The festive period, in true fashion was filled with illness. There’s nothing like a brussel sprout with a cocktail of antibiotics. Despite being unwell, I had a lovely Christmas. Spending time with family is what life should be all about. The World Wine Guy’s Rubbed Steak went down a treat and presents enjoyed by all.
Seasonal celebrations were brought to a halt with a seven o’clock alarm to catch a cab to Cardiff Central, then a train onto Gatwick before flying out of the country again. We are back to work at the not-so-glamourous life of show biz again.
I was meant to arrive at check-in two and a half hours before my two o’clock flight just to allow for the rigorous security checks etc.. Like that was going to happen! Every delay that could have happened happened – from children playing on the line ( that was a little scary) to signal failure in Swindon where we were held for nearly an hour.
I eventually arrived in Reading where I had obviously missed my connection and had another long delay for the next train out. Getting to Gatwick would take nearly an hour and a half and at this point 11.32 am precisely, I should have already been checking in. Stress! I eventually got to Gatwick at one but I still needed to get from South Terminal to the North Terminal. Time was not on my side – check in desk was supposed to be closing at this point with the gate shutting shortly after ….. but … Help! – which gate did I need?
By some miracle I’d checked in, charmed the security guard in my Mr Bean panic and did a fifteen minute sprint to my gate just in the nick of time. Good training for my next charity run. I got there only to discover the flight was delayed by another forty minutes …… And breathe! Or was that …. pant and wheeze.
Four hours later I’m in Tenerife, a two hour taxi ride to my hotel where I check in and go straight to bed. The whole journey was not “Why, why, why Deliliah?” – more like “Why, why, why delay me?”
The next morning is a new day, the sun is shining, my shorts are on and it’s time to join the P&O Adonia. I have two shows on board tonight then a full five days off! Can’t wait for the days off. Today is full on – rehearsal at four with the band, security briefing at five, show one at 8-15pm then show two at 10-15pm. It’s all go. Glam!!
I’m home for the next few weeks before heading off to Naples in Florida for a charity Valentine’s concert for TAPS. It’ll be wonderful to spend time not going anywhere. Perhaps time for some creativity and a little more cooking.
This article was originally published in the Carmarthen Journal in Mark’s weekly column for the paper.
