Ah, it's just like Christmases of yore...

Remember that feeling of anticipation for the magical day, the excitement whilst getting ready for bed, snuggled up waiting to hear Santa on the roof, waking up early and jumping on your parents' bed begging them to let you downstairs to eagerly run to the tree and unwrap your presents...

Cut forward twenty or more years...

The feeling of anticipation on Christmas Eve (will your jeans still fit after weeks of pre-Christmas paryting and eating?), the excitement of finding a seat in the pub, snuggled up in a strange bed (at your parents' house of course - get your minds out of the gutter folks please!), being woken up at 11am by your Mum to help with last minute mad preparations for the arrival of the masses and begging her to let you have one more hour in bed to let the Alka Seltzer kick in...

Don't you just love Christmas traditions! I certainly do and tomorrow evening shall see me, as usual but still treated with the same fondest regard, with my very very good friends Faye and Jo (plus Jo's husband Haydn, he's a slightly newer tradition but still a very welcome one) in the Newcastle Arms. Hurrah! They are fellow Worksopians like me, and, also like me, are making the annual pilgrimage to the strange land that is Bassetlaw in North Nottinghamshire for a 'reet' good old Christmas Eve celebration. It's also the only time I get to see other fellow Worksopians who have moved on to other places too - it's a bit of a meeting spot for former Valley School pupils really!

Faye and Jo are my oldest friends and I can't wait to see them. Again not in age terms, but in the length of time I've known them - they were both at my Christening.

Incidentally the title of my actual 'oldest' friend goes to a certain Mr Edmund Ankrah, I shan't share his age to save our friendship, but he's a lovely Scouser who is a very talented illustrator who has worked for some of London's top ad agencies and is how I came to embarrass myself with Mr Trevor Beattie (see my facebook pages under 'Judge all you like I take pics of me with people off the telly' album for photographic evidence). His experiences over his 64 years (oops) make him a very very interesting and funny person to have a beer or four with. I'm sure he'll be really chuffed with me now, but he still calls me 'angel' even after several middle of the night calls when I fancied a chat so I hope he won't mind his mention too much. Why do you always think you are at your most interesting and funny at that point? Ah, the joys of drinking...

Which leads me nicely back to Christmas...

So, after Christingle at the Worksop Priory (it's a lovely tradition and goes down well with our Mums!), G&Ts at 'Aunty' Pam Wild's Gin Palace, Christmas Eve night at the Newc, Christmas Day at Fran's (including a big bash with friends and neighbours at night), and a Boxing Day night out with Jen and Julia (amongst others), the Christmas period will find me starting to write up the draft of a new play 'China Dreams' for which I'm learning a bit of Chinese (all will become clear I hope!) and researching material for my second radio slot for next Friday (28th) on Radio Leeds between 7.30 and 8am. Please tune in if you can.

Also if you can please let me know of any interesting sounding bashes or events on around West Yorkshire over the next couple of weeks.

Last week's slot seemed to go well I think - I don't have a copy yet - and I did go to Pinocchio with Leah on Friday which was marvellous. It was the World Premiere, which is a first for me I think, so huge thanks to Rosie at Opera North. I highly recommend it as it's an incredible production, but have to say that Pinocchio deserved everything he got (harsh, me?!). He would do well to remember a favourite saying of mine "I'm a great believer in luck, the harder I work the more I have of it". But of course he does learn this in the end. He's a bit of a brat until then though!

But, for the next few days work is most definitely not on the agenda. I wish you all a happy time with your friends and families or even just a bit of peace and quiet.

Festive love

Clancy xxxx

Roll up, roll up...(need New Year event info too - two slots booked in now)

I really promise I have no yearnings for the circus! This is about the calendar - The Charming Armley Cake Calendar in case you've forgotten!

A group of angels - and me - will be in the big Pudsey Asdas tomorrow from about 9am to 1pm (for someone who's not normally a morning person I seem to be getting myself involved in some early starting stuff these days, maybe it's a sign of getting older).

So, if you are planning a weekly 'big shop' why not pop along to see us - we'll have a microphone so there'll be no chance of missing us - and maybe pick up a few calendars as some last minute Christmas pressies. They will bring joy throughout the year - both to those who receive one and the clients of Armley Helping Hands.

I'm also on the look out for more events and things for the next couple of weeks as I'm delighted to announce my first two slots on Radio Leeds will be taking place next Thursday (20th) at 7.50am and then the following Friday (28th) between 7.30am and 8am. Though they have said they know I potentially could talk for 30 minutes, I don't have to fill the entire slot thankfully, but it does mean I am busily researching things to talk about.

The challenge at this time of year is searching through the multitude of Christmas pudding hunts, Santa hat walks/runs, Christmas markets and carol concerts so that I find something a bit different - the things that people might normally not get to hear about I suppose, but are still as much fun and interesting- to go to and talk about.

I'm doing well so far, but anything else you can add would be greatly appreciated. You're an interesting lot I know, so I bet you have some things planned.

Plans for next week include the Cavalli party at Oracle, visiting a very lovely-sounding craft market in Halifax and a few other things besides. Plus Pinocchio at Opera North next Friday - tickets are sorted, more on that very soon. I can't wait!

Maybe I'll see you in Asdas tomorrow too.

Clancy xxxx

Any gigs, bashes, dos or stuff?

I thought my recent break might mean that my regular 'out and about' slot on lovely Radio Leeds might not be starting until the New Year now - but I'm very very pleased and excited to report it will be starting next week (Thursday or Friday TBC) on the Breakfast Show.

Don't worry, I'll let you know when!

This does mean that I need info on what's happening, launching and generally going on - quick!

If you are organising anything, going to anything or better still can get me in to anything then let me know please. It can be happening anytime between now-ish (if it's something like an exhibition launch or a venue opening that will still be relevant for the end of next week) and New Year.

I'm already doing some research myself of course and getting some help from lovely Leah - and Em is putting the feelers out too - but anything else will be greatly appreciated.

It can't just be parties and free booze things though, it has to appeal to Radio Leeds listeners so my links with the cultural world of West Yorkshire will be coming in very handy too!

Pinocchio at Opera North next Friday is looking promising...cool!

More soon

Clancy xxxx

p.s. for anyone that may be wondering (you never know) Connie and Squeak are also back home too and very happy to be here. I think two weeks in a cattery has made them appreciate the home comforts a little bit more. We shan't tell them they're going back for a bit over Christmas just yet - ssshhhh!

I'm back...hello!

Hi everyone

First of all, thank you so much to you lovely lot who have sent cards and messages while I've been on extended leave. It's been just what I needed.

I'm pleased to report I'm back to full strength, almost, and glad to be back at work. Honestly, I love it, just not 24 hours a day!

Contrary to popular belief I did not run away to join the circus (as the 'Six and the City' Girlies will testify I do not go upside down - whether that's tumble turns in the pool or after several drinks being held up to do a handstand by four people up against Sonia's wall) and can't even do a forward roll, which kinda precludes me from joining a troupe anytime soon.

Mind you, I could get working on a beard...

I was very impressed by Cirque Surreal when Sonia and I saw them for the first time in the summer though, and we spent most of the time with our mouths open. The human body and mind can achieve some amazing things can't it...

Will be back out and about with things to report very soon I hope, but the next few weeks may be a little quieter than most. Even though we are heading towards the thick of the Christmas craziness.

Leah and I will be doing the London Marathon next year so have a goal to focus my training on again which will also prevent too much craziness in early 2008. Anything less than six hours one minute will be an improvement on the NYC marathon. Just in case anyone was starting to be too impressed.

See you all soon - a catch up is most definitely needed

Lots of love

Clancy xxxx