Child Reach International Charity Event

On Saturday 21st April 2012 Amy (my lovely niece) and I went along to my mountaineering nephew Joseph's Charity Event at Crook Town Cricket Club.

This was a very important event. Joseph intends to climb to the Mount Everest Base Camp. Not something for the faint-hearted I can tell you! Joe is studying maths (such a clever boy) at Sheffield University and this is a university led event but he has to raise £3000 before he can attempt the climb this August. He's climbing in support of Child Reach International. 

We had a great night and terrific support. Joe's event raised £319.00.  Well done to my sister Judith who helped him to organize the event x

Bryn Haswell

Olly Hopper

Two very talented singers lending their support for the charity. The magnificent Bryn Haswell from Newcastle and the fabulous Olly Hopper from Hunwick.










A huge thank you to Sharon Mclean a radio presenter with Venture Radio and to her family who travelled up from Burton-on-Trent.

We had the most amazing disco from Anita Atkinson with her Durham Dales Radio Roadshow. And the children had a lovely time dancing and playing pass the parcel. There was a quiz (my team didn't win) and a raffle.

At the moment the total amount raised by Joe for this fundraiser is £945.80. If you would like to support Joseph he has a My Donate site.

Dancing to The Macarena

Pass the parcel

Sharon Mclean (with her raffle prize)
and Ellen 

YMCA

   

Bryn Haswell and Ellen Dean Timewarping

UK's Youngest Radio Presenter

This is Anna Gaughey.
At 11 years old Anna is the UK's youngest radio presenter, and she is good.
Anna who lives in Crook, County Durham plays a mix of music on www.durham-dales-radio.co.uk along with requests. Join her every Tuesday 5.30-6.30pm BST.
Abba is one of her favourite groups (great taste Anna). ABBA - Gold: Greatest Hits


Anna loves horse riding. Keep an eye out for her at equestrian events.

 

Kataka Gara featured on the Ellen Dean Show - Durham Dales Radio tonight 8-10pm BST

Kataka Gara is a singer/songwriter of "Spirit Pop"; described as World Electronica music, featuring haunting melodies and powerful lyrics about enlightenment.  Evoking the musical stylings of Enigma and Dead Can Dance, Kataka Gara is a master of unique musical instruments such as the Hang, Didjeridu, Berimbau, Djembe, as well as over 50 additional instruments. 
An accomplished Reiki Master Teacher, she "funnels" healing energy into her music, creating an exquisite and inspirational sound experience, which drops audiences deeply into their hearts when they listen to her music.

I will be playing songs from her 
recently released album 
Songs Of Life tonight Thursday 29th April
and Saturday night 1st May 
on www.durham-dales-radio.co.uk 
between 8 and 10pm BST.  


To check out additional songs on the album and read her current press reviews, please go to the website www.katakagara.com


You won't want to miss this hauntingly beautiful music.

Muncaster Castle and Wast Water in Cumbria, UK

Last week my sister Judith, niece Amy with her dog Molly, and I visited Seascale in Cumbria for a few days.



I thought I would ask the staff if I could present my Thursday evening radio show www.durham-dales-radio.co.uk from The Seller Park Hotel www.penningtonhotels.com Cheeky I know, but they were absolutely delighted, and made us very welcome. I think the staff and residents were more interested in Molly than us because the next day while walking on the beach we met a couple of people over here from America, and they said they remembered Molly from the night before.




In need of some wisdom we visited the World Owl Centre at Muncaster Castle www.muncaster.co.uk We had a walk around the Sino Himalayan Gardens where we saw some fabulous plants, and trees.
If you are planning a visit to Cumbria . . . this is a must!

Wast Water with Great Gable in the distance.



I was so high up the mountain I needed to suck a mint because my ears were popping 😂







They say Muncaster Castle is haunted, maybe I will visit and do my radio show from there, and perhaps interview the ghosts. Did you see the castle on The Lakes series on ITV?










Amy in the stocks. I did go back the next day to release her 😂

Combined Radio and Video Show

This is me setting up my equipment ready to broadcast my Thursday night fun show on Durham Dales Radio www.durham-dales-radio.co.uk

I thought I'd try a different approach this time, and try to video stream www.livestream.com/amethyst at the same time, so that radio listeners could see me whilst listening to my show. Clever stuff eh!

Of course, I had to dress for the part.

Initially there were one or two hiccups, but I got those sorted eventually, and away we went.

It was fun, but exhausting, as I was singing and dancing to the songs.

This puts a new slant on multi-tasking.

A little note: To hear AND see you need to log into both Durham Dales Radio, and Livestream.com/amethyst

Will I do this again? Of course I will . . . BUT you will have to listen in to find out when.
My show broadcasts Thursdays and Saturdays 8-10pm GMT and you can send me requests beforehand to beautifulstrangers@ellendean.co.uk

But what will I call these double shows . . . my RadVid show or VidRad show? Any other suggestions?