you all. They are a little shy… I guess they are still deciding what profile they like the best.

If you have read the “News” section on my website, then you would know that “Greco” is our new guitarist. Tonight has been the 3rd time that Fabio (Italian), Greco (Brazilian) and myself have rehearsed. We are rehearsing twice a week (Monday and Fridays) and maybe on the weekend too, in preparation for our first performance on the 22nd at “Mojo`s”. Did I say I can`t wait?

I have let Greco borrow my acoustic guitar as he doesn`t have one. His one is still in Brazil.

I have had one answer in regards to what 4 songs we are working on… Come on people, don`t be shy and let me know what 4 you think we are busily rehearsing.

We are working hard although music isn`t hard work, its pleasure…

Zeth stays awake every waking hour through the day let alone the evening when we are rehearsing. He loves the music and then demands his feeds from me in between music playing. He has been there through the recording process in London and now I guess he feels its his right to be a big part of each rehearsal too.

To quote Mick Glossop on the arrival of our Zeth… “Another musician?” I think/know so.

Love you all. XXXX

written by Mandyleigh \\ tags: acoustic, fabio, greco, mick glossop, mojos, rehearsals, zeth

Of course I would be lying if I told you that I was all well and good, not crying anymore over our special dog Jez who was euthanised just over 3 weeks ago. I miss him. I am still very emotional and I have not missed a single day not thinking about him.

We took ourselves over to the Belmont shopping centre today and the pet shop came in our paths. The girls love to look around at the dogs, cats, birds and fish. As we looked into the window of the store there was a beautiful golden labrador puppy.

As soon as I saw him, the way he was so calm and just happily looked at us through the glass (where he got up and slumped down to change positions), he reminded us that perhaps Jez was just like this as a puppy. We never got to see Jez as a puppy, he was about 2 years old when we wanted to make him part of our family.

Although this little pup caught our hearts for a few moments, we have no intentions of getting another dog any time soon. Jez is too much on our minds at present and if nothing else, the price tag on this beautiful lab was certainly enough to make us cry.

Anyway… onto reminders.

Our conversations around the table at dinner time are just wonderful. Our girls are gorgeous in their perception, description and explanation of things…

Zyah gave us another reminder that although times are still raw with sadness at present, a smile or laugh can be very close in the making when it comes to our two stand-up comics.

We had chicken shish kebabs tonight. All the chicken was nicely firm on the sticks so Gary took Zyahs and tried to help her by prying off some chicken with his fork. We were all watching him doing i t,smiling that it was a little more difficult than he might have first thought to remove some chicken. With persistance he did but his fork got a little stuckin the process and with that Zyah commented, “You gotta get the fork outta there Dad…”

With that Gary and I just creased up. You can imagine what this might have sounded like?!?!

Thank-you girls yet again for your sunshine.

Love you Damaris, Zyah and Zeth. XXXX

written by Mandyleigh \\ tags: jez, reminders, shish kebabs, Zyah

My Mum is a beautiful lady. I love her very much.

Mum could be my perfect agent. She has the perfect pitch indeed when it comes to telling and selling people my”Fire & Snow” album. Well done Mum!!!

Whether we are in a shopping centre, walking in the street, driving in the car, she`ll be spreading the “Mandyleigh Storm” music about. She is rather amazing.

If you are the next one she catches then she`ll be the lady in the front seat (at the lights), grabbing your attention by and to you and pointing to the album as she raises it out of the window to show you, letting all know how very proud of me she is…

I`d love to say Thank-you Mum for all you do. Thank-you for believing in me and always for being you…

XXX

written by Mandyleigh \\ tags: Fire & Snow, mum

The 22nd and 29th of September will take Fabio and myself to Mojo`s to perform a few songs.

We hope to get to the Davilak Tavern soon too.

I can`t wait!

We are busily getting 4 songs ready for our acoustic set.

Can you guess which ones?

Love you all. XXX

written by Mandyleigh \\ tags: acoustic, davilak tavern, fabio, mojos bar