peterandmary.net

It’s November 2023 and once again we are writing to special people that we seldom see, to catch up with each others’ news and celebrate the upcoming Christmas season.

A different year, with the pandemic lessening and things opening up for musicians and performers such as ourselves; everything looking much more positive.

This has been the year of a hot summer, with huge wildfires and heavy smoke over much of Alberta, as well as in other Provinces and Territories across Canada and other parts of the world. Some outdoor performances have had to be cancelled or rescheduled, whenever smoke levels reached 7 out of 10, as it would be dangerous for attendees and even more so for us who breathe deeply with our work. Many friends have been evacuated, some several times, and of course thousands lost their homes. A devastating time for wildlife. Now it is autumn again which has been designated this year as the driest ever, no snow, since records have been kept. Who knows what will be next?

Having said that, we still managed to perform at many favourite venues: Fort Edmonton Park (year 32), the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, Muttart Conservatory, Edmonton Valley Zoo and others, with 2 days at the huge K-Days Festival (Klondike Days of yore) and an enjoyable week of children’s shows throughout the City for Edmonton Arts Council. Mary walked in parades and performed with Martha McHaggis for Explore Edmonton.

A high spot of the summer was having not one, but two visits from our Bermuda friends of so many years, Doug and Carolyn, on whose boat we got married in Paradise Bay, with boats around all honking and hooting! Some days it feels like it was yesterday!

Just before Labour Day weekend, Mary had a call from Nagel Tours, for whom she has done so many runs as a Tour Director, to see if we could do a last minute 17-day tour through Atlantic Canada, (Maritimes and Newfoundland), as the arranged TD had to drop out with a family emergency. A few calls, and we managed to reschedule performances, also cancelling a week’s holiday in the Rockies, but we had at least had a much needed 10-day camping break in the Columbia valley of British Columbia earlier in the season, with stops in Banff both ways.

It was a really good bus tour, with 50 of the best passengers we have ever had, and sharing all those oceanic vistas and local history that we love so much. Hard work for both of us, as a great deal had to be done “on the fly”, which normally the TD would be able to do ahead. Much of running a tour relies on personal contact, often several times a day.

Also, we were able to reconnect with Fred and Jan, our so very special neighbours from years living in Fredericton, and it was like we had seen each other yesterday, not when we came through 14 years ago. 

Exciting news about Jamie, Mary’s brother John’s grandson (our great nephew), who this summer was still only age 15; he got 2 British and 2 English gold medals for swimming at the British and English Nationals. Jamie has trained very hard, and all the family are proud of him.

Most years at some point we have a visit from Murphy (Murphy’s law) no matter how hard we try to avoid it. This year it was in the unfortunate form of a completely sober ex-serviceman suffering from PTSD (Afghanistan) who ran into the back of our perfectly parked Yukon SUV at 3.20am and wrote it off, as well as his own vehicle. Fortunately, he was not further hurt, but it took us 3 months, all day except when working, to come up with a suitable replacement, and we both probably aged another year or two, which was not needed.

But our big news is that in November 1973, when Mary landed in Bermuda, so many years ago, we got together and made our life commitment to each other, through thick and thin, both of which we have of course seen, as do many. Right now, we feel totally blessed to have got this far; 50 years with each other, which is priceless.

Peter’s book “Let’s take it from the Top” continues to sell, and is available on order in the U.K., U.S.A., across Canada, and we believe also in Australia. See website under “Peter’s book”, also “What’s New” for November last (2022).

We truly hope life has treated you well this year and pray for PEACE throughout the world; the JOY of Christmas; LOVE for all of life and HEALTH for each and every one.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

With love, Peter & Mary and of course Jenny Dog

The book covers Peter’s English childhood, then goes through the vibrant “Trad” jazz and Skiffle scene of the 50s, which altered British popular music for ever. This is followed by an in-depth review of London during the “Swinging 60s”, written by someone who lived through it, with detailed descriptions of both the good and bad aspects of such a memorable time.

It covers Peter’s musical experiences on military bases throughout Europe, his cabaret work in Britain, and subsequent move to Bermuda, where he and Mary joined together for an amazing career.

Then came the move to Canada, with performances in leading resorts coast to coast for many years, in addition to Transatlantic and Caribbean cruises, festivals and fairs, arts councils, historical parks and so much more, making Peter’s book an invaluable reference for musicians and others wishing to explore a truly significant era of show business.

Comments

             “Peter’s musical journey is an enviable one. This book captivated me from beginning to end.”                                  

Kennedy Jenson, Executive Director, Arts Touring Alliance of Alberta, Canada.

            “A delightful book: it is entertaining and also teaches the reader how to deal with the varying challenges that involve our trade.”

Eddy Baynes, President, Edmonton Musicians’ Assn., American Federation. of Musicians of the U.S. and Canada.

Other musicians

             “Delightful and interesting”

                                 Jimmy Strike (clarinet) U.K.

             “What a wonderful reminiscence”

                                      Johnny Martin (banjo) U.K.

This book is profusely illustrated with many photographs in both colour and black and white, and is available from Pagemaster publishing, see below, and also ourselves personally.

Price: $28.57 Can. Plus tax totals $30, and postage where applicable.

Pagemaster link

https://pagemasterpublishing.ca/shop/musical-life-odyssey/

“The book is also available by order (“Print on Demand”) at most major bookstores. You will need the publication details above to do this, and it takes a little while, as does Amazon if they are printing a copy for you”.

Peter Jansen contact direct link

peterandmary6@gmail.com

Amazon link Canada

Available from Amazon globally (all photos in B.& W.)

https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=books&crid=3IXOBA3J3ZEJP&sprefix=books%2Caps%2C140&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

Amazon Link U.S.A.

https://www.amazon.com/b?node=283155

Amazon Link Britain

https://www.amazon.co.uk/b?node=266239

The first copies of Peter’s book are available from us or available direct at the Pagemaster online bookstore.

click the link below to order from Pagemaster:     https://pagemasterpublishing.ca/shop/musical-life-odyssey/

It will be available shortly across Canada, the U.S.A., United Kingdom and Australia. Watch this space for release date …

It seems that in the Creative Arts there is always new material awaiting the artist’s pen or brush, even though this can sometimes take a while to locate.

We are truly excited to announce to the world that Peter’s memoir “Let’s take it From The Top” is now completed, with advance copies going fast, and general release in various formats scheduled for this fall.

The book covers Peter’s English childhood, then goes through the vibrant “Trad” jazz and skiffle scene of the 50s, which altered British popular music for ever. This is followed by an in-depth review of London during the “Swinging 60s”, written by someone who lived through it, with detailed descriptions of both the good and bad aspects of such a memorable era.

It covers Peter’s musical experiences on military bases throughout Europe, his cabaret work in Britain, and subsequent move to Bermuda, where we joined together for an amazing career.

Then came the move to Canada, with performances in leading resorts coast to coast for many years, in addition to Transatlantic and Caribbean cruises, festivals and fairs, arts councils, historical parks and so much more, making Peter’s book we hope an invaluable reference for musicians and others wishing to explore a truly remarkable period of showbusiness.

Possible release formats:

6 X 9 inch book, lavishly illustrated 454 pages. Currently $27 Canadian plus tax and shipping.

‘Download’ copy. Price to be determined

Print on Demand (Canada, U.K., U.S.A., Australia). Price to be determined.

We look forward to giving you more information on this truly exciting venture, and sharing our career in depth with our many, many friends.

Again, it has been some time since our last communication, but there is a more positive air running through the Arts community, despite the fact that the pandemic is still with us.

We are pleased to report that some of our favourite long-standing venues are once again opening up to live performance.

Sunday and Monday of the Victoria Day long weekend will see us welcoming visitors to Fort Edmonton Park (10am – 1pm), as will the same days and times on Labour Day weekend in early September. Not including time spent in park renovation and 20/21 lockdowns, this will be our 27^th season for the Fort, and one to which we look forward so very much.

Canada Day has been booked over the last three years for children’s performances in the town of Whitecourt; again, we look forward to doing a long-postponed event.

There are one or two seniors’ lodges that we have always managed to squeeze in between tours. Riverbend, a large complex that we visit at least twice a year, is again to have a ‘Peter & Mary’ show in a few days, our 23^rd year with them.

And more. Some things are tentatively “pencilled in” until nearer the date, in order to comply with possible restrictions.

Peter’s book “Let’s take it From the Top” has undergone some fine tuning, as all books do; plus much time was spent in choosing appropriate photographs. We are very excited to say it is now at the publishers, and should be available, in various formats, very soon. Watch this space, or, if you wish to be notified when it is ready, please email us at peterandmary6@gmail.com

The book covers the U.K. Skiffle and ‘Trad’ Jazz era, then the positive explosion of talent on the pop scene after the final year of National Service in 1960. It covers Peter’s work with several bands on the European circuit for NATO, plus two years on the magical island of Bermuda, where he and Mary joined in harmony, musical and otherwise.

There is extensive coverage of their Canadian resort work, cruising, and so much more, especially Peter’s running of Canada’s largest “Earth Day” Festival for many years, plus their involvement with concerts for the “Canadian Hunger Foundation”, work with the children in Kenya, and many other aspects of a hugely varied career, including of course, Mary’s so popular ventriloquism and magic.

“A must read for musicians and other performers, but also for those normally in front of the stage curtains, who would like a peek at life on the other side”.

Take care of yourselves, each other, and stay well; until the next time.

      It’s been a while since we wrote. As with all musicians and performing artists, who have felt this pandemic so very deeply, and attempted to remain creative, without the joy and reciprocal energy that flows between us and a live audience, we did no performances from mid October last to late April of this year. However, all was definitely not lost.

      Mary’s Christmas story went out to many schools, as well as to all the children that we were hoping to see over last Christmas season.

      Peter worked hard on his autobiographical book, the text of which is complete, (as of a week ago), and we are now going through hundreds of photographs to select a few that might add ambience.

      The book goes from the Skiffle era in Britain, through the Traditional Jazz period, followed by the 60s pop plus R & B scene in London. Then to our joining up in Bermuda, working the Cruise lines, and touring throughout Canada and the U.S. for so many years, which of course continues to this day. In addition to our work, there is mention of many other artists on both sides of the Atlantic, together with a few funny stories that simply had to be shared. Watch this space for news of publication.

      With great care, vaccinations, and social distancing, we have managed to do ten events since last April. Quite a range, from seniors’ concerts and church services, to parades throughout the Edmonton area, organized by the International Street Performers’ Festival, where Mary was able to interact (at a distance), with Martha McHaggis and other ventriloquial figures, to the delight of attendees. There’s a few more things scheduled for Christmas, and we hope, not only are we able to perform as planned, but more especially that all our friends out there, on both sides of the footlights, will stay well and positive during this ongoing time, with all of its challenges.

It’s the end of November, and time for an update before Christmas.

The pandemic has unfolded exactly as we were told it would; meaning that some people respected the restrictions, some did for a while and then got fed up, and some took no notice at all, hence the current situation. To think that only last year, if we had walked into our bank with masks on, they would have called the police, now this would apply if we went without one!

However, life has been anything but slow. Mary has written a short story, entitled “Santa Saves A Covid Christmas”, which we videoed last week, and is now available for viewing on YouTube and the link is showing on the “Listen” page of this website. It is only 7 minutes long, and great for younger kids.

Peter is busy writing his book, titled “Let’s take it From The Top”, which is getting quite big, with the many thousands of performances and adventures in different parts of the world, throughout our career, but he says “War and Peace” is still much longer! Plus a couple of new songs, and we’ve done some writing on other things.

As regards live performance, we managed to get a few outdoor shows in at the end of the summer, plus a couple of hugely well-distanced Church events. We are thinking of everyone out there, and can only say stay well, safe, and have the best Christmas, if a little different, that you possibly can.

     The last time we were in touch was just before Remembrance day last year, when we did a well attended concert of all the old WW1 and WW2 songs for a seniors group in St. Albert, AB. Then it was time to prepare for the Christmas season, which we completed with regular events for both children and the senior market, in addition to playing all ages in and out of Church services on Christmas Eve. Instead of a New Year’s Eve show, we booked a New Year’s Day show for 2020, which was very successful, and a real change.

     After a busy season the first part of 2020 was intentionally low-key performance wise, but we came back into action mid February with a musical appearance at our church, followed by Family Day with a  packed children’s show at the St. Albert Library with music, magic, ventriloquist puppets and fun for all ages, plus a seniors’ concert, all within a few days.

     Then, at the beginning of March, life changed, as it did for all of us. We had been looking forward to our St. Patrick’s Day show, and had spent 2 weeks working on our music and comedy, plus reducing the 2 hour (including intermission) show that we had done so often in California and Arizona, to fit the required time slot in Edmonton.

     This, of course was cancelled, together with regular events at the Zoo, the Ukrainian Village (end of term schools’ field trips), Canada Day, and Mary’s Vent Haven Ventriloquist convention in Cincinnati, to which she was so looking forward to meeting up with Jeff Dunham, Darci Lynne, Mark Wade and so many other great friends and colleagues she has known and performed alongside over the years. There were many events ‘in process’, that all had to be shelved.

     But all was not idle in our house. In addition to practising music, Mary has been writing stories of many events in her, and our, lives; while Peter is engaged on a full length autobiography, dealing mostly with music and musicians – the London scene of the ’60’s, and out tours throughout Canada and the U.S. later on, as well as work in Bermuda and Europe.

     We’re seeing what will happen for the Christmas season, like all musicians and performers, who need an audience to communicate their skills. Venues could take a lot longer to open up, as we all know. Meanwhile we hope that you who are reading this have kept healthy, plus those around you, and are taking the required precautions, as are we.

It’s Halloween, and October often seems to be the time when we catch up with many friends who read this column. We finished 2018 with a variety of performances for both children and seniors; in addition Nov. 11th was the 100th anniversary of the end of World War 1, and of course Remembrance Day, so we set up at the back of our Church in St. Albert, and everybody sang all the old WW1 and WW11 songs, along with coffee and nibblies after the service. Much nostalgia in the music, but no doubt many personal memories as well.

Other highlights of the Christmas season included our two annual visits to Glendale Golf and Country club, where we have appeared for many years, and love to perform for the children, meet the members that we have known for a long time, and (of course) see Santa!

Plus a show for the largest agricultural grain elevator company in Canada. They have 6 huge staff parties in various parts of the Prairies, and were kind enough to say that ours was the best children’s (including teenagers) performance they had ever had over ten years. A huge compliment, and very humbling.

We try not to take out of town trips in December, in case there’s a weather problem and we are not able to fulfill another commitment, but our last Christmas show approx. 3 and a half hours north had a 3 day gap before Christmas Day, so we were pleased to have a repeat booking and the kindness of the friends with whom we stay, (who also co-run the big community event).

The year ended in fine style with yet another appearance at Muttart Conservatory in Edmonton; four shows; four countdowns relating to different parts of the world. So much fun!

2019 started with much office work and catch up, as so often, but several performances, including a St. Patrick’s show at a complex where we have an Irish friend in residence, and we had wanted to do an Irish performance there for some time.

In April we had a trip to visit long standing friends who now live 4 hours from Mexico City. Derek was one of the first rock ‘n’ roll guitarists in Britain and has worked with many stars from both sides of the pond. We first met in 1966 and worked in Bermuda close to each other for two years in the ’70’s; so much on which to catch up as well as exploring some amazing sights with his wife Elizabeth, and seeing the new studio!

Easter Sunday saw us back at Muttart with Easter Monday at the Zoo, so a beautiful weekend; then the first week of May we headed down to Calgary with the trailer for our 30 shows of ‘A day out with Thomas’ (the tank engine), an event which we have loved for 13 years and have many friends in both management and volunteers, plus of course the Heritage Park Repertory Company.

Fort Edmonton Park, where we have appeared in Special Events for 26 seasons, is closed for upgrades this year and next, but we were invited to perform for a memorable 50th anniversary celebration on a beautiful day in late May. Also, in spring we had our annual performances for school groups at the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, and played for ‘Dream Night at the Zoo’, where children are brought in from the Stollery Hospital and other places for a truly magical evening.

July 1st was a bittersweet day at Muttart. A fabulous event well attended, but everybody knew that once the public had left, the place would be closed for a year and a half for much needed renovations, mostly underground.

In mid-July we took some time off to explore the Rockies for 2 and a half weeks with our niece, husband and nine year old son from the U.K. It was a great trip, and we only had one semi-wet day, despite the weather around. Plus we got in a few local festivals, and the ‘dinosaur experience’ in Drumheller, so every day was packed!

We’ve had a few recent gigs, plus a Remembrance Day show coming up for Nov. 11th (which in Canada is a holiday). Then we look forward once more to the Christmas season and beyond.

We hope sincerely that all our readers are doing well…..and we’ll be in touch again……

It’s been a while since we caught up with everyone, not because there has been nothing to say, but more because there has been quite a bit happening, and we’ve been tied up with many projects.

In Alberta we have a holiday called Family Day – which usually coincides with Presidents’ Day in the U.S. Last year we performed at a big children’s event in Edmonton City Hall, which was packed with people seated up the steps indoors and great fun. Other things through the year (briefly) – a St. Patrick’s show with all Irish music (and blarney!) for Riverbend; the Lloydminster family Expo (sharing with ‘The Pups!’); various concerts for seniors, a library show for children at Rimbey; Fort Edmonton Park; Muttart Conservatory and the Valley Zoo for Easter weekend (all great!); Then in May the 10 days living in our trailer for a ‘Day out with Thomas’ (the tank engine) in Calgary, with thousands of tiny children every day. May continued with the opening of Fort Edmonton Park for the 3 days of Victoria weekend (us dressed 1905 or 1920 depending on location and playing music to fit the time), then we were fortunate to be invited to the first Grande Prairie Children’s Festival, which we loved, both the theatre, and the people with whom we worked!

Back home for Dream Night at the Zoo for Stollery Children’s Hospital patients, and our annual days for school outings to the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village. On Canada Day it was the 150th anniversary of Confederation, so a huge outdoor concert in Churchill Square, Edmonton, of which we were part. other notable events were Mary’s trip to the KAX convention (Family performers) in L.A. and to Vent Haven convention in Kentucky, for ventriloquists from all over the world – many of whom we know well -, and Fort Edmonton Harvest, followed the next day by a 3 week U.K. trip to catch up with a few people.

The Arts Touring Alliance convention, an Octoberfest concert and a Remembrance show took us to the Christmas season with several of our favourite annual events (for varying ages) at Fort Edmonton, Glendale Country Club etc. ending the year at Muttart Conservatory – which we always enjoy!

2018 started at full speed with preparations for a southern U.S. tour (and some mega car repairs before we left!). This year we have taken a couple of gaps in our schedule and while we had meetings at preferred venues with our many Activity friends, we intentionally had not booked a concert tour this season.

Back home for Easter weekend (which was early this year). Shows at Muttart and the Zoo, plus four seniors’ concerts before once again performing the 30 shows with Thomas the tank engine in Calgary; Fort Edmonton Park grand season opening; Grande Prairie Children’s Festival (again great)! and a very welcome return to the Northern Alberta Children’s Festival, which is a huge festival right where we live! More children’s events at the Ukrainian Village and several seniors’ concerts took us to Canada day, this year at Muttart Conservatory, where we did songs from every province, also involved the children in jug bands, ventriloquist puppets, and magic tricks. Our busiest spring for many years, with 55 stage shows and 27 “walk-abouts” in costume, playing music!

In July we took a very long standing friend of Mary’s on a 2 week tour around the Rockies (great!), plus in September we took a trip all around Greece, which we’ve wanted to do for years. Mary did huge work planning, and we went all over the mainland as well as Mykonos and Santorini, looking especially at the archaeological sites, but also enjoying pools, ocean, beach, and eating too much Moussaka!

Now it’s October, with a couple of local events, plus the A.T.A.A. convention for a quick visit and catch up with friends, then it is time for lodges in November, with some Remembrance music included, followed by the Christmas season, which we love!

We hope that everyone who is reading this (whether we know you or not!), is well and happy.