His Honour Gerald Butler QC

I am writing this with a heavy heart. My wonderful lovely father in law, Gerald has died. He was 79, and I loved him like a father. I spoke to him most days when I was home and he was the cleverest most generous man I have ever known. He had so many friends and he enjoyed life to the full. We as a family are devastated. My strong beautiful mother in law, Stella, is trying to come to terms with such a sudden shock. He was an incredibly well respected Judge at Southwork crown court. When he was a QC he changed the face of the music business when he represented stars such as George Michael, Gilbert O'Sullivan and Tony Mcauley. He never failed to support his family and he doted on his grand children. He will be sadly missed by all.

At least he is now with his beloved son Mark.

Hello

Hi, not a lot to tell you. I had a good cruise on the Oriana. Managed to really relax on the 10 day crossing from the Caribbean. I realised I needed to recharge my batteries after the Panto. Actually I decided on the spur of the moment, because I had a few weeks off, to fly out to LA and see my pal Ross and his fiance Brianna. Jane couldn't leave the business, so she said go. I feel guilty, but its not often I have time off. So I'm going. When I come back I'm flying out to Singapore to pick up the Aurora for part of the world cruise and then straight onto the Arcadia in Dubai. So I will be away for 3 weeks....not happy about that. I only like to go away for about 7 days at most. But that's the way it worked out, so that's that.

David is on tour with Example and it was a great buzz when the single got to number 6 in the top 40. I never got near the charts in my recording days.

I saw that Abbey road was up for sale. It brought back the memories of me as a 15 year old standing in studio 1 with my drum kit and guitars all round me recording Brain Beat with George Martin producing and Dick James signing me up for publishing. So close to the big time. If only Brian Epstein hadn't been in the States, my life might have been different. I don't regret it though. I probably wouldn't have had such a wonderful career and life if I'd had a pop career.

Ok that's it, everyone is well and that's all that matters really.

bye.

Its over

Well, what an end to a great season. We had the audience from heaven on Saturday night. They just roared at everything. Then Sunday first matinee was great fun with a few different gags (that's tradition on second last show) then the last show..... I was feeling a bit down and not feeling like doing the show....then we get the news that Susan Boyle was in the audience. As I do an impression of her, I thought this is going to be fun. Then I get a message that she would like to come on stage with me and I think, this is going to be a bit of showbiz magic. I mean who gets the biggest name in the world at the moment to walk on at the end of your impression.....and she did. It was wonderful. The audience went wild. They screamed and shouted Su Bo, Su Bo. She was lovely and had photo's taken with the cast back stage. I said to her before she came on "Hello darling thanks for doing this" she said "Oh its great this is great fun." I couldn't see her after the show as she was going back with her friends. But she certainly set the place alight. My mate Ross King and his lovely fiance, Brianna were in Edinburgh and saw the show the night before. So I called him and said get down here now, its going to be great. So he was there as well. So it was the end to an incredibly successful season. Now we have to start again for next year......

bye

nearly over

Well, we only have just over a week to go and its been a great success again. Business has been up 8% (and in a recession) and we've a fantastic time doing the show. Everyone has worked hard. I think that is the reason it works. We never let the energy dip. When we opened it took about a week, as usual, to find all the little comedy bits that you don't know about till an audience comes in. Then you just keep adding every show and also editing. Next year is the end of my 3 year contract at the Kings so we'll see what happens after that. I say three year contract, more like the 13 year contract. If only I had bought a flat up here in Edinburgh when I first started.

David is going from strength to strength. He is working with a guy called Example and was touring with Lilly Allen recently. Example's single is out this week and David is doing all the TV's and gigs around the country. He also looks like he is signing with a new management. His writing is so strong at the moment. Kate and Jane are doing well. So the whole family is on form.

I have a couple of weeks off then I go to the Caribbean to pick up the Oriana.

Ok that's the news for now.

bye

Pantoland

Hi, well and truly into it now, and as usual loving it. We had a wonderful weekend. Saturdays shows were amazing. It was like a football match. The crowd were screaming. Had a funny moment the other night. In one scene I say "You're embarrassed? I'm embarrassed ....I'm an award nominated actor." but I made a mistake and said "I'm an award WINNING actor" and from the wings the whole cast (who were about to make an entrance) shouted "Oh no you're not" Lovely moment.

Every one has relaxed into it and Mr Stott is on great form. So its just down to the hard run of shows now and a bit of partying.

Have a good Christmas

We're open....again

We are off and running. It was a hard one this year. Paul and I have done more re-writes than ever before. As I said it gets harder every year. Right up to the last minute I was worried. The dress in front of 50 non English speaking people.....well it seemed that way, was very hard and I was slitting my wrists after. However opening show on Saturday afternoon was wonderful, and then Saturday night....wow!!! it was as rip snorter. (my dad's saying) So thanks to a great team. You couldn't put a show on of this standard in 10 days if we all didn't pull together. I had to have two days off in the middle because of a bug. But I managed to catch up.

Funny moment. There is a part where I say this is very embarrassing ....I'm an award "nominated" actor (re Jolosn)

But by mistake I said I'm an award "winning" actor, and everyone standing in the wings shouted "oh no your not" I roared at that. I think we are in for a great run. Thanks to Paul for being a great director.

David is on tour with Example and Lilly Allen at the moment and getting the best experience a young muso could possibly get. Right in the think of the pop world. Earls Court, Arenas all over the country. Wonderful. Every one else is great. Speak soon

Allan

Hello

Well Mr Negative was right.....didn't win the TMA award. Oh well I'll just have to be happy with my cycling proficiency award.

Nearly at panto time. Script all finished and frocks all ready. Really looking forward to it. Grant and I have set a time for our coffee before our first day of rehearsal. Its a little ritual we have. I've got two weeks at home before I go up on the 15th. What a bonus that is. Ross is over from L A so spending some time with him this week. Ok that's about it. Speak once we are open.

bye