Silver Whisper and Queen Mary 2 Feb 2012

I had just 2 days off and so enjoyed seeing my little boy Sam and my wife Marie, we did as much as we could, I got back from Costa Rica and went to bed at 9.30pm and fell asleep almost immediately, the next day Marie and I enjoyed some lunch out in our favorite pub and soon after picked Sam up from school, that night we had a delicious chili con carne and had an early night, the next morning Marie and I went to watch Sam and his class putting on a little play all about penguins, Sam was an emperor penguin, now all this normal stuff which might be so boring for you

to read was like heaven on earth for me, I so enjoyed seeing Sam singing and he even had a speaking part, we were so proud sitting there with tears in our eyes.

I have just flown through the night from Heathrow to Cape Town and I’m now sitting in a café waiting for my next flight to Walvis Bay in Namibia where I then join the 6 star Silver Whisper and sail back to Cape Town.

My flight to Walvis Bay was amazing, we flew into a desert in Namibia it was spectacular and my camera was in my luggage so no photos of the Desert Airport. I shared the taxi to the ship with Michael (who’s surname will come to me as the blog goes on) who is a wine merchant from Cape Town and he is here to give a couple of lectures on his wine, a nice guy who loves a beer too!
Once through another immigration routine I was on board the 6 star Silver Whisper which is a 28,000tonne cruise ship for the very rich basically, my suite is ever so nice with a massive bathroom, a huge double bed with a pillow menu, a spacious sitting area, a fully stocked fridge, a TV with a hard drive with 100’s of films, a balcony and a walk in wardrobe, oh it’s very nice, I sailed on Silver Spirit last year and that is their newest ship at 36,000tonnes but this is just as nice, it even has an iPod friendly docking system and it is an open bar here, so everything is free!

We are overnight tonight and we sail tomorrow for Cape Town where I have just flown from, my show is on the 3rd Feb and 1 show only at 10.15pm, so only one crack at it, the guests on here are very well to do, very wealthy and have paid huge amounts of money to be here, so I have to be the very best I can be, no pressure then, but really I have to be 100% on form as this is a top end product, a 6 star product!

Good Morning and we are still here in Walvis Bay, I slept like a baby last night, the bed is a comfy as a Tempur mattress and the pillows, well, you just melt into them. I was too late for breakfast so instead had a meal beside the pool and met some lovely people from Scotland, they were in the Whisky business and have now retired and enjoying life, I also met 2 very nice people from Palm Springs in California. The people on here are just so wealthy and speak a different language to me, I have my show tomorrow night and I am praying they like me.

This afternoon the nice man I met yesterday Mike Ratcliffe who is giving a wine lecture so I shall be going along to that and I’m quite looking forward to it.

The weather has turned quite misty and overcast so not a sunbathing day today.

I went to watch Mike Ratcliffe’s wine lecture and I thoroughly enjoyed it, he showed us where in South Africa his vineyards are we had three white wine’s to taste and comment on, now my wife Marie is the white wine expert in our house but I have to say I enjoyed them, I soon came to understand I was to taste them not guzzle them down the way I did, all the same they were lovely.
I am staying in tonight as for me it’s a school night as I am working tomorrow night, I should really go see the production show they are putting on tonight, but I have chosen to stay in, now staying in on Silverseas can be a great night, I have just finished my meal that was delivered to my room by my Butler Dennis (I know…Butler, but that is how it works on here) and the meal was beautiful, a nice 12ounse New York Sirloin with fried pennies, carrots and broccoli and washed down with a nice glass of Merlot, what more do you need. I have Barry Manilow playing on my iPod and the sun has just gone down across the South Atlantic Ocean, I am also feeling a tad home sick and at the same time feel very fortunate to be here, its totally out of my league but who cares, please let me sleep tonight and not worry too much about my show tomorrow night, if they like me, what can go wrong so to speak. Goodnight all!

I wish I could say “good morning” to you, last night I had hardly any sleep at all, I have been at sea since 1982 and last night was the roughest seas I have been in for a long while, the cabin creaked loudly and I rocked to and fro in bed all night long, it’s 5.45pm and it still hasn’t let up, this ship is only 28,000tonnes so its moving more so than a larger ship. I had my rehearsal and sound check this afternoon at 1pm and it went well, the band is a trio from Poland and read music well and the sound is being taken care of by Rudy from Manila, it’s not the best but its not bad, all I need now is this crowd to enjoy my show. Tomorrow we will be in Cape Town where the ship will be alongside for 2 days so at least I will get some sleep in. I fly to Perth Australia on the 6th Feb to join Cunard Queen Mary 2 in Freemantle on the 8th Feb.

Well, I have 50mins to go until my 2nd sound check (its how they do it here, 2 sound checks, its because other things have gone on the theatre since my rehearsal and sound check, good thinking really) my one and only show is at 10.15pm, what a long way to come for one show, when I first started off all those years ago back in 1975 I would never have thought I would have been flown all the way to South Africa to do one night only, I do hope it goes down well, I know the insecurities are setting in with only 2hrs to go until show time in the Viennese Theatre. Do you know, waiting to go on, is worse than actually doing the show, funny that isn’t it!

There has been some amazing African sunsets, have a look at these!

What a great night…I know I get a bit strange before I go on stage but these people are so upper class, well they loved it and so did I, thank you everyone who came to see my show in the Viennese Theatre I’m sorry I over ran, I was only supposed to do 45mins and ended up doing over an hour, I had a great time, in the audience there were people from the USA, Germany, Canada and the UK, thanks guys I had a blast.

Good morning and what a lovely morning it is and welcome to Cape Town, take a look at these photos of our approach with Table Mountain as our back drop, the historic city of Cape Town is instantly recognizable, and few cities in the world possess its beauty and style.

I sat in the sun for a good few hours this afternoon, I spoke with Marie my wife and she told me to enjoy the sunshine as it’s snowing back home, so I did just that. I watched the sun go down over Table Mountain and thought to myself “I love my job”! We are here overnight tonight and tomorrow night and then on the 6th Feb I fly to Perth Australia via Jo/burg so I have another day to enjoy beautiful Cape Town.
I so enjoyed the wine lectures by Mike Ratcliffe and have made a friend of him; he’s a great guy and owns the Warwick Wine Estate in South Africa www.warwickwine.com check it out!

We had another day and night in Cape Town and I sat in the sun next to the pool and the temp was 37c, boy that was hot. I met some very nice people from Aston near Sheffield, Edward and Jenifer who own a few different businesses in the UK and our great fun to have a drink with, they went up Table Mountain and the taxi they took had done 600,000 miles or more, it was a Toyota, so not a bad advert for the Japanese motor company. Also at the pool bar I chat to two ever so nice people Mike and Linda who are just great company, I would jest and tell people that Mike was my agent, he loved that, he also introduced me to Bloody Mary’s and Bull Shot’s oh my goodness what a drink, thanks Mike. I did finally get off the ship and headed for the famous Waterfront, wow what a place, I mean I have always thought that Cardiff Bay was amazing but take a look at these photos.

Fab isn’t it, it even has a huge shopping mall and as you can see, oh and that is where Woolworths have gone. There was a wonderful atmosphere at this awesome resort and with the time difference being only 2 hours you get over the long 11hr flight much quicker, I will feel sad to leave Cape Town and I look forward to coming back sometime in the future, they also have some of the best golf courses in the world here, so that would be the icing on the cake if I could get some golf in too. I am half packed and my car will be here at the ship at 3pm to take me back to Cape Town International Airport for my flight to Australia.
I really do appreciate the fact that you take the time to follow me on my blog, thank you. I can’t believe we pick the tour back up 24th Feb in Brecon, then Pavilion Porthcawl 25th Feb, then a charity night at the Neath Workingmen’s Club for “Help The Hero’s” on the 26th Feb, we go back to Swansea Grand Theatre on St. David’s Day 1st March, the Towers Hotel and Spa Jersey Marine on the 2nd March and then a very special night the next night at the Muni Pontypridd the 3rd March in which I am to be part of a festival called “Taffyfest” a night of celebrating Welshness!
Ok…see you later!
What a day so far, I blagged a taxi to the Airport and when at the British Airways desk they told me my luggage will not be tagged straight through to Perth, so that meant I would have to collect my luggage in Johannesburg and re-check in for Perth with only 1hr 45mins grace, well I did panic, on a scale of 1-10 probably a 6, when I got to Johannesburg my case came off almost first and the check-in for South African Airways for my flight to Perth was only 3mins walk so panic over. I am now on the flight to Perth and have no one next to me so that is a bonus. My next slight worry is I hope I have done the necessary with visas for Australia; I did it all online, so please let everything be in order. Ok, see you in Australia!

Are we there yet? Another 3hrs to go, I had my “plane sleep” as I call it, where you are asleep but still hear the noise of the plane and you still feel the pins & needles in your hands, feet and bum, then there’s the passing wind bit where you let one go, then realize you’ve done one, then with eyes shut tight hope it doesn’t smell, but at the same time you don’t care because you are in “plane sleep”.

I have just been served a cup of tea, which kind of resembles a muddy puddle, and what’s this froth that’s starting to appear? Oh the joys of air travel, yes talking of air travel, why on earth haven’t I ever signed up for any sort of air miles, everyone says to me “oh think of the air miles you are saving up” no, not me, and I must have done thousands and thousands of miles.

Ok back to my disgusting cuppa and see you down under!

Welcome to Perth Australia. I flew through immigration and once I collected my case there was the nice man Len to take me to my hotel the Crowne Plaza and it’s lovely. I just had to get out there and explore Perth, the sun was out and the temp was 38c so very hot. I walked miles around the Waterfront (yes Perth has a waterfront too) just take a look at these photos, they say it all, wow what a place, you just can’t take a bad photo, this place is beautiful, awesome, stunning, jaw droppingly fabulous, now that may sound over the top, but look at the photos.
Tomorrow morning I’m joining the Cunard flag ship Queen Mary 2, I joined this amazing ship in Perth 2 years ago, well Fremantle actually, so I am looking forward to that very much. The weather is set to be another very hot day with a high of 36c. See you tomorrow!

I joined the QM2 around 10am and met a fellow entertainer Andy James who’s a comedy magician, we half unpacked and headed ashore for a couple of beers, we found a great pub with a great choice in beer, we were looked after by to lovely ladies Nat and Sharon who run this fine bar, Andy did some magic tricks and we were soon made to feel like locals, the beer was very expensive $10 a pint that’s about £7.00 but having said that we were given a great welcome, I can’t remember the name of the bar but will find out soon, just incase you ever find yourself in Fremantle, a great place for lunch too.

Andy James did his show last night and it was fantastic, so clever and very funny, he’s done now till Sydney lucky thing. My show is on the 11th Feb with an 8.45pm and a 10.45pm show so one night only.

It’s quite windy out on deck today but the sun is out, but with this ship being more a liner than a cruise ship it feels more an indoor ship but I’m sure I’ll get out there in the fresh air later.

There are quite a few people working here from P&O so last night I was invited to the Officers Wardroom for a drink and met up with an old mate Ben who used to be the Security Officer on Artemis and Phill Aldridge who is the Chief Engineer I have known him for at least 12yrs and his lovely wife Nikki, also the Cruise Director Paul O’ Loughlin who has worked at sea for years but I had never met him so it was nice to chat to him about people we both know and have worked with over years, there is also another cruise director onboard doing what they call a hand over, his name is Keith Maynard and what a nice chap he is. Here’s some useless information for you, The Wardroom originally was known as the Wardrobe Room, a place where Officers kept their spare uniforms. It was also a space where any loot secured from enemy ships was stored. In an effort to have some privacy on a crowded ship, Officers would sometimes take their meals in the Wardrobe Room. Today, the Wardroom aboard ship is where Officers take their meals, relax and socialize.

Tonight we have a lady called Jenifer Green who is doing a special show singing the songs of Shirley Bassey, so that is going to be fab, they also have “A Night at the Opera” with Carmen so what a night of amazing entertainment we have onboard QM2 tonight!

QM2 is on a World Cruise, I was in Southampton the day she left it was 10th January as I was on Independence of the Seas, also that day Queen Elizabeth was in and setting off on her World Cruise, and I have done a leg on both ships Ft. Lauderdale to Costa Rica on QE and now here Fremantle to Sydney on QM2. Going back to Independence of the Seas for a minute, I remember waking up on the 11th January looking out to see from my balcony and there was QM2 sailing alongside us, here’s the photo.

We are now 9hrs ahead of the UK so keeping in touch with home is hard as when I’m up and about Marie is fast asleep, oh well not long now before I come home, it’s been a long stint this time with a lot of long haul flights, yes I must sort out the air miles!

Another day at sea and another hour forward on the clocks, I didn’t get to sleep last night until 5.40am just could not sleep at all, I woke this afternoon at 1pm, I hate jet lag!

Today at 5pm I have been invited to appear on the in-house TV Show with Cruise Director Paul so I have an hour to go for that, he’s a really nice guy so I am looking forward to that.

We have another hour on the clocks tonight so then we will be 11hours ahead of the UK.
The TV show went great, they record it ready for the following morning and it gives you the chance to promote your show that evening. Paul O’ Loughlin is a really nice guy and he has invited me for a few drinks after my late show tomorrow night, that’s nice isn’t it!

I’m off to the gym in 20mins, I think it will do me good, all this food and very little exercise isn’t good for anybody!

Well I enjoyed that, I walked/ran a mile in 15mins so not much I know but it was good to do. I went out last night and enjoyed the pub with Magician Andy James and we had a great night.

Today we were in Adelaide, we were docked a long way out of the city so we had to take the bus which was 45mins transfer, well to honest I wasn’t that keen on Adelaide as the roads were so uninteresting being long and everything in blocks like it kind of looks in some American cities, I took a few photos so take a look!

Tonight is my show in the Royal Court Theatre which holds 1100 people, I’m on in an hour. My rehearsal went well as the band are awesome and the sound is brilliant, so much better than the last time I was here, lets hope and pray it stays the same when I’m up there doing my show! See you later.
Loved it…both shows went really well, I couldn’t have done any better and the crowd were just fab for both show, they were mainly Australian and boy they make a great audience, also British, Kiwi’s and Americans so a good mix! After the show Andy James and I went down to the Officers Wardroom and had a lovely couple of pints.

A day at sea today and a great afternoon in the Golden Lion Pub where we had a good chat with guests and some beautiful fish and chips, Andy did some amazing close up magic too!
It was early to bed at 9.45pm and fell asleep almost straight away only to wake up at 3.30am so just lay there watching tv and waiting for morning to come, I am ready to go home now, I’m missing my family a lot and as much as I am looking forward to going home I’m not looking forward to the 24hr flight back to Heathrow from Sydney.

This hour on every night is really messing my head up, I feel so drowsy all the time, as I was up so early I had to go back to bed around 9am and I slept till 12noon.
I got up at 6am and it wasn’t the best weather but as I walked on deck there it was Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge, I have a lot of memories here in Sydney, I first came here in 1982 to become an Entertainment Officer (there’s an another blog just on that) I took a few photos of the Opera House and surrounding area, have a look!

On my way to breakfast I bumped into a lady called Jenifer Green who is an amazing singer and does a wonderful tribute to Shirley Bassey, as we got chatting I just mentioned that I had been coming to Sydney for 30yrs off and on and that I had got to know quite a few people, I spoke of the ever so funny Jeannie Little, Maria Venutti, Sylvia Ray, then I said “have you heard of an Australian singer called Wayne Cornell” well, she nearly fell of her chair, she said “Mike, that’s my husband” we laughed and enjoyed talking about Aussie showbiz and soon it was time to get on the bus with my new found buddy the brilliant comedy magician Andy James www.ajmagic.com well when I say get on the bus we only got on the wrong bus but all was well in the end. I was also back and fro with my best mate Dave back in the UK that day as he and I were once in Sydney doing some shows here. Well as I was getting off the ship that day and flying home I had absolutely no time to spend walking around Sydney, so it was straight to the airport.
Great news Andy and I managed to get upgraded to exit seats where there will be bags of leg room. We had a couple of beers with two guys from Sydney and then we were soon onboard and a 9hr flight to Hong Kong. It was a Virgin flight so loads of films but very cramped sitting in economy.

We landed in Hong Kong and had 2 hrs to wait for the next flight to London, we found a great lounge where they served chinese food and cold beers and free wi-fi, so texts back and fro to Marie, I am so excited to come home!

When we got onboard for the London flight we found it wasn’t full so once the seat belt signs were off we dashed to the empty seats and lay flat out and went straight to sleep, it was heaven compared to the last flight, I slept for 8hrs, oh thank you God for that.

I am now sat back in the spacious exit seat and we have 2hrs left till London Heathrow where my driver will be there to take me home. What an adventure it has been these past 2 months, Barbados, St. Lucia, Tortola, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, San Juan, Cartagena, Panama Canal, Costa Rica, San Jose, Grand Turk, Cape Town South Africa, Walvis Bay Namibia, Johannesburg, Perth Western Australia, Fremantle, Adelaide, Sydney New South Wales, Hong Kong and back to London and HOME!

I have quite a busy time now at home coming up, I will be back in the studio for Ads work for Trade Centre Wales, rehearsals for St. David’s Day Concert at Swansea Grand and Muni Pontypridd, also my tour starts back in Brecon 24th Feb, next night Pavilion Porthcawl then a charity for “Help the Hero’s” at the Neath Workies!

But most of all I can’t wait to spend time with my family!

Cunard Queen Elizabeth 20 - 29 Jan 2012

Today is my father’s 75th Birthday and he has gone to work as he has done all his life. Happy Birthday Dad!

I however, am now on a Boeing 747 flying to Miami to join Cunard’s beautiful Queen Elizabeth in Fort Lauderdale. I have managed to get myself an emergency seat so I have bags of leg room, I have the seat next to me empty and the next seat is sat Keith, he is a top brass manager for a company called Harding Bros, so I said I know the company well as that is who most of the onboard shops on cruise ships are with, so it is a small world indeed. I have a 9hr flight to Miami so 7hrs to go.

I had a lovely week at home spending time with my family, taking Sam to school, taking Marie shopping and having a delightful lunch at the Duke of Wellington in Cowbridge. I had a good meeting with my accountant and my TAX is now sorted and paid thank the Lord, I hate January as I have Tax and VAT to pay and it comes straight after Christmas.

I have a week now on Queen Elizabeth sailing out of Fort Lauderdale to the Caribbean and through the Panama Canal, I fly home via Miami from San Jose on the 28th January. I am hoping for some nice sunshine and a rest, I also have a re-learn as my tour starts back up on the 24th Feb in Brecon and I haven’t done any of the tour material since, I also have to re-learn some songs from Copacabana and Contender as I am singing some of the songs from them at Swansea Grand 1st March and the Muni Pontypridd on the 3rd March this year. I have also brought with me the DVD of John Steinbeck’s classic “Of Mice and Men” as I have been offered to play the part of Lenny in this brilliant play, which is to tour the country in 2013.

As I sit here in this plane, I can’t help but think of those poor people on that stricken Costa ship, I feel furious about what the Captain did, leaving the ship and what seems to be making up stories of falling into a life boat, I have been at sea since 1982 and I have had safety drilled into me every time I step foot on a ship, if this had been P&O, Cunard, RCCL or Celebrity this would not have happened or any other company for that matter, but at the end of the day, it’s not Costa’s fault is it, it’s that Captains fault simple as that, I have been fortunate enough in my life at sea to know some brilliant Captains and two Commodore’s and they would never have taken such stupid actions, I have always felt 100% safe at sea even when we have been met with horrendous weather like a force 11 off Japan in 1997.

I do hope this incident has not put anyone off cruising, as it really can be the holiday of a lifetime. I have sailed to the four corners of the earth and feel very privileged to do so. I have never been on Costa but I hear they are beautiful ships with very luxurious public rooms, it is such a shame this had to happen.

I’m staying at a hotel tonight and joining the ship tomorrow morning, Queen Elizabeth has the most beautiful theatre, take a look.

I had a great nights sleep at the Regency Hotel in Miami, 8pm to 5am…a rubbish breakfast and a bus to the ship, then to find out I should have stayed at the hotel until 11am as a car was booked for me, I jumped on a crew bus and now it’s a waiting game at the dock side. Loads of ships in today including the 240.000tonne RCCL Oasis of the Seas, it is massive, it makes the Queen Elizabeth look ever so small next to it, it’s more than twice the size, but the Queen is far more beautiful to look at!

Just take a look at these photos of our day in Fort Lauderdale today, so many ships, Oasis of the Seas for one take a look at this.

Also in with us Liberty of the Seas, Grand Princess, Crown Princess, Eurodam, one I don’t know what it is and us Queen Elizabeth the best looking ship in the harbor today.
Inboard an old pal who I haven’t seen for years Stewart Gilles, a great act that once found fame on the original Opp Knocks and had a big hit with a song called “Amanda”, so lovely to see him again.

My show is in 2 nights time so at least I get to relax a bit, poor old Sam my little boy is not feeling so good, he had a temperature of 103f the other night and he’s still not great now, I spoke to Marie earlier and she is nursing him through it bless her and bless him too poor little chap!

Today was a day at sea and it’s Sunday. I love Sunday at sea, it always feels special on Cunard and P&O ships, I always try and go to Church and this mornings service held by Captain Christopher Wells was very good indeed and a good turn out, after church as is customary at sea it was off to the pub, Man Utd was playing Arsenal and they won 2-1, now I’m not a great soccer fan but I enjoyed the game, the pub was packed and had a great atmosphere, I met up with an old mate Albert from the band and Stan who I met on QM2 a couple of years ago and I have remained friends with him and his lovely wife since, so a good time in the pub and an excellent chicken korma too. I had a TV slot with cruise director Amanda Reid at 3pm to promote my show tomorrow night, so that went well and it was lovely to see Amanda again.

Tonight is a formal night and a school night for me, so I am not going out, it’s a night in front of the telly for me. Tomorrow we are in Grand Cayman so I hope to get some rays before my show’s, which are 8.30pm and 10.30pm. See you tomorrow…Good Night!

Good Morning and welcome to Grand Cayman and what a lovely surprise to see P&O Oceana in with us and the Crown Princess, doesn’t Oceana look lovely!

I sat in the sun for a few hours but every time I settled a great big rain cloud kept moving over and putting the lights out, so I thought forget this and had a nice salad and back to the cabin or stateroom as they must be called on here!
I have my rehearsal at 5pm and two shows tonight, oh I do hope they will be a good audience!
I’m just back from rehearsal and the band are just fab with musical direction from Tim Faulkner and sound by a new guy who comes to Cunard from the BBC in London, I got on great with him and he has given me a great sound, please let it be the same tonight.

Just back from the 8.30pm show, well I don’t like to go on about my show but that was just perfect for me, best I have ever gone down on Cunard, now it’s a case of beware the 2nd show and the Captain is coming to see me…help!
Oh yes…the 2nd show went as good as the first, it’s always tougher this time of year as it’s World Cruise time and people see an awful lot of entertainment. This afternoon after a delicious fish and chips in the pub I went to see a play in the Royal Court Theatre, it was farce and it was just fab, so funny, I loved it.

Tonight it’s Indian food for dinner, so I am looking forward to that. Tomorrow we are in South America and Cartagena, they say it’s quite a dangerous place to go, stay onboard that’s what I say. See you tomorrow, good night!
Good Morning and welcome to Cartagena in Columbia South America, it’s a hot and sticky morning, I have been up since 7.30pm and rang Marie almost straight away, poor old Sam my lovely little boy has been ill and is off school, poor thing. My agent emailed me to say Princess Cruises wants to start using me and we have taken three cruises for the summer on Grand Princess which once upon a time was the worlds biggest ship, she is very similar to P&O Ventura and Azura so it wont be too much of a shock when I get on there.

I had a lovely breakfast then went for a walk and I have taken some nice photos of the the area around the ship, we had some lovely local dancers and musicians on the quayside, have a look!

Not far from the ship I walked through a beautiful garden with pink flamingos and parrots roaming around, I love the parrot.

I may go back off the ship as in that garden was a nice little bar and with it so hot today I think a nice cold beer would be very nice.

Tonight it’s my dear old pal Stuart Gilles onstage, he is doing a show tonight of Scottish music and wearing his tartan kilt as it is Burn’s Night, so I’m sure this show will storm them.

What a great show Stuart Gillies put on last night, what a pro and everyone loved him.
Today we were transiting the Panama Canal, a place my dad would love to see, it really is a massive engineering masterpiece, here are some photos I took whilst sailing through.

Amazing isn’t it! The Canal is a 51 mile ship canal that connects the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. The canal cuts across the Isthmus of Panama and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Work on the canal started in 1880 and was completed in 1914.

Today we are at sea and en route to Costa Rica where I will be flying home to London via Miami. I have my second show to perform tonight again at 8.30pm & 10.30pm.
Just back from a good rehearsal and sound check and am now waiting to perform, to is going to be a very long day and night for me, 2 long flights awaits.

Independence Of The Seas Jan 7 - 13 2012

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I came home on the 4th January from Aruba via Miami and had a day with my family, it really was

a fleeting visit and on the only day off I had I had to go to Real Radio Studios in Cardiff to help write and then record another Ad for Trade Centre Wales, oh well that has to be done too!

I had 3hrs sleep and at 3am Billy from Executive Cars www.executivecarswales.com was there to rush me back to Heathrow for my flight to Madeira where I join the mighty Independence of the Seas. I arrived at 10.20am and jumped into a taxi which cost me 35euros and joined Independence, I have to say you get a great welcome here, I was met at the gangway by the Production Manager and he helped me through the formalities at the guest relations desk, soon I was unpacking and sending suit and shirts to pressed for tonight’s show, the cruise director Joff Eaton rang me and welcomed me on-board and was so grateful to me because I was asked to work tonight after my nightmare early start and flight out, but hey it’s what we do at the end of the day.
After lunch I just had to go to sleep so straight into bed and a good hour and twenty minutes sleep and boy I felt better for it, I have just 25mins to rehearsal and sound check as my shows tonight are at 6.45pm and 8.45pm then the biggest sleep known to man awaits.

Just back from my rehearsal and the band are awesome, a kicking 9 piece and a great sound on stage too, so I’m happy but ever so tired. I have 1hr and 25mins to my show now so time to chill with my thoughts.

The 6.45pm show was only half full but what a great crowd, it could not have gone any better, I’m now back in my suite with 30mins to go to show two so lets hope it goes as well…see you later!

Well the 8.45pm show was 100% full and what an atmosphere the show went great and afterwards I met up with an old pal and brilliant act Tommy Bond, he has to be the nicest man in showbiz, we had a few pints together and put the world to right, I was crushingly tired and had to give in, so bed for me and 9hrs later I woke up.

We are at sea today and on our way sailing to La Corunia in Northern Spain, a nice place and great for tapas so Tommy and I are thinking of doing just that. I now have a few days off to relax, quite a few people have colds and coughs so I do hope I don’t pick something up, that’s the one thing I hate is being poorly, under the weather and not on par as it interferes with my job and then can’t do what I want to do with my voice.
This is Tommy and I having a few!

Tommy came round last night and showed me loads of stuff on the Mac and do you think I could take it all in, no chance but it was fascinating to watch though! Thanks Tommy!
I was up early this morning around 6.40am and sat and watched the sun come up over the sea, nice photo!
Today we are in La Coruna’s in Northern Spain and it’s a lovely sunny day with a temp high of 14c so not too bad, perfect for golf, oh how I miss my golf!

A little about La Coruna. It is heavily wooded and ever so green, it’s a very beautiful place. Some say it bears a strong resemblance to Wales and Ireland, in both climate and culture. Celtic influence was strongest here in Spain’s region of Galicia, and La Coruna was no exception. I just might go ashore today with my mate Tommy Bond, you should Google him and see what he’s done in his life! The time difference is 1hr on here BUT we are staying on ships time as we walk around the town, hope nobody gets it wrong and misses the ship!

I had the most lovely day out with Tommy yesterday, we walked around beautiful La Coruna, checkout these photos.

We found a really nice Italian restaurant (I know we were in Spain) and it was just divine, I had spaghetti cabonara (can’t spell it but it was the best ever) a few beers and then after that we found a fantastic wine bar and had a couple of glasses of the most beautiful red wine I think I have ever tasted, sorry I can’t remember the name of it and it was cheap too!

Last night onboard it was Pub Night, it is an amazing spectacle, have a look at these photos, they say it all!

Today is a sea day and we transiting the Bay of Biscay and thank you Lord it is nice and calm, as sometimes this stretch of water can be very rough. In 30mins I’m off to the barbers on deck 5 for a haircut and something I have never had done before and that is a shave with the hot towels and all the stuff that goes with it, I will report after I have had it done, I’m a little nervous, will he cut me, will I come out in a rash? See you later!
Ok I had my haircut and that was a waste of time as she kept saying “nothing coming off” then I had my shave, it was nice experience however I could have done a better job if I’m totally honest, the hot towels, masks, creams, facial were all fantastic, but that was it, my bum went to sleep as did my both little fingers which wasn’t nice and it too 1hr and 15mins, oh well never again!

It’s a grey old day today but the Biscay still calm which is a bonus. Southampton tomorrow and the ship turns around with 4000 getting off and another 4000 people getting on, I’m staying on to and getting off in Lisbon on 13th January.

Good morning and welcome to Southampton, it always feels as if I could just go home from here, but today we turnaround and do it all over again. Another old mate comic Tucker is getting on today as he is on tonight, he’s a great comic and I will have a tough act to follow. I spoke to Marie this morning and she is flat out getting Sam ready for school, so we’ll speak more after nine, I however have been up since 5am! I had to go and see the UK Immigration at 7am as I joined the ship outside of the UK so you have to go and see them, it took 10 seconds. I think I will pop into town later to stretch the legs and have a mooch around, we sail at 4.30pm. I am looking forward to talking to my son Tom today, he’s still in panto up there in Wolverhampton

Having the time of his life, he is going to miss that when it’s over.

Back onboard quickly thanks to pier manager Maggie as there was a que a mile long with all the new guests arriving at the same time. I actually had a little snooze for an hour and even slept through drills, I will get a telling off letter for that. I went to the welcome show and watched very funny comic Tucker who did a great job and we only clashed on two silly lines so I felt better for that. An early night for me and I slept for a good 10hrs, what my wife Marie would give for a sleep like that poor thing, she hasn’t had a full nights sleep for a very long time.
Good morning and a day at sea ahead, the Biscay is once again nice and calm, we are heading south and the Queen Mary 2 is just across from us, here’s a photo,

it’s not great as she quite a distance from us, I think she is traveling to Madeira, I pick her up on the 8th February in Freemantle Perth Western Australia. Tucker called me and we went for lunch together, he is a great bloke and he’s really happy at the moment as his wife has just given birth to twins, two lovely girls Darcy and Sydney, they are over the moon.

My shows are tonight at 8.45pm and 10.30pm and my rehearsal is in 40mins so I’ll see you later!
Just back from rehearsal, great band and great sound and lights, you can’t ask for more than that, I love this ship!

I’m back from 8.45pm show and it was 100% full and I enjoyed it very much, the sound let me down a tad with not enough in my monitors but I have now spoke with him and he assures me all will be well for the 10.30pm show.
Yep the 10.30pm went great but for some reason I was very tired up there, the monitors still weren’t great but better, I was knackered after the show. I had a drink with the lead singer/guitarist of the rock band “Rock The Boat” after the show and it was lovely to talk about the business and his life onboard Independence, it made a change!

Today we are in a very sunny warm Vigo in Spain, how can the weather be so different from home, we not far from the UK? I got off the ship with comedian Tucker and we just had coffee and chatted away and laughed a lot, which was great, he’s a nice man! Tomorrow I fly home from Lisbon via Amsterdam so arrive into Cardiff at 9pm so should be in the house by 10pm…can’t wait!
Lisbon and I am already at the airport sitting on a hard seat with 1euro to my name as the taxi driver charged me 35euros to get here, it’s only 15euros tops, I hate being taken for a mug, I do this a lot and sometimes you get taken for an idiot abroad!

Having said all that it has ben a successful trip and I’m now looking forward to going home to my family!

Christmas 2011 at home - and Ventura

I had the most lovely Christmas with my family, I came home from Azura flying from Tortola to San Jaun then onto London via Madrid, I was so tired when I got home, but so happy to be home. We did the last minute shopping just everyone else and Christmas Eve was here before you could say Santa Claus is coming to town, Sam was so excited, he went to bed with dreams of Santa and hoping for his big present the Bat Cave. Marie and I put out all the presents and I put the carrot for Rudolf and mince pie and sherry for Santa on the little table next to the front door, we were in bed at midnight after enjoying a Grahams 10year old port and even we were excited for the morning.

Christmas Day.

We were up before Sam and couldn’t wait for him to wake up so we made some noise and soon he awoke, he shouted “Mumma Dadda he’s been”…he ran into us with his filled stocking and was on cloud nine, we then crept down the stairs, I had the Christmas Tree on the timer so that was on and twinkling away in the still of the morning, “Dad he’s ate the mince pie” Sam said with excitement in his voice, we open the living room door and we all walked into a magical Christmas moment, Sam’s face said it all, we did laugh when he said “see that big present, that’s my Bat Cave”.
It took a few hours to open everything, I had a lovely jumper, a shirt and some Ted Baker socks, Marie loved her things too. We were enjoying Mulled Wine by 10am and as soon as the bird was in the oven we went up the pub for an hour and had a couple with friends. We had in my opinion the best Christmas Dinner ever and it was chicken, fantastic ,well done Mrs Doyle.
Boxing Day was a strange day, I felt I should have been working by 2pm as for the past 22yrs I have been in panto, I did work that night at the Towers Hotel & Spa Jersey Marine near Swansea and we had a great night, Mark Bailey brought a big group from Trade Centre Wales and Sarra, Lesley, Meryl and Roy came too so had a great night.

We went to Wolverhampton to see my son Toms Panto Snow White with Sam Kane and Linda Lusardi, it was sensational and Tom had some tricky stuff to do, he had to fly Linda up and out into the crowd over peoples heads, Linda said she puts her life in his hands everyday. We had the best welcome ever and we stayed at the Premier Inn Bluebricks in Wolverhampton and I recommend them to anybody

With only one day left at home and so much to prepare for the cruise Marie and I went for a nice quite drink down the WaterMill in Ewenny. Marie’s mum arrived on the train from Bath and I packed to go away.

4am and my car was on the drive to take me to Manchester Airport and my flight back to sunny Barbados.
Arrived at Barbados having had no sleep on the plane and soon at the Ventura and a brilliant welcome by Hughie Taylor and Dee who are Cruise Director and Deputy, we went out for a meal that night and we were joined by another great mate Richard Agg and his partner, great meal but boy was I tired. When we got back to the ship we were greeted with the news that the main man in the Theatre Company had broken his ankle playing rugby and was signed off and will have to be flown home. I went to bed and fell asleep as soon as my head touched the pillow.

Good morning and another day in Barbados, I was up by 9am and had breakfast with a great mate and brilliant act Louis Hoover who flies home today, I always enjoy his company, he is playing the London Palladium on the 13th February so good luck to him. I am working tonight in the Arena on Ventura two shows 8.30pm and 10.30pm then there is a big party on deck to bring in the new year, strange because it will be 2012 at 8pm here as we are 4hrs behind the UK. My rehearsal is in 50mins…see you later and if not…HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Ha ha I’m back, just had my rehearsal and it went really well, brilliant soundman Peter Hughes who has worked with my brother Phill on Thompson Cruises, what a great soundman. It’s 5.25pm here and 9.25pm at home so 2012 will be there before it is on Ventura, very strange!

Both shows went well but found it harder than usual, people were tired from the flights and were doing their best to stay up for the New Year, I watched London on the Telly and saw the New Year in but it was only 8pm here, very strange, I don’t think I will go away for New Year again, I am missing my family too much.

It’s 2012 and what a busy year ahead for me, I’m travelling around the world on some of the most luxurious ships in the world, Caribbean with Azura and Ventura, Canaries on Independence of the Seas, South Africa on Silver Spirit, Australia on Queen Mary 2, USA on Queen Elizabeth and so it goes on, it all sounds amazing and I am very lucky to be doing it, but I will miss my wife Marie and my sons Sam and Tom very much also the rest of my family.
Today we are in Curacao, I was here only 2 weeks ago with Azura, weather is a mixed bag sunshine and the chance of a few showers but nowhere near as bad as it is back home, Marie told me it’s awful at home, poor thing she had an awful New Year with me not there and pouring with rain and she has a cold, it’s hard on us sometimes as a family living apart for most of the time, it breaks my heart from time to time.

I have my show again tonight in the Arena Theatre at 8.30pm & 10.30pm so rehearsals at 4pm I think. I have ¾ packed and just waiting to go home really, if it wasn’t for my friends Hughie & Dee it would have been so hard for me this cruise, I dunno, New Years always makes me feel a bit strange, roll on February! Oh dear doom and gloom I’m sorry!

My tour starts back up again in February with Theatre Severn Shrewsbury then Brecon, Porthcawl, Swansea Grand, Towers Jersey Marine and the Muni Pontypridd, I’m even doing the Neath Workingmen’s Club, a club I once used to work a lot back in the day, I even won a club award there alongside a great singer Wendy Kane so great memories of this club.

Both shows went great and the crowds were fab, all rested up after their long flights and were really up for my show, I really enjoyed it.

I am now sat at the gate for Miami at Aruba Airport and a long day/night lies ahead of me, I do hope I get some sleep on the Miami to London flight.

It has been a very short visit to Ventura and the Caribbean but I had the most enjoyable time, thanks to Hughie, Dee, David Shepherd (Executive Purser) Captain Charlie Carr, Richard Agg and his lovely lady, Wayne Denton and his lovely wife, Vlad, Akos and the boys in the band, Pete Hughes for the best sound ever, and thanks for the amazing lighting what a finale last night, I thought I was onstage in a rock concert, thanks boys.

It’s 3pm here and I won’t be home till 1pm tomorrow afternoon.

Thanks for reading my crazy blog; I don’t half pour my heart out at times…sorry!

Don’t forget the tour picks up again in February.

I’m now at my gate at Miami Airport and boarding soon, I really hope I get some sleep this time as the last flight back home from San Juan was a disaster, I just sat there watching the clock, awful!

I had some lovely tasting pizza a while ago and washed it down with a nice pint of Samuel Adams Beer which is a Boston Beer, it was quite nice but nowhere near as nice as Brains Bitter, what can you do, when in Rome!

P & O Azura Dec 4th to 17th 2011

Well, it has been a wonderful five weeks working from home, being able to take my boy Sam to school most days and have my eldest son Tom working with me on the tour. I have enjoyed the tour very much and a massive thank you to all who came to support us, we went everywhere from the Grand Theatre Swansea to Theatre Colwyn Colwyn Bay to The Borough Theatre Abergaveny to The Torch Theatre in Milford Haven and everywhere in-between, I can’t even look at the fuel bills! I hope you have enjoyed the video clips on the blog, we had some real fun times!

I had a car from Executive Cars Wales with Billy driving pick me up at 5am yesterday morning to take me to Gatwick and my non stop flight of 9hrs to beautiful St. Lucia in the Caribbean where I stayed in a hotel and later joined the P&O Azura. The hotel was nice and I met some really nice people at the bar, also the Chief Officer from Azura was there, we are joining the ship together in about an hour. On the flight out here I sat next to a lovely couple Mark and Catharine, we chatted away for the last 2 hours which helped as there is nothing worse than those last 2 hours waiting to land after a long haul flight, Mark is a retired Banker and Catherine is a Yoga Teacher and they are walkers too, it was good to talk to them and it has sparked something in me as I want to get back into my running this cruise. Thanks guys it was lovely to meet you, have fun in St. Lucia.

I am now waiting for my taxi to take me to the ship so see you later.

I got onboard around 11am and what a great welcome, it’s so nice to be back with P&O and indeed Azura, I was met by the crew manager and taken to the crew office to sign ship formalities then I went along to the cruise directors office and had a fantastic welcome, my old pal Neil Oliver is cruise director and we had a good old catch up and we have made a date to have dinner one evening.

I have been given a beautiful junior suite and it has a huge balcony so that will be nice to sit out there in the sun. My show is day after tomorrow in the Playhouse Theatre so I have some time to rest up; I have a watertight door induction in 15mins so I will see you later.

Well that was induction 1. Water tight doors, splash doors, fire, health and safety.
I had a nice chat to some people from Carmarthen in the pub on the way back to my cabin, there are loads on from Wales so I am looking forward to meeting them later.
We sail in a bit for Dominica, now that’s a lovely Island, Frank Bruno’s family comes from there by the way. We have a day at sea tomorrow so that will be nice, then the next day it’s my show.

Good morning: Looks like we haven’t moved from the shores of St. Lucia? The time is 6.50am and the sun is coming up over the Pitons and it looks like its going to be a beautiful day, I have taken a few photos but my camera lens keeps steaming up with the condensation as it’s air conditioning inside and as soon as I open the balcony door the heat outside is totally the opposite, bit like opening an oven door, it’s around 22degs already, it is strange being so hot with Christmas around the corner, I don’t think I could do Christmas here or anywhere other than home really, the last time I was on a cruise ship in December was 1982 in the South Pacific on SS Oriana (have a look on my cruising page to see the old girl SS Oriana) she was my first ship.

Today is Tuesday 6th December and I shall be here on Azura until 17th December where I shall be flying home to Heathrow from Beef Island Virgin Islands via San Juan and Madrid, but until then I must try and relax, no excuse really I’m in the Caribbean, have a fab suite and I’m not working till tomorrow night, so come on Doyley get your backside into gear and go for a nice walk around the deck and find out why we didn’t leave St. Lucia. See you later.

I had a good walk/run around deck 7 as we sailed away from St. Lucia past the famous Pitons and out to sea en route to the Island of Dominica.

I enjoyed a healthy breakfast of fruit, sunflower seeds and plain yogurt with honey all washed down with a fresh orange juice…lovely!

We had some extra entertainment laid on by a school of Dolphins and flying fish of the port bow…where was my blinkin camera? The weather is ever so hot but quite overcast so I’m enjoying an old rom-com Notting Hill, it was a favorite film of Marie and I when it came out and it is making me smile!
I’m meeting some people from Carmarthen in the pub at 12noon for a chat and a pint and later meeting up with my old mate Bars Manager Michael Shamley or “Sham” as we call him, Sham is a great bloke and loves to tell jokes and he loves hearing them to, I remember once we were on Arcadia in the crew bar and we laughed so hard we nearly passed out, great times on a great ship, Arcadia will always be a firm favorite of mine, I made some great friends on there and Trevor Conley the Executive Chef or “Big Man” as we call him is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet and what a chef, he used to teach me loads about cooking, KISS as he kept telling me which means “Keep It Simple Stupid” a great Chef, even Marco Pierre White rates him highly!

I had nice pint in the Broadie’s the pub onboard with my mate from Carmarthen and a lovely tapas lunch in the Glass House, which is a trendy wine bar on deck 7.
I fell asleep on the settee around 8pm and woke up at midnight, I got myself to bed and woke up this morning at 5.45am in time to enjoy Azura sailing into Dominica, have a look at the photos. I had a cooked breakfast for a change and didn’t really enjoy it, I must stick to the fruit, it’s much nicer!
I have just finished working on my show for tonight, I’m doing it much like I have been doing on Celebrity as I have only one night to do this cruise, so a mix of the two shows. My shows tonight are in the huge Playhouse Theatre 890 seats at 7pm, 8.30pm and 10.30pm so a long night ahead, I have been so tired every night since I’ve been here due to the 4 hour time difference so I hope I can stay awake tonight, I’m sure I will. I’m going to take a stroll now around the little town here in Dominica, I have been here before quite a few times so I know where to go, Dominica is a rain forest Island so I know it could pour down at any moment, but its so hot and humid its 28degs today and Christmas is 2 weeks away. I rang Marie this morning and she tells me our Sam has his cough back…I can’t believe it, he suffers so much with a cough, I do hope it goes away by Christmas.

I had a lovely walk around, have a look at these photos, it is a basic life style out here to say the least but a happy life non the less, people look after each other here, making sure their friends are ok and have everything they need, quite refreshing really, a real community spirit!

I had a phone call form the Entertainments Office and I had the shock of my life, an old mate from 1996 Oriana days is onboard Simon Jason, what a lovely surprise, he came up to see me and couldn’t believe the photos of Tom and he didn’t know about Sam, we went for lunch together and had a good catch up, what a nice man he is, we were thick as thieves in those days, we went around the world together.

I have 1hr 30mins to go now until my rehearsal, so see you later.

I had a good rehearsal, the sound man John is very good and has given me what I want in my monitors but my voice is a bit shaky, oh well once I’m on I’m sure it will all be fine, the musical director is Andy Pickering and the band are ace, Andy worked with my son Tom last year in panto with Sam Kane and Linda Lusardi so it was nice to meet him although we have worked together ages ago.
I am on in 45mins so best I go now and get ready…see you later!

Just back from 7pm show, well I won’t lie to you I found the start a tad bumpy, all my fault as the audience were fab, I just couldn’t get a rhythm going, then I went into the married couple routine and it started then to flow and everyone was up at the end, so 8.30pm next and that’s in 30mins…quick cup of tea now.

The 8.30pm show couldn’t have gone any better, loved it because it all flowed lovely, loads of ad libing and having fun, there’s loads on from Carmarthen…must be a trip!!! See you after the next show, which is in 20mins time, long night with 3 shows!

Yes the 3rd show was a good one, we even sang Silent Night, Neil Oliver the cruise director was pleased and so was I. I had a nice drink and a chat with Neil and Simon Jason in the Glass House after the show then with Bars Manager Sham in the pub afterwards. When I got to bed I was so tired I fell asleep as soon as my head touched the pillow.

Today we are in St. Vincent, the weather this trip has been awful really, it’s just overcast, dull but hot and sticky, so many on the ship are fed up with the weather as they have spent a fortune getting here and were hoping for some nice winter sun before Christmas, but it’s not to be, that’s one thing we can do nothing about…the weather!

Tonight I have been invited for drinks and nibbles with Captain Paul Brown, Executive Purser Cathy Jones and Cruise Director Neil, so I’ll be in very good company, I do hope it’s not a formal night…suit and tie etc!!!

Welcome to Barbados. The sun is finally out and it is hot hot hot! I was up at 6am and watched as we tied up alongside. I had a lovely little hour at the Executive Pursers Cabin with Captain, Neil Oliver and Simon Jason, we seem to be the old gang on here as we go way back. Well, I have already had a couple of hours in the sun and I’m now waiting for Theo and Sham to call for me as we are going up the road for a couple of beers and some lunch on the beach, it could be the Boat Yard which is a famous haunt with the ships crew and they do a mean spot of lunch too…and cold freezing beer to wash it down with. I do hope this weather is here to stay now.

Great lunch and the sea was lovely, I had to just jump in, it was so warm and the beer was ever so cold…ah the Caribbean! The last time I was at the Boat Yard it was with Marie and she was pregnant with Samuel, we sat on that same beach, Marie loves Barbados.

We are now on another cruise as we have turned around in Barbados, so another 3000 people have embarked and we are off again around the Caribbean with another cruise director Laura Bennison (or Bennie as well call her) and another Captain Keith Dowds who happens to be a good golfer too, I wonder if we play somewhere this cruise!

Good morning and what a lovely morning it is, the time is 6.30am and the sun is now coming up (nice photo)

today we are at sea and it’s Sunday so I think I’ll go to church this morning, every Sunday when we are at sea P&O have always held a church service and it’s usually the Captain or the Deputy Captain that holds the service, today it’s Deputy Captain Simon Terry who only a couple of days ago was promoted to Captain and his first ship as Master is going to be Oceana. Simon is a lovely man and he has his wife and little 2yr old on with him, so he and his family have much to look forward to…well done Sir!

This cruise we are going to Curacao and Aruba in the Dutch Antilles, Grand Turk, Tortola, St. Maarten, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, Grenada and back to Barbados, I however will be flying home from Tortola via San Juan and Madrid.

The sun is shining out on my balcony so definitely going to sit in it today, the weather has been awful back home.

Marie sent me some photos of our Sam dressed as a star in the school Nativity Play, oh my goodness, that made me cry a bit I have to tell you, its not easy being away from your loved ones…but I never complain because I am the one doing this job, many would love to be in my shoes.

I had really nice early Sunday morning sitting in the sun on the balcony and then decided to have my breakfast on the balcony too, best cup of coffee in ages. I’m of to church in a bit then off to the pub for a pre Sunday lunch pint with Sham the Bars Manager. This afternoon is a sunbathing day without a doubt. I have read through my script of “Of Men and Mice” and I love it, I can’t wait to start rehearsals with it, it’s a long way away I know but I am going to work on it as much as I can in preparation for it. Watch this space I suppose!

I had every intention of going to see comedian Jed Fry tonight and have dinner with Sham, but once again I have stayed in and watched TV? Jed told me earlier that the comic last night had done quite a few lines that I do in my show, so I will now have to re-think my act, it’ll be fine, I’ll work something out! They have a lot of comedian’s on here so we are bound to clash now and then. Tomorrow we are in the beautiful Dutch Island of Curacao and it looks like it’s going to be another hot sunny day. Good Night!

Good Morning! Oh no, where’s the sun? Not again! We are now in Curacao and its cloudy and humid just like it was last week, oh well it might brighten up later this afternoon, to be honest it’s not for me it’s the guests I feel sorry for, it’s a long way to come in December for no sun.
I have spoke with Marie and she tells me Sam fell and had a nose bleed, he fell in the living room dancing around going crazy dancing to “Move Like Jagger” I did laugh, not for long but I did laugh!

I also spoke to my mate comedian Jeff Stevenson; he joins the Azura later this cruise so I will miss him.
I have had a great day out with my old pal Entertainment Officer Simon Jason, we went to a beach and it poured with rain for most of the time but we has a few beers and laughed over old times for the whole afternoon, Simon and I go back to 1996 on Oriana together where we sailed out of Hong Kong for the World Cruise, what a great day. We sail from Curacao in 40mins for Aruba another heaven on earth place so see you tomorrow!

Hello…still here, what’s wrong with me, I have Azura at my feet with loads going on and look at me, I’m staying in again, I have just had some room service and now watching TV, I just can’t be bothered to get all dolled up and go out. Good Night!

Today we are in Aruba, I woke up at 6.50am and watched the ship being tied up alongside and then rang Marie and she told me the news from home, my very good pal Gary Lovini was on TV last night it was a documentary about the 1986 New Faces Finalists and where they are now, I can’t wait to see it on the planner when I get home, also the news that Little Mix had won the X Factor, Sam finishes school today for the Christmas Holidays (that seems a bit early).
I have my show tonight in the Playhouse at 7pm, 8.30pm & 10.30pm so I have just finished sorting the act out, a comic has already been on and has done some similar lines so I have to be on my guard tonight!

It’s 8.30am here now and 12.30pm at home so my day is only just beginning, so a shower and some nice breakfast me thinks!

I am so bored today, I’m just hanging around waiting to go to rehearsals, I’m always a bit odd on my show day, it’s 11.20am and I’m sat in Costa Coffee on the ships deck 5 enjoying the biggest cup of coffee in the world, Mal Pope would be proud of me, have you been to see Cappuccino Girls in Swansea yet…I haven’t, I hope I get a chance to go soon!

I have 30mins to my rehearsal and sound check; I have spent the afternoon watching “The Office” Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant are geniuses, I have laughed my head off yet again, its like watching “Faulty Towers” you can watch it over and over again…brilliant!

Its now 15th December….it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…well if you can call white sand beaches, reggae music blasting out from bars along the beach, blue skies, turquoise waters and a Christmas Tree!!! Today we are in Grand Turk and what a beautiful place, I haven’t been here before so I can’t wait to wonder ashore and explore!

What a beautiful place, take a look at these photos, words fail me. We were in with the Carnival Liberty so come the afternoon there were thousands of people around the place but do you know what, it didn’t matter, this is one awesome place on planet earth…Grand Turk!

I have my rehearsal and sound check in 3hrs as I am back on tonight for 3 shows then tomorrow I pack and the next day its Tortola and I fly home for Christmas!
My rehearsal is in 30mins time and as I was relaxing thinking of tonight’s show there was a loud knock on my door, it was Wayne Denton, he was clearly upset and very sunburnt, he came in and told me that he had lost his wedding ring, he had been swimming in the sea and when he came out the wedding ring was gone, he spent 3hrs on his hands and knees searching for it in the sand and trying to look for it in the sea, the poor man is devastated, he doesn’t know how to tell his wife, they got married in March this year in the Ukraine in a Catholic Church. He asked me if I had any dollars on me, I only had $20 so I gave him that and he’s going back to the spot where he lost the ring and he’s going to buy some goggles to search underwater, I tried to tell him that it would be like searching for a needle in a hay stack but he wouldn’t listen. He has “his” rehearsal in an hour as he is on tonight in Manhattan Bar doing his tribute to John Denver, poor man he’s in a bad way!
Good morning…it’s my last day on Azura and this boy is going home tomorrow, I’m outta here!
Last night my show went great, even the 7pm was great, I had a fab night but I was really tired afterwards so just a couple with Wayne Denton in the pub, his shows went great too so we were both pleased with ourselves.

Today I shall be packing and really counting down the hours to go home, one more sleep for me. Tonight Cruise Director Benne and Deputy Cruise Director Matt are treating to a meal in the Glass House so that will be really nice.
I had a pint with Graham Clarke who I go back an awful long time with, he used to be a pro racing driver; he’s here with his partner Beverly, lovely people. Well, I’m 75% packed now and can’t wait to just go home now, it’s a bit rough the sea today and the weather is windy and partly cloudy, still warm though!

I had a wonderful meal with Benne, Sham and Al the Glass House Manager, it really is a truly magnificent wine bar, its won Best Bar at Sea voted by someone or other. I had one drink in the crew bar before bed and up nice and early and the long day and night starts.

I got to Tortola airport and flew in a 9 seater plane to San Jaun, wow, what a great flight, I sat right behind the pilot, amazing, now that is what you call proper flying. I’m now sat on the plane to Madrid and this is where I will sleep tonight, well when I say sleep I mean more get irritable for 8hrs, then I have a 2 hr wait in Madrid and my final flight home to Heathrow where Executive Cars will be waiting for me www.excecutivecarswales.co.uk to take me home to my family who I have been missing so very much, Sam is very excited for Christmas and so am I.

Borough Theatre Abergavenny December 2nd 2011

We had a full house to end the tour at The Borough Theatre in Abergavenny(for 2011 anyway - starting again in February 2012). I was delighted to have in the audience, Peter Roper my company manager when I was in the musical Grease on the West End in 1994/95. I played the Teen Angel and Vince Fontaine alongside Shane Richie and Samantha Janus and had a great couple of years.

Welfare Ystradgynlais 25th November 2011

Had a great night at The Welfare, had family in and met a sweet lady Victoria Taylor and her beautiful children who have gone through a traumatic time dealing with, as a family her husbands battle against a debilitating neurological illness called IH, a little known condition. Victoria has written a book called Caitlin's wish, which I am only to happy to endorse.

Caitlin's Wish is an enchanting and moving story based on real life events; an inspiring tale of triumph over adversity.
It follows one little girl's journey as she comes to terms with her fathers life -- changing illness. Unable to accept all the changes in her life, Caitlin cries to herself "Why me? Why my family?"
She hides her true feelings from everyone around her, only confiding in the little robin who sits on her windowsill each day.
She pours her heart out to him, completely unaware of his extraordinary abilities. Rufus the robin arranges a magical trip for Caitlin; to an enchanted world where anything is possible.

Join Caitlin on this magical adventure to Fairyland where she re-discovers her happiness and learns to see life from a new perspective.
Once you've read 'Caitlin's Wish' you'll never see life in the same way again.

The author Victoria Taylor lives in Wales, UK with her husband and 2 children. She began writing as a way of helping her young daughter come to terms with her father's rare brain condition; IH. (Intracranial Hypertension or pseudo tumour cerebri)

The first book 'Caitlin's Wish' was published in 2010 in the hope that it might help other children as well.
It soon became apparent that people of all ages were reading the book; indeed whole families were using it to open the discussions into their own personal situations.
As Victoria had simplified the first book to aim it at a younger audience and now people aged 5yrs old -- 95yrs old were reading it; she made the decision to write a new book based on the original story and so the idea behind 'Caitlin's Wish - Second Edition' was born.


The 2nd book 'Caitlin's Wish - Second Edition' will be available Spring 2012.
For more information please go to http://www.caitlinswish.co.uk

The IH Research Foundation (www.ihrfoundation.org) and Crossroads Care (www.crossroads.org.uk) will benefit from a percentage of the royalties from book sales.