Take A Chance

A chance opportunity last Friday fulfilled the notion 'right place, right time'! 

In a completely non-professional role I went to a photography course at Ray Lowe Studios with my husband, Tom who has been nurturing a certain flare he has for photography. My intention was to pass the time in a cafe reading (a past-time which performers have down to a fine art). However, when Tom entered the studio, the course leader, Ray, announced that regrettably his model had let him down at the last minute and that they would have to improvise with each other. Tom, knowing only too well his wife's extrovert tendencies volunteered my services for the evening. So, 10 minutes after he rang me, (and after an albeit brief makeover in my car), I was standing in the studio being snapped by a group of photographers. I'm not sure what the rest of the group thought of my confidence and willingness to be photographed - they were blissfully unaware of my love of being under a spotlight and experience of having an audience! It gave me a great opportunity to receive some insightful knowledge with regard to a photo shoot from the photographers point of view, and obtain some fun head shots too!


Ray writes his own blog for their company website. Read his take on how the course unfolded here.


Another, slightly less chance meeting, orchestrated by an external force, has me performing in concert tomorrow with a wonderful singer, William Byrne. A mutual contact thought we would sing well together and so booked us as duo for his event... and I am so grateful he did! We met up last week for a rehearsal and it was such a delight to sing with William. He has a gorgeous, rich and powerful voice and a wealth of professional experience. I really relish singing with other people, it gives me an opportunity to learn from them as artists and adds an exciting dynamic to a live performance. Fingers crossed that tomorrow will lead to some future engagements with Mr Byrne.


It's strange how something as brief as just a phone call or an unplanned meeting with some one can change events within your life. Grab every opportunity with both hands - you never know where it could lead. Whilst you are on your journey, remember to treat people how you want to be treated - firstly, you never know what kind of influence they could have in your life and secondly, there's far less likelihood that you'll regret your actions in the future. As Ray said last Friday, "treat the world as a mirror - if you smile into it, it'll smile back at you." And who knows for sure which direction our lives may unfurl?