Emotive talk made me want to lie down and cry

James telling it like it was hit me so very hard

As many readers of this column know, most of the work I do is singing at or hosting a variety of fundraising events.

But what a lot of people don’t know is that I am also a teacher of meditation.

It’s something that I have explored personally to find inner peace and happiness as a performer, but more importantly as a human being.

When North Lanarkshire Council got in touch recently to see if I would be part of their Nurture Conference, an exercise investing in nurturing lives and communities in Coatbridge’s Municipal Buildings – I thought what a great idea.

It was an event to inspire young people and to help parents in their child’s upbringing and I was able to sing a song or two and give it a bit of chat.

I was scheduled to go on after one of the speakers, James Docherty, from the local violence reduction unit.

James gave a pretty harrowing talk about his own upbringing – and I was then supposed to get up and belt into song.

But I was so affected by his emotional, honest and heartbreaking story about his relationship with his dad and time spent in prison that all I wanted to do was lie down on the couch and have a good greet.

Thankfully, I managed to pull myself together and was able to perform.

But I had to quickly change everything I wanted to say and sing at the last minute – this was no time for me to be dancing onto the stage singing about Humpty Dumpty.

Speaking of dancing, Strictly winner Joanna Clifton was in Glasgow recently touring with Thoroughly Modern Millie and we had a blast on STV Glasgow’s E...Entertainment.

And if it’s entertainment with a capital E you’re after, then next week I will be performing in Edinburgh’s Kings Theatre alongside a host of stars including Elaine C Smith, Grant Stott and veteran Scottish rockers Pilot, for Allan Stewart’s Big Variety Show from February 28 until March 4.

Also in March, the fantastic Ups and Down’s theatre group will be performing at Hamilton Town House between Monday 6 and Saturday 11. Finally, I will be starring in an afternoon of musicals, also at Hamilton’s Townhouse on March 14, followed by Rutherglen Town Hall the next night.g See you!y

Nurturing natures Edward with, from left, Irene Barkby, Lesley Ann Henderson and James Docherty