Guitar Man

Wow! What an evening Princess Kitty has had. She has been to see a performance. A performance by a guitarist.

The name of the guitarist is Michael Chapman. He has been performing for over 40 years. Princess Kitty thought he was just amazing. She has never heard anything like it. His fingers were so fast yet so controlled. So accurate and sensitive.

And she could not believe the sounds he got from the guitar. His influences ranged from Indian to Spanish music. From Jazz to classical. He played harmonics. He strummed. He picked. He struck the guitar all over the face and fretboard.

His voice had a gravel-like quality, like Bob Dylan. He did a little singing but mostly he played the guitar.

After the performance Princess Kitty went back to someone's house with her friends. Michael Chapman came too. They drank and talked a bit about guinea pigs and laughed.

When she left to go home Princess Kitty told Michael Chapman he was an inspiration.

Born To Perform

Poor Growly Bear. He has not had a very nice day. He has had a long drive to work. Then he has had lots of meetings. And then a long drive home.

Growly Bear does not like meetings. He does not like sitting still for so long. He does not like just talking about things. He likes to do things. Like feeding guinea pigs. He understands that it is important to plan but he likes action. He is a born performer.

Princess Kitty has been thinking about performing. She has been watching a DVD of the public performance she and Growly Bear did before Christmas. She watched it with her mummy and daddy. They watched it twice. Except Princess Kitty made her daddy play one bit four times. It was the bit at the end where Growly Bear gives her a hug. A special Growly Bear hug.

Princess Kitty thinks Growly Bear looks beautiful in the DVD. Composed, elegant, handsome and sexy. She thinks he is very charismatic. Princess Kitty wants to look that cool when she performs. She thinks the DVD will be helpful. She can study her performance and find ways to improve. Like not looking down at her fret hand so much. And not looking at the music because she didn't need to she knew it so well. And not blinking so much and so slowly. She needs to speed up her blink and use other parts of her face to express herself.

And now Princess Kitty knows she can sing. She can sing in tune. She needs more power and passion. She needs to let herself go more. But she can sing.

And as for Growly Bear. Well as Mummy Cat said, he has a lovely warm baritone voice. Nice one Growly Bear

Musical Magic

Princess Kitty had a spooky experience last night. She went to wait in a pub whilst Growly Bear went to work. She took her book so that she would have something to do. The book was about the point of guinea pigs. She read and read for hours and hours.

Then something really weird happened. She had just decided to have a little rest from her reading and look around her. As she raised her head she heard a sound. A sound of music. It sounded familiar. It was a guitar. And someone singing. And she had heard the guitar played like that before.

Then she realised that the man playing and singing was a man she had seen before. The night she went to see a concert of Nick Drake music. She couldn't believe her eyes and ears. She wished Growly Bear could hear it. She wished he could hear it because she knew he would like it. And she wished he could hear it because then he would know magical things happen to her.

Musical magic.

Rock 'n Roll Angels

They did it! Growly Bear and Princess Kitty performed together in public for the first time. They sang and played their guitars together in front of 800 people. Brave Princess Kitty. Brave Growly Bear.

Princess Kitty sang a solo. Then Growly Bear joined in in harmony. Princess Kitty felt the ground beneath her feet and sang with all her heart. She saw all the people looking and listening. She felt scared and excited and tiny and big all at the same time. As she sang she understood the point of guinea pigs. She couldn't explain it. She just felt it in her soul.

Growly Bear says Princess Kitty has the voice of an angel. Kind Growly Bear. Princess Kitty thinks Growly Bear might be an angel. She can't be sure though. She has peeked at his back when he is sleeping to see if she can see where his wings would fit. She couldn't see any marks. Perhaps Growly Bear has a spell to make them invisible.

Peas In A Pod

Growly Bear and Princess Kitty are preparing. They have a very big day tomorrow. A very big day indeed. They are going to be performing in public. In front of lots of people.

Princess Kitty says she is feeling scared. She feels like a frightened little guinea pig. Growly Bear says he is not scared at all. Princess Kitty doesn't believe him though. She peeked at him when he thought she wasn't looking and caught a little tremble.

Growly Bear has come to The Cardigan for the night. They have been getting things ready. They put new strings on their guitars. They polished their guitars. They adjusted their straps. Growly Bear has even bought a new capo for the occasion. It is shiny and red. He is very proud of it. Princess Kitty thinks he should avoid using a pink plectrum with it though because the colours clash.

Princess Kitty is going to wear her new blouse. Growly Bear is ironing his ribbon. They will look smart. Everyone will say what a fine couple they make. Like peas in a pod.

Shake Rattle Rock and Roll

Princess Kitty has been out with her friends tonight. They went to see a band. The band was very good. Princess Kitty has got sore paws from dancing so much. She has got a sore throat from singing so much.

The band had lots of instuments. Princess Kitty paid special attention to the guitarists. They were both very good. Princess Kitty dreamed she was up there with them. One of the band had a tambourine. The tambourine was like the one that Princess Kitty bought for Poppy the Flower Fairy.

Poppy the Flower Fairy is Princess Kitty's friend. Princess Kitty and Poppy have lots of fun together. They listen to music together. They giggle a lot together. They tell each other their secrets. Poppy has got two guinea pigs. Princess Kitty teases her about this. Poppy says she knows the point of guinea pigs but she had never told Princess Kitty what this is. Princess Kitty thinks it is probably alright to tease Poppy. It is not like teasing bears, which everyone knows is bad.

Poppy likes her tambourine. It is a black one. Princess Kitty chose it carefully. There were lots of different colours. Princess Kitty liked the purple one best. But she knew Poppy would like the black one so that is what she bought her. And she did.

Princess Kitty says Poppy can be in her band when she is famous. She can shake and rattle her tambourine. Poppy thinks that would be rock and roll.

A Helping Hand

Growly Bear is at the Cardigan. He and Princess Kitty have been out to a concert. They have been to see Growly Bear's boy cub who is in a band.

Growly Bear's cub's band is very loud. Very loud indeed. They are quite famous though. And the music they make is very good. They work very well together as a band. Growly Bear says their music is ground breaking.

Growly Bear and Princess Kitty are in bed now. Princess Kitty reflects upon their evening. Growly Bear had introduced her to his cub, although he did not tell him about their love.

Princess Kitty loves the way that Growly Bear is proud of his cub. She knows that Growly Bear has played a big part in helping his cub. He taught him to play the guitar just like he has taught Princess Kitty. Clever Growly Bear.

Helping other people is important. Princess Kitty knows it has something to do with the point of guinea pigs. Growly Bear often helps other people. Perhaps this is because he used to be a boy scout. He helps Princess Kitty. It is one of the many things that Princess Kitty loves about Growly Bear.

She looks at Growly Bear sleeping next to her. "I love you Growly Bear" she whispers as she snuggles up next to his nice warm tummy.

The Young One

Princess Kitty has been to a concert. A concert of Nick Drake songs. She had heard a few before she went but enjoyed hearing more. She likes the plaintiff sounds and the poetic lyrics. She thinks it is very very sad that he died so young, never knowing how famous he would be, not living to see himself get the acclaim he deserved. She feels sorry for the people that loved him.

She wonders how someone so young could know so much about guinea pigs. She wonders how he could have become so technically brilliant at such a tender age. Life can be very sad sometimes.

Growly Bear has talent too. He can do magic. He is starting to understand about this more and more. This week he has been encouraging the naughty bears he works with to do difficult things and to see things differently. He can get them to do things most people could not.

Princess Kitty wonders where Growly Bear's magic will take him. At least there is no chance of him dying young like Nick Drake.

Bear Faced

Growly Bear and Princess Kitty have pulled it off. They have spent an evening together in Fatty Flatfoot's territory without being detected. It is possible that she will get to hear about their presence at some point but by then it will be too late for her to do anything.

There were lots of individuals there that knew Growly Bear and Princess Kitty. Only two of them know of their love though. They are special friends and will not tell Fatty Flatfoot or her spies.

Growly Bear sang and played his guitar. Princess Kitty listened and sang with the others. She enjoyed watching Growly Bear perform. She felt very proud of him. She saw how others looked at him with admiration and fondness. It reminded her how lucky she is and how special Growly Bear is. It reminded her that guinea pigs enjoy company just like her and Growly Bear.

It is nice to spend time having fun with friends. Playing a trick on Fatty Flatfoot makes it even better.

Paws for Thought

Princess Kitty has sore paws. She has been to a gig and has been dancing. The band had a great girl bass player. Princess Kitty thinks she might like to play in a band like that. She is learning to play the guitar. She is going to practice very hard. She understands you have to work hard to be good at things. You can't become good at things just by using magic, although magic can help

She thinks Growly Bear is good at things. She likes the way he plays his guitar and says funny things. She thinks he is very good at cooking but best of all is the way he makes honey.

She reflects that this is one of the things that makes them different to guinea pigs. They don't practice anything. They just do what guinea pigs do. She wonders if that makes it impossible to be a good guinea pig.......... which makes her head hurt too.

She decides to make her sore parts better. She stops thinking about guinea pigs for a while and her head feels better. She rubs some lotion into her sore paws. Aahh - that's better.