OK so this week has opened my eyes yet again. I thought by the tender age of 45 nothing much would surprise me. So as I said last time the last few weeks haven’t been very busy performing as I have been DAD and it’s been magical. It’s possibly the best gig available to anyone. This week has been a day of mentoring for Big Ideas Wales at Gower College, private teaching, emptying my bathroom for bob the builder, school runs as well as running my deli – so no singing but busy.
I do try to go for a run most mornings to wake up the body (I’m NOT a morning person!). Last Tuesday was wet and cold so I popped over to Miskin Manor to use the treadmill and after my 5K was done my intention was to go home and continue with my TAX return…. I HATE THAT. Instead I was asked if I wanted to attend the burn and tone class as there was one place left. Anything is better than doing accounts. Now this was where I started to judge I thought I was better / fitter than I am. I said yes and to my immediate surprise I was the weakest link. The whole group where super fit and amazing.
The only other guy in the class was a very strong man who seemed to be able to lift every weight in the room effortlessly. Ieuan Jones originally from Llangennech had moved with his parents to London and at 17 years had joined the Met. They had moved from the green green grass of home to the smoke because his dad had won the Blue Ribbon as a singer. He too had dreams and thought he would have a better chance to be a professional singer in London. He did! He ended up working for the BBC Singers as well as many others.
So back to Ieuan he became a police officer in the Met and worked his way up the ranks until he was head-hunted to be personal protection officer (bodyguard) to Princes William & Harry and later the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge. How amazing is that? Ieuan asked if I needed any protection – I asked from whom? I love my stalkers.
The week ended with a trip to the Wales Millennium Centre to see the timeless classic musical “Top Hat” with my daughter. We were guests of the Neath Maestro Jae Alexander who was conducting that night. He was just fab as was the rest of the show – from the tap dancing to the singing and sets etc.
No wonder the show has won 3 Laurence Olivier Awards the glamour of Hollywood`s golden age was certainly in Cardiff last Saturday. In the words of Myfi aged 11 “ I loved the show tonight it was so happy and it made me want to sing and dance – and you know what? No one died”. Love it! Bring back the oldies I say.
This article was originally published in the Carmarthen Journal in Mark’s weekly column for the paper.
