Hello everyone.

Rob at Jam Night

Well, I’ve done a couple of Jam Nights now, since my return to action, and in the words of Gary Glitter, “It’s good to be back” !   With my knee improving, I’m now fit to resume Jam Night duties regularly with all the humping of amps and kit bags that comes with that particular territory. Thanks to Marco for his work over the last three months or so, during my absence, and it’s good to see he’s still about, participating with his excellent vocals !  Last Thursday’s attendance was excellent and Lenny did his usual fantastic job of co-ordinating everything so that nobody was left out and everyone got up and had a go !  Marvellous ! !

Don’t forget, Jam Night is on every Thursday at The Middlesex Arms, so grab the instrument of your choice and get down there. New faces are always welcome and of course so are all the regulars too !   See you soon.

Cheers,  BFN,   Rob.

Yes, Happy New Year everyone.  Hope you had a great 2013 and a fantastic Christmas. Now we have a new year to look forward to as 2014 moves ever closer.  I do hope you all have a great new year celebration, whatever you happen to be doing.

As usual at this time of year,  you can see my New Year Video offering – just click on this link !

So, here’s to a fantastic 2014 !

Cheers,   BFN,   Rob.

Christmas Greetings

Hello everyone.

Well here we are again – another Christmas is nearly upon us. Hope you’ve got all your Christmas shopping done.  I’m not doing too badly on that front at the moment. Still a few bits and bobs to get and it should be all sorted !

Anyway, just to help put you in the Christmas spirit, why not click here to have a look at my  Christmas Video  clip which I hope you’ll all enjoy.  You may have seen it before as I recorded it for Christmas 2010.

I should be putting in an appearance at Jam Night on Thursday 19th December –  the last one before Christmas,  so hope to see some of you then.

Anyway,  Happy Christmas everyone.

BFN,     Rob.

Hello everyone.

The Boys Are Back … Rob & Gavin return to Jam Night !

Recovery from my recent knee operation is progressing well and I actually made an appearance at Jam Night last Thursday as a ‘punter’.  I won’t be back to normal Jam Night duties ‘full-time’ until after Christmas but it was great to see everyone again after my few weeks absence, and especially to see Gavin back and playing again. He continues to go from strength to strength with his recovery after his stroke.

On Saturday, I attended the second and final week of my Level 1A Umpires course. All pretty intense but very enjoyable too !

On Monday, I had my third of four sessions of physio in the gym at the hospital.  This was followed up with a Tuesday afternoon appointment with my consultant.  My recovery is going well as my knee continues to heal and respond to all the physio.  I should even be driving again soon !

So there you have it – a brief summing up of a few things I’ve been up to over the past few days. Hope you’re all getting ready for Christmas – Not long now !

BFN,  Rob.

Hello everyone.

Rob leaving hospital

Well, everything’s on hold at the moment, having just come out of hospital after yet another knee operation.  This time it was a knee replacement,  a somewhat more heavy duty operation  than the key-hole operations I’ve had before.

So all’s on hold for a while, including my participation in all things of a sporting nature and Jam Nights on Thursdays while I concentrate on loads of physio and getting all better !  Rest assured though, Jam Night is continuing in my absence, so make sure you get down there !  You’ll be pleased to know that Gavin is recovering well after his recent stroke.

So, I’ll see you all very soon.     BFN,  Rob.

Hello everyone.

Well, it’s been pretty busy lately, as you would no doubt expect, with Robfest 2013 having taken place last Sunday 4th August.  What with all the preparations, of which there was a substantial amount on many fronts, the aftermath was no less frenetic with all the clearing up operation, de-rigging and sorting through items various, prior to binning or putting away for next time, as the case maybe.

Riff Raff with Brian Cope at Robfest 2013

Anyway, enough of all this waffle, let’s get to the point … and the point is that, as in previous years,  ‘Robfest’ was again much enjoyed by all those present.  Perhaps you weren’t there and therefore missed it.  Maybe  you were there but got too drunk to remember it.  Or you do remember but would like to see the highlights again.

In any event, don’t worry because all you need to do is click on this  Robfest 2013 Photos & Video  link and that’s just what you’ll be able to see –  video footage and photos of this year’s extravaganza.  As usual, there were various drinks and nibbles with ‘Riff Raff’ in action in the gazebo, joined this year by Brian Cope. Thanks to Brian for coming along and performing. All of us in ‘Riff Raff’ enjoyed it and I’m sure Brian did too. Despite having known Brian for some years, that’s the first time we’ve played together – great fun !

Thanks to Rosie and Joel, who did a lot of work in organising and clearing up.  Oh well, I suppose I’d better get back to the clear-up myself !  Now, where does that plug go ? ! ?  Enjoy the video and pics.  See you soon.

BFN,  Rob.

Jam Night

Hi everyone.

Attention all you Jam Night fans out there !

Please note that there will be no Jam Night on Thursday 18th July.

This is for one week only !!  Jam night will be on as usual on 11th ( tomorrow ) and returning on 25th and will be on again every Thursday thereafter !

This is due to the Middlesex Arms being booked for a private function on 18th.

Hope this is all clear !

See you soon.  BFN, Rob.

Me and Jimi !

Hello everyone.

Well, I’ve been been away to the Isle Of Wight for a week’s holiday since I last wrote. I took Rosie across the sea for a very enjoyable week … and we didn’t need passports. We just hopped on the ferry for a little trip across the Solent. The weather was not too bad on the whole – could have been a lot worse !  We stayed in new accommodation this year as our old chalet site is no more. It’s currently being built on, with new houses going up.  We still stayed in Sandown but near the zoo. A lot of lions and tigers in there !  Our travels took us past Parkhurst prison. A lot of murderers in there !  The IOW sounds like a pretty dangerous place !  A trip to Syria anyone ! ? !  While we were there, we visited Dimbola Lodge again to look up our old friend Jimi !  OK ,so it’s a statue, but it had changed since our last visit.  The Hendrix statue is now adorned in somewhat over-the-top 60’s attire. This includes some rather fanciful purple woolly strings on his Fender Stratocaster !  On Friday night we went to King Harry’s Bar in Shanklin. This is a favourite Friday night haunt of ours as they always have a band playing there on Fridays. This time we saw a three piece band called ‘The Meteors’,  an entertaining trio playing Rock’n’Roll from 50’s through to 80’s.  We made our way home on Saturday, catching the ferry from Fishbourne, having made a fleeting Saturday morning visit to Ryde for a quick whiz round the shops.

The Meteors

Upon our return, we hastily got ready for Richard’s 60th Birthday party, and made our way to Ealing for the evening’s celebrations.  It was a great night, and I’m sure it was enjoyed by all in attendance. Happy Birthday Richard ! !

I played cricket on Sunday, returning to action for Spelthorne and taking a couple of wickets to add to my season’s tally.

On Monday, Ian came over with his keyboards and we kicked around some new material for recording.

So it’s been all go recently and no sign of a let up either,  with Robfest now very much on the horizon.

That’s all for now,  BFN,  Rob.

Johnny Quantrell and the Confederates

Hi everyone.

I had a good time on Sunday night. I went to see Johnny Quantrell and the Confederates who were playing at The Middlesex Arms with an impressive and enjoyable selection of rock’n’roll songs from the 50s and 60s. If you weren’t there, you missed a great night. But don’t despair because they’re at The Middlesex Arms every Sunday !   So don’t miss out !  Go and see them ! !   You’ll be glad you did ! ! !

The band features experience and talent throughout  :  Johnny Quantrell, a great vocalist and charismatic front man,  great guitar from Clive Poole, solid dependable bass from Jules Dawton and Mac Poole, one of the most talented drummers you’ll see !!   So don’t forget … every Sunday,  7pm till 11pm  … and … Admission is Free !

For more information, log onto the band’s own website :

www.rockandrollwithjohnnyquantrellandtheconfederates.co.uk

BFN,  Rob.

Lenny rocks … at Jam Night !

Hi everyone.

Jam Night is still very much alive and kicking !  It has been much better attended over the last couple of weeks, easing fears that it may have to stop !  Thanks to everyone who has been down to support. Apologies for anyone who didn’t get on last night. There were some who only got to play one number due to the fantastic attendance. Please come back next week !  We still need your support – every week !  So don’t forget – Jam Night at The Middlesex Arms – every Thursday !  “Marvellous!”

BFN,  Rob.