This was a click from Reading festival that Mark took. basically we had just packed up out tent and had the radio on. Suddenly Dom and Brad break out into a dance and I chopped it up, added music...and voila! lol

My friends Mark and Andy have a band and this is a video they made....I love it!

Johnny Depp!!! (again)

For those who read my blog or are my friends on facebook you will have read and seen my pics of Johnny Depp that I took in London for the Sweeney Todd premier a couple of years ago. Well, he was there again yesterday for his 'Public Enemy' premier and I decided I wanted to go in again and see this beautiful, kind and gracious man. I didn't know if I would get such amazing shots as I did the last time. He touched my hand and said hello - how could I top that!

Anyways, I waited....and waited..... the crowd was crazy and def more fierce then the last time, although to be fair it was a different cinema and they didn't use the entire square for people to stand like they did before. Johnny stood for the paps and let them take his pic and he did his interviews etc.



Suddenly someone came to him and told him he had to go inside and start the movie. I don't think Johnny realised the time as usually he goes through and signs autographs for the fans etc. People were sad that they didn't get to take close pics of him and most of them left. The amazing thing is he told a security guard to tell the fans that he would start the movie inside (he gets introduced, the people clap etc) and then he would come back out to meet his fans.



What a great man! He was true to his word, and lucky for us who stayed there was a crowd but only half of what was there before. Ie. less pushing!


So, here are my pics..enjoy (I know I did!!!)






My Autograph!

My friend Shaun Smith wrote this article for a magazine. It is amazing. This is a little tribute to his beautiful writing and to my Dad...on Fathers Day...for always supprting and loving me.



'Dads, Princesses and the Power of Woo'
Written by Shaun Smith


“Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous? Actually, who are you not to be?” - Marianne Williamson

I am standing in a crush of three-year-old pint-sized princesses. Surrounded by sparkling tiaras and frilly dresses, these little daubs of pink and purple are up way past their collective bed time. We giggle. We dance. We wait patiently for the real princess to arrive. Well, at least a real princess played by an actress.

Finally, the moment arrives. Belle, the beauty from Beauty & The Beast, walks in to the room. As she comes out from backstage, I can see it in my daughter’s eyes. The beauty is here. My daughter climbs out of my arms, fixes her purple dress, and runs toward her.

Running to beauty

We are all attracted to beauty. Beauty sells magazines. Beauty drives our self-perception. When I counseled teens, the issue of distorted definitions of beauty came up on a weekly basis. Our society hasn’t left us wondering what beauty is. Beauty is full lips. Beauty is long flowing hair. Beauty is a body shape Barbie would be envious of. Beauty wears the right clothes, surrounded by the right friends, and always plays with the right toys. We’ve immersed ourselves in cultural perceptions of beauty, so much so that we don’t know where to turn. We are consumed with the concept.


Love For a Lifetime: How I got past the parental rejection of my childhood
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As I watch my daughter wrap her arms around Belle, a concern reveals itself in my mind. What chance do I have to speak truth into my daughter’s life? As she grows, who will inform her on what beauty is?

I’ve been told by culture (and a few friends) that a father’s most important job is to provide. Be strong. Be courageous. And bring home the cash. Become “the provider for all, and the enemy of all,” as J. August Strindbergto once so eloquently wrote. On TV the only other option is to fill the role of a bumbling, awkward individual — the comedic outlet in the family fabric (see world-famous dad Homer Simpson). Is there room for a father to “woo” his daughter and reflect God’s heart for her? Are those moments as rare as a dance at a graduation, followed by another at her wedding?

Wooing your daughter’s heart

The role of father is vitally important to the emotional and spiritual (not to mention relational!) well-being of a daughter. A Dad is not just a provider, protector, and live-in comedian. Neither is a mother only a cook, cleaner, and sole provider of “the nurture factor”.

A father has the ability, to reflect the love that the Father has for us. He has the opportunity to “woo” his daughter’s heart - to let her taste the depth and strength of love. He is given the capability to speak the truth of beauty deeply into the heart of his daughter.

The tragic truth is this - if fathers do not take the opportunity to speak beauty into their daughters’ lives, someone else happily will. Turn your television on to any station and watch for a few minutes. Volunteer to chaperone a junior high dance. These are the prevailing voices of beauty in our culture. These are the voices your daughter (or son) will hear every day.

I want my daughter to know that she is beautiful. Not just for the reason that she could star on Toddlers and Tiaras, or even because she is smart, and talented, and funny. Those are all wonderful things and part of the gift of a daughter, but I want her to know that she is deeply beautiful because of Who made her. I want her to believe that her Father desires a deep and meaningful relationship with her, and so do I.

I want to be someone she can trust, someone she can talk with, someone she can walk through life together with. I want to be someone who can humbly and brokenly reflect the love that her Heavenly Father has for her. I want to woo the heart of my daughter so that she knows that her beauty transcends the length of her hair, the color of her eyes, the ability with which she reads.

After all, who is she?

“…who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God.”

She is a child of God — and so are you. God has created you beautifully.

As fathers, we have the gift of engaging in our daughters’ lives meaningfully. And to unveil the true meaning of beauty found in each of our daughters.

Take a deep breath

It’s important, Dads, to take a deep breath. You’ve likely walked through the feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt that come with parenting already in your journey. This segment of your daughter’s life - no matter if she is a two year old dress-twirler or a fourteen year old boy-chaser - is a great time to speak beauty into your daughter’s life. So take few tips from a fellow bumbling live-in comedian:

> Open your ears. Chances are, if she’s older than two, she’s using more words than you do. When you listen, you’re communicating more than attention in her life. You’re signifying that her world is a priority and that she is worthy of your interest.

> Be in the moment with her. With a thousand other pressures confronting fathers, it is easy to tune out. These are the moments you live for, not what’s coming for you tomorrow at work.

>Two words: date night. This is a special phrase in our house. The word date means undivided attention over breakfast, at a restaurant, walking with candy apples. It’s a time when my daughter can talk to her Dad. (And believe me, she does.)

So I stand here and reflect, amidst the mass of little princesses, as my daughter embraces Belle and looks back at me. And when she looks back, I hope she begins to understand that her daddy is in this moment with her, that she is loved, and that she is beautiful.


http://thelife.com/family/powerwoo/

DIVERSITY WON!!!

Another ending to a great year of Britain's got Talent. I love this show! A definite highlight in my year of TV viewing. I was a bit sad to see that out of the 10 finalists for the last show 5 were singers! I think the singers should be encouraged to try out for the X-factor (similar to American idol but over here they accept all ages from 12+)

There were two amazing street dance 'groups' and one kid who would blow your mind with his dance. My favourite was Diversity - a group made up of different sets of brothers and a few kids. I had hoped that they would win.

Diversity blew everyone else out of the competition. It was AMAZING!!!! I have attached the video below for you to look at. Let me know what you think!

PAULO NUTINI

When I first moved to England I turned on the TV and caught the music act on the Sharron Osbourne show. As soon as I heard Paolo's 'Jenny don't be hasty' I was hooked. I soon bought the album and fell in love with this guys voice and his music. I wanted to see him live but the only concerts I could find were long sold out.

So, here I am three years later and I notice he is touring again with his new album out June 1st. Of course, London gigs were already sold out so I decided that I was going to drive to the nearest gig to me no matter what. Booked my tickets for Bristol (3 hour drive) and finally the day arrived!

What can I say? His first album was amazing but this new album is going to be awesome. He sang all of his new songs and all I can say is that each song is filled with different layers and dimensions. It is his old style but now with added bluegrass feel. The song is slow and then breaks out in new rhythms...the lyrics are incredible and the added instruments including such things as a harmonica and mandolin complete the album.

This was a very intimate gig which added to its appeal. Gorgeous curtains, laid back style, a blend of lighting, and being dead centre front.....all added to the enjoyment.

If you don't know who Paolo Nutini is...then my suggestion is, go buy his first album. You won't be disappointed!!!

Phrases of the week

My friend Jeff whom I met a Bible college years ago came for a visit this week. He has just started a two month european holiday by himself. I envy his passion to do things alone. Some might say I am the adventure queen and would do anything for fun but....travelling alone is one thing I hate. Well, travelling for pleasure - alone. I could go on and on about why I would dread this a possibly analys my life and the embaressment I (think) I feel when doing some things by myself...but, not today! =)

I just want to leave you with a few catch phrases we heard or said this weekend that made me laugh and must be used for personal pleasure and a good laugh once and awhile.

1. While in a small clothing shop at Notting hill, the guy who I assume is the owner greets us with a lovely hello and then says 'please try anything on.... trying on is for free!' (has anyone ever been charged for trying on clothes?) anyways, it made me chuckle.

2. Jeff and 'the boys' from home say this at random before and after events...its quit funny if you use it. "We're really doin' it" or "we really did it" Funny thing he said they used it a whole day when one of the boys was getting married - which I again thought was very funny. Imagine prepping for your wedding and enjoying the day but you keep hearing "we're really doin it" use it - I know you'll enjoy it!

3. Ok, so Jeff and I had a chat about e-mails/facebook etc. Basically Jeff sucks at both. He will read a message but never write back. Something he admits he needs to get better at - and I agreed. Then jeff said "I miss the days when you get out a piece of paper and a pen, write what you want to say, and... (ok, I need to stop here for a second. what do you think the next line of this sentence would be? now, like you, I thought he would then continue by saying "... drop it in a mailbox"

BUT NO.... Jeff doesn't say that! He says "I miss the days when you get out a piece of paper and a pen, write what you want to say,...then give to a man on a horse who will ride and give it to the person.

Now, I'm not sure what 'western' canada was like back in the 80's but in eastern canada we certainly did not grow up in the time where mail was still delivered by a postman on a horse!!! bah ha ha ha He said it so non-chelant, as if he had indeed lived through a time where he missed the old ways! oh my gosh, I laughed so hard and he will never live that one down.


and thats the end of my story. I urge you try one of these fab phrases some day and see if they work for you.

Always remember...trying on is for free! x