My Other Life

Larry - who's on guitar in this pic - mostly played keyboards in the band as well as saxophone with the odd burst on the vibs (they can't arrest you for it) when we played 'dinner music'. It was called the Larry Miller band because our agent liked Glen Miller music and didn't think the surname Johns stood out enough. What to say! I played flute in the band and sang, Doug, the hairy one, was the bass player and Danny played drums and also guitar. We did mostly covers and pop for dancing, but also managed to sneak in some jazz (which we all loved) with flute, vibraphone and sax for dinner music while people were eating.
Thanks to all the guys for some great music and fun times - especially to our lovely friend Danny Churchill - on drums - who unfortunately passed away recently. A good friend and a great wit with an incredible love for life. We all miss you Dan.
This is one of those cabaret spots I mentioned above. His nibs and I playing in the restaurant of the Gulf Hotel Bahrain one Christmas.
My older brother (10 minutes older) is an actor and has been for many years now. He played 'the baby faced IRA killer' in "Harry's Game", 'Billy' in the film "Yanks", and has been "Charlie Fairhead" in Casualty for many years now. He's a good bloke and is always ready to diagnose any of your ailments, thanks to his time on the show, but as Derek himself often points out - he knows just enough medical facts to kill you. Well - it was good to stroll down memory lane, and I can't complain, life has had its exciting moments. Like everybody else, it hasn't all been 'beer and skittles' for life throws the yucky stuff at you as well as the great stuff. But for me, the important thing is to enjoy the good things and hit the bad ones head on, and just be grateful for each lovely new day that arrives whatever it brings. Living in Cornwall makes that easy. Yay! I'm off to start reading my new Jodi Picoult book. Can't wait. That lady can write. I gravitate between many of my favourite authors, often it's Lee Child and I find myself reading some of my old Reacher books over again. Aren't books great? Happy reading everyone.