Clare Teal: Ready, steady cook after a week to remember

I am pleased to report that our drummer, Benny, has a new home and is moving in as you read this. Thank you so much to all who helped.

If you cast your mind back to last week, he and Alice had just moved their piano into what they thought was their new flat – only to find that the woman upstairs, who owned the freehold, had been unaware of what they thought was their new landlord's intentions to rent his flat to Ben and Alice.

Said WUS (woman upstairs) begrudgingly allowed them to leave their piano, Benny's drums and some of their belongings until they could find a new place to rent.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

As we'd been at Ronnie Scott's most of last week, Ben hadn't seen his own kit since. We were playing in Dartmouth on Saturday evening, so imagine Benny's surprise when he went to pick up his drums to find the WUS had changed the locks.

Poor Benny – I have to say, not once did he let his trouble and strife interfere with his performance (but Alice is a nice girl).

Ronnie Scott's was a blast. Eamonn Holmes and wife, Ruth, came on Monday, as did funk legend Pee Wee Ellis, Saint Michael of Parkinson and Lady Mary, on Tuesday, with surprise guest the marvellous vocalist, Ian Shaw, and the Radio 2 lot came on Wednesday.

Every night was packed and, as always, we finished our residency on a real high.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And it was this high, and the ferry, that brought us back to Dartmouth. Such a wonderful place, although bass player Simon was up in arms over the 4.50 ferry fare, so much so that the audience offered to have a whip round.

The catering was a hoot. It was, indeed, the first time we've ever had to choose from a bag of ready meals and then cook them ourselves, but it's that laid-back atmosphere that makes Devon so appealing, and I'm not complaining, as the ready meals were of the highest calibre – cod mornay, spicy meatballs, Thai chicken curry followed by reduced- calorie chocolate mousse (none taken).

Very tasty but if there's one thing me and my rumbling tum have learned through the years, it's NEVER ask a thin person to order your dinner.