My parents have been the foundations which have enabled me to pursue my dreams. They have always been fully supportive of my desire to become a classically trained singer, and my brother’s dreams too. I will be in Glasgow on their 30th wedding anniversary which is tomorrow the 1st October, and Matt will be in London, so we’ll have to rely on Tom giving them a hug. We would love to wish them every happiness and I can’t wait to see them both at the weekend 🙂
Pearls of wisdom
P is for Patience as you worked with each of us on the things that were important to our futures.
E is for Examples that you have both been to us in the way you have lived your lives.
A is for Always being there when we need someone to talk to.
R is for Resourceful in helping us identify ways we can work through our tasks.
L is for Loving us each and every day.
I can’t wait to see what the next 30 years has to bring.

My Dad is in the process of transferring all of our old video recorder tapes into his computer digitally then indexing them because this is what Mum has asked for as her gift. I can’t wait until it’s finished so I can see some of them 😉 . This process is taking him ages and he has been digitising them every night after work for the last two weeks and he’s only a quarter of the way through! He says it is very distracting, apparently, to keep seeing us as babies, toddlers and young children as he keeps stopping to watch little clips he and Mum have remembered fondly along the way.
Dad said that we have always competed against each other and apparently there is footage of me and my elder brother fooling around pretending to be Power Rangers on their bed, aged 2 and 5, until Matt gives me a shove off the side of the bed! Equally alarming is us both giving our one year old baby brother Tom a spin in the baby bouncer hanging off the door frame, and my first roller-skate practise with some of Tom’s nappies stuck down the back of my shorts because I kept falling over to give me a bit of padding.
Mum says it’s been sad too, she walked past the monitor and stopped to watch me singing ‘Truly Scrumptious’ from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang to my Aunty Marjorie, my first fan who is sadly no longer with us, I think of her every time I sing in St Annes. I can’t sing ‘Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again’ without tears as I sang it at her funeral service, it would have been her birthday on the 13th October.
I have loaded my performance of “My Ship” from the musical “Lady in the Dark”. The musical was written by Kurt Weill ( music ) and Ira Gershwin ( lyrics ) and this song is the final song of the show following the three dream sequences “the Glamour Dream”, “the Wedding Dream” and the “the Circus Dream”. It is a beautiful song and one of my parent’s favourites from my early repertoire before leaving home to start at RCS.
indeed impressive! Good luck to you as you pursue your dream
Hi Luis, thank you for your good luck message. My parents are indeed impressive people to me 🙂
Best wishes
Charlotte
Beautiful!
Thank you, best of luck with the adoption process to add to your family. I love the idea that you are willing to give a child a family home, my Great Nana, we called her Nana Duck (because she was from Stoke on Trent and she used the pet term ‘duck’ all the time) grew up in an orphanage until she was 14 and then was sent to work on a farm 🙂
Best wishes
Charlotte
It is good to see your parents and brothers. I have always been aware of them there in the background, willing and helping you on. In the mayhem of this world, such a positive outlook is good for us all. So thanks and congratulations to your family from all of us out here too.
Thank you Hilary, my parents have been so supportive of me over my years on this earth. I wouldn’t be half of what I am today without their influence and encouragement.
My best wishes
Charlotte
Thank’s at your parents to have give you “the love” witch had made you what you are….
Bonsoir Pascal, I feel I am the luckiest daughter to have such amazing parents.
Best wishes
Charlotte
As we said in french “Les chiens ne font pas des chats…” so, you are an amazing Familly !
Beautiful. Congrats to your mum and dad.
Hi Noony, thanks they are such good role models, they taught me what hard work and commitment can bring.
All the best
Charlotte
Lovely, congratulations to your parents.
Thank you Beth, they’ll read your congratulations as they follow my blog 🙂
Best wishes
Charlotte
A beautiful couples and lovely parents. Congratulations to your mum and dad!
I’m just sorry I’m not there with them today to celebrate, I “face-timed” before they left for work this morning at 7am. 🙂
Best wishes
Charlotte
This is a lovely post about a lovely family. It is entirely heartwarming. And what a great vocal performance! You really are a star.
Hi Dan, I’m pleased you liked “My Ship”; it’s a beautiful love song.
All my best wishes
Charlotte
Beautiful post Charlotte, such a great tribute to your parents and family. Your parents must be very proud of you, as you are of them. Enjoy the weekend.
I loved your explanation of yuan-fen, my parents met on a blind date arranged by a friend to face their destiny 🙂 as you say staying together is doing the work necessary to succeed. Your photograph of the two swans dancing is beautiful too.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Sounds like you have one great family. It is so nice to hear how much you appreciate your family.
I do appreciate them Don, they both worked long hours each week to help to set us up and give us opportunities so we don’t have to work full time from the age of 16 as they did. Although they have mentioned once or twice that at our age they were working 60 hours each week so they expect us to adopt the same work ethic to our studies 🙂
Best wishes
Charlotte
Best wishes to your parents on their 30th anniversary. Lovely pearls of wisdom too. Good luck with your performance. Beautiful family you have!
Hello Janice, thanks for the good luck wishes and your lovely message. This weekend will be great because I get to see my parents and perform too 🙂
Best wishes
Charlotte
Many Many more.Cheers.
Definitely, they still have lots of catching up to do with my grandparents 😉
Cheers
Charlotte
What a lovely tribute to your parents and their long and loving marriage. I wish them many more happy years together.
Thank you so do I. As you’re a military wife have you heard of the “Military Wives Choirs” here in the UK, put together by a conductor called Gareth Malone for the BBC series “The Choir”, the wives learn to sing together while their husbands/partners are deployed for six months. The original choir are performing with the Tideswell Male Voice choir and a selection of young soloists (myself included) this weekend. I can’t wait to hear them.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Happy 30th Anniversary to your parents and job well done. Your performance was very nice, a beautiful tribute.
Thanks Michael for your lovely compliment, thanks for visiting.
Best wishes
Charlotte
How cool!!! Sending them happy Anniversary thoughts : )
Thanks Michael, I clicked through to your blog earlier and I could just eat that burger and chips 😉
Best wishes
Charlotte
What a lovely family.. happy aniversary to your parents.
Hi Micheng, thank you, I loved your 20 beauty tips for Vaseline petroleum jelly very helpful.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Thank you! yey.. you made me smile. Happy that you fine it helpful.
How wonderful…30 years! You have a beautiful family. I really enjoy reading the closeness you all share! Congratulations to your parents, looks like they’ve done a fabulous job raising their children.
Hi Koko, they’ll love reading your message, although they told me they wonder how we survived when they watch some of the videos back of us as little adventurous children. Mum said she couldn’t believe they carried on taping some of the stuff we were doing without intervening lol.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Hahahaha…yes those moments of video taping and pictures! Some will make good show and tell to your friends! Parents seem to like to do that. 😉 My husband loves to show the kids friends pictures of them! So fun!
Merhaba Charlotte…
a) congrats to the oldies, that’s a great achievement 🙂
b) love the video, very classy – go girl
c) how lucky you are to have such a great set of parents 🙂
d) have a fab day (couldn’t think of anything more witty this morning…)
UNCLE SPIKE
Hi Uncle Spike, the next time I’m in Vicram’s, an old friend from my karate club, Dad’s kebab shop at home I’m going to greet him with “Merhaba” as they are a Turkish family He puts the doner meat on the grill for me to burn off some the grease, I feel a bit healthier then when I munch through the Lamb doner meat, pitta bread and salad yummy.
Best wishes from me and the oldies 😉
Karate and opera – and I thought I was the mixed up one! 🙂
Nice camera work on the video, well done for living your dream.
Thanks Tim, my Dad did the camcorder recording, it’s a bit off-putting when I catch him in the corner of my eye when I ma singing 🙂 lol.
Best wishes
Charlotte
such a beautiful voice and song!!
Thanks for your lovely compliment Roger and thanks for visiting today 🙂
Best wishes
Charlotte
Happy anniversary to your parents.
I really love “Toot Sweets” from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Always a Christmas film for me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX_HljAELcA
Try watching it without smiling!
Hi Philip, you can’t watch without smiling, these children’s films; “Bednobs and Broomsticks”, “Mary Poppins”, and “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” were amongst my favourites when I was little; the child catcher was very scary though 🙁
Best wishes
Charlotte
Hi Charlotte,
Your right… he spooked me as well.
This is probably why I like spooky stories! Thank you Disney!
One of my best friends was on the radio 3 last week (Phil Taylor, MD of Effectrode), Interesting radio documentary. It’s really interesting.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b03bfdkj/Between_the_Ears_Sound_of_Cinema_Return_of_the_Monster_from_the_Id/
GORGEOUS!!!
best day
Lena
Thanks Lena, I just love your style blog, I’m pleased tartan is trending I must keep my eyes out for a tartan style shawl whilst I’m in Glasgow.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Congratulations to your mum and dad, on a very special day! Your words say it all 🙂
Thanks to you both, can’t wait until the weekend, I have been practising ready 😉
Best wishes
Charlotte
Beautiful tribute to your parents, Charlotte. Congrats to your parents.
groetjes, Francina
Thanks Francina, they did not know I was going to post this message and have been overwhelmed by the responses from everyone 🙂
Groetjes (regards/best wishes)
Charlotte
Congratulations to your parents, Charlotte!! My parents will also be celebrating their 30th this month – on the 8th (small world!)! It is heartwarming to hear you say such uplifting things about your parents and their role in your life; they’re in a minority, having been married so long, and it’s an inspiration to the rest of us. My husband and I will celebrate our first at the end of October. 🙂
Hi Julianna, it is a small world, made smaller by blogging. Congratulations to your parents and also to you on your anniversaries this month 😉 . My Mum and Dad still have a long way to go to get near to my Grandpa and Grandma Hoather they’ve been married nearly 60 years and Nana and Grandad nearly 50 years.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Supportive parents is the greatest blessing of them all, I feel 🙂
Hi Jennifer when they were stopping me from teenage fun I didn’t feel blessed but going out and getting wild isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, having them to guide and support me has been much more important to me.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I agree, my parents were similar, but now I am only thankful for it! Guidance and support is very precious.
Take care!
Amazing singing. So impressive,
Thank you, I am so glad that you enjoyed my version of “My Ship”. I love to perform this song as it is one my parents grew to love.
Best wishes
Charlotte
What a lovely tribute to your parents Charlotte, and yet another wonderful performance. Thank you, and congratulations to them!
Hi Daisy, thank you, I’ve never been to an open air pool in the UK you’re so lucky to have one near you, sad it has to be closed for winter.
All the best
Charlotte
Still radiant after all these years
Thanks Sheila, I think my Mum has been a great role model to me and is always there when I need her. I believe that your comment is so true 🙂
Best wishes
Charlotte
Happy Anniversary to your Mum & Dad!
Thanks Cathy, I have loved to share my appreciation of them both with everyone here.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Congrats to your parents. You really have a gifted voice. 🙂
Thanks Gaurab, my parents are grateful for all the warm wishes they have received from everyone on the blog and i am pleased that you enjoyed my performance.
Best wishes
Charlotte
You have a beautiful voice!
Thank you Emanuel, I appreciate that you being a fan of Opera music.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Beautiful! As someone in a young marriage, this post speaks to me in more ways than one; about the patience it takes to stay together especially when you see purpose in your marriage (your R) and how much that blesses your offspring. Well done! Beautiful singing too!
Thanks for your lovely message Hajara. I appreciate you stopping by for a visit.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Reblogged this on Scott Andrew Hutchins and commented:
I wish I had supportive parents…
Thank you for the reblog Scott, I wish you had more support from your family too ;(
Best wishes
Charlotte
Glad your Dad is digitizing all those old movies. Those are invaluable!
You are incredibly talented!
I think it was a bigger task than he thought it would be but I can’t wait for Christmas when we can have the time to watch some edited videos of each of us that he’s planning 😉
Best wishes
Charlotte
Aww, congratulations to them!
Thanks for stopping by Laura, hope you get the chance to call back 😉
Best wishes
Charlotte
Congratulations and Happy 30th Anniversary to your parents.
I enjoy your song.
I’m pleased you enjoyed my song and for your good wishes.
All the best
Charlotte
Happy anniversary to your parents! 🙂
Thanks Stephanie, they had a lovely week, and would like me to thank everyone on their behalf for all of the lovely comments.
Best wishes
Charlotte
So, so lovely. Your parents must be thrilled and bursting with pride! Brava.
Thank you, loved your post about the songs from Scotland and your lunch spot taken up by Big Bird lol. Thanks for popping by.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Wow, beautiful post, beautiful voice.
Thank you Tara, I appreciate your lovely message.
All the best
Charlotte
Wonderful photos! OMG they looked so young!
They’ll love that 😉
They got up with me at 5am this morning and Dad drove to the railway station 30 mins away so that I could catch the early train to Glasgow, we got there with just six minutes spare. Good timing!
All the best
Charlotte
I really enjoyed your post, and the video was absolutely beautiful. Thank you for sharing!