Howdy!

Hey Peeps,

How are you all? To be really honest, I’m busted!! I had a fantastic weekend, but I think it took a lot out of me and my eating habits/nutrition intake is so poor, that I shouldn’t really be surprised. I had two dinners, two performances, two radio shows and in between all of that, managed to do some domestic chores as well as my ONiT! PR work. Oh and I almost forgot, I partied like a rock star too….well actually, less like a rock star and more like a Nurse!! LOL

One of the radio shows that I was a guest on, was Boes Comedy Time, with Boe the Comedian at Voice of Africa Radio. We caught the most jokes in the studio and loosely discussed, 'Are we our own worst enemy'? Click here to listen to a podcast of the show.

This weekend is a long Easter break, which I’m so looking forward to, but I need to spend some time at home and recuperate a little, because feeling like mashed potato (Sweet or otherwise) is not really the one.

I only have two major things planned; one, raving for my bonafide Sistren’s birthday on Saturday at GORGEOUS – it’s gonna be emosh, trust me!! *Comfort sings ‘Party over here, ain’t sh*t over there!’*

On Bank Holiday Monday, 5^th April, I’ll be performing at Laughter Fest Part 4 alongside some of the UK’s premier Comedians; Felix Dexter, Slim, Kojo, Wayne 'Dibbi' Rollins, Geoff Schumann, Special P, Kwaku, Fumbi & MS Diverse not forgetting Kat B (MTV/Choice FM) who’ll be hosting this splendid show at the plush Camden Centre (opposite Kings Cross/St. Pancras Station).

That’s about all from me, for now. I’m off home to drink some honey, lemon and ginger and rest up til I have to get up at the crack of dawn for work.

Catch you sometime soon.

In the meantime, remember, SAYiT. BEiT. DOiT. ONiT!

One love,

Comfy

One More Push...

Today is a very special day for me. A thrilling, tremendous Tuesday. The eve of another milestone in my performance career; one that fills me with pride, joy, a sense of purpose and an urge to continue to push myself that extra mile. To keep writing when my brain feels frazzled. To keep striving when I feel I've got nothing constructive left to say. To press on when the stresses of life feel set to take over and destroy my creativity. To continue sharing despite some finding my words preachy or judgmental. To aim to inspire and deliver my messages to people, who may just take note and think twice before doing something differently.

This achievement warms my heart, my cheeks and my feet, makes me grin from ear to ear, like the proverbial cat, licking its lips with glee! "What is it?!" I hear you asking in exasperation, impatience at my incessant rambling jarring your patience LOL So, I will put you put of your misery.... I have, for the second time in 2 years and 8 months of my Spoken Word/Performance Poetry journey, been published!


My poem, Mini me, has been published in the current edition of Ninety-Nine, the No. 1 Black Achievers magazine. Available from sale tomorrow (Wednesday 24 March) at various retailers, April’s edition of this bi-monthly features London MP, David Lammy, on its cover. To say I am overwhelmed, happy and chuffed is an understatement. I am overjoyed, thankful, blessed, inspired and proud.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank my family – particularly my Mum, for her unwavering support, my close friends for their encouragement, especially during the past 12 months, which have, without a shadow of a doubt, been the hardest of my life to-date, Promoters and Event Organisers who have booked me, fellow artists who constantly raise the bar and inspire me to keep on, and last, but by no means least, my supporters – whether I know you or not, thank you for your support, your ears, your hearts and your minds – you all mean a great deal to me.

I am realising my potential. I am living my dream. I am SAYiNGiT. BEiNGiT. DOiNGiT. I am ONiT!


Skinnin’ teet and signing out.

One love,

Comfy

Ninety-Nine Magazine
Issue 5
Price: £2
Stockists/Outlets

More than a Touch of Class

Good morning Peeps,

I trust you're all well and had a great weekend. Mine was BUSY but great. Friday was a write-off as the stresses of the week caught up with me and knocked me spark out! Or...maybe it was the glass of Rosé...hmmmm, moving on swiftly! Overall, I had a fantastic weekend, spent with various family and friends, catching up, dancing, eating and generally being silly!

On a creative note, WOW, what a weekend! On Saturday, I received confirmation of some tremendous news, which I will share with you on Tuesday :) Don't hate, all in good time people, all in good time... Tee, hee, hee! On Sunday evening, I performed at A Touch of Class, a variety show with something for everyone, which was held at the plush, Catford Broadway Theatre. Firstly, I have to say, Affinity Arts treated us like no other Promoter has [treated me personally], to-date; there was a full spread of Sunday's best food - Chicken, salad and hard-dough bread, plus drinks galore, all served by a lovely lady (whose name I unfortunately, can't remember), artists were introduced to one another by the team, the staff were all great and very professional - I was extremely impressed.

My friend and I chilled backstage for a while whilst I waited to find out what time I'd be on, as there'd been some reshuffling of the line-up, which is quite common. I spoke briefly to US Comic Will-E-Robo, who was slightly reserved for an American, but I guess he was getting into his zone for his performance, which seemed to go down really well - the crowd loved him. I discovered I was going to be fourth on after some of the other acts, which was cool, cos my nerves had started to kick in and I was feeling a bit jittery. It's great performing on a proper stage, but I knew that once I stepped out into the bright lights, and saw the hordes of people in the auditorium, my stomach would start that familiar churn that leaves me feeling slightly sick, so I was trying to focus on which poems I'd perform and less on the size of the audience.
Whilst backstage, we met the delightfully friendly Peter Hunningale. He was so lovely! Eddie Kadi arrived, looking dapper as always, and I took the liberty of introducing myself! Such a beautiful smile :) teeth get me every time! Lol Eventually, my time to shine came and I took a few deep breaths before strutting out into the spotlight. The place was packed! I could feel my voice trembling as I asked the audience to close their eyes before delivering 'Sweet Like'. It went down well, so to speak, and I had a few people chuckling, while others squirmed in their seats. If you've never heard it, I won't spoil it for you - just check out a performance sometime soon and you'll understand what I mean.

When I performed 'I Want a Man!' I could hear the umming and ahhing that has become synonymous with that piece and I almost lost my place in the poem as a guy shouted something out in agreement, but I got through it confidently, and ended with a resounding applause and mass of cheering that properly warmed my heart and my cheeks. It felt good.

It was such a heavy line up; Peter Hunningale, Felicity Ethnic, Moonshine, Natalie May, Gappy Ranks (he was fantastic!), Travis J, Kayleigh 'Loudmouth' Lewis, Dance acts Definitive and Retaliation. Unfortunately, I didn't get to see Yolanda Brown, as she wasn't able to make it, but the show was so great, that it didn't even matter in the end!

If you missed A Touch of Class, (shame on you! Lol) I implore you to make sure you get your tickets to the next one, I know I will!

Stay blessed and I'll be back real soon.

One love,

Comfy

Ms. B...but simply Mum, to me

I would like to take this moment to thank my Mum for all that she does/has done for me.

For her sacrifices, her joy, her pain, her encouragement (even when she doesn't necessarilly agree), her guidance, her determination, the way that she loves everyone like they were her own, her humility, her grace, her special gift with people, her beauty and her strength, but most of all, her unconditional love.

I love you Mum, and this one is for you


Love C xx

Marigolds...

Happy Thursday Peeps!

What's really good? I'm feeling very upbeat and positive today, which is always a good look. The day is ticking by rather quickly, which isn't so nice, because I have quite a bit of work to get through today, but I will get there!

So, how has your week been? What have you been up to? What have you got planned for the imminent weekend? know, I know, it’s only Thursday, otherwise known as ‘Foreplay Day’ (i.e. the teaser before the weekend) but we can live in anticipation! So, will you be up to anything fun, exciting, challenging, demanding? Me?! Bwooooyyyy, I have a missionary, gargantuan task... something that used to be my regular, Saturday morning routine… good old fashioned house-work! Yep, you know the kind that NEEDS to be done, despite the fact that you can't bear it (or is that just me?!) I spend so much time out and about at events these days, that it invariably gets neglected and ends up being a military operation, when the mess just becomes too unbearable to face (or climb over anymore)! Don’t get me wrong, I’m not nasty or unclean… just erm... a little bit erm… *cough* more untidy than your average person! (Who wants to be average anyhow? Average is so 2009! Haha). My Saturday will be spent Marigold'ed up to the elbows, headscarf on lock, Bashment music blaring… or actually, scratch that, maybe I’ll go for some 80’s classics… love a bit of Luther and Cameo when I’m cleaning… almost makes me wanna draw for the Shake n Vac! Hmmmm, no carpet though, so I guess that would be a bit counter-productive.

Sunday, as we all should know, will be Mothering Sunday…that one day of the year when the government decided we should show our love for our Mumsie and charge us the earth in the process!! For some, the stress on the pocket from Valentines Day has only just abated, not to mention the tremors of Christmas and New Year. What will you do to celebrate and appreciate your Mum? Will you mark the occasion, or defiantly ignore it as a mark of protest against the ‘shitstem’? I don’t need a specially appointed day to celebrate the great woman that is my Mum, I can do that any day, and do – not as often as I’d like, but I try. However, to ignore the day, out of some misplaced rebellion would be a bit badmind, I think, so I’m planning to embrace it fully… in true Comfort style…erm...a day late!

"Late?!" I hear you exclaim. Yep, late! I’m late for everything… which is nothing to brag about, I know, but work with me here… I was born two months early… yep, a whole two months! And my reasoning is this; my biological clock is trying to over-compensate for my early arrival on the planet!! For real! What do you mean “bullsh!t!” it’s truuuueeee!! :) So anyway, where was I? Oh yeah, Mothers Day… well… all I can say at the mo is that I’ve planned a surprise… can’t tell you anything more than that, cos Mummy Dearest will probably read this and *POW!* the surprise will be ruined… can’t have that now, can we Mum?! ;o) I’ll be spending Mothers Day evening, at one of my favourite poetry and live music events this Sunday, Word 4 Word at the Theatre Royal Stratford East Bar. If you’ll be free, or looking for something entertaining to take your Old Dear to, join us! It’s FREE! and they have a Caribbean menu which is divine (jerk salmon all the way) – arrive early for a seat though, cos it gets busy. This months show is a Slam (that's a poetry competition, incase you're wondering), so you’ll be blown away by the talent from the live performers. I’ll be there, in support of the event and the ever-inspiring host, Poet and Comedienne, Kat Francois. The bar is open from early afternoon, and last food orders are at 7:30pm, so arrive early in time to grab a good seat/table and watch the show from 8pm. See you there!

@ Theatre Royal Stratford East, Gerry Raffles Square, Stratford, London, E15 1BN

The Journey So Far...

Welcome!

Welcome to my new blog! I'm not entirely sure what I'll be posting yet, or even how often, but you have to start somewhere eh? So I guess now is as good a time as any...especially as I want to show off my brand new logos :)

Created by David Coppin, he completely captured exactly what I wanted and in record time also - a G by all accounts, I think! Check out his blogsite [http://bullybwoy.blogspot.com]

I'll have lots to share with you over the coming weeks, so please subscribe to the blog, feed or whatever that thingymajig is and lets keep in touch.

Thanks for stopping by.

Bless,

Comfy