Jeni Barnett

Hobby Horse

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Well Poppy Reed, what an interesting concept that a parent needs to guide a child away from her her chosen profession and into a career. So being a musician is not a career then Poppy, or is a career for just the some? Where would we be without career musicians like Dame Evelyn Glennie, who … Read more

Misty clouds and thunderstorms

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7.15 and it feels like midnight in Tibet. The sky is heavy, the thunder a rumbling over the fields and misty clouds are settling on the tree tops.
It’s been one of them days. I listened to Russel Brand yesterday on Desert Island Discs and re-fell in love with the man.
This morning I listened to Maria Freidman on Radio 4. She played her 2 inheritance tracks. The one that was left to her and the one she would pass onto her family. For the love of Mike I cant remember her first track but the second song was ‘BESS YOU IS MY WOMAN’, I lay in my big bed, the clouds assembling and cried and cried and cried.
She talked about LOVE, after all that is all there is in the end.
She talked about the song the shape of it, the depth of it the feel of it.
I love that woman.

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Cambridge Circus

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I’ve polished my table so now it has a good shine and my room smells of carnauba wax, beeswax and essential oils.
I’ve thrown away loads of paper and detritus that has accumulated, I’m ready for work. For the last two weeks I have been writing in the garden, consequently I have very bronzed shoulders and a lot of catching up to do.
The Cambridge baby has been an interesting diversion. Most of the TV stations are repeating themselves endlessly with oleaginous superlatives not to mention sycophantic blather whilst throwing cliches at us like squashed tomatoes in a side street at a Spanish Festival.
Good that Kate and Wills and the baby are fine, but what could possibly bring somebody out onto the streets from Hackney to stand around and cheer a newborn, with a plastic flag and a straw hat costing more than a KFC bargain bucket and why do the reporters think I’m the least bit interested in listening to that said Hacknoid talking drivel that Kay Burley and the likes of her, have made them learn……
I wonder why the wait though?
I’m guessing Kate didn’t just pop him out.
Or maybe they had to Caesar him out.
Or suck him out, or even use the forceps.
I can’t imagine Kate needs to stay in for the rest as she’ll have half of Bucklebury, half of Buck House not to mention half the Norland nannies nipping out of the woodwork for her.
I spent ten days in my maternity unit. The daughter was treated like Beyonce’s baba Ivy, whilst Gods Gift made doors for the attic and I slept a bit, cried a bit, fed a lot and mused on what the chuffin’ hell I had just landed myself into.
26 years down the line I’ve just come to terms with the responsibility…..

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Heat Wave

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Before we had the heat-wave I was walking ‘vigorously’ round the houses. The light was moody and so was I. Jim started rehearsing and all of a sudden the smell of summer was in the air. I walked and walked, found the dog roses, now they are everywhere in the hedgerows, and this beautiful Simmental … Read more

july 14th 2013

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Tomorrow show is on my mind. I need to know your worst restaurant experiences and the ONE film that makes you emotional. A look from The Titanic? A scene from the wizard of Oz. Dirty dancing. Come on talk to me. 0207 224 2000 on BBC LONDON 94.9 tomorrow Sunday 9-12.

That was the weeks that was

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I have been in and out of the sun. Television on all the time with Wimbledon balls being whacked out over the sitting room rug. The dawter BB.James, was feautured on Radio 1, and Gods Gift started rehearsing last week. He’s now staying with friends in Beckenham, a leafy green suburb in South London, and … Read more

U Turns

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I set my alarm for 5.00 Wrote it on my head three times and fell asleep having seen BEYOND THE CANDELABRA in Uckfield Picture House. My writing partner is staying until Saturday and we are tweeking and creating in the garden. Anyway fell asleep over my book and woke, having slept brilliantly, until 4.32. Got … Read more

yukety yuk yuk

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The tree tops are swaying in the wind, they look like despondent, manic rag dolls. The rain is raining. The wind is blowing. My feet are freezing. I can hear the television from two floors down. Thursday lunch in a pub. Friday night a Turkish in Hackney. Tonight a French in Twells. Tomorrow back with … Read more

10 days that shook the world

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From Devon to Wiltshire, from Wiltshire to Bristol to home. It’s 5.20 in the morning of Wednesday 19th of June. I spent yesterday in the garden, this morning was going outside to enjoy the fruits of my labour and do me exercises to the dawn chorus, but the Heavens have just opened and the rain … Read more

JUNE 9TH

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Tomorrows show will be comic, serious and extremely entertaining. Call me if you want to talk about autism and wild life gardening. 0207 224 2000 Rob Deering, Niamh Cusack, Kate Williams and Kate Bradbury. Brilliant guests/ But I Can’t do it without you. BBC London 94.9, ever so Royal now that Queen Bet visited. Join … Read more