Jayne's rant

Long overdue update

2008-06-26T16:08:00.002-06:00

Hello there peeps!!

It has been brought to my attention how much I have neglected this page! It is a disgrace I know, so here I am again saying hi and giving a brief update!!!

I have been caught up for the past year with romance....yes it has finally happened!! Some tall dark handsome stranger came and swept me off my feet and I married him a few weeks ago!! He's called Phil and I met him at Church - he's a wonderful guy and we're very happy!!

Musically speaking I haven't really been up to much, I sang at Spring harvest again, and the Keswick convention last year....which was all brilliant. This year everything changed at spring harvest and I assume they had all new people in which is cool - I had done it for nine years so it's about time someone else got the opportunity. Still.... I missed it. I'll be at Keswick again this year, but only for week one, things are changing there as well, new worship leaders are coming in and bringing their own bands....which is fair enough. Again....I've done it for long enough, it'll be my tenth year this year I think!!!

Otherwise I've been getting more involved in the music at our fabulous church.... I'm now playing the piano every other week as well as singing and leading the worship roughly once a month....which is scary but good! It's a lot of responsibility, and it freaks me out a lot - but if God gives you an opportunity you need to take hold of it out of obedience and go on in spite of your fear.

I have been working a lot.... branching out into theatre schools and the like. I've been involved in Choral and individual singing tuition, song and dance, theatre production directing etc etc....it's amazing and I love it. I'm also still involved in doing some work in schools - although I much prefer the theatre stuff!!

Generally life is good and God is blessing me a lot... I'm so thankful to him for the great gifts he gives me.

I am absolutely determined to get album 2 off the ground this year too, it's been niggling at me for years and I'm sick of putting off doing something constructive about it!! I have accidentally come across some comments about me online the past few days too which have helped to spur me on. Positive comments made about me and my music which has made me think that there are people who would be interested in further musical releases. I really appreciate such encouragement and it has helped to motivate me - thanks to those people.

anyway, I'd better leave it there for now - it's late.

Check out myspace and look me up on facebook if you're on there. I generally tend to spend more time updating there than on here.

take care people
Cheers
Jayne

Keswick update

2006-08-10T07:11:00.001-06:00

Well, keswick was tiring, hot (seriously over 100 degrees in the tent!!!) but great!!

It was good personally/spiritually/musically......

Thanks to people who were there and took time to encourage us in the band - it really means a lot to us to know we are helping people to Worship.

Week three was my favorite week ... mainly due to the Jazz gigs we did, they are so much fun, we had a full band this year which took more time to pull together but it was so so worth it! I had a great time!!
It is difficult to sing though when you're tryng not to laugh at your fellow band members .... most inconvenient - I think it was more like a comedy act than a serious Jazz gig!! I think the majority of people enjoyed it though. The first gig there were about 1000 there, the second gig was in a really small bar, it was packed though, and the last gig I reckon there were about 1500 there. Not bad hey!!

And If I had a fiver for everytime someone asked me if/when my next album is coming out .... well I'd have enough money to fund the project myself!!!! It's so frustrating..... But, keep watching this space folks .... there may be light at the end of the tunnel!!

If you haven't already check out my myspace page its myspace.com/jaynelewis

I'll be back soon!!

Take care Peeps

Jayne

KESWICK AND STUFF!!

2006-07-13T05:14:00.000-06:00

Hi there People

well I'm off to Keswick on Saturday - finished work for the summer - excellent :lol:

I'm finished teaching other people, and choirs, to sing and now I get the chance to do it myself at the Keswick convention - It'll be great - cant wait!

Dont get me wrong, I love teaching - so much. I get so much satisfaction from seeing my students succeed,..... and helping them to realise their potential is wonderful. Yet still I love to just forget about teaching and just enjoy singing myself!!

I finished work last night at the Sage Gateshead, it was presentation evening for one of the schools I teach at, Emmanuel College. All the students did so well - the music was great, the Orchestra and string quartet are so good! The choir sang a song and also did a lovely backing part for the soloist, Charlotte - a very talented (but doesn't believe it!) singer. Honestly she is so good, wouldn't surprise me if she made it big!

Well I've a million things to do so I'd better go!

Take care folks and I'll maybe see you at Keswick!!

Jayne

News update

2006-06-21T07:50:00.000-06:00

Hi there Peeps

I know I know! It's been a while, I'm sorry I know I've neglected things but I've had such a lot going on. Work has been crazy busy, students taking exams, performances etc.

If you haven't already noticed there have been some changes to the main website. Some pictures have been removed and a gallery page has been added - I'm still busy having more images and comments loaded onto that so keep an eye on it. There has also been more info added to the latest news page to keep you up to date. Check it out folks!!

As well as all this I've also set up a 'myspace' page, a link should be appearing for that on my website options bar soon. For those who dont know, 'myspace' is where it's at at the moment. You can blog on it (dont worry, it wont cause me to neglect this blog!!), you can upload details of your gigs and even have an mp3 player on it so you can share your music with the world!! I've already uploaded four songs onto it. Three are from Orange Sky and one is a live recording of one of my newer songs ' little miss nobody'. I'll keep rotating the songs every few weeks to keep you entertained and up to date with some of my more recent music.

If you want to check it out now you'll find my page at www.myspace.com/jaynelewis

Enjoy!!

Jayne

online at last!!

2006-05-11T10:34:00.000-06:00

Hi there peeps

Hope you're all doing well. I'm finally online at home now .... at long last!! So i should hopefully be able to blog a bit more often. It's great being able to be online whenever, and not have to schedule time at the library... great stuff.

Well, I'm ill at the moment.... got some awful nasty cold thingy - making me feel like rubbish and I just want to sleep all the time - oh well never mind hey.

I dont really have much I can rant about to be honest....

I just bought a new computer, one of the latest mac mini computers .. only problem is that it's the latest operating system and nothing is compatible with it yet!!! How annoying. I bought an M-Box and protools and reason adapted (music studio programmes) and none of them will work with the computer! So irritating. One of these days something will actually run smoothly for me!!! Oh woe is me ... I hate technology sometimes.

anyway, I'm gonna go now and sleep .... feeling so ill.

Speak soon

Jayne

The Photo's

2006-04-13T09:45:00.000-06:00

Hi there ....

No bruces evil twin ... those photo's are not of Skegness. They were taken at the beach which is literally five minutes walk from my house ... at Seaham Harbour.

The colours in the pictures have not been altered in photoshop or anything .... that's exactly what it looks like!! Awesome hey?

I didn't get to finish that blog and label the pic's cos I was in the local library and someone came to kick me off the computer.

Me and my best mates go to that beach at night a lot in the summer, take the guitars down and build a bonfire and have a sing and a class time!! Great times.

I'll post some more pictures soon.

take care

Jayne

Spring harvest and stuff

2006-04-11T09:50:00.000-06:00

Hello peeps,

How's things?

I'm ok, tired, but ok! Spring harvest was great ... such an honour to work with such fab and talented people. Some good talks, one particularly interesting talk on marriage (I wont even start my rant on about that!!) and some great times of music and friendship. The guys in the band are so lovely and encouraging ... great to be around!!

I think I've been getting lost recently, due to circumstances and various struggles, but I'm beginning to find me again I think - I hope! There's nothing worse than being in Limbo (well I'm sure there are many worse things but you know what I mean!!).

I see there have been some comments from some American folks on the site ..... great stuff ... hey, book me to come to some Churches in your area to do concerts! - I'd love to tour America. Great place and people - really friendly. I went to New England on tour a few years back, in the Fall, it was beautiful.

Anyway, I think I'm gonna go now. Keep in touch folks.

Take care

Hi there

2006-03-30T07:57:00.000-07:00

Hi Peeps!

This is just a quick one to say hi and stuff. I'll be online at home in a few weeks so maybe I'll get around to blooging a bit more often, that is if I ever have anything interesting to say!! (Do I ever?!)

My mood has been foul the past few days ... dont really know why.... feel like I've lost my sparkle and am now wallowing in self pity for no reason at all!! It's all a bit crazy really!! I suppose life is getting me down a little. Nothing inparticular is bad or going wrong - just a general feeling.

Anyway, spring harvest is on next week and I'm really looking forward to it ... cant wait to chill out with my best mates for a week and make some quality music. Hopefully I'll have some kind of spiritual breakthrough too.

Anyway, I'll let you know how it goes!!!!

Take care peeps

Jayney xx

Who is Mr Pip?

2006-03-16T06:37:00.000-07:00

Mr Pip....

I have my suspicions...... but who are you?

Your comments - and the Gig

2006-02-02T07:23:00.000-07:00

Hello to one and all!

Thankyou to the folks who left a comment about the gig at the acoustic cafe in Edinburgh.... your encouragement is much appreciated and I'm glad you enjoyed it! I will pass on your comments to Matt - he's such a legend!

The Bearded one..... who are you? There's only one person who calls me 'Missy J' (although I actually think it's quite cool and wish more people would call me that!!!) Mr Meadowcroft .... was it you? Or is there someone else out there who calls me 'Missy J' without me knowing it!!!!

Leesmry .... fret not my friend ... your wedding is in my diary!! I know we dont get to speak much ... we dont even get the chance at Church ... we never seem to be singing the same week anymore! I'll be there this weekend so hopefully see you then!!

The gig went reasonably well, me being the intensely self critical, hyper perfectionist thinks it should've been better ..... but it still went reasonably well i think ... the response from the people was positive so that's good, and as long as the people who came to hear us took away something good or positive from it then I'm pleased.
It was really nice to see my friends again too, Danielle and John and their friends from Church .. really glad they came!!
There was a much bigger turnout than last year as well, which made for a nicer and cosier atmosphere ..... on the whole it was cool.
Lovely people at the church, they fed us Haggis ... it was really nice!

Anyway people ... hope you are ok?
Must go now ... I have a 'to do' list around two A4 pages long!!

Be back soon!
Jayne

Edinburgh Gig

2006-01-16T08:53:00.000-07:00

Hi there Peeps!!

Just checking in to tell you all about my coming gig in Edinburgh .... it's on Saturday 28th January and doors open at 7.30pm. It's £5 on the door .... get yourselves there people!!

The location is New Restalrig Church, 1 Willowbrae Road, Edinburgh.

That's all for today...... sorry it's a short one but there you go

big hugz to y'all

Jayne

Happy new year to one and all!!

2006-01-03T04:39:00.000-07:00

Hello there peeps!!

How are you all doing? All good I hope! I know it's been ages since I wrote anything, so sorry to those who've been checking and found nothing!!!

Well there's a fair bit to fill you in on really .... December was very busy but good all the same! All the school/college and church music I was involved in was a roaring success - which I'm relieved and very happy about! Have you noticed that when you absolutely have to .... you can squeeze more hours into your day? Yeah well every day in December felt like that!!!

My gig's went well and I'll be posting details soon of my coming gig in Edinburgh .... my Edinburgh gig in December went well and it was nice to spend the weekend up there doing Christmas shopping, meeting old friends who I haven't seen for well over a year, and chilling out with one of my best mates (who is one of the greatest people I know!)! Great stuff!

In addition to all the busy of the Christmas time I was ill ... first with the flu (again!) and then I got a nasty chest infection which I'm still not completely recovered from .... but hey ho - never mind!

Christmas was spent with my Mother, Brother and his Lady, it was cool - but the past few years I find Christmas a bit depressing to be honest. Joni Mitchel in her song 'river' says it perfectly when she says 'Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on', but that's depressing so I'll move on! New year was awesome.... spent with very dear friends (old work colleagues) we had a party and a lovely meal ... it was great. They are all musicians so we all bring our instruments and have a good old sing ..... it's so great!!! I didn't go to bed till 7am .... I stayed up all night talking to my dear friend Cliff (no ... not cliff richard!!!!) about God, relationships and life in general..... it was great. Cliff is a legend, I dont know how old he is (he wont tell me) but let's say he's more than 20 years older than me ... he's so trendy and cool and very very wise ..... He's one of the few people I can talk to about anything and I know he'll still love me and not judge me.

Now that is my Cliff appreciation moment over!!!! If you knew him you'd totally agree!!

I am feeling very positive about this year .... on reflection this past year has been one of the best, yet one of the most uncertain. I was going to move, then I didn't .... this was very confusing and upsetting but I know things worked out right anyway. Family has been as colourful as ever and has been a source of stress and much upset ... but, hey ho.... it seems to be calming down now! I bought a house and car, I'm all grown up now!!!! but this also brings it's uncertainties and financial burdens.
I have had an extremely blessed year in so many ways though .... I thank God every day for the awesome friends he has given me .... they have held me together so many times when I began to fall apart ..... I love you guys more than you will ever know.

Anyway ... this next years gonna be good ..... I can feel it. It was wierd yesterday ... I was walking around town browsing the sales and people just kept smiling at me ... about four people actually smiled and said hello and tried to start conversations ..... it was very strange yet awesome!!! People were looking at me as if they knew something that I didn't know ... and it must be kept a surprise....... does that sound wierd? I swear I'm not exaggerating ... after a while it started to make me a bit paranoid .... but in a good way!!!!

On the whole I'm feeling thoroughly positive ..... there are still life and spiritual issues which remain unresloved but they will work themselves out ..... they always do!

So ..... how have you been?

Jayne

Off to London

2005-11-24T15:50:00.000-07:00

Hi folks!

Well I'm off to London this weekend ... leading worship at the ECM conference at Sunbury Court, Kingston upon Thames (sounds really posh doesn't it!!). I'll also be doing a gig while I'm there .... looking forward to it!

I'll also be performing in Edinburgh on 15th December in Starbucks!! If you're in Edinburgh come along!!!

December is so busy in terms of music .... Church concerts, School concerts .... three of my choirs are performing in Newcastle City Hall just before Christmas! Then I've got a few gig's of my own to do.... excellent stuff!!! Love it!

I'll be in Edinburgh again towards the end of Jan ... performing at the acoustic cafe. But I'll post more details about that nearer the time.

Anyway, I have to go now .... hope all's well with you!

Take care
Jayne

Locating Dippy!

2005-11-17T06:08:00.000-07:00

Ok this is a long shot but..... me and my best mate Lisa G had a really good mate called Dippy (a.k.a Gemma Depledge) She was a Christian (although I dont know where she's at with God at the mo). We were all top buds and toured together with the 'continentals'. We had a blast and were really great mates.

The problem is .... we lost touch with her a few years ago and I've been trying to locate her ever since. The last I know about her is that she was at Keele Uni studying nursing ... i think she'll be finished the course now.

I think she'll probably have changed address from her home address ... I 've checked friends reunited and found her but no contact info for her.

It's a long shot but if you know her (she's from shaftesbury) or have any ideas about how I can find her ... please leave me your thoughts!!

Or Dip if you happen to come across this ever ... please contact me .... I miss you and you've been on my mind so much lately!

Cheers folks

Love you Dippyxx

A word to the MOO!!

2005-11-14T00:45:00.000-07:00

Mandy .... my friend, my funny, lovely, hilarious, wonderful friend. You know I love you and I have texted you many times ... have you changed your number and not shared the change with the golden one??!!

You leave me lovely messages on my blog ... which I appreciate muchly ... but you never leave your email address so I can respond!!! The one time I did visit and write in your diary was becasue Lisa was with me and got me into your diary through hers!!

I have searched the internet land of diaries lookin for you but it appears you are not there, or are locked from the general prying eyes of the public!!

My dear Mandy Moo .... please leave me your email address and I shall be in touch!!! I miss you too and have missed the insanity and fun you bring to my life!!! I also want to see your old diary and see what wierd and wonderful things you have written in there about the golden one!!!

Be in touch Moo and leave me some way of contacting you that you will respond to!!

By the way.... how special are you .... you get an entry on my blog!!!

Love you!

Janye

Thanks Folks!!

2005-11-13T00:44:00.000-07:00

Hi there People .....

Just a word of thanks for those of you who have supported me by watching me on 'songs of praise'. Thanks for your encouraging emails, phone calls, text messages etc .... it's much appreciated!!

Also thanks for the birthday greetings I received ( the shameless hinting worked!!) it was a lovely birthday, spent with brilliant friends, and was very special. Thanks people!!

Well I'm currently suffering with the flu ...... feel so ill I could cry!! Never mind hey!! Get well prayers would be appreciated right now ... if I'm ill I cant work ... and being self employed - I dont get paid when I'm off ill!! So I really need a speedy recovery!! I've a mortgage and a dog to support!!!!

I went to see Dan Wheeler and Cathy Burton in concert recently ... they were awesome ... you should look out for them and see them if they're in your area - you wont regret it!!

Well I have to go ..... must nurse myself back to health

hope you are all good

Take care

JAYNE

Just a quick one!!

2005-10-28T13:32:00.000-06:00

Hi People

Sorry I've not written for a while .... life as always has been unpredictably difficult .... one problem after another ... but never mind! I'm not here for a whinge today!!!

I'm off away for the weekend to visit my best mate Lisa ... we'll no doubt have a raucous and unladylike laugh!!!!

Just a reminder for you all ... It's my Birthday next week .... Thursday 3rd Nov. Dont forget people!!!!! Ha ha ... I have no shame!!

And also dont forget to watch songs of Praise next Sunday night ...... 6th Nov ... I'll be on it singing my little heart out!! Hope it's good!!

Hope all's good with you ... Take care Peeps

Hugz
Jayne

Faithfulness!!

2005-09-26T12:36:00.000-06:00

Hello Peeps ... how you all doin?

I thought I'd update you briefly about what's happening in the crazy chaos that is my life!!

I have not moved away from home which I thought I was going to .... so I'm still in the sunny northeast .... and I'm really quite content with that!

My job situation has worked out so well.... I am working around 2.5 days a week and am financially more secure than I was was before the summer (when I was practically working full time!). This means I have more time on my hands to do the things I love most, talking to God, wirting and working on my keyboard and Guitar playing.

How great is our God!!!!

It's unbelievable how things fall apart yet he makes them fall back together in better and more beautiful ways.

A few weeks ago I was distraught, no job, disappointed with stuff, personal difficulties and struggles.

Now my job situation is ideal for me, I am making some cool new friends in Church, it appears that exciting things are happening at Church and I'm really excited about that. Plus I have much more time on my hands to write and play .... I'm so thankful that regardless of my state of Heart and mind .... God is always faithful and Good to me.

Crackin stuff!!

Hope you are good

Take care

Jayne

Uncertain yet still Upbeat!!

2005-09-12T11:45:00.000-06:00

Hi People ... How are you?

I'm still very much up in the air in terms of the uncertainty of my life and the direction it could take! It's so unbelievable how things can fall apart - and then you can be so kicked while you're down. The wierd thing is ..... I should be really worried and stressed and hurt and anxious .... and on one level I know I do need to get my head, heart and future sorted fairly quickly ... but honestly, I've never felt this much at peace in a long long time!!

I was writing in my journal the other day, making two lists (I love making lists, especially 'to do' lists - they make me feel like I'm acheiving something just by writing the stuff down! Dont mock me - you know I'm not the only one who does this!!).

Anyway....I had one list of things which I was doing, and which were secure four months ago. It included things like the places I was employed, budgets, and personal stuff about how I felt, friendships, family stuff etc.

Then I wrote another list of what the situation is like now - and all of the things which I had written as 'securities' four months ago, have now either disappeared, or have taken a serious battering. Added to the list are new personal difficulties and battles I'm facing at the moment.

What interested me was that as I was writing (and when I write I dont really tend to think too deeply, it just sort of pours out of me onto the page/screen) at the end of the second list I wrote 'needing God'.

As I read over the lists it really hit me that in the first list I didn't mention God at all and in the second list I was 'needing God'. Maybe there's some kind of lesson there? I could write and write here about what I feel that showed me, and what that has showed me about my faith, and faith in general .... but I have to go now (my Mam is waiting to have lunch with me!!). I'll leave you to ponder on that and I'll elaborate next time.

Until then ...... be Good and take care

Jayne

Disappointment

2005-09-05T12:15:00.000-06:00

You ever get the feeling the world is out to get you? When everything ... I mean everything which you rely on (in earthly terms) lets you down or is disappointing? Families can be a source of great joy, or great dread and pain. Friends, as great as they are can sometimes be hard to find. Jobs - here today and gone tomorrow! And to top it all off you can feel like you are so misunderstood and that you are letting people down by not functioning in the way they expect you too .... even though you are still only trying to do the right thing.

As if that wasn't enough to think about I still get shocked by the lack of integrity in the world .... and the dishonest way in which people are capable of dealing with each other. To be frank....it stinks!

Sorry about the whinge people, but it says on the top of the page that this is where I write whatever I feel like writing about, and right now - I'm disappointed! Can you tell!!!

Regardless of life's trials ..... It's still a reassurance to know that God's got my back ... there's still no better place to be as long as I'm with Him.

Sunshine and Stress

2005-08-25T16:02:00.000-06:00

Hi there people... hope you are well? Thanks to those of you who have been emailling me and leaving comments for me. Great stuff!

I have not yet responded to most emails - as the complicated chaos that is my life has been more complicated and chaotic than ever!! I will reply tho,' it's just difficult at the mo as I'm not online at home and am having to make trips to the library (and to my brothers house) to use the internet.

Life should be really stressing me out right now ... but funnily, it's not! It's all change in the life of Jayne.... My job, my address, my comfort zone (what comfort zone!!!) it could all change within days, and I have no clue how it's gonna turn out?! It's a scary thing waiting and trusting God.... I've discovered that it's easy to say you have faith... it's another thing altogether to rely on it. Nevertheless... I trust God completely - things are very last minute right now but i'm surprisingly chilled!!

The weather is beautiful and my dog (charlie) is behaving for once. He's a beautiful Bichon Frise puppy. For those who dont know, Bichons are the tiny white fluffy cute dogs. It's a girls dog. He's just still at the stage where he is going to the toilet everywhere, most annoying, but... Praise God for laminate flooring!!!! I'll post a photo of him at some point ... he's the cutest.

Anyway, Just incase anyone was left in any confusion by my last entry ... MY BIRTHDAY IS THE 3RD OF NOVEMBER. Just incase you didn't pick up on that .... (and no evil bruce i am not the obscene age you said ... how rude indeed!!!).

I'll no doubt be back at some point in the next week or two ... time permitting!!
Till then.... be good, love God and be happy

Take care

Jayne

Songs of Praise!!

2005-08-16T21:40:00.000-06:00

Well people, you need to tune in to Songs of Praise on the 6th of November because I'm gonna be on it!!

I'll be singing one of my 'Orange Sky' album tracks called 'In the Shadow of the Almighty'. It will be filmed in September and shown in November (3 days after my birthday - hint for birthday emails, chocolates, flowers etc etc hint hint!!). I'm excited about it, and a little nervous too... hopefully all will go well.

Hopefully I'll be able to post some details on this page of other coming gig's too. I'll be in London towards the end of November (the month of my birthday - you getting the hint yet!!) to lead worship for the ECM conference.. it should be cool - looking forward to it.

Anyway ... I'll go now.

Take care and be good!!

Jayne

Buses

2005-08-01T06:34:00.000-06:00

You know when you are standing at a bus stop and you are there for hours.... then twenty buses come all at once....? My life is like that right now. I had no options and no difficult decisions to make, and now I have too many ... this leaves me with an excruciating dilemma. What does the future hold for Jayne? Who knows? I dont - but God does...I think I'll leave it to him...He has never let me down yet!!

summer madness

2005-07-21T07:45:00.000-06:00

Well here I am in the beauty of the lake district...singing my heart out at the Keswick convention. It's awesome (the lakes...not my singing!!). I'm having such a cool chilled (yet still busy and mad) time with my band friends and the ever more insane Bec!

I had my First gig in months last night, I was backed by an awesome band of top pro people....I am so pleased that they agreed to play for me...those guys are great!

I love being here, being surrounded by my great friends and family in God, singing to my Heavenly Father...what could be better!!

Hope this finds you well, and chilled ...

Take care

I'll be in touch again soon.

Jayne

2005-07-04T08:58:00.000-06:00

Check out www.jaynelewis.com

Well, here I am again. Life is so tiring dont you think? You spend so much time doing stuff which you think is important... to the detriment of your own sanity and peace of mind most of the time!! My life has been so insane these past few months...it's just the way that everything changes and goes wrong all at the same time!! Life and circumstances can be so unsympathetic sometimes.

It's time to take a breather I think ... pick up my guitar ... clear my head and get back to what is really important - loving and serving God.

Take care, I'll be back soon

Jayne