BeVox flashmob in London 17 August 2013

Most of the time being a member of a choir like BeVox is straightforward in terms of gaining an audience - you tell your friends, colleagues, neighbours and family there is an upcoming performance and advise how to get tickets.

And then there is flashmobbing.

The point of doing a flashmob is that it is unexpected (for those in the vicinity).  It really doesn't work if there are bunches of people waiting around 'for something to happen'.  It can look very obvious.

So it was that around 200 singers gathered in central London to do three performances for Victoria BID (the Victoria Business Improvement District).  This involved singing a medley of Queen songs (arranged by our wonderful BeVox choir leader Tim Allen) in Victoria Train Station, in the piazza of Westminster Cathedral, and outside Buckingham Palace.  The medley consisted of extracts from "We Will Rock You", "Bohemian Rhapsody", "We Are The Champions", "Radio Ga-Ga" and "I Want It All".  It's a bit of a rollercoaster of singing, and brought together not just members of BeVox but also City Voices, Cardiff and the Rodillian Singers.

Tim kicked it all off at each location, solo singing the verses and then gradually everyone joined in.  At first it was just a few people, with the rest of us who had not yet joined in echoing the reactions of everyday folk around us.  Then, on the climatic chorus of "rock you", we ALL joined in.

We had great fun going from location to location, but especially at Buckingham Palace because by then we knew we COULD do it.

It was a heck of day out.... Try searching online for Victoria BID, BeVox flashmob or more to additional videos and information!

http://youtu.be/PZRplnB6jso

The New Doctor

So ridiculously pleased with the choice for the next Doctor.  Worth sitting through whales and the atrocious fluff that was the live programme to see the walk through of Malcolm Tucker.

Requirements for this new incarnation? Please keep the Scottish accent.

Otherwise just bring everything to this role that has been brought to the rest of his career.  One of my earliest memories of Capaldi which made me love him as an actor was when he played a transvestite in Prime suspect 2. He was heartbreaking, funny and capable of being the bad 'guy'. Brilliant performance and he's done great things since then time after time.

I hope he has an absolute blast in this so demanding role.

Books from Scarthin, Cromford Derbyshire

Danny Gregory has a great book available and a lovely blog as well.  dannygregory.wordpress.com/category/books/an-illustrated-journey/

I can't recommend this book highly enough.

It was purchased from Scarthin Books. www.scarthinbooks.com